Does pre-season mean **** all?

It's not just us losing games pre-season. Chelsea are too, among other PL clubs.

And we've not really played full strength teams. Should our pre-season games really make us worry about the PL next season?

Are pre-season games just a kick about.

 

Pre-season is meaningless. It's for players to get their fitness and touch back.
We will turn up on Sunday and be a far better side than we ever were under Pardew and Carver.

 

I certainly hope so, Windy.

Agree that pre season doesn't usually coung for much. As well as building up fitness and touch again, for some it might be their first games back after an injury lay off, for others if might be gelling into a new team, or being tested in a new position, etc. Can also be a time for trying new tactics and you tend to use more subs yo give the squad a run out. So I don't tend to read too much into pre season games.

But I agree with Windy that I think we will be stronger under Maclaren. It might not be sn instant transformation but I think we will slowly build up again.

 

We were trying fringe players, primarily so that McClaren could assess their ability. He will have learned a great deal about the likes of Satka, Bigirimana, Abeid, Gouffran, Williamson etc.
Our first 11 staying injury free is strong. McClaren will get the best out of them. The 'squad' players, well you simply can't polish a turd, so the likes of Williamson, Gouffran and Obertan will still be ****.

 

I think SM has used this pre-season to look at as many players as possible rather than getting the first team to gel. That might leave us a little behind in preparation compared to some other teams in the short term, but it was definitely the right thing to do for long term benefits. He will now have a better idea of who he thinks is part of his long term plans, who will do for now, and who probably isn't going to be used.

 

our pre season normally last 4 months

 

We have learnt that if significant injuries hit the first team, the fringe mostly stink of old **** and chaos will reign!

 

As a coach (at amateur level) I would say no. Pre-season is about getting the lads back into the swing of things and finding out who plays best with who and where about they all fit together in the squad. For example is Sissoko going to be more effective down the wing or in CM, can Siem and Gini play together or would you rotate the pair/move Siem up top.

Had a large change over at out club this season and we are 2 games into our pre-season schedule and I have made more subs and tactical tweaks to the squad then I would in a month of Sundays to see where all the lads fit together.

If you are interested in seeing how we are getting on click the link below. First 3 posts are our most recent match reports (shameless self promotion hahaha)

 

Yes.

Done, close thread.

 

As far as this pre season was concerned it was more about promoting SD in the states as usual.
Matches played in high temperatures on artificial surfaces cannot do much good, especially for players who are returning from injuries, eg. Taylor and Colo.
As for the results they don't mean much, but as with all things winning is good for moral.
I think the performance against BMG was more of a test and an indication of where we are at.
I expect better against Southampton.

 

Before clicking link I thought it was a reference to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Note to self - can argue with G4rd in future as he is not actually as hard as he has claimed to be in the past.

 

Pre-season are vitally important, it's the results of the friendlies which mean nowt.

 

Results are not massively important. Getting some sort of organisation, rhythm and patterns of play is important. Base fitness levels for the season are important. Training is more important than the games. I expect a slow start though as McClaren has admitted we are behind schedule and under cooked.