Newcastle United pre-season tour now cancelled – Report | OneFootball

For some time there have been media reports that a Newcastle United pre-season tour to the USA was set to happen this summer.

No specifics had been detailed as yet, just that the NUFC first team squad were heading back over the pond for the first time in pre-season since summer 2015.

Now it has been revealed by The Mail that Newcastle United and Wolves had agreed to be part of a four team tournament in July, with La Liga clubs Villarreal and Valencia also participating.

The tournament was to go under the title of the ‘Ohio Cup’ according to the newspaper exclusive, with plans said to have been at a very advanced stage, with matches split between stadiums in Columbus and Cincinnati.

However…The Mail say that this Ohio Cup has now been cancelled, leaving the four clubs looking for alternative summer arrangements.

The newspaper appear confident in terms of Newcastle’s intended involvements and that the tournament has indeed now been cancelled. However, they don’t have any concrete info on why this cancellation has happened, speculating that there were worries about how many tickets would be sold and / or claims that MLS approval had not been given, something which would be needed before any such tournament was allowed to take place.

With this Newcastle United pre-season tour plan seemingly now a no go, Eddie Howe said to be looking for other options. The Mail pointing out that another trip to Saudi Arabia is unlikely to be considered due to the temperatures. I have just googled it and apparently it is rare for daily temperatures in Saudi Arabia in July, not to go up to at least 105 degrees Farenheit (over 40 degrees Celsius).

The newspaper report claims that Wolves are still expected to travel to the USA and are trying to arrange games with MLS clubs.

With the MLS having July bang in the middle of their league season, it makes arranging friendlies very difficult for Premier League clubs. The last Newcastle United pre-season tour in 2015 saw NUFC take on a Mexican side and two local teams who played below MLS level.

Following that summer 2015 USA tour under Steve McClaren, Newcastle United of course went on to be relegated…

The newspaper predictably trying to make a big drama out of their ‘exclusive’ with claims of Newcastle United now in ‘disarray’ with their Summer plans, however, whilst it isn’t helpful if indeed planned friendlies aren’t going ahead, I doubt it will be a serious problem coming up with alternatives. Especially with the club now being run properly and no longer penny pinching decisions that ultimately could cost the team big time when it comes to properly preparing for next season.

There are only eleven weeks between seasons and so the players set for six weeks off at the very most, maybe only five, before pre-season starts.