http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 357783.stm

I can only assume this is referring to pre-season after Euro 2008

Could thi$ be the wor$t pre-sea$on $ince...well la$t pre-$ea$on?

W?'r? ju$t going to knack?r our$?lv?$ out.

The pre season this time round was a lot of the reason we started slowly and we have never really hit top gear, probobly a lot to do with Sheva getting a shock at the pace of the game once the season started.

I know its all for the marketing of the club but surely we need some real games against proper opposition to warm up and get the players in the mood.

Uh ? Hell-o!....... We're trying to build a Brand here folks!

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

And h?r? I was thinking it's about football. Silly m?.

the issue this season was the short length of the pre season training, and the short gaps between games. as long as the pre season is spread out over a proper period of time it could take place on the moon.

the issue this season was the short length of the pre season training, and the short gaps between games. as long as the pre season is spread out over a proper period of time it could take place on the moon.

A rather generous assessment. The issue with this pre-season was too much time signing autographs and general PR stunts and too little time focusing on football.

I take your point about building a brand Scott - that isn't rocket science to see, but branding and marketing must be built whilst focusing on the core product at the same time - we failed to do that last summer.

basically, you are repeating my point there... while somehow at the same time disagreeing with it.

Not exactly - you failed to point out that despite the pre-season being short in the first place we still managed to make it even shorter by wasting too much time with the 'nicey nicey chat to the people corporate stunts'

Branding and marketing are all very well, but a good businessman learns from his mistakes.

This season's pre-season preparation was a total f*ck-up, but they don't bleedin' learn. So this summer, instead of the team preparing for a new season they'll be playing meaningless matches thousands of miles away - f*ckin' wonderful

I don't agree.

Am I the only person concerned about us getting into bed with a country which has well documented human rights issues, or am I being a bit too Damien Duff (out on the left wing).

Am I the only person concerned about us getting into bed with a country which has well documented human rights issues, or am I being a bit too Damien Duff (out on the left wing).

When you have 1 billion+ potential jersey-buying fans available, human rights issues takes a back seat.

Am I the only person concerned about us getting into bed with a country which has well documented human rights issues, or am I being a bit too Damien Duff (out on the left wing).

When you have 1 billion+ potential jersey-buying fans available, human rights issues takes a back seat.

Evidently. Do you reckon they'll get a discount because they make them?!?

Am I the only person concerned about us getting into bed with a country which has well documented human rights issues, or am I being a bit too Damien Duff (out on the left wing).

When you have 1 billion+ potential jersey-buying fans available, human rights issues takes a back seat.

Evidently. Do you reckon they'll get a discount because they make them?!?

Believe me they won't even buy them, they can get the same jersey for quarter of the price from a street vendor in Shangai.

Whats the point!!

F**ks sake if the the Chinese want to watch English football then buy a Sat Dish!!

All this pre-season stuff is taken far too seriously these days.

Players get crocked,get tired,get sick of travelling!!

The whole point is to prepare the team in the BEST WAY POSSIBLE

for the upcoming domestic season............all this globe trotting for a few pound notes is a joke!!

Jose should put his foot down here!!

I WILL REPEAT......

I DONT GIVE A TINKERS CUSS ABOUT THE BRAND

Im a Loyal football supporter.........not a customer!!!

Stay in Europe pre-season

Could'nt agree more. Surely success will build the 'brand' and the best way to achieve success is to have the best pre-season possible.

Glory and c3Blu

On a personal level I agree with you both wholeheartedly.

However sadly we, and football in general, has moved into an arena where these corporate/PR exercises are part and parcel of how a club is run. In accepting that I can live with a degree of pre-season being handed over to what fundamentally boils down to a selling exercise however last pre-season took the p*ss as the balance was totally screwed up and football was very much a secondary consideration.

If I recall Jose made it clear that the pre-season we had was particularly inadequate although if I also recall he (at least to the media) pointed the finger at the number of players in the World Cup rather than making any issue about the appalling schedule in the pre-season tour.

As long as we prepare properly, it does'nt really bother me if we kill 2 birds with one stone. I totally understand the importance in todays game of being global.

Just as i and others have said, as long as its done properly.

Real Madrid have just jumped to the top of the worlds rich list, nothing to do with success, more to do with Bechams shirt sales in the far east. We all know this is Kenyon's goal, but I'd rather find a happy medium. I doubt Madrids fans will care about being number 1 off the pitch if they win nothing again on it. I think dominating the premiership for 10yrs would put us all over the map anyway.

And ultimately that should be our priority.