How was your preseason?

Fancied finding out how well everyone thinks they've done in the build up to the new season. Do you still have have the same expectations for the season as you had before a ball was kicked? Or have your results shown you to be not quite as strong as you thought you would be? Have you already got the league in the bag or are you resigned to battling bravely against delegation?

At Fosse I organised quite a difficult preseason campaign in which we have had a bit of 'a mixed bag' of results:

Bullshead (prem) won 3-1
Perrin (prem) lost 4-2
CPR (5?) drew 1-1
Throops (1) lost 2-0
Glenfield (prem) won 6-5
Kaffir (3) won 6-4
Leicester Tiles (sat prem) lost 4-0
Magna Town (3) drew 2-2
Magna Rangers (prem) lost 5-2

We upset a few premiership teams but also had some woeful performances against lower league opposition. Most of our best stuff was played in the first few games. We struggled quite badly in the more recent matches. I'm less confident now than I was before preseason and think top 2 might be out of our reach.

Alliance FC (LSL Div 4) won 14-2
Harrow (Div 5) won 4-0
Fleckney Ath (Div 2) drew 3-3
Crows Nest (LSL Prem) drew 3-3
Huncote (was Bakers Arms) (Div 3) won 3-1
Fosse Div 2 won 5-2

Unbeaten so far and you got to be happy with that. I think the most satisfying part for us is the youth that has come through from Magna 73 U18s side last season. Players such as Cartwright, Lance Bryan, Danny Baines and Halford Fryatt-Hunt have done really well. Some of our most senior players have been missing during that time especially against the Crowies were we had an average age of 18!!

Thing is with Magna sides, certainly this one! is that when we play opposition that are supposedly 'inferior' to us, we simply don't perform - case in point Fleckney Athletic, but against teams like the Crowies when our backs are up against the wall, we put in a great performance.

Still a couple of more friendlies to go and then its Prem Sports.

Azul Zorros

White Eagles lost 3-1
Inter Mivan won 9-3
AFC Bees Knees lost 2-1
Desford Utd Drew 2-2
Athletic Sportsman drew 3-3
Spinney Rovers won 3-2
Horse lost 5-3
Office Update drew 1-1
Pollards Crusaders won 2-1
Wigston Rangers won 4-1

Still got 2 potential friendlies to play, I think we have done well against some good teams in pre season and probably played worse against the lesser sides. We have a new confidence in the camp and I think we can look forward to a good season this year

Niffy A 3 v 3 Wigston Rangers
Niffy XI(mix of ressies and 1st team) 4 v 6 Niffy A
Niffy A 6 v 0 FC City of Leicester
Niffy A 6 v 2 Firs OB
Niffy A 2 v 1 Thurmaston 2011
Niffy A 4 v 2 Global Athletic
Niffy A 4 v 2 Fairfield Utd
AFC Royal Oak 1 v 2 Niffy A
Niffy A 0 v 5 Kaffir

Not a bad pre-season only lost 1 to a very strong div 3 team. That's in now for pre-season - 2 weeks rest for the season to start.

HARBOROUGH HOTSHOTS 3 POLSKA 2
NIFFY RANGERS RESERVES 1 POLSKA 1
LEICESTER BHARAT TALBOT 4 POLSKA 1
DEMONTFORT UNIVERSITY 0 POLSKA 8
POLSKA 9 AYLESTONE LOUNGE BAR 4
NRI RES 4 POLSKA 2

P6 W2 D1 L3 F23 A16

Mixed bag of results but all very dependent on who plays and who is missing (which is the same for everyone). Made a few signings, learnt plenty and much more of an idea this season compared to last year as to who the starting 11 will be etc. etc.

Cant remember our scores, but i think as follows:

Beat White Eagles, Superfly, Sileby and lost to Bullshead then drew against Moshdock and Birstall.

To be fair, our pre-season has been a weird one, started our first two games with about 19 players which led to us creating the reserves. Having to keep everyone happy was a tough job and one for a Mathematician rather than a Magician! We have had players missing for a couple and lost a lot of fluidity in the team with our passing game. Against Moshdock for about 40 minutes we played like we can, putting the effort in, moving the ball and looking like we were getting back into it. By all accounts we played very well this Sunday.
Still not had our full squad available for any friendly, but i think when we do, we will give most teams a game this year.
Hoping for top four, maybe promotion and would like to get to the cup final in one cup, and draw Advance Couriers in the league cup...

Magna Town

W vs Hat & Beaver (6) 6-2
W vs LDA Spartans (5) 5-1
D vs Fosse City (2) 2-2
D vs Sparta Moshdock (Prem) 2-2

Undefeated so happy with that, this year wanted to make sure we had a progressive set of fixtures with yesterday being our toughest test, Moshdock move the ball very well regardless of what team they have. Personally think we will finish mid table, we have a very very tough opening 5 games gona have to play well otherwise cud find ourselves bottom!!

Birstall Rangers

v Gate Hangs Well won 2-1
v NRI drew 3-3
v Beaumont Town drew 4-4
v St. Marks won 5-0
v Piper United won 5-2

Decent pre-season for us. Lost a couple of players from last year but signed 4 new quality players for this season (although one of them broke a bone in his hand against NRI and is out til November!)

Wigston Rangers, definitely had a few games more than we should have, results improved towards the end, think we should be contenders for division 7.

v Little Bowden L 2-3
v Niffy 'A D 3-3
v Thurmaston 2011 L 1-3
v FCCOL L 4-5
v Inter Mivan D 3-3
v Sileby L 7-1
v Aylestone Lounge L 6-1
v Afc Royal Oak W 8-1
v NRI L 4-1
v St. Marks W 2-1
v Thurmaston 2011 W 3-1
v Little Bowden W 7-1
v Azul Zorros L 4-1 would have been alot closer had we not collapsed after 135 minutes of football.

Overall it went well I think I am missing a win early on against someone, not so sure though.

Blackie wrote:

Birstall Rangers

v Gate Hangs Well won 2-1
v NRI drew 3-3
v Beaumont Town drew 4-4
v St. Marks won 5-0
v Piper United won 5-2

Decent pre-season for us. Lost a couple of players from last year but signed 4 new quality players for this season (although one of them broke a bone in his hand against NRI and is out til November!)

one of them being me blackie lol

dan_mitchell_WRFC wrote:

Wigston Rangers, definitely had a few games more than we should have, results improved towards the end, think we should be contenders for division 7.

v Little Bowden L 2-3
v Niffy 'A D 3-3
v Thurmaston 2011 L 1-3
v FCCOL L 4-5
v Inter Mivan D 3-3
v Sileby L 7-1
v Aylestone Lounge L 6-1
v Afc Royal Oak W 8-1
v NRI L 4-1
v St. Marks W 2-1
v Thurmaston 2011 W 3-1
v Little Bowden W 7-1
v Azul Zorros L 4-1 would have been alot closer had we not collapsed after 135 minutes of football.

Overall it went well I think I am missing a win early on against someone, not so sure though.

Theres another afc royal oak? Id of remembered a drubbing like that if it was us :-/

Too right Daz!

You, John, Scotty and Ryan have all been quality in pre-season mate.

Sparta Moshdock

DME - Lost - 3-2
North Kilworth - Won - 6-3
NRI - Drew - 2-2
Magna Town - Drew 2-2

We've had a very poor pre-season and not played anywhere near our best. Struggled badly to get a full side out for any of the friendlies due to various injuries, holidays and work commitements. No excuses though, we need to step up our game massively for Scrappy come the start of the season!

spartamoshdock wrote:

Sparta Moshdock

DME - Lost - 3-2
North Kilworth - Won - 6-3
NRI - Drew - 2-2
Magna Town - Drew 2-2

We've had a very poor pre-season and not played anywhere near our best. Struggled badly to get a full side out for any of the friendlies due to various injuries, holidays and work commitements. No excuses though, we need to step up our game massively for Scrappy come the start of the season!

im fairly sure scrappy wont be a part of it this season so u may well have the first week off

I've heard these rumours doing the rounds. In all seriousness, is it likely they won't make it then?

LB Talbot

leicester bharat won 1-0
polska won 4-1
hotshots 4-4
office update 4-0

we played some good stuff and looking strong going forward gonnba be a hard season but think we can upset the fav 4 birstall; hoskins; nri; and kilworth

Throops Drew 2-2
Kirby Drew 2-2
Bakers Arms Drew 4-4
Oadby Owls Won 3-1
Kirby Drew 1-1

Unbeaten so far but only one win so could be better, could be worse. With a high volume of players most games have seen numerous changes throughout the 90 minutes with many players filling a variety of positions. This isn't ideal in terms of continuity but everybody needs to be given a fair run out to stake their claim for a starting place.

2 more games to go
Tonight versus Fire Service
Sunday versus FC Alliance

Stroller wrote:

Throops Drew 2-2
Kirby Drew 2-2
Bakers Arms Drew 4-4
Oadby Owls Won 3-1
Kirby Drew 1-1

Unbeaten so far but only one win so could be better, could be worse. With a high volume of players most games have seen numerous changes throughout the 90 minutes with many players filling a variety of positions. This isn't ideal in terms of continuity but everybody needs to be given a fair run out to stake their claim for a starting place.

2 more games to go
Tonight versus Fire Service
Sunday versus FC Alliance

you should smash fc alliance they are woeful im sure magna spanked em for about 15 or somet..........anyhow ill predict double figures

talbotkeeper wrote:

LB Talbot

leicester bharat won 1-0
polska won 4-1
hotshots 4-4
office update 4-0

we played some good stuff and looking strong going forward gonnba be a hard season but think we can upset the fav 4 birstall; hoskins; nri; and kilworth

hoskins ressies are gonna have a side i know that for sure and will be worthy of div 1/2 status so work cut out for you but all the best

spartamoshdock wrote:

I've heard these rumours doing the rounds. In all seriousness, is it likely they won't make it then?

what i know for sure is we are in talks to bring ash and luke day to us along with stacy coore and all 3 have said to me they are definately folding so im guessing the rumours are true

Oh, fair enough.....and your squad just keeps going from strength to strength!

spartamoshdock wrote:

Oh, fair enough.....and your squad just keeps going from strength to strength!

we hope to compete for the league this year so a few extra quality players will stand us in good stead hopefully.
we need some extra quality at the back as we let in far to many goals last season going forward i think we have the quality to challenge but u need to balance that with a solid defence and hopefully we can this season should be a good close tight league for us all
good luck chap

greeeedy wrote:

spartamoshdock wrote:

I've heard these rumours doing the rounds. In all seriousness, is it likely they won't make it then?

what i know for sure is we are in talks to bring ash and luke day to us along with stacy coore and all 3 have said to me they are definately folding so im guessing the rumours are true

Get those bad boyz signed up asap greeeedy, so we don't have to play against them next wednesday when we take on Aylestone lounge if nothing else, lol.

In all seriousness, I think you have every chance this season anyway, with these being added to the squad then you will only get better.

THE MAGICIAN wrote:

greeeedy wrote:

spartamoshdock wrote:

I've heard these rumours doing the rounds. In all seriousness, is it likely they won't make it then?

what i know for sure is we are in talks to bring ash and luke day to us along with stacy coore and all 3 have said to me they are definately folding so im guessing the rumours are true

Get those bad boyz signed up asap greeeedy, so we don't have to play against them next wednesday when we take on Aylestone lounge if nothing else, lol.

In all seriousness, I think you have every chance this season anyway, with these being added to the squad then you will only get better.

they are not definate signings as of yet but like i say we are trying to get them. cheers malc hopefully with a bit of consistency we should do ok.

Mivan!!

V QPR - Won 3-1
V White Eagles - Lost 5-4
V COL - Won 4-3
V Azul Zorros - Lost 9-3
V QPR - Won 4-1
V Wigston Rangers - Drew 3-3
V LDA Spartans - Lost 5-1
V Royal Oak - Lost 3-0
V Superfly - Drew 0-0

Think its fair to say we have improved a hell of alot since last season and might start enjoying our football this year! Not the greatest pre season but then again we have won games, which is a big step forward! Bring on the season!

Afc Royal Oak pre season results:
Office update W 1-0
Afc bees knees L 4-2
Cska sporting W 5-3
Inter mivan W 3-0
Niffy A L 2-1

Very happy with our performances especially the Niffy game although we lost. Team looks to be gelling smoothly with a few new and old faces back. Grudge match this Sunday against oadby owls as last week had to postpone. lets just hope there gentle with us

Hairy Hebrew! wrote:

dan_mitchell_WRFC wrote:

Wigston Rangers, definitely had a few games more than we should have, results improved towards the end, think we should be contenders for division 7.

v Little Bowden L 2-3
v Niffy 'A D 3-3
v Thurmaston 2011 L 1-3
v FCCOL L 4-5
v Inter Mivan D 3-3
v Sileby L 7-1
v Aylestone Lounge L 6-1
v Afc Royal Oak W 8-1
v NRI L 4-1
v St. Marks W 2-1
v Thurmaston 2011 W 3-1
v Little Bowden W 7-1
v Azul Zorros L 4-1 would have been alot closer had we not collapsed after 135 minutes of football.

Overall it went well I think I am missing a win early on against someone, not so sure though.

Theres another afc royal oak? Id of remembered a drubbing like that if it was us :-/

My Bad meant Firs Old Boys.

Webbys.
Only had 2 games winning 3-1 at harboro hotshots
And losing 5-1 to a very good throops.
Had trouble getting a side out due to other comitments got
one final game sunday.

Blackie wrote:

Too right Daz!

You, John, Scotty and Ryan have all been quality in pre-season mate.

You on the Subs bench now then Blackie, lol.

greeeedy wrote:

spartamoshdock wrote:

Oh, fair enough.....and your squad just keeps going from strength to strength!

we hope to compete for the league this year so a few extra quality players will stand us in good stead hopefully.
we need some extra quality at the back as we let in far to many goals last season going forward i think we have the quality to challenge but u need to balance that with a solid defence and hopefully we can this season should be a good close tight league for us all
good luck chap

Do you have any spare quality that fancy mucking out in Div 5

Harrow_Veteran wrote:

greeeedy wrote:

spartamoshdock wrote:

Oh, fair enough.....and your squad just keeps going from strength to strength!

we hope to compete for the league this year so a few extra quality players will stand us in good stead hopefully.
we need some extra quality at the back as we let in far to many goals last season going forward i think we have the quality to challenge but u need to balance that with a solid defence and hopefully we can this season should be a good close tight league for us all
good luck chap

Do you have any spare quality that fancy mucking out in Div 5

i might help out if theres a starting place and a few beers in it for me fieldy

Harrow_Veteran wrote:

Blackie wrote:

Too right Daz!

You, John, Scotty and Ryan have all been quality in pre-season mate.

You on the Subs bench now then Blackie, lol.

I was seriously worried about it Fieldy!!

Had to up my game in pre-season (and at 42, thats never easy!)

And as I keep telling the manager, you can't win anything with just kids!! Lol

Blackie wrote:

Harrow_Veteran wrote:

Blackie wrote:

Too right Daz!

You, John, Scotty and Ryan have all been quality in pre-season mate.

You on the Subs bench now then Blackie, lol.

I was seriously worried about it Fieldy!!

Had to up my game in pre-season (and at 42, thats never easy!)

And as I keep telling the manager, you can't win anything with just kids!! Lol

Dont think blackie has anything to worry about.i bet hes one of the best 42 yr olds around still playing i rate him alot

LoneRanger38 wrote:

Blackie wrote:

Harrow_Veteran wrote:

Blackie wrote:

Too right Daz!

You, John, Scotty and Ryan have all been quality in pre-season mate.

You on the Subs bench now then Blackie, lol.

I was seriously worried about it Fieldy!!

Had to up my game in pre-season (and at 42, thats never easy!)

And as I keep telling the manager, you can't win anything with just kids!! Lol

Dont think blackie has anything to worry about.i bet hes one of the best 42 yr olds around still playing i rate him alot

Can I be one of the best 43 year olds then, lol

Harrow_Veteran wrote:

LoneRanger38 wrote:

Blackie wrote:

Harrow_Veteran wrote:

Blackie wrote:

Too right Daz!

You, John, Scotty and Ryan have all been quality in pre-season mate.

You on the Subs bench now then Blackie, lol.

I was seriously worried about it Fieldy!!

Had to up my game in pre-season (and at 42, thats never easy!)

And as I keep telling the manager, you can't win anything with just kids!! Lol

Dont think blackie has anything to worry about.i bet hes one of the best 42 yr olds around still playing i rate him alot

Can I be one of the best 43 year olds then, lol

So they tell me lol

Great pre season for us (Birstall Rangers) think the squad has a real chance of winning things as long as we are consistant all season and keep cofident. Everyone has improved vastley and the new players are a great addition to our squad!! Blackie i dont think anyone younger than u could read the game like u and anyone older would not be fit enough i am well impressed. daz u are a goal machine mate you will be top goal scorer in our league no probs and others. Well done lads i cant wait for it to start now. OBO shutup

konkey b rangers wrote:

Great pre season for us (Birstall Rangers) think the squad has a real chance of winning things as long as we are consistant all season and keep cofident. Everyone has improved vastley and the new players are a great addition to our squad!! Blackie i dont think anyone younger than u could read the game like u and anyone older would not be fit enough i am well impressed. daz u are a goal machine mate you will be top goal scorer in our league no probs and others. Well done lads i cant wait for it to start now. OBO shutup

Cheers mate,ill do my best n put 100% every game mate its going to be a interesting season as like div 3 div 4 also has 4 or 5 teams that could win it..gonna be a tough physical season n i wish all teams all the best