20 Jul 2026 11:24:03
Apparently, the squad flies out to the US today.
Interesting to see that Bradley, Leoni, Hugo, Bajcetic and even Ramsey are joining them whereas last season we chose to leave Chiesa at home (citing injury) and sent Joe Gomez home mid-tour.
Is that because US training facilities are better than Asia or is that just better/more inclusive man management from Iraola? Hmmm.
20 Jul 2026 12:33:50
Really like this, it costs more than a few £, but got to be good from a motivation/management viewpoint, and also tactical preparation, ensuring everyone's on the same page.
20 Jul 2026 12:37:05
I'd say it's to get the tactics across and unity.
20 Jul 2026 12:52:37
Slot was just preparing them for all the time off they was going to get in the season.
?
20 Jul 2026 13:01:51
Think this is just good team management, keeping everyone together helps build team unity, think it's a clever idea.
20 Jul 2026 13:25:51
I think that it is widely understood that Slot had very little in the way of personal skills. I think he probably thought that it was more important for them to carry on with their recovery regime, even if it meant leaving them back home.
Iraola is different. He has far more people skills and likely sees the benefit of a squad being together even if some of the players are not fit enough to play. I much prefer that approach. We need a squad that are well bonded and will fight for each other.
20 Jul 2026 13:37:37
It's a full club attitude. As a 15 year old in our academy right now. Are you going to be motivated to push yourself as much when we have a manager who didn't give youth a legitimate chance even when things were completely crap? A manager that never went to any youth games or trainings, allegedly? All while pushing academy prospects out of the club or ostracising them?
I think that is the biggest lesson the club can learn from the last couple of years. I think our academy still needs a bit of a rework overall from what I have read.
But I will take a local talent coming through any day of the week over a 100 mill signing. It just hits different. Obviously would and will celebrate all of Isak's goals this season, but would there be even more emotion if it was a Jaydon Danns or any other youngster that's come through academy? For me it certainly does anyway. But I also think the sport of football for me as a fan is not just about winning. I like to be emotionally invested and entertained which isn't always the case when winning and can be the case even when losing.
20 Jul 2026 14:42:24
Presumably the coaching staff selected the pre-season squad last year and the current coaching staff selected the pre-season squad this year. Trying to compare is pointless - different approaches in place.