Pre Season

[IanMcL]

Will we have played enough matches to be match fit? Matches seem thin on the ground.

[tiger76]

Will we have played enough matches to be match fit? Matches seem thin on the ground.

I guess we'll find out soon, but most teams are rusty in the first few games, so it shouldn't be as much of an issue as you fear Ian.

[RVclaret]

2 games in Portugal I think they’d said? They confirmed Newcastle for Saturday anyway.

[IanMcL]

Hope you are right Tiger. Matches in front of a crowd, add some bite. Matches at a team building centre are not the same.

[AGENT_CLARET]

Hope you are right Tiger. Matches in front of a crowd, add some bite. Matches at a team building centre are not the same.

At this stage it's about fitness, you get that with games regardless if fans are in attendance or not

[boatshed bill]

It's a very short close season, which i imagine has reduced the number of friendlies

[Murger]

Blame Blatter and his band of corrupt cronies.

[AwayClaret]

Friendlies are a glorified training session. Fitness and trying things out against different sort of oppositions.

[Kevwando]

We played 7 friendlies last season

[RVclaret]

We played 7 friendlies last season

And started the season terribly. Maybe a few less might have the opposite effect!

[randomclaret2]

We also have more new signings than in recent times and of course an entirely new coaching team, so pre season perhaps takes on even more importance than usual.