Premier League Season 2016-17 Stuff it in here.

[davieG]

Premier League pre-season: How far is your club travelling?

By Bibhash Dash & Matthew Henry

BBC Sport

• 46 minutes ago
• From the sectionFootball

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More than 109,000 people watched Man Utd v Real Madrid in Michigan in 2014 - a record football crowd in USA

Premier League teams will clock up an estimated 168,333 miles in total during pre-season for friendlies and tours.

Tottenham travel furthest with 22,468 miles, including a trip to Australia, followed by Chelsea's 14,345 miles.

Clubs will visit 14 countries, with 17 matches in the United States making it the most-visited place. Austria is second with nine.

Watford are the only Premier League side not leaving England during pre-season - and travel just 112 miles.

Champions Leicester will begin their summer tour by playing Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium, before facing Celtic, Paris St-Germain and Barcelona in the International Champions Cup in Glasgow, California and Stockholm respectively.

A full list for each club follows below.

Why the long haul?

"Pre-season can be hugely lucrative," football finance expert Rob Wilson told BBC Sport. "A club does a tour, they sell more products, there's more branding and more sponsors start to get involved.

"If they can generate £5m or £10m from a two-week tour, that's more than what some of the other clubs will get."

According to Wilson, from Sheffield Hallam University, China is an attractive proposition for the future due to its position as an "untapped" but "serious player" in the football market.

Manchester City and Manchester United play each other at Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium on 25 July, as well as other fixtures in the country.

"What we've seen in the past 10 years is big clubs going further and further afield," Wilson added. "They are looking to leverage new markets, like China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Australia is not doing too bad."

The American dream

Crystal Palace, Swansea and Southampton recently returned from their tour of the United States, while Arsenal, Chelsea, Leicester, Liverpool and Manchester United are due to fly over.

However, Premier League clubs' trips could have a negative effect in the long run, according to USA Today sports columnist Martin Rogers.

"There is interest - the games are pretty well attended," said Rogers. "But as the American fan becomes sophisticated, they'll soon get tired of a second-string Chelsea side or a second-string Liverpool side.

"They know the difference between an exhibition game and a Major League Soccer game."

Where's your team heading?

Arsenal (total distance: 12,143 miles)

22 July: RC Lens (Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, France)

28 July: AT&T All-Stars (Avaya Stadium, San Jose, USA)

31 July: Chivas de Guadalajara (StubHub Center, Los Angeles, USA)

5 August: Viking FK (Viking Stadion, Stavanger, Norway)

7 August: Manchester City (Ullevi stadium, Gothenburg, Sweden)

Bournemouth (total distance: 8,134 miles)

20 July: Minnesota United (National Sports Centre Stadium, Minnesota, USA)

23 July: Portsmouth (Fratton Park)

29 July: Reading (Madejski Stadium)

30 July: Cardiff City (Vitality Stadium)

3 August: Valencia (Vitality Stadium)

Burnley (total distance: 1,740 miles)

15 July: Stade Nyonnais 1-3 Burnley (Stade de Colovray, Nyon, Switzerland)

19 July: Morecambe (Globe Arena)

23 July: Bradford City (Coral Windows Stadium)

26 July: Bolton (Macron Stadium)

30 July: Rangers (Ibrox, Glasgow, Scotland)

5 August: Real Sociedad (Turf Moor)

Chelsea (total distance: 14,345 miles)

16 July: Rapid Vienna 2-0 Chelsea (Allianz Stadion, Vienna, Austria)

20 July: WAC RZ Pellets (Worthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt, Austria)

27 July: Liverpool (Rose Bowl, Pasadena, USA)

30 July: Real Madrid (Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, USA)

3 August: AC Milan (US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, USA)

7 August: Werder Bremen (Weserstadion, Bremen, Germany)

Crystal Palace (total distance: 10,939 miles)

13 July: Philadelphia Union 0-0 Crystal Palace (PPL Park, Philadelphia, USA)

16 July: FC Cincinnati 0-2 Crystal Palace (Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, USA)

19 July: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (BC Place, Vancouver, Canada)

25 July: Colchester United (Weston Homes Community Stadium)

27 July: AFC Wimbledon (Kingsmeadow)

30 July: Fulham (Craven Cottage)

2 August: Bromley (Hayes Lane)

6 August: v Valencia (Selhurst Park)

Everton (total distance: 1,846 miles)

23 July: Barnsley (Oakwell)

26 July: MK Dons (Stadium MK)

29 July: Dynamo Dresden (DDV-Stadium, Dresden, Germany)

30 July: Real Betis or Werder Bremen (DDV-Stadium, Dresden, Germany)

6 August: Espanyol (Goodison Park)

Hull City (total distance: 1,862 miles)

15 July: Grimsby Town 0-0 Hull City (Blundell Park)

16 July: North Ferriby United 0-2 Hull City (Eon Visual Media Stadium)

19 July: Mansfield Town (Field Mill)

23 July: Scunthorpe United (Glanford Park)

26 July: Barnsley (Oakwell)

30 July: Nottingham Forest (City Ground)

3 August: Caykur Rizespor (Kufstein Arena, Kufstein, Austria)

6 August: Torino (MyPhone Austria Stadium, Salzburg, Austria)

Leicester City (total distance: 12,415 miles)

19 July: Oxford United (Kassam Stadium, Oxford)

23 July: Celtic (Celtic Park)

30 July: Paris St-Germain (StubHub Center, Carson, USA)

3 August: Barcelona (Friends Arena, Stockholm, Sweden)

Liverpool (total distance: 12,625 miles)

8 July: Tranmere Rovers 0-1 Liverpool (Prenton Park)

13 July: Fleetwood Town 0-5 Liverpool (Highbury Stadium)

17 July: Wigan Athletic 0-2 Liverpool (DW Stadium)

20 July: Huddersfield Town (John Smith's Stadium)

27 July: v Chelsea v (Rose Bowl, Pasadena, USA)

30 July: AC Milan (Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, USA)

1 August: Roma (Busch Stadium, St Louis, USA)

6 August: Barcelona (Wembley)

7 August: FSV Mainz 05 (Opel Arena, Mainz, Germany)

Manchester City (total distance: 12,071 miles)

20 July: Bayern Munich (Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany)

25 July: Manchester United (Bird's Nest, Beijing, China)

28 July: Borussia Dortmund (Shenzhen, China)

7 August: Arsenal (Ullevi Stadium, Gothenburg, Sweden)

Manchester United (total distance: 11,442 miles)

16 July: Wigan 0 - 2 Man United (DW Stadium)

22 July: Borussia Dortmund (Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai, China)

25 July: Manchester City (Bird's Nest, Beijing, China)

30 July: Galatasaray (Ullevi Stadium, Gothenberg, Sweden)

Middlesbrough (total distance: 2,250 miles)

9 July: York City 0-6 Middlesbrough (Bootham Crescent)

16 July: Doncaster 0-2 Middlesbrough (Keepmoat Stadium)

30 July: Aston Villa (Villa Park)

3 August: Udinese (Dacia Arena, Udine, Italy)

6 August: Real Sociedad (Riverside)

Southampton (total distance: 8,071 miles)

15 July: DC United Under-23s 0-2 Southampton (RFK Stadium, Washington DC, US)

23 July: PEC Zwolle (TBC)

27 July: FC Twente (Q20 Stadium, Oldenzaal, Netherlands)

30 July: FC Groningen (Euroborg Stadium, Groningen, Netherlands)

7 August: Athletic Bilbao (St Mary's)

Stoke City (total distance: 9,624 miles)

16 July: Burton 3-0 Stoke (Pirelli stadium)

23 July: Preston (Deepdale)

27 July: Orlando City (Titan Soccer Complex, Florida, US)

6 August: Hamburg (Volkspark stadion, Hamburg, Germany)

Sunderland (total distance: 1,900 miles)

20 July: Hartlepool (Victoria Park)

23 July: Rotherham (AESSEAL New York Stadium)

25 July: Stade Nyonnais (Stade Camille-Fournier, Evian-les-Bains, France)

27 July: Dijon FCO (Stade Camille-Fournier, Evian-les-Bains, France)

30 July: Montpellier (Stade Jacques Forestier, Aix-les-Bains, France)

5 August: Borussia Dortmund (Cashpoint Arena, Altach, Austria)

Swansea City (total distance: 8,192 miles)

13 July: Charlotte Independence 0-4 Swansea City (Ramblewood Stadium, North Carolina, USA)

16 July: Richmond Kickers 2-0 Swansea (City Stadium, Virginia, USA)

23 July: Bristol Rovers (Memorial Stadium)

27 July: Swindon (County Ground)

30 July: Wolves (Molineux)

6 August: Stade Rennais (Liberty Stadium)

Tottenham (total distance: 22,468 miles)

9 July: Tottenham 3-0 Nottingham Forest (Hotspur Way)

16 July: Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Fulham (Hotspur Way)

26 July: Juventus (Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia)

29 July: Atletico Madrid (Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia)

5 August: Inter Milan (Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway)

Watford (total distance: 112 miles)

10 July: Woking 1-1 Watford (Laithwaite Community Stadium)

14 July: Stevenage 0-2 Watford (Lamex Stadium)

30 July: QPR (Loftus Road)

6 August: v Lorient (Vicarage Road)

West Brom (total distance: 3,544 miles)

13 July: Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 West Brom (Schladming Athletic Area, Austria)

16 July: Kidderminster Harriers 1-2 West Brom (Aggborough)

21 July: Vitesse Arnhem (GelreDome, Arnhem, Netherlands)

23 July: PSV Eindhoven (GelreDome, Arnhem, Netherlands)

30 July: Plymouth Argyle (Home Park)

1 August: Torquay United (Plainmoor)

6 August: Mallorca (Iberostar Stadium, Palma, Spain)

West Ham (total distance: 12,590 miles)

5 July: Seattle Sounders 3-0 West Ham (CenturyLink Field, Washington DC, USA)

12 July: Carolina RailHawks 2-2 West Ham (WakeMed Soccer Park, North Carolina, USA)

19 July: FC Slovaco (Stadion Rohrbach, Rohrbach, Austria)

20 July: Rubin Kazan (SportPlatz Crottendorf, Crottendorf, Austria)

23 July: Karlsruher SC (Franz-Fekete-Stadion, Kapfenberg, Austria)

7 August: Juventus (London Stadium)

[Sharpe's Fox]

Burnley doing what they did so well last time they went up, signing shite former Charlton strikers.

[Fox92]

1 minute ago, Sharpe's Fox said:

Burnley doing what they did so well last time they went up, signing shite former Charlton strikers.

Tbf Gudmundsson created the most chances in the division last season.

[Sharpe's Fox]

3 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

Tbf Gudmundsson created the most chances in the division last season.

I'm sure that's what willy puller Dyche will tell himself while he rocks back and forth in a corner clutching his many pound notes.

 

EDIT:  wtf why does w@nker get turned into willy puller?

[ScouseFox]

if burnley buy a lot of championship players for crazy prices and finish 19th again i legit think the fa should ban them from coming back up for at least 10 years/until dyche leaves 

[filbertway]

If you're signing Charlton players, surely sign big Ade Lookman as well. Man scores every time he walks on the pitch. They don't call him the black Mendonca for no reason

[sm1]

My picks to go down Burnley, Hull and Sunderland (if fat sam leaves)

Top four: Man City, Liverpool, Man Utd & Arsenal

[NZ_Foxile]

Another Arsenal knob who obviously never watched us play last season.

Yeah, everyone's dying to see the "natural order" restored 

 

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/english-premier-league/23/blog/post/2914125/premier-league-must-return-to-big-club-dominance-this-season

 

No more Premier League fairytales, please! Get the big clubs back on top

play

Can Rooney fit in Mourinho's formation? (2:24)

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9:15 PM BST

• David Hirshey

My Euro hangover lasted longer than most, and not for the obvious reason. Oh sure, there was no shortage of golden hops consumed amid the communal bonhomie of a major tournament. But after a while it became less about the spectacle and more about simply coping with the life-sapping tedium of watching teams sit back, tackle hard and spring the occasional counter. In other words, they were all trying to out-Leicester Leicester.

Granted, Iceland and Wales played with a heroic resilience and unbreakable spirit that stirred the soul, but apart from Hal Robson-Kanu's sick Cruyff turn and the Houdini-like ease with which Aaron Ramsey made Eden Hazard and the rest of Belgian's ballyhooed midfield disappear into his satin back pocket, did Wales really make your nerves jangle? And did your pulse quicken more at the Iceland team on the field or at their remarkably synchronized fans in the stands? Presuming you're neither Icelandic nor Welsh, you probably joined me in a state of near catatonia.

Which is why as we approach the new Premier League season, my most fervent hope is not that Arsene Wenger will at long last come to his transfer market senses before Arsenal finds itself starting the new campaign with Yaya Sanogo as its attacking spearhead. That would be nice, of course, but my chief concern is, believe it or not, less Gunner-centric than usual. It's that the upcoming season provides a glorious course correction to the gathering storm of turgid, smothering tactics that sucked much of the joy and wonder out of watching the game this summer.

So, Football Gods, please don't give us another miracle Prem season featuring the Middlesbroughs, Hulls and Burnleys of the world defying the stratospheric odds to once again send bookies scurrying to find a new line of work. Show mercy on us and don't let the next eight months become a celebration of clogged midfields and bunkered defenses. Seriously: don't you dare. Portugal's Euro 2016 win was enough punishment for the next four years.

Thankfully, we are now living in a world where there are enough outsized managerial egos that want to put their imprimatur on the Premier League. I doubt that the likes of Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Wenger and Mauricio Pochettino will set up their teams to simply avoid defeat. These are men who value style almost as much as they do winning -- though in the case of Wenger, I am not so sure about the winning part........... 

Continues and finishes with:

 

All of which brings me to this hopeful conclusion: it's Goliath's turn to shine this season and I, for one, couldn't be happier about it. Sorry, Claudio.

[filbertway]

3 minutes ago, NZ_Foxile said:

Another Arsenal knob who obviously never watched us play last season.

Yeah, everyone's dying to see the "natural order" restored 

 

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/english-premier-league/23/blog/post/2914125/premier-league-must-return-to-big-club-dominance-this-season

 

No more Premier League fairytales, please! Get the big clubs back on top

play

Can Rooney fit in Mourinho's formation? (2:24)

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9:15 PM BST

• David Hirshey

My Euro hangover lasted longer than most, and not for the obvious reason. Oh sure, there was no shortage of golden hops consumed amid the communal bonhomie of a major tournament. But after a while it became less about the spectacle and more about simply coping with the life-sapping tedium of watching teams sit back, tackle hard and spring the occasional counter. In other words, they were all trying to out-Leicester Leicester.

Granted, Iceland and Wales played with a heroic resilience and unbreakable spirit that stirred the soul, but apart from Hal Robson-Kanu's sick Cruyff turn and the Houdini-like ease with which Aaron Ramsey made Eden Hazard and the rest of Belgian's ballyhooed midfield disappear into his satin back pocket, did Wales really make your nerves jangle? And did your pulse quicken more at the Iceland team on the field or at their remarkably synchronized fans in the stands? Presuming you're neither Icelandic nor Welsh, you probably joined me in a state of near catatonia.

Which is why as we approach the new Premier League season, my most fervent hope is not that Arsene Wenger will at long last come to his transfer market senses before Arsenal finds itself starting the new campaign with Yaya Sanogo as its attacking spearhead. That would be nice, of course, but my chief concern is, believe it or not, less Gunner-centric than usual. It's that the upcoming season provides a glorious course correction to the gathering storm of turgid, smothering tactics that sucked much of the joy and wonder out of watching the game this summer.

So, Football Gods, please don't give us another miracle Prem season featuring the Middlesbroughs, Hulls and Burnleys of the world defying the stratospheric odds to once again send bookies scurrying to find a new line of work. Show mercy on us and don't let the next eight months become a celebration of clogged midfields and bunkered defenses. Seriously: don't you dare. Portugal's Euro 2016 win was enough punishment for the next four years.

Thankfully, we are now living in a world where there are enough outsized managerial egos that want to put their imprimatur on the Premier League. I doubt that the likes of Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Wenger and Mauricio Pochettino will set up their teams to simply avoid defeat. These are men who value style almost as much as they do winning -- though in the case of Wenger, I am not so sure about the winning part........... 

Continues and finishes with:

 

All of which brings me to this hopeful conclusion: it's Goliath's turn to shine this season and I, for one, couldn't be happier about it. Sorry, Claudio.

I think we can all agree we don't want it to be boring this season. It's up to the teams that are given the time and space to actually do something with it though. The only way you'll draw teams out is by scoring against them.

 

Too many teams in the euros were so scared of being counter attacked that they forgot to actually try and win the game.

 

We might not have the ball much, but when we do get it we're committing bodies forwards as fast as possible.

[NZ_Foxile]

14 minutes ago, filbertway said:

I think we can all agree we don't want it to be boring this season. It's up to the teams that are given the time and space to actually do something with it though. The only way you'll draw teams out is by scoring against them.

 

Too many teams in the euros were so scared of being counter attacked that they forgot to actually try and win the game.

 

We might not have the ball much, but when we do get it we're committing bodies forwards as fast as possible.

Exactly, but the writer lazily seems to be lumping us in with teams that sit back, defend and play boring football. Our game is by no means boring!

[Dan LCFC]

Yeah protect the establishment, that's exactly what the sport's about ! ! ! 

[Corky]

Maybe if Arsenal played our defensive style they might score as many goals as us next season?

[jammie82uk]

New guidelines set out by the premier league for the upcoming season

 

 

Dissent towards match officials 

Yellow cards will be issued to players who:

• Show visibly disrespectful behaviour to any match official
• Respond aggressively to decisions
• Confront an official face to face
• Run towards an official to contest a decision

Offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures towards match officials 

Red cards will be issued to players who confront match officials and use offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures towards them.

Physical contact with match officials 

• A yellow card for physical contact with any match official in a non-aggressive manner (e.g. an inquisitive approach to grab the official’s attention).
• A red card for physical contact with match officials in an aggressive or confrontational manner.

Surrounding match officials 

• A yellow card for at least one player when two or more from a team surround a match official.
• The FA will continue to sanction teams when they surround match officials.

Conduct in the technical area 

• The requirements of the Technical Area Code of Conduct will be more rigorously enforced for players and club staff.
• Additionally, match officials will be required to retain professional detachment from players and club staff at all times.

[filbertstreet]

great, so vardy's going to be on a red card all season then

[Danno]

So a yellow card for tapping the ref on the shoulder

[Benji]

If this is enforced the first few weeks will be hilarious.  Rooney won't last 5 minutes.

 

In reality, Chelsea, Man Utd etc. will do it without punishment and they will make an example out of someone like Leicester, West Ham or a promoted club and point to the rule book.

[lgfualol]

Good news for Jon Moss and his bribery. "What did you just say teammember of team I have been asked to ensure defeat, YOU'RE OFF" 4 times a game. 

 

Can't wait for players like Costa and Vardy to scream 'fudge'

[Super_horns]

Don't we always get this sort of statement at the start of every season but as Ben says very little changes as the officials often bottle the chance to enforce such regulations..

 

 

[filbertway]

Haha, we're going to see a load of bookings and reds this season then. I think it's on the refs not to be dismissive to the players as well though. Respect is a two way street. Too often I see refs refusing to acknowledge or explain a decision.

[Fox92]

That's stupid. Okay, I don't agree with 9 players surrounding a referee but disciplinary for swearing isn't right for me given the adrenaline that is rushing through players (especially during certain games). Agressive players like Rooney and Vardy have got no chance of avoiding bookings.

[filbertway]

8 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

That's stupid. Okay, I don't agree with 9 players surrounding a referee but disciplinary for swearing isn't right for me given the adrenaline that is rushing through players (especially during certain games). Agressive players like Rooney and Vardy have got no chance of avoiding bookings.

I'm sure they'll learn not to go shouting expletives at someone eventually. The touching the ref one is ridiculous though, I don't how patting someone on the shoulder is worth a yellow card.

 

Hopefully refs use their common sense. Something needs to be done though, Premier League footballers are massive dicks when it comes to officials.

[Darkon84]

20 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

That's stupid. Okay, I don't agree with 9 players surrounding a referee but disciplinary for swearing isn't right for me given the adrenaline that is rushing through players (especially during certain games). Agressive players like Rooney and Vardy have got no chance of avoiding bookings.

Someone was always going to say it...so it may as well be me. It's about time something was done about the way some players react, and I hope the refs stick to their guns otherwise things will never change (I doubt they'll properly enforce it all anyway).

 

And here comes the one everyone was waiting for.... You can't use adrenaline or 'aggressive players' as an example, when you put it alongside rugby. It's far more adrenaline fuelled and aggressive by nature. Before anyone says it's different because the players were brought up to respect refs and bite their tongue....Every grown man should be able to bite his tongue or kerb his emotions enough to not swear at a ref or grab him, knowing full well the sanctions and possibly the cost to his team.

 

I'm braced for the backlash.

[filbertway]

8 minutes ago, Darkon84 said:

Someone was always going to say it...so it may as well be me. It's about time something was done about the way some players react, and I hope the refs stick to their guns otherwise things will never change (I doubt they'll properly enforce it all anyway).

 

And here comes the one everyone was waiting for.... You can't use adrenaline or 'aggressive players' as an example, when you put it alongside rugby or other sports. It's far more adrenaline fuelled and aggressive by nature. Before anyone says it's different because the players were brought up to respect refs and bite their tongue....Every grown man should be able to bite his tongue or kerb his emotions enough to not swear at a ref or grab him, knowing full well the sanctions and possibly the cost to his team.

 

I'm braced for the backlash.

Bang on.

[Fox92]

18 minutes ago, Darkon84 said:

Someone was always going to say it...so it may as well be me. It's about time something was done about the way some players react, and I hope the refs stick to their guns otherwise things will never change (I doubt they'll properly enforce it all anyway).

 

And here comes the one everyone was waiting for.... You can't use adrenaline or 'aggressive players' as an example, when you put it alongside rugby. It's far more adrenaline fuelled and aggressive by nature. Before anyone says it's different because the players were brought up to respect refs and bite their tongue....Every grown man should be able to bite his tongue or kerb his emotions enough to not swear at a ref or grab him, knowing full well the sanctions and possibly the cost to his team.

 

I'm braced for the backlash.

 

Agree something should be done, but all this? Not for me. Referee's get too much protection. 

 

I go to games and when I don't agree with a decision I usually scream "oh ffs ref" - that's not aimed at him, it's just about the decision. Emotions are at full force during games, even in the stands, but after it's nothing personal and once the games over everybody shakes hands and moves on.

[Darkon84]

3 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

 

Agree something should be done, but all this? Not for me. Referee's get too much protection. 

 

I go to games and when I don't agree with a decision I usually scream "oh ffs ref" - that's not aimed at him, it's just about the decision. Emotions are at full force during games, even in the stands, but after it's nothing personal and once the games over everybody shakes hands and moves on.

 

It all probably does look like they've gone to town with this, but we all know that some of those will be allowed to slide, like gently touching a ref to get his attention when his backs turned etc. Even then, they'll probably only enforce the others for a couple of weeks then  give up, like last time they tried to introduce respect for refs.

Yep, we all get a bit emotional etc, but it is possible to keep your cool. I've had to sit at games before where there's a little kid next to me, and yes, the kid will be exposed to language at a game, but I still try and manage to tone it down. They can still shout FFS, just don't do it to officials, it's not difficult or much to ask anyway.