I know we've had this before but it's always worth a spin. How important do you lot think the results of these games are? Last season's games depressed me no end and I remember a bit of remarkable prescience from Buff who felt that there may be trouble ahead. I'd be interested on his (and everyone else's take on this year's games).

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2000

Answers

Not fussed about these two with only a weeks training under the belt.

I'd like to see us start with a settled team in the next few games. Clearly Bobby is experimenting and giving everyone a game but for the final couple of friendlies we need to have a team pretty close to those that will walk out and OT and I want to see some good football. If not... that's when I'll worry!

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2000

Dougal

Last year there was so much going on behind-closed-doors - The Dabs, Lee, Pistone, Shearer probs - that it was pretty clear we were in some sort of trouble. It was almost a relief when we effed up so badly and got rid of that idiot man, Gullit. Fancy wanting Sunderland to win!

My only worry this time is the quality of the people we have brought in. I don't know too much about them, but compared to who Arsenal have brought in they hardly set the pulse racing.

My money is on the gooners this year. Esp if Ferguson pisses off Beckham and he leaves.

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2000

Aye, but Arsenal's back line is poor nowadays and they have a "piece of meat with eyes" as their goalie... If it's any comfort, I had drinks with another BBS-er who had met some Argentinians through work and they were very, very postive about Bassedas.

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2000

The only significance friendlies have is to the manager. He and he alone knows what he wants out of each game. Even the players do not know this.

It could be he wants to see players do certain things or work in combinations or even just place someone in a spotlight.

Do any of you think YBR does not already have his starting 11 already filled in on the team sheet?

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2000

Gooners back line still consists of Adams, Keown, Dixon, Silvinho etc - still solid.

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2000

But nonethless, they'd conceded more goals by Nov last year than they'd conceded in the previous season...

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2000

I'll be surprised if Man U finish in the top three. Leeds are my bet, then Liverpool or Arsenal. tis aboot time Man U had a shit season, tis also aboot time that we won something. I think that being without european football this year the players will realise what they are missing out on. I know it's an extra game a week but who wouldn't exchange a night in roma for a night in Halifax. I am concerned about our starting eleven, it seems that dabs wants to get all his bad games out of his system before the season starts. Should leave Howey (I bet he won't start the season) Where is Helder?

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2000

Sounds a bit like everything's different but nothing's changed. Dabs and Howey after-you-claude-ing to let the opposition score, and nowt happening down the left.

Bobby'll sort it,(ulp).

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2000

"I'll be surprised if Man United finish top three". That is arguably the best thing that's been said on here for weeks.

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2000

It might be the best thing that's been said on here foor weeks dougal, but it lacks a little something in credibility.

As I said an another thread earlier today - results aren't important in these pre-season games, but performances certainly are.

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2000

Dougal, I cannot comment on the games so far, I am quite happy to let Ciara be the judge along with Sting when he recovers. Call me old fashioned but I keep harping on about developing good habits and this must start the first day of pre-season, managers are a wily lot and Bobby is no exception, the term performances not results is what matters, is bandied about too freely. Strikes me if the performance is good, the result will look after itself. Most managers will play the first half with a settled team and a pattern of play that they have gone through in the dressing room. First half is poor, inferior on paper oppossition are holding their own, come second half astute manager thinking of his street cred , makes wholesale changes, giving all a run out and in doing so leaves the back door open in case the result goes against his team. If as someone on here suggests Bobby knows his team already, what is the advantage of all this changes. The tour is about developing team spirit, get back Utd and start working, last year I was concerned about the three new center backs, fraid that is still not resolved in my eyes a year later, and if the truth be told there appears to be a groundswell of reliance on Lee and Speed which also worries me, defence/midfield, lack of mobility.

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2000

With these friendlies a winning habit is a good habit......but my mind is these days drawn to the last friendly match I went to....dead excited and raring to go......and not just cos it was the first time I met Rik, Softie, Jonno, Gibbo Screacher, Steph, Val et al....but because the game was against Juventus at SJP........good game, we looked class, good result in favour and the Jock in charge.....things were bubbling and everything in the garden was rosie. Then what goes and happens.....well....I don't need to draw pictures do I.

IMHO The edge and way we play is more important than the actual result, but wins or at the very least draws (like last nights) are the minimum required surely......even against Scarborough in the Allied Carpets Cup or whatever it's called they are playing in soon.

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2000

buff,

Twas I who mentioned the first 11 being known. I have a theory, ahem a theory that is mine and mine alone, ahem.

It is a different world from the teams that we coach/manage or play in. All the new lads, including the younger ones will have to fit in. No matter how good they are / look in the teams they came from. Added to this although they may have been a central midfielder, the coaching staff may feel they have the ability to be a left back etc.

Our newcomers to the squad are quite large, if you include the new signings, juniors and return from injuries. I am sure that YBR knows who he wants in the team and has the core of last years team with whom he was reasonable pleased as the season closed. He is now looking at who can best replace those if they are not available through injury.

It worries me that we have not solved our left midfield deficiency. I have to believe that as we did not buy someone that the club believe that there is someone in the squad who can fill that role. Bobby has said that this 10 day trip is to bring all the lads together so maybe he is not interested in the results just building team spirit. As I said only the manager knows what he wants from each game. For some of them it may be results only for others playing well, even others to show that Dunc is fit and worth the 4 million to buy him.

My Dog, did I write that? Help I think I'm turning into Tre. At least I did not mention Hayden Morrison and Clint Mullins!!!

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2000