Everton Pre-Season 2011 ? USA

I'll be at both... Unless those idiots saying the world is going to end on May 21st turn out to be right.

Ladies/Gents:

Would it be possible to start trying to arrange a pub meet the night before and for after each match?

Are you a local to either area? If so, where would be the best place to meet for a "sherbet or two"?

Does either club have seating arrangements organised for Everton fans?

Whatever information you can forward would help to make the "family gathering" more friendly.

I will only be taking in the Washington game, but would like to play a round of golf somewhere hilly (flat as fuck here in Houston!) on the Sunday after the match.....any takers?

Over to you...............

PS - thanks again Michael for arranging this TW access - will you be there? Maybe we could arrange a meet with Bill Kenwright and Moysie - so that you could buy them a well-deserved dinner :)

Gerry (2), I live about 10 minutes outside of Philly.

There is a place called Fado on Locust St downtown. I've never been inside but It's a soccer/rugby place and I hear it has a great atmosphere.

I don't think there are Everton supporters' sections at either game.

I'm an avid golfer but I'm planning on taking 3 subways and Amtrak to get to DC so I don't think I'll be bringing my clubs.

Great stats Gerry, thanks for taking the time and effort to compile such an interesting piece. I hope you guys over the pond enjoy the visit of Everton FC, I would love to have the opportunity to travel over from Liverpool to take in the experience but due to financial reason's such a trip is a little beyond my reach!

Okay, that's a good start thanks Pat - you can carry my clubs on the Sunday if you want!!!!!

With EvertonUSA going defunct we've lost our "voice-piece". I think it best that a "local resident" would be the easiest person to arrange with the pub. However, if you are not comfortable with that, Pat, I can call them up like I did with the Salt Lake City hostelry and take it from there.

I've got your suggestion, let's sit back and see if there are any other suggestions/arrangements coming through.

Thanks, Pat.

Sorry about the financial crunch, Peter, but if Everton ever get to the Houston/Texas area again, if you can afford the return flight, I can put you up in the spare room for the duration - and my BBQ rates for meals are very reasonable!

Look out for the story of Everton's visit to the US Capital city after the tour.

Yet another doomed pointless pre-season tour. Why do we even bother going on these stupid jollies? Organise proper freindlies. It's been proven numerous times that we're not ready for the season because we play shite teams, beat them and then think we're world beaters.

I think it's a real pity this excellent compilation gives any credence to Moyes's ridiculous contention that the USA trip in 2004 was in any way responsible for subsequent League success.

Similarly, at the opposite extreme we have the nonsense directly above, spouted by Chris Butler: "we play shite teams, beat them and then think we're world beaters."

Here's a though for you: neither of these theories carry any weight. The fact that the team has in recent seasons been slower and slower out of the blocks is yet another failing that needs to be laid fair and square at the door of our manager, whose staleness and lack of motivation for his players is really starting to stink the place out.

Could not agree more, Michael.

Chris, ......."because we play shite teams, beat them and then think we're world beaters"........we've actually played 9 matches here pre-season and won 2

I have never considered them world beaters, and neither have the majority of fans here or back home. I consider that you exagerrate and criticise unfairly!

IF you had watched any of those US matches you would see that we are NOT fully match fit (training has just started) playing against MORE THAN reasonable opposition who are FULLY match fit half way through their league season. The 2 matches we did win were not exactly deserved, we were lucky (Pachuca, maybe not).

Everton's biggest failing, as far as I am concerned, lies in the fact that when they return to the UK they FAIL to build up on that match-fitness against the opposition they need to be playing.

It will be interesting to see who they end up playing against in August - as the majority of teams they play out here in July are not as bad as you think - yes, certainly not EPL standard, but Chelsea, Man Utd and Tottenham will agree with coming here too!

I usually see these 'tours' as wasteful as well, however, as an American Toffee, I am looking forward to finally seeing Everton play live. I'm too excited.

So for all the English-base fans, please consider that this is a good way to build awareness of the team. Who knows, maybe some DC fans or Philly fans will walk away thinking, "I think I'll support that English team."

Or better yet, some rich guy who sees the news on TV might say, "I think I'll buy that rather than that NBA team."

Can someone make a FaceBook group to make it easier to follow?

A very informative piece, thanks, Gerry and I hope any Evertonian attending these games has a real jolly good time. I also wish you well in your plans for a get together / knees up with a sherbert or two!

I do have to call into question the sense in these trips though. They are clearly not hugely beneficial to our playing squad on recent evidence. I also can't see how this could benefit us financially. Again, there is no evidence of a huge surge in income following our previous trips to the USA.

And finally, this year in particular, our boys don't deserve to be jetted around the world. I say keep them on Merseyside, call them back for pre-season training early ? get them playing friendlies against teams which are likely to park the bus (something we clearly struggle to deal with), and make sure that, come the first game of the season, there isn't one member of our playing squad that isn't at the absolute peak of fitness. No excuses.

Maybe let Baines and Distin have a pamper day at a spa somewhere to recognise that they at least came close to the kind of sustained levels of performance we expect from our players. Send the others to boot camp.

Carlos, I like that ? well said. I saw many Mexican fans in Park City (Salt Lake training ground) a couple of years ago who suddenly developed a great interest in our boys, especially Rodwell and Fellaini ? the Mexicans and Americans are NOT as backward as people back home think. They know their football and take it very seriously.

I only wish we had found Hernandez instead of United ? the fan base would certainly have grown tremendously....and as far as I'm concerned, any one who supports Everton based on what they have seen is a TRUE football fan, not a success grabbing mutant!!!!

Nuff said; starting to get sentimental ? Brothers-in-arms and all that....

Ha, Jamie, like your style - bring back conscription and all that. I bet there are many others who agree with you.

Me too, IF I were living back home in Crosby again.

Bloody foreigners...

Gerry ? not sure I will be able to make it to the East Coast from Austin, as I will be heading on me hols in the other direction shortly after, but if you get to Austin anytime let me know. You can look me up on Facebook, there's only two of me and the other one is some kid in Scotland who supports the Arsenal... and we have plenty hills here. Actually I am headed your way this coming weekend, out to San Felipe on the Brazos with the out-laws... and nice job on the research.

I'm pretty sure that Moyes and others have commented how the facilities in the US are excellent. Pre-season is not just about friendlies, but about conditioning, preparation and integrating new signings etc.

The pre-season tournament in Bangkok in 2005 (Man City, Bolton and Thai U23), whilst great for the Asian-based Blues, was obviously not on the same level. Not just cos of the oppressive heat/humidity, but the facilities. Great PR with Chang etc, but still not good preparation.

The trips are usually at the earlier stage, and clubs are back in Europe/UK for the final warm up games. If the players are not in good condition, that is a failure of the preparations, not the location.

Also, new players not coming in till the TV money is paid doesn't help.

Matt, we no longer have to wait until the end of the season to be awarded our money from broadcast rights. Due the change in structure of the rights distribution by SKY, clubs are paid a percentage around every quarter.

SKY changed their broadcast package this past season, and as such took on even more matches from the now defunct Setanta and half of ESPN's live Premier league coverage. The new deal that was secured now pays clubs throughout the season as opposed to the end. Our share of the TV money as obviously already gone on servicing debts and at the end of the season we'll be awarded the last pay check.

We also get the money from the Premier League for our position finish as well.

I'm really glad blues living in the States will get to see these games and if I lived there I'd no doubt be able to think of loads of reasons as to why the trip was a great idea.

But I don't and my honest opinion is that, from the point of view next season, Everton should be flying no further than 2 hours away and (after a couple of muscle-stretching games against Austrian alehouse sides) should be playing against teams in Europe's better leagues.

I mean why not France or Germany? A couple of hours away, plenty of support, decent opposition.

I wouldn't mind so much if someone could point to evidence of how these US trips (or Australia for that matter) improved anything, but...

I can only imagine the reason for these tours is financial...

The thing about us having a poor start to the season is clear. However, there may be a flip-side to this.

Is there something about the way we prepare for the season that allows us to kick on after Christmas?

Still, I hope he's got something up his sleeve that enables us to be quicker out the blocks next season...

Look we could travel the whole world nothing will change the following:

? The lack of funds which causes Moyes to go into his preseason sulk.

? No new players coming into training and the managers bad attitude/sulking results in the squad getting disenchanted.

? Cue the sky money coming in and the last minute rushed bargain buys.

Hence we start the season with bad morale, an unsettled squad, new players unfamiliar with our set up/style, an unsettled first 11 and a manager with a full mard lip.

Having these games early in pre-season is fine and good for conditioning the players and for the Brand.

The problem is when the team returns to the UK and plays weakened opposition like Cambridge and Preston before signing off against a mid-table Spanish side.

Not good enough.

One of the reasons that we have failed to attract investors is because, like it or not, Everton is not an international brand in comparison to most of our competitors. However, USA seems to be one place where we do have a good foothold, so these trips there make a lot of sense.

I agree with Liam though that once we get back we should really be testing ourselves more competitively. Why not organise something like the Emirates Cup? Boost revenue and give the team a decent competition to aim at... might even win some (admittedly irrelevant) silverware!!

Love the enthusiasm of the foreign and exiled Evertonians... hope you have a great time and the lads give you something to shout about.

My opinion is that these games are no different to where they let fans in to see the team train. I think we had trips to America in 2007, 2008 and 2009 already. Our game a few years ago against Werder Bremen was really entertaining to watch, a brilliant atmosphere as well.

I've lived In LA in a majority Mexican Barrio and I agree they are mad about a lot of things in general: guns, basketball, food and music. Generally it's only the latino community in America that are interested in football in America I found out during my six months there. I wouldn't have a problem if we played an LA team as I guarantee you we'd have a lot of US fans.

But our last summer jolly to Aussieland was pathetic really. On a selfish not though as I've pointed out to numerous people. We took 2000 fans to Anderlecht once for a freindly. As I never get tickets for Euro away games usually I'd love the chance to watch Everton in Amsterdam or Madrid. I went to Liege in 2008 but didn't get a ticket in the away end. Most fans just want to go to somewhere that's interesting and affordable to go to.

Liam/Sam (22,23), glad you have agreed with my statement on poor opposition during the build-up back home phase of pre-season. I'm sure that the majority of Evertonians really would agree too, but some seem to thrive on slating the fact that we travel abroad to start the fitness build-up.

I am just relieved (for selfish reasons) that they are coming back here to the USA, but I also believe that it is good for them and their team-building.

I actually had the opportunity to question Moysie about this on their last visit here and he stated very strongly that the facilities offered them around the matches were second to none, quote "hard to find anywhere but here" unquote. When you actually know and have seen what is on offer here for the team, in these brand new stadiums, his comments make sense. Huge fitness rooms along with the monitoring and medical facilities, including physios, etc., make it a damn sight easier to organise training/fitness regimes to build up their bodies.

I was hoping this thread would open up into trying to organise ourselves in the same way we managed to get together for SLC and Denver! I hope we get some suggestions or else we will all be attending a pre-season wake together, where we can all moan and whinge...... :)

Lighten up, guys ? let's party.

Gerry - you going to the Gold Cup semi-final games at the Reliant by any chance, June 22nd? I was told it's likely to be USA vs AN Other and Mexico vs AN Other, double header, but I haven't really checked ? going anyway, whatever.

Boys' night out, hope to bring a small crew of the lads I play with including another blue who lives here and plays on the same team as me (we bumped into each other watching a match at Fado Austin).

Let me know if you're going and I might also be able to get you a good seat at a fair (but not necessarily cheap) price but without fees. Need to know this week if you need a ticket or two.

Not sure if we're staying over or not, but I hope so. Would be nice to meet up.

Julian

j f w a i t (at) the g m a i l thingy ma jiggy or Austin 5 6 5 9 0 6 7

Chris #25 - quote "I think we had trips to America in 2007, 2008 and 2009 already."

Don't know what you've been smoking/snorting but I think the give away for you would be READ THE ARTICLE above - it gives every game we've played season by season!

I'm sure Werder Bremen was the final game pre-season (someone correct me if I am wrong). The concurrent and recurring theme appears to be that, yes, we need DECENT games against STRONGER teams before the season starts. The US games are all about build-up for those games.

James (#18), I wasn't referring to just Sky money, but the money is paid by the Premier League anyway. I was gonna pen a separate article about this one day, but basically there are multiple TV revenue streams, all of which are paid at different times:

? Domestic TV rights ? equal share, currently almost £14 million, payable end August and January
? Merit payments ? league placing, around £750k/place, payable at season end

? "Facility Fee" ? £485k per live appearance, with guaranteed minimum of 10 appearances (even if you appear in less)

Sorry for going off-thread. The only change in payment schedule has been with the re-negotiation of the overseas rights, whereby the Premier League decided to disburse monthly to assist clubs with budgeting.

I live in Philadelphia and am attending both the Union and DC United games. I will be at the Union stadium all day on the Wednesday as Season ticket holders for the Union get free tickets to watch Evertons practice session during the day. (Might have a few extra if anyone is in town. They haven't released any of that information yet though.)

Incredibly excited for the boys to come over to the East Coast of the States. I have only seen the Lads live once when I was a young chap. Saw a 5-3 loss at Goodison to QPR.

Fido's bar is OK saw the FA Cup vs Chelski there a few years ago but for the best football pub in Philly I would have to say the Darkhorse is the best choice (http://www.darkhorsepub.com/). Better atmosphere in my opinion and gives the pub feel as opposed to a chain.

I have ordered tickets for section 128 at the Union game and behind the Everton bench for the DC game. Hope some of this information helps and would love to meet up with some fellow Evertonians.

Paul (30) I was trying to get tickets for that but I don't know anyone who is a season ticket holder. If you're going to have an extra one, send me an email. irishpat109@gmail.com.

I'll defer to you on the pub suggestion as I'm not really one for pubs... or drinking in general for that matter.

I live in the DC area and as my son played for DC United's youth team so I have a few contacts at the club. it seems like some Evertonians would like to meet up ahead of the game and try and get seats in the same area of the stadium.

Consequently, I have taken the liberty of setting up a link through DC United so that Everton fans can book tickets on line and print tickets off at home. The link below is created for Everton supporters looking to come out to the DC United vs. Everton match on July 23rd.

The seats will all be located together in section 332, which is in the lower section of the stadium. DC has initially placed around 50 seats on hold for you all, and they are only available by clicking this link. Tickets are $30 (regularly $40). More seats can be allocated should the take up merit it.

Discounted Link: https://oss.ticketmaster.com/html/go.htmI?l=EN&t=dcunited&o=2139931&g=1431

Offer Code: TOFFEES

Should any fans have questions they can contact: Brad Snook - DC United
Account Executive
Direct: 202-587-5494
Fax: 202-587-5400

Email: bsnook@dcunited.com
RFK Stadium
2400 East Capitol St
Washington, DC 20003

Additionally, there is an Irish pub near the ground called Fados which would be a good meeting place ahead of the KO. It's not walking distance but is on the metro and easy driving distance.

Address is 808 7th Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 789-0066.

I will be drinking in my local Irish pub called Ned Devines which is outside DC but an easy 40 minute drive. Address if anyone cares to join me is
2465 Centreville Rd
Herndon, VA 20171
(703) 793-7376

Off-topic, someone said that they lived in the States for a bit of time and only Latinos liked football. Can't judge an entire country by that. I've officiated games here for a long time and there is deep passion in certain communities for the game. My guess the total number of people would surpass that of the England. :p

Anyways, up the blues!

p.s. Maybe now that Trump won't buy the White House, he can buy our little club?

I lived in Philly for 5 years and will be flying up for the Philly match (from Austin?hi Julian ha)?unfortunately I won?t be arriving until the day of the match so can?t join you lads for the night before. As ?me lil? bruv? mentions above we watched the FA Cup Final a couple years ago at Fado?s in Philly but weren?t overly impressed?they didn?t even open until a couple minutes prior to kickoff!! The best place we found in Philly was definitely the Dark Horse pub (http://www.darkhorsepub.com/) ?this is where most ex-pats go and was packed for the World Cup matches. Much bigger than Fado?s (with multiple rooms) and great atmosphere during the World Cup (both the rugby and footie). We?ll probably head there after the match if fellow Blues are going.

We?re also going to the DC match?.actually have a contingent of 32 people going (family and friends?all Blues). We?ll be driving up from my older brother?s place in Virginia that morning and then ?tailgating? all day leading up to kickoff. As we have over 25 people we qualified for a tent. Just look for the tent labeled ?Goodison Car Park? (yes, that?s as creative as I get) in the parking lot and stop on by! Should be a great time!!

Stephen ? cheers for setting up that link, I?d encourage everyone to buy through there so you?re all together! When we purchased our tickets we were told there was no ?Everton section? so we decided to get enough people to create our own ha. I know the ?Boston Evertonians? are planning on going and are sat next to us for the DC match. They?ll have a tent at the match too so there will be plenty of Toffs present?I think they have a contingent of about 35 people coming down from Boston (their tent is just labeled ?Boston Evertonians?. You may want to reach out to them online to see if they?re going anywhere in DC the night before (can just google it or reach out on Facebook). As I said, we?re planning on having a good time ?tailgating?. Make sure you load your car up with plenty of bevvies before you get into the car park though. Hope to see a lot of you there!

Chris 25... your 6 months living in the USA gave you a warped view of the popularity of the sport over here. After 25 years living here in NJ, there are loads of US nationals, ex-pat Greeks, Irish, French, Nigerians and other Africans and South and Central Americans playing and supporting the game. There are even some Evertonians!

Personally, after so may trips back to England to watch the blues, it's great to see them in my back yard.

Nice article, Gerry.

I am flying over for both games, with my lad.

Booked tickets for DC United through the link posted above.

Paul, if you have any "spares" for the training session at Union give me a shout. Have been in conversation with Union about getting tickets and they're getting back to me.

Also, know about the 2 tailgaters at DC, any places to get together before the Union game?

Phil_or@Hotmail.com

Hi cant wait for the pre season tour would be great to meet up for a drink or 5. Would be amazing to meet up before and after the match. Facebook would be a great way of sorting something out

Michelle, #37 - the reason that I went to TW for trying to keep up to date was to avoid Facebook, Twitter, etc., as some of us old'ns are technically challenged and digitally useless (60th birthday today!). If something is being organised, or has been arranged, please would you return to this page and let us know? I look forwards every US summer tour to being amongst fans of the club I love, they are fun to be with.

..and we don't get together that often!

I'm looking forward to seeing the Blues here in DC, I've taken my lads to Colorado, Salt Lake, Chicago and we've enjoyed meeting the team and having a few laughs. This year I've got 10 tickets right behind the Everton bench and will hope to indocrinate some new Yank Blues. It's a good opportunity for new fans to see our team and hopefully choose to follow them. I give the American fans some credit, there is loads of matches on Fox Soccer Channel so we can watch 5-6 matches a weekend and they are knowledgeable about the game. For anyone coming to DC I would suggest staying downtown in the Georgetown/Dupont Circle/Adams Morgan area or Alexandria/Arlington in Virginia and taking the Metro to RFK stadium. It's not the nicest area around the stadium so after the match head back to the above areas. The Lucky Bar in Dupont is decent along with the others mentioned above. I still have two tickets in our group of ten if anyone is still interested, drop us a line at scouserblue62@yahoo.com. First row behind the EFC bench. Should be loads of bluenoses here, good times for all we hope!!!

Ref post #32 above. DC advised me that 25 tickets have been sold via the link so far and expect more nearer the date. I've changed my venue for the pre match drink to Ireland's Four Courts, 2051 Arlington Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201.

It's a decent boozer, good British and Irish contingent drink there and is opposite a Metro station (Court House). This is on the Orange Line so you would head towards DC, change to the Blue line at Rosslyn. The blue line will then take you direct to RFK Stadium (Stadium Armory is the RFK stop).
Should take 30 mins or so.

Look forward to seeing many Evertonians at the game and pub, and hopefully we'll put on a good show.

COYBs