Aaron Hughes and Chris Baird have been called up for the NI squad. As a squad player, even if he doesn't play in all matches (5), that's a heck of a lot of travelling for Aaron over 18 days - 25/8 - Dnipro v Fuham away 28/8 - Newcastle v Fulham away 2/9 - Ni - v Serbia home 6/9 - Estonia v NI away 11/9 - Fulham v Blacburn home Hughes is not alone in this of course since a fair wodge of our players have a similar programme ahead of them. That got me thinking. Forget the number of games since June and those in the next couple of weeks, but consider the travelling involved - our own European commitments; the round of internationals 2 weeks ago; the internationals around 3 Sptember; two away premier games on the trot. In a sense 'dead' time. This inevitably has/will limit the amount of time Jol has with the full 1st Team squad on the training field. Consequently curtailing the oppotunities he has to concentrate on 'new' systems/roles/positions. Certainly reduces the time for any changes to become second nature (a mantra of Roys if you recall) before putting them into practice in 'live' games. Perhaps this explains, at least in part, the disjointed nature of our play so far this season.
+1 internet points for use of the word "wodge". But more importantly, while I agree with you C58, (nearly) any PL team could cite these difficulties as a mitigating circumstance. Our season did start in June, like you say, but other teams had their pre-seasons too. We had the fortune of not having to travel too far (bar Dnipro). I think our shortcomings in the PL so far is just down to having a new manager, with a new style and a few new players. We had a similar start last season with Sparky coming in (albeit he was in later than Jol, but then you could argue that his style was closer to Roy's). You are right in what you say though, we have many pains in our collective arse.
Lovin' the title of this thread C58 I agree with you that the travelling expected of teams and individual players (particularly as Europe has got an awful lot bigger than it used to be) is a pain both for them and the management. On the other hand they do travel in relative style (no Easy jet for them!) and there are far more stressful jobs than jetting around playing football. As you and Bidley say the main issue is that because of international commitments the full FFC squad doesn't train together as much as would be ideal. I also agree with Bidley's last para - because Jol's arrival was so popular and he has fitted in so well plus the fact that our season started in June it is easy to forget that he is a new manager and that this season (or at least the first half of it) will, like last season, be transitional. Remembering this (plus seeing Spurs lose 3-0 away albeit to ManU not Wolves) makes me feel a lot better about Sunday.
I bet if you asked the players, they'd say the travel is the worst part of the job. That and the women weeping outside their hotel room doors.
As Bidley says - other teams have had their pre seasons too - however, they could afford to lose all their pre-season games and change the whole team at half time etc
