Maybe reading into it too much, but the nature of the opposition being lined up for friendlies I think perhaps indicates a shift in stance in the club's off-season preparations this year. It's much more 'generic' - the local non-league side, and a couple of nearby clubs who were in the same division as us last year. It's a lot more relevant in terms of the standard of sides we'll actually be facing in the league this coming season. Comparing to summer 2019 (as last summer was a bit of an anomaly, given the obvious circumstances), it's a lot less hectic and wildly fluctuating in terms of quality. Then, we played 9 games in 20 days in July (a pretty bewildering schedule), against opposition ranging from Rangers and just-relegated Fulham to Thame, Brackley Town and Solihull Moors. Hell, even last year we went Premier League and two decent Championship sides.
You couple that with our recruitment so far - an established League One winger and a known quantity signed after a promising loan - and it all seems a lot less experimental than we've gone in previous summers (the double-header aside), a lot more risk-averse. I think it could even be a deliberate ploy to address our famous slow starts. With the friendlies in particular, I can see arguments for 'testing yourself against the best', or 'building up confidence before the start of the season', and even the likes of Rangers being good money-spinning opportunities for the club, but this schedule seems much more focussed. Get used to playing the standard of opposition you'll be facing in the league all season early, and get in players who know what the league's about and won't need 'bedding in'. Hit the ground running. This could all change, of course - when in a couple of days we announce a friendly against Getafe in Singapore, or the signing of that 50-year-old Japanese player - but it seems interesting.
