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Pre-Season Idea

We all know that this pre-season has been messed up with the Java Cup debacle. There has been often a lot of discussion on TW on the relative merits of going to US, Australia, Asia etc as well as the quality of opposition in pre-season. This got me thinking about a potential idea for next year.

How about if Everton and (hold your breath) Liverpool actually got together next year to organise a pre-season tournament on Merseyside. If we could invite a couple of high profile European teams (I was thinking Bayern Mnich and AC Milan) then I think it could be a win/win/win for both clubs and the City.

Hopefully it would attract good crowds and visitors to the city, give all teams a really good workout, and involve no travel. Who knows we might even make some money out of it.

Crazy – I know.

Ciaran Duff, Sydney Posted 30/07/2012 at 06:15:25

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Keith Glazzard
839 Posted 30/07/2012 at 14:01:49

I think its a perfectly good idea, but, as in groundshare or anything else involving 'cooperation' it won't happen.

The dark side will never do anything that they think will do us any good. They want us to disappear. As for finishing above them? Well, a 'legend' was given the not so golden boot as a result wasn't he.

The only time they'll change their tune is an hour before the bailifs come to take the Shankly gates, and may that day come soon.

Ged Simpson
846 Posted 30/07/2012 at 15:06:31

Injuries guaranteed for both sides.

Gerrard would get half our team sent off withinh 2 mins.

Suaraez would call one of our players something unprintable.

And after our last and second last play off, we would be banned from every competition for the huge cider-fuelled scrap that would ensue in town between us, the Shite, and representatives of Europe.

Otherwise neat idea.

Danny Broderick
848 Posted 30/07/2012 at 15:15:31

Great idea. Let's see how we start the season if we can have a competetive pre-season. I don't think it will ever get off the ground, but if Ajax can host tournaments, and various other clubs, then why can't we?

Paul David
849 Posted 30/07/2012 at 15:20:05

This actually happened about 10 years a go. A 4-team tournament, both Everton and Liverpool lost their first game then played each other which ended 0 - 0 I think. I cannot remember who the other two teams were.

Dave Southword
858 Posted 30/07/2012 at 17:26:06

Was that not in 1995? I distinctly remember being hammered in one of the lounges at that game.

Bobby Thomas
865 Posted 30/07/2012 at 18:37:34

Paul, I have absolutely no recollection of this whatsoever?!

Can anyone fill in the blanks? This is bending my head!

Andrew Gilbert
868 Posted 30/07/2012 at 18:54:59

So long as we can play with a beach ball then bring it on!

Steve Cotton
871 Posted 30/07/2012 at 19:16:42

Charlie Adam would be running round like an idiot trying to break Jelavic's leg just to make him look big in the eyes of the RedShite fans.

When you have got a chip on your shoulder as big as theirs then it will never happen...

Unless of course we could keep big Duncs registration and bring him on for the last ten mins...

Nathan Ward
875 Posted 30/07/2012 at 18:38:35

Paul - think it was Newcastle & Ajax.....and didn't we both win our games? Umbro Cup.....and Shearer got crocked on our sprinkler system.....

Paul David
877 Posted 30/07/2012 at 19:52:50

Nathan

My memory isn't the greatest, I might of thought we drew with Liverpool because I do remember both clubs saying there would not be penalties should they draw. I don't know what year it was but I'm sure it was when we wore the amber and black/blue striped strip.

Lee Courtliff
878 Posted 30/07/2012 at 19:54:27

The Umbro Cup was in 1997. The tournament where we played Liverpool was in 1996. We got beat on pens by, I think, Borrussia Moenchengladbach (sorry for the spelling) then played Liverpool at Goodison and drew nil-nil. Awful game. Gary Speed hit the bar with a bicycle kick from just inside the box. That was the highlight of the game. Poor attendence too, bearing in mind the opposition.

Michael Kenrick
Editorial Team
879 Posted 30/07/2012 at 20:06:28

Sir John Moores Centenary Trophy

Sat 27 Jul 1996 (a) Borussia Mönchengladbach  2-2  
Ferguson, Speed (Lost 2-3 on Pens)

Sun 28 Jul 1996 (h) LIVERPOOL                  0-0  
(Everton and Liverpool tied for 3rd Place)

No info on the attendances tho...

ps: Everton went on to have a pretty awful season, finishing 15th — just 2 points above relegation.

Can this please be the final nail in the "we should be playing better opposition pre-season" coffin?!?!

Thought not...

Dennis Stevens
890 Posted 30/07/2012 at 21:41:34

It was 1996.

Michael Kenrick
Editorial Team
893 Posted 30/07/2012 at 21:54:52

Doh!

Thanks!

Peter Thistle
912 Posted 31/07/2012 at 02:05:12

Losing 3 times to them in a season is enough for me, don't want to make it 4.

Mick Davies
915 Posted 31/07/2012 at 03:36:06

Maybe if our two boards organised this, we could end up playing Tranmere and Marine, and still end up playing each other for the silver spoon. Best not dreaming up sensible options for the city: the LSC is the only competition allowed.

Paul Gladwell
919 Posted 31/07/2012 at 06:39:40

It's bad enough playing those pricks and their stupid big flags twice a year. How long before we see a big Brendan Rodgers one the size of my house with something like 'patience is a virtue' wrote underneath? Gang of dickheads

Tony Rice
921 Posted 31/07/2012 at 07:15:08

Good idea.... but I'd drop the shite...... 4 team tourney...EFC , Chile Everton , 2 others from Europe......

Mike Allison
954 Posted 31/07/2012 at 11:07:34

Nathan (875) I remember going to the Newcastle and Ajax tournament at Goodison. Chelsea were the other team though not Liverpool. We beat Ajax 1-0 and the final was on Channel 5 the next day. Other than the fact that Gavin McCann came on as a sub I can't remember much else apart from sitting in the Park End and "Stand up you hate Man U" raising fans of at least three clubs to their feet.

I'd rather host our own tournament and invite decent European opposition.

Noel Early
114 Posted 31/07/2012 at 23:33:31

Here's an idea: host the Nike Cup, since they do now make our jerseys, and invite Barcelona and two more powerhouses of world football. That should bring out the crowds. This makes too much sense, I can't see us doing it.

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