Pre-Season

As a supporter I have just seen my team Darlington F.c lose against a Newcastle essentially a fringe / reserve team 0-2.

A few things firstly attendance is usually inbetween 2k and 3k, but this time it was almost 10k now although on fm this looks good, it absolutely infuriates (annoys) with the people who go and
1) expect it to be fantastic quality football
2) kill the atmosphere of die hard fans
3) know almost nothing about football
4) cannot name a single player from darlington f.c

ok next is my annoyance with the board for friendlies like this, although on fm you get loads, for a manager it must be very un-productive to go up against people like smith, the returning ben arfa, vukitic (or whatever that youngster is called). I mean your bound to lose and you won't learn that much from it. I give the example of San Marino arranging a friendly with Brazil I mean that is in no way productive other than financially.

Oh also the newcastle fans invaded the pitch after the 2nd goal, Why you may ask? well they are from north-east and the fans get very drunk before games.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_7038867,00.html

Anyway this thread is as well as abit of a rant, a question, what do you think on these topics in pre-season, and do you feel the same way e.t.c?

Pre-season friendlies will happen between affilated clubs for finacial reasons but you are right there is no point in arranging a number of friendlies that you will be out-passed, out played and just beaten by a team playing in first-gear at best. To be honest it cant do anything for confidence, team spirit and it cant do much for their fitness really cause they can only watch the ball move past them.

It is all about fitness in preseason. Forget the scoreline its about a workout. Newcastle v Darlinton is like a derby though and the crowd prob took it too serious.