Prodigal Son
Manager
Got back at the weekend from two weeks in the Algarve and witnessed a number of UK teams warm weather training with the likes of Celtic,Sunderland,Middlesborough,Cardiff,MK Dons all having been there in recent times, and Bristol City training close to where I was staying.
It got me thinking why don't we do that ? I immediately thought we could not afford it but then I bumped into Rushden & Diamonds and even cash stricken Gillingham have been to La Manga.
Teams were training 3 times a day,playing each other and some local opposition. Thurrock,Braintree,Canvey,Chelmsford,etc combined with the hills of Gloucester Park and Club Kingswood just does'nt have the same appeal does it?
I do not read too much into pre-season, but wonder if a different approach is called for?
I went to a tornament involving Celtic,Middlesboro,Cardiff and a Portuguese team I can't spell, interesting stuff, but still very pre-season. Sat in the Boro section,zero singing, and even the 700+ Celtic made very little noise.
It got me thinking why don't we do that ? I immediately thought we could not afford it but then I bumped into Rushden & Diamonds and even cash stricken Gillingham have been to La Manga.
Teams were training 3 times a day,playing each other and some local opposition. Thurrock,Braintree,Canvey,Chelmsford,etc combined with the hills of Gloucester Park and Club Kingswood just does'nt have the same appeal does it?
I do not read too much into pre-season, but wonder if a different approach is called for?
I went to a tornament involving Celtic,Middlesboro,Cardiff and a Portuguese team I can't spell, interesting stuff, but still very pre-season. Sat in the Boro section,zero singing, and even the 700+ Celtic made very little noise.