As stated above transfer fees are plugging quite shocking yearly losses currently.

If we want to remain competitive when it comes to signing players EVERY avenue should be looked at when it comes to saving money.

No-one really came close apart from Mass Debates to answering my initial question as to why it's NECESSARY to go abroad to ensure a better pre-season than staying in Scotland or North England.

I take MD's point about warm weather being better for joints and recovery time etc etc but Holland's climate is pretty similiar to our own,and anyway were only there a week.

Unfortunately these days if you raise any point about anything it seems to construed that you're moaning just for the sake of it rather than trying to ask a pertinant question.
 

We were about as fit as Dad's Army last season, so I'm looking for a quantum leap in that as well as tactical nous, especially at defending.

LOLz.

Waffelz wrote:

Fitness really wasn't an issue last year.

 
Eh?

I thought we were second best against most teams in regard to fitness and stamina last season.

I don't have a big problem with the pre season abroad, it happens in a lot of professional industries, successful teams have an annual week away to work on team building, strategy, training etc.  And as someone else mentioned it does help leaving everything else at home and only having the football to think about, in theory anyway...

I don't think the costs are much more restrictive than going to England or Ireland, flight costs could be balanced by cheaper accommodation and training facilities.

From a phycological point of view I know I would get much better value for my money if I took my team to Spain for a weeks team building as opposed to Tyneside, and the cost wouldn't be much different.

If going to Holland familiarises us with some of the players there and puts us in the shop window, it may be worth the trip.
It lead to us signing ciftci, bilate and now looks like sneidjer as well.
Granted 2 of them have to prove themselves yet but bilate looks a player if only he can stay fit.
Ciftci got us £1.5M so financially, having some sort of presence there makes sense.
People always talk about looking at the Scandinavian market as a great idea. It would appear that United are looking at the lower level Dutch market as part of their strategy.
I'm not complaining.

Waffelz wrote:

Fitness really wasn't an issue last year.

 


It really, really was.

arabugsy wrote:

Tek wrote:

I seem to recall one pre-season Levein taking our players to an Army base in Fife or somewhere and the players raving about how fit they were by the end of the 7-10 days and how good a bonding experience it had been.

Probably wouldn't have cost much either.

He took them to Oban one year as well (my first).

He was there with Hearts 1st team on Saturday too.
 

Mind that pre season, it was RM condor. Pretty sure Houston done the same a couple years later

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-170996880.html

I'm willing to wager we'll stay in Scotland this season.

St.Andrews will definitely be away.Of that i have no doubt.

 

Waffelz wrote:

Fitness really wasn't an issue last year.

Wow, just wow.
 

Waffelz wrote:

Fitness really wasn't an issue last year.

 

Right that's it no more grey goose!!!

As much as ive had a ball on pre season its ireland england germany holland the past few years it was supposed to be stopped last year due to costs as the dutch one the yeae before cost a bomb.