| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... 16:18 - Jul 31 with 5311 views | pointofblue |
But this doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. |  |
| |  |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 16:59 - Jul 31 with 1536 views | wkj |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 16:33 - Jul 31 by chrismakin |
Season doesnt finish on Sunday next week.
Hes got more than just a week. |
Please don't condescend - It is a perfectly legitimate point based on non-emotive observations of the game. |  |
| |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:00 - Jul 31 with 1541 views | TheBoyBlue |
If we'd won 3-0 everyone would be warning us it's only a friendly and quite rightly so. Don't know why that should be any different because we've lost 3-0. | |
| |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:03 - Jul 31 with 1492 views | chrismakin |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 16:59 - Jul 31 by wkj |
Please don't condescend - It is a perfectly legitimate point based on non-emotive observations of the game. |
Its perfectly fine to point it out. We lose next sat the amount of negativity that will follow will be unbelievable. Things will take a bit of time. |  |
| |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:04 - Jul 31 with 1480 views | Dubtractor |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 16:59 - Jul 31 by wkj |
Please don't condescend - It is a perfectly legitimate point based on non-emotive observations of the game. |
The idea that Chrismakin is moaning at other posters for over analysing things.
Ffs etc. |  |
| |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:09 - Jul 31 with 1440 views | wkj |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:03 - Jul 31 by chrismakin |
Its perfectly fine to point it out. We lose next sat the amount of negativity that will follow will be unbelievable. Things will take a bit of time. |
In all honesty, given the way we whimpered at the end of last season (whether it be fitness, or Cook or whatever) Cook will need to look cohesive in the league pretty early on.
Pair that with the fact that not everyone in the supporter base is fully behind Cook's bomb squad strategy.
Rightly or wrongly - He ain't going to get many free passes once the season starts - so he's going to need to make sure those players are playing as a cohesive team from the jump next week. | |
| |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:13 - Jul 31 with 1389 views | chrismakin |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:09 - Jul 31 by wkj |
In all honesty, given the way we whimpered at the end of last season (whether it be fitness, or Cook or whatever) Cook will need to look cohesive in the league pretty early on.
Pair that with the fact that not everyone in the supporter base is fully behind Cook's bomb squad strategy.
Rightly or wrongly - He ain't going to get many free passes once the season starts - so he's going to need to make sure those players are playing as a cohesive team from the jump next week. |
Q&A session and someones asks what the plan is when we lose games.
And more talk of immediate success is a must despite a complete squad change despite the owners asking for patience.
Incredible. Cook was right the modern football fan is nothing compared to what it used to be.
Btw...not sure what side of that fence you are. Just an overview of how I see it for those that feel how you've described.
If we are to succeed everyone needs to start fresh. It's the only way. [Post edited 31 Jul 2021 17:14]
| |
| |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:14 - Jul 31 with 1391 views | Ryorry |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 16:22 - Jul 31 by billlm |
Nope, keeper and back 4 not solid at all, the other 23 in our league will be loving this, |
😂 |  |
| |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:19 - Jul 31 with 1374 views | wkj |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:13 - Jul 31 by chrismakin |
Q&A session and someones asks what the plan is when we lose games.
And more talk of immediate success is a must despite a complete squad change despite the owners asking for patience.
Incredible. Cook was right the modern football fan is nothing compared to what it used to be.
Btw...not sure what side of that fence you are. Just an overview of how I see it for those that feel how you've described.
If we are to succeed everyone needs to start fresh. It's the only way. [Post edited 31 Jul 2021 17:14]
|
These are not necessarily my own views - though if we don't win next week the knives will start coming out. In all honestly, many fans had them out for Cook at the end of last year. And to be honest with you, you can't blame town fans for having little patience, as we showed it for years whilst we progressively got worse. | |
| |
Login to get fewer ads
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:32 - Jul 31 with 1297 views | pointofblue |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:19 - Jul 31 by wkj |
These are not necessarily my own views - though if we don't win next week the knives will start coming out. In all honestly, many fans had them out for Cook at the end of last year. And to be honest with you, you can't blame town fans for having little patience, as we showed it for years whilst we progressively got worse. |
The good and bad thing is our start - we have sides which we should be able to compete against even whilst bedding in. The flip side, is if we lose pressure will start to mount.
I react emotionally, I'll admit that. Every defeat, even a meaningless friendly, hurts and I'll hold my hands up and say I over-react. I guess the one thing to bear in mind is Blackpool from last year - after we defeated them 2-0 down here in February they sat 13th in the table, nine points off 6th. Three months later they were promoted via the play offs from third. [Post edited 31 Jul 2021 17:33]
| |
| |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:35 - Jul 31 with 1276 views | Churchman |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 16:47 - Jul 31 by WD19 |
We play down the importance of pre-season every year.
One year we will be right. |
It depends on what you want from pre-season. We’ve had Mickey Mouse ones playing against lower non-competitive opposition which have been used as run around and get the players fit. We’ve just played three games against a lower side who were well up for it and two higher ones.
Despite the disappointing results, these will stand us in far better stead than playing low quality teams in Ireland, for example. Add in that new players have had a chance to play at PR, Cook can see what stage the players are at fitness and cohesion wise and that’s what we get from it.
I’ll be pleasantly surprised if we start the season well because it’ll take time for the players to gel. Hopefully there will be a couple of additions too. It took a scratch Blackpool team a couple of months to get going. I’d not be surprised if the same applied to us. The big question is whether the supporters will be patient. Given the numbers of Cook-outers, I have my doubts,. |  | | |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:38 - Jul 31 with 1244 views | wkj |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:32 - Jul 31 by pointofblue |
The good and bad thing is our start - we have sides which we should be able to compete against even whilst bedding in. The flip side, is if we lose pressure will start to mount.
I react emotionally, I'll admit that. Every defeat, even a meaningless friendly, hurts and I'll hold my hands up and say I over-react. I guess the one thing to bear in mind is Blackpool from last year - after we defeated them 2-0 down here in February they sat 13th in the table, nine points off 6th. Three months later they were promoted via the play offs from third. [Post edited 31 Jul 2021 17:33]
|
I mean, no one can say that results-wise it was a frustrating pre-season. I do think that the game against Stevenage being cancelled didn't do anyone any favours as that game would have been good for the earlier signings to start bedding in.
Needless to say, the start of the season is an easy run on paper - so a strong start is imperative for our momentum as our September has a lot of our toughest opponents on paper. | |
| |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:39 - Jul 31 with 1236 views | Vic |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 16:30 - Jul 31 by wkj |
Certainly not a cause for panic, but the texts I got from friends at the game say its a bit frustrating seeing some of the mistakes being made.
Cook has some work to do to get the parts operating as a solid team, and a week to do it in. |
There absolutely no point peo0le saying things Like ‘same mistakes being made because this a completely different set of players (unless it was Woolf and Toto). |  |
| |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:39 - Jul 31 with 1230 views | chrismakin |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:35 - Jul 31 by Churchman |
It depends on what you want from pre-season. We’ve had Mickey Mouse ones playing against lower non-competitive opposition which have been used as run around and get the players fit. We’ve just played three games against a lower side who were well up for it and two higher ones.
Despite the disappointing results, these will stand us in far better stead than playing low quality teams in Ireland, for example. Add in that new players have had a chance to play at PR, Cook can see what stage the players are at fitness and cohesion wise and that’s what we get from it.
I’ll be pleasantly surprised if we start the season well because it’ll take time for the players to gel. Hopefully there will be a couple of additions too. It took a scratch Blackpool team a couple of months to get going. I’d not be surprised if the same applied to us. The big question is whether the supporters will be patient. Given the numbers of Cook-outers, I have my doubts,. |
Spot on, The twelve man part of PC speech the other night was spot on, Town fans can be part of our success but they can also be part of the opposite.
Just wish they could watch town as town and not go into games expecting to watch Man City and come away with many city results. It will take time. | |
| |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:41 - Jul 31 with 1223 views | Marshalls_Mullet |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:39 - Jul 31 by chrismakin |
Spot on, The twelve man part of PC speech the other night was spot on, Town fans can be part of our success but they can also be part of the opposite.
Just wish they could watch town as town and not go into games expecting to watch Man City and come away with many city results. It will take time. |
I don't think any town fans are expecting Man City results / performances. |  |
| |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:43 - Jul 31 with 1214 views | pointofblue |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:38 - Jul 31 by wkj |
I mean, no one can say that results-wise it was a frustrating pre-season. I do think that the game against Stevenage being cancelled didn't do anyone any favours as that game would have been good for the earlier signings to start bedding in.
Needless to say, the start of the season is an easy run on paper - so a strong start is imperative for our momentum as our September has a lot of our toughest opponents on paper. |
The squad has still got holes in it, which I'm sure Ashton and Cook fully recongise and would prefer to have players through the door - left back, an experienced centre back, centre midfield (back up) and left wings in particular. Even if they arrive before Morecambe they're going to need to be eased through training and systems.
I know it's completely unfair and unjust but am I looking forward as much to next Saturday as I was at 3pm? No, not at all. Even though I know I should be. | |
| |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:43 - Jul 31 with 1214 views | wkj |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:39 - Jul 31 by Vic |
There absolutely no point peo0le saying things Like ‘same mistakes being made because this a completely different set of players (unless it was Woolf and Toto). |
Indeed, though in my comment - I wasn't saying that nor were the chaps I was talking with. It was commenting on some soft mistakes from the current players in no way making comparisons to any mistakes previous squads have made. | |
| |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:55 - Jul 31 with 1170 views | Churchman |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 17:43 - Jul 31 by pointofblue |
The squad has still got holes in it, which I'm sure Ashton and Cook fully recongise and would prefer to have players through the door - left back, an experienced centre back, centre midfield (back up) and left wings in particular. Even if they arrive before Morecambe they're going to need to be eased through training and systems.
I know it's completely unfair and unjust but am I looking forward as much to next Saturday as I was at 3pm? No, not at all. Even though I know I should be. |
I know what you mean, but I bet you will be by 3pm next Saturday. That’s the way of the football supporter!
Keep the faith (and cross your fingers). | | | |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 18:01 - Jul 31 with 1155 views | TomTheWriter |
Blackpool were 20th by the end of the first month last season. Oxford were 22nd in November. Sunderland were 13th at the end of 2020. Peterborough were 19th after three games.
You flip that over - we were 4th in the middle of December. Accrington Stanley were 3rd at the beginning of December. Charlton were 2nd in the middle of December. Doncaster were 5th in February and finished 14th! Plymouth were 5th in the middle of November, finished 18th. Portsmouth were 1st at the end of 2020.
You’re not condemned to relegation by August. You’re not winning the league in November. It’s a 46 game season for a reason. Hull and Lincoln were the only sides last year to stay in-and-around the top 2. Hull didn’t leave the top 4, but everyone else jumped between 2nd and 24th throughout the season.
This will be a marathon, and it’ll be about who can keep going the longest. You can’t even write your season off, look at Oxford and Sunderland for inspiration in that. Trust the process. |  |
| |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 18:36 - Jul 31 with 1086 views | monty_radio |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 16:34 - Jul 31 by positivity |
and what was the score in our last pre-season game in 2017? 1-6 against a team in the league below (charlton)
won the next 4 league games! it means nowt [Post edited 31 Jul 2021 16:36]
|
If the final game before the real thing means nothing then it would be just a fitness exercise. While much that people have said about finding our feet is obviously true, what it did demonstrate was that Paul Cook's preferred formation isn't on show yet. No number 10 with Fraser out and no real left winger ( for all that Dobra played well).
Hopefully the shape and speed that Cook saw in his head from Day One will materialise, but it's not on show yet. | |
| |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 18:58 - Jul 31 with 1040 views | Ryorry |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 18:01 - Jul 31 by TomTheWriter |
Blackpool were 20th by the end of the first month last season. Oxford were 22nd in November. Sunderland were 13th at the end of 2020. Peterborough were 19th after three games.
You flip that over - we were 4th in the middle of December. Accrington Stanley were 3rd at the beginning of December. Charlton were 2nd in the middle of December. Doncaster were 5th in February and finished 14th! Plymouth were 5th in the middle of November, finished 18th. Portsmouth were 1st at the end of 2020.
You’re not condemned to relegation by August. You’re not winning the league in November. It’s a 46 game season for a reason. Hull and Lincoln were the only sides last year to stay in-and-around the top 2. Hull didn’t leave the top 4, but everyone else jumped between 2nd and 24th throughout the season.
This will be a marathon, and it’ll be about who can keep going the longest. You can’t even write your season off, look at Oxford and Sunderland for inspiration in that. Trust the process. |
Well said ðŸ‘
Which highlights exactly why it's been so important that our new owners have taken Sports Science seriously & completely overhauled that Dept - if you could even have described it as that during the ME years, it was so lamentably bad.
The structural changes will be fundamental, including the re-laying of the PR pitch, which seems to have gone under some peoples' radar.
All the more reason for us fans to remain patient - we've had a good reputation for that in the past & for being less short-termist than fans of many other clubs - so let's do our bit & show it again this season. There's rarely been a better time or reason to do so.
PS Were you the poster formerly known as 'AKATomTheBlue?' If so, welcome back, have often wondered how things have been going for you :) [Post edited 31 Jul 2021 19:03]
| |
| |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 19:03 - Jul 31 with 1025 views | pointofblue |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 18:58 - Jul 31 by Ryorry |
Well said ðŸ‘
Which highlights exactly why it's been so important that our new owners have taken Sports Science seriously & completely overhauled that Dept - if you could even have described it as that during the ME years, it was so lamentably bad.
The structural changes will be fundamental, including the re-laying of the PR pitch, which seems to have gone under some peoples' radar.
All the more reason for us fans to remain patient - we've had a good reputation for that in the past & for being less short-termist than fans of many other clubs - so let's do our bit & show it again this season. There's rarely been a better time or reason to do so.
PS Were you the poster formerly known as 'AKATomTheBlue?' If so, welcome back, have often wondered how things have been going for you :) [Post edited 31 Jul 2021 19:03]
|
We were astounding patient with Lambert - Cook should hopefully only need half the patience to get us moving in the right direction! | |
| |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 19:36 - Jul 31 with 988 views | MattinLondon |
 |  | | |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 19:54 - Jul 31 with 961 views | TomTheWriter |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 18:58 - Jul 31 by Ryorry |
Well said ðŸ‘
Which highlights exactly why it's been so important that our new owners have taken Sports Science seriously & completely overhauled that Dept - if you could even have described it as that during the ME years, it was so lamentably bad.
The structural changes will be fundamental, including the re-laying of the PR pitch, which seems to have gone under some peoples' radar.
All the more reason for us fans to remain patient - we've had a good reputation for that in the past & for being less short-termist than fans of many other clubs - so let's do our bit & show it again this season. There's rarely been a better time or reason to do so.
PS Were you the poster formerly known as 'AKATomTheBlue?' If so, welcome back, have often wondered how things have been going for you :) [Post edited 31 Jul 2021 19:03]
|
Fitness has been our issue for the past few seasons. Biggest problem we faced was not buying a suitable right back replacement/backup over the last two years. How Lambert went January 2020, July-September 2020 and January 2021 without buying/loaning a league one experienced right back is beyond me.
Forced to go 3-5-2 first year with Edwards playing as a wing back, and Chambers playing as a right back for virtually the whole season as well. We know that, even if he isn’t the greatest footballer, he is better at CB than he is at RB.
Sadly I am not the previously known ‘TomIsBlue’, I used to be called ‘AConcernedTownFan’ before it was changed for me by Gav. | |
| |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 20:00 - Jul 31 with 941 views | Ryorry |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 19:54 - Jul 31 by TomTheWriter |
Fitness has been our issue for the past few seasons. Biggest problem we faced was not buying a suitable right back replacement/backup over the last two years. How Lambert went January 2020, July-September 2020 and January 2021 without buying/loaning a league one experienced right back is beyond me.
Forced to go 3-5-2 first year with Edwards playing as a wing back, and Chambers playing as a right back for virtually the whole season as well. We know that, even if he isn’t the greatest footballer, he is better at CB than he is at RB.
Sadly I am not the previously known ‘TomIsBlue’, I used to be called ‘AConcernedTownFan’ before it was changed for me by Gav. |
Ah - thanks for answering my question - welcome back anyway!
I think we've lacked a good, dedicated RB for about 10 years tbh! | |
| |
| It's only a friendly, it's only a friendly, it's only a friendly... on 20:06 - Jul 31 with 932 views | J2BLUE |
Couldn't really care less about today win, lose or draw. It's another box ticked and now the countdown is on to getting this season started. We may win 6-0 on Saturday and be top for the entire season. We may take time to gel, lose and this could be a season of transition but Evans is gone and we have hope. Whether it's this season or not, the future looks a hell of a lot brighter.
Let's not argue over a friendly. Millwall have a good keeper, defensively solid and Afobe is a great signing. There won't be any teams like them in league one. |  |
| |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
