Do You Think Results & Perfomances In Friendlies Matter?

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

When playing Football Manager, I used to pick easy pre season games to build up confidence and score lots of goals. Now obviously 'real' football is very similar and whilst we've had some lesser opposition before tonight some performances and results have been questionable.

But in all serious there's some debate on this subject going on in the match thread and I'd just be interested to hear peoples opinions on if you think that performances, whether they be individual or collective, and result matter?

Or do you think it's only a question that can really be answered in 2 months time (in which case they surely don't)?

[Colin the King]

It was the same last season, everyone was kicking off about our preseason results but I can't even remember what the results were. I most certainly remember beating Blackburn 2-0 on the first day though.

As long as the players' fitness improves and they get to know each other, that's all that matters. I don't read much into the performances, and nothing at all into the results.

[pears12]

Yeah I think preseason is about making sure connections and fitness is in place by first game of season.. I can't even remember who we played last year

[ryanmjo]

I don't think results matter so much. However, there are things in friendlies that do matter for real games. For instance, if you can't pass the ball 5 yards in preseason, you probably won't be able to do it for real when the season starts.

[Invisible Man Fan]

For me, pre-season is about Fitness and Team Bonding

I'm not worried, I just get pissed off when they show no effort or passion

[Beeks]

Not in the slightest..both the rags and chelsea have both lost to muppets..it is just a workout

makes me laugh on the game thread..people livid..even though we are down to 10 men against the European champions hahaha

[Colin the King]

Not in the slightest..both the rags and chelsea have both lost to muppets..it is just a workout

makes me laugh on the game thread..people livid..even though we are down to 10 men against the European champions hahaha

Madness isn't it mate, not in the least bit surprised though.

Just to put things into perspective;

Last preseason- Lost 2-0 to Orlando Pirates, lost 1-0 to Kaizer Chiefs, drew 1-1 with Barnsley, lost 3-2 to Rangers. We beat Celtic though. We then went onto win our first four competitive games, and lost once in the space of five months.

Means. Fuck. All.

[Beefymcfc]

Of course the performance matters, otherwise why bother?

[Bingo Lewis]

Not in the slightest..both the rags and chelsea have both lost to muppets..it is just a workout

makes me laugh on the game thread..people livid..even though we are down to 10 men against the European champions hahaha

Madness isn't it mate, not in the least bit surprised though.

Just to put things into perspective;

Last preseason- Lost 2-0 to Orlando Pirates, lost 1-0 to Kaizer Chiefs, drew 1-1 with Barnsley, lost 3-2 to Rangers. We beat Celtic though. We then went onto win our first four competitive games, and lost once in the space of five months.

Means. Fuck. All.

yep yep yep.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Of course the performance matters, otherwise why bother?

SPOT ON.

Anyone that that thinks its just about fitness needs their heads seeing to.

[Curlie]

Friendlies are about fitness but they are also about developing match sharpness and systems.

[Ted Hughes]

If it's just about fitness, we would have been better off splitting the squad into two teams & playing in Norway against teams well into their season. We've been tinkering & we've tried to be too clever & fucked it up. Back to the drawing board & a balanced, sensible, non experimental team v the Germans is what's needed, to get some sense of purpose into the proceedings before it's too late.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

There are some proper overreactions in match thread.

We are in the middle of hardest part of the preseason where basic fitness is built. Friendlies are played mainly to support the running work.

We talk about this same subject every year.

[carl_feedthegoat]

There are some proper overreactions in match thread.

We are in the middle of hardest part of the preseason where basic fitness is built. Friendlies are played mainly to support the running work.

We talk about this same subject every year.

and every year your wrong.

[ross.mcfc]

There are some proper overreactions in match thread.

We are in the middle of hardest part of the preseason where basic fitness is built. Friendlies are played mainly to support the running work.

We talk about this same subject every year.

Antti I would normally agree with you over pre season form, however Inter are way behind us in terms of pre season preperation. This why SPL teams beat English Premiership teams at this time of year, Why the Italian and Spanish teams normally get a good going over by average English sides at this time of the year.

What it means for the first game of the season, I dont know. However there isnt any way of disguising this as a worrying result.

[Wooders]

all I can think is this time last year we were beating barcelona in their own back yard (alright maybe not this time last year but you know)...

I was worried about mancini's style of football at the end of last season and the pre-season games have done nothing to allay my fears

[colonel_muck]

yes i think the performances matter, not the result. friendlies should be used for new players to get used to the team system, and learn how to play with the other players. i am very worried about the start of the season now, we have looked so lacklustre in this tour our only goal has come from the spot. that is insanely worrying. sort it out mancio!

[Ted Hughes]

There are some proper overreactions in match thread.

We are in the middle of hardest part of the preseason where basic fitness is built. Friendlies are played mainly to support the running work.

We talk about this same subject every year.

The earlier games were purely about fitness, these games are also supposed to be City forming into a team. It doesn't matter that it's a freindly, there should be some idea of a team shaping on the pitch, like there is with everyone else, whatever the personnel. We should be seeing a unit that different players are coming into, even if it's a bit rusty. The rags are playing like the rags in a freindly, Inter played like Inter in a freindly, Arsenal played like Arsenal in a freindly, City played like England. They are each playing for themselves rather than the team because they don't know their futures. We've got problems & you can see it in the faces of the players.

The new players + Bellamy & Tevez in full flow should change things a lot but it already looks like we'll be playing Spurs & Liverpool with 11 individuals rather than a team. Lets hope those individuals are good enough to see us through until the team builds.

[david yearsley]

Said it was a bit worrying last week and this has done nothing to allay those concerns - then again how many out there last night are shoe-ins for Spuds - three? maybe four? It tells me also what the folly would be in getting rid of Bellers. Didn´t play last night but he IS nailed on for Spuds imo. Barry is still not match fit and SWP needs rest. The defence however is a problem. Boyatta is head and shoulders the best performer on the tour but would you start him at Hot White Lane . I would say yes atm with Kolo or Komps - Lescott has completely lost it - team for last 2 friendlies'?

Hart/Given
Boateng Kolo Boyatta Kolarov
Barry De Jong
Bellers Yaya Silva
Tevez

Supposing all available

[9secondlegend]

i think one reason why everyone is so dissapointed is because friendlies these days are so high profile and we dont like getting shown up on the world stage. if it wasnt on tv and we lost to some swedish team although some would still be pissed off i dont the reactions would be half as bad