[Albion] The 2024-25 Pre-Season Friendly Thread - First team, U-21s and U-18s

[AZ Gull]

Still no sight of these four players on the pitch during this pre-season. Joe Knight and Jacob Slater were definitiely on the U-21s training camp in Spain, so they are presumably injured. But as for Ed Turns and Noel Bigo Atom.

An Ed turns sighting at last!

 

[GT49er]

An Ed turns sighting at last!

Good loan in League 2 (Orient); stayed with the squad for League1 after promotion, but precious little game time. Half season loan to Crewe down in League 2 again, no rapturous delight from Crewe fans. Perhaps that's his level? Must admit, I thought he'd be at least a league higher than that. Must be running out of time with us n his present contract?

 

[AZ Gull]

And so we have just one first-team friendly to go. I'm guessing both the U-21 and U-18 sides will also have one more game this weekend before their respective seasons commence the following weekend, but I haven't heard anything to that effect.

(Kick-off times are local)

1st Team:

Wednesday July 17 Kick-off: ? v Sheffield Wednesday (Venue: Amex Elite FPC - Behind Closed Doors) W 3-0
Training camp in Japan
Wednesday July 24 Kick-off: 7:00pm v Kashima Antlers (Venue: Japan National Stadium, Tokyo) W 5-1
Sunday July 28 Kick-off: 6:30pm v Tokyo Verdy (Venue: Japan National Stadium, Tokyo) W 4-2
Saturday August 3 Kick-off: 3:00pm v QPR (Venue: MATRADE Loftus Road Stadium) W 1-0
Saturday August 10 Kick-off: 3:00pm v Villarreal (Venue: Amex Stadium)


U-21s:

Friday July 5 Kick-off: 5:30pm v Worthing (Venue: Amex Elite FPC - Behind Closed Doors) W 3-0
Saturday July 13 Kick-off: ? v Fulham U-21s (Venue: Amex Elite FPC - Behind Closed Doors) W 5-3
Training camp in Girona, Spain
Saturday July 20 Kick-off: ? v Girondins de Bordeaux (Venue: Torremirona Sport Center, Girona - Behind Closed Doors) L 0-3
Saturday July 27 Kick-off: 2:00pm v Bromley (Venue: Amex Elite FPC - Behind Closed Doors) L 1-2 and L 0-2
Wednesday July 31 Kick-off: ? v AFC Bournemouth U-21s (Venue: Venue: Amex Elite FPC - Behind Closed Doors) W 5-1
Wednesday July 31 Kick-off: 7:45pm v Hastings United (Venue: Pilot Field) L 0-1
Sunday August 4 Kick-off: 2:00pm v Brentford B (Venue: Wheatsheaf Park) W 2-0


U-18s:

Saturday July 13 Kick-off: 2:00pm v Basingstoke Town (Venue: Winklebury Sports Complex) L 1-2
Tuesday July 16 Kick-off: 7:30pm v Burgess Hill Town (Venue: Homecall Carpets Community Stadium) W 3-2
Training camp in Spain
Friday July 26 Kick-off: 10:00am v Futbol Base Elche CF (Venue: Campoamor, Spain) L 2-8
Saturday August 3 Kick-off: 11:00am v QPR (Venue: TSG Training Centre) W 4-2

 

[vegster]

Any ideas why Joao Pedro has not kicked a ball yet?

 

[AZ Gull]

Any ideas why Joao Pedro has not kicked a ball yet?

He was expected to go on the tour of Japan but missed the trip, presumably due to an unspecified injury (I think there were various social media rumours including broken rib and hip injuries!).

 

[beardy gull]

 

[beardy gull]

 

[GT49er]

Was this one behind closed doors and accordingly not advertised? Or was it an extra one, slotted in late in the day?

 

[AZ Gull]

Was this one behind closed doors and accordingly not advertised? Or was it an extra one, slotted in late in the day?

As per my post yesterday (#243) it was always likely the U-21s would have a final pre-season fixture this weekend. No advance notice of it because it was played behind closed doors at the training ground.

I would also expect the U-18s to have a fixture this weekend at some point.

 

[AZ Gull]

 

[AZ Gull]

And so another pre-season campaign is in the books. It makes me nervous that we had a 100% record at first-team level.

Anyway, the real stuff gets underway next weekend. The U-21s kick things off on Friday evening when they host West Ham United. Then the U-18s travel to Chelsea and the first team make the trek to Everton. Let the bed-wetting begin!


1st Team:

Wednesday July 17 Kick-off: ? v Sheffield Wednesday (Venue: Amex Elite FPC - Behind Closed Doors) W 3-0
Training camp in Japan
Wednesday July 24 Kick-off: 7:00pm v Kashima Antlers (Venue: Japan National Stadium, Tokyo) W 5-1
Sunday July 28 Kick-off: 6:30pm v Tokyo Verdy (Venue: Japan National Stadium, Tokyo) W 4-2
Saturday August 3 Kick-off: 3:00pm v QPR (Venue: MATRADE Loftus Road Stadium) W 1-0
Saturday August 10 Kick-off: 3:00pm v Villarreal (Venue: Amex Stadium) W 4-0


U-21s:

Friday July 5 Kick-off: 5:30pm v Worthing (Venue: Amex Elite FPC - Behind Closed Doors) W 3-0
Saturday July 13 Kick-off: ? v Fulham U-21s (Venue: Amex Elite FPC - Behind Closed Doors) W 5-3
Training camp in Girona, Spain
Saturday July 20 Kick-off: ? v Girondins de Bordeaux (Venue: Torremirona Sport Center, Girona - Behind Closed Doors) L 0-3
Saturday July 27 Kick-off: 2:00pm v Bromley (Venue: Amex Elite FPC - Behind Closed Doors) L 1-2 and L 0-2
Wednesday July 31 Kick-off: ? v AFC Bournemouth U-21s (Venue: Venue: Amex Elite FPC - Behind Closed Doors) W 5-1
Wednesday July 31 Kick-off: 7:45pm v Hastings United (Venue: Pilot Field) L 0-1
Sunday August 4 Kick-off: 2:00pm v Brentford B (Venue: Wheatsheaf Park) W 2-0
Friday August 9 Kick-off: ? v Crystal Palace U-21s (Venue: Venue: Amex Elite FPC - Behind Closed Doors) W 4-1


U-18s:

Saturday July 13 Kick-off: 2:00pm v Basingstoke Town (Venue: Winklebury Sports Complex) L 1-2
Tuesday July 16 Kick-off: 7:30pm v Burgess Hill Town (Venue: Homecall Carpets Community Stadium) W 3-2
Training camp in Spain
Friday July 26 Kick-off: 10:00am v Futbol Base Elche CF (Venue: Campoamor, Spain) L 2-8
Saturday August 3 Kick-off: 11:00am v QPR U-18s (Venue: TSG Training Centre) W 4-2
Saturday August 10 Kick-off: ? v Arsenal U-18s (Venue: ?) L 0-4

 

[heart of the sunrise]

Wait ... we have a player called Zebedee? Hope he makes it to the top, just for the name.

Zebedee is promising, one of future stars of Brighton...

 

[AZ Gull]

Zebedee is promising, one of future stars of Brighton...

However, based upon his performances at the SuperCupNI back in the summer, he is also extremely selfish, attempts to single-handedly beat 8 opponents every time he gets the ball, has poor decision-making and his passing often lets him down.

I would agree though that if he eventually figures out that football is a team game (rather than a skills competition) he has a chance to make it.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

However, based upon his performances at the SuperCupNI back in the summer, he is also extremely selfish, attempts to single-handedly beat 8 opponents every time he gets the ball, has poor decision-making and his passing often lets him down.

I would agree though that if he eventually figures out that football is a team game (rather than a skills competition) he has a chance to make it.

So, he's a potential replacement for Enciso's replacement?

 

[AZ Gull]

Zebedee is promising, one of future stars of Brighton...

Made his debut as a substitute for the U-18s today as they suffered their first league defeat of the season at Aston Villa.