I'm pleased my lot never got battered, considering Palace had a strong line-up. https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/gillingham-v-crystal-palace-pre-season-friendly-270534/
Bit of a weird one this given we played Palace earlier today (seen the fixtures last night and thought wtf). Not seen squad make up of who we played against yet but am interested to know how they split the squad into two travelling teams and what they hope to gain from having the squad split pre-season.
I think that must be the biggest friendly my lot have had for some years, even I never expected Palace to bring Zaha and Benteke, but glad they did, I wonder if Neil Harris used some of his influence to pull in that fixture.
Yeah i know that ffs, but it's also about preparing the squad for the way you want to play in the coming season and getting players used to each other. Do you not think it a bit strange to split up in this way?
Nah not really. It's probably more common than you think and I'm sure we've done it a couple of times on pre season tours. Think you'd have a point if it was one of the latter friendlies close to the season kicking off but at this stage I don't think it's particularly uncommon.
I don't pay that much attention in general to pre season tbf. Don't tend to learn much from it and I find it baffling that people actually bother watch the games on the box or stream it. I know we lost to Leipzig the other day (from reading on here) but I couldn't tell you any of our other games or results. Couldn't recall a single result from any pre season match in the past either. They're completely irrelevant outside of fitness imo.
Definitely weird to split your first team up I'd say. Don't see how it makes sense when pre-season is about working on fitness and tactics plus hopefully getting new signings adjusted, yet if half the players are playing somewhere else, where's the cohesion gonna come from for the start of the season? Think it's very odd.
Pre season means nothing. Its literally used for players to get fit for the upcoming season, and/or for managers to try out some other tactics or formations that they wouldn't try in competitive games, and also to bed in new arrivals, thats it. I've seen Chelsea clean house in pre season and finish mid table, and then i've seen them lose 3 back to back matches in some ****ty pre season tournament and then go on to win the premier league or Champions league in the actual season.
Have watched both pur pre-season games via YouTube... in both games we changed the whole team at the half way stage ... apart from fitness levels of individuals, it tells you very little indeed.
In fact, nowadays, Pre season isnt even just about fitness levels, now its about "expanding the clubs profile" by playing in foreign countries as well.
I was thinking more about these silly mini tournaments that European clubs hold on the other side of the world , like in the US or South America.
Remember when that **** with a face like Mutley the dog, Darren Bent slapped in 14 goals in pre season and we won every game New season kicks off First 8 games 2 points lesson? Darren Bent is a ****
Hull? ... but I do agree ... we played a first public game against OH Leuven our Belgian sister club at the weekend ... the supporters groups are even doing exchange trips ...
This was in Melbourne. In Australia. Ten Hag ingratiated himself just fine, because he's clearly a man who knows what he's doing. Genius idea to give the captaincy to a bloke who wants to leave because he's thinks he's too good for us though, be sure to let our new manager know your ideas.
I mean, he aint wrong. Ronaldo want to leave completely invalidates my point too, lets ignore that other 25 members of your squad who aint Maguire or Ronaldo
