from uefa.com: "FC Barcelona have confirmed that they will apply to enter this year's UEFA Intertoto Cup in an attempt to ensure they do not miss out on European football for the first time in their history." Because of their "wretched domestic season" and the probability of not qualifying for the next CL or UEFA cup tourneys, Barca is looking to play this summer in the Intertoto, which would disrupt their US tour. If this happens, how about giving MLS sides a shot? Juventus vs Revolution at Foxboro; ManU vs DCUtd at Lincoln Financial Field?
That would be nice but the people promoting the tour are going to snub MLS again in this and find another Euro team. I wish it weren't the case but I'm afraid until we start getting more respect, they won't arrange tours involving our own teams against the top Euro teams here. Sucks!!
Unfortunately, the Revs would only agree to play this game in England (with Man U putting up the airfare).
Screw Man U. No MLS side should agree to play them. Lets see how many fans MU draws for an intersquad scrimmage. I hope they lose their shirts.
The tour wasn't organised by Man Utd. They played Asian nobody teams they'd certainly never heard of a year or two ago on a tour without complaint, so the odds of the lack of an MLS representative in this tour being down to a 'snub' by Man Utd are negligible.
I would hope MLS brass is doing whatever they can to get involved in fighting this fire. Always good to explore an opportunity... I wouldn't hold my breath. For what planned to charge at the gate, I doubt any MLS team could be enough of a draw to sub in for Barca. Better for MLS if they just cancel it completely and stay home.
If Barcelona does cancel, just bring in the Barcelona of South America. No one will know the difference lol Seriously, make sure some MLS teams fill in for Barcelona, the way it should have been originally.
hah. And hotel costs too. Well - I guess this throws the doubleheader with the Man U v Barca game into some doubt. Too bad - it would have been a nice attendance padder. So if mighty Barca drop out so they can play in the prestigious Intertoto cup, I would hope that another "giant" can be brought in to placate the Man U marketing gods (so MLS can get that attendance padder) or the Revs can re-schedule and play Man U and maybe MLS can get a little direct attention from all this.
Don't jump ship on the Barça tour just yet. They are the strongest team in the Champions League right now (automatic bid next year if they win) and there are still 14-15 games left in the Spanish season. A lot is going to happen before this is actually decided, which probably won't be until May. The Intertoto is an insurance policy, so to speak, if Barcelona doesn't qualify for European competition through league play. I fully expect to see them here this summer.
Um, isn't Manchester United - FC Barcelona scheduled for Philadelphia? what doubleheader would they be having?
Those of us who worship the water Javier Saviola walks on would pay to watch him run around for 90 minutes all by himself.
And u want this to be played in Philadelphia? DC/Metro vs Man U. would be a smarter pick then the revs.
Something similar to this happened a few years back when AC Milan was supposed to come to town to play Benfica. Milan backed out and the last-second fill in was the Colombian national team. Didn't do a lot for the draw (I think about 35,000 showed up, whereas an AC Milan game might have drawn 50) but the crowd was great - very animated - and the game was good. Still, I've got my fingers crossed FCB shows up.
That's up to Champions' World; it's their show. ManU probably don't care who they play as long as the field is decent, the ball bounces and the check doesn't.
If that fails bring in Arsenal of Argentina or Ajax Cape Town. I won't bash Barca for playing in the intertoto. That should be embarrassment enough for them.
Major bummer, but I can completely understand Barca prefering to play Intertoto to touring in the US if they have to. Still early, but we'll see. However, the idea of having MLS teams fill in isn't a good one imho. The MLS teams are in the middle of their season, and most teams, with their small rosters, will be struggling with injury issues and such (seems everyone is at that time of the year). Fans of the MLS teams will be like "heck with this ManU match, it doesn't mean anything. We need Convey to rest up and heal himself for our match against LA." Or some similar sentiment.