I dunno. I think friendlies do two things

(apart from make money) - one is to have a look at fringe players, as you say. But the other is to give your team a chance to play together outside the pressure of competition. We should be comparing them to pre-season friendlies - where most managers give fringe players a run-out, but also pick their first XI for a game or two.

Sven can't win really. If he tries out lots of new players, people say "Luke Young?? (Replace each time) What's he playing for? He'll never play in the big games. What a waste of time."

And if he plays his first team players, people say "What's the point in picking Robinson / James / Beckham etc? We should be looking at fringe players!"

Has always been the same. But everything's under so much of a spotlight now that the criticism is intensified.

Posted By: Tricky Hawes, May 25, 18:15:28