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Pre-Season Friendlies

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As the season draws to an end, many of us are looking forward to next season with hope and expectation for a better outcome. One of the best things I enjoy about football in the summer, other than the transfer rumours, is the pre-season friendlies. They give Blues a chance to look at the new signings and evaluate our chances for the new season.

The games usually mean a chance to see new grounds that you may not visit in Europe or England. If anybody remembers the game against Anderlecht in 2002, Everton took about 1,500 to Belgium and it was a great laugh for all involved. It was a chance to go to games in Europe for less than £100 and anybody could get a ticket without having to go on the expensive official packages that operate for Europa Cup games.

But recently, Everton haven’t had any decent pre-season games... preferring to go to ridiculous places like America and this year maybe Australia. While I accept Everton have quite a large support in those places, I think that it would be commercially viable if the club played better opposition.

Teams like Spurs and Aston Villa play against the likes of Inter Milan, Roma, Juventus, and Barcelona while Everton play... Malaga. I think this year, Everton should think about playing a decent European team as it would be nice if Everton fans could go somewhere good in Europe, such as Ajax, Hamburg or Werder Bremen — as it doesn’t look like we’ll qualify for Europe. It would also be nice if we could play someone reasonably decent at GP so we can get a good crowd and some much-needed revenue.
Chris Butler, Liverpool     Posted 29/04/2010 at 16:13:34

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Paul Oakes
1   Posted 30/04/2010 at 05:18:03

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I am absolutely with you on this Chris. Part of the problem of us underperforming each season in my opinion is the fact we go to the US and the lads are doing nothing constructive. I mean who cares about pointless mls teams?? For the life of me I simply cannot understand the point of this. It doesn't put more coin in the box for new signings or anything else, if anything it does the opposite.

I want to see us play the likes of AC Milan, Inter, Barcelona, Real Madrid etc instead of the likes of York City or other teams of this ilk.

I think it prepares the lads mentally and physically for the start of the season. Plus each season there is always a competition in the far east where a bunch of prem teams go out to win some silverware. Last year Hull went out there for crying out loud. And if our sponsors are chang then surely it makes more sense to be going to place like asia, where we can make more money, win some silverware and make more fans. Sorry but the US and Australia don't offer us this, instead they offer us the equivalent of a big bill for travel expenses and playing teams of conference level. No wonder the lads are never ready for the start of a season.
Pat Finegan
2   Posted 30/04/2010 at 07:10:10

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The team that Everton played last year in the US was the MLS All-Star team. They weren't a bunch of conference level pushovers. If I remember correctly, Everton won in a shootout so they were good competition. I'm sure we gained money off the actual trip as well. It was the MLS All-Star game and the stadium was, if not sold out close to it. Traveling to the US was not a mistake. I think southeast Asia makes sense as long as we're playing quality teams.

It is important to gain international exposure. It is difficult to do so without breaking the bank. Hopefully we can get some quality overseas opponents this summer.
Eugene Ruane
3   Posted 30/04/2010 at 07:24:29

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I agree that the US and Oz are too far and too expensive. You can get to most places in Europe under 4 hours and that's about as long as they should be stuck on a plane in my opinion.

I don't necessarily think all the games should be against top opposition though. They've not long finished a tough season so the preparations for the next season should be a gradual build-up —starting easy and getting tougher, so that (nb: in theory!) they're ready to go come early August,

Plus this summer, a lot of them will be taking late holidays because of the World Cup, so there'd be even less point in playing really good opposition, as we'd probably only fielding kids.

I would like the opportunity to make a couple of Euro trips myself. For me the most enjoyable aspect of following Everton over the past few years has been the Uefa/Europa Cup trips – there's nothing like them.

Who knows, maybe Chelsea will... and we beat... and we... and Hull...
Gavin Ramejkis
4   Posted 30/04/2010 at 08:04:24

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I can't remember a decent pre-season game recently... they always seem to be a waste of time against lower league sides which offer nothing and despite the result not being important we always seem to draw or lose them too, a waste of time and money. A decent European side would be better, the likes of Werder Bremen or either Athletico sides and a Juve game would certainly put bums on seats.
Tony J Williams
5   Posted 30/04/2010 at 09:11:47

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They are not supposed to be glamour games, they are there to get the team fit. Spuds and Villa get a mention as they are perceived as better teams than us, especially the Laahhhndan teams, they will always get the invitations to the tri-tournaments, we will get Crystal Palace or Preston North End.

It seems that the biggest gripe of some poster is that they won't be able to get to the games... diddums; unfortunately, it's not about the fans anymore — it is simply about getting the team fit.

This season's start was down to unease in the camp and a disasterous injury list, not because we had our warm up games in the US and "only" played Malaga, you don't become a poor footballer just because you didn't manage to get a friendly against a decent side.
Gavin Ramejkis
6   Posted 30/04/2010 at 09:59:16

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Tony, if revenue didn't come into it, they would be free; they aren't... so some bugger is making money out of it. You want to prepare against teams of a calibre you are likely to be playing against so it's useless playing against a lower league side on some poor pitch. Villa a glamour side?

This is who and where teams played last season and plenty of low glamour games there but some minnows played reasonable sides too:-

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/5833403/Pre-season-friendlies-where-your-team-will-be-playing-this-summer.html

Tony J Williams
7   Posted 30/04/2010 at 10:35:08

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Gavin, Villa are media darlings now because of the prominant English players in the side.

You say that minnows are getting reasonable sides, isn't that the exact same as us playing a lower side?
Steve Pugh
8   Posted 30/04/2010 at 11:13:42

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Gavin

If they were free, both teams would lose money, and the fans would complain that the money earmarked for players was being wasted on friendlies.

Maybe Everton can't afford to participate in these pretend tournaments or play against teams like Juventus. To get them over here, we would have to pay them, and maybe they don't think we would fill their stadiums so they don't want us over there.
Chris Butler
9   Posted 30/04/2010 at 11:36:51

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Steve, I'd guess that Everton would have to pay a large amount to go to America and Austrailia. I always think this is why we end of making signings so late. Over the last few years, we seem to do nothing while we're in America, which doesn't benefit the club as it would be better to just go to somewhere in Europe, so we can get a good look at some decent players, as this was what Spurs did.
Gavin Ramejkis
10   Posted 30/04/2010 at 11:12:51

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Tony, Blackburn played Roma, Bolton played B Moenchengladbach, Birmingham played Stuttgart, Sunderland played Athletico Madrid... we played who?
Tony J Williams
11   Posted 30/04/2010 at 11:43:47

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Chris, apart from Moyes sitting down with a potential signing to mollycoddle him, there is no need for the team/squad to be anywhere near the wanted player. The negotiations will be between the business men of the club (a misnomer if ever there was one) and the slimey agent/player.

I do agree that we should play our pre-season closer to home, which should save the important pennies.
Sam Hoare
12   Posted 30/04/2010 at 11:58:23

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No winning for some.

I have seen it on other threads that we should capitalise on Cahillmania or our T-Ho football fever in the States... Looks like we are organising a tour to Oz to do that and they're getting bashed again.

Personally, I think a tour to Oz to remind them that their World Cup talisman is a Toffee sounds like sense. Not that I'd mind us playing some top European teams as well in stead of Cambridge, Bury etc. Surely a team with top 4 aspirations can manage organising both?
Tony J Williams
13   Posted 30/04/2010 at 12:04:22

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Gavin, and where are those teams now? Below us in the league... again. So where is the logic then that some posters are stating that playing better teams puts you in a better stead for the Premier League?
John Crook
14   Posted 30/04/2010 at 13:33:48

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I'm for these long distance trips — they are strong bonding experiences. It's similar when a group of lads go away on holiday together — they always have a laugh and always remember the trips abroad. But it would also be nice to play 2 or 3 strong teams befor the 1st league game. Moyes admitted his squad weren't ready for Day 1 this season (Aresnal at home).

So I personally would like to see three competitive games before Match 1 in 2010-11. Example: Benfica away (again!) then up to Spain — maybe Athletico Madrid away — and then a final warm up... home against one of the Old Firm and a guarenteed full house. All after a training camp in USA/Oz of course.

Michael Coury
15   Posted 30/04/2010 at 13:39:56

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"... preferring to go to ridiculous places like America..."

Ok — wow — thanks for that. As an American, I take exception to that on so many levels.

I think the "competition" over here is plenty adequate for Moyes to run out some organized practice in the form of a friendly....

The weather here is good in the summer, the team can do things it can't do in Europe, namely walk around like normal people, see the sun, etc.

And Everton are one of the more televised teams over here outside of the top 4. I think a lot of people Stateside are looking for a team to support that are not the top four; competitive, and with a rich history.

Chris, are you looking for what is best for Everton? Or some discounted Europa League Matches?

Try to remember that you are speaking to an international audience next time.
Chris Keightley
16   Posted 30/04/2010 at 13:48:14

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I thought last pre-season was a joke — we need to be competing with better teams than Bury and Rochdale and the like... I'm a fan of those four-team tournaments.

We need a really good pre-season; keep everyone fit and we have possibly our best chance of silverware next season. I think we will win the League Cup!!

Gavin Ramejkis
17   Posted 30/04/2010 at 14:25:06

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Tony, can you remind me again how many times we met the likes of Rochdale or Coventry or Blackpool this season? If we want to be prepared for European football does it take a rocket scientist to say we should consider playing a few teams on that level?
Mike Gwyer
18   Posted 30/04/2010 at 14:16:06

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Chris, you listen well to what Michael Coury has to say. If not, then afraid some B-4s and F-11s will be on the way to bomb the shit out of L4.

I say as an apology give them EFC and then pray... I've seen Avatar and those American's don't muck about.
Tony J Williams
19   Posted 30/04/2010 at 14:51:39

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So Gavin, a meaningless friendly with numerous subs against a Champions League side would set us in a great frame of mind for a difficult Europa League tie in Beruit would it?
Andrew Gilbert
20   Posted 30/04/2010 at 15:37:39

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Michael Coury...

Chris is not a politician and can therefore say exactly what he actually thinks.

Although I do agree with your thoughts about USA standards of football and climate and the relative ease the players feel when in public.
Chris Butler
21   Posted 30/04/2010 at 15:47:52

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Michael Coury, I believe it's more essential to play against teams that we could easily meet if we qualify for Europe. This would give the players a decent challenge rather than playing against a team where the Everton players put little of no effort into the game.

We got got humiliated in Lisbon twice the season due to the fact we have little or no experience of playing against teams such as Atletico Madrid, Hamburg, and Benfica. The game at GP against Werder Bremen a few years ago was pretty exciting and the players seemed to thrive playing a decent team.

Although I'm sure US-based Everton fans enjoy seeing their beloved club, I cannot really see the benefit of travelling to the US every year.

Tony J Williams
22   Posted 30/04/2010 at 16:38:45

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But Chris, it is not, in its truest sense, a real game. There will be no hard challenges, no busting a gut to save a corner etc, it is a friendly where both teams look to pass the ball around and gain some more fitness. That is not going to give us experience against the "bettter European" teams at all because they would never play the same way as they would in a friendly.
Liam Reilly
23   Posted 30/04/2010 at 16:19:13

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Pre-season is about getting fit and promoting the club.

The team weren't ready against the Arse, not because of pre-season fixtures, but because of injuries, illness and discontent.
Gavin Ramejkis
24   Posted 30/04/2010 at 16:54:09

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But Tony, those European blokes play football slightly differently to the majestic stuff we see from lower leagues, we get an idea of formations, counter attack play, crossover wing-back and winger play, you know the sort of things we get twatted by when they played in Lisbon?
John McLoughlin
25   Posted 30/04/2010 at 19:19:02

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I'm quite happy for us to go to Australia or America as in previous years where the facilities are excellent. It also helps raise the profile of the club in a foreign market. However, I wish when we return we did play stronger opposition, especially the one game we play at Goodison. We always seem to get second rate European teams — it would be nice for the fans to see a Barca team or Inter playing us.
Dick Anderson
26   Posted 30/04/2010 at 20:19:24

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Personally I feel Everton have a responsibilty to lower league clubs. They should go away to Division 1 & 2 sides.

Everton would guarantee full houses for some of these small lower league clubs and they are in desperate need of the money.

Maybe Everton could do a tour overseas to raise their profile and then play two or three away games at some small clubs to help them out.

The big Premier League clubs should all have to play away to lower league sides. They really do need the finances.
Dave Smith
27   Posted 30/04/2010 at 21:54:51

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I think people are reading way too much into pre-season friendlies.

They are, as Tony put across quite well, meaningless. There is no coralation between a club having a successful season, and a pre-season where they play 'top' European sides.

Who did Man Utd and Chelsea play last pre-season?
Dick Anderson
28   Posted 30/04/2010 at 22:13:06

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They are not meaningless to the lower league clubs. Just imagine if Everton agreed to play away to say Brentford or Walsall. A fixture like that would get a full house and bring in some much needed funds for these struggling lower league sides.
Chris Butler
29   Posted 30/04/2010 at 22:45:32

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First of all, there's only one thing that raises the profile of the club and that's results. But every year we seem to just go to sleep in America... and point me out if I'm wrong but I don't think we have made a signing while on tour in America in previous years.
Dave Smith
30   Posted 30/04/2010 at 22:52:05

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Yeah, but not Friendly results.

Now, an FA Cup Final however....
Gavin Ramejkis
31   Posted 01/05/2010 at 01:11:41

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Dave Smith

CHELSEA

Who they play:

July 18 v Seattle (a),
July 21 v Inter Milan (Pasadena, USA),
July 24 v AC Milan (Baltimore, USA),
July 26 v Club America (Arlington, USA),
Aug 1 v Reading (a),
Aug 1 XI v Aldershot (a),
Aug 9 v Man Utd (CS, Wembley).

MANCHESTER UNITED

Who they play:

July 18 v Malaysian XI (Kuala Lumpur),
July 20 Indonesia All Star (Jakarta),
July 24 v FC Seoul (a),
July 25 XI v Norwich (a),
July 26 v Hangzhou Greentown FC (a),
July 28 XI v Luton (a),
July 29 v Boca Juniors (Munich, Germany),
July 30 v B Munich or AC Milan (Munich, Germany),
Aug 5 v Valencia (h),
Aug 9 v Chelsea (CS, Wembley).

Dick, it's a bit simplistic to say lower league clubs survive on pre-season friendlies although I am sure the money helps...

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