ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

The Mail Bag

Worrying Pre Season Form

I don't know about most of you lot but the fact that our only win of pre-season so far is the win against Rochdale (I do not count the penalty shoot out against MLS All-Stars) does not fill me with any confidence in the team whatsoever.

I know some of you may say playing the kids and injuries are the reason behind the results and to this I say there are no excuses. The fact that there has been no clean sheet in itself is highly worrying, I mean no disrespect to the teams we have played but River Plate are the only team with any pedigree or class, yet we lose to Bury and Blackpool.

I know pre-season is primarily about player fitness but surely the results no matter who is in the side are also very important for confidence and morale. No more fucking about BK — you'd best start signing some class or get the fuck out because everyone is tiring of the excuses and protracted negotiations with no end result! It is starting to look as though the start of the season may be a long and painful one!

COYB!
Brendan Fox, London Posted 04/08/2009 at 19:01:44

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John Maxwell
1 Posted 05/08/2009 at 01:28:43

Brendan, the day we start arguing about pre-season games will be a dark one.. Is it worth it ?

They are warm up games are to improve players match sharpness and fitness, the only game i’m interested in is on 15th August.

Spurs won all their pre-season games last season and look what happened to them..

Jason Broome
2 Posted 05/08/2009 at 01:18:44

They better get their act together fast because Arsenal want the League and are going to treat the season opener like a cup final!

Chad Schofield
3 Posted 05/08/2009 at 01:48:57

if you look back over the seasons where we’ve done well in pre-season over previous seasons, it’s not been reflected when the season starts... At least that’s from memory. I could do the research, but I’m sure I’ll be corrected. Let’s not forget Baxter’s wonder goal followed by... Well exactly, it was PRE-season.

Stewart Littler
4 Posted 05/08/2009 at 01:56:30

Me Dad tells me that we lost ALL of our pre season games the last time we won the league - don’t know if anyone can back that up as I don’t know for sure!

And look at the Shite! It matters not, worried Blue.

Richard Murray
5 Posted 05/08/2009 at 01:55:34

Hmm. Anyone who’s watching the preseason games, though, can see we’re incredibly vulnerable at the back, have zero creativity in the middle, and no guile - bar Jo who got injured tonight - up front.

It’s not a case of it being preseason, it’s a case of our best players all being out injured or playing unfit - and they will need to get match fitness, having most missed out on a preseason, at some point.

We’re basically having another stinker of a preseason on and off the field - which looks like it’s going to get worse before it gets any better - and we all remember the start we had last year in similar circumstances? Woeful.

To be frank, it is a bit worrying and you’re fooling yourself if you think we’re equipped, considering the competition, to improve on last season at the moment.

Mike Coates
6 Posted 05/08/2009 at 02:20:39

I see Pre Season as a means to test out different players in different formations and see what gels.

We’re not the only team losing pre season games. Its not something I cry about. I see it as, get the losses out now and make it count when the season starts! :)

Mike Allison
7 Posted 05/08/2009 at 03:10:53

Pre-season games don’t matter in the slightest, not even a little bit. In days gone by you wouldn’t even have known the results of pre-season games let alone be worried about them.

I went to the Coventry game and it was basically ridiculous. I’m a decent player and quite fit and I could have popped on for 15 minutes or so and held my own. All the important elements are missing from the match. The big players performing under pressure and the mental strength that sets us aside from other teams simply doesn’t play a role. They turn up, run around, and if they happen to score more goals than the other team, then so be it, if they don’t, who cares?

We were way better than Cov but got slack and let two goals in, Hibbert looked like a great crosser of the ball and James Vaughan has shown more energy in Premier League warm-ups than he did in the whole match on Sunday.

It simply doesn’t matter.

Ciarán McGlone
8 Posted 05/08/2009 at 09:39:09

We don’t have a great deal of quality in the side at the moment... that’s the bottom line.

While I’m looking forward to the new season, I’m dreading what our football will be like.

Peter Dancer
9 Posted 05/08/2009 at 10:11:11

Don't we allways loose our pre-season games?

Anthony Doran
10 Posted 05/08/2009 at 11:28:36

Yeah the word is PRE-season I doubt any player really wants to go full throttle and risk an injury its all about getting up to speed for the big kick off, so relax and dont worry if we lose to the likes of Rochdale as will you really care in two weeks time from now? Save your bitchin for when its deserved

Brett Bradshaw
11 Posted 05/08/2009 at 11:36:45

I don’t give a monkeys about pre season form, the only thing I would want out of the game is 90 mins injury free.

People have slated James Vaughan’s form but put your self in his position, can you imagine what it would be like to get injurred AGAIN? not only that, but in pre season?

He game is based around his passion, heart and commitment. He can’t just go into pre season guns blazing can he.

Cue Stoke loan confirmation... haha.

I would rather he stayed with us and played Carling cup games etc but a 6 I wouldn’t begrudge him 6 months at Stoke, especially if he gets first team football.

Lionel Luthor
12 Posted 05/08/2009 at 12:00:31

Ciarán McGlone Posted 05/08/2009 at 09:39:09 We don’t have a great deal of quality in the side at the moment... that’s the bottom line. While I’m looking forward to the new season, I’m dreading what our football will be like. --------------------------------------------- Totally agree. I’ll be 100% behind the lads when it all kicks off, but I’m somewhat dreading the hoofball we are surely going to revert to.

Aidy Dews
13 Posted 05/08/2009 at 13:53:33

I'm not bothered about the results in pre-season if I'm honest. Yeah, it's nice to win but like everyone else say’s its basically there for fitness and players regaining sharpness before the big kick off.

What does worry me is the lack of signings this summer once again after Moyesy and the Board said they’d do their utmost to get players in as early as possible; it hasn't happened and now it looks like there’s going to be a rush on in the last week of August to get players in. In my opinion, if that's the case, we will start the season exactly the same as last but won't recover as well.

Yeah we’ll recover eventually but I don't think we’ll recover well enough to keep pace with the top 6 and we could have a struggle on next season.

Tom Bowers
14 Posted 05/08/2009 at 19:29:00

Nothing to worry about? Maybe, maybe not but now an injury to Jo? He has played quite well in pre-season but some of the others are looking the same as last year. It’s going to be tough at the start believe me unless re-inforcements arrive soon.

Jimmy Saville
15 Posted 05/08/2009 at 21:27:25

Please show me any direct links to proof that a poor pre season means you have a bad full season.

Nothing to worry about!

Tony Cheek
16 Posted 05/08/2009 at 09:07:51

Once again a very frustrating summer and once again we start the Premier League campaign with an injury list as long as an arm. Most of the clubs we will play against would kill for the list of players still recovering from long-term injury, plus it looks like Fellaini and Saha could be sidelined for the start.

Chances are Lescott won't be with us and maybe Senderos could be a last minute stand in against Arsenal. Of course we need to replace Lescott and although Senderos is not up to his standard, he has potential to better himself.

But, wasn't it a right back who could cross and a strong midfielder we needed? These were our priorities at the end of last season were they not? Myself, I am still fuming at us letting Cana go to Sunderland, but not to get a stronger right back is unforgivable, especially as Lars Jacobsen was sold at an early pre-season date... what's going on?

Tom Rowe
17 Posted 06/08/2009 at 13:55:06

I Don’t think this is really relevant, but in response to the Lescott moving to comment, I think if a deal could be struck for £20mil plus SWP that could solve half of our probs then get a decent centre half from on on the continent? Fernandez is reportedly available from Dinamow Moscow. We could be a real force with a decent right hand side. People are forgetting where the team we already have already got us, and we are only a young team so there is room for improvement there this season. Roll in Arsenal I say. A point will do against aresnal. Put above the shite if only for a day

Steven Flynn
18 Posted 06/08/2009 at 11:35:58

After watching the abysmal performance at Blackpool and our many positional problems, what struck me, at our disposal. The total cost of our strikers must be one of the lowest in the Premier League: Saha (£2M); Vaughan (£0); Anichebe (£0) Yakubu - not back from injury (£12M); Jo (loan).

Taking into account the injury problems of all five, I can't see where the goals are coming from. Even Sunderland have just signed D Bent for £12M. Kenwright owes an explanation to the Everton support about lack of transfer funds, cheap talk about investing in the team, bullshit, Sky money and the Kirkby move.

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