Post match V Amazulu

[mcfcdjr]

I would rather us get the test we need against decent opposition rather than playing second rate sides where we win by a massive margin.

Exactly mate ! Arsenal can go about battering the mighty Vietnam and god knows who else they have played, but from where I'm sitting their games just look like a bunch of easy fixtures to score shed loads of goals, make them look great and give false hope to their fans. I have been impressed by the two SA teams and their fitness levels will surely help improve ours.

 

[thenabster]

Does anyone know if the South African season is underway at present,
because both the sides we played out there looked very fit and sharp.

They start two weeks before the EPL. It's not underway yet.

 

[cibaman]

I usually find that the worse we do in pre season the better we do once the season gets underway. I don't think that's a coincidence, just that the harder the players work in training, the less sharp they're going to be in the friendlies.

So I'm quite happy with the start to pre season.

I ask does anyone one have the last pre season results tabulated to back this claim or refute it ?

Probably not, more of a gut feel. I seem to remember a couple of "big" pre season wins under Keegan and Pearce that were followed by very poor opening games. We had a lousy pre season under Sven with all the new players but a great start to the actual season.

Then there was the community shield defeat against United. We played the second half as if the players had warmed up for the game with a 10k run. Very heavy legged and obviously still in training mode. But it caused mad panic on here.

 

[waspish]

We had a cracking Pre season under frank Clark won every game by more than 2 goals that was the season bury beat us at home and he got sacked

 

[york away to this!]

so, let's take a look at the new manager's record so far...

played two, lost two.

a 100% losing record is simply not good enough. I for one will be delighted if we avoid relegation this season.

 

[01cravend]

Triple training sessions this week(brutal), Probably a lot of stiff legs out there, think these games are more like another training session.

If we play poorly against Newcastle, then feel free to worry

 

[Smithy34]

I would rather us get the test we need against decent opposition rather than playing second rate sides where we win by a massive margin.

Exactly mate ! Arsenal can go about battering the mighty Vietnam and god knows who else they have played, but from where I'm sitting their games just look like a bunch of easy fixtures to score shed loads of goals, make them look great and give false hope to their fans. I have been impressed by the two SA teams and their fitness levels will surely help improve ours.

Yep I too have been very impressed with the opposition - and that is what is required. Like you mention Arsenal are playing totally inferior teams and although it looks great on paper none of their players have been tested.

 

[PragueBlue]

I would rather us get the test we need against decent opposition rather than playing second rate sides where we win by a massive margin.

Where does losing to 2nd rate opposition fit into that?

I couldn't care less about the results to be honest but I do think these games are about a bit more than getting fit, especially with us having a new manager. It's going to be Pellegrini's first chance to work with these players and evaluate them in a competitive match of some description, and see how the players will fit within the system he wants to bring in.

Also form the club's perspective, I'm sure we went to Africa to boost our popularity in the region (otherwise we could have stayed closer to home to get fit) and poor performances are not likely to have a positive impact on that.

I'm pleased we look like having a few new faces in though, as I think the squad needed freshening up, and we should be in for a good season.

 

[levets]

Dzeko, Kolarov and Sinclair what a waste of 250K a week.

If these 3 get much playing time we're f@cked.

Think Dzeko will be gone tbh. Aguero, Negredo, Jovetic, Guidetti.

Guidetti: no way will he replace Dzeko.... not even fit for 3 months...

 

[afro2007]

those who're upset on the team losing is because they bettered and now is making some lose their minds.