Ipswich 2-1 Newcastle Newcastle's virtually full-strength team were defeated 2-1 at Ipswich tonight. A side which included Alan Shearer, Craig Bellamy, Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer - although not new signing Patrick Kluivert - fell behind to Shefki Kuqi's fourth-minute strike when he side-footed home from Dean Bowditch's pass. Frenchman Laurent Robert equalised six minutes before half-time when he headed home Bellamy's cross but in the 71st minute Kuqi set-up Pablo Counago to shoot past second-half substitute Steve Harper, with the aid of a deflection off Andy O'Brien. DEAR DEAR DEAR!
Re: Ipswich 2-1 Newcastle Dear o dear o dear indeed. * Season-Friendly-Pre * Its abaat the lads getting match fit. Your Pre-Season the Black Pussy Cats will have to go to A&E with toxic poisoning, after running up and down the sand on the Wear.
Re: Ipswich 2-1 Newcastle Liam O'Brien, Andy O'Brien. Any any any O'Brien. Who put the ball in the Makam's net. O'Brien O'Brien Winner.
Anyone who reads anything into pre-season friendly results is a fool. They have no bearing whatsoever on the real action when it gets underway, and are never even a rtemote guide to form.
Then I am a fool....Leeds didn't win a single pre-season game last year... I think your argument is correct when the team put out is a mix of youth/reserve and 1st team players. But once the 1st XI for the season is being played and losing then the alarm bells should start ringing. This is not a dig at the geordies - I can't comment on that result, more my own team's short-comings. We have drawn with Hull, lost to Sheff Utd and lost to Rangers in the last week
Thats the thing mate yeah, spot on. If you are chopping and changing the team, cant read a lot into them - but when it is very much the expected starting 11 that plays, then it does mean something. U wud think anyway
Good points boys. Friendlies are probably most pivotal when integrating youth/reserve/new signings into the working team. It's here they can get a feel of how they can link together as a team. I also agree with the fitness argument and player attitude plays a part aswell. When some ppl feel they can walk into a team and guarantee a place they don't treat certain games with the right amount of respect either, plus you've got the fact that most players will be wary of injury. Pros and cons for both arguments but friendlies themselves are no less important at this time of year.
nah - s****horpe. messing about with the team still, giving the young lads a go etc.. and, we DIDNT get beat
