Fergie Bows to critiscm. He's sending the stars out to the US tour.

Too little too late for those of us in Chicago that got hosed by ChampionsWorld,Man Utd. and the poor balls boys who got ignored by Nike!

 

How did Man Utd hose them. It was Championsworld. How the frig did they know that Van Nistlerooy and company were coming

 

This mentality mystifies me. I didn't even buy a ticket, but to me your statement is very shortsighted.

1. There were numerous ads on tv about Champions World bringing in world class teams for world class competition between some of the planet's greatest players that just isn't seen in this country.

2. ManU debunks this entire predication by showing up with a team full of reserve players, most of whom won't see the bench for the first team come the new season, and no big name strikers.

So fans who a) saw the Champions World advertising b) remembered the great games and exciting ManU team from last year and c) see teams like Liverpool with their big guns put on a show....are to blame????

I'll answer the question for you...no, the fans are not to blame. The blame lies with either Champions World, ManU, or both. My money is on ManU. Fergie is now calling in some of his big guns, so obviously he sees the error, even if reluctantly, of the very argument you propose.

 

How the hell did it get Man Utd's fault. The reason that he is bringing the big players is to save face because of the advertising of Championsworld.

 

Its completely ChampionsWorlds' fault.

People who blame those who actually went to the first 2 matches for not "understanding" that it was a pre-season match have every right to be a little pissed. However, not supporting these matches really isn't an option. If you want to see Soccer "succeed" in the US, then in some way, shape, or form, you have to support this tour (this is more toward those jilted MLS fans who attended on the 25th on 28th), imagine if instead of 58K there was 22K or 27K. That'd be a bit disappointing. And possibly, there won't be any return engagements in the future, because of the low 20sK turn-out.

But that said SAF has every right to rest his squad. Its just a very unfortunate situation. There should be some sort of restitution for the people who attended the matches on the 25th and 28th.

 

simply put there's no way that Man Utd should have undertaken a tour overseas in an offseason that there were Copa America and Euros going on. the players need a rest, so with that in mind, rest them up and don't promise something you can't deliver on.
I'm glad I didn't go to Chicago and pay big money to watch the reserves. If you went to the UK would you expect to pay the same price to watch the reserves as the 1st team?

 

Yes, Yes, it's obviously advertised as being a big deal and worth spending big bucks. But McDonalds plays off their burgers as being the tastiest things you've ever had. Does that mean they decieved you when you buy one and realize that it's just ok? And maybe the marketing for the matches did go beyond that. It very well may have. It's 2004; if you've haven't figured that the point of advertising is to pretty things up you're in for a long life with little money in your wallet.

Even if the advertising promised things they knew they couldn't deliver, I still feel there is responsiblity on the individuals part to realize it's a preseason kick about. Even if RvN, Saha and others show up, so what? I think it's silly the shell out that kind of money just to see Keane or Giggsy joggin' around the pitch trying to sharpen their skills but more so just making sure not to get hurt. I guess I feel like someone paid big bucks to go see a Carling Cup and complained because Fletcher was runnin' the show from the middle of the field. What did you expect? Even SAF himself commented on it being "a good workout". When did you last hear that said about a competative match?

 

Last year, Ruud van Nistelrooy played in Champions World. This year, Champions World featured Ruud in its advertisements. Yes, it would seem reasonable to expect him to play.

 

I actually do remember my first big mac. I wanted to see what the fuss was all about I suppose and after I ate it I thought something like "ya, that was nothing special" so I didn't have another until years later. I'd been had. it looked nothing like the ads. but it was only $2 or something like that, certainly cheaper than anything else around at the time.

now, if I ever do pay $10 for a burger it'd better be the tastiest I've ever had or else I'll be pissed.

 

Think of Chicago as an 'out of town tryout.' ---

New York's chilling, Jersey's chilling,
What more can we say -- Top Billing!

 

Bottom line:

Champions World was extrememly misleading in their adversting and should pay in some way for it.

Man Utd knew they had Euro 2004 and the Olympics coming up this summer. I'm not sure if they knew about Copa or not. Safe to say if you have some of the top players in world they are going to be busy with these International tournaments. If Man Utd's highest priority was rest and fitness for their players, they would not have scheduled a Chump World Tour and the Vodaphone Cup the same summer as Euro and the Olympics. Clearly the motivation was to expand their brand in the US to make more $$$.

 

Not surprisingly this is no longer on ChampionsWorld's website:

For two weeks during the Summer of 2003, the eyes of the soccer world were focused on America, watching as team after team of superstars entertained legions of fans in the United States.

The inaugural ChampionsWorld Series brought some of the biggest names in soccer to America last summer for a two-week stretch of games that was viewed by more than 420,000 fans in seven cities. Manchester United, Celtic, Juventus, AC Milan, Barcelona, Boca Juniors, Club America. The roster of teams read like a Who's Who of world soccer powers. And the teams didn't disappoint, fielding their best players in matches that were filled with exciting goals, remarkable flair, and unbelievable atmosphere.

From the opening kick at Seattle's Seahawks Stadium on July 22, through the final whistle in Philadelphia, the 2003 ChampionsWorld Series was filled with memorable moments. Who can forget Ruud van Nistelrooy scoring in each of Manchester United's four games, or Ronaldinho's Barcelona debut against Italy's Serie A champions Juventus? What about the legion of dedicated Celtic supporters, who brought all the color and excitement the Scottish Premier League to the stands in Seattle and Cleveland? And were you among the record crowd of more than 79,000 to witness Tim Howard win the starting goalkeeper job at Man Utd?

Charlie Stillitano, the Chief Executive Officer of ChampionsWorld, planned and developed the ChampionsWorld Series in order to bring the best teams in the world to play in North America's greatest venues. And the vision that was brought to life in 2003 will again be realized in 2004, on an even grander scale. This year The ChampionsWorld Series will feature even more of the best teams and players, with more games in more cities.

So get ready. This summer ChampionsWorld will again deliver the best of the best - great teams with great tradition and exciting players with unbelievable skill - coming soon to a stadium near you!

 

agreed.

In any case, sending out Ruud, Scholes, etc is a big mistake. Fergie had his reasons for keeping them behind, and he's always been right on the money with his decisions.

 

I'm going to focus first on your position --- "it's the fans fault that they were disappointed with the game." Factoring in the blatant advertising, last year's successful tour, and other teams bringing in big name players there is no way that a fan who purchased a ticket for the event is going to envision that ManU was going to play its scrubs. If Fergie had brought in his big guns and had them simply "jog around" as you put it, at least he would have satisfied the "great players" part. He brought reserve team guys. This is clearly not what was advertised to the public.

And yes, believe it or not, advertisers do have some responsibility to back their ads with their product. Saying "our hamburgers are the greatest" is totally subjective. It's completely a matter of opinion. Saying that the fans will see ManU in action only to fill the team with scrubs that have never played for ManU or any other champion quality team in a competitive match is underhanded and deceptive. Nothing subjective about it. Show me one person who knows anything about ManU who can say the team that faced Bayern Munich is the team that participated in the Premiership and Champions League last season or will be the team competing in the upcoming season and competitions.

This concept has absolutely nothing....nothing....to do with "it's preseason so we're going to take it easy." Guys pushing this argument are barking up the wrong tree. This has everything to do with a fan base being misled by someone or some organization.

 

Oh come one nuff moaning. If in one year 3 of those are first teamers, y'all be like "woah i saw Eagles live bleh bleh".

 

Perhaps try to address the argument? Once again...wrong tree.

 

Good point.

 

NOw if you're going to argue that RvN was advertised and they didn't bring him, fine, that just isn't right. The promoters refer to him. And they implied pretty strongly that the same players that played in last year's tour would be playing again. Fair enough, that is a very good point.

 

I disagree. They have every right to tour. And many of us would be glad to see players we don't get to see often.

I do agree that it should never have been promoted as a 1st team venture.

 

The tail doesn't wag the dog.

 

How did anyone get the idea that RVN, Saha, Scholes and Silvestre are gonna join up for the Milan Game, thats never gonna happen. RVN and Saha are gonna stay behind, I understand leaving Ruud behind, but why leave Saha behind? I mean, he was rarely featured for France, and they were knocked out on June 25th, thats a month ago, he can at least play one half. I agree that it wont be fair to those who went to see Man U against Celtic and Bayern, but to uphold his and the club's reputation, its only fair that SAF brings in at least two more players. (here's something I don't understand...SAF decides to leave so many players behind, and you got Chelsea and Liverpool who brought along all their great players, they even brought Baros along, I know for fact that he worked harder than Saha did in Portugal ) As for me, i'll be at Giants stadium on Saturday, hoping I wont see the ManU side from the previous two games.

GLORY GLORY MAN UTD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I dont see Euro 2004 as a good excuse. Afterall, I have seen Baros play for Liverpool.

 

Baros didn't play the full season did he?
the fact is that players that have played most/all of the regular season and then were in Euro 2004 or Copa America this summer need a break. I don't know what the physios recommend but I'd imagine that a min 4 week break would be necessary to prepare them for the upcoming season.

 

Promoters dont care about Down Time to Stars unless of course it is their own personal vacations. The promoters made a gazillion dollars last year and were licking their lips waiting for this years Tour. Huge stadia, huge crowds, big bucks. To them players are product. They will cowtow and brown nose all the way to the bank AS LONG as that product performs for them.

ManU should have said no, not this year, thanks. Chelsea needs to be there. They need to promote themselves as team with world class talent. So does Liverpool. Neither were there last year I dont think. SAF should have taken the lads to Scandinavia, eaten lots of fish and oiled up the machine for a run at the Title.

All he has done by coming to the States this year is to parade the the team colours around sans team. Of course SAF has seen some race horses for sure and perhaps even bought a few while seeing the kids perform on a "Big Stage". Now they are comfortable with 55,000 fans booing them off the pitch.

Is there anything beyond the stipend from the promotion deal in it for these teams? Such as $40,000per player if you win and Zero if you lose. Big Stars like to play for Big Money. And Big Money is the American Way isnt it? Put up a BIG PRIZE.