Steady Pre-Season For The Eagles

Both the results so far this pre-season and the performances have been both solid and unspectacular. To be fair, we have faced less than illustrious opponents throughout pre-season – our US tour was followed up with away trips to both Wimbledon and Colchester. The quality of opposition was reflected in the results, going into the Fulham game we were unbeaten in pre-season with three wins and two draws. However, it was against Fulham that the unbeaten run came to an end, losing 3-1 away at Craven Cottage. Cue the hysteria.

It’s a bit cliché to say that pre-season is ‘simply about the fitness’ but given the absences of key players and the fact that a striker is yet (I really do hope that ‘yet’ will prove to be the correct word) to be signed the results really shouldn’t have too much importance attached to them by anyone. So while it was disappointing to lose to Fulham it’s important to have some perspective of where each side was in their pre-season endeavours.

While Fulham were gearing up for the season opener against Newcastle the following weekend with Palace their last opponents of their pre-season, while we still had three more games to play. Couple that with the lack of a recognised striker starting the game and our internationals still on holiday and not too much can be read into that result, nor any of the other results – they were friendlies with wildly changed sides from half-to-half let alone from game to game.

On that note, the European Championships presented a challenge that, as a club, we’ve not yet become accustomed to, with large portions of our playing squad jetting off to France and subsequently returning late to club duty. The success of both Wales and France at the Championships has meant that players like Joe Ledley and Yohan Cabaye are only just returning to training and both have yet to pull on the red and blue jersey in pre-season. It’s been the same story for new signing Mandanda who was also involved with France at the Euros and took part in his first training session with the squad just two days ago – far from ideal.

One of the most notable changes that has taken place during pre-season has been the transfer of the captain’s armband from Mile Jedinak to Scott Dann. I don’t think anybody saw it coming, the Aussie has done cracking job during his stint as captain and unless there was a move away imminent, a move which hasn’t materialised yet, it’s hard to see the need for change. That being said I’m not in any way opposed to Dann being made captain, he is one of the best players I’ve seen at the club bar none and if the armband were to be anyone my choice would be him. That still poses the question though… why the change?

Back to the football itself though. The toughest test so far this pre-season took place this afternoon, with the match up with ‘Los Che’ was far and away the sternest examination of the whole pre-season and was duly be met with a side that, aside from transfers, could well start next weekend at home to the Baggies. There were multiple reasons to be encouraged by this performance in particular and one or two disappointments. Valencia didn’t have the most successful season last time out but they have a squad filled with quality and to secure a 3-1 win, albeit in pre-season, is an excellent achievement.

The performance of Connor Wickham and Andros Townsend were also reasons for cautious optimism. Townsend in particular has looked the best winger in the side throughout pre-season and confirmed that once again today with another excellent performance. What’s even more encouraging is that this result came without some fairly central players. James McArthur and James Tomkins are still out with knocks picked up in pre-season and the sight of Pape Souare limping off this afternoon was not a good one, especially considering Fryers’ injury. It was Souare’s cross that led to Wickham’s opener and he provides a real attacking threat that Ward and Kelly just can’t.

Next up in the last game of pre-season is an away trip to Farnborough Town which, with all due respect, is likely to be met with a second-string side at best in preparation for the curtain-raiser next weekend. Then attention turns to Saturday afternoon back at Selhurst Park, with a world of possibilities at the feet of the boys in red and blue and the support of the fans driving them on… bring it on!