Pre Season Friendlies

[thebish]

so...

Trotter > Vela ??

[malcd1]

Is it possible they were going through the motions as they didn't want to risk injury before start of the season, next week?

Of course it is important not to get injured just before the start of the season but we had no cutting edge at all. None until the last 5 minutes that is. I'm not sure it was because they were only playing at 80% or they are just average. I suspect the latter.

[malcd1]

so...

Trotter > Vela ??

Trotter didn't do anything either but I would say yes.

Vela played out of position and looked completely clueless on the left of midfield. His confidence appears to be very low at the moment but I'm not sure he would have looked any better if he'd played in the middle.

[bobo the clown]

^^ "organised" is an improvement.

[BWFC_Insane]

Rumour I heard today and I stress rumour, is that Parky is frustrated as he wants to sign Wheater and Richardson plus a striker but the league want players out or investment in, first before they would approve new deals. So we are a waiting for a big earner to leave or Ken to put his money in, if this is true.

Anyone else hear this?

[Peter Thompson]

^^ "organised" is an improvement.

Absolutely, but a total lack of creativity and a goal scoring threat is no improvement on last season - which is where I'm at, I was convinced that Parkinson would be able to re shape the squad, but he hasn't and to me we are no different to how we finished last season, no pace upfront & no decent goal threat

I've now re assessed following our final pre season game & without further investment or players sales i.e. Amos, Pratley, Madine, Davies, Moxey we will be mid table at best I fear.

My earlier enthusiasm has certainly now become a resignation that nothing has really changed from last season, which to me is very disappointing to say the least.

[TKIZ!]

No smoke without fire on the rumours but it would help if the league just came out and say it rather than a lot of guess work

[BWFC_Insane]

^^ "organised" is an improvement.

Absolutely, but a total lack of creativity and a goal scoring threat is no improvement on last season - which is where I'm at, I was convinced that Parkinson would be able to re shape the squad, but he hasn't and to me we are no different to how we finished last season, no pace upfront & no decent goal threat

I've now re assessed following our final pre season game & without further investment or players sales i.e. Amos, Pratley, Madine, Davies, Moxey we will be mid table at best I fear.

My earlier enthusiasm has certainly now become a resignation that nothing has really changed from last season, which to me is very disappointing to say the least.

Where did you think the money would come from? Problem is the league clearly weren't totally convinced the money was there from the takeover hence transfer restrictions.

I'm not too disappointed. Clearly though we've got some significant squad gaps it looks like we might not fill and I think expectations are dropping generally as the season comes round.

Think mid table will be a decent result.

[thebish]

Parky's thoughts on the game...

http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/2016 ... 16539.aspx


apparently we can take a lot of positives from it.. preston are a good side dontcha know... clean sheet.... Beevers was ace

[Peter Thompson]

Money for what....we have released several 1st team squad players from last season on decent wages, and replaced them with 3 x free transfers on probably much less wages plus we've reportedly got £2.5M for Holding (with £2M upfront)....so I'm not sure the relevance of your question squire as we are not likely to pay out anything on transfer fee's anytime soon.

I just think that a decent goal scorer or attacking threat should be PP's priority, saying that KA may have a couple of loans lined up for forward players - as this (our attacking / goal scoring ability) will be the main difference in whether we will have a successful season or not IMO

[BWFC_Insane]

Money for what....we have released several 1st team squad players from last season on decent wages, and replaced them with 3 x free transfers on probably much less wages plus we've reportedly got £2.5M for Holding (with £2M upfront)....so I'm not sure the relevance of your question squire as we are not likely to pay out anything on transfer fee's anytime soon.

I just think that a decent goal scorer or attacking threat should be PP's priority, saying that KA may have a couple of loans lined up for forward players - as this (our attacking / goal scoring ability) will be the main difference in whether we will have a successful season or not IMO

It was widely reported we needed roughly 15M to cover the wages (we are still making a loss) till the end of the coming season. Now that was without adding anything.

We may have reduced costs somewhat but presumably still money from owners just about covers existing costs and the league clearly had doubts on that.

Let alone adding new players in. Our wage bill has reduced but so has our income, significantly.

We can't run our current costs without money from an external source. The buisness isn't self sufficient. So any new wages will need even further additional funding.

[Bijou Bob]

It's looking more and more like a slow start to the season, keeping it tight at the back and closing games out for a point until we can get a couple of loans in at the end of August. Without a decent striker, or someone wide to provide, it'll be a long, hard season.

[thebish]

it'll be reet - we still have those premiership loans we had all tied up to come in!

[Athertonian]

I went yesterday and see nothing other than another struggle. Bollox to all this "I don't wanna get injured" crap Preston players got stuck in and they were like Burnley in our league last season. Until a goal scorer comes in this side will struggle again, too many players from last term for my liking. Clough is not the answer nor is Madine.

[Harry Genshaw]

Bearing in mind where we were around March/April with a relegated side and the prospect of having no club at all there was no way it could all be turned round in a matter of months. If we're stuck with the big earners but we've got the finances to get through this season, then lets go with what we've got. There should be enough in there for a season of consolidation and a mid table finish.

In summer 2017 with a few more big earners gone and Parky properly ensconced, then we can start looking a little more hopefully towards the future

[TKIZ!]

I hears ya, Harry and I endorse that message

[Worthy4England]

Me too. Anyone thinking it's a short route back when you're near bankrupt might want a rethink. How long were dirty Leeds in this division?

[BWFC_Insane]

Go to agree that anyone who had the notion that we were totally in the clear and on the verge of a glorius comeback was living in cloud cuckoo land.

The takeover didn't magically clear all the problems and clearly has brought some new ones with it.

I think we've got a manager who is proven at the level we will be working. A coaching team he wants and a squad that will still need considerable changes that won't happen in time for this season.

The start to this season is so absolutely crucial it isn't funny. Get a few results first few games build a little momentum and I think we could even sneak 6th. Have a poor start and face another year of catch up and we could go down again. Not sure the spirit amongst fans and around the club in general would survive another bad start.

After 10 games we simply have to have at least 12/13 points to ensure we aren't once again too far behind the pack.

[Hoboh]

See, I have this thing in the back of my mind that promotion isn't exactly Kens plan for a couple of seasons, getting the club in good shape, yes but why on earth would anyone want promotion when it might trigger further payments to the old owner?
Sit on a ship shape club with assets until the deal expires? then sell at a profit with no ties, sounds reasonable.
Ball not kicked in anger yet but I have serious doubts about Parkinson already, seems like he's building a team for this division only, go up and we will come back down anyway, the calibre or future prospects of the players he's signing is very limited.
In other words, we cannot afford promotion any time soon.

[Prufrock]

Even by your high standards that's pretty stupid.