Can we consign the myth of pre-season to the dustbin now?

[Deleted member 28206]

dustbin?

WOOOOOOL

 

[Bruce Wayne]

We had a 'dreadful' pre-season if you go by results and performances. But as I've always said, they're just training sessions and results are irrelevant. We've had a good start to our league campaign, so will we still have complaints if we have a similar pre-season next year, or can it finally be accepted that pre-season results have absolutely no bearing on the season ahead?

We have also been fortunate in the fixtures we've been given in the first month of the season. I think our first six games are all against teams we should realistically be expected to beat. Contrast that with our first six games last season, when we played Man City, Chelsea, Spurs and Man Utd, with three of those games away from home.

Of course, you have to play everyone eventually, but I argued last year that it was this start that hobbled us, as we had 8 new signings for the 1st team to integrate into the squad, plus a horrid start to the season that not only forced a defensive style that is perhaps not what Koeman wanted to play, but denied us any confidence or momentum to build on.

This season, we have to use this relatively easy run of games to build up some confidence, get some points on the board early on, and gradually integrate new players into the team.

 

[MikeH72]

Playing the likes of Stekelenburg, Pennington, Jagielka and Sandro in most of the games probably had something to do with it.

 

[The binman chronicles]

It is better to have a winning mentality and know that whatever side you put out will get a result. Not saying we should be winning every friendly but we should not be losing 3-0/4-1. You will rarely see top teams do this and they are playing better sides.

As @Bruce Wayne says we are lucky we have a run of games which essentially extends the pre-season into the main the event as on paper we should have that little bit more than the teams we play which in turn means we can be a few percent off and still get a result. If we had to play City/RS and Spurs first up devoid of confidence from winning and playing well in pre-season then we will create a snowball effect that would likely damage the whole season. So imho this year is (/might be) the exception and not the rule.

 

[ToffeeLee1878]

Why? Because we've drawn against a promoted side and narrowly beat Southampton?

What a negative spin on a draw away at a newly promoted team with 10 men for 45 mins ,and a win where the football we played was absolutely chalk and cheese to the garbage last season

 

[hktoffee]

Sylvain.

 

[evertonandchelmsford]

It's a positive start to the season but let's not get carried away yet. 7 points minimum from the next 3 games. Bournemouth have had a very good start but no reason why we cant get a result there.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Pre season helped show us where to strengthen.

I don't think it's a myth. I think it showed our deficiencies quite clearly.

 

[evertonarntwe]

think pre season gives you a good indication though doesn't it

in pre season we seen some good attacking and some terrible defending

in the two league games weve seen some good attacking and some terrible defending

 

[Eggs]

...I don’t think it was a myth watching so much of Sandro.

 

[Connor]

It's not a myth. We've had bad pre-seasons in recent years that have turned into bad seasons. Let this one roll a little longer than two games, perhaps?

Yes, less care should probably be put into results but that's football. There's winner, there's a loser, there's a happy fanbase and then a crying fanbase at the end of the day.

And it's not like we were on the end of close defeats, we were awful in some of those games. That had to do with having a training session before them and having a disjointed squad but write off the importance of pre-season at your peril.

 

[ArtetaMoney]

Pre Season showed everyone that Sandro is truly terrible, therefore it can be deemed as a success.

 

[navidson]

What a negative spin on a draw away at a newly promoted team with 10 men for 45 mins ,and a win where the football we played was absolutely chalk and cheese to the garbage last season

For negative read realistic

I'm delighted we chased the gravy guzzler out, and I'm equally enthused about the possibilities of Silva and the improvements made to the squad

Let's just wait a bit until we decide how good we actually are eh?

 

[brieverton]

It's great if we get decent results.

It's rubbish and to be discarded if we don't.

I don't take a huge interest in it to be honest. We are not good enough to get an invite to any of the glamour mini-tournaments, perhaps if that changed I would take more of an interest.

 

[peteblue]

I don’t care if it was a game of tiddlywinks, we should always want to win and be unhappy if we lose......