Friendlies - 2021-22

[SF_]

Accrington away confirmed as our final friendly.

Seems a much busier schedule than normal.

Bamber Bridge (A), Saturday 10th July, 3pm. 3-8
St Johnstone (A), Tuesday 13th July, 7pm. 1-1
Celtic (A), Saturday 17th July, 5.30pm.
Bolton Wanderers (County Ground, Leyland), Tuesday 20th July, 7pm.
Accrington Stanley (A) Saturday 24th July, 3pm
Man City (Academy Stadium), Tuesday 27th July, 7pm
Wigan Athletic (A), Friday 30th July, 7.30pm.
Manchester United (H), Saturday 31st July, 2pm.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Our little gap in the Pre season schedule that we had on 31st July has now been filled with a fixture against Brighton - which makes sense given Jones links to them.

Weirdly its a 120 minute match.

 

[Craig]

Beat the Wendies 2-0 behind closed doors. Both goals from full backs. Shite.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Beat borehamwood 3-1. Went behind but second half team pulled it out with goals from Clark x2 and Mendes Gomes. Clarks been in the goals so far this preseason and Mendes Gomes goal was a great strike by all accounts

 

[BelizeHatter]

What has been our formation so far. Seems a back four. One or two deeper CM. How they lining up top?

 

[Kenneth E End]

Our formation in both games this week has been 4-3-3... two distinct elevens have been selected each playing 90 minutes against Bedford and Boreham Wood.

A few things have stood out:

-James Bree looks more confident than last season and was aggressively getting up the pitch.
-Defensively, we have a lot of options and apart from one lapse earlier, they've let nothing else past them.
-Mendes Gomes is going to be a real find - he slotted in another one into the top corner today from 25 yards.
-Adebayo hasn't really got going in pre-season so far.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Thanks Kenny

 

[BelizeHatter]

Sounds like Clark means business too

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Yep very noticeable that the shape has been 433. I had thought we might go more toward some variation of a 352 given the transfers this summer but it hasn’t been the case, at least just yet anyway.

Definitely feels a fairly conventional 433 is the shape we are looking for. Mendes Gomes and Clark are certainly the stand outs of pre season so far - for whatever that means in any case!

 

[SF_]

We won away at IRA FC yesterday, Ben Whiteman penalty.

 

[SF_]

Izzy Brown looked lively in the highlights against Celtic, looks like he takes a good set piece too.

They have an 18yr old left back called Adam Montgomery who might be one to watch.

 

[SF_]

Lost 1-0 to Bolton, didn't see any of the game but played 70 minutes of mostly a reserve team. Glad I didn't bother.

Quite a lot of the kids are getting run outs during this pre-season which didn't really happen under Neil, maybe 1 or 2 can force their way in.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Home to Portsmouth today so should be a good test. My first game back at kenilworth road since Feb ‘20 so looking forward to it.

Seems to be quite a few interesting players missing today, including Morrell. Thought we would be really looking to get game time into him in these pre season games to see if he’s got what it takes here. No Muskwe either, Lee, Hylton or Berry who continues to be absent.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

1-1 half time. Really smart goal by Adebayo that was well worked cancelled out more or less immediately by Portsmouth. Look pretty dangerous and threatening going forward, Onyedinma and Adebayo in particular combined a number of times.

Defensivley communication clearly needs some work. Burke and Bradley don’t seem to have a partnership yet and we’ve looked shaky as a result. The equaliser was just a straight mistake by us leading to their striker having all the time to slot in a very simple goal. Must admit to not being entirely convinced by Burke yet but early days.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Ended 1-1. Second half same as above really had enough chances to win the game probably, odd dodgy moment at the back though.

Onyedinma and Adebayo probably the stand out performers. Pelly came on and gave a decent cameo I thought too.

 

[Kenneth E End]

We really couldn't have had a better prep game than that today - Portsmouth look a half decent side and the intensity really is there. You couldn't really tell it was a pre-season friendly. The Luton team look fit and ready to go already... they could start the season tomorrow.

Our last game is against Brighton next Saturday - we may setup slightly differently and play as more of an "away" team. For example, we were very expansive today - Bree wasn't really defending much and looks full of confidence.

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

We lost to Cheltenham.
Current pre-season record is 1 scored, 13 conceded, lol.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

We really couldn't have had a better prep game than that today - Portsmouth look a half decent side and the intensity really is there. You couldn't really tell it was a pre-season friendly. The Luton team look fit and ready to go already... they could start the season tomorrow.

Our last game is against Brighton next Saturday - we may setup slightly differently and play as more of an "away" team. For example, we were very expansive today - Bree wasn't really defending much and looks full of confidence.

I thought we lacked a bit defensivley, the partnerships didnt feel all there which is understandable i guess given the new players are bedding in, but i thought it was a bit short of being "ready to go" in that aspect of it. I was not impressed with Burke today, got beat way too easily in the air for my liking most notably on the goal - Jones made a veiled criticism of it in his post match as well "I bring my centre halves in to be dominant, if they arent that, then we are in trouble", so an early little kick up the arse for him I suspect. Having said that Portsmouth didnt create much of anything bar the goal itself.

In attack I thought we looked excellent, so much more positive in possession than last season with multiple players who are happy to run at people and take players on. Noticeably more athletic as a side.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Yeah. Looking at the goals we scored a cracker and let in a howler.

 

[Kenneth E End]

I thought we lacked a bit defensivley, the partnerships didnt feel all there which is understandable i guess given the new players are bedding in, but i thought it was a bit short of being "ready to go" in that aspect of it. I was not impressed with Burke today, got beat way too easily in the air for my liking most notably on the goal - Jones made a veiled criticism of it in his post match as well "I bring my centre halves in to be dominant, if they arent that, then we are in trouble", so an early little kick up the arse for him I suspect. Having said that Portsmouth didnt create much of anything bar the goal itself.

In attack I thought we looked excellent, so much more positive in possession than last season with multiple players who are happy to run at people and take players on. Noticeably more athletic as a side.

Burke was the only dampener. But he has only played one game alongside Bradley in this pre-season. I feel confident that Lockyer will be the first choice and Burke will play the back up role to start with.

Luton had enough chances to win multiple games, but was lacking a little sharpness in the final third.

 

[SF_]

1-1 at Accrington (Trialist, Jamie Thomas)

 

[Craig]

Drew 0-0 with Morecambe at Loughborough Uni. Don’t know about rest of you but this pre-season all seems a little meh to me.

 

[SF_]

1-0 down at HT against City, Mahrez free kick.

Earl vs Mahrez & Cancelo is just cruel haha, they're unbelievable, he'll never get a better lesson in football.

Entertaining game, we've done alright.

I'd take that Morgan Rogers on loan.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Drew 0-0 with Morecambe at Loughborough Uni. Don’t know about rest of you but this pre-season all seems a little meh to me.

Enjoyed it myself but that’s because we’ve signed a load of new players, so that’s always fun to see how it hangs together. It feels like it’s been pretty quiet elsewhere though.

 

[SF_]

Lost 2-0, a young winger called Edozie got their second who looks a big talent.

Very impressed by McAtee in midfield when he came on at HT, silky as fuck.

 

[SF_]

United game called off as they have Covid cases.

That would have been a decent little earner.

 

[SF_]

Wigan away tonight.

A very 2nd string look to the team so we must have another game lined up.

Got another trialist, Tyler Williams, was on our books but left for Boro's academy, still only 19.

Now we've brought back our reserve team we can carry young guys like this on one year deals and hope they develop.

Not sure on 24yr olds who drop out of the game into the 10th & 7th tiers though, although it sounds like he's impressed and might get some sort of deal. Pretty tragic on our part but great for him.

 

[SF_]

Think the first team have a behind closed doors game with Burnley U23s lined up today, not ideal but better than nothing. Could be competitive.

A mostly stiff team lost 3-2 to Wigan last night, Rodwell-Grant coming off the bench and scoring a nice goal, hope he gets some minutes this season. Our other goal was an OG.

Probably only Browne, Sinclair and Bauer who i'd want in first XI contention from last night, we're carrying loads of shite.

No idea why we keep Hudson around, gash keeper who needs to drop to non-league.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Brighton for us today at home to round out pre season. Looking at the squad we’ve put out and who they have, I hope it’s not going to be a morale destroyer because we look weak at centre half.

Lockyer, Bradley, Burke who would probably be our top 3 at that position all seemingly not available today which is a bit of an odd one. Looks like Osho and Naismith starting there so a bit of an opportunity for Osho in particular to put himself forward. In midfield Lansbury has disappeared in the last 2 weeks.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Lost 3-1 to Brighton in the end. Didn’t go so can’t comment on performances but doesn’t sound like we were that great against albeit good opposition. More concerned about what’s happening with the centre halves, would not be ideal to go into the first game with all 3 unavailable