For me it is more about the quality of the opposition rather then prestige - would have been good to face someone in a top league as the biggest club we are facing before the season starts is Birmingham City.
I think it does help to be playing someone of a similar quality to you. I think playing Everton in Thailand last year was useful for the players in getting to play a Premier League team, especially as they were our first opposition. Couple that with playing Werder Bremen. However, we are a league higher now and other teams are going to start using us for the same purposes. I remember watching us play Sunderland a few years back in pre-season and it felt like a big deal, now they're the sort of team we're playing every week. So I'm not going to complain that we can't get a very high-profile PRE-season schedule when our actual season is so exciting!
I was being cynical. Our trip to Thailand started with a goodwill tour and a tournament for the u21s and look where that has ended up taking us.
Yeah when MO`N was in charge. I was there too. I think it was the 1st time I took my sons to Filbert Way. I remember the ref saying to MO`N could you take Cattermole off please as he´s being a **** & it´s only a friendly... or words to that effect.
Good craic mate I can well imagine that with Cattermole mind, he's apparently the same in a 5a side kick about. Wouldn't change him for the world though, he gives us that bite in centre midfield.
Did't know where to put this. We've sold out our 3k allocation already. So excited for the season to start.
... not sure why? .. he is 6.1" and an experienced international defender ... I've even put him in there in the "If the season started now" thread ... he would be the left hand side of a back 3 rather than as an orthoxox CB .. Huth / Morgan would be the more orthodox (even in a 3) ... Fuchs appears to be (haven't seen him live so reserving some judgement) a pretty good technical player ... suspect he would be the one of the back 3 expected to do most of the link-up play with the wide men and cenntral midfield ... great option IMHO.
Well Morgan will miss the start of the season and Liam Moore hasnt looked too clever this past year so if we stick with the 3 centre halfs it will be Huth, Wasilewski and Fuchs at the minute
Enjoyable evening in Burton. Marc Albrighton looks in fine form. Was made a sliding challenge in the pre match warm up. Deano made one stonking challenge in the first half. First time I have ever heard 'Hallelujah' at a footie match - I did actually cry with laughter. Vardy actually looks quicker.
Today was our final pre season friendly away at Birmingham We was 2-0 after 25 minutes through 2 great strikes from Birmingham But we turned it around and won 3-2. Robert Huth, Danny Drinkwater and Shinji Okazaki scored the goals Good for Okazaki to score which means apart from Ulloa all the strikers have scored during pre season now
Sounds like Drinkwater's been good this pre-season, going to have to be considering our lack of midfield strength!
Okazaki was VERY good. Drinkwater ok but frustrating, as always. I'd be surprised if Chilwell didn't start, but we played far better in a 4-4-2. Vardy disappointing and ukloa anonymous. Schlupp a real talent.
From the highlights I have seen so far of pre season Kramaric and Mahrez look our 2 stand out players
I was there - apart from kramrics two good moments as quite frustrating. A threat nonetheless though. Ulloa was useless, though I do wonder if he might be quite important against better opposition.
