Pre-season Tours

[Super_horns]

St Albans City (Step 2) 3-6 Luton Town

Would like to say it was relatively routine, which it was for the majority, but some pretty soft goals conceded on Luton’s part; the second in particular for St Albans was a huge cock up between Lloyd Jones and Marek Stech. Youngster Arthur Read came on second half and cracked in a great strike; he looks to have real promise.

First half hat trick for Danny Hylton, with goals also from Jorge Grant, Read and James Collins - Town being 5-1 up at HT.
.

Was there - some good goals by your boys indeed and not so great defending from both sides.

Certainly had a lot of pace in your team and the number 2 got forward very well.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

St Albans City (Step 2) 3-6 Luton Town

Would like to say it was relatively routine, which it was for the majority, but some pretty soft goals conceded on Luton’s part; the second in particular for St Albans was a huge cock up between Lloyd Jones and Marek Stech. Youngster Arthur Read came on second half and cracked in a great strike; he looks to have real promise.

First half hat trick for Danny Hylton, with goals also from Jorge Grant, Read and James Collins - Town being 5-1 up at HT.

Four first team pre season friendlies - scored 17 conceded 8! Standard really steps up this week v Norwich and Notts County.

Wasn’t there but sounds like another defensive mistake from Lloyd Jones like against Hitchin. Stech also perhaps a bit ropey still as he also had some dodgy moments at Hitchin.

 

[mowgli]

Lost 2-0 at Havant & Waterlooville both goals were first half pens, we only had 1 trialist left out of the 5 we were looking at.

 

[Fedora Dale]

Dale results so far:
Stalybridge (Step 6) - won 3-0
Stockport (Step 6) - won 1-0 (Thompson)
Man U kids team (Step off the plane, Mr Sanchez) (closed doors) - won 1-0 (Thompson)
Hull (Step 2) - won 1-0 (Rafferty)

Not conceded a goal yet, which normally means a pasting when the season starts...

 

[F!RTHY]

City Results;

Guiseley 2-1 City (Powell)
York City 1-0 City
City 2-3 Sheff Utd (Payne & Gibson)
Bradford PA 1-2 City XI (Colville & Clare)
Harrogate 7-2 City XI (Clare x2)
Carlisle United Vs City 28th July

So, our starting XI haven’t really had much playing time at all. Our game at Carlisle should resemble our strongest XI, barring current injuries.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Was there - some good goals by your boys indeed and not so great defending from both sides.

Certainly had a lot of pace in your team and the number 2 got forward very well.

I think there a definitely a lot of positives to take out of today and that we'll be competing at the top end come May.

The team look gelled already, with the exception of the defence which has had the biggest "facelift" since last season. Going forward we look excellent and have goals coming from multiple areas. I don't think the pitch helped; it was very slow and bumpy, not really condusive to on-the-ball defending.

Lloyd Jones is that weak leak right now - he looks fairly tidy on the ball, but is prone to mistake a game. Perhaps its a confidence thing? He is unlikely to be in the starting XI at Portsmouth in any case.

Our first team results:
Hitchin Town (Step 3) 2-6 Luton Town
HNK Rijeka (Croatian Premier League runners up) 2-0 Luton Town
Chesham United (Step 3) 1-5 Luton Town
St Albans City (Step 2) 3-6 Luton Town
Luton Town v Norwich City - Tuesday
Luton Town v Notts County - Next Saturday

 

[Super_horns]

I suspect there is a reason you have brought in 2 central defenders - more experience and quality .

 

[Judge Dredd]

It's interesting to me that we've used every possible combination of left foot + right footed centre backs, but haven't yet played Sheehan and Bradley together for a single minute of pre-season.

That strongly suggests to me that Jones will not play the two left footers together unless in a back three (which we haven't used at all in pre-season again suggesting it's not Plan A or B).

Which makes you wonder who will start the season as first choice? The captain and player of the season or the new "high profile" (relatively) signing?

Going to be interesting to see how that one plays out.

 

[Marked Ox]

We lost 3-1 at home to a full Crystal Palace team.

We matched them up to half time and put in a really good performance to lead 1-0. Great pass by Brannagan to set up Obika who took his chance well.

2nd half Palace changed how their midfield was set up and started to get on top. We tired a bit then Palace and their extra quality with Zaha etc got on top for the last 30 odd mins.

As PSFs go it was entertaining with plenty of positives and usefully highlighted areas we need to work on. We still need to strengthen, especially upfront and need depth in midfield but today was encouraging.

Leeds at home on Tuesday and then MK Dons away on Friday and that is it for us.

 

[SaddlerJonny]

We lost to Rushall Olympic and were very poor against Stoke and Villa.

We then play fucking Ajax on Thursday and win 2-0 with players such as Kasper Dolberg, Siem De Jong and Labyad against us with us also playing 5 trialists, a whole host of youngsters and 2 17 year olds.

Lost to Rushall Olympic, beat Ajax... the Walsall way.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

It's interesting to me that we've used every possible combination of left foot + right footed centre backs, but haven't yet played Sheehan and Bradley together for a single minute of pre-season.

That strongly suggests to me that Jones will not play the two left footers together unless in a back three (which we haven't used at all in pre-season again suggesting it's not Plan A or B).

Which makes you wonder who will start the season as first choice? The captain and player of the season or the new "high profile" (relatively) signing?

Going to be interesting to see how that one plays out.

I didnt go but how did Bradley look? I went to the Hitchin game and he was caught out a few times as he seemed to have the turning circle of a battleship. I know someone who went yesterday who also thought he didnt look particularly good. Pre season I know so shouldnt give much credence to it, but in your opinion JD, should we have some concern?

 

[Judge Dredd]

I didnt go but how did Bradley look? I went to the Hitchin game and he was caught out a few times as he seemed to have the turning circle of a battleship. I know someone who went yesterday who also thought he didnt look particularly good. Pre season I know so shouldnt give much credence to it, but in your opinion JD, should we have some concern?

Wouldn't know I'm afraid, I haven't been to any of the pre-season games yet!

 

[Meadow]

AFC Wimbledon 4 - Reading 2

We put out a very strong team first half and led 2-0 at half-time. Loads of youngsters played in the second half and did very well.

Woking 1 - AFC Wimbledon 3

Pretty much the same performance as Reading.

AFC Wimbledon 0 - Queens Park Rangers 1

Apparently we played very well but conceded a late winner.

AFC Wimbledon 2 - Brighton and Hove Albion 1

A very impressive performance. Our training camp in Wales last week obviously went well.

Next up

Fri 20th July away to Havent & Waterlooville
Sat 21st July away to Boreham Wood - that should be interesting.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

Fascinating to see that all our teams are definitely good enough to be in the top half of the premier league this pre season.

 

[Kenneth E End]

I didnt go but how did Bradley look? I went to the Hitchin game and he was caught out a few times as he seemed to have the turning circle of a battleship. I know someone who went yesterday who also thought he didnt look particularly good. Pre season I know so shouldnt give much credence to it, but in your opinion JD, should we have some concern?

He looked OK yesterday - but he only played 30 minutes yesterday and the Hitchin game was only in week 1 of pre season. Extremely harsh to judge on that (which sounds a bit hypocritical based on my Lloyd Jones comments above.)

I would say that he's built like a tank. Perhaps needs to communicate more, but he's only been in the door 3 weeks!

As I said yesterday, the games v Norwich & Notts County this week will tell us a lot more. I think the latter will probably be the team that starts at Portsmouth.

 

[bantamigo]

Bit of a piss take really, Park Avenue playing their youths and reserves against you.
Glad you beat 'em.

Very good. The youth team played again yesterday and lost 7-2 against Harrogate Town so let hope we don’t get many injuries to the first team this season. Also far from me to be making outrageous suggestions but maybe we could try play some first teamers before the start of the season.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

He looked OK yesterday - but he only played 30 minutes yesterday and the Hitchin game was only in week 1 of pre season. Extremely harsh to judge on that (which sounds a bit hypocritical based on my Lloyd Jones comments above.)

I would say that he's built like a tank. Perhaps needs to communicate more, but he's only been in the door 3 weeks!

As I said yesterday, the games v Norwich & Notts County this week will tell us a lot more. I think the latter will probably be the team that starts at Portsmouth.

Cheers - the person who I spoke with yesterday tends to be extremely harsh so was looking for other views!

 

[Caer]

Beat St. Mirren 6-0 on Saturday.

All of the goalscorers came from our academy and nobody played badly which is a huge plus. Boro on Friday and I think that's our lot for pre-season.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

Beat St. Mirren 6-0 on Saturday.

All of the goalscorers came from our academy and nobody played badly which is a huge plus. Boro on Friday and I think that's our lot for pre-season.

That's quite surprising because I heard St Mirren were lower half premier league standard

 

[F!RTHY]

Bradford City 3 - 0 Sheff Wed u23’s - Scannell, Seedorf and Miller the scorers.

First team finally get a run out

GK: O’Donnell

RB: Riley
CB: O’connor
CB: Killgallon
LB: Chicksen

DCM: Akpan
DCM: Wright

RW: Scannell
CAM: Payne
LW: Seedorf

CF: Miller

No Wyke, but McGowan makes an appearance from bench.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Bradford City 3 - 0 Sheff Wed u23’s - Scannell, Seedorf and Miller the scorers.

First team finally get a run out

GK: O’Donnell

RB: Riley
CB: O’connor
CB: Killgallon
LB: Chicksen

DCM: Akpan
DCM: Wright

RW: Scannell
CAM: Payne
LW: Seedorf

CF: Miller

No Wyke, but McGowan makes an appearance from bench.

Think it was a Wednesday 11 as they had a fair number of players well over 23, and O'Donnell tweeted they had 7/8 first teamers.

 

[F!RTHY]

Think it was a Wednesday 11 as they had a fair number of players well over 23, and O'Donnell tweeted they had 7/8 first teamers.

Steven Fletcher, George Boyd and David Jones being the noticable ones.

 

[Marked Ox]

We beat a Leeds Utd XI 4-3. They had a mix of decent players (such as Lewis Baker, Tyler Roberts and Jamal Blackman) and u23s. Good turnout of 4,600* odd with a very good Leeds following of 1,200 or so.

*Originally a full(ish) squad from Leeds was expected including Kemar Roofe hence the a decent home crowd.

 

[joethegill]

4-0 winners at Eastleigh, goals from Parrett, List, Hanlan and Nash. Good to see the forward players getting on the scoresheet again.

 

[Fedora Dale]

Won 3-2 against Middlesbrough with the last kick of the game, after being 2-0 down halfway through the second half.

Played 3-4-1-2

Lillis
*
McGahey (Finnerty)
M J Williams (McNulty)
Ntlhe
*
Cannon
Perkins (Camps)
Adshead
J Williams (Rathbone)
*
Henderson (Inman)
*
Thompson (Wilbraham)
Andrew

Scorers Andrew, Inman, Rathbone.

 

[Meadow]

4-0 winners at Eastleigh, goals from Parrett, List, Hanlan and Nash. Good to see the forward players getting on the scoresheet again.

How's Deano looking? He was one of two players that left or were released that I didn't want to lose. The other being Lyle Taylor.

 

[joethegill]

How's Deano looking? He was one of two players that left or were released that I didn't want to lose. The other being Lyle Taylor.

I've only seen him at Ebbsfleet, where no-one was good. I'd imagine he'll start at Accrington on the opening day, so I'll be able to give a proper opinion after that!

 

[mowgli]

We won 2-1 at Chesham with Sam Saunders and Craig Mackail-Smith scoring and a cock up from a defender on trial gave away the goal to Chesham.

 

[K-Win]

Our pre-season so far:

Beat Cork City 4-1
Beat Havant & Waterlooville 2-1
Lost to Stevenage 3-2
Beat Gosport 3-0
Beat Swindon 2-0
Beat Bognor 5-1

We finish off by hosting FC Utrecht (top-5 Eredivisie outfit) on Saturday

A bunch of no-doubt meaningless results. Don't think we've picked up any injuries so far though so that's good.

Could be a cracker first up against Luton. They've been rattling in a fair few goals in pre-season.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Any Burton fans on here bothering to travel to Alfreton tonight?