Woking Friendly

[Wee Dave]

What book was he reading and is he in the Guinness Book of Records for it?

 

[Wee Dave]

I can only assume that anyone who is saying "doesn't matter, only a friendly" didn't go to the game.

If you watched it, and saw how inept we were, you have to be worried.

It doesn't matter, only a friendly :bound:
(I was there, and although I'd hardly say we were 'inept', it's a right nob who lets a friendly result stress them out. You can no more get worried about an average performance against an up-for-it Conference team than you can get carried away by a draw against a Premiership seven days earlier.)

 

[Infatuated Bees Alter Ego]

It doesn't matter, only a friendly :bound:
(I was there, and although I'd hardly say we were 'inept', it's a right nob who lets a friendly result stress them out. You can no more get worried about an average performance against an up-for-it Conference team than you can get carried away by a draw against a Premiership seven days earlier.)

Well said that Man

 

[KGB]

Frankly an overall rating of poor would flatter yesterday's performance. Woking were the better side and looked far better organised.

DJ looked a more 'professional' player than any of the rest of our side, making himself available for balls and reacting quickly to situations when others were second to the ball. I felt sorry for him in a way - he's probably used to players passing to him, rather than just in his general direction.

There is no doubt that we have a gap in midfield. MA obviously likes to play with two 'harrying' central m/fielders but unless at least one of them can hold the ball up for a bit and choose a pass we will not do well. Schumacher (Brad City), Smith (Wrexham), Doherty (Bristol City) and Whelan (Sheff Weds) all seemed capable of this last season. It seems to me that with a paper thin squad we only really have the alternative of getting Tabb to do this - at least until Newman comes back - and personally I don't think we will score many goals until we get a 'constructive' rather than 'destructive' player in central midfield.

I hope that Newman recovers soon & that he is the answer. Unfortunately, looking at pre-season, we have him with a lengthy injury, Marcus injured for a number of weeks when he really needed a full & injury free pre-season, Brooker & Skulason & poss Sodje(?) also with injuries. This is pre-season & not the rigours of two games per week against the likes of Blatherwick!!

I really hope that I'm proved wrong but, imho, unless there are additions to the squad, don't put your house on us getting to the playoffs!!!

 

[Brentford_till_die]

Wont Get Prattley

Coleman Said He Wants Him To Go On Loan To Championship To Get Better Experine As He Miht Want To Use Him For Fulham

Fulham Rejected A £60k Bid From Swansea

 

[BeeAlzibub]

I think we have a strong but small squad. Now just 18 players without Newman & Rhodes fit

Personally I think Skulason & Newman will make a strong pair in centre midfield, however with respect to Eddie Hutch, it is the area we are desperatly short of cover ! The pre seasons have shown that without a doubt.
I would like to think Allen will have seen that & bring in a good loan from somewhere.

We need a reasonable start to keep the floating fans watching the table in the Sundays & consider taking the plunge & coming along early in the season to get hooked again. Revenue early in the season is probably key to Allen having something to spend on wages come the January window.

 

[ctgbee]

Looks like we're going to be short of goals AGAIN!

 

[hanwell bee]

Looks like we're going to be short of goals AGAIN!

What makes you say that? The fact that we've signed a proven goalscorer with a goal every 3 games throughout his career, and a striker that scored 40 last season?

 

[Bungy Bee]

The idea of friendlies is to get match fit...and hopefully avoid injury..nuf said..YOU REDS...

 

[rg12bee]

Owusu...had one good season with us, but missed more clear cut chances than scored. Struggled badly at Owls and only bit-part player at scum. DJ, 80 goals in Rymans, but at this level?
Am concerned at chances spurned in games i`ve seen. Would still start with and DJ. They will be very unorthodox, hopefully confuse defences and SCORE GOALS.
If they don`t produce, can ****in and Scott score ful? Very much doubt it.
Hopeful but not totally convinced!

 

[Les Beeavinu]

The idea of friendlies is to get match fit...and hopefully avoid injury..nuf said..YOU REDS...

I would have thought that avoiding injury was was a very strong factor yesterday.

 

[Griff Inn]

It doesn't matter, only a friendly :bound:
You can no more get worried about an average performance against an up-for-it Conference team than you can get carried away by a draw against a Premiership seven days earlier.

Who got carried away by a 0-0 draw in which we hardly managed a shot?

 

[Thomas Bathurst]

Who got carried away by a 0-0 draw in which we hardly managed a shot?

While I am in complete agreement with Wee Dave in that these games mean absolutely nothing in terms of results, it's more our paper thin squad that I am worried about, personally. The Woking game was for me a reminder that beyond Ole and Newman we seem to be relying on Frampton & Hutch as backup in central midfield (Tabb seems destined to stay wide) - and that these two aren't able to control midfield against average conference material. It's imperative to our success that Newman gets and stays fit.

We saw last season that the games we were without an old experienced, useful player in the middle of the park (Talbot) we generally suffered.

 

[Paul O'Brien]

At this stage, the results don't matter... but I believe the performances do. If we play well but lose, big deal: but the consensus of opinion seems to be that we haven't played well in several of the games. More worryingly, MA still doesn't seem to have found the magic goalscoring formula we all wanted. The only positive seems to have been a certain Mr Bankole, who seem to have done quite a lot to restore faith in him.

My big question is - have we played too many friendlies? Can't recall how many and over how long we've played in previous years, but we seem to be cramming them in rather - we've also fielded full teams, reserve teams, half and half, massive substitutions.. that helps fitness, but not understanding. Any thoughts?

Anyway, roll on Saturday and all will be revealed.

BTW, thought Steve Evans was playing for TNS - made a couple of errors against Liverpool. Have they released him?

 

[Edmundo]

I don't think this season's pre-season has been noticeably different from any other and I simply don't understand why people are getting worked up about it. My only concern is over the injuries to Newman and Brooker. And I am confident that both Lloydy and DJ will score goals.

 

[Thomas Bathurst]

I don't think this season's pre-season has been noticeably different from any other and I simply don't understand why people are getting worked up about it. My only concern is over the injuries to Newman and Brooker. And I am confident that both Lloydy and DJ will score goals.

I don't doubt the ability of Lloyd and DJ to score goals either (or Fitz for that matter). I do doubt the creativity within the midfield quartets that we started and finished the game with on Saturday, to feed these two. Brooker and Newman will make a massive difference, so I guess it's all down to how long they'll be out for.

 

[Paul O'Brien]

HAd a look back through the archives, and certainly nothing as bad as Molesey 5 Bees 2 in Aug 2002. But then this was our team...
Alan Julian
Jay Lovett -- James Quilter -- Scott Marshall -- Ijah
----------- Bertie Brayley -- Stephen Evans -- Sam Keevil
----------- Cherif Diallo -- Royce Brownlie -- Carlin Itonga

Second half...
------------------------------- Julian
Rob Traynor -- Quilter -- Marshall -- Ijah
Hughes -- Evans -- Danny A-P -- Brayley
---------------- Lloyd Blackman -- Hamby

My reaction? Who the f*** were most of these guys?

 

[West Ealing Bee]

By the looks of it most of the first team were rested just before the start of the season.

Some dodgy names there lol

 

[Mr Cynical]

While I am in complete agreement with Wee Dave in that these games mean absolutely nothing in terms of results, it's more our paper thin squad that I am worried about, personally. The Woking game was for me a reminder that beyond Ole and Newman we seem to be relying on Frampton & Hutch as backup in central midfield (Tabb seems destined to stay wide) - and that these two aren't able to control midfield against average conference material. It's imperative to our success that Newman gets and stays fit.

We saw last season that the games we were without an old experienced, useful player in the middle of the park (Talbot) we generally suffered.

I agree totally. I'm sure that Lloyd will score goals given the chances but with Brooker out and the possibility of Frampton and Hutch in midfield, who's going to create those chances? That's the big worry for me. A lot rests on the fitness and form of Tabb and Brooker this year..

 

[The Cardinal]

Would just like to say thanks to all the Bees fans for coming on Saturday. The game wasn't brilliant (especially from your point of view) but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

I agree with most that say these friendlies are about getting match fit and trying new things. However, the Woking side in either half was not really first XI and I expected you to score a few against us. Our Left back is Liam Cockerill, the manager's son. He's not really Conference standard . I said to my Brentford pal before the game that you should be able to exploit his ineptitude and score freely down our left side. Liam had another poor game but the Bees were unable to capitalise.

Blackman is one of our new signings and did well against you. He's impressed in all PSFs thus far.

I'm sure there must be an element of saving it for the big one on Saturday with your players. Possibly the risk of injury before playing in games with possible win bonuses maybe had them in lower gear?

Our season kicks off on the 13th, away to Kidderminster. We feel we will be play-off material as we've been getting better since almost getting relegated 2 years ago.

Good luck for the season ahead, I hope you do well. Maybe revenge will be yours should we meet in the LDV?

BTW, Chomp bars are still only 10p!! (Roots Hall, all those years ago...I was there!!)

 

[rebus]

HAd a look back through the archives, and certainly nothing as bad as Molesey 5 Bees 2 in Aug 2002. But then this was our team...
Alan Julian
Jay Lovett -- James Quilter -- Scott Marshall -- Ijah
----------- Bertie Brayley -- Stephen Evans -- Sam Keevil
----------- Cherif Diallo -- Royce Brownlie -- Carlin Itonga

Second half...
------------------------------- Julian
Rob Traynor -- Quilter -- Marshall -- Ijah
Hughes -- Evans -- Danny A-P -- Brayley
---------------- Lloyd Blackman -- Hamby

My reaction? Who the f*** were most of these guys?

The United Nations Bees X1 - Remember that game well. Played on a pitch which seemed a foot long and I got stung badly on the ankle by some Molesey insect.

 

[gashbee]

The United Nations Bees X1 - Remember that game well. Played on a pitch which seemed a foot long and I got stung badly on the ankle by some Molesey insect.

Poof ! :kiss:

 

[Mr Tree]

BTW, thought Steve Evans was playing for TNS - made a couple of errors against Liverpool. Have they released him?

it's a different Steve Evans, he's a centre half (i think)

 

[Paul O'Brien]

"it's a different Steve Evans, he's a centre half (i think)"

Could be, there are 2 Steve Evans at TNS I see, but on the Internet Soccer database one of them is our ex-midfielder. They're usually pretty accurate. Is he on loan to Woking, or has he signed, or did he never play for TNS (though I'm sure I've seen a reference to him as being ex-Bees in one of the papers) or are they both ex-Bees?

Or something.

 

[The Cardinal]

"it's a different Steve Evans, he's a centre half (i think)"

Could be, there are 2 Steve Evans at TNS I see, but on the Internet Soccer database one of them is our ex-midfielder. They're usually pretty accurate. Is he on loan to Woking, or has he signed, or did he never play for TNS (though I'm sure I've seen a reference to him as being ex-Bees in one of the papers) or are they both ex-Bees?

Or something.

He is your ex-player. Probably one of our best players too. Shame he wasn't paired with Ian Selley on Saturday. If Selley had been playing in the first half with Evans, Murray and Blackman, I think we may have run away with it. (Your poor form not withstanding).

 

[Bungy Bee]

Some people seem to think that we get 3 points for winning a FRIENDLY...wise up ..YOU REDS... rofl

 

[Garybaldbee]

You're optimistic then? I pop down to Kingfield now and then and I'm full of admiration for the steady rebuilding job Cockerill has done there after it looked as though you were in freefall in Chapple's second spell (I'd very much like Cockerill at GP once MA goes ). But I have been wondering whether you might be going backwards this season given some of the departures?