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West Ham United vs Newcastle United - Sat 18th Jan @ 3.00pm


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Had news that the United squad were jetting off for a mid season break broken in December when results were going their way, then few would have begrudged them the trip.

 

However things are now slightly less positive and word that Pardew & Co. are Dubai-bound after West Ham risks a fan backlash if things don't go our way in E13 and our winless streak extends to five against Big Sham's XI.

 

So rather than preparing for an FA Cup Fourth Round tie at some less exotic location (our conquerors Cardiff City are off to Bolton), the Newcastle players - and their golf clubs - will be getting in some "warm weather training." Nice work if you can get it....

 

A 0-2 loss at Charlton Athletic in 2001 that preceded a pre-arranged trip to La Manga left Sir Bobby Robson admitting he was embarrassed to be associated with - and would rather just go home to lick his wounds.

 

His squad promptly responded to their sunshine break - by failing to win any of their next five league games.

 

And more recently, United flew to Tenerife in the wake of a 2-5 defeat at Fulham in 2012, with Pardew admitting to a lack of mental discipline in his side. They then returned for an FA Cup exit at second tier side Brighton before getting their act together in the Premier League. 

 

In addition to the training pitch work though, part of the mid-season break is to improve spirit by "bonding sessions" - a perfect opportunity to integrate new faces into the group, were we to have any....

 

Presumably Kinnear will be going for a few drinks.

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We can't handle a short hop to Bruges or Bordeaux and play well in the PL yet Pardew is expecting them to perform at Norwich next tuesday night after a long haul trip to Dubai???????????????

 

Sssshhhhhhhh

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He's not having to prepare for another match in between though. It's just warm weather training. He'll still prepare for Norwich like he would do if he wasn't travelling.

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Yep, he certainly never mentioned the actual travelling being a problem last season. Ahem.

 

A difference between this, and a flight late on a Thursday night/early Friday morning after a match and having a match within 3 days. I know that's still no excuse but it's nowhere near the same as this.

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Yep, he certainly never mentioned the actual travelling being a problem last season. Ahem.

 

A difference between this, and a flight late on a Thursday night/early Friday morning after a match and having a match within 3 days. I know that's still no excuse but it's nowhere near the same as this.

Long flight and the time difference means you get to Dubai after midnight and when you return the flight leaves Dubai at 0721 meaning a very early startand long flight again.

 

It's exactly the same.

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Guest Haris Vuckic

 

Clubs have been doing warm weather training for decades - or failing that just going on holiday.

 

It's no big deal.

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Clubs have been doing warm weather training for decades - or failing that just going on holiday.

 

It's no big deal.

 

Exactly man. I remember after a defeat at Charlton in the 00-01 season, even Sir Bobby getting a bit of stick for taking the squad to Portugal (I think?) when there was an FA Cup weekend and him having to defend it.

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