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Chelsea US Tour this summer

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PraetorianGuard

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Usually these games don't mean much, but it's good to see Chelsea doing a tour of some major stadiums in the United States this summer against high profile competition. Should get people interested in the club if they aren't already. ;)

From the official Chelsea website:

Tuesday, July 21st versus Inter Milan at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CaliforniaFriday, July 24th versus AC Milan at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland

Sunday, July 26th versus Club America at Cowboys, Stadium in Dallas, Texas
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PraetorianGuard said:
it's good to see Chelsea doing a tour of some major stadiums in the United States this summer
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I don't think it is. Surely only American fans would think that? There should be more important things than trying to get more overseas fans, unfortunately this is the way football has gone these days, just some big corporate brand.

 
the year we got Drogba i went to one of the preseason matches in philedelphia against AC milan, it was actually a good match and the crowd was fantastic...only downside was Shevchenko of all people scored the winner on a free kick with about 2 minutes to go...since i moved to canada ive only been able to get back to the bridge 4 times so i have no beef with the US tour, its good for chelsea and its a real treat for us supporters on this side of the pond

 
I think that looks like a pretty decent pre-season plan. I'm sure there will be other matches as well, but at least we will have three matches against quality teams and the team doesn't have to travel halfway around the world between each match. Maybe for once the team is going to be properly prepared when the season starts.

 
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there is also seattle on July 18th...i think it's a ridiculous tour which hasn't taken the players into account...they're going to be flying every other day and playing four games in eight-nine days...madness

 
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I'm flying to LA on the 21st to see the Inter game, hope to see our players beat up on the Special One.

 
I will likely be there too! ShedEnd Piss Up: USA Edition anyone? :D

paulo said:
I don't think it is. Surely only American fans would think that? There should be more important things than trying to get more overseas fans, unfortunately this is the way football has gone these days, just some big corporate brand.
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I dont really understand this attitude.

I agree that it would be nice if it wasnt all money money money in football these days, but I hardly thing a preseason tour is the biggest sign of money grubbing going on in the modern game. If its the difference between the players sitting at home or going on holidays for 3 months or making a load of money filling up an American stadium playing a preseason game against bit clubs like that, I would rather the squad get the experience and the club be better off financially for it. There are alot of passionate fans over here, and in Canada, who are shelling out money to watch their team (not cheap, believe me) and on kits to show their support and they have a single game in which to see their team play live all year. I went to the tour in 2005, and believe me, it was hardly treated as more than a sporting exhibition. No autographs, no extended warmup, virtually no souvenirs

This may sound biased because I am a North American and will probably go to one of these games, but things like player agents and exorbitant wages are surely more damaging than a preseason tour

 
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Going to the game in Seattle, should be decent. They are merely exhibition matches, but it's a good way for the team to bond and learn their new manger's tactics before they hit the season. Now, I know they could do all that at home but think about it. Matches against teams like Seattle will be desparate to win, so will give a good game.

I know that there is also the downside of players getting injured, just look at joe Cole a couple seasons ago. But there is also the chance to see some of the youngsters get a run out too. I've been to a Roman v Real madrid friendly, and managed to say I've seen Zidane play in the flesh so there are great experiences that can be had. Therefore, it's selfish to not let other parts of the world enjoy a club, or football even, just because folk want them to stay at home.

It was expensive to make the bridge from Scotland, and even expensive enough when I lived in England too. It's bloody extorion to get there from the states now, so if I get to go and see my team....thanks!

This has all started since we became succesful, I agree. Look at the asian cup we played in a couple of seasons back after we got signed by Samsung. We have become the victims of our own success, and it's not like we're the first club to do this.

I think it's great to say I got to see them play, and I hope that some people who've never seen them get bitten by a bug and become Chelsea fans for the rest of their life. one day, they may travel to the bridge, and fulfill a lifelong dream, who knows?!

Also, I think that since we have become a global brand we have to pay thanks to some of the international fans for buying replica shirts, and tuning in to watch the team play as we're broadcast all over the world. It is in large part to these people that we have the money to pay the players we have making us succesful. Do you honestly believe that filling the stadium every week pays everyone's wages? In a way, it's the club saying "Thanks" for helping keep us going.

One year it's asia, one year it's the states. Get used to it, and as for tiring the players; it could also be building team spirit and it's not like they are playing one day, then flying back to start the prem the next....they'll be rested when we need them

Scott

 
TheWestwayWonder said:
I dont really understand this attitude.
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OK, let me explain. I just think that preseason should be about preparing the squad for the forthcoming season in the best way possible. It should not be about flying them off to various parts of the world to compete in nonsense tournaments with the sole aim of upping our profile abroad and increasing our overseas fanbase and associated revenues. The priorities for preseason should be:

1. Players have some well earned time off, go on holiday and spend valuable time with their loved ones so that they can feel refreshed, motivated and focused on the coming season.

2. Integrate new players into the squad and adjust to the absence of some who have moved on and experiment with various formations and permutations so the manager can fully understand the options at his disposal and the players know what to expect of each other.

2. Slowly build towards full match fitness for the start of the season with the players eventually all feeling in tip-top condition so that they have the right energy and fitness levels to enable them to perform at the best of their ability throughout the season whilst minimising the risk of injury.

I'm afraid I just don't see how this US tour helps achieve these goals. Opposition teams for preseason friendlies should be chosen to assist with the above, and certainly don't need to be top quality sides apart from maybe the final preseason game. Travel should be minimised and we should be aware that the results in preseason games do not matter one bit. As a fan no matter where in the world you live I would have thought you would want them to prioritise this proper preparation for games that really matter rather than have the convenience of them traveling to play down the road from you in some exhibition game. I currently live in Sydney and would be horrified at the idea of Chelsea traveling all the way out here, I just have to accept that a consequence of living where I do at the moment is that I don't get to many games anymore.

 
paulo said:
OK, let me explain. I just think that preseason should be about preparing the squad for the forthcoming season in the best way possible. It should not be about flying them off to various parts of the world to compete in nonsense tournaments with the sole aim of upping our profile abroad and increasing our overseas fanbase and associated revenues. The priorities for preseason should be:1. Players have some well earned time off, go on holiday and spend valuable time with their loved ones so that they can feel refreshed, motivated and focused on the coming season.

2. Integrate new players into the squad and adjust to the absence of some who have moved on and experiment with various formations and permutations so the manager can fully understand the options at his disposal and the players know what to expect of each other.

2. Slowly build towards full match fitness for the start of the season with the players eventually all feeling in tip-top condition so that they have the right energy and fitness levels to enable them to perform at the best of their ability throughout the season whilst minimising the risk of injury.

I'm afraid I just don't see how this US tour helps achieve these goals. Opposition teams for preseason friendlies should be chosen to assist with the above, and certainly don't need to be top quality sides apart from maybe the final preseason game. Travel should be minimised and we should be aware that the results in preseason games do not matter one bit. As a fan no matter where in the world you live I would have thought you would want them to prioritise this proper preparation for games that really matter rather than have the convenience of them traveling to play down the road from you in some exhibition game. I currently live in Sydney and would be horrified at the idea of Chelsea traveling all the way out here, I just have to accept that a consequence of living where I do at the moment is that I don't get to many games anymore.
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Fair enough...but surely you would agree that players coming to the states is a holiday in itself! Two birds with one stone.

 
paulo said:
OK, let me explain. I just think that preseason should be about preparing the squad for the forthcoming season in the best way possible. It should not be about flying them off to various parts of the world to compete in nonsense tournaments with the sole aim of upping our profile abroad and increasing our overseas fanbase and associated revenues. The priorities for preseason should be:1. Players have some well earned time off, go on holiday and spend valuable time with their loved ones so that they can feel refreshed, motivated and focused on the coming season.

2. Integrate new players into the squad and adjust to the absence of some who have moved on and experiment with various formations and permutations so the manager can fully understand the options at his disposal and the players know what to expect of each other.

2. Slowly build towards full match fitness for the start of the season with the players eventually all feeling in tip-top condition so that they have the right energy and fitness levels to enable them to perform at the best of their ability throughout the season whilst minimising the risk of injury.

I'm afraid I just don't see how this US tour helps achieve these goals. Opposition teams for preseason friendlies should be chosen to assist with the above, and certainly don't need to be top quality sides apart from maybe the final preseason game. Travel should be minimised and we should be aware that the results in preseason games do not matter one bit. As a fan no matter where in the world you live I would have thought you would want them to prioritise this proper preparation for games that really matter rather than have the convenience of them traveling to play down the road from you in some exhibition game. I currently live in Sydney and would be horrified at the idea of Chelsea traveling all the way out here, I just have to accept that a consequence of living where I do at the moment is that I don't get to many games anymore.
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The players themselves, the ones who really matter would disagree with you. They have found the trips they have done to the States over the past few years have been extremely valuable in bonding the team together as a unit mainly because they are far from home with not too much distraction. They have been quite vocal about this in particuloar the likes of JT who uses these trips to great effect in bringing the guys together.

 
geezer said:
The players themselves, the ones who really matter would disagree with you. They have found the trips they have done to the States over the past few years have been extremely valuable in bonding the team together as a unit mainly because they are far from home with not too much distraction. They have been quite vocal about this in particuloar the likes of JT who uses these trips to great effect in bringing the guys together.
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Our unity is one of our biggest strengths so for taht aloena decent pre season break is as beneficial as the competition. It is decent competitions and I don's see what wrong with promoting ourselves in a developing footballing nation - they're bound to produce some world calss acts sometimes and America have been increasinlgy good internationally ad clearly it gives a lot of Chelsea fans an opportunity to see the club - and we humped Celtic there so its a happy hunting ground for me

 
I'm going to the Seattle game! It's an honor that the Sounders are the only MLS team on Chelsea's schedule (even though I know it's partially to do with sponsorship and partnership issues). Hopefully it will be an entertaining match. Lots of people in the city are getting into soccer for the first time, thanks to the Sounders being unexpectedly good. I bet a lot of hearts and minds will be converted to following Chelsea in EPL. There isn't the massive media hatred over here for Chelsea, only Man U.

Barcelona are coming too. So Seattle can brag that we hosted both the European champion and the true European champion (had it not been for UEFA and the dodgy ref). :sadwalk:

 
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