30 Sep 2014 08:43:29
What do people make of these potential mid week friendlies?

Personally aslong as they have LvG's blessing then I don't have a problem with them as long as they aren't too far abroad as the travelling could become an issue.

As we have no european games this season and we are now out of the league cup that mean we have 32 league games left and however many we get in the FA cup. So maybe 40 games there or there abouts. A few more games to give some of the squad players a run out and try a few different tactics LvG might like to try out could be a good thing.

The only down side could be injuries or fatigue if the team had to travel to somewhere like america or asia.

So what does everyone else think?

1.) 30 Sep 2014
If players start getting injured then they can't happen.

2.) 30 Sep 2014
If the manager is on board then it is a no brainer. It should speed up the cohesiveness of the team and help give some of our fringe/youth players a chance to impress with a bit more pressure.

I agree with you Shappy that it will be difficult getting this right with fatigue, because the commercial aspect to this will be us travelling and not entertaining teams at Old Trafford.

It will also help with us being in Europe again next season, players not getting too used to going a week without travelling.

The benefits outweigh the negatives for me, but obviously there needs to be more details. Flying to China/Thailand/Korea would be ridiculous for example.

3.) 30 Sep 2014
Should also add it will be perfect for bonding on these types of trips with so many new faces coming in and youth coming through it can only help.

4.) 30 Sep 2014
Completely undermines the u21 league, I think it's stupid. We should be focusing on Saturdays game through the week, not building our image, we are a football club first and formost and the results should come first, I think we're losing that.

5.) 30 Sep 2014
30 Sep 2014 14:28:39
Anon, how does playing a friendly undermine the under 21 league?

Surely by giving some of our youngsters play with some of the senior players will be good for their development and for their intergration into the first team.

Secondly these games will be a chance for players such as Fletcher, Anderson, Valencia and Young ect to hve a run out and keep some match sharpness incase we need to call on them. Unless you'd rather these squad players play in the under 21's thus taking games away from our youngsters.

Also how does a mid week friendly distract from our league games? Surely it would be seen as a chance to try out different tactics we may want to use on the weekend game.

6.) 30 Sep 2014
I think friendlies are a waste of time, look at the international ones.
I though the one advantage of not being in the CL was that we would play less games and concentrate on the league.
For me it would be money orientated .

7.) 30 Sep 2014
Terrible idea. Agree with Anon, totally undermines the u21s. It's only purpose is to generate cash. The squad us half crippled as it is playing the minimum requirement. Everyone hates friendlies anyway.

8.) 30 Sep 2014
It takes money to make money nowadays and if we can give youth and fringe players more experience and improve the cohesiveness of the team as we do it then great.

We have to pay for all these wonder buys somehow and as we need yet more strengthening it makes sense only if LVG thinks it will benefit us football wise of course. Only if its a win win should it be done.

9.) 30 Sep 2014
I personally do not see the point. If it is for this season only then most big teams will be in European competition and will not want to play. Therefore it will no doubt be journeys to the States and it will all be about the money.
We should be putting all our efforts into securing at least UEFA cup qualification for next season; hopefully Champions League.

{Ed002's Note - That isn't the immediate plan but there maybe something done with Chevrolet or AON but there are few if money spinners in the United States - and I am aware of discussions the saw a major midweek constraint. More likely a money spinner against a Far East, possibly Japanese or Chinese team - possibly hosted in Dubai, UAE or Qatar or somewhere similar. Kaizer Chiefs from South Africa Club America in Mexico meets the demographic. Santos, Corinthians and Boca might be other considerations - but practicalities outside of South America might be an issue. An absolute outside option that will likely not work will be a post Christmas EPL game moved from a weekend to midweek to accommodate a weekend trip. It was raised but is not seen as viable.}

10.) 02 Oct 2014
I think it will be great for the team as the more game time for them, the more chemistry they build and get to know each others mentality on the field