As you know I go to practically all the away games - usually on the coach. ( sometimes the supporters coach arrives before the Team bus ) The Team also travel to the away games by coach - and they would have to encounter the same problems as fans on the coach. As you know last week's journey to Port Vale was a nightmare. Our coach only reached the ground as the ref blew to start the game. We have had other traffic problems on our travels to matches this season - leaving us with very little 'spare' time before the match. I notice that, apart from the journey to Crewe, we haven't done too well as far as results is concerned. Our other 'longer' trips to Wolverhampton, Swindon, Coventry(Northampton), Shrewsbury and lately - Port Vale have accumulated just one point. In the last 8 'longer' away games of last season we won just once (1-0 at Chesterfield). Given that the Team will endure the same traffic conditions as the fans - are those travel plans right ? The players may well be athletes, but it cannot be good to be cooped up on a coach for the best part of 6 hours before a game ! I'm not totally convinced that their muscles will become loosened and warmed up properly in time for 3pm. I appreciate that finances will dictate wether the players can stay overnight at such venues - but I feel that modest accomodation in a local travel inn wouldn't necessarily break the bank - and additional point(s) gained by being 'fresher' can be worth a lot more in progress in league position than loss of revenue from relegation.
I have to agree alwaysright. The away journey's are an absolute nightmare by coach. Ok, I'm far older than even our most experienced players but it cannot be good for prematch plans. Personally I think our travel coach leaves too late...hence in the same breath, I feel the players coach is even more over time than surely is desirable.
I have often been waiting for the team coach to arrive - many times with barely 1 - 1.5 hours before kick off - can't be right - after a hellish journey you just feel too knackered to much running around. ( in my case - walking too far to the pub )
The players usually travel up to the game the night before for example travelling up to Wolverhampton on a Friday staying over the night and then leave on Saturday lunchtime
I hate to correct you - but the occasions when the Team travel overnight is rare - Practically never - When I pick up the coach at the ground, the team coach ( and players ) leave just about the same time as the fans. I'm there to see it.
Last week was a dreadful journey, I travel via The Supporters Coach and we just got their with twenty minutes until Kick Off and we just seem to hit traffic jam after traffic jam. I still remember that Leyton Orient Match in 2009 / 2010 where Simon Royce made it to the ground via pedal bike and Andy D'Urso wanted Gillingham to start the game with seven players and two of those players were Simon Royce and Alan Julian, any other referee would of delayed kick off by 15 - 20 minutes.
