Pre season Friendlies 2017... Thoughts?

CCOB wrote:U21 Pre-season friendly fixtures.

Thurs 13 July - Harrogate Railway (H)
Tues 18 July - Notts County XI (H)
Weds 19 July - HTAFC Development Squad v Knaresborough Town (A)

The Railway game is the John Smiths Trophy game.
The Knaresborough game is some kind of charity game i believe but not sure on the exact details.

It is part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of the birth of Blind Jack Metcalf of Knaresborough - a famous road builder and fiddler.

CCOB wrote:U21 Pre-season friendly fixtures.

Thurs 13 July - Harrogate Railway (H)
Tues 18 July - Notts County XI (H)
Weds 19 July - HTAFC Development Squad v Knaresborough Town (A)

The Railway game is the John Smiths Trophy game.
The Knaresborough game is some kind of charity game i believe but not sure on the exact details.

Great we have an U21 squad to play Railway, what would normally be a first team game has now been given even less kudos than it ever has.

I think that the first team have struggled in the past to beat Railway too (entertaining games in the past!), an under 21 team does not seem promising, bet Railway are really happy about that too.

Used to really look forward to pre-season games, especially the Railway games, local derby etc... not fussed about any single game this time round.

The majority of the Railway team after Beesley left them last season was their youth team, they went on to lose every game they had left bar one and only just escaped a 2nd successive relegation. I don't know what kind of team they intend fielding next season but if it's anything like the team that finished last season it seems obvious to me that it makes more sense for our U21's to play them. I'm sure Railway will be happy with that, no point in their youngsters getting hammered by our first team as happened last season.

Terry Kennedy signed from Alfreton. Centre back. Number of years with the Blades. Sounds good but, it would seem, dodgy knee and maybe an attitude problem.

I remember Bradford PA's forum last summer wondering whether Simon Ainge's dodgy knees would stand up to a 3g pitch.

Slowly coming together. However, 3 players seemingly suffering historically from being prone to injury - Ainge, Knowles and Kennedy means lots of crossed fingers. Let's hope that we get the rub of the green in terms of keeping players fit this season.

paulstreet wrote:Terry Kennedy signed from Alfreton. Centre back. Number of years with the Blades. Sounds good but, it would seem, dodgy knee and maybe an attitude problem.

Where has this news come from Paul?

Nowt' on official site as per usual!

Someone on Facebook picked it up from Twitter (I think a Sheffield United fan!). But it seems to be kosher. As you say nothing on the official site yet.

paulstreet wrote:Someone on Facebook picked it up from Twitter (I think a Sheffield United fan!). But it seems to be kosher. As you say nothing on the official site yet.

Thanks

Signing of Terry Kennedy confirmed by BBC Radio York Sport Twitter.

A player who was released by a team who conceded more goals then anyone else in the league. An Alf fan on one football forum says he's accident prone. It hardy feels like a promotion chasing signing.

I hope it turns out to be a good signing, but I share your concerns. Initially I thought the Sheffield Utd connection sounded really positive, but as you say, playing last season for a team fighting relegation in our own league, is hardly the most encouraging news. And why leave a League One club for the National North? Still, lets hope it works out.

What has really surprised me is that all our signings so far have been players from our own level (OK, Fallowfield played in the National Premier but to all intents and purposes, Ferriby being bottom, the same level).

Maybe I'm naïve but I was really hoping, and expecting, that the move to full time would draw in signings from players at a higher level wanting to remain full time. Were others expecting that?

I cannot help feeling that this is a case of managing expectations downwards.

We only have a 15 man squad so far by my count, so there has to be another 4 or 5 signings to go. maybe some quality left to arrive.

paulstreet wrote:I cannot help feeling that this is a case of managing expectations downwards.

Hope that your wrong Paul, but in honesty I agree with you hope we're both proven wrong by the end of the season, suspect buzz phrases like learning curve, adapting to the demands of full time, and building for the future to be used plentifully if we don't have a red hot start to the season.

Hi Guys, looking in from across the pond as always and i must say i'm pretty bored to tears so far? Everything seems pretty non existent or under whelming lol....i know its off season but these are the times that all the fun things are meant to be happening, new signings, new contracts, transfer gossip, who would we like, what formation will we be playing, waiting for that one special signing? but no, the Town site has fell asleep and all you guys must still be on your hols.
Heck, they've even installed a 3G pitch so we can't even get a wow its looking pretty brown and needs a watering update.
I don't have the pleasure of of watching Town play so how the heck am i meant to retain my Prediction league title when i'm not sure who are new players are of even if we have any...come on the Ice Hockey season has just finished over here so all i have is baseball at the moment to keep me going until the pre season lol. I will keep trolling this site everyday as always with baited breathe waiting for the big announcement whatever that maybe. Have fun guys.

A few of us are trying to keep things going, but not a lot of meat to chew on. Defo a deadly boring close season so far.Still in about 3 weeks the 'the.lads' will be back in full time training. My fear, as always, is that we simply don't have the manager to take us to the next level. No disrespect to Simon but he has had 8 years and good budgets. I'd love him to succeed and prove me wrong but I just can't see it happening.

Hi Paulstreet, i hear you there, hopefully moving full time will give them that little edge to work some more with the players, but also like mentioned before there does seem to be that feeling that Harrogate Town turn good players into average ones and then they move on and suddenly become good again. This has to be down to something behind the scenes, whether it be poor coaching or just a lack of man management i really don't know, only time will tell. I really think that Simon has two years to work at this at that will be it...at any other club or even an club in any sport, he would have been gone by now, and yes we all know the reason why but i feel moving full time is the last role of the dice.Also as mentioned above, the communication between club and fans is also non existent and really disappointing as the chairman has pretty much nailed everything else, but i guess this is also down to the situation regarding family issues.
Ah well, only time will tell.

Dead right. With the same owner and a different manager, the sky could be the limit. As it is, it's Groundhog Day every season. SO frustating!

On the subject of signing good players and making them average, our marquee signing last year who we released with a year left on his contract has signed today for Torquay in the league above us, watch him bang em in for fun.

I hadn’t realised we had a Town fan working for Leeds Council!
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We are now playing Hartlepool United at home on 15th July instead of Ossett Town.

CCOB wrote:We are now playing Hartlepool United at home on 15th July instead of Ossett Town.

This is a great tie and should be a good test for the team.

Still awaiting confirmation of the final home game however hopefully this is another strong team.

Good news. Will Jeff Selling be there? And Woodsy? Bring him back!!

I will always have fond memories of Woodsy - didn't always shine for us but he was magnificent on his day and in a different class. He scored one of the best goals I have ever seen at Town. Flicked the ball over a bewildered defender and then volleyed into the net as I recall. What a player.