pre-season

Meaningless" is the word most frequently attached to the term "pre-season friendly", yet for some fans the modern-football narrative always has resonance.

New report warns of a 'football bubble crash' unless spending is cut 2011

Cherry probably was referring to a pre-season game in late September when Toronto forward Darryl Boyce made a play for the puck behind the Philadelphia net and was driven into the boards from behind by Flyers enforcer Jody Shelley and broke his nose.

CBC | Top Stories News 2011

While the summer transfer window lasts until August 31, ideally teams like to sign players in June, shortly after the end of the season, because there is greater choice and because it allows the newcomer the benefit of a full pre-season's preparation with his new teammates.

Fulham Move Fast to Land Jol Gabriele Marcotti 2011

There is an acceptance at the club that standards of discipline slipped at the Cobham training base during recent regimes, with the new manager to outline his own code of conduct – a throwback to José Mourinho's spell in charge, a period in which Villas-Boas was directly involved – when the first-team squad return for pre-season training on 6 July.

André Villas-Boas: 'I'm expected to win straight away at Chelsea' 2011

Their parochial predecessors' pre-season and refuelling routines may now look prehistoric, but the classes of 2011 at Carrow Road and Loftus Road would be foolish to forget history's lessons.

Norwich City and QPR back in the Premier League after time away | Louise Taylor 2011

"We faced a similar situation with Radamel Falcao at Porto, who didn't find the net in pre-season and was frustrated, but we didn't fine-tune the team to provide for him," he said.

André Villas-Boas: 'I'm expected to win straight away at Chelsea' 2011

The Croatia midfielder and Tottenham's player of the year will report for pre-season training and have a meeting with Levy, accompanied by one of his representatives.

Luka Modric to hold talks with Tottenham chairman over his future 2011

While he intends to assess the playing squad from next week, he anticipates having a major say on incoming transfers, a role previously taken on by the departed sporting director, Frank Arnesen – Michael Emenalo is expected to be confirmed in a similar role this week – and has already succeeded in having the long-arranged pre-season friendly with Vitesse Arnhem on 9 July cancelled.

André Villas-Boas: 'I'm expected to win straight away at Chelsea' 2011

The much awaited season two of Heroes will start airing on September 24, and right now is a good time for NBC to start the pre-season hype.

Heroes Star | SciFi, Fantasy & Horror Collectibles 2009

He would prefer the deal to be done before he is due to report for pre-season training at Arsenal next Tuesday, meaning that he could remain in Spain.

Barcelona prepare to secure Arsenal's Cesc Fábregas with £35m bid 2011