Pre-season 2024/25 - Borussia Dortmund

[Drummond]

Martinez
Konsa Mings
Kamara
Watkins

3 back in next couple of days, one in September and one hopefully before Xmas. That's the spine of our team all missing.

This has been a learning experience for everyone else. We've been trying all the new players.

Gauci
Nedeljhovic
Bogarde
Feeney
Maatsen
Barkley
Onana
Dobbin
Philogene
Iling Junior
Archer

That's why we don't look as good as we might.

[kippaxvilla2]

Which means as per usual the squad is not good enough.

[olaftab]

Last year we drew 3-3 with Brentford same levels of fitness.  We beat the other sides didn’t we?

Drew with Walsall, Newcastle lost to Valencia I think

Walsall won 4-1.

[olaftab]

This has been a learning experience for everyone else. We've been trying all the new players.

Gauci
Nedeljhovic
Bogarde
Feeney
Maatsen
Barkley
Onana
Dobbin
Philogene
Iling Junior
Archer

That's why we don't look as good as we might.

I don’t care what anyone says, this team is good enough to keep us up.

[PaulWinch again]

Not a particularly impressive tour that.

[PhilVill]

Emi and Ramsey have got some vital minutes under the belt, three best players to come back with Mings back soon too. Minds will now be made up on Archer, Carlos and Cash so although disappointing, its not concerning. Saturday's game will be a far better indication of where we are.

[Meanwood Villa]

In all honesty, I don’t think we’ve strengthened the squad so far to any degree

This is it for me. I think the current squad is weaker than last season. Extra numbers doesn't necessarily mean extra quality. 

[dicedlam]

It is ok saying the spine of the team is yet to come back, but those players will be starting from scratch for pre-season fitness.
I fully expect to see that Watkins, Konsa and to a certain extent Martinez needing more than a couple of games against Bilbao and Dortmund to get up to speed.

I reckon it will be a tough start to the new season.

[rougegorge]

In all honesty, I don’t think we’ve strengthened the squad so far to any degree

This is it for me. I think the current squad is weaker than last season. Extra numbers doesn't necessarily mean extra quality.

Yes, and we can't we be counting on players who have been out with serious injuries for a long while to necessarily come back at their previous levels.

Like you say, and for all the enthusiasm with the signings, do any of the players we have signed so far improve our first team overall?

[Drummond]

I just want to add that looking at the team, the positions players were in, the players that have been on the pitch, this is purely training and fitness prep.

Emery knows how to prepare for matches and how to get players ready. These results and performances don't mean anything really, it's about him tracking individuals, testing them and getting them ready for what he really wants them to do.

The first proper test will be Dortmund, because we will have everyone back.

I've been interested to see just how many players go off in the summer to fitness and conditioning camps; the article on Rogers highlighted it, and that a lot of players from different clubs mix at them.

[andyh]

I agree with the post above.

But, the other point of the tour was to raise our profile and attract new fans.
Not sure the audience over there will be too turned on by a team who lost all 3 of their games and barely threatened the goal.

[Goldie.7]

What I took from this extremely boring pre-season run is Onana and Maatsen will be yellow card magnets this season.

[Tuscans]

[Clampy]

Hard to judge too much really when it's mainly been two different starting 11's each half and yesterday the likes of Digne and Donk playing centre half.

[itbrvilla]

I agree with the post above.

But, the other point of the tour was to raise our profile and attract new fans.
Not sure the audience over there will be too turned on by a team who lost all 3 of their games and barely threatened the goal.

Spot on. Pretty pointless in that regard. At least give them something to get excited about.