Pre-season match in Spain?

[FMBlade1]

Fixed it for you. They also charged £60 adults and £25 kids to get in. If that's what it takes to secure a deluxe friendly, then Scarborough is fine by me.

Respectfully disagree, I'd more than happily save and pay up to see the Blades play one of the best teams in footballing history with one of the best players in the world at Bramall Lane, it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity and Bournemouth sold out so I reckon we could and the costs are an investment for a massive publicity boost.

Anyway to move back on topic, how hard can it be for the club secretary/whoever to contact the top 25 clubs in Spain and say 'Hey do you want a friendly at your main stadium, you can pick the date and we'll work round it and you can keep the gate receipts'?

And the flight tickets are not good for the date that this takes place, why can't someone from the commercial side ring Flybe and ask for a discount for fans travelling to Malaga as well as ask Alpha rooms to sort accommodation.

Unless this low key arrangement is what the footballing management want, if this is the best the club can come up with we really need upgrades in the way we do things! Don't want to dig at the club for all that they have done well, but its important to give constructive criticism when appropriate

UTB

 

[GrozzaTheBlade]

Completely agree, Bournemouth managed to get Real Madrid to come over and send a strong side whilst they were in the Championship FFS

Unless Wilder really thinks this arrangement is in the club's interest I have to say I'm disappointed at our off field diplomacy so to speak. We could have taken thousands over to their main stadium.

Still it's a start at least and something to build on. The flight tickets to Malaga are quite expensive for when it takes place I hope our sponsors can give discounts of sorts

And they sold tickets for £60!

 

[FMBlade1]

And they sold tickets for £60!

It was up to £60 and they still sold 12,000 tickets so I'd back us to manage the same http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23400938 was quite an occasion and speaking for myself would have made every effort to make it. Before people jump in I'm not demanding a friendly against Real Madrid, just saying if Bournemouth can manage it whilst in the Championship why can't we, and they are the perfect club for us to model ourselves on in many aspects

 

[FMBlade1]

'Estadio Jose Burgos Quintana, also known as Estadio Camino de los Llanos, in the town of Coin costasoleño, is located in a natural setting surrounded by woods. Its maximum capacity is about 800 people'

http://marbellafootballcenter.com/node/1782

Seriously? Is this the best we can do? Is this what the football management actually wanted? I really hope it is the latter but can't really understand it to be honest. Won't be great opponents, not a great pitch or stadium, difficult for fans to get to other than that perfect really

 

[SHOREHAMST.com]

I agree mate and have said the same for years and I've been to watch United in a few countries now. It's obvious we planned Marbella AND THEN scraped around for a game.

How can we air these views to the club? It's an absolute farce that we still know nothing concrete and fans want to get time booked off work and book flights/accommodation. It's the same every year. I email the club almost begging for info. Very unfair on fans who want to watch their club no expense spared.

 

[FMBlade1]

I agree mate and have said the same for years and I've been to watch United in a few countries now. It's obvious we planned Marbella AND THEN scraped around for a game.

How can we air these views to the club? It's an absolute farce that we still know nothing concrete and fans want to get time booked off work and book flights/accommodation. It's the same every year. I email the club almost begging for info. Very unfair on fans who want to watch their club no expense spared.

I hope that someone can raise this at the next fan's forum, though appreciate that there are other priorities. I will get slaughtered for this, but I can't help but wonder whether this was arranged deliberately to keep the fans away and give the players some space. I could understand that, but nevertheless feel its a huge missed opportunity

 

[SHOREHAMST.com]

At the end of the day if someone is willing to pay for flights, hotel, transfers, holiday expenses etc. to support United the very least they deserve is a bit of fucking organisation and good planning from the club on their behalf.

 

[BushBlade]

Fixed it for you. They also charged £60 adults and £25 kids to get in. If that's what it takes to secure a deluxe friendly, then Scarborough is fine by me.

They had to charge that much as they were paying Real a lot of money. They don't play friendlies for nowt. Can't remember the exact sum now but it wasn't cheap.

 

[Lawrence]

'Estadio Jose Burgos Quintana, also known as Estadio Camino de los Llanos, in the town of Coin costasoleño, is located in a natural setting surrounded by woods. Its maximum capacity is about 800 people'

http://marbellafootballcenter.com/node/1782

Seriously? Is this the best we can do? Is this what the football management actually wanted? I really hope it is the latter but can't really understand it to be honest. Won't be great opponents, not a great pitch or stadium, difficult for fans to get to other than that perfect really

I have been on Google Earth, and are you sure this is the place???? (Burgos Stadium Jose Quintana in Coin) if this is the ground for the game Well I can't get my breath :/ it doesn't seem to have a road to the pitch/ground (whatever it is?) very private, probably great for training but not a good venue for a game, with supporters? Also nothing around it, seems to be in the middle of a forest?
Come on United just clarify where the game is to be played, so we can decide if it's practical to attend. Don't know why it's so difficult to let people know?

 

[FMBlade1]

I have been on Google Earth, and are you sure this is the place???? (Burgos Stadium Jose Quintana in Coin) if this is the ground for the game Well I can't get my breath :/ it doesn't seem to have a road to the pitch/ground (whatever it is?) very private, probably great for training but not a good venue for a game, with supporters? Also nothing around it, seems to be in the middle of a forest?
Come on United just clarify where the game is to be played, so we can decide if it's practical to attend. Don't know why it's so difficult to let people know?

'Malaga continues to outline its preseason and has already confirmed thefirst friendly match of the summer. It will be against Sheffield United , on Friday, July 14 in Coin . Sheffield United, not to be confused with Sheffield Wednesday, in which Forestieri played, in an English ensemble that was active in the Football League One , equivalent to the Second B Spanish and that this year has ascended to the Championschip (Segunda).

That day will be the last of the first concentration that the team will develop in its summer work, and that will take place in the idyllic Benahavis'

http://malaga.eldesmarque.com/malaga-cf/52756-confirmado-el-primer-amistoso-de-la-pretemporada

As far as I can tell there is only one football stadium in Coin and that's one shown above.

This arrangement is just so bad for fans that I have to conclude its deliberate, and I actually rather hope its that rather than it being the best we as a club can arrange.

 

[bartman]

I hope that someone can raise this at the next fan's forum, though appreciate that there are other priorities. I will get slaughtered for this, but I can't help but wonder whether this was arranged deliberately to keep the fans away and give the players some space. I could understand that, but nevertheless feel its a huge missed opportunity

It's a pre-season friendly. It is probably just a training match for CW to check on the players' fitness levels ( similar to Malta). United will announce it when they are ready . Nothing to be annoyed about

 

[FMBlade1]

It's a pre-season friendly. It is probably just a training match for CW to check on the players' fitness levels ( similar to Malta). United will announce it when they are ready . Nothing to be annoyed about

Oh really whoops I had no idea it was a pre-season friendly, thanks for pointing that out to me.

Why have Malaga announced it on their website and we haven't then? Why aren't United ready yet? People might actually want to be able to plan to go to this and can't because of these unprofessional delays. We were promoted weeks ago it should have been sorted by now.

If 'CW' wants an arrangement like this that's fine like I said, but if this is the best we can arrange then we really need to step things up off the pitch. There was a huge appetite for a proper season tour and there has been a huge opportunity missed. Still at least we get to see them play against Eastleigh Stockbridge and Scarborough

 

[Lower Drop Blade]

Oh really whoops I had no idea it was a pre-season friendly, thanks for pointing that out to me.

Why have Malaga announced it on their website and we haven't then? Why aren't United ready yet? People might actually want to be able to plan to go to this and can't because of these unprofessional delays. We were promoted weeks ago it should have been sorted by now.

If 'CW' wants an arrangement like this that's fine like I said, but if this is the best we can arrange then we really need to step things up off the pitch. There was a huge appetite for a proper season tour and there has been a huge opportunity missed. Still at least we get to see them play against Eastleigh Stockbridge and Scarborough

Why you getting so upset? You say its fine if CW wants it like this (which he obviously does because he will plan the pre-season programme with his staff) yet you still go on and have another paddy about it.....very strange.

 

[FMBlade1]

Why you getting so upset? You say its fine if CW wants it like this (which he obviously does because he will plan the pre-season programme with his staff) yet you still go on and have another paddy about it.....very strange.

Why do you care? XD I don't think it is so obvious its what Wilder wants, its common in football for either the board to dictate pre-season (as what happened with Man U going to the USA despite Van Gaal's wishes) or for the manager to make the request and the board try to facilitate it best they can.

I'm not suggesting a 'conspiracy theory', just think its a disappointing arrangement and badly organised IMO

 

[Lower Drop Blade]

Yes because playing in the back of beyond in Spain will fill the coffers at BDTBL so obviously a board decision I don't care by the way it is you that's throwing the tantrum

 

[FMBlade1]

Yes because playing in the back of beyond in Spain will fill the coffers at BDTBL so obviously a board decision I don't care by the way it is you that's throwing the tantrum

Ah ok, so criticizing the club in any way on a forum is 'throwing a tantrum' I get it now I'm not suggesting the board forced that on him as you well now.

What I suspect if that the football management said 'can we play a pre-season match abroad preferably in Spain' and the board replied 'yes we'll try to arrange something' and asked the club secretary/whoever to look into it and this was the best they could come up with. Would be delighted to be wrong here of course

 

[veganblade]

Donna Fletcher - 0114 253 7200. That's the contact I've been told deals with pre season enquiries. Apparently she's back next week. I love how there's one sacred person in an entire club who deals with this stuff.

I think this area of communication, the club shop and website are areas for huge improvement. I don't think the fact it is so isolated is greatly related. There's never going to be 10k Blades rock up in Marbella. In a 'global village' like the world often is described, I'd have been mightily impressed (and surprised) to see Malaga F.C. v Sheffield United as a friendly at the La Rosaleda Stadium with alpha rooms co-ordinating some travel plans and capitalising off the excitement and buzz around the club. Maybe a game against the winners of La Segunda too.

Maybe it's a lack of contacts or we simply don't have the coin.

Coat already on...

 

[blade too long]

'Estadio Jose Burgos Quintana, also known as Estadio Camino de los Llanos, in the town of Coin costasoleño, is located in a natural setting surrounded by woods. Its maximum capacity is about 800 people'

http://marbellafootballcenter.com/node/1782

Seriously? Is this the best we can do? Is this what the football management actually wanted? I really hope it is the latter but can't really understand it to be honest. Won't be great opponents, not a great pitch or stadium, difficult for fans to get to other than that perfect really

Its not a dissimilar pitch to La Manga where all the prem teams go
and theres a similar pitch near me in campoamor where several of the Bundesliga go at the local golf centre

grass is grass (well desso apart) and warm weather affects most of southern spain.

Training pitches are just that

 

[Working Class Hero]

My money is on it being on the 3G pitch in the middle of town, hired out for 42 Euro per hour.

 

[Grecian2000]

It's a pre-season friendly. It is probably just a training match for CW to check on the players' fitness levels ( similar to Malta). United will announce it when they are ready . Nothing to be annoyed about

Ahh, not just me completely bemused by this thread then.

 

[Lawrence]

'Malaga continues to outline its preseason and has already confirmed thefirst friendly match of the summer. It will be against Sheffield United , on Friday, July 14 in Coin . Sheffield United, not to be confused with Sheffield Wednesday, in which Forestieri played, in an English ensemble that was active in the Football League One , equivalent to the Second B Spanish and that this year has ascended to the Championschip (Segunda).

That day will be the last of the first concentration that the team will develop in its summer work, and that will take place in the idyllic Benahavis'

http://malaga.eldesmarque.com/malaga-cf/52756-confirmado-el-primer-amistoso-de-la-pretemporada

As far as I can tell there is only one football stadium in Coin and that's one shown above.

This arrangement is just so bad for fans that I have to conclude its deliberate, and I actually rather hope its that rather than it being the best we as a club can arrange.

Yes I have seen the article, their is another football ground in the middle of Coin, but I wouldn't imagine it would be there? So, sadly I would imagine that this is just a training game (behind closed doors) so to speak, no one is seeing the game unless you want to make you way through the forest!

 

[SHOREHAMST.com]

I'm guessing the ones 'bemused' or not getting the point are those who don't bother with pre-season. If so, that's fair enough it's none of my business. But the fact of the matter is people need notice to get time booked off work and make plans.

It's like it's a secret, almost. If not then it simply has to be down to poor running of that part of the club. If CW identified Marbella as the place he wants to take his players then that's fine - but it then surely has to be somebody within the clubs job to put everything in place for it to happen - supporters not being an exception... in fact a priority as they're the ones who have to fit it in.

I've said it before but take a look at this -
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/14179239.Oxford_United_announce_pre_season_tour_to_Spain/

That's the mighty Oxford United. Everything in place and ready to launch details of in JANUARY. They did the same the previous year when they went to Austria and the same this year when they put out details in February of a tour of Portugal. It's not moaning at the club for the sake of it. Pre-season has been the best part of following United for the last 10 years for me personally. I make the effort to follow them every year and have done so in a number of countries now. It directly affects me - others at work will and have booked time of by the time I know anything meaning it's a struggle for me. This year is looking increasingly unlikely simply because of this.

We are sponsored by a travel agent for crying out loud. It beggars belief.

 

[MalagaMike]

Looks like it's not at Malaga's stadium though. Referring to somewhere on a Spanish website as 'Coin' - any ideas??

Hi, the match is going to be played on the outskirts of Coín which is about 35 minutes from Malaga City, the match will take place on 14th July 2017 and kick off will be at 20:30, I actually live in that town and I shall be attending the game so if anyone would like any info regarding where to go, where to stay, where you can get a decent pint or anything else, please let me know.

 

[MalagaMike]

You can get £50 return, if flying East Midlands - Malaga. It just depends what date the game is. *Just seen the other thread - ignore that*

I was hoping the game would be in Malaga. Less bothered about going now (if) it is in some little village.

The match is being played in Coín which is about 30 minutes away from Malaga, Coín has been selected as it is 2017 town of sport, it is a nice town which a healthy expat community, there are plenty of ammenities, bars, pubs and nightlight and if you need any info let me know as I live there and shall be attending the match

 

[MalagaMike]

I live in Coín town the match will be played and I work in Malaga City and I have heard rumours that between 500 & 800 Sheffield United fans shall be coming over for the fixture against Malaga in Coín, is this correct? I am trying to get an idea as I can organise a good meeting point for everyone before the game, a nice pub called El Cruce https://www.facebook.com/elcruse.escoin/ (only 2€ a pint) which is located a 5 minute taxi or bus ride from the ground and I can assist in organising cabs or minibuses for those interested. I look forward to meeting the Sheffield United lads and having a beer. See you on Friday 14th July, the kick off has been confirmed for 8:30pm Regards Mike

 

[ourbob]

The ground only holds 800 so you'd better be wrong.

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

I'm taking 350 on a private charter flight.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Be interesting to see how Blades make the trip for the Malaga game, club on the up, decent night for a game <only need a day off work>, plus I'd imagine many holidaymakers <including quite a few Blades fans> on the Costa del Sol <Blackpool with sunshine>. I'd be amazed to see 500-800 Blades, absolute tops 300-400 would be my guess. Took 600 to Sparta Rotterdam on the pre-season before the Prem season <for a Saturday game> then about 150 to ADO den Haag the following Tuesday night.

 

[SHOREHAMST.com]

Be interesting to see how Blades make the trip for the Malaga game, club on the up, decent night for a game <only need a day off work>, plus I'd imagine many holidaymakers <including quite a few Blades fans> on the Costa del Sol <Blackpool with sunshine>. I'd be amazed to see 500-800 Blades, absolute tops 300-400 would be my guess. Took 600 to Sparta Rotterdam on the pre-season before the Prem season <for a Saturday game> then about 150 to ADO den Haag the following Tuesday night.

Brilliant trip that.

 

[Foxy]

I hope that someone can raise this at the next fan's forum, though appreciate that there are other priorities. I will get slaughtered for this, but I can't help but wonder whether this was arranged deliberately to keep the fans away and give the players some space. I could understand that, but nevertheless feel its a huge missed opportunity

Been mentioned and fed back a few times, will raise it again next opportunity.