Pre-Season games.

[DRFC-Hanksie]

Don't know if its early to post this. But a different forum i'm on, some clubs have already announced 2/3 of their pre-season fixtures.

Wouldn't it be good to have 2/3 games in Spain or Portugal for a change?

Opinions?

[Filo]

Spain or Portugal? MrFrost will surely know of someone that'll have dificulty getting tickets for those games

[roverstillidie91]

how about ireland??? in our history we have picked up some really good irish players with the irish manager we had so maybe we could spot a bargain or two?? just like reading did with kevin doyle. 70,000 or whatever they paid for him.

[MrFrost]

Filo wrote:

Spain or Portugal? MrFrost will surely know of someone that'll have dificulty getting tickets for those games

Can't resist can you?

[bedale rover]

roverstillidie91 wrote:

how about ireland??? in our history we have picked up some really good irish players with the irish manager we had so maybe we could spot a bargain or two?? just like reading did with kevin doyle. 70,000 or whatever they paid for him.

that was from cork city   who have all but ceased to be as they have been unable to pay off the debts they accrued for over spending in the recent past.........and selling players off on the cheap!

but would agree that to have a feeder club in the emerald isle would be helpful

[bedale rover]

ps

why am i buying the popular stand fanzine?

doesnt it come free to vsc members?

[irishcontingent]

bedale rover wrote:

roverstillidie91 wrote:

how about ireland??? in our history we have picked up some really good irish players with the irish manager we had so maybe we could spot a bargain or two?? just like reading did with kevin doyle. 70,000 or whatever they paid for him.

that was from cork city   who have all but ceased to be as they have been unable to pay off the debts they accrued for over spending in the recent past.........and selling players off on the cheap!

but would agree that to have a feeder club in the emerald isle would be helpful

No use at all. Look at any Irish under 21, under 19, under 17 team. ALL bar a few are already with English clubs, some even at places like MK Dons, Linclln City, Burton Albion.

Its a scouting network here thats needed, the better ones are already snapped up at an early age, so a feeder club would serve little purpose. Kevin Doyle and the like are the exception to the rule. Get in early , get the best available on schoolboy / apprentice forms and hope that 1 in 20 makes it.

[River Don]

Isn't there likely to be a glamour fixture against a Premiership 2nd team at the Keepmoat?

I'd like to see how we measure up against an Arsenal side, and hopefully forge a few more links there.

[DRFC-Hanksie]

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/6173367.jpg

Where we need to be going.

[VivaRovers]

Hamburg? Warum?

As others have said I think we can guarantee a game against a local side (as per Armthorpe and Rossington) in continuation of Sean O'Driscoll's community club beliefs. And similarly a home game against a Premier League side.

Beyond that expect a mismatch of Northern league and non-league teams. As welcome as a European tour would be, this is the norm isn't it?

If we're putting in personal requests a trip to play Worcester City would be lovely please.

[River Don]

It's only right and proper that we should maintain links with the local lower league sides, and it's exciting for them having the opportunity to play against quality Championship opposition. Maybe we could invite Leeds United or Sheffield Wednesday for a game?

[Wellington Vaults]

River Don wrote:

It's only right and proper that we should maintain links with the local lower league sides, and it's exciting for them having the opportunity to play against quality Championship opposition. Maybe we could invite Leeds United or Sheffield Wednesday for a game?

We may be lower league, but in the past few pre-seasons I've had trips to Berlin, Dublin and Edinburgh....and they all beat Retford, I can tell you!

[Wellington Vaults]

Wellington Vaults wrote:

River Don wrote:

It's only right and proper that we should maintain links with the local lower league sides, and it's exciting for them having the opportunity to play against quality Championship opposition. Maybe we could invite Leeds United or Sheffield Wednesday for a game?

We may be lower league, but in the past few pre-seasons I've had trips to Berlin, Dublin and Edinburgh....and they all beat Retford, I can tell you!

AND Belfast...those \"Irish\" cities just merge in the memory

[River Don]

It would be handy though, not to have to do all that traveling. Useful too, it would give you a good indication of how wide the gulf in class is between League 1 and the Championship.

And after all the best way to improve is to get some practice in against a higher standard opponent.

[BillyStubbsTears]

It's also be good practice for Leeds to come down to the KM and play in front of 10-12,000 or so.

Cos that's what'll they'll be doing at Elland Road next season.

[River Don]

MInd you, I'm not sure we could promise to put a first team out.

[NigelJ]

Hang on, don't the lower league clubs normally host the higher one?  

[PDX_Rover]

A tour of the Pacific Northwest would be ideal.  Start with an away game at the LA Galaxy, then north to the San Jose Quakes, ending up with games in Portland and Seattle.

Lovely jubbly.

[Wellington Vaults]

River Don wrote:

It would be handy though, not to have to do all that traveling. Useful too, it would give you a good indication of how wide the gulf in class is between League 1 and the Championship.

And after all the best way to improve is to get some practice in against a higher standard opponent.

Less of the navel-gazing, Old Boy.  Don't you realise that travelling broadens the mind?

A trip to Rosso may be cheap on the bus but it lacks the impact to enhance Donny's reputation for the promotion of cultural exchange.

[Lesonthewest]

I'm all for a nice long weekend in Scotland or down in Devon/Cornwall, think it would be really good for the players fitness!

[scarbrook]

York away.