All off to Estepona in Spain for 2 weeks on 7th July



Games will all be behind closed doors though

Final pre-season game will be at the Mad Stad on 28th July.

Ffs why the relatively sudden boner for playing pre seasons behind closed doors. Yawn.

Trialists playing? New formations / tactics being experimented with? Gives players the freedom in a semi competitive match to try to test themselves without the pressure of judgement being made by fans / on t'internet? The fact that the results really don't matter as long as they're not all loses (like our past 2 seasons)

I agree that I'd love them to be open but understand theres many reasons they wouldn't be.

was some mention of trying to stream them via social media, which would be nice

Can seem them doing this on Facebook/Instagram, if not the games, I think there will be a lot of content from the camp, which would still be nice to see.

2 weeks sounds like a hell of a long time to be away together-it will either lead to great bonding or massive fall-outs.

Lol. In which case ignore my post above. If they're streaming the lot then surely there's no good reason it's behind closed doors. Unless it's to keep stadium/policing costs down?

Lol. In which case ignore my post above. If they're streaming the lot then surely there's no good reason it's behind closed doors. Unless it's to keep stadium/policing costs down?

Actually I'd say that's very likely - there's probably required staffing levels etc as soon as you let the public in.

Be interesting to see what pre-season games are lined up for when they come back. so far just the one mentioned at the MS.

Lol. In which case ignore my post above. If they're streaming the lot then surely there's no good reason it's behind closed doors. Unless it's to keep stadium/policing costs down?

Actually I'd say that's very likely - there's probably required staffing levels etc as soon as you let the public in.

Be interesting to see what pre-season games are lined up for when they come back. so far just the one mentioned at the MS.

There won't be a lot of time will there?

Actually I'd say that's very likely - there's probably required staffing levels etc as soon as you let the public in.

Be interesting to see what pre-season games are lined up for when they come back. so far just the one mentioned at the MS.

There won't be a lot of time will there?

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. Like I'm not bothered about whether preseason games abroad are open to the public or not - but I'm wondering are they using extra long trip to ensure there aren't many preseason games with us plebs allowed in at all.

I don't think you'd get the issues about the cost of opening up a stadium for 50 people if we were playing say Charlton, or AFC wimbledon

Also - seriously, are preseason games against European teams as good preparation as preseasons against lower league opposition here?

Club will think they have softened the blow somewhat with at long last a decent home friendly lined up. Should be the biggest crowd we will have all season lol.

Club will think they have softened the blow somewhat with at long last a decent home friendly lined up. Should be the biggest crowd we will have all season lol.

Guess behind closed doors enables the club to keep costs down and easily arrange games against local opposition as well as other teams "on tour".

Presumably there'll be a couple of "big name" clubs that they'll play out in Spain and I'd expect at least one if not a couple of games will be subjected to a Tim Dellor commentary.

Hope there'll be a couple of games before they go away though.

I was looking forward to a nice jolly without her indoors........

Do many fans go to foreign pre-season games?

I'm actually thinking (hoping) it might be better? Depending what he wants to work on, maybe foreign opposition was specifically chosen/arranged for that?
It's often said that sending an Academy grad on loan to Lg1 or 2 is pointless, and indeed harmful. Not sure what Gomes and his system(s) would get out of playing L1 or 2 teams?

I'm actually thinking (hoping) it might be better? Depending what he wants to work on, maybe foreign opposition was specifically chosen/arranged for that?
It's often said that sending an Academy grad on loan to Lg1 or 2 is pointless, and indeed harmful. Not sure what Gomes and his system(s) would get out of playing L1 or 2 teams?

I can see both points of view. Some teams in the Championship play passing football - and hence you'll need that bit of practice against the foreign teams who do try and retain possession

Other teams play smash and grab sort of football - and hence you'll need that bit of practice against the lower league teams who do play similar to that sort of style. I think it's important to get a mixture of both foreign sides/Premier league opponents, and lower league teams who play to sit back, score set pieces etc etc...the likes of Boro and Millwall in the Champ

I do think it's important to get a few wins in pre-season to carry forward some momentum. Even though friendlies contribute to nothing, they can still give a slight indication of how you start a season, a winless pre-season often leads to a winless first few games

I don't think sending Academy graduates to Lg1 or 2 is pointless if you send them to the right team. Of course it's difficult trying to find a team who (a) plays a similar style to us and (b) actually wants our player and is going to actually use them. But at the same time, I'm not sure just getting them to play u23 football is beneficial. For me Championship football > League 1/2 football > U23 football in terms of the speed of the play which is why youngsters can find it difficult at first (Danny Loader etc)

Yep, well said, good points.
Can't say I'm shocked that Gomes' first preseason is a (lengthy) trip abroad against European teams. Hoping that his contacts over there will help better facilitate what he wants to do and that it bears fruition.

Probably Bournemouth, Brighton or Watford.

Probably Bournemouth, Brighton or Watford.

Think blue, top 4 and you have your answer.

Nice. Do we get a bunch of loan players from them as part of the deal? My bet is one would be Izzy Brown

Lucas Piazon - I've heard he's supposed to be decent

Lucas Piazon - I've heard he's supposed to be decent
Sounds like a nice bloke

Probably Bournemouth, Brighton or Watford.

Think blue, top 4 and you have your answer.

Quite a coup to get the league champions preseason......

Probably Bournemouth, Brighton or Watford.

Think blue, top 4 and you have your answer.

Portsmouth?

First post (please go easy on me)

Looks like Watford have announced a friendly between their U23's and Reading on August 3rd although does say tbc in brackets in the article.

Probably Bournemouth, Brighton or Watford.

Think blue, top 4 and you have your answer.

Looking forward to see Scott Davies tear them a new one and Jimmy Kebe take the ball around Petr Cech.

I just can't consider anything to do with Chelsea as a positive.

Miazga and Baker?

Think blue, top 4 and you have your answer.


Man City?