Manchester City's US tour will build up to a crescendo when they face European champions Inter Milan in Baltimore on July 31.
But even then, the Blues will be without star names Carlos Tevez, David Silva, Jerome Boateng and Nigel de Jong, still recovering from their World Cup exertions.
The Blues flew out to their pre-season training camp at the Nike headquarters in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday. They will spend nine days making use of some of the finest facilities in North America on the 190-acre site, a regular haunt of top US basketball players, footballers and athletes.
And they will have their first friendly match of the summer in the low-key surroundings of the 5,000-capacity Merlo Field next Saturday, against local US second division outfit Portland Timbers.
City fans of a nervous disposition, or those who have partaken of the local hospitality, may hope that Portland’s mascot Timber Joey does not turn up – he wields a real chainsaw.
But the nine-day stay at the Nike campus is perhaps the most important part of the summer for manager Roberto Mancini.
He will continue some of the double training sessions which were a feature of the first week of training at Carrington.
“The matches, the training, everything in the USA will be important for us. We must prepare very well this month, for sure,” he said.
Early next week the Blues will fly back across the States for New York, when the tour really begins, from a football point of view.
City will be based in New York and take part in the city’s new Soccer Challenge, facing Sporting Lisbon on July 22 and New York Red Bulls – now managed by former City assistant Hans Backe - three days later. The two matches take place at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.
“The New York Football Challenge 2010 is an important one for us,” said Mancini.
“We have big ambitions for the Premier League next season, and this tournament will give us the perfect opportunity to prepare for our season with some highly competitive games.
“It will be fantastic for us to visit the United States, and especially for us to visit New York during our tour of the East Coast.
After the Challenge, the Blues board a plane heading for Atlanta, Georgia, where they will face top Mexican outfit Club America.
But Mancini makes no bones about the fact that the highlight of the tour come with a climactic meeting with his former club Inter in Baltimore.
What do you think? Have your say.
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Pre season is the most important part of the year for player fitness. Those that don't get a full pre-season because of injury invariably have a poor season as they are always playing catch up on their base level of fitness. Suspect some of those involved in the World Cup may suffer a hangover from not having a full rest and curtailed pre-season but won't suffer as badly because their base level will still be good. Let's not get carried away by results + performances on this tour, the only thing that matters is hitting the ground running on 14th September
See you guys over in the Mad Hatter bar in New York.
Man City supporters club.
http://www.madhattersaloonnyc.com/mcfc.html
Hazel Grove Blue since 1960 (12/07/2010 at 11:36)
.... the only thing that matters is hitting the ground running on 14th September
hi Hazel,
I'm sure you meant 14th August ??? but I do agree about friendly results are not important
MEN,Please can you publish a squad list for which players have travelled? Also does anyone know if these matches are to be televised/streamed?
The highlight of the tour is not the Inter game because they organised it after I'd booked my return flights. Drat. I won't even be home in time to watch it on the box. I wonder if V Australia have ESPN on board
See you all in the Hatter.
Glad to see that Roberto has let his hair grow again!
Sounds like it will be a good build up to the new season with some tricky opposition. Better than playing 2nd Div English teams who want to hack you down or Swedish 3rd tier teams we beat 10 nil!
[quote name=Ave It!, Cheshire]MEN,Please can you publish a squad list for which players have travelled? Also does anyone know if these matches are to be televised/streamed?[/quote]
if you look on the City site you will see that all but the first game are being carried on ESPN!
Ok heres the thing. I heard some very interesting gossip today from a very good source.
1. expect to see Didier Drogba in a City shirt next season
and
2. expect to see Joe Hart as starting goalkeeper. Givens Op took 7 hours, not the simple dislocation we all thought.
nuff said, CTID!!
Ave It!, Cheshire (12/07/2010 at 12:03)
My friend, they are all on ESPN and streamed on FOX methinks -
http://www.the90thminute.com/soccer/2010/07/manchester-city-2010-usa-pre-season-tour-schedule-and-tv-listings/?
They are being shown on ESPN.
[quote name=The crafty goat, Manchester]See you guys over in the Mad Hatter bar in New York.
Man City supporters club.
http://www.madhattersaloonnyc.com/mcfc.html[/quote]
See you there crafty goat
Hazel Grove Blue - hope we've hit the ground running about a month before your date or we won't have hit the ground running so much as crash landed!
Thanks to those who've spotted my deliberate mistake, it's an age thing. I of course meant 14th August.
Type your comment here...Although it is preseason,I really hope that City take these games seriously.I live in South Africa,where City have toured twice and both times,to my total disappointment,they were abysmal.
Lets have a bit of pride this time
Mike Robinson
Durban
The pre season trip to NY has made a lot of North American fans very happy to see our City...I have not had the chance to see a live game since 1992, thank god for T.V..lol..
I will be on a bus leaving from Toronto Canada, enjoying every minute of the trip..
I believe like many fans, after watching City since 1965. We all know what a rollercoast ride that has been. This is the greatest oppertunity for the club to achieve all the glory, both the club & our dedicated fans..
To all my mates for 23 years back, who I traveled all over watching city, plus all my work mates. This is foggy from Heaton Mersey who worked in Stockport, I hope to hear from one of you one through this posting.
Thie pre season tour of North America, is wonderful for thr city fans who now life in North America. I now life in Toronto Canada, have for the past 23 years.. My last live game was back in 2002..So you can see why I'm happy..I wil be on a bus from Toronto to NY a week on Thursday, can't wait..
Been a city fan since 1965, so you know all the rollercoaster rides we have been on.
I never thought I would be able to say in my life time, we now have a team with the right tools to win all the glory that football holds..WOW..Looking forward to the future..
To all my freinds who I traveled home & away to watch city 23+years ago, plus all my work friends at Blythe Burell Colours in Stockport. This is FOGGY,who lived in Heaton Mersey, drank at the Dog & Partrige. Played for the Burnage Rangers. I hope to hear from one of you through this site..Cheers Mike
That had me worried for a minute! City play sporting on the 23rd July, not 22nd! I just checked my tickets to be sure! Panic over
[quote name=The crafty goat, Manchester]See you guys over in the Mad Hatter bar in New York.
Man City supporters club.
http://www.madhattersaloonnyc.com/mcfc.html[/quote]
Hey Mate. There's a picture of me with SWP in the gallery section. I saw him here at the Gold Cup between Jamaica and Canada. It was amazing. Cheers Coop
It really is pointless Manchester City going to America. The Americans will only ever like Manchester United. I don't even need to explain. It's just obvious.