The nature of friendlies

[3spirit]

On the Wealdstone FC forum, there's a right ding-dong going on, with their supporters moaning about what their team is playing like in their friendlies and some are already giving Gordon Bartlett, their manager, a hard time about results and for playing too many triallists. Currently Wealdstone have 8 first team players unavailable.

I think these fans are nuts !

 

I know a lot of Slough fans are notorious for being moaners but least we're not resorting to moaning about our friendlies. To me the Wealdstone lot have gone right overboard.

 

Even though our results haven't shown it, I think our preparation is going well and I could easily pick a first 16, from the players we've got, so I'm sure Bakes and Unders feel the same way.

Although to me, in squad terms I still think there's room for a couple more acquisitions yet and a couple could still find their way to the exit door !    

 

Hopefully we will witness it all taking shape in our final three friendlies but of course, their should still be enough time to try out the odd one or two triallists/ experienced players before the league commences, even if they're just by way of sub appearances.

 

Anyway, roll on for the game against managerless SYCOB. Anyone have any news on this job vacancy? 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

[kirk]

Just as well pre season games don't count.Please don't say " lets discuss things after 10 games " if we lose the majority of them. Like you and many others we wait to see.

[3spirit]

Just as well pre season games don't count.Please don't say " lets discuss things after 10 games " if we lose the majority of them. Like you and many others we wait to see.

 

Friendlies don't count in way of league points, do they?

 

You only have to look at last pre-season, where we had a reasonable return of good results only to start poorly in the league games.

 

This season we hopefully going to do it the other way around ! ha ha !    

[Graham Cox]

But still only a squad of 17 on the club website.................

[Curtis]

It's possible to watch pre-season friendlies and make a judgement on whether you believe the team is stronger or weaker than the previous season, regardless of the actual results.

 

Wealdstone fans would appear to think they are weaker, and since they weren't many points off of relegation last season might be very concerned.

[staines_rebel_Jr]

But still only a squad of 17 on the club website.................

 

The website doesn't have Brad Hewitt, Josh Jackman or Charlie Lossaso on it. Adrian Sear is also available to play.

[Graham Cox]

Still seems a bit short when Gary Gokman will be out on loan.

[staines_rebel_Jr]

GK - Scott, Warrington

Defenders - Fraser, Jackman, Stonehouse, Hollis, Hicks, Nisbet, New, Hewitt

Midfielders - Harris, Gilkes, Putman, Losasso, Dobson, Webb, Dunn, Togwell, (Sears)

Strikers - Barney, James, Moone

 

I make that 21 (22 with sears)

 

Forgot to mention Warrington and James Dobson in my earlier post

[GlenSTFC]

I presume Warro is away as he's only played once? Shane it didn't work out for Baby Bunts but probably too much of a step up. Not sure any more trialists will be taken on with just 3 friendlies left as these games will now be taken more seriously as a build up to the first game.

[GlenSTFC]

Of the above list SRJ gave, can't see Hewitt staying given the errors he made plus we already have 4 centre backs. I would think we'd like to keep Losasso but he may have other irons in the fire. Not sure we've seen enough of Dobbo so far this time around to see if he's worth giving another chance? Maybe he'll be given the last 3 games to prove his worth. Surprised we've not had more strikers in pre-season and look likely to start with 3 in the squad.

[staines_rebel_Jr]

Disagree about Hewitt. In the match I saw against Farnborough him and Nisbet formed a good partnership and both played well against two top strikers in Ed Smith an Nic Ciardini.

[GlenSTFC]

That's 1 match but that's your opinion so no one can dismiss that. We shall see if he becomes a squad player or even a regular.

[Curtis]

With just three friendlies before the season starts, it will be interesting to see if our likely strongest eleven start the match tomorrow.

[David Carpenter]

As age creeps on my memory admittedly gets a bit fudgy but I seem to recall that the first season we won the Isthmian League our pre-season was P5 L5. I stand to be corrected but as others say winning is nice but the real purpose is to try things out, trialists etc. I'm sure Gordon Bartlett will see the moaners off at Wealdstone.

[Reading Rebel]

For various reasons I think we've probably seen the last of Warro.

 

I also don't think we'll be seeing Dobbo again.

[GlenSTFC]

So has Warro been away and just not selected? Dobbo played well for half a season in the league belie for us so was never confident he'd be upto this level and any better than what we have.

[Sloughboy]

In fairness Wealdstone fans are notorious for that, if they are seeing Alarming signs - performances more so than results, then they are possibly right to worry though?

[Reading Rebel]

I think the Wealdstone supporters are concerned because they can see the same pattern emerging as they saw last pre-season when they flirted with relegation.

[staines_rebel_Jr]

results in pre season don't really matter, all that matters is that the players get their fitness back and learn each others game so that when they play the first league game they can play as a cohesive team.

 

If there is a clear disharmony between the players or the manager then you should be worried.

[Sloughboy]

Totally agree results irrelevant, performances and seeing some encouraging signs is all that matters along with the fitness. Supporters can see if that's the case or not and not naive enough to think results are be all and end all. Didcot for eg... I wasn't there but we got hammered by a side a league lower and yet people were encouraged from what the saw...