Don’t know if their fans will travel in numbers for this, but this was at Norwich last season. Brilliant.

Edited July 27Jul 27 by Bertie

Enjoyed that. Took my littlun to their first game and they enjoyed it. Bug well and truly back. Roll on Sheff wed

Edited August 1Aug 1 by tomski

We were decent for 25 minutes and Gale had chances to double our lead. After that they came into it and were unlucky not to equalise. The game fizzled out a bit late on with all the changes, but we did create a few chances e.g. Dalby’s miss. We didn’t work there keeper enough though over 90.

The defence looks solid enough, but a middle 3 of Rodrigues, Sheehan and Simons didn’t give it much protection today, too easily bypassed. Famewo is a pure defender. Stephenson more promising going forward but on his side Ritchie offered little and was peripheral to the game sadly, and needs to go out on loan. Gale and Dalby were Gale and Dalby.

Edited August 1Aug 1 by TrickyTrotter

20 minutes ago, Farnywhite said:

Has for athleticism thats what the modern game is about when you move up the levels it’s more important than its ever been

While I agree on the role of physical attributes in the modern game, they never trump footballing ability. Look at 39 year old Messi at the World Cup.

The footballing ability is neglected too much, in my opinion.

Today's opponents probably a step up for him but Ritchie was similarly on the edge of things on Tuesday, a more realistic test, though I wonder if the position is doing him any favours. L2 loan would do him good.

It's a fucking pre season game. I know all clubs have the same but fuck me I wonder sometimes if the average IQ of our fans is in single digits.

2 hours ago, Farnywhite said:

Not sure you are right about that Stephenson as played as a wing back though at previous clubs

It was just an early impression of his ability, within the confines of friendlies - pace, trickery, strength, crossing etc - he looks a bit one paced to me, but a decent enough full back. Not a Tutu, Cogley or Conway type that's doing quite a bit of both. Of course that means he's less likely to be caught out of position and he clearly enjoys defending/getting stuck in which can't always be said about the others. I would be surprised if our opponents don't have more dynamic full backs at this level.

1 hour ago, Rival Son said:

Another who puts physical and athletic attributes above technical ability. Tutu was very average League One, while Cogley is League Two. The pair of them would have been dreadful in the Championship.

You've lost me there. Tutu had ability in spades as well as athletic attributes but nowhere was I putting one above the other.

Its strange that Cogley is L2 but has spent the last few seasons in the top 6 or so of L1, he has many critics but not many saying he shouldn't be in L1.

Every player that's played for us in the last 3 or 4 years might be dreadful in the championship, so what? Its more about whether we've signed better players than those we've lost.

It amazes me that players we got rid of are all of a sudden world beaters ffs Cogley the only thing he was good at was pointing and Tutu came good at the end of his contract !

1 hour ago, Take Hunt Off said:

Do you ever post anything positive ?

You are a handsome person

1 hour ago, Rival Son said:

While I agree on the role of physical attributes in the modern game, they never trump footballing ability. Look at 39 year old Messi at the World Cup.

The footballing ability is neglected too much, in my opinion.

And at our level ACD another example. But what point are you making about our players?

3 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Stephenson can put a foot in but its stretching it to say he's an improvement on Cogley or Tutu. He might well be, but no evidence so far. No quality going forward yet, less pace than those 2 and not stronger or taller. He clearly has a good attitude and tenacity, but its all very L1.

Last week I was encouraged that we played higher standard opposition and didn't look out of place. Less encouraging today, very few flowing moves and Sheehan well off the pace unusually. The wide areas are a real problem going forward, Gale was awful and nothing down the right.

Forino and Davies played well, Famewo solid but nothing going forward, which is a theme.

He's not played a league game yet.

Yet comparisons and criticisms already.

Madness.

1 hour ago, tomski said:

Enjoyed that. Took my littlun to their first game and they enjoyed it. Bug well and truly back. Roll on Sheff wed

Wehey.

Oak trees second fiddle now!

Edited August 1Aug 1 by Tonge moor green jacket

Return fixture pre season next year? 🍻

1 hour ago, Rival Son said:

While I agree on the role of physical attributes in the modern game, they never trump footballing ability. Look at 39 year old Messi at the World Cup.

The footballing ability is neglected too much, in my opinion.

Wish it was the case but that’s how the game as developed these days was always a big Matt le tissier fan and he used to get slagged off back in the day for is work rate and hardly get picked for England . You never see players of half that ability coming through academys these days .

Messi is a massive exception all time best ability after Diego for me

37 minutes ago, Winchester White said:

It's a fucking pre season game. I know all clubs have the same but fuck me I wonder sometimes if the average IQ of our fans is in single digits.

Chill out no need to go ott. This board is for comments and if you can’t hack that then do one. Of course it’s early season and nobody’s expecting miracles but if this team that played today starts the season we’re in big trouble. That’s all people are debating so calm down and stop making childish comments about fans IQ.

More comments about Schumacher sounding fed up and defeated after the game. If thats referencing the BBC Sport interview, I just don't hear it like that. He sounds exactly like he always has, to me.

24 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

And at our level ACD another example. But what point are you making about our players?

The point I’m making is that some, such as Cogley and Tutu, are lauded for the physical prowess but are actually distinctly average footballers. Santos is a better example, great physically but a bloody awful footballer who relied on his physical attributes to get him out of the shit.

28 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

He's not played a league game yet.

Yet comparisons and criticisms already.

Madness.

Fair enough. Guilty of going to a game and commenting on it, happy to wait for the real stuff to start.

But being at the game folk comment on it, it would be more crazy for everyone to sit there in total silence and ignore everything because its just a friendly. The managers on the touchline seemed to be paying attention to what the players were doing or not doing.

32 minutes ago, Rival Son said:

The point I’m making is that some, such as Cogley and Tutu, are lauded for the physical prowess but are actually distinctly average footballers. Santos is a better example, great physically but a bloody awful footballer who relied on his physical attributes to get him out of the shit.

Cogley has never been lauded for his physical prowess to my knowledge. Tutu very different, he could beat a man, he's a winger (for some unknown reason converted to full back) and to say he has no ability is wide of the mark, he is fast and can beat a man, that run at Wembley just doesn't happen if your name is Cogley or Christie.

Both are "average footballers". L1 players.

The discussion is whether we now have a squad of "above average/championship footballers". As we aren't allowed to comment on friendlies, its impossible to say yet, we need to be patient.

10 hours ago, Winchester White said:

It's a fucking pre season game. I know all clubs have the same but fuck me I wonder sometimes if the average IQ of our fans is in single digits.

What's got you so worked up? Looking at comments everyone seems aware it was a pre-season game and the discussion is about whether we're ready for the upcoming season. All seems reasonable to me

he really is a dick

apathy because we've only signed 6 players?

There were more home fans there last week against Everton. Presume most people aren't arsed about going to multiple pre-season games and picked the one against the Premier League team.

Anyone with apathy must be nuts. I understand frustration etc, even if I disagree. Playing some big games and big players should not lead to apathy. Odd.

13 minutes ago, tomski said:

Anyone with apathy must be nuts. I understand frustration etc, even if I disagree. Playing some big games and big players should not lead to apathy. Odd.

he's just a little fucking drama queen