From teamtwaddle:

Bobby Robson is planning for the start of next season already even though there are three Premiership games left. He said: "From what I can gather the build up last year was too demanding and that took its toll. When it came to the start of the season we had players carrying injuries and that resulted in just one point from the first 6 games." Ruud Gullit arranged an intense build-up with 9 matches in 17 days played in 4 countries. Robson is opting for a more relaxed approach. "We're going to America in late July and we'll play Washington on the 22nd and Cleveland in Ohio on the 26th. Then we'll come back to Europe to play at Feyenoord on August 6. Pre-season games are important but its vital that the players are fully fit first." This season is easing down already, with the players in yesterday but have been given the next couple of days off.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

Answers

Actually it's Columbus, Ohio. But hey...it's all Ohio. Though the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Cleveland and the only other reason to go to Ohio that I can think of. ;-)

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

Been to Columbus once..... birth place of Jack Nicklaus. NUFC going there will be their second claim to fame!

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

Yeah, yeah. The Umbro Tournament in which he got injured was even lower key. TSM NEVER overdid pre-season but managed to start the season with Al injured and Ferd sold. ))-: The reason, by the way, that the club doesn't want the fans to know (and clubs never do) and the reason these friendlies are so rarely in the UK is that they don't want fans coming along in numbers to put any competitive pressure on them. I'd probably be far happier for him to play if it wasn't for the damage done to him by pre-seasons; we will never know how great a player Alan Shearer may have BECOME.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000