Good win at Celtic Park last night, nice to see a clean sheet too - an away one at that! Also, although money has been taking away from a few local teams by not playing friendlies with them, I am quite liking this idea of playing "proper" friendly games from the start. Many clubs play in the UK or overseas against teams of far less ability as their opening games and I guess that is fine to loosen up the muscles and get a gentle bit of momentum going and a bit confidence by giving the lowly team a thumping by 4, 5, 6 goals. However, I am starting to think that by playing our first two games against "proper" opponents (Hertha Berlin & Celtic) has been a terrific idea and hopefully will serve them well come the real thing in August. Even our next opponents are a Championship side (you know, the ones that scored 7 goals in one game last season). CH can get a much better idea of the teams strong points and weaknesses by having better opponents. Lets be honest, had we played teams such as Kings Lynn and Boston Utd (for example), would those teams really highlight any weaknesses? I would doubt it and would imagine both would result in comfortable victories but CH walks away having learned very little about his new team.
I won't read too much into the Celtic result in the same way I'd not be particularly concerned if we'd lost it by a couple of goals. I agree it's good to play against proper competition though. Not convinced the pay day is that vast for a Fakenham or similar to host a mixed Norwich XI friendly anyway. I'll stand corrected (like the man in an orthapedic shoe)* if someone has some input on the $ involved. I'm sure there are other ways NCFC support local clubs through use of facilities and Carrow Rd in later cup games too etc. * Partridge!
I agree the actual scoreline is not that important, under the circumstances but all the same a clean sheet is still a nice little bonus considering how few of them we had last season I have no idea about the finances of City playing local sides, I honestly cannot remember how much I paid to see them play at Dereham 3 or 4 years ago (£5.00 I think). Attendance of approx 1100, so looking at gate receipts of about £55,000. Not too many costs involved either as policing was virtually non existent. Obviously not talking about huge sums for a football league side but for these tiny local clubs I can only imagine that was a pretty tidy sum to them. Wont go in to this side of the post more as it was part of a previous thread.
we are still sending a select XI to lowestoft - this is how it should be. how many premier league teams would take their first team to a local club? you learn nothing from playing these teams and although its a fitness exercise, you should still learn something!
