City v United Beijing friendly pre match - CANCELLED

David Deacon said:
Its not like they wasn't expecting heavy rain. With all the money being spent you'd have thought keeping the playing surface at least dry was a priority. Blue skies come kick off time.
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It was dry and hot from Friday am with 1 hour downpour on Fri night. Just been speaking in Beijing airport to Feran Soriano - Chinese would not listen to our groundsman's advice. Relayed turf was moving under foot, totally unsafe. Ridiculous situation with all the money involved.
 
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Shame. I got all dressed up as well.

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RichardDunneOwnGoal said:
That's not even the half of it. For it being a clear soulless corporate whoring exercising for advertising and pleasing plastic supporters abroad, they'd only sold half the tickets and it was due to be played in a half empty stadium.

Seriously, what's the fucking point?

An absolute farce all round and terrible for our preparations for a long hard season.

Last season we had some outraged entitled childlike morons burning tickets to our game in Vietnam because they felt that our players hadn't made a big enough fuss of them while in their hotel going about their business. And that was played in a half empty ground too.

An utter joke.

Bring back something like the Thomas Cook trophy and a few friendlies in Scotland et al. Football has to be the priority.
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Perhaps the novelty of watching PL teams play meaningless games at walking pace, with most of the best players missing and multiple substitutions is wearing off? You can fool some of the people all of the time....

I do wonder whether clubs embark on these trips every year mainly because their rivals do. Its the fear of being left behind that drives the crazy schedule. Why don't City, United, Liverpool etc get together and agree a protocol? As a starting point agree that these trips will only take place in non WC/Euro summers?
 
RichardDunneOwnGoal said:
That's not even the half of it. For it being a clear soulless corporate whoring exercising for advertising and pleasing plastic supporters abroad, they'd only sold half the tickets and it was due to be played in a half empty stadium.

Seriously, what's the fucking point?

An absolute farce all round and terrible for our preparations for a long hard season.

Last season we had some outraged entitled childlike morons burning tickets to our game in Vietnam because they felt that our players hadn't made a big enough fuss of them while in their hotel going about their business. And that was played in a half empty ground too.

An utter joke.

Bring back something like the Thomas Cook trophy and a few friendlies in Scotland et al. Football has to be the priority.
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Think the lack of a sold out crowd might have had something to do with the prices being £80-£200 !!
 
cibaman said:
Perhaps the novelty of watching PL teams play meaningless games at walking pace, with most of the best players missing and multiple substitutions is wearing off? You can fool some of the people all of the time....

I do wonder whether clubs embark on these trips every year mainly because their rivals do. Its the fear of being left behind that drives the crazy schedule. Why don't City, United, Liverpool etc get together and agree a protocol? As a starting point agree that these trips will only take place in non WC/Euro summers?
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I tend to agree. Winning the league and Champions League would do far more for the City "brand" in these markets than any poxy friendly could ever manage. Yet for some strange reason, preparing the team to win those competitions doesn't seem to be much of a priority these days.
 
So 3 games of preparation to get match fit? Doesn't sound great to me. Pep will be doing some amazing training I'm sure but I wonder if they'll arrange some behind closed doors friendlies?
 
taleofbluehalves said:
So 3 games of preparation to get match fit? Doesn't sound great to me. Pep will be doing some amazing training I'm sure but I wonder if they'll arrange some behind closed doors friendlies?
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I'd be happier to see them call up Bury or Oldham and offer them a game, even if it's only a few first teamers.
 
If I'd have travelled for the game as many did from all over that part of the world...I'd have been delighted with some united-City "activities" as a substitute for a proper game of football in the stadium. Crossbar challenges, football tennis, etc. Itd have involved the same players for the same time and had minimum risk.

I feel both teams' fans were just left in a vacuum - of was something really put on for them?
 
It's absolutely brainless and one of the reasons I have little to no faith in Soriarsehole & Begiriwankstain.

This should have been done next May, at the end of the season, when the weather there wouldn't be as bad and there are no international tournaments. Then everyone can have a nice little wind-down and holiday while playing a few exhibition matches before having a good rest.

We've got a new manager who needs game time with his squad, many of whom have just played in the Copa America or Euros. Instead of flying halfway round the world, we should have stayed in Europe, played 6 or 7 games of varying difficulty then we'd be tuned up and ready to go.

It's utterly idiotic.
 
Prestwich_Blue said:
It's absolutely brainless and one of the reasons I have little to no faith in Soriarsehole & Begiriwankstain.

This should have been done next May, at the end of the season, when the weather there wouldn't be as bad and there are no international tournaments. Then everyone can have a nice little wind-down and holiday while playing a few exhibition matches before having a good rest.

We've got a new manager who needs game time with his squad, many of whom have just played in the Copa America or Euros. Instead of flying halfway round the world, we should have stayed in Europe, played 6 or 7 games of varying difficulty then we'd be tuned up and ready to go.

It's utterly idiotic.
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Prestwich Blue having another go at the management... #AsNightFollowsDay
 
pride in battle said:
Prestwich Blue having another go at the management... #AsNightFollowsDay
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So you think this trip was a wonderful idea? And it's great management that people have been allowed to renew their seats in 126 then been told they're not going to be allowed to sit in those seats?

Their priorities are money, money, money, football, fans in that order.
 
TonyM said:
If I'd have travelled for the game as many did from all over that part of the world...I'd have been delighted with some united-City "activities" as a substitute for a proper game of football in the stadium. Crossbar challenges, football tennis, etc. Itd have involved the same players for the same time and had minimum risk.

I feel both teams' fans were just left in a vacuum - of was something really put on for them?
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It is good to think of something like this for the loyal fans who did travel but injuries will happen on a bad surface, wether it's a full on competitive game, a friendly, or just a warm up/exhibition.

Also, I'd imagine if the match was called off then the stadium was never even opened - no access.

Maybe some complimenntary merchandise or something would be an idea, or a personalised letter from VK with an acknowledgment of the fans' support.
 
When organising these things there should be a number of contingencies prepared I think. And if possible advertise them so the fans know.

Then fans deserve some effort IMO.
 
Prestwich_Blue said:
It's absolutely brainless and one of the reasons I have little to no faith in Soriarsehole & Begiriwankstain.

This should have been done next May, at the end of the season, when the weather there wouldn't be as bad and there are no international tournaments. Then everyone can have a nice little wind-down and holiday while playing a few exhibition matches before having a good rest.

We've got a new manager who needs game time with his squad, many of whom have just played in the Copa America or Euros. Instead of flying halfway round the world, we should have stayed in Europe, played 6 or 7 games of varying difficulty then we'd be tuned up and ready to go.

It's utterly idiotic.
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We deserve another injury nightmare. It is utterly idiotic and puts our management team in a very bad light.

The only mitigation is that other clubs do it as well but that doesn't make it right.
 
TonyM said:
When organising these things there should be a number of contingencies prepared I think. And if possible advertise them so the fans know.

Then fans deserve some effort IMO.
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The players come first. If it is not optimal, then the season we have will be sub-optimal and the fans will suffer then.

I'd rather the team stay for a month in a pre-season camp locked away from the fans and the outside world
 
Marvin said:
The players come first. If it is not optimal, then the season we have will be sub-optimal and the fans will suffer then.

I'd rather the team stay for a month in a pre-season camp locked away from the fans and the outside world
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I would definitely prefer a preseason closer to home. Or like the US one that went so well years ago.

But I think there is room to do it right when far away if it's planned out perfectly. We should hire a few event planners that leave nothing to chance, ensure that the player's safety and well being are the top priority while also respecting the fans who are paying a lot of money for the once in a blue moon opportunity to see their heros in the flesh.

If we don't do these far off preseasons right then we shouldn't even entertain trying again.

BTW I'm hoping that us having so few friendlies isn't necessarily a bad thing. Our squad is good enough (I hope) that internal games are just as good. stepping into the unknown though.
 
TonyM said:
I would definitely prefer a preseason closer to home. Or like the US one that went so well years ago.

But I think there is room to do it right when far away if it's planned out perfectly. We should hire a few event planners that leave nothing to chance, ensure that the player's safety and well being are the top priority while also respecting the fans who are paying a lot of money for the once in a blue moon opportunity to see their heros in the flesh.

If we don't do these far off preseasons right then we shouldn't even entertain trying again.

BTW I'm hoping that us having so few friendlies isn't necessarily a bad thing. Our squad is good enough (I hope) that internal games are just as good. stepping into the unknown though.
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The point is not the missed pre-season friendly but the training in high humidity and the travel. Everything should revolve around football preparation.
 
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