Newcastle begin pre-season preparations.

Posted on July 5th, 2010 | 26 Comments |

Pre-season training begins.
Pre-season training begins.
Today is a day that should send shivers down the spine of a professional footballer, well any footballer in fact.

The Newcastle squad reunite today for pre-season training as they step up their preparation for life back in the big time, and by the end of today those summer indulgences will seem a million miles away, particularly for some of the older professionals we have on our books!

Speaking of my own footballing experience, I can confirm what most already know, and that is that pre-season is a horrible place to be. No matter how many times you are told “it will be worth it in the end”, it doesn’t take the pain away from trying to get your body back in the condition needed, and that was just at Zamaretto League level.

Having said that, there will no doubt be subtle differences in the training regime I had to follow and the ones that professionals have to follow. No doubt they will have been on specially formulated diets over the summer with their own personalised light exercise regimes that they should have been following, but on the flipside to my experience, our lads will need to get themselves into a much better shape than I ever was, and so they bloody well should be given the money they get!

It’s now just 40 days, give or take a fixture change for TV coverage, until we kick-off our Premier League campaign at Manchester United, and the squad will need to ensure they are as fit and prepared as can be for what is a tough welcome back to the elite league.

Our pre-season campaign is mapped out and, as said earlier, starts today at Darsley Park before heading off for a training camp in Ireland on Thursday. Our first game is scheduled for Saturday 17th July against Carlisle whlist our pre-season campaign will draw to a close against Rangers on Saturday 7th August. Below is a list of confirmed pre-season dates:

Monday 5th July – Pre-season officially starts at Darsley Park.
Thursday 8th July – Pre-season training camp at Carton House, Co Kildare, Rep of Ireland.
Saturday 17th July – Carlisle United (a), 1:00pm KO.
Saturday 24th July – Norwich City (a), 3:00pm KO.
Saturday 31st July – PSV Eindhoven (h), 3:00pm KO.
Tuesday 3rd August – Deportivo La Coruna (a), 8:00pm KO.
Saturday 7th August – Rangers (a), 1:00pm KO.

That is about the size of it, although there are rumours that Newcastle are looking to squeeze another fixture in there somewhere.

Most of the squad should be meeting back up today with the exception of Jonas Gutierrez, who was on World Cup duty with the Argies, and Danny Simpson who is sidelined through injury. You never know, things may start getting sorted out with regard to player contracts, player arrivals and player departures, or am I just being incredibly optimistic?

Whatever happens, at least we now have something to focus on. The disappointing World Cup is nearly behind us and we can get back to the bread and butter of our collective affection, the salt of the earth that is Newcastle United.

Howay the lads!

NUFCBlog Author: toonsy toonsy has written 643 articles on this blog.

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Comment on this post

26 Responses

  1. And so we go again.

    Pre season’s here already and unlike other clubs which’ve got their transfers sorted or near sorted, what progress have we made? Zilch! Diddley squat!

    Let’s hope we get some movement before the pre-season gets going in earnest.

  2. There’re news that Newcastle United will come to Thailand
    and joins in with Sevilla for a football match in August to be honoured to The Queen.

    I don’t if this is gonna happen but surely they’re been talking.

  3. ABC – Not so sure about August? Our first game is only a week after the last pre-season game. If they could fit it i somewhere else then I would say it would be a great move, commercially especially.

  5. The Journo says, Hughton Ready to spring shock in transfer market……

    yeay, we ar actually gonna sign someone!! Im in SHOCK

  6. Toon R, thats my point earlier…

    The headline says Hughton ready to spring shock.

    All the story says is that he is suprised of the quality of players available – not that is he gona make offers for them or if they are interested in coming.
    So really its a story about nothing thats getting everyone excited.

  10. There ya’ go Perch fee agreed.
    Could be a decent back up.
    Sometimes bloggers get it right.
    Howay then flash!
    ;)

  12. So we do have money to spend and we have signed someone!

    Well, well. There’s gonna be a lot of red-faced bloggers out there this morning.

    Haha – unlucky lads!

    TOON ARMY!!!!

  13. Rich – It will probably be ‘undisclosed’, most fees under this regime have been.

  14. Look its fawty days until Manu , i believe we will buy at least 2 if not three players, 20 million has been put aside by cashley, we may obtain a couple on loan too, as this will lower the costs and yearly wage bills are in a different budget area . Things are promising , but we need positivity KTF,,,,,

  16. TC – I don’t think Perch is owt to shout about :lol:

    Would have preferred Samuel, and he still hasn’t agreed wages yet ;)

  17. toonsy,
    dunno ’bout that like Samuel hasn’t cut it so far & is nearering 30, Perch has time to improve & should be up for it too.
    But who knows?

  18. Toonsy I left a comment on Saturday saying we were sniffing around Perch, for once my boss wasn’t talking sh*t!

  19. So back up for right back then. He’s no Phillip Lahm but at least we have a young decent talent who is versatile – the next Aaron Hughes perhaps ;)

  20. toonsy – any sort of signing is worth shouting about – especially after listening to some people on here pish and moan and whinge ALL summer long about how hopeless everything is.

  21. And… a little ditty from today’s Chronicle..

    “Sources in France claim that United are also keen on Toulouse’s Guinea international striker Fode Mansare”

    Mmmmmm

  22. You can’t really argue with TC’s logic there like.

    At least it’s a glimmer.

  23. I personally think CH has made some astute signings since he became manager, and I have faith he will strengthen the squad sufficiently to keep us up.