Pearson: "Too many pre-season games"

[HitchinFox]

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leicester-City-face-MK-Dons-hectic-schedule-goes/story-22065556-detail/story.html

 

Leicester City play the first of their back-to-back pre-season friendlies tonight when they travel to MK Dons.

It has been an extremely hectic schedule for Nigel Pearson's men, who are in the middle of a run of three games in just four days, as they build up to their Premier League opener against Everton in 12 days' time. City face another trip to Rotherham tomorrow.

 

Their clash against the Millers tomorrow will complete a spell of five pre-season games in the space of 10 days, starting with City's 1-0 victory against Everton, in Thailand.

 

"We have got probably one too many games for my liking but that is how it is," said Pearson.

"I would prefer to have more training-field time than playing games but we are slightly higher profile now and there is a need for us to play more games at times."

 

Pearson will select one team to face MK Dons, while a completely separate side will take on Rotherham, allowing all the first-team squad to have a full 90 minutes of football before taking on Bundesliga side Werder Bremen at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

 

"If people then start making the assumption that the side that starts against Werder Bremen is the side that will start the Premier League, I think they will be getting ahead of themselves," said Pearson.

 

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Not quite sure what to make of this. Pearson says he would've liked more time on the training pitch - is he not in charge of how and where the squad prepares for the season? Is he told where the team is needed (ie. a meaningless game in Thailand which could've been played in the UK - taking out two days' worth of traveling). 

Not a pessimist and don't want to read too much into this but strikes me a bit odd that Pearson would:

a) Not be in full control of the team's pre-season schedule

b) Go public with his criticism

Am I looking into it too much? Just find it a bit odd. 

[Deucalion]

I think it's odd too.

 

Last time Pearson was openly critical of the club in an interview, he left for Hull shortly after.

 

I don't see why being PL means we have to play more lower division clubs in friendlies.

 

I don't think people should get too carried away but it does indicate someone other than Pearson is interfering with our pre-season, and in Pearson's opinion, to the detriment of our preparations.

[Captain...]

He was just taking the piss out of Van Gaal, mind games innit.

[purpleronnie]

If it's too many why would the club schedule so many?  Can't be money...I mean Ilkeston/MK dons/rotherham/preston etc....

[Finnaldo]

Maybe Terry Robinson sorted them?

[Hungry Hungry Fox]

He's hardly being that critical is he?

[Corky]

I doubt he'd have wanted the match in Thailand, with all the travelling involved then coming back to four games in six days.

[Dr The Singh]

I doubt he'd have wanted the match in Thailand, with all the travelling involved then coming back to four games in six days.

\this

[shade]

I don't think I've ever heard anything so scathing as "We have got probably one too many games for my liking but that is how it is". wouldn't be surprised if he's gone before EFC.

[Deucalion]

I don't think I've ever heard anything so scathing as "We have got probably one too many games for my liking but that is how it is". wouldn't be surprised if he's gone before EFC.

 

You're missing the point.

 

Why would he criticise a schedule he had organised?

 

Therefore, if he didn't organise the schedule, who did?

 

And it is not like Pearson to go public if he is not happy.  

 

These things make this interview notable and worthy of discussion.

[lcfcsnow]

I heard that interview, if he feels we have too many games can't we just send the U21's and squad players to tonight's or tomorrow's match? Seems a bit silly to arrange first team friendlies on consecutive days.

[C-man]

Maybe they could have binned off the game against MK ****** and done themselves, as well as football in general, a favour.

[Captain...]

I heard that interview, if he feels we have too many games can't we just send the U21's and squad players to tonight's or tomorrow's match? Seems a bit silly to arrange first team friendlies on consecutive days.

 

They are fitness exercises, giving every player in the squad a full 90 minutes requires 2 full games.

[Hungry Hungry Fox]

I heard that interview, if he feels we have too many games can't we just send the U21's and squad players to tonight's or tomorrow's match? Seems a bit silly to arrange first team friendlies on consecutive days.

We do it most pre seasons tbh

I'm expecting this to be blown out of all proportion

Managers aren't in control of all the pre season arrangement, non of the managers of the teams that have played in the tournament in America had a say in it

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

I also find it peculiar for Pearson to make that remark. My conclusion is:

 

A- He is not happy about someone interfering in the pre season trip to Thailand.

 

B- He has selected the fixtures and realizes he has made a mistake

 

C- Pearson is finding that he does not have the final say, into what he considers is his remit.

 

It does appear that reading between the lines, he is not a happy bunny, and that is worrying, especially on the verge of what will prove to be a difficult and problematical season.

 

I believe that C is the real reason, but that is only my view.

[Hungry Hungry Fox]

I also find it peculiar for Pearson to make that remark. My conclusion is:

A- He is not happy about someone interfering in the pre season trip to Thailand.

B- He has selected the fixtures and realizes he has made a mistake

C- Pearson is finding that he does not have the final say, into what he considers is his remit.

It does appear that reading between the lines, he is not a happy bunny, and that is worrying, especially on the verge of what will prove to be a difficult and problematical season.

I believe that C is the real reason, but that is only my view.

It's amazing the conclusions people come to

[stevelcfc]

Pre-season, people are bored,  I'll let you conclude.

 

Lots of people with psych degrees, either that or they are Sherlock.

[FrankieWorthoYaggedMyWife]

The Thailand game was shoe horned in after the original schedule was confirmed. Added to that the loss of training days due to travelling etc and I would imagine that's it. Organising pre-season is not a managers job and lower teams now see us as the "glamour" tie in their schedule when they can actually pull in a few quid from spectators

 

Long couple of weeks until season starts and we actually have something less trivial to discuss!

[surrifox]

or a couple of players might have picked up niggles and strains and he was just reflecting on that

[veezeeblue]

He was just taking the piss out of Van Gaal, mind games innit.

 

next thing you know he will say we have no chance of winning the league anymore 

[Focks]

"I would prefer to have more training-field time"... He's getting his excuses in early ready for the poor start that we'll probably have

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[blue blood]

Or he knows we were a bit flat against PNE so wants to take the light off the players incase we are looking lethargic in the next 2.

 

Its all about the fitness, nothing more.

[thybluefox]

Wouldn't be surprised if there's only a couple of substitutions in each of these 2 games - like someone said above it'll be a fitness exercise to get everyone a pretty much full 90 mins before 'Bremen on Saturday, and Everton next week. 

[Steve_Guppy_Left_Foot]

Can't believe nobody has mentioned why we CLEARLY went to Thailand for a game. Our owners are from there, they've made a huge investment in this club and we're now a pretty big team in Thailand, you can tell that by the way we were greeted/treated out there. Their team has just got promoted to the premier league, of course they're going to parade us round, the potential money the owners could make from both Leicester City and King Power in Thailand has now increased substantially.

[GingerrrFox]

Nigel didn't organise the friendly with Everton in Thailand. That was a board decision. They stayed on English time whilst over there so as to avoid jet lag etc but Nigel was not overly fond of the circus that they encountered there.