Switzerland

Looks like we'll be spending our pre-season in the alps again http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/9073851.Swiss_tour_expected_for_Saints/?ref=rss

Sounds good to me, was decent last year. Hopefully they announce it a bit earlier this time. Only had a week to sort everything out last year.

Usain Bolt?? Seriously????

Usain Bolt?? Seriously????

Usain Bolt?? Seriously????

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/13708993.stm

Lovely I'm off to Basel this afternoon till 17th August. Went to see FC Thun game last year, will see where games are this year.

Mancsaint

Lausanne or Martigny would be handy for me, and perhaps they'll nip over the border into Italy. Mind you, think I'll be in the UK!

We laugh now, but when Bolt scores a quadruple hat-trick against Basel we won't be complaining!

If anyone finds any trip flights let me know presume the dates are going to be mid July sometime just need to know where the games are now please.

This makes me laugh, Wolves are going to Ireland for a TRAINING CAMP (so no matches) yet are still running a travel package for their fans - http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/WolvesTravel/0,,10307~2373434,00.html

why would you go over there to watch them train?

This makes me laugh, Wolves are going to Ireland for a TRAINING CAMP (so no matches) yet are still running a travel package for their fans - http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/WolvesTravel/0,,10307~2373434,00.html

 

why would you go over there to watch them train?

I'll go if you pay for my ticket

why would you go over there to watch them train?

Guinness, bit of fishing, playing the tin whistle?

Good news - more jumping off bridges into gushing sub-zero rivers and lots of wrong-sized, poorly set-up bicycles to ride around on to exercise muscles. (;

Bit disappointing that its Switzerland again, not the most exciting of venues. Hopefully this time they do a game at a "proper" ground and maybe release the details with as much notice as possible. And before anyone says anything, I know, the point of pre-season tours is not to entertain fans.............

Bit disappointing that its Switzerland again, not the most exciting of venues. Hopefully this time they do a game at a "proper" ground and maybe release the details with as much notice as possible. And before anyone says anything, I know, the point of pre-season tours is not to entertain fans.............

then why are you disappointed then..

Thun was OK - a day trip for me and the Swiss Saints fans: hello again to the scientist I sat with in the main stand! Had a swim in the lake and a lunchtime beer in the lovely little town. What's not to like?

This makes me laugh, Wolves are going to Ireland for a TRAINING CAMP (so no matches) yet are still running a travel package for their fans - http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/WolvesTravel/0,,10307~2373434,00.html

 

why would you go over there to watch them train?

I would love us to go on a pre season tour of Ireland (and unlike Wolves actually play a few games), I was in Dublin when Villa were there last season, Temple Bar would be perfect for pre match drinks.

Quite fancy this.

Bit of an update from one of my more clued up pals: http://www.fcbiel-bienne.ch/con/cms/front_content.php?idcat=3

"After many years of interruption with FC Biel on Wednesday, 13 July at 18:30 on the clock Gurzelen another international friendly game. Opponent, the English club Southampton FC, ​​which is just been promoted to the Football League Championship, the second highest national league. By their fans, the Saints' England were referred to by 2005 the Premier League before they alighted, and 2 after four seasons in the Even in the Football League Division One (third highest in league) appeared. From this they have now managed as a table in two of the re-emergence. In the Südengländern once played such famous luminaries as Martin Chivers (1962-68, later with Servette), Peter Osgood (1974-77), Alan Ball (1976-78 and 1981-82), the unforgettable 63-fold International and later national team coach Kevin Keegan (1980-82), the goalie legend Peter Shilton (1982-87) and Alan Shearer (1988-99). As references, they have a runner-up title in 1984 and an FA Cup winner-1976 exhibit (1-0 against Manchester United) as well as three FA Cupfinalteilnahmen (1999/00, 2001/02 and 2002/03)."

I like how good they make us look for a 4-year period at the turn of the century

I like how good they make us look for a 4-year period at the turn of the century

yeah they have got confused with our cup final appearances of 1900 and assumed it must be 2000! At least we know when one of the games will be for those planning to travel, shame Saints couldn't announce it as well.

yeah they have got confused with our cup final appearances of 1900 and assumed it must be 2000! At least we know when one of the games will be for those planning to travel, shame Saints couldn't announce it as well.

I think they're waiting for confirmation of the second game (assuming we're only playing two, like last year) before doing so, which makes sense, I think.

Biel is about 100km from Interlaken, where the team was based last year, looks quite easy to get to by train from there as well.

I'm glad we've learned our lesson from last year, where we took on teams who were far too good for us at that time, given Thun were 4 days away from the start of their season and in the top flight. Right at the start of pre-season, you don't really want to be playing against teams who are going to give you the run-around, IMO.

I asked my swiss mate at work about them and this is what he said:

"Mate – it’s a sh!t team in a sh!t place

Never liked the place or the people – mostly went for ice hockey as back in the days they were in lower divisions in football and better in ice hockey…was always a lively place (if you get what I mean) and still is right now in ice hockey – don’t know much about their football.

Basically in 2nd Swiss division right now. Think last year they beat FC Basel in the one of the rounds of the Swiss Cup, was one big achievement for them.

Yes game will be at their home ground

Town is a mixture of French and german speaking, nothing much to do there either, but not far from Bern.

That’s my opinion really…

"

I think they're waiting for confirmation of the second game (assuming we're only playing two, like last year) before doing so, which makes sense, I think.

 

Biel is about 100km from Interlaken, where the team was based last year, looks quite easy to get to by train from there as well.

 

I'm glad we've learned our lesson from last year, where we took on teams who were far too good for us at that time, given Thun were 4 days away from the start of their season and in the top flight. Right at the start of pre-season, you don't really want to be playing against teams who are going to give you the run-around, IMO.

FC Thun were playing in the group stages of the Champions league in 05

FC Thun were playing in the group stages of the Champions league in 05

True, although they had just won promotion back to the top flight a year ago, so had fallen away quite a bit in that time.

Any Surrey or London based saints intending on going drop me a message. Might take a little jaunt out there to offer my advice to Nigel and check out our new marquee signing(s) to replace Oxo.. At present return flights LGW to Basle are around £125 but until i know the fixtures and the dates/timings it could be better to fly/stay elsewhere and travel a bit round Swisserland...

If the game is on the Wednesday if there is another game, I presume it would be on the Saturday 16th July rather than the saturday before the Biel game?

If the game is on the Wednesday if there is another game, I presume it would be on the Saturday 16th July rather than the saturday before the Biel game?

Would expect so, that was the way it worked last year.

Lets hope it doesnt make them all too tired this year

I think I will wait until the full schedule is known but may well be up for this.

I think they're waiting for confirmation of the second game (assuming we're only playing two, like last year) before doing so, which makes sense, I think.

 

Biel is about 100km from Interlaken, where the team was based last year, looks quite easy to get to by train from there as well.

 

I'm glad we've learned our lesson from last year, where we took on teams who were far too good for us at that time, given Thun were 4 days away from the start of their season and in the top flight. Right at the start of pre-season, you don't really want to be playing against teams who are going to give you the run-around, IMO.

Totally disagree with this view. we won't learn a thing playing the likes of Sweden's under 16 lumberjacks, Eastleigh and Farnborough - waste of time as has been proved in previous years.

Totally disagree with this view. we won't learn a thing playing the likes of Sweden's under 16 lumberjacks, Eastleigh and Farnborough - waste of time as has been proved in previous years.

Nor will you learn anything by playing against opposition who will completely outplay you on both ability and fitness right from the outset, as happened in Switzerland last summer. What should be happening - and has generally always happened every pre-season other than last year - is that you build up the games against better opposition as the pre-season period progresses.

Totally disagree with this view. we won't learn a thing playing the likes of Sweden's under 16 lumberjacks, Eastleigh and Farnborough - waste of time as has been proved in previous years.

Don't forget we've also got pre season games against a prem team (45 mins), a la liga team (45 mins), West Brom (prem) and Yeovil (lge 1).

I'm with Steve on this, it's pointless playing teams that are ahead of us in terms ability and fitness this early in the summer.

Nor will you learn anything by playing against opposition who will completely outplay you on both ability and fitness right from the outset, as happened in Switzerland last summer. What should be happening - and has generally always happened every pre-season other than last year - is that you build up the games against better opposition as the pre-season period progresses.

This. Switezerland should be about fitness, team bonding etc. Not playing chase shadow against teams that will outplay us.

Nor will you learn anything by playing against opposition who will completely outplay you on both ability and fitness right from the outset, as happened in Switzerland last summer. What should be happening - and has generally always happened every pre-season other than last year - is that you build up the games against better opposition as the pre-season period progresses.

And when was the last time we had a decent start to a season? Training camp with a couple of games over in Switzerland to get the players back into it (don't overwork them...!) and then back home to face decent opposition. Personally I think it's a good pre-season setup so far.

With Phsio Nigel at the helm I don't see this having the same catastrophic results on team condition as last year.

The games in Switzerland were a bit silly last year, as people have said Thun were close to full match sharpness and Sochaux qualified for Europe in the French league this season so this time around lets hope it will be organised to suit our needs a bit more.

And with Nigel's medical/physio background I can't see Lambo (or anyone else) coming back with dodgy injuries.

Not really Switzerland related, but another pre-season update, Kettering away http://www.ketteringtownfc.co.uk/ probably a reserve side I'd guess.

probably a reserve side I'd guess.

No probably about it, the article says...

A Southampton XI

Saints have these games every summer for the reserves/development team/under 18's and people complain Saints aren't testing themselves.

The 1st team may well be in Switzerland then.

I doubt it, given the Biel game is on the 13th and then the Memorial Cup at St Mary's on the 23rd. Unlikely they'd then go back out to Switzerland after that...

I doubt it, given the Biel game is on the 13th and then the Memorial Cup at St Mary's on the 23rd. Unlikely they'd then go back out to Switzerland after that...

That'll teach him for trying to mug me off for using the word "probably" ha!

In all seriousness, bit of a strange choice to play Kettering rather than the usual local non-league sides. Maybe Crosby/Adkins as a contact there or maybe they just fancied getting some of the younger lads out on the road.

Ticket details (sort of) for the St Gallen game, cheaper than for their game against Dortmund, but still quite pricey for a pre-season match. https://fcsg-ticket.showare.ch/HallPlanNavigator.aspx?e=136

I spy...

Davis

Lambert

Fonte

Harding

Butterfield

Chaplow

Lallana

Holmes

Connolly

Forte

Forecast

Seaborne

Martin

Harvey

The eight others are hard to pick out.

 

I spy...

 

Davis

Lambert

Fonte

Harding

Butterfield

Chaplow

Lallana

Holmes

Connolly

Forte

Forecast

Seaborne

Martin

Harvey

 

The eight others are hard to pick out.

How on earth did you spot Chaplow?

 

I spy...

 

Davis

Lambert

Fonte

Harding

Butterfield

Chaplow

Lallana

Holmes

Connolly

Forte

Forecast

Seaborne

Martin

Harvey

 

The eight others are hard to pick out.

Ben Reeves in middle next to Chaplow and Jack Cork back left

Cork is at the back isnt he ?

You may well be right, but I think the image is unclear to be 100% about that so I left them out. Particularly as they are towards the back and looking down and backwards away from camera.

Maybe why Bialkowski isn't training...

 

I spy...

 

Davis

Lambert

Fonte

Harding

Butterfield

Chaplow

Lallana

Holmes

Connolly

Forte

Forecast

Seaborne

Martin

Harvey

 

The eight others are hard to pick out.

Bad move taking them to Switzerland, IMO. Poor feckers are going to be gutted when they have to swap that marvellous vista for Albion Towers and the rusty gas thing.

Anyone spot AOC in picture?!?