Hooray, we’re back. And we didn’t lose…
To be honest, Dartford Crossing 2 Wimbledon Bridge 2 was as pre-season as pre-season could be, really. As we should know by now, the initial games like this are quite difficult to get a handle on – the likely first XI isn’t going to be on show immediately, anyway.
So here’s what we can take away from it. Firstly, and most importantly, this was better than any pre-season game last season. At least, the first half was. NA has clearly formulated a plan, and we saw glimpses of it.
There’s a fair amount of passing, but it’s to players who aren’t the waifs that last year’s thumb sucking little boys were. Harry Pell in particular seemed to have been fed on a diet of raw meat and concrete over the summer, given what a powerhouse he looked.
KSL had a bit of pace, Barry Fuller looks a handful. The triallist (Rhys Weston) didn’t look too bad, and he did score. Plenty were impressed with Bamba, while the rest were pretty much as you would have expected – first game back, and all that.
Also, Bayes played and made a couple of good saves when our defence found itself reliving the past. Don’t tell me he’s going to end up the first choice keeper…
It was a bit of a shame that the second half was so flat though. This despite having Benno, Framps, Kennedy, Francomb, Sweeney, Strutton and Sheringham. That said, there were a fair few youth teamers in there for the second half, so it’s no real wonder it was disjointed. Not to mention all the hospital balls.
Even so, it’s still disappointing to throw away a two goal lead with about ten minutes left, even if it’s a friendly, and I guess Benno and Framps will be sharpening themselves up some more this week…
All in all though, there was a good amount of promise which is all you can ask for. Compare and contrast to last year, if you haven’t done so already. It’s a bit of a surprise that there isn’t a (scheduled) pre-season game on one of the upcoming weekdays, as you suspect that it just will be a case of getting games under our belt.
It’s not the same as using these games purely for fitness – we took that attitude not quite so long ago and look where it got us. But we’ve overhauled much if not most of the squad, and they just need to know how to pass to each other…
Anyway, it’s my pre-season too, and I’m using this to only do a fraction of what I normally do. Though with no drinks break…
Plus points: A good workout. Signs that we’ve got a plan coming together (in the first half, anyway). None of the expected first team squad members were obviously wheezing. Not managing to lose the first PSF.
Minus points: Letting go that two goal cushion.
The referee’s a…: Can one really attack an official in their pre-season too? He didn’t do anything wrong, but…
Them: Gave us what we needed, although I would hope that if it was a more “proper” game we would have won more comfortably. Still, nice setup down there and £10 to get in was reasonable enough. And their fans gave Charlie Sheringham a nice cheer over the PA.
For anyone there who wanted to know why there was a Bognor Regis flag there – Jason Prior was their #15…
One other thing – there seemed to be a bit of, ahem, over-excitement where the home fans were congregating in the second half. Anyone see what happened? Was it a case of a couple of toddlers being out in the sun a bit too long…?
Point to ponder: Do you think after today we might find ourselves with a “hastily arranged” game this upcoming couple of days after all? Even if it’s just a Gillingham-behind-closed-doors type fixture?
Truth is stranger than fiction: (1) The, er, thing you see in the picture above (no, not the guy in the purple shirt). Insert quip about Warren Cummings or Seb Brown here. (2) Speaking of those two, WC was absent and Seb reportedly had a back injury. Though there was some discussion beforehand that actually he’s returned back a little bit too larger than life… (3) NC standing at the other side of the pitch to the dugout in the second half. Shall we start a rumour about him falling out with the rest of the management? 😉
Anything else? Not really, it’s warm and I’m only just getting back in the swing of things. I’m sure I’ll think of something later.
So, was it worth it? A nice Saturday afternoon out by the river in summer? I guess so.
In a nutshell: Better than last pre-season already…