Dubai - Training

[Royal Ginger]

Dubai is a long way to go just for four days warm weather?

7 hour flight, people go there for less time on a holiday

I did a holiday to Dubai a couple of years ago for four days in February. It was fine. It's not that hot there either this time of year. Low 30s, so not far off that 2 week summer we get at the end of April.

[Royal Ginger]

Interesting (or not) that Roberts hasn't gone to Dubai with the rest of the team.

OS only mentions Guthrie not traveling. Surely the team wouldn't let him stay behind for media commitments?

[Cypry]

Interesting (or not) that Roberts hasn't gone to Dubai with the rest of the team.

OS only mentions Guthrie not traveling. Surely the team wouldn't let him stay behind for media commitments?

Where did you see that? Was he on radio / tv today?
Perhaps he had a prior commitment and will fly out today?

Alternatively, Brian has pitched it as "preparation for the next game" - hardly relevant to Roberts if he's out for the long term? Did McCarthy travel? One assumes not if they only took 26 players (the 25 plus under age qualifiers, minus Guthrie and long term injured?).

Think you might be reading too much into this...

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

As Al Wasl where they are training is a mile or so from my office, I was going to pop over right about now but can't be arsed.

FTR, it was a bit damp and misty this morning, but is a lovely, sunny day now.

[Royal Ginger]

Interesting (or not) that Roberts hasn't gone to Dubai with the rest of the team.

OS only mentions Guthrie not traveling. Surely the team wouldn't let him stay behind for media commitments?

Where did you see that? Was he on radio / tv today?
Perhaps he had a prior commitment and will fly out today?

Alternatively, Brian has pitched it as "preparation for the next game" - hardly relevant to Roberts if he's out for the long term? Did McCarthy travel? One assumes not if they only took 26 players (the 25 plus under age qualifiers, minus Guthrie and long term injured?).

Think you might be reading too much into this...

I fully grant that it may be completely innocent, he was on MOTD 2. Just thought it was worth noting. McCarthy is in Dubai, and he's also on the long term croaked bench.

[Aubery Boyce]

Even better, send them to that place that the Marine recruits trained at in Full Metal Jacket.

With McDermott reminding them he has no favourites, they are all equally worthless?

Are McDermott's instructions to weed out all non hackers who don't have the gear to serve in his beloved Corps (Club) ?

[Silver Fox]

Warm weather training is as much a part of modern football as entitled belmonts beefing on the internet

[Barry the bird boggler]

Danny Guthrie has not travelled because of the situation with his wife's pregnancy (she's about due and is having a difficult time) so it's quite right for him to choose to stay with her.

[melonhead]

Hope we're not going to get talk of 'black holes' this year.

This sort of expense (PL decadence) would seem to be something the club could curtail without too much harm.

If they want 'warm weather training' stick them in The Dome and bring some heaters and lamps in! Warm weather training in preparation for a freezing cold and/or wet evening in Manchester?!

couple of days training in dubai isnt really going to break any banks

[melonhead]

Interesting (or not) that Roberts hasn't gone to Dubai with the rest of the team.

OS only mentions Guthrie not traveling. Surely the team wouldn't let him stay behind for media commitments?

Where did you see that? Was he on radio / tv today?
Perhaps he had a prior commitment and will fly out today?

Alternatively, Brian has pitched it as "preparation for the next game" - hardly relevant to Roberts if he's out for the long term? Did McCarthy travel? One assumes not if they only took 26 players (the 25 plus under age qualifiers, minus Guthrie and long term injured?).

Think you might be reading too much into this...

I fully grant that it may be completely innocent, he was on MOTD 2. Just thought it was worth noting. McCarthy is in Dubai, and he's also on the long term croaked bench.

mcarthy back in training, hoped to be back by the end of the month
roberts possibly out very long term forever

[RoyalBlue]

Hope we're not going to get talk of 'black holes' this year.

This sort of expense (PL decadence) would seem to be something the club could curtail without too much harm.

If they want 'warm weather training' stick them in The Dome and bring some heaters and lamps in! Warm weather training in preparation for a freezing cold and/or wet evening in Manchester?!

couple of days training in dubai isnt really going to break any banks

20+ and all of the backup staff? Whichever way you work it, that is not going to be cheap, particularly for a club that has a history of being extremely careful about other expenditure and yet still struggles to balance the books.

Nice life being a PL footballer, even at Reading!

[Extended-Phenotype]

Hope we're not going to get talk of 'black holes' this year.

This sort of expense (PL decadence) would seem to be something the club could curtail without too much harm.

If they want 'warm weather training' stick them in The Dome and bring some heaters and lamps in! Warm weather training in preparation for a freezing cold and/or wet evening in Manchester?!

couple of days training in dubai isnt really going to break any banks

I hear they are flying Ryanair and staying in a Formule 1 hotel.

[Rex]

Blimey. Why is everyone so negative?

Some sun and vitamin D, get away from the cold, rain and snow. Maybe a reward for a good run of results?

I think it's a great idea to recharge the batteries like that for the last 12 games.

Yeah it's almost as if people envy the club going on a team build. Perhaps Butlins was fully booked for those who think the club should not get above their station.

[Ian Herring]

After their performance at Stoke they should be sent to Slough for a training camp, not Dubai

Sloughdi Arabia's not far from Dubai, tbf

[Arch]

McCarthy is in Dubai, and he's also on the long term croaked bench.

So tragic.

[Royal Ginger]

McCarthy is in Dubai, and he's also on the long term croaked bench.

So tragic.

My point. Don't think he's coming back.

[scumbag]

Yeah it's almost as if people envy the club going on a team build. Perhaps Butlins was fully booked for those who think the club should not get above their station.

We should've taken a leaf out of Leed's book and headed to Flamingo Land;

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

Blimey - maybe we should just play the rest of the season in Dubai..... http://www.sport360.com/football/premier-league-clubs-head-uae-winter-break

English Premier League clubs are the latest to descend on the UAE as Swansea City, Reading, Norwich City, Queens Park Rangers AND West Ham United take advantage of the warmer winter climate to enjoy some respite from the colder conditions of the British Isles.

Last month, a swathe of Bundesliga clubs, including Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Gladbach flew over to the UAE for some warm-weather training and friendly matches, while a host of national teams set up base here ahead of the African Cup of Nations.

And now is the turn of the Premier League to jet over for a sunny break ahead of the intensity of the season run-in.

Swansea arrive in the Emirates off the back of an impressive league victory over Queens Park Rangers and will use their warm-weather training camp as a chance to prepare for their Capital One Cup final against Bradford City on February 24.

The Swans, currently seventh in the Premier League table, will be setting up camp in Dubai and a couple of their players took to social media ahead of their arrival. Winger Nathan Dyer wrote on Twitter: “OFF TO DUBAI!!”while on-loan midfielder Jonathan De Guzman posted a picture on his Facebook page of the players on the plane.

In stark contrast to Swansea’s fortunes this season, Norwich, Reading and QPR will hope to use their respective breaks in the Emirates as a chance to re-energise ahead of what is sure to be a tense, nail-biting relegation battle.

QPR remain mired to the bottom of the table, seven points clear of safety, and manager Harry Redknapp will want his players to take the break in Dubai to refocus before giving their all to retain their Premier League status.

Reading, who will also be based in Dubai, are not faring much better than QPR this season. However, Brian McDermott’s squad is just one point away from safety and a run of positive results could see them climb out of the basement.

One of Reading’s players – defender Sean Morrison – expressed his delight at spending a few days in the sunshine when he tweeted: “Annnnnnnnnd we're off! ... Dubai bound.”

While the Swansea, Reading and QPR set up camp in Dubai, Norwich have opted for the slightly less hectic setting of Abu Dhabi.

Chris Hughton has decided to take his players to the UAE capital and while they are currently six points above the drop zone, the Canaries will use the trip to Abu Dhabi to recharge before expending their efforts in the last few months of the season to ensure their top-flight safety.

Finally, West Ham United and their manager Sam Allardyce will also be in the UAE over the next few days and will be residing in Dubai.

'Big Sam' will be the star attraction at 'An evening with' on Wednesday, February 13 at the Movenpick Hotel on JBR. Entrance is free with the Hammers boss regaling his experiences in football from 9pm onwards.

[loyalroyal4life]

Sunderland are in Dubai this week as well

[Rex]

Was there some GM with the all the PL clubs management.!!