View Full Version : Should Arsenal tour North America or Asia for pre-season?
pc4th
24 Jul 2009, 02:30 AM
Or should the club stick to Europe or places close to home for its pre-season like the past several years.
In fact, when was the last time Arsenal tour North America or Asia in pre-season like Chelsea, Man Utd, Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan seem to do every summer.
antifan
24 Jul 2009, 05:33 AM
Personally, i'd love to see Arsenal set up training camp on the East Coast (upstate NY would be my pick) and play a few games in the US and Canada. I don't think it would upset the club's preparations much and it would be great for the North American fans.
Scally
24 Jul 2009, 05:46 AM
Yes. I already said that I think this trip to Austria could be the last especialy with Gazidis well settled into the job.
I think its gotta be part of Gazilis' long term plans to travel to N.America and/or Asia. He has been talking a lot about the brand and it just makes no sense to ignore an obvious avenue for revenue. Tom Fox is being brought in specificly to oversee Arsenal's global brand and id be shocked if he didnt sugest pre-season tours further afield than Austria.
We all know Arsene wants to go somewhere quite and in the same time zone as London but he isnt thick is he? He cant resist such a move if it will benifit his squad building in the future. It may not generate big revenue in his tenure but it is surely a long term goal that has to be exploited.
antifan
24 Jul 2009, 05:53 AM
Yes. I already said that I think this trip to Austria could be the last especialy with Gazidis well settled into the job.
I think its gotta be part of Gazilis' long term plans to travel to N.America and/or Asia. He has been talking a lot about the brand and it just makes no sense to ignore an obvious avenue for revenue. Tom Fox is being brought in specificly to oversee Arsenal's global brand and id be shocked if he didnt sugest pre-season tours further afield than Austria.
We all know Arsene wants to go somewhere quite and in the same time zone as London but he isnt thick is he? He cant resist such a move if it will benifit his squad building in the future. It may not generate big revenue in his tenure but it is surely a long term goal that has to be exploited.
As long as they avoided a bunch of coast to coast travel, i don't think it would be a big deal. Austria is already a two or three hour flight (i can't remember). What's another 2-3 hours on a plane? It's not like they're flying coach. If they were based in NY state they could hit 3 of NYC, Boston, DC, Montreal, Toronto, even Chicago with ease. And also have comparable accomodations and atmosphere for training camp.
But i can see Wenger resisting it with all his might. He really likes Austria and feels comfortable there. You can tell just by looking at him.
deaner1971
24 Jul 2009, 07:59 AM
As long as they avoided a bunch of coast to coast travel, i don't think it would be a big deal. Austria is already a two or three hour flight (i can't remember). What's another 2-3 hours on a plane? It's not like they're flying coach. If they were based in NY state they could hit 3 of NYC, Boston, DC, Montreal, Toronto, even Chicago with ease. And also have comparable accomodations and atmosphere for training camp.
But i can see Wenger resisting it with all his might. He really likes Austria and feels comfortable there. You can tell just by looking at him.
I think Wenger would be equally at home some place like upstate New York. That also puts the team's training within easy reach of New York, Boston, Philly, Montreal and Toronto which would be a nice feature.
Logically it makes sense but Wenger is a man set in his ways....
akindele12
24 Jul 2009, 08:09 AM
No:)
Rewinder
24 Jul 2009, 08:19 AM
Wenger may like Austria, but if the club needs to make a few million in the summer by coming to the U.S, he will do it.
A 12 hour trip to Asia is disruptive in more ways than just the flight time. A 5 hour trip to NY/Boston/DC is hardly any more disruptive to preparations than a trip to Kiev/Moscow for a CL tie.
ArsenalTexan3
24 Jul 2009, 08:49 AM
HAving remembered this arguement a few years ago, Wenger won't do it unless forced. Part of the reasoning with Austria is it is usually easier to deal with new signings(paper work, medical, getting him to training) than say Asia/North America.
I'm against it, but I won't throw a fit if it does happen. You know, maybe they can train in Colorado.
SKP10
24 Jul 2009, 09:30 AM
go 2 korea!!
HomeatHighbury
24 Jul 2009, 09:37 AM
go 2 korea!!
Umm...no.
Austrian papers here at the moment were reporting that this current preseason where some of us are was a last second decision, with the original destination supposedly in China.
GriffinGunner
24 Jul 2009, 09:45 AM
So long as they don't do some gawd-awful expansive tour that wrecks the players, I won't object. I think the lesson learned from Austria is pick a modets location and generally stay put for the training period. Thus, like Anti suggested, coming to the States shouldn't mean flying across all 48 but simply hugging the northeast (or so).
Val1
24 Jul 2009, 09:54 AM
There's a lot of things I've been critical about re Wenger, but his choice of training camps is not one of them. I'd love to see an Arsenal game or two here on the East Coast, but if he'd move to make money, it would be for a preseason tour like the ones Chelsea and AC Milan are on right now. And I don't want "big" games like that played in the preseason. The players' time off is miniscule as it is, and if we were to play Chelsea, you never know when Essien will hurt someone or Mikel will stomp on someone's head.
deaner1971
24 Jul 2009, 09:59 AM
The players' time off is miniscule as it is, and if we were to play Chelsea, you never know when Essien will hurt someone or Mikel will stomp on someone's head.
Yeah, because players don't get hurt in training so clearly it is only the games you need to worry about...:D
Rewinder
24 Jul 2009, 10:05 AM
Bottom line is we need to make more money (transfers aside) as our books haven't been looking too hot lately, and it will be a while until we can renegotiate our sponsorship deals.
A compromise has to be made between doing what we like to do, and doing what we need to do as far as the business side is concerned.
gunner7
24 Jul 2009, 10:35 AM
I disagree. They should setup camps in the West Coast and start touring all of California. :D
Edit: I'm talking to the people who say it should be in the East Coast
louis09
24 Jul 2009, 10:55 AM
West coast already has Cheski, Leave the Gunners on the east Coast and you can always travel east which is a faster flight then heading West.
phishy
24 Jul 2009, 11:06 AM
i put no, but if it is a massive cash cow (which i think it is), then the answer would be yes.
couldnt we use the massive gate?
HighburyGoon
24 Jul 2009, 11:46 AM
I'm really torn on this, as I'd of course love to see the team in my own backyard. However, is it really the best decision for the players' development? I'm not so sure.
Scally
24 Jul 2009, 12:07 PM
However, is it really the best decision for the players' development? I'm not so sure.
Where is the evidance against it? Man U and Chelski havnt faired out badly from traveling in pre-season.
thebigman
24 Jul 2009, 12:10 PM
definite no
id rather the players stayed close to home ish and prepared themselves here rather than fly to america/asia and play in boiling heat when they are getting fitness back