The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

I don't disaree with what you're saying at all corby diamond, but I can only comment and what's in front of me not second guess what people mean and that was uneccesarily harsh and provocative. Sorry wasn't trying to get in an argument.

If we were aware that a significant amount of first-team players would be unavailable would it have been fair to let the fans know that it would be more of an XI side? Given the distance involved.

Rightly or wrongly I had assumed given the fact this friendly was announced with a press release back in April that this was going to be one our our most high profile friendlies this summer, and it appears it may not have been treated as such. I'm not saying that's a bad thing because as has rightly been pointed out on here you expect to see a host of youth and first team players involved in pre-season, but if I'd have shelled out £40-50 in fuel to get to Widnes and back I might have felt short-changed.

To be honest If 8 first-team players truly were unavailable yesterday (yet they were available on Thursday) then I'd question what these players are busying themselves with on a Saturday when ordinarily they should be representing the club. Is that unfair?

I'm just playing devil's advocate a bit here because I respect the manager's decision to pick whatever side he chooses.

When the fixture came out, and was suggested it was for the shield, I for one also took it as something more than a friendly. Anything that's winnable after a game is worth trying to win. And an occasion as a couple of said is what I would class it as too.

If I got to the ground and read the team list would of felt slightly disappointed, having thought that the subs would be nearer to what was on show Thursday evening. But as you state they have commitments. Bring on Wednesday

I drove all over the country watching the old clubs friendlies and saw many an XI played I recall being somewhere near Stoke and watching an XI team but I knew it was likely to be that before I went, not because the club told us fans beforehand, but because it's pre season, I made the choice to go knowing that, I didn't moan, I knew then just as I know now how beneficial it was to the team it was.

Yesterday was a great example to see how Lance got on starting up front, many people called for him to be starting after some great performances as a sub last season and this was a perfect situation to try him out and see how he got on, would people rather we tried it during the season? just as it was to see Louis Smith having played really well when he came on at Hayden Road play a full 70 minutes. Ash Meeks who was out with Harpole last season played and it was a great opportunity to see how he had come on. That along with match fitness it was invaluable.

The U18's subs who came on and played really really well was a great benefit, are people really saying we ought to pass these opportunities to help develop players up then?

Northwich's pitch not being ready switching the game to 5.15pm Kick off, players on holiday, with some slight injuries and work commitments meant we took the squad we did.

The next few friendlies there will be trialists and players being asked to different things, different formations i'm telling you all now I don't expect to see a first team 90 minute game all pre season (bar perhaps the last one) and I also would much rather the management do this in pre season and know what plan B is during the season than go oops we should have seen how Mcbride played at left back in pre season if say Sam Brown got sent off during the season.

And just like thursday we had the majority of the game and had we scored when we were on top it would have been a different scoreline I am sure.

It's good to see that the new Northwich club is getting the sort of publicity in the Non-League Paper we had last season, with a pic from yesterday being the main pic on the front of the paper.

Going a bit over the top aren't we :roll: this is not the prem it's semi pro football with the wages just about covering fuel costs. As for those there Thu but not Sat, we all know what Alfie does work wise does anyone expect him to miss a night (presuming his employers would allow it) for a pre season friendly :?: Dunks was not going to be there Thu & for those who know why he was would I assume expect & accept him missing yesterday :!: Sam is on holiday something which due to last seasons trials starting so early I don't think he had one of last year. But sure like most of the squad will like last season be available for every COMPETITIVE game once they start. Whilst I fully appreciate the importance of AFC R&D to many including the playing staff the is life beyond it.

PS That's 3 of 8 defended your Honour presume another AFC R&D fan can take the stand on behalf of the remaining D & D 8 before they suffer a miscarriage of justice & the key is thrown away :lol: :lol:

Brownie wrote:PS That's 3 of 8 defended your Honour presume another AFC R&D fan can take the stand on behalf of the remaining D & D 8 before they suffer a miscarriage of justice & the key is thrown away :lol: :lol:

What? :?

It's fair enough if a few are elsewhere I'm not saying there's a problem with that, but if we didn't have a youth team to rely upon we may not have been able to field a side yesterday if all 8 genuinely couldn't make it. That's before you've factored in Gillingwater, Merrill, Hope, Parkinson and any others i've forgotton (the 8 I mentioned were the 8 first team players that played on Thursday and weren't involved yesterday).

Look, all I'm saying is that for the sake of the fan it should have been labelled as an XI game in my opinion. I'm not bothered about the result. Trek said he'd heard whispers this was going to happen so obviously it had been planned. The Lutterworth, Winslow and Biggleswade games are labelled up as XI games and I anticipate a similar side to the one we saw yesterday will play in those games, so what was different about yesterday?

The XI matches wont be the same starting 11 as yesterday, That's because yesterday's starting 11 was predominantly fringe first team players not the U21's it was a mixture of first team starters fringe players,u21's with u18's on the bench. The under 21's will be different.

Northwich even reminded us that they were a new club with only 1 fixture under their belt which was a win against a step 8 team and we took a squad accordingly and were very competitive and we learnt a lot.

I have only just logged on and read the responses to my comments. As Chas has been magnanimous to temper his reply I should also.

Maybe it would have been better said as "A disappointment to see the team as SD have been very helpful to both clubs (and many others). The match warranted a more competitive team selection."

As Chas has pointed out several "first choice" players were unavailable, which I can well appreciate at this level, especially at this time of year. I myself will be on holiday from next sunday and will probably miss the first UCL fixture.

I certainly would not "insult" the management team or any of the board. I think most of the board know who I am and they know I would never say anything to "insult" them.

I am looking forward to the Brackley game, with their ex Diamonds, as we have an XI fixture at Winslow on Friday evening we can at least be assured of a full "first choice" team.