Pre-Season Friendlies 23/24

I know Bolton are a league above but I'm worried about the goals conceded.In any way of looking at it, this was a hammering and the 3 at the back doesn't seem to be working at the moment.The team could be tired and Hughes could have experimented with formation so we wait and see but I did gulp at the result.

 

I would imagine Bolton would have a bit of pace up front and they will have ran rings round the likes of Stubbs, Taylor, Pratt, Kelly.

 

Cameron Jerome with all his pace scored one of them.

 

Conceding 8 goals in 2 friendlies with a strong team put out in both is a concern whichever way you might look at it.

 

Always disappointing to see a defeat, however, I read very little into preseason games. Sometimes we can look amazing and other times clueless, which is often reflective of the experimental nature of formations and personnel etc. at this time of the season.

Starting the season on the wrong end of a 5-2 thumping by Crawley Town on opening day would be a very different matter however.

 

Could be a blessing in disguise that. Hughes is looking at various combinations and leaking 8 goals in two games will have given him food for thought. Were the defence exposed by a poorly set up midfield? Were the defence too slow at closing down? Did the wing back set up leave us too open to pace? Has Harry Lewis had his concentration knocked by transfer speculation? Lots of questions hopefully Hughes has the answers.

 

Prepare to be a tad disappointed then JB. After today's workout I think you'll be lucky to see only Young, Rowe, Richardson and Youmbi and the rest made up of young 'uns?

 

Told the Bolton game was 2-2 before we made a load of changes.

 

Thank you.

 

Sounds like it mate.

Ah well, so be it! Youth team in the Summer rain

 

Aw come on! Getafe are a La Liga 1 side who'll be playing Barca and Real Madrid in the next couple of months and they put out a strong side, as did Bolton a league above us, who are amongst promotion favorites this coming season. These aren't league or cup games - they're friendlies, designed to build up fitness and integrating new players into the squad. Think some of us are being a bit alarmist.

 

Swindon lost 6-1 today to Bristol City, it happens. Tbh players don’t put their bodies on the line like in the league and rightly so, there’s nothing riding on the game, so it’s not uncommon for more goals than usual to go in.

 

You characterize well the whole point of having challenging pre-season friendlies Keefly. Hughes wants to explore where his squad are at, what needs improving, changing, tweaking. These are not league or cup matches, they're played to help the manager and his staff identify aspects that require more work on.

 

It's a friendly, more game minutes in the bank for new and old players. Nothing to worry about score wise, it's that first game of the season when the real stuff starts.

 

No, it just means Bolton were better than us on the day. You're overthinking things about a meaningless friendly before the season has even started. If you worry about the insignificant things in life you'll be giving yourself an ulcer.

 

Swindon lost 7-1.

 

Colin Doyle was in goal for city and as someone stated it was 2-2 before a load of changes. Bolton had a lot of joy down the flanks so maybe gives Hughes something to think about.

 

Fair enough must have conceded another late on.

 

Don’t think there is an argument against that however it’s the time of year to put right weaknesses and losing a lot of goals should give food for thought. I believe there is a lack of pace in our back line. And we are also hampered by messing about in our own penalty area