Pre-season 2010 is in full flow but how many of us have noticed? Even the most seasoned football fan would struggle to reel off a detailed list of this summer’s most notable friendly results. With the increasing trend of clubs travelling to compete in pseudo cups in far away places, many have questioned whether it’s worth the effort. For some managers including Tottenham Hotspur boss, Harry Redknapp the preference would be to stay closer to home whilst working on fitness and taking part in a few friendly matches. In an era dominated by Premier League clubs seeking world domination by promoting their team as a global brand would it not be infinitely more sensible to trust the judgement of managers when it comes to pre-season preparation?
Pre-season results cannot be considered a reliable barometer of what is to come following the start of the season. Newcastle’s humbling 6-1 defeat to Leyton Orient last summer hardly paved the way for their rampant form in the Championship where they dominated, amassing over 100 points. Earlier this week, Manchester United could not avoid defeat to the Kansas City Wizards despite having a man advantage for the majority of the match.
The main purpose of a pre-season campaign is to ensure a squad regains its fitness and competitive edge ahead of the new season. Every year though commentators will routinely highlight players who appear weeks away from fitness. Any fan who has attended a pre-season game will usually confirm that it had the atmosphere of a pleasant Sunday kickabout down the park. Nonetheless pre-season offers managers the chance to reassess their squad and tactics while assimilating their new signings. Steve Bruce has stated this summer that the pre-season form of Anton Ferdinand and Phil Bardsley has forced him to rethink their futures at Sunderland. Pre-season also carries particular importance for many new managers who will be meeting and organising their new teams for the first time.
The problem for managers and players comes with the pre-season tour of faraway countries where the schedule can be intense. This summer has seen Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in America, Birmingham City in China and Blackburn and Everton in Australia. In between countless matches against previously unheard of opposition there is the task of promoting the club and enticing legions of new supporters through press engagements, city tours and signing sessions. Clubs can also pay a heavy price for attending such pre-season tours. During West Ham’s friendly match against Spurs in last year’s Asia Cup, Luis Boa Morte suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage in his right knee ruling him out for the best part of a year. Gianfranco Zola was forced to rethink his tactics ahead of impending season due to a lack of experienced wingers. This injury outweighed any potential benefits the tour brought to West Ham’s marketing department.
Such scepticism has been voiced by Harry Redknapp who told The Sun, “I would be a liar if I said it was the perfect way to prepare for the new season because it is not.” Would it not be wiser for clubs to entrust their management teams when it comes to organising pre-season fixtures? Arsenal’s traditional pre-season curtain raiser against Barnet shows the benefits of a localised stance. These encounters provide a chance to boost fitness, build confidence, please fans and construct ties with local clubs. The Emirates Cup later this month will place Arsenal against more glamorous, competitive opposition but at least they won’t have to travel half way across the world for it.
Click on image to see a gallery of the BEST BABES at the World Cup this summer
