Soccer America lists the training schedules for all of the MLS teams. All but United are including an overseas (or at least south of the border) stint. Does anyone share my thinking that playing foreign teams is a better warm up than trying to pick up scrimmages here in the States? Of course, I guess the guys would see Spring in Florida with the baseball teams as being better than Argentina, South Africa, Portugal or Spain???? CHICAGO FIRE March 16-: Overseas training. COLORADO RAPIDS Guadalajara, Mexico. March 31-April 4 COLUMBUS CREW Portugal. Feb. 28-March 2: DALLAS BURN March 10-27: South Africa. KANSAS CITY WIZARDS Feb. 4-16: South Africa LOS ANGELES GALAXY Feb. 14-March 1: La Manga, Spain (La Manga Cup). METROSTARS March 15-27: Buenos Aires, Argentina. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION Feb. 10-24: Overseas training trip. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES Feb. 14-March 1: La Manga, Spain (La Manga Cup). D.C. UNITED Jan. 30-Feb. 10: Washington, D.C.. Feb. 11-20: Ft. Lauderdale. Feb. 24-March 2: Washington, D.C.. March 3-13: MLS Spring Training (Sunrise, Fla., Hilton). March 15-26: Washington, D.C.. March 27-29:
Really all depends on the teams involved. If these are third division clubs wouldn't the equivalent here be Richmond or AU college guys? Why spend the money? K
Probably most of those overseas stints are against Div 1 teams. I know the two S African trips are. But then you have to factor in jet lag. For instance take C-bus going to Portugal for what 3 days? Sounds silly. Ultimately you have to ask- what are the trips for exactly? Most of the trips aren't long enough for the team to get used to a high level of competition and are more to see what various players do when under pressure all of a sudden. I guess that's useful, but most coaches should already know how their players do in a serious game- which these exhibition tours aren't. All in all though, if United were to go to So Africa, I'd be there in a second.
They didn't go abroad last spring - while most other MLS teams did - and look how well that turned out.
So this is your data point? Ludicrous. What about prior to the 2000 season when they went to Bermuda and Bolivia...didn't exactly pan out then either. And for the record, DC United went abroad to play Communicaciones in a HIGHLY competitive environment prior to last season (as you MAY recall). That had little positive effect on the season either. Tim
I remember from last year something like it was cheaper for NE to play pre-season in Brazil and Colorado in Portugal than it was for them to stay in Florida to train. I was shocked at the time, but apparently it's actually cheaper to travel and train outside the US than it is to travel inside the country. I also think it gives teams a chance to bond. When thrown together in a foreign country all in the same hotels, meals together, etc. it's good for a team to come together. It also gives teams exposure to different styles of play and makes them approach training with a different mental approach. Playing A-league etc. might be similar in level of play, but not in the way the players treat the opponent. No MLS starter really gears up all out for an A-league scrimmage. However, given DC's recent history of difficulties playing overseas, food poisoning in Bolivia, broken nose and heinous refereeing in Honduras, maybe staying at home isn't such a bad idea. Might be too soon to throw the all those egos in close proximity caged up in a foreign hotel too!
On the other hand, you are giving the MLS maxium exposure, you're able to scout outside of your league and you're promoting team unity. You can just as easily get a broken nose or food poisoning in Florida. Any naysayers when the time to go to Leverkusen comes around?