It's a time when the large visit the little, and the huge make voyages east and west. Pre-season friendlies seem to be less about blooding new stars and young players, and more about making a few extra quid in new markets.
Liverpool had to import fans from Malayia to fill the Kop
With the disparity in incomes between Premier League clubs and their lower division neighbours, some 'generous' big clubs often borrow facilities for reserve games, and boast of partnerships. The debt is often repaid by way of a glamorous July friendly, where the big club may unveil a new signing or two, and then chuck the kids on for the second half. A double figure victory later, and things return to normal for another year. Until the agreement falls through for various reasons, the friendly vanishes, and the smaller club loses a valuable cash cow, all so that the big team can play in Nigeria for a few notes.
The two handsome chaps in the background enjoy Barnet v Arsenal in 2008
The main reason for friendlies now is to earn big bucks and nothing else. Sell some shirts in Japan, boost the sponsorships with Koreans, try and win over a franchise in Texas. We see the footage on Sky Sports of thousands of young Asian youths fawning over Premier League players, wearing replica shirts. Clubs whoring themselves knowing they are due a new sponsor in a couple of seasons so they need to up the profile. Premier League clubs playing each other in Beijing, a slightly watered down version of the vulgar game 39 suggestion.
Tevez in front of a packed crowd
At the weekend, Manchester City lost 1-0 to Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia in a friendly played in Austria. Do the club even care that they lost? We'll see come May whether it was worth it.
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