22 Mar 2016 21:40:12
I just wondered what peoples views were on this pre season competition where we play Leicester, Barcelona, and Inter Milan.
With the Champions league qualifiers around the same time isn't it putting an unnecessary burden on the manager and players? .

1.) 22 Mar 2016
22 Mar 2016 22:39:56
We have to make sure we're in the qualifications first.

2.) 22 Mar 2016
22 Mar 2016 23:04:03
If i recall correctly, Ronny cancelled pre-season trips in his first/ second year and it didn't make a massive impact to us.

I hope its not the only time we will see Barcelona and the likes in the flesh this year! 😁

Happy for Celtic to be included and to travel to watch.

3.) 23 Mar 2016
23 Mar 2016 08:18:56
If we can hold our own in these games then it might give the players the belief that they're good enough to beat whoever we get in the qualifiers because, personally, I think it's more of a mentality issue than a talent one and this could prove to be the way to resolve it. Or it could go the other way if Barcelona tgive us a tanking lol.

4.) 23 Mar 2016
23 Mar 2016 12:38:11
I don't really think of them as a burden. If players don't need to play or even travel to them, then don't. It'll be good game time for those that do though. It'll go two ways really won't it; we qualify and they're great, we don't and it was a bad call.

5.) 23 Mar 2016
23 Mar 2016 13:03:49
Can't even look that far ahead at the moment; just want to get this God-awful International break out the way and see if we can find any sort of form or consistency for the run-in, with two trophies.
The way we have been playing this season, shows we have a lot of work to do and a few personnel changes required to achieve any sort of decent level and hopefully we can wrap-up five in a row, regain the Cup and then talk about next season with a bit more confidence.
At present, we are struggling to beat very mediocre opponents never mind Barcelona and Inter Milan and instead of arranging glamour friendlies, Lawell should be focussed on matters closer to home.

6.) 23 Mar 2016
23 Mar 2016 13:22:06
One is at Celtic park ( Leicester) and one is in Dublin (Barcelona) so we won't be travelling to far for those, the other one is in Europe.

7.) 23 Mar 2016
23 Mar 2016 13:22:46
I think it's brilliant. We're getting paid, raising the profile of the club, even the perception, which is the most important thing in our situation. We get to play against top players which should help us for Europe. One game is at Celtic Park, one is in Ireland, the final one is definitely in Europe, what do we want? I think it's perfect, I'm the first to slate Lawwell because of the transfers, and the mystery that is John Park, purely because none of them take ownership and we simply don't know what Ronny has control over, but he's done well with this. Even things like sponsorship - New Balance will be delighted, it's 2 American guys that run the tournament, so it's more exposure, potentially more networking etc etc. I honestly think it's idiot proof! We can still have our pre-season at Lennoxtown if we want, I'm actually amazed we got to play Leicester at home as part of a really prestigious tournament, - this is all so good I actually can't get over its actually my team I'm talking about! Still the main problem is and always will be the manager and the players standing up and doing the club and fans justice!

8.) 23 Mar 2016
23 Mar 2016 13:51:22
Fair point that JJ2!

9.) 23 Mar 2016
23 Mar 2016 14:20:06
Not too bad . if it had been two separate trips to America different. but it's 1 home 1 Dublin and somewhere tbc europe . how does this tourney operate.

10.) 23 Mar 2016
23 Mar 2016 17:11:20
To be strictly accurate R D cancelled widespread travelling last season, the first season he complained about the distance the team was travelling . I hope Dublin isn't regarded as too far this year.