In the good old days our lower league sides used to play many games against English League sides, nowadays we only seem to get the the reserve and youth sides when we play our neighbours in any sort of friendly game.

Queens are going to be playing against Burnley only three days after the Lancashire team return from a tour of the USA. It is obvious that the English team will only play fringe players in that game. We are sending a team into the UEFA Cup to represent Scotland and we end up playing Annan Athletic, Ayr United and Queens Park in pre-season games. I don't care what anyone thinks, these games are not strong enough and will not test us enough for our European escapade.

Looking through the list of friendlies, our league sides have really sunk to the depths - big time Have you seen what level most of them are playing against? When I was younger, we used to look forward to the bigger teams coming to the smaller ones, now a days, I wouldn't even pay a quid to watch any 2nd X1 or youth team step up their performances for preparing their fringe players for the bench

Am I going over the top?

We played the Man Utd first team squad three years ago.

Yeah my missus gave Alan Kernaghan "what for" at that event. Apparently he just laughed and told her that Dundee were scouting Paul Scholes.

We're playing Coventry which I suppose isn't too bad.

I don't know that playing quality opposition during pre-season necessarily means a more or a better prepared team. Is there any evidence to suggest so?

The gist of pre-season is simply to regain match sharpness, fitness etc. I suppose this can be done against all sorts of opposition of differing quality.

If the standard of opponent was all that important wouldn't all the top teams be looking to play other top teams and so on? It certainly doesn't work like that at the moment.

I'm not sure that Scottish League clubs are all chicken. Wouldn't it be fairer to say it's the English clubs who are chicken?

Apparently Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal all bottled the Annan Tournament this season. Shitebags!

You forgot that other European big-gun who bottled it....Queens

A shame because I've always really enjoyed the couple of days down there in the sun.

Must've been about 50 a side?

Erm we're playing Liverpool so I dont really see where you are coming from

We are playing quite a few small teams, even junior sides but Billy Reid has stated that he has looked for teams with big wide pitches in order to help build fitness, regardless of who those sides are.

Also, we cant play any home games because of the pitch situation.

I think you are over reacting a bit.

Also, who is to say that these big teams want to play diddy Scottish teams? I dont know, 2 games in the UEFA cup and some Queens fans think they are Brazil '70

the cost involved in bringing a "big" team up for a friendly surely has some bearing on the lack of said fixtures. can't quote any sums involved, but I know appearence money sometimes is expected/charged.

Also, I was at that Clyde Man United game. Was unreal when 5 minutes before half time the entire United bench stood up to warm up for the 2nd half and it was a who's who of top level football. Totally surreal.

I also remeber a point in the 2nd half when a clyde player either nutmegged or kicked Wayne Rooney so he chased after him, got the ball back then proceeded to skin 8 or 9 Clyde players. Was sublime.

We did at least score in that game

The reason Clyde are playing Yarmouth is because we are down there for a 7 day training camp. Scott Howie was an old Clyde favourite and as he is kicking about King's Lynn these days, why not?

our pre season is shitty too especially the away games - threave, tow law town and Durham but our tours over the last few years though enjoyable for fans haven't exactly been glamorous the highlands, and lancashire get us abroad

[quote name='Booker_d' date='Jun 20 2008, 09:58' post='2553251']
Erm we're playing Liverpool so I dont really see where you are coming from

You have got to remember that Accies are now a Premier League side and should be playing the best teams.

I think most of yous are missing the point. Clyde down in Norfolk and Suffolk, should they not be playing Norwich City or Ipswich Town? Great Yarmouth Town indeed

Our sides are playing the like of Skelmersdale United, Tow Law Town, Holker Old Boys, Durham City. Whitley Bay, Billingham Synthonia, Belper Town, Hatfield Main, Fleetwood Town and Seaham Red Star, etc.

When I was a kid, our teams played the likes of Chesterfield, Mansfield, Town, Huddersfield, Carlisle, Rochdale, Bury, Port Vale and the like.

Has the English League become too strong to play against away from home? Have Scottish teams fell that far behind our English cousins? It seems to me that most Scottish sides are now preferring English level eight or level nine sides

A fair number of English League clubs have played at Broadwood pre-season. Darlington with the dangerous Marco Gabbiadini, Macclesfield with Jon Parkin, a tank of a centre forward, Blackpool, Bristol Rovers, Redknapp's West Ham (some useful players!), Plymouth, Southend (?) & Oldham last season. Might be others aside from Man United already mentioned but you get the point! Works out at about a side up every other year. I'd guess a few other clubs here are much the same as they'll come up and play a couple of teams. Maybe not QoS though.

So ok, not top sides generally but they'd be looking at us Scots and thinking even less! Very rarely do English sides beat us though, despite always seeming to be bigger and faster, and it seems to be a common theme across the country. Usually a week or two behind in their preparation I think.

West Ham did beat us 2-0 which was respectable but Darlington thumped us 5-0. Our new management team from Maryhill must have decided to find out how good our struggling side was. Bad was the answer. All bar two got punted (Carrigan & Brownlie I think) and the juniors arrived. Other than that I don't recall losing to sides from England going back to the 70'/80's at Shawfield!

For once we're actually getting away for a couple of earlier games than usual against non-League sides this time. Then back up for Rangers and Hibs. Seems like a decent enough plan to me.

To get smarter, you have to play a smarter opponent.

Most clubs are going about 'fitness' but i never once played a friendly, and every game is a must win.

We've played Aston Villa, Birmingham, Fulham and Leicester in the last few years and I can't say I was particularly enthused. Day trips to Lancaster and Blyth on the other hand...

I assume this is an early pre-season tour so I would reckon Clyde are quite sensible in choosing less taxing opposition to build fitness against. They will no doubt then return home to play a few games against more challenging sides (I'm sure I heard Ranges mentioned). That all sounds eminently sensible to me.

As for Norwich and Ipswich (and absolutely no offence meant to Clyde here), I doubt either side would see Clyde as a fixture worth opening Carrow Rd/Portman Rd for. Therefore, at best, you'd end up with a closed doors bounce game played on a training pitch.

The rule of thumb for friendlies in recent years seems to be that the bigger teams are played at home and the smaller ones away. Clyde's schedule seems to fit perfectly with that, as does that of my own side (Tow Law and Spennymoor (Away), Hamilton and Celtic (Home)). The only exception I can think of is when Airdrie invited Rovers to New Broomfield for their first game as Airdrie United in 2002, although I dare say there will be others.

After all that, we are actually playing Norwich as well, albeit behind closed doors.

Rangers and Hibernian at Broadwood. Full strengh Rangers and I'm sure there will be a few first team Hibs players about.

The Great Real Madrid teams played non league teams in early preseason. They felt that by battering in loads of goals it built their confidence.

Yeah some top notch opponents we are playing...

Queensthroughandthrough - I think you underestimate English football.

I have a friend who knocked back Motherwell and Falkirk a couple of seasons ago because he makes more money in the Blue Square Premiership. A lot more.

I used to support Rushden and Diamonds went I lived down south as they were my local team. They played in the conference and had a stadium, academy and youth set-up and facilities that would have easily rivalled anything top 6 in Scotland.

These teams you mention all have decent set-ups, you would be very suprised.

And as someone said (Nizzy I think) you cant beat a wee trip away to watch your team .

The Set up might be better but the standard of football in that league is guff mate....

I cant remember where but I thought I saw it was a Liverpool select coming up for a Celtic testimonial game.
So u could end up facing a youth team.

Its not diddy teams for all of us, Dundee were supposed to have Everton but it clashed with the challenge cup

Pity Kernaghan wasn't Dundee manager at the time