Waste of a pre season?

[dsr]

All the games have been in fits and starts. You can't replicate a proper match if one team subs their entire side and takes 5 minutes over it. You can't replicate a proper match if the team you've invited bring their hooligans who cause the game to abandoned. You can't replicate a proper match if you're playing two teams on the same day with skeleton coaching staff at each. You can't replicate a proper match when your opponents played a European fixture 24 hours before, so you have to play their stiffs and kids.

Results wise, we've had a great pre-season haven't we? Unbeaten etc, but Blackburn beat a Conference North side 8-0 and look what happened on Saturday.

Keane hasn't been replaced, we still haven't got the striker, we still haven't got the winger, still haven't got the goalkeeper, the players aren't match fit due to the failings of the pre-season. It's been a waste of pre-season.

I think what this pre-season has shown is that if you are determined to complain about something, you can find something to complain about. You can't have a proper match because you only have 16 players and two or three coaches? Seriously? We haven't got a third goalkeeper? The players haven't played enough matches in public so might have to play another behind closed doors?

Essentially, your complaint is that friendlies aren't proper matches. Which they haven't been for years. Why not wait until the season at least kicks off before moaning about what a disaster it's been?

[UpTheBeehole]

The players haven't played enough matches in public so might have to play another behind closed doors?

Who's going to agree to a behind closed doors friendly this close to the start of the season? Most other clubs have done their pre-season properly, they don't need to,

This year Sean Dyche picked the worst team in the Bundesliga to come over for a friendly, one which we couldn't even complete because their known hooligans predictably started a riot, as they did last year at Norwich. Sean Dyche picked another opponent who played a first team game 24 hours beforehand.

It's amateurish and shambolic.

[ClaretTony]

Pre-season has been a teensy bit shambolic though hasn't it, you've got to admit? Saturday just topped it off.

Not it hasn't - it's just been you beating that particular drum since we announced the game in Ireland. Just you.

[UpTheBeehole]

Not it hasn't - it's just been you beating that particular drum since we announced the game in Ireland. Just you.

Your very own article said only the other day that

Dyche will still have questions to ask of his squad

, and IMO we should not be starting a Premier League season with so many things still up in the air.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

A Burnley fan moaning on this board about pre season friendlies who'd have thought it!

You probably need some other hobbies or interests in your life.

[kentonclaret]

With the Premier League elite completing their pre seasons with prestigious friendlies and tournaments against the likes of Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid, and swelling their coffers at the same time, the rest of the clubs in the division are making do with games against the lesser clubs of Europe. Hannover being a prime example. Just another indication of the "haves" and the "have nots" in the PL.

[dsr]

Who's going to agree to a behind closed doors friendly this close to the start of the season? Most other clubs have done their pre-season properly, they don't need to.

As you have already pointed out, we have enough players to make up two teams. Maybe they could play each other? Or is that something else Sean Dyche isn't able to work out?

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

It's pretty amazing Dyche has got away with being manager of our club for so long. I mean he obviously needs to start consulting with some of the wasted talent on this board.

[JohnMac]

The repeated phrase on here is 'We have no idea...'

We support the XI on the pitch, not pick the team. If it's so important to have control as a fan join the Fantasy Football League

[CFS]

Throw in gray leaving plus a disjointed pre season it's not looking good. What's that starting 11 people said they knew look like again?

[fidelcastro]

Throw in gray leaving plus a disjointed pre season it's not looking good. What's that starting 11 people said they knew look like again?

If only there was still time...

[ClaretTony]

Throw in gray leaving plus a disjointed pre season it's not looking good. What's that starting 11 people said they knew look like again?

I'd read post 58 if I were you, makes far more sense than your suggestions. I think the only person who needs to know the starting line up is the manager, and the players of course.