The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

BartonRaz wrote: Fri Jun 03, 2022 12:39 pm Credit where it's due. I've been critical of pre-season fixtures in recent years - particularly last year's which left us totally unprepared and gave us an inflated impression of what the squad was capable of (including thinking Will Jones was a world beater). This is a much better set of fixtures.

None of them look easy, the home ties are likely to garner interest and excitement, and hopefully the 3 games against football league clubs will have additional benefits, giving those clubs a chance to look at us and the way we play, with a view to potentially getting some younger players in on loan throughout the course of the season. MK Dons haven't announced this as an XI fixture and given it's their first friendly, hopefully they'll bring a first team.

Only minor criticism really is I think the Daventry fixture has had its day now and I have to say I'm surprised we're going back to Kempston again after playing on knee-high grass there last year. Thank God we've done away with the utterly pointless R&H friendly though!

AFCRD_Dan wrote: Fri Jun 03, 2022 12:45 pm

BartonRaz wrote: Fri Jun 03, 2022 12:39 pm Credit where it's due. I've been critical of pre-season fixtures in recent years - particularly last year's which left us totally unprepared and gave us an inflated impression of what the squad was capable of (including thinking Will Jones was a world beater). This is a much better set of fixtures.

None of them look easy, the home ties are likely to garner interest and excitement, and hopefully the 3 games against football league clubs will have additional benefits, giving those clubs a chance to look at us and the way we play, with a view to potentially getting some younger players in on loan throughout the course of the season. MK Dons haven't announced this as an XI fixture and given it's their first friendly, hopefully they'll bring a first team.

Only minor criticism really is I think the Daventry fixture has had its day now and I have to say I'm surprised we're going back to Kempston again after playing on knee-high grass there last year. Thank God we've done away with the utterly pointless R&H friendly though!

We could still play R&H as they hold the annual Chris Ruff memorial game, unless they invite someone else this year, but it’s always been between landlords and tenants.

BartonRaz wrote: Fri Jun 03, 2022 12:54 pm

AFCRD_Dan wrote: Fri Jun 03, 2022 12:45 pm

BartonRaz wrote: Fri Jun 03, 2022 12:39 pm Credit where it's due. I've been critical of pre-season fixtures in recent years - particularly last year's which left us totally unprepared and gave us an inflated impression of what the squad was capable of (including thinking Will Jones was a world beater). This is a much better set of fixtures.

None of them look easy, the home ties are likely to garner interest and excitement, and hopefully the 3 games against football league clubs will have additional benefits, giving those clubs a chance to look at us and the way we play, with a view to potentially getting some younger players in on loan throughout the course of the season. MK Dons haven't announced this as an XI fixture and given it's their first friendly, hopefully they'll bring a first team.

Only minor criticism really is I think the Daventry fixture has had its day now and I have to say I'm surprised we're going back to Kempston again after playing on knee-high grass there last year. Thank God we've done away with the utterly pointless R&H friendly though!

We could still play R&H as they hold the annual Chris Ruff memorial game, unless they invite someone else this year, but it’s always been between landlords and tenants.

Yes I should point out before someone jumps down my throat on that one - I meant pointless in the sense that the fixture is never remotely competitive. Nothing to do with Chris Ruff!

AFCRD_Dan wrote: Fri Jun 03, 2022 4:05 pm

BartonRaz wrote: Fri Jun 03, 2022 12:54 pm

AFCRD_Dan wrote: Fri Jun 03, 2022 12:45 pm

We could still play R&H as they hold the annual Chris Ruff memorial game, unless they invite someone else this year, but it’s always been between landlords and tenants.

Yes I should point out before someone jumps down my throat on that one - I meant pointless in the sense that the fixture is never remotely competitive. Nothing to do with Chris Ruff!

I wasn’t jumping down your throat, apologies if it seemed that way. But yes, I agree the games against R&H are pointless.