The teams for these friendlies

L

Lanc_seasider

Well-known member
Just seen a few of the highlights from the Premier League teams friendlies oversees and it had me thinking. With the odd kid thrown in here and there most the teams were playing fairly close to what you’d expect their first eleven to be come the first weekend. We’ve seen a half and half team for the entirety of pre-season, and it now looks as if Hibs will be the only game we’ll have a side out that’s remotely close to the team that starts against Burton.

I guess my point is.. would it not be more worth it to play a side and get it to gel for more friendlies than we do? I know a friendly is nothing like a competitive game and Critch probably wants to see different combinations of players and styles but we’ll be going into the season with our first 11 having potentially only started one game together. We started poorly in League 1 last time, could this contribute as to why?
 
I can see it from both sides but I must admit I thought he would have put his 1st choice 11 out for both Morecambe and Hibs.
 
Insider said:
I can see it from both sides but I must admit I thought he would have put his 1st choice 11 out for both Morecambe and Hibs.
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I was very surprised at the Tranmere/Morecambe sides. I thought there’d be a fringe side out against Tranmere then like you say closer to our planned first 11 against Morecambe.
 
I expected Morecambe and Hibs to be full strength games. Instead all players got 90 minutes or close. Maybe we will play a closed door game in the week, Tuesday or Wednesday.
 
I feel like Critch likes to keep the opposition guessing? Remember how much he used to change starting line ups…
 
Lanc_seasider said:
Just seen a few of the highlights from the Premier League teams friendlies oversees and it had me thinking. With the odd kid thrown in here and there most the teams were playing fairly close to what you’d expect their first eleven to be come the first weekend. We’ve seen a half and half team for the entirety of pre-season, and it now looks as if Hibs will be the only game we’ll have a side out that’s remotely close to the team that starts against Burton.

I guess my point is.. would it not be more worth it to play a side and get it to gel for more friendlies than we do? I know a friendly is nothing like a competitive game and Critch probably wants to see different combinations of players and styles but we’ll be going into the season with our first 11 having potentially only started one game together. We started poorly in League 1 last time, could this contribute as to why?
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Fair post. I Don't know the answer. Critch is head coach so we must go with his approach and judge him and the team on the results.
 
I think it's more to do with each player knowing exactly his role regardless of who is playing alongside him. So Critch is playing out these combinations of teams so everyone in the team is comfortable.

We know he has a history of tinkering whether we won or lost.

I'm probably wrong.
 
Considering Hibs played in a European qualifier yesterday and play the second leg next Thursday I doubt they will be risking any 1st team players as they got beat yesterday.
 
He put different players out to face different challenges just like he's always done as our manager. It suggests he'll be the same manager that we've had before. Some call it tinkering & others call it meticulous planning. I'd prefer we went out to impose our game on the opposition from the start but there's also a valid argument for stopping the opposition and earning the right to play your game.

My only concern is Critchley's plan B, he often didn't seem to have one and when he did it was often put in place way too late!
 
Lanc_seasider said:
Just seen a few of the highlights from the Premier League teams friendlies oversees and it had me thinking. With the odd kid thrown in here and there most the teams were playing fairly close to what you’d expect their first eleven to be come the first weekend. We’ve seen a half and half team for the entirety of pre-season, and it now looks as if Hibs will be the only game we’ll have a side out that’s remotely close to the team that starts against Burton.

I guess my point is.. would it not be more worth it to play a side and get it to gel for more friendlies than we do? I know a friendly is nothing like a competitive game and Critch probably wants to see different combinations of players and styles but we’ll be going into the season with our first 11 having potentially only started one game together. We started poorly in League 1 last time, could this contribute as to why?
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Man Utd v Wrexham?
 
AllTheBoysAreCheerin' said:
He put different players out to face different challenges just like he's always done as our manager. It suggests he'll be the same manager that we've had before. Some call it tinkering & others call it meticulous planning. I'd prefer we went out to impose our game on the opposition from the start but there's also a valid argument for stopping the opposition and earning the right to play your game.

My only concern is Critchley's plan B, he often didn't seem to have one and when he did it was often put in place way too late!
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Plan B - 4 4 f*****g 2
 
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