US Tour 2015

[Raptori]

Just saw this on the twitter feed, surely worth a thread.

I can definitely see this giving us a much better start to the season next year, and it'd make it easier for any summer signings to integrate and learn the system. Good decision all round if true.

 

[RedMachine03]

Premier League is starting from August 8th this year, so it makes sense to finish the preseason a week earlier

 

[Sied]

If LVG thinks it'll noticeably help us hit the ground running in the PL then I'm all for it. We certainly didn't at the start of this season and presumably he, at least in part, blames the pre-season tour for that.

I'd be curious to know how much this decision will cost us financially though.

 

[Pexbo]

If you want any proof of the respect and power Louis is afforded it's right there.

The tours are traditionally a cash cow world profile raising exercise rather than a footballing warm up. It says a lot that the Glazers would forfeit this in the name of football.

 

[Thisistheone]

Good news. Less time travelling, more time training and preparing for a title challenge.

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

The tournament is played all over America but this time the promoters have essentially allowed United to choose their own venues as they are so desperate to have England’s most famous club in it.

We are the biggest club in the world

 

[JustAFan]

Last summer LvG was busy with the World Cup so got a late start with the team. This is a good idea, more time working with the squad, being close with Woodie to work on transfers (yes modern technology is wonderful but nothing beats face to face). I am from the US, so it is great when the team comes for a visit. I am sure our African and Asian fans feel the same way. But there has to be a limit, some of the distances involved are ridiculous.

 

[Pexbo]

We are the biggest club in the world

It's like that bit where Smiths all like "get over here m8" and Neo's like "nah m8 u com 2 me" and Smiths like "yeh ok I'll be over in a sec".

 

[Sir A1ex]

Less time travelling

I want more of that not less - then we could go back and tell them never to appoint Moyes!

 

[Thisistheone]

I want more of that not less - then we could go back and tell them never to appoint Moyes!

Ha! What might have been, hey?

 

[SonnyTheHaloPro]

I don't think the distance involved in the summer tour has any bearing on a title challenge or not. We've won 5 titles in 7 years under Fergie whilst travelling some long ass distances. We didn't beat Swansea, Sunderland and Burnley in our opening 3 matches because of the 3-5-2 and the fact that we just wasn't good enough, not because of the summer tour.

 

[Acole9]

Good news if true. Last year seemed a bit too long really.

 

[marlowe78]

It is too much travel and there will be plenty of travel when (if) we make Europe next season.

I live in New York and quite honestly I never was able to see the team play, the matches were always 'somewhere else' that I couldn't get to. For the life of me, I don't understand why they haven't played in New York City when there are so many United fans here.

There was a match down in New Jersey (south of us) that wasn't too far but I couldn't get there. So for me, they might as well stay in England until I can get over there for a game.

 

[bigredmachine]

I honestly hope that they are based out of Seattle for the summer.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I honestly hope that they are based out of Seattle for the summer.

How hot will it be up there? Also will they be sharing the facilities with the Seahawks as they will be back in training as well or do they do the old spring training things like baseball and go off to Florida etc?

 

[marcomanmufc]

If LVG thinks it'll noticeably help us hit the ground running in the PL then I'm all for it. We certainly didn't at the start of this season and presumably he, at least in part, blames the pre-season tour for that.

I'd be curious to know how much this decision will cost us financially though.

Well, i guess last season outside the games in the Guinness Cup, we only played 1 game in America vs LA Galaxy in the Chevrolet Cup...i hate the names of the competitions btw!

This year, we'll be playing in the same competition and again play a max of 4 games 3 group and 1 final. When we come back to the UK i can see us adding another home pre season game on top of the 1 we played last year vs Valencia.

Basically we'd end up playing the same number of games, so can't see that we'll lose too much financially.

Only question i guess is if we'd be able to sell out stadiums in the same region 4 times in America.

Would just love to know how much we make net of costs from these trips abroad. Can't imagine it would even be a 10th of what we'll be making from Adidas per year, so maybe thats why LVG's got his way...

 

[SirAF]

I usually love the commercialism surrounding the club (definitely in the minority here!), but I think this is a very good call by LvG. The schedule last summer was just crazy, back and forth over there.

Also, as someone pointed out, it shows how much power van Gaal has been given (as the manager should have) which is why I doubt we'll see a Barcelona/Bayern style fallout any time soon.

 

[MZX7]

It is too much travel and there will be plenty of travel when (if) we make Europe next season.

I live in New York and quite honestly I never was able to see the team play, the matches were always 'somewhere else' that I couldn't get to. For the life of me, I don't understand why they haven't played in New York City when there are so many United fans here.

There was a match down in New Jersey (south of us) that wasn't too far but I couldn't get there. So for me, they might as well stay in England until I can get over there for a game.

Do you live in NyC? I do and if you couldn't get to New Jersey from there then you have yourself to blame.

 

[Rams]

I usually love the commercialism surrounding the club (definitely in the minority here!), but I think this is a very good call by LvG. The schedule last summer was just crazy, back and forth over there.

Also, as someone pointed out, it shows how much power van Gaal has been given (as the manager should have) which is why I doubt we'll see a Barcelona/Bayern style fallout any time soon.

It does certainly look like Louis got what he wanted.

 

[pigface]

It is too much travel and there will be plenty of travel when (if) we make Europe next season.

I live in New York and quite honestly I never was able to see the team play, the matches were always 'somewhere else' that I couldn't get to. For the life of me, I don't understand why they haven't played in New York City when there are so many United fans here.

There was a match down in New Jersey (south of us) that wasn't too far but I couldn't get there. So for me, they might as well stay in England until I can get over there for a game.

30 minute bus ride from the Garden is not that far

 

[JustAFan]

Well, i guess last season outside the games in the Guinness Cup, we only played 1 game in America vs LA Galaxy in the Chevrolet Cup...i hate the names of the competitions btw!

This year, we'll be playing in the same competition and again play a max of 4 games 3 group and 1 final. When we come back to the UK i can see us adding another home pre season game on top of the 1 we played last year vs Valencia.

Basically we'd end up playing the same number of games, so can't see that we'll lose too much financially.

Only question i guess is if we'd be able to sell out stadiums in the same region 4 times in America.

Would just love to know how much we make net of costs from these trips abroad. Can't imagine it would even be a 10th of what we'll be making from Adidas per year, so maybe thats why LVG's got his way...

It probably is not just what you make on the tour but new fans you generate as well plus making sure you keep in touch with the existing ones. Plus it helps the sponsors justify the costs of their spending.

 

[JustAFan]

Do you live in NyC? I do and if you couldn't get to New Jersey from there then you have yourself to blame.

Even if he lives elsewhere in New York State if you can get to NYC you can get to New Jersey

 

[MZX7]

Even if he lives elsewhere in New York State if you can get to NYC you can get to New Jersey

Exactly. Maybe he got caught up with something...

 

[NWOntario]

Even if he lives elsewhere in New York State if you can get to NYC you can get to New Jersey

I've driven from Toronto to New Jersey multiple times for United pre-season friendlies

 

[Keeps It tidy]

The only stadium in New Jersey that would have a friendly is the Meadowlands(ok maybe Rutgers Stadium which is not that far away either) and it is right over the bridge.

 

[MZX7]

The only stadium in New Jersey that would have a friendly is the Meadowlands(ok maybe Rutgers Stadium which is not that far away either) and it is right over the bridge.

Doesn't the Red Bulls stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, hold friendlies? That's right off the path station!

 

[Keeps It tidy]

Doesn't the Red Bulls stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, hold friendlies? That's right off the path station!

Yeah but only has a capacity of 25,000. United would more than likely want a bigger stadium.

 

[MZX7]

Yeah but only has a capacity of 25,000. United would more than likely want a bigger stadium.

I really hope I can catch a pre-season friendly this time! I'll pick the nearest destination and fly there if it has to be done! And I really hope, all our star players show up for the game!

 

[Insanity]

Doesn't really matter. For the players it's about getting their fitness and rhytm back. Big tours never stopped Fergie from winning league titles in the past. They augmented our profile and helped us become the commerical juggernaut we currently are.

However, every manager has his own preferences. If VG thinks that this will help the team prepare better for the season then excellent.

 

[Bwuk]

Good. I've always found it ridiculous that they are travelling around the world for stupid friendlies. Yes, it makes us a great deal of money, and let's foreign fans watch United, but I don't think the travel is good for them. The standard of opposition on some of the friendlies of the past has been beyond poor as well.

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

Just saw this on the twitter feed, surely worth a thread.

I can definitely see this giving us a much better start to the season next year, and it'd make it easier for any summer signings to integrate and learn the system. Good decision all round if true.

Only if any new signings are on board before the season starts - which doesn't seem to happen much for us, we seem to prefer to do our business late in the window.

We may also have two UCL Qualifier games before the start of the season.

 

[Raptori]

Only if any new signings are on board before the season starts - which doesn't seem to happen much for us, we seem to prefer to do our business late in the window.

We may also have two UCL Qualifier games before the start of the season.

Judging by the rumours swirling around, we've already sorted out most of the transfer business we'll be doing this summer. Would be great to actually get it all done really early for once!

 

[Mali_Zeus]

Very good decision.

 

[Mali_Zeus]

Judging by the rumours swirling around, we've already sorted out most of the transfer business we'll be doing this summer. Would be great to actually get it all done really early for once!

I hope that's true.

 

[Cooksen]

Hurry up and come back to Australia.

Please LVG its not that far.

 

[Drifter]

Great news .Really don't see the benefit in these American tours. Apart from maybe tying up another sponsorship deal.

 

[Loublaze]

Great news! I get to see United again

 

[77]

Hope it's Seattle again, always have a great time when we play there.

 

[Señor]

Time to defend our International Champions Cup. They don't hand that to just anybody, you know?

 

[IBleedRed]

Yeah but only has a capacity of 25,000. United would more than likely want a bigger stadium.

United played there a few years ago