Friendlies List

[SteveB]

I think this is the full list! Feel free to correct me if I have missed any!

 

Great Wakering Rovers (Home) Sat 19th July 12pm

Whitstable Town (Away) Tues 22nd July 7.45pm

Erith & Belvedere (Away) Mon 28th July 7.45pm

Chatham Town (Away) Saturday 2nd August 3pm

Cray Wanderers (Home) Sunday 10th August 2pm

[Jake]

Erith & Belvedere FC on the 28th apparently.

[Coffin Ender]

E&B website has it as 29th.

[seasidesteve]

i hope they adjust the entrance fee for all those games or very few will attend.9quid to watch a friendly against lower league opposition is a joke

[Jake]

Sorry yes it's on the 29th July.

[michael]

The overheads of opening up don't change much though s0 need to cover costs.

What may be better is an offer-pay full price for the reserve game and get a voucher for admittance to the first league game at half price

[margateshot]

Thats one hell of a list, the crowds should be flocking through the turnstiles!!!!

[Greg_Dyke]

flocking in, or flocking out ?

[michael]

On the face ot it Margate shot-i think most of us would agree with your tongue in cheek response.

 

However, we probably all need to take a reality check-that is the level we play against these days-most clubs play against teams one league lower

 

We could well be in the same league as some of those clubs in 12 months-and then facing friendlies against Kent county league teams !!

 

We just have not got the 'pulling power' these days !!

[Wellsie]

And in fairness to BA, he has said it was a bit too late to try and get freindlies against higher league opposition. While not crowd pulling fixtures, they could be exactly what the side needs to gel.

[Jake]

I agree with Wellsie, also where we're playing lower league opposition the players will find it easier to cope and if we can remain unbeaten through these fixtures going into the new season then the players will be full of confidence.

[Andy .]

Well said Wellsie , Cray being the challenge for the lads after there great run last yr but we still need some experience in the squad . If it happens great if BA dosen`t sign anyone else i think these games will point us to where we might finish in the league this season . In all fairness to the youngsters who are now the seniors the friendlies they are playing are all quite a challenge . Ians Gw`s are going to be no pushover if he`s taught them to play like he did for us , Whitstable proved last yr that they are not Kent league fodder by staying up ,E&B always hard to play against don`t no if Billys still there but i know he had a good season with them and Chatham proved they have quality in there ranks by turning over Dover last season and Cray have done wonders with a magnificent run ,so all will be a challenge to a rookie boss and a bunch of kids . Up the Gate .

[michael]

I don't think results in psf's have any bearing on how the team will perfornm in league matches.

 

Part of me says that in fact ,i'd like the teams to be well beaten in the psf's to give a reality check as to how hard its going to be; because the sooner the management realise, the sooner they can do something about it.

That makes me feel disloyal though, and equally would it shatter the confidence of the younger players.

 

Very difficult to know what outcome you want from psf's.

 

Many a team has had a great run in the psf's and then get hammered in theour first competitive matches

[P.W.]

Originally Posted By: Wellsie

And in fairness to BA, he has said it was a bit too late to try and get freindlies against higher league opposition.....

If the fixtures were made before BA was appointed, why weren't the Board making some competetive fixtures - after all they knew they were not going to retain Robin (& probably suspected he wasn't going to take a 3rd season anyway)?

We had good contacts with Ebbsfleet & Brentford who loaned us players last season + may have had room for a fixture for their Reserve/Fringe players & some trialists.

Originally Posted By: Wellsie

.....While not crowd pulling fixtures, they could be exactly what the side needs to gel.

Yes I agree, but doesn't BA also need to see how the side reacts against a stronger opposition too ?

[bigtw]

Cray were for me the best team in Rymans south last year. They should be a good test if they have kept the same squad.

[michael]

Agree re:Cray-also the youngsters need to be tested by physical sides to see how they react;and hopefully the opposition we have got will be a physical challenge.

GWR also appear to be one of Ryman north favourites for coming season.

 

Remains a pity imo that BA cancelled the ramsgate games.

 

My main concern remains that the management may not realise how 'tough' in all meanings of the word, the Ryman premier is

 

 

[Wellsie]

Don't forget the period of board uncertainty that delayed BA's appointment. I don't know if the PSF's were arranged before BA came on board - my guess is no.

[CT9]

Got to agree with Wellsie and Jake on this, in that, its good for gelling and confidence. We should win all these games and then both they (the players), and we (the fans), will all know that The Ryman Premier is the minimum standard, these lads, should all be playing. After this, due to their ages, the only way is up.

 

The main thing is to make all these players feel that they are "THE BEST". The more they believe the better each, and eveyone of them, will play. That's it, simple as that. If we want these lads to win every time the hit the park all of us have to install into them total belief. Believe me from what I've seen it won't take long for the doubters, and the opposition, to realise it too.

 

 

 

[michael]

Love the optimism.

Who am i to cast doubt upon your words.

 

If you are right on all counts-you are my hero

[Boney Crisp]

The results don't matter, as long the team discover what the best formation is for them to play and as long as they gel together and get used to eachother before the start of the season.

 

I hope the club reduce the admittance fee though.