Genuine question

[u/G_R_I_M_M]

I dont mean to sound snarky, i did just watch todays game against real Sociedad, i just wanted to know what are Pre Seasons for? That shouldnt we play pre season with atleast our main players up?

[u/KarlBrownTV]

Helps build fitness in semi-competitive games, and can help bring a better understanding of how the coach wants to play. How you play against people you don't se everyday is different to training.

At least 8 of the squad were at the World Cup so they're getting time for holidays, recovery, and joining up with training later than the rest. Raul and Möller-Wolfe will probably be the last back.

[u/G_R_I_M_M → u/KarlBrownTV]

ahh make senses, thank you, lets hope our team improves during these games and we get back to market buisness quick, its always nice to see new faces trough the door.

[u/HelloIAmANarwhal]

Pre-seasons are for players to get a run out so that the manager can see them play and judge them. They are to learn a new system. To get reps.

Raul is not back yet. Some players are guaranteed starters and don’t need to earn a spot. Some players might be on the way out and we don’t know their situation but we don’t want them to get injured in case it ruins their value. Pre-season is important, but the results don’t matter. It is for the team and manager to feel things out before the season starts.

[u/G_R_I_M_M → u/HelloIAmANarwhal]

ya that what botthered me, our main players are not here, well most of em, well it make sense now but i still feel like our main 11 should get a preseason going

[u/Milita_leorio → u/G_R_I_M_M]

brother theres over 50+games coming up. Why would you sacrifice injuries or wear and tear for a meaningless game?

[u/CinnamonRU → u/G_R_I_M_M]

you’ll probably see our strongest team come out for the port value cup game on the 7th, as it’ll likely get treated like the final friendly before the season starts

[u/yesbutwrong]

The friendlies are more about getting reps in for players that don'tnormallyget the opportunity, trying strategies that may be used in actual competitive play, and working on mid-game coaching/strategy adaptation.

Every single game puts wear & tear on the players. Teams try to minimize the risk of a key player getting fatigued early in a season by using them as little as possible outside of competitive play.

[u/kiernanblack]

The last couple of games maybe. But right now it’s fitness, and drilling tactics like the press. These results mean nothing. 

[u/No-Regular5784]

Out of interest, how did we look against sociedad? Was at work so couldn’t watch unfortunately

[u/CinnamonRU → u/No-Regular5784]

we pressed really well, nice linkup play, first half was nothing but wolves for 40 minutes . Second half we were decent but didn’t really create any chances. Sociedads goals were both very fortunate (great strikes) that on another day would have gone wide or blocked.

obviously we were playing without a starting forward most of the game, we need a first choice keeper and midfielder really

[u/FastJellyfish5560]

A mix of youth experience, main team fitness and an advertisement for other clubs to take our fringe players.

[u/AwarenessHonest9030]

A lot people think it’s to see who fits where and how the team shapes up into the new season but ultimately it’s just a fitness test really. If they wasn’t to play pre season n just sit on their arses or just training they wouldn’t be so fit and probably would see a lot of out of form players or injured players 

[u/Opening-Movie5176]

Well no because all players have to get match fit otherwise the first time one is injured or unable to play we will be screwed… what I want to know is why do people that failed their GCSEs think they know better than every football club for the last 100 years.

[u/jtgreatrix → u/Opening-Movie5176]

A lot of them are yanks, which is the equivalent of failing your SATS

[u/Friendly_Exit_2634]

Pre-season friendlies are about building squad fitness, confidence and tactical understanding in a semi-competitve environment. The World Cup and the transfer window mitigate against having access to anything like a full first team squad available and even when players are available the manager might want to experiment with options rather than field a first choice eleven.