Pre-season tour/friendlies discussion

Kirby

I thought it might be an idea to have a thread for the pre season games of all the clubs followed on the forum.

Obviously they arent very high intensity but it can be interesting to see some of the new signings debut for their teams and there has been little discussion in the super threads about them. Maybe I'm the only one interested in them or maybe it doesnt need its own thread but sure why not :P

Liverpool played yesterday and won 4-0 against Thai All Stars with goals from Markovic, Sakho, Lallana and a goal from new man Origi.

Arsenal are playing today against a singapore XI at 1:30pm for anybody interested. It's on Sky Sports 1 so no need to go search for alternative methods.

Kirby

Everton v Stoke is also live right now on Sky sports 1. A lot of first team players out there so it's no reserve affair. 0-0 at the moment.

Andersonisgod

It's pre season but still amazed at how poor Lukaku looks, hasn't developed at all.

SantryRed

Andersonisgod wrote: »

It's pre season but still amazed at how poor Lukaku looks, hasn't developed at all.

He has the positional sense of a lamp.

super_furry

Penalties!

GavRedKing

Andersonisgod wrote: »

It's pre season but still amazed at how poor Lukaku looks, hasn't developed at all.

Given his frame people expect him to be good at holding up play but his touch and ability to hold the ball up and link with other players is pretty poor.

Still pretty happy Everton forked out 28m for him and he was replaced with Costa for a few million more.

Kirby

Good peno by Adam.

Kirby

Andersonisgod wrote: »

It's pre season but still amazed at how poor Lukaku looks, hasn't developed at all.

I agree. He really isnt developing into the World class beast a lot of us expected, is he? He's still young of course but its worrying he looks no better than he did 3 or 4 seasons ago.

ben.schlomo

Deulofeu was abysmal when he came on, obviously his first game but jaysus he stunk the place out.

Harry Palmr

Origi kept Lukaku out of the Belgian side last summer which ought to have been a warning of some sort for Everton.

Boggled that the Guardian actually decided to MbM the game.

Kirby

Arsenal now. 4-3-3

Martinez

Debuchy
Mertesacker
Paulista
Monreal

Flamini
Coquelin
Wilshere

Ox
Iwobi
Akpom

Interesting line-up.

Andersonisgod

Zelalem always looks so bright, appears to be a really top prospect.

Cantona's Collars

4-0 to Arsenal now.

Kirby

Limited opposition for sure, but Akpom looked pretty good.

Fr Tod Umptious

Do EPL teams ever come to play LOI teams in pre season games these days or has Asia and America become the main destination ?

Years ago the summer was full of games between top flight clubs and LOI teams.

Lucas Hood

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Do EPL teams ever come to play LOI teams in pre season games these days or has Asia and America become the main destination ?

Years ago the summer was full of games between top flight clubs and LOI teams.

Some do but it's usually made of mostly youngsters and a few fringe/coming back from injury first teamers.

Omackeral

Everton XI played Bohs last night in Dalymount. Kinda gas as Everton were playing in Singapore the same day basically. A few people were probably duped by that. Bohs have a match tomorrow night in the League too so a fringe squad there also.

Andersonisgod

So Raheem Sterling is gonna be a superstar, who'dda thunk it?

Andersonisgod

The link up between Silva and Sterling is already impressive, add in Yaya Toure, Nasri and Aguero to the mix and you've got quite the offensive lineup.

Tugboats

There's more people in this thread than in the MCG

Dickerty

Tugboats wrote: »

There's more people in this thread than in the MCG

Well, you can't expect them to get 95,000 soccer fans in for a pre-season friendly...

Kirby

Roma should be beating city here. Missing chances.

Kirby

City 2-1 up. Ashley cole with a complete howler. :P

Andersonisgod

Cole has basically checked out.

Harry Palmr

City have money but no following.

Kirby

I think the location and time of day is relevant to the attendance tbh.

Harry Palmr

Melbourne? Yep its like the back of beyond!

31,000 is the official tally, but the guardians man staring at a monitor reckons it sounds and looks nothing like that.

klose

Nice assist from Cole today, reeling in the years

https://vine.co/v/e6wBdg91FYM

Andersonisgod

Bayern Munich look sharp here, Douglas Costa, when they are missing Ribery and Robben, could be key. You could watch Thiago Alcantara knock the ball about in a phonebooth all day, he's magic.

Kirby

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Bayern Munich look sharp here, Douglas Costa, when they are missing Ribery and Robben, could be key. You could watch Thiago Alcantara knock the ball about in a phonebooth all day, he's magic.

Did you know he used to play for Barcelona? I'm sure you didnt and your opinion of him is in no way based on that. :P

Andersonisgod

Kirby wrote: »

Did you know he used to play for Barcelona? I'm sure you didnt and your opinion of him is in no way based on that. :P

He could have played for Colchester, I wouldn't care if he still managed to play the way he does. The influence of La Masia and Guardiola on him is obvious though and it's shaped him as a player. He's class, genuine quality of the highest order.
You talk about rebuilding the Spanish national team, this guy should be one of the first names on the team sheet.

Kirby

I agree.

duffman13

Kirby wrote: »

I think the location and time of day is relevant to the attendance tbh.

Melbourne is a sports mad city of over 4 million people. Sums up the difference between Liverpool/United overseas in comparison to City. Either of those sides would have sold out regardless of time or day. MCG is also unbelievably accessible for anyone living around Melbourne.

SEPT 23 1989

city never had a Craig Johnston

adaminho

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

city never had a Craig Johnston

But they had a Danny Tiatto

GavRedKing

Chelsea v NY Red Bulls on at the moment for any night owls up.

GavRedKing

Decent game so far, NY playing well.

Chelsea XI is

Courtois; Ivanovic (c), Zouma, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Mikel; Moses, Oscar, Traore; Remy.

Collie D

What's the story with that Champions' Cup? According to Livescore there are ten teams in Group B. Haven't seen any mention of a Group A. I assume they've just made an error and they don't play nine matches and then do a knockout tournament?

citytillidie

Collie D wrote: »

What's the story with that Champions' Cup? According to Livescore there are ten teams in Group B. Haven't seen any mention of a Group A. I assume they've just made an error and they don't play nine matches and then do a knockout tournament?

Group A as you would say has 3 teams based in Oz

Man City, Roma and Real Madrid.

Real then go to join the two Milan teams in Asia as the rest are played in US/Canada with 2 games in Europe

ollie1

Class goal by Benzema. Manchester City 0 - 1 Real Madrid

Harry Palmr

City thumped 4-1 by Madrid. Delph left the pitch clutching a hamstring I read.

MythicalMadMan

Milan Derby in china SS3

Andersonisgod

Wolfsburg's transitions out of defence are really excellent, they press quite well too, Arsenal struggling right now.

Andersonisgod

Quite a good game on ss1 right now. Fiorentina lead Barcelona 2-1 after 19 minutes, sloppy start to the game by Barca but a lovely pass from Rakitic and finish from Suarez has gotten them a goal back.