The Pre-Season Thread

[JLC 13]

America might be the growing market...?

I thought football games have been going on in America for years. After all, in America football is not well followed as anticipated.

Perhaps, Chelsea may play a game of baseball & plenty of people will attend ?

What´s so important about this marketing ?

The players will be fed up, tired of playing so many games. Why not give them 2-3 weeks of well deserved rest ?

Americas football market is growing quite rapidly. MLS teams are starting to sell out all their games. Granted our stadiums are only built to hold 15-20 thousand people. However, from where football was in the US, it's quite an achievement. Chelsea coming to the states will only help the game grow here too.

[bushman 2,043]

Americas football market is growing quite rapidly. MLS teams are starting to sell out all their games. Granted our stadiums are only built to hold 15-20 thousand people. However, from where football was in the US, it's quite an achievement. Chelsea coming to the states will only help the game grow here too.

The football market in comparison to the population is pathetic & has been for decades.

Chelsea gets paid well for two training games in the US but I´d rather see the players resting in Tahiti.

[Mceachran 109]

I live in NYC and yes as a fan, I think the players should rest. But yes, as a fan, I scored two tix as soon as they were out there. I just wanna show mata some love. AND since Spain is playing Ireland in NYC two weeks after the Chelsea/City game, I'm hoping Juan will be straight chillen with me in NYC hahahaha

[bushman 2,043]

As all players are tired, emotionally drained, I hope, many bench players get to play here.

This season, surely left most of the players ready to take some time off football games.

[Fernando 6,585]

Will be going to the NYC with my family, should be fun!

I would like to see Lukaku with us, if he is available. After that, every player needs a rest, but I would not mind some of them coming in the second half for a cameo and applause from the crowd.

[whatthemata 249]

Daily Mail are reporting that Hazard is travelling with the squad.

[Jase 43,479]

Players traveling to US...23 players that include 19 senior players and just 4 youngsters.

http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3185406/title/blues-bound-for-america

Petr Cech

Hilario

Jamal Blackman

Paulo Ferreira

Cesar Azpilicueta

Branislav Ivanovic

Ashley Cole

Gary Cahill

David Luiz

Andreas Christensen

John Mikel Obi

Nathan Ake

Ramires

Frank Lampard

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Eden Hazard

Juan Mata

Yossi Benayoun

Marko Marin

Victor Moses

Oscar

Fernando Torres

Demba Ba

[JLC 13]

The football market in comparison to the population is pathetic & has been for decades.

Chelsea gets paid well for two training games in the US but I´d rather see the players resting in Tahiti.

Professional sports aren't as big here as college sports. That's why our market isn't good compared to our population. Our powerhouse college US football teams get upwards to 100 at stadiums that hold them compared to our professional US football teams which usually get around 80k which is the most popular sport here. Other professional sports in the US only get 20k people at their games. So english football starting to reach 15-20k people here is a huge step. While you may not see it as important, I see it as important for the GAME in the US. Not to mention more money for chelsea = better players to be brought in. I don't think the stars will play much, only through half time if that. It's for fun, and they'll enjoy playing the game for fun rather than for competition for once.

[Chelsea? 892]

Off topic, but how is Feruz doing?

[sainttourist 68]

Somebody knows is Rafa still with the squad for this two? Just wonder who step in if he is not.

[mybodyisready 155]

Rafa is still the manager.

Bit OT but why did we play so many games this season compared to other seasons? 2 cup replays, 2 games at CWC, 1 super cup, 1 community shield..Take those away and it'll be a 63 game season, which sounds reasonable for a standard season since we compete in 38 games in the epl, league cup, fa cup and champions league..

[Jase 43,479]

Pretty sure most of you, if not all, by now would know that we are having our next season's pre-season in Asia with 3 matches to be played in the continent.

1. vs Singha All-Stars - in Bangkok on 17th July at 2pm UK time.
2. vs Malaysia XI - in Kuala Lumpur on 21st July at 2.45pm UK time.
3. vs BNI Indonesia All Stars - in Jakarta on 25th July at 2pm UK time.

NOW news have come that we would also be playing in United States (again) in a 8-team International Champions Cup tournament along with AC Milan, Everton, Juventus, Inter Milan, LA-Galaxy, Real Madrid and Benfica (or Valencia) from 27th July to 8th August.

The news is yet to be announced by the club but Everton have done so.

Everton can confirm initial details of a glamorous pre-season tour to the USA.

The Blues are in line to face three of the biggest names in football during the three-city tour, which takes place at the end of July and beginning of August.

Everton will face three of the teams from this stellar list of participants as part of the International Champions Cup: Juventus, LA Galaxy, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Chelsea, Benfica and Real Madrid.

The first game will take place on Tuesday 30 July in San Francisco. The following Saturday, 3 August, will see the Blues play in Los Angeles, before a third match in Miami on either Tuesday 6 or Wednesday 7 August.

The list of potential opponents includes global megastars Real Madrid, Italian champions Juventus and their compatriots - star-studded heavyweights AC and Inter Milan.

Premier League rivals Chelsea are also on the possible list, alongside the team they recently defeated to secure the Europa League title - Portuguese giants Benfica.

America's own MLS champions LA Galaxy, boasting former Blue Landon Donovan, are also involved in the big-hitting US tournament.

Source: http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2013/05/25/everton-to-head-stateside

And here's the competition's website - http://internationalchampionscup.com/. Can find out more details (sort of) in them.

Everton said Benfica are participating in the tournament but the website says Valencia. And think it's Valencia as stated on their Twitter account.

Int Champions Cup ‏@IntChampionsCup

The 8 clubs will be @realmadrid @acmilan @intermilan @juventusfc @valenciacf @everton @chelseafc and @lagalaxy!

All in all, we are playing in this yet for more money. Already having our pre-season in Asia and now we facing these teams all the way in US. Flogging the players to death even before the season starts. Brilliant. Just brilliant!

P.S. Will post the club's announcement once they announced it.