Pre-season tour of Asia and Russia (July 23 to August 3)

[Kerry Dixon's Boots]

The pre-season is upon us!!!

I figured that, as we will have some actual football to talk about (finally), we should have a new thread outside of the general News and Transfer threads for the whole pre-season.

Over the course of these games Scolari will use the full squad and decide which system will work best. He has a history of adapting the formation to his players rather than vice-versa so we should get a few different looks to talk about.

The schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Friendly Match
Guangzhou Yiyao v Chelsea, 13:00

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Saturday, 26 July 2008
Friendly Match
Chengdu Blades v Chelsea, 13:00

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Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Friendly Match
Malaysia All-Stars XI v Chelsea,

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Friday, 01 August 2008
Friendly Match
Lokomotiv Moscow v Chelsea,

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Sunday, 03 August 2008
Friendly Match
Seville or AC Milan v Chelsea,

[Clan]

Drogba hasn't travelled, eh?

Hummm...I don't think I buy the whole 'recovering' story.
Not looking good for him to be with us in the coming season.

[L.G.S]

I just hope it isn't as awful as last pre season.

[Clan]

Anybody remember the days when we went to Scandinavia...and the club would actually go to great lengths to keep it quiet :)

[fernb8]

Anybody remember the days when we went to Scandinavia...and the club would actually go to great lengths to keep it quiet :)

didnt we also used to do a tour of the Low Countries as well?

[Clan]

didnt we also used to do a tour of the Low Countries as well?

Yup, the continent was the place, nobody did the Asian/African/American thing to any great length.

Shows how things have changed.

[chelseafutbol21]

Does anyone know if the games are going to be televised live in the US other than on Chelsea TV?

[Dear_Claudio]

Does anyone know if the games are going to be televised live in the US other than on Chelsea TV?Highly doubt it, internet streams will serve well.


Shevchenko and Anelka are our only traveling strikers? Is there a list of all the players going on the trip floating around?

[yasik19]

why can't they have gone to California again.

[adri]

Sunday, 03 August 2008
Friendly Match
Seville or AC Milan v Chelsea,
__________________

Ha!

[Bruckner283]

Drogba hasn't travelled, eh?

Hummm...I don't think I buy the whole 'recovering' story.
Not looking good for him to be with us in the coming season.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3846675,00.html
"Didier's future with Chelsea is normal because he has a contract with us," said Scolari. "I think he's very happy with Chelsea.

"I hope when we come back he'll be in good condition."

The fact that he leads with contract talk and not medical/how he is feeling talk leads me to believe you are correct.

[L.G.S]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3846675,00.html


The fact that he leads with contract talk and not medical/how he is feeling talk leads me to believe you are correct.

That means absolutely nothing.

[Kazuma]

China photos.

http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v295/247/81/1347405242/n1347405242_32681_156.jpg

http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v262/247/81/1347405242/n1347405242_32537_1991.jpg

http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v262/247/81/1347405242/n1347405242_32689_897.jpg

[Kazuma]

Cue the Hulk ending theme song for these two.

http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v295/247/81/1347405242/n1347405242_32749_5035.jpg

http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v295/247/81/1347405242/n1347405242_32741_2209.jpg

[fernb8]

I wish the club would release some type of roster FFS.

[adri]

I wish the club would release some type of roster FFS.
Drogba, Pizza, Belletti & Bem Haim stayed at home, all other 1st team players should be there. young lads? who knows.

[fernb8]

Drogba, Pizza, Belletti & Bem Haim stayed at home, all other 1st team players should be there. young lads? who knows.

Official site mentioned Hilaro in training today.

Still no word on Bridge (kind of obvious) or Malouda.

Sinclair and Cork are returning to Cobham after getting knocked out of the U19 WC this weekend.

[slipereypete]

Official site mentioned Hilaro in training today.

Still no word on Bridge (kind of obvious) or Malouda.

Sinclair and Cork are returning to Cobham after getting knocked out of the U19 WC this weekend.
I have seen both in various training photos.

[fernb8]

I have seen both in various training photos.

cheers so all are accounted for on the trip except for Cudi- who is most likely there

and the usual suspects- Pizza, TBH and Belletti were left behind...

[BridgeMonkee]

and the usual suspects- Pizza, TBH and Belletti were left behind...

Last summer we truly did buy a lot of dross [add Malouda to the list]. Some of us did mention it at the time . . .