Preseason Friendlies 22/23

[Casey]

Lost 3-2 at Aldersh*t.

All three goals against were due to being caught in possession while trying to play out from the back!

If Betsyball continues to have such stunning outcomes I can see him back with the u23 squads and a dinosaur in charge of Crawley. It's not that I dont like possession football I just wish we would play it like Man City or the Barca teams of old. Get the ball into the opposition half and then keep hold of it.

Meanwhile, the burgers are tasty and the beer is flowing at maison du Casey and all is right with the world.

Casey

 

[chipmunx]

Drew 1-1 with the veggies, had a good goal ruled out and they had a phantom penalty, every barrow fans fave player scored for us Mr zanzala

he's probably worse than last season's fav (released by Barrow) player Courtney Baker Richardson.

 

[Indian Dan]

And your reasoning for your final statement?

His demeanour today. Didn’t look interested. Wouldn’t bother me overly if we used the money to buy Simpson.

 

[Stocky]

We’ve generally looked really good in pre-season but I refuse to take a single thing out of it in regards to the season and the same thing applies to the opening game of the season.

For people who dare take anything away from it, Boateng and Oates in particular have looked absolutely on it. Pym is quality too, but anybody that that know a quality player at L2 (excludes Stockport, Grimsby obv) will know those three are high quality players for the level anyway.

I know Oates very well, he was the player who put us out of the NL play offs under Stevie Rusk in 20/21. Good player at that level. If he's one of the best business at this level, I am surprised.

He'd get on our bench. A younger, less intelligent Paddy Madden.

 

[Conker]

I know Oates very well, he was the player who put us out of the NL play offs under Stevie Rusk in 20/21. Good player at that level. If he's one of the best business at this level, I am surprised.

He'd get on our bench. A younger, less intelligent Paddy Madden.

Oates improved so much throughout half a season, if he continues that rate next season it will be ridiculous. If only we didn’t waste half a season playing him out of position.

Madden and Oates are very different players from what I’ve witnessed.

 

[Fedora Dale]

Harratt's a good player but he needs to play in a two with a good link-up type player like James Wilson. It is why I am a little surprised Hughes would sign him if it was to shoehorn him into a 4-2-3-1 type formation as it's not really playing on his strengths in my opinion.

Good workout by all accounts between us and Dale today. Apparently they played very well first half in an open encounter before we won 3-2 in the end. Good luck for the season ahead to Dale.

Biggest downer of the game was Jimmy Keohane picking up an injury. Leaves us with only Aidy White - not known for being consistently fit to play himself - as a natural left wing back. May end up with Tyrese Sinclair or Devante Rodney filling in there, which could be interesting...

 

[kieran_vale]

Biggest downer of the game was Jimmy Keohane picking up an injury. Leaves us with only Aidy White - not known for being consistently fit to play himself - as a natural left wing back. May end up with Tyrese Sinclair or Devante Rodney filling in there, which could be interesting...

Yeah had seen you had to make a sub early, hopefully just a precaution. Rodney at wingback would be an adventure for sure. In theory if you just told him to knock it down the line and then just run that might work it's more the defensive side of the game that would be a challenge. On a side note I think you bringing in Henderson up front will give Rodney the best chance to succeed as with his football intelligence he can run that side of things and then Rodney can just focus on using his physical attributes.

 

[Bone Idle]

he's probably worse than last season's fav (released by Barrow) player Courtney Baker Richardson.

I wonder if its coincidence that zanzala scores after a week training with Wilfred bony, after all Telford had a pre season with him last year and look how that turned out, still I can't understand the amount of distain your fans have for both him and CBR, we're they running their own grooming gang up there or something worse?

 

[chipmunx]

I wonder if its coincidence that zanzala scores after a week training with Wilfred bony, after all Telford had a pre season with him last year and look how that turned out, still I can't understand the amount of distain your fans have for both him and CBR, we're they running their own grooming gang up there or something worse?

CBR never actually played 1 minute for us in the season we had him - he got injured (or was injured?) then got loaned out to Barnet for the 2nd half of the season to get fit, then got released.
Zanzala started full of promise, early season wasn't to bad and then scored a great goal away at Oldham and the guy on Quest said he could play at a lot higher level - Zanzala seamed to believe he was better than he was after that and his form (and seamingly effort) went downhill rapidly.

 

[Bone Idle]

CBR never actually played 1 minute for us in the season we had him - he got injured (or was injured?) then got loaned out to Barnet for the 2nd half of the season to get fit, then got released.
Zanzala started full of promise, early season wasn't to bad and then scored a great goal away at Oldham and the guy on Quest said he could play at a lot higher level - Zanzala seamed to believe he was better than he was after that and his form (and seamingly effort) went downhill rapidly.

Well CBR is at Crewe now so he is their problem, as for Zanzala so far I can't fault his commitment or effort and speaking to a few Exeter fans they couldn't either, I know there is a long way to go but time will tell, maybe it was just the case that him and Barrow just weren't meant to be.

 

[chipmunx]

Well CBR is at Crewe now so he is their problem, as for Zanzala so far I can't fault his commitment or effort and speaking to a few Exeter fans they couldn't either, I know there is a long way to go but time will tell, maybe it was just the case that him and Barrow just weren't meant to be.

I think it was possibly half down to Mark Cooper too..

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Well CBR is at Crewe now so he is their problem, as for Zanzala so far I can't fault his commitment or effort and speaking to a few Exeter fans they couldn't either, I know there is a long way to go but time will tell, maybe it was just the case that him and Barrow just weren't meant to be.

He'll start well, but come back to us at the end of October and I bet you'll be sick of him.

 

[Spanishstag]

I know Oates very well, he was the player who put us out of the NL play offs under Stevie Rusk in 20/21. Good player at that level. If he's one of the best business at this level, I am surprised.

He'd get on our bench. A younger, less intelligent Paddy Madden.

If oates would only make your bench we are indeed all just playing to make the numbers up ,you must truly be the dream machine

 

[RiftHouseLad]

Top end of NL is decent standard. Ourselves and Grimsby will be nowhere near any trouble this season.

Right in some respects, Although you will find as we did every match (almost) is a test for the full 90mins.
And things you would get away with in the NatLge, Get punished more often than not.

 

[Stocky]

Right in some respects, Although you will find as we did every match (almost) is a test for the full 90mins.
And things you would get away with in the NatLge, Get punished more often than not.

Exactly why we won the NL, but I think we'll struggle for the play-offs in this league. Nobody has said it won't be a step up.

Surprised if Rhys Oates is one of the best strikers though, he was a livewire for you in the NL and scored a key goal vs ourselves in a play-off semi but he must have improved remarkably in these last 12 months (it is possible) to be one of the best strikers in L2 if it is to be such a step up. There were 4-5 better strikers in the NL than him in 20-21. Personally would have said Luke Armstrong was better for you than Oates but he was more of a poacher whereas Oates was more lively outisde the box etc.

 

[hellogregory]

I always find myself wondering why fans of teams that come up from non league really make a point of defending and bigging up the standard down there. We see it every year, whoever comes up.

When we had our season down at that level, I never once felt the need or desire to fight to defend its honour once we were back in the EFL. I had it down for the cesspit it is.

 

[Stocky]

I always find myself wondering why fans of teams that come up from non league really make a point of defending and bigging up the standard down there. We see it every year, whoever comes up.

When we had our season down at that level, I never once felt the need or desire to fight to defend its honour once we were back in the EFL. I had it down for the cesspit it is.

Because it's the reality. I actually find the teams in this league defending and bigging the standard in L2 the same. We've been here before you know. It's shite for the most part.

Sutton United nearly got in the play-offs ffs. Nobody has ever come up and been relegated have they or something daft? That's actually mad. No league in our pyramid could churn that stat.

It's a fact that the NL-L2 step is the smallest step in the top 6-7 leagues in the English pyramid.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

I always find myself wondering why fans of teams that come up from non league really make a point of defending and bigging up the standard down there. We see it every year, whoever comes up.

When we had our season down at that level, I never once felt the need or desire to fight to defend its honour once we were back in the EFL. I had it down for the cesspit it is.

Who’s fighting?

That was quite a while ago though wasn’t it?

The standard was poorer and there were a lot more part time teams and traditional non league teams down there.

 

[hellogregory]

 

[leedsvaliant]

Yeah, it's quite possibly the system that we're using. If we persist with one up top then I can't see him starting many games.

He's definitely not a lone striker. He's a Billy Sharp type playing off someone else. I still think he's very raw though, so should only really be a back up striker.

 

[E10rifle]

2-0 up at Solihull johnson with one after signing today poachers finish.

It’s all he ever does and ever will do. League One finisher in the footballing body of a Conference North player.

 

[Sestonpoolie]

If oates would only make your bench we are indeed all just playing to make the numbers up ,you must truly be the dream machine

Rhys Oates is a far better player than Armstrong.
Armstrong is a poacher,Oates has pace, can beat people etc & put a lot of Armstrong goals on a plate for him.

 

[RiftHouseLad]

I know Oates very well, he was the player who put us out of the NL play offs under Stevie Rusk in 20/21. Good player at that level. If he's one of the best business at this level, I am surprised.

He'd get on our bench. A younger, less intelligent Paddy Madden.

Madden, Oates similar type.
Apart from Oates, out working all of your team put togeather.
Give your head a shake man.

 

[Chief Rocka]

Rhys Oates is a far better player than Armstrong.
Armstrong is a poacher,Oates has pace, can beat people etc & put a lot of Armstrong goals on a plate for him.

Most (all?) of Armstrong's goals were in the 6 yard box, he was the perfect goal monger, think he's developed a Stockholm Syndrome playing and re signing on at Harrogate, that man needs liberating from Betty's.

 

[RiftHouseLad]

Exactly why we won the NL, but I think we'll struggle for the play-offs in this league. Nobody has said it won't be a step up.

Surprised if Rhys Oates is one of the best strikers though, he was a livewire for you in the NL and scored a key goal vs ourselves in a play-off semi but he must have improved remarkably in these last 12 months (it is possible) to be one of the best strikers in L2 if it is to be such a step up. There were 4-5 better strikers in the NL than him in 20-21. Personally would have said Luke Armstrong was better for you than Oates but he was more of a poacher whereas Oates was more lively outisde the box etc.

Oates created goals for himself, Not a poacher like Williams.

 

[RiftHouseLad]

Because it's the reality. I actually find the teams in this league defending and bigging the standard in L2 the same. We've been here before you know. It's shite for the most part.

Sutton United nearly got in the play-offs ffs. Nobody has ever come up and been relegated have they or something daft? That's actually mad. No league in our pyramid could churn that stat.

It's a fact that the NL-L2 step is the smallest step in the top 6-7 leagues in the English pyramid.

Sutton are/were a squad that have played togeather for sometime.
And that is massive at any level.

 

[Stocky]

Madden, Oates similar type.
Apart from Oates, out working all of your team put togeather.
Give your head a shake man.

Under Rusk maybe.

Never seen a team work harder than we do under Challinor. Madden sets the tone.

 

[RiftHouseLad]

Under Rusk maybe.

Never seen a team work harder than we do under Challinor. Madden sets the tone.

Hard work should be a given, Chan expects that as a given as every manager should.
Think Wotton is a gamble, Will have to up his game, if he thinks the NatLge is physical.
But may well prove me totally wrong, Time will tell.

Really pleased most have us down to struggle and you won,t hear us shouting from the rooftops.
We,ll just (plod) along, lol

 

[DearneValleyRover]

He's definitely not a lone striker. He's a Billy Sharp type playing off someone else. I still think he's very raw though, so should only really be a back up striker.

Billy never played off anyone for us

 

[Hans Depp]

I always find myself wondering why fans of teams that come up from non league really make a point of defending and bigging up the standard down there. We see it every year, whoever comes up.

When we had our season down at that level, I never once felt the need or desire to fight to defend its honour once we were back in the EFL. I had it down for the cesspit it is.

Two up two down means that poor quality teams like Stevenage and Carlisle who probably are about midtable national league level at best could spend years in the bottom quarter of the table but never end up getting relegated to the national league because of basket case clubs like Macclesfield, Southend, and Scunthrope.

On the other hand, clubs like Notts County who routinely finish in the top quarter of the national league are probably better than any of the teams in the bottom quarter of league two, but they never make it out of the league because of the bottleneck that two up two down causes.