Matt Dean's Latest Chat With Ollie

[url]https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08nqn3z[/url]

A little bit concerned that Ollie is struggling with friendlies.

Yes me too. Listening to the whole of the interview I think more than ever were going to have to stick with the team through these challenging times. It is going to be a big test of Ollie's capabilities which I think he realises. I fear that there are some, regardless of the current situation, will not have the patience needed with virtually a new rebuild. You can almost hear them now.

Listening to that it sounds like we are playing it safe and working financially well within our budget.

Ollie hinted that some clubs are taking a risk and could be overspending before they actually know what money will be coming in.

As has been suggested previously I very much doubt a team will be relegated this season if they finish in the bottom two due to other clubs hitting money troubles.

Makes interesting listening.

I can understand reasons for clubs not wanting to play friendlies. Reduced squads and a tighter schedule of games, teams are probably reducing the risk of losing players to pre-season injuries, and who can blame them?

But it was good to hear from his own mouth that he still wants to get more players in.

Always a good listen Ollie and although he can not tell us everything he says a lot more than previous managers.

To me it feels like he’s managing expectations and he probably has a point. With a practically non-existent pre-season, a packed cup and league schedule alongside the need to bed in new players - particularly the ones who are coming from semi-pro backgrounds, it could be a tricky start to the season. Those expecting and hoping for promotion this year may have to re-evaluate their expectations.

I will say that I was a bit surprised that he said that he thinks it’ll take him two years to properly understand the local transfer market.

The lack of friendlies worries me I must admit. Don’t quite understand why we’d missed out these. Always remember under Newell our last pre season game was against Winterton. It used to be the annual start to pre season. Not surprisingly we had a terrible start.

Northern Premier clubs and those below have been back training for weeks so all their fixtures will be pencilled in. The National League and the National League North/South doesn't start until October so they won't be playing friendlies until everyone else has kicked off whilst the Premier League and Championship has not long finished.

All of that means getting friendlies against Leeds, Sheffield Utd/Wednesday, Huddersfield etc are going to be difficult. Boston have just finished their play off campaign so will be having a few weeks off and Gainsborough have been back training for weeks so I assume most of their games are arranged.

Quoted from Vance Warner

The lack of friendlies worries me I must admit. Don’t quite understand why we’d missed out these. Always remember under Newell our last pre season game was against Winterton. It used to be the annual start to pre season. Not surprisingly we had a terrible start.

Ollie said as we were late to the table, we didnt bring all our players back til pretty much last minute, the club has had staff furloughed throughout the business so by the time we "reacted" to easing of lockdown and had staff coming back onto pay, other clubs already had games arranged.
Ollie mentioned that clubs had been ahead as they were using funds based on anticipated funds that they could draw down, either gambling in effect that the all clear for open stadia will come sooner rather than later or that they have a benefactor who will foot the bill one way or another.
We are "playing safe" by restricting spending/ outgoing based on very little changing from the now.

Who is right only time will tell.