Liverpool FC Forum

[Paul C]

Did Rafa start this or Houllier?

It was Houllier that started the Swiss trips, we also used to play some German (from near the Swiss boarder) teams under Houllier but Rafa trains them harder than GH did 

I know it's in German but it's from 2002

[Garymac]

Did Rafa start this or Houllier?

Start what?? Perseason tours?? They have been going on since time began, every team has, its just a thing teams do for preseason training.

Is this really that intresting??!!


Big clubs in going to training camp shocker, what ever next 

[Sabre]

Then again, he could always just go to that restaurant called 'La Tasca' in Liverpool cuty centre

Lol @ La Tasca, a very Spanish name indeed, it's a name used to very popular bars as in cheap bars, hope it's not a posh bar there.

Where as the points some mates have mentioned about the heights are true, Switzerland is not high enough for that. Indeed many cyclists go to Denver and Bolivia to prepare in winter. But they don't go usually to switzerland because the benefits for the oxigenation of blood are achieved in greater heights.

In the case of football, Austria and Switzerland are quite popular among the Spanish teams mainly because the lack of extreme heat and outstanding facilities. In the early stages of the pre season the ball is not touched very much and the players are asked to run a lot, (damn I haven't words for this), it's not worked the speed in running but making a lot of Km, and it's a good idea to avoid heat for that. Switzerland and Austria provide excellent terrains to do that.

And of course he might want to buy some clocks, of course as woof woof said. 

[anti-hero]

Simple.

Because Switzerland reminds Rafa of Spain.

What, with all the mountains and yodelers and all that.


-----

Ask Sabre. He knows.

If he wants to go somewhere that reminds him of Spain, why doesn't he go to, well, Spain 

Then again, he could always just go to that restaurant called 'La Tasca' in Liverpool cuty centre 

Well, you see..

If Rafa goes to Spain.. he has to land in Madrid first.

And Rafa doesnt want that cause we might get robbed.

You see, Rafa carries with him, wherever he goes, millions and millions worth of valuable, "stuff" and he doesnt want to go anywhere near Madrid because some bad man called Fabio is waiting to steal his treasure.

Most notably, Rafa's red ruby from Spain. You see, if you put the ruby on a football field, it can do wonderful things.

But this bad man, Fabio, wants to use the power of the ruby to do evil. You see, he wants to take over the world. And sell millions of T-Shirts at the same time.

But Rafa wants to keep ruby. He wants to use it to..


..


.. save the world and bring an end to poverty and war. And shame the mancs and rentboys along the way.


So you see?


Rafa is a clever man. He said to himself, "I think I will go to Switzerland. It is very much like Spain. Full of mountains and yodelers and tourists; and French and German and Italian people who drink Nestle."

"Diao! Pack the bags. Ve' ars gooing te Switzerland!"

"Why sir?"

"Because silly Fabio is not there. And it reminds me of Spain. And because I need a new Rolex. I've been wearing mine for 3 days already. And I do not like it anymore. Ok?"

"Ok."

You see?
-----

[aCe']

heheheh...good one anti-hero !

[J*o*n*D*o*e]

its so obvious, they go to switzerland because its the only chance they get to see the bank manager.

[Bad Bob]

at Woof's comment

In the case of football, Austria and Switzerland are quite popular among the Spanish teams mainly because the lack of extreme heat and outstanding facilities.

I figured the facilities would be top drawer--they're feckin' Swiss after all!  --but that's a good point about the heat, Sabre.  I gather Arsenal are currently training in Austria so it's not just the Spanish coaches who have cottoned on to this, I guess.

[Sabre]

Of course there are other teams that go to England like Real Sociedad. But after a embarrasing 1-0 defeat against Doncaster Rovers and a boring draw against Huddersfield Town, I wasn't in the mood to comment it. (not bothered at all, it's the first week of training and we played two different teams each part of the game) Next RS will be playing Leicester and West Brom.

In those cases, we seek competitive teams that will put a high rythm to the players (and also give some kicks). Plus the English teams start 3 weeks before the preseason and provide a hard opposition. It's quite usual to see teams like Reading drawing against Spanish Primera teams in late July, early August.

[Leonmc0708]

Its simple, Montse needs a new watch.

[Effes]

Did Rafa start this or Houllier?

Start what?? Perseason tours?? They have been going on since time began, every team has, its just a thing teams do for preseason training.

Switzerland - funny arze

I like the fact we play Crewe and Wrexham to give them a boost too ( aswell as give us practice against English teams), wouldn't mind if that happened every season.

[Alonso14]

Ecuador’s national team were unbeaten at home for the qualifying stages I think, impressive considering they would have played Brazil and the Argies. It was apparently down to their stadium being at just a high altitude that the opposition wasn’t used to, and as Adam said there wasn’t as much oxygen in there air, therefore there fitness quickly falling not allowing them to perform at the highest level.

Of course the Ecuadorians players had adapted to this, there body’s producing more haemoglobin allowing them to be super fit when they play away as well.

I would imagine that Rafa is trying to get the players to adapt to the high altitude, increasing the amount of oxygen they can take in with one breath.

[tubby]

Seems like we've been holding summer training camps in Switzerland the past few seasons.  Anyone know the story behind this?  Has this been a long-standing thing or one of Rafa's changes?  Is it about fitness training at altitude or are there more important factors?

I'm curious!   

Is that where the camp "Bada Ragaz" is?

I know we used to train there under Houllier also. He used to say its a relaxed atmosphere where players can get away for a while and enjoy themselves as well as prepare.

Theres a big section on it on the "No heart as big as Liverpool DVD". 2001

[Cool Hand Luke]

i think yes what about you

[Bad Bob]

Well, whatever the reason it didn't work this summer!










(Before anyone has a go...I'm making a joke about our form in the friendlies played while on the continent.  I don't for one minute think that the squad didn't benefit from the training and bonding time together!)

[Sabre]

Well, whatever the reason it didn't work this summer! 

Or maybe it did!!!!!!!!! Bad Bob. This weeks in Austria tend to be physically heavy and with little ball touching, and when you play some games after this physic sessions you tend to be cráp, rythmless!!! that work is seen later in the season.