First team fly out to Dubai for mid-season break

The name Riley springs to mind.

Why not go somewhere somewhat colder. Similar to what they have to perform in each week. I mean you don’t need sun to relax.

Let's hope it has a positive effect on results and not the opposite.

It’s a hard life for millionaires, isn’t it?

I think teams going out there is more to do with the corporate side of clubs and is fuck all to do with this mysterious benefit to players fitness and mentality.

Shame I could not carry their luggage!

Jesus, let’s not take an opportunity to bring the lads to a country where they're known and respected and would DEFINITELY get press coverage. No, let’s go to fucking Dubai.

They should have come over here. Different thing in the Spring, when many other big clubs come over to plant their flag. Combine that with the fact, soccer fans here well-know Roberto as a pundit from the Euros when he was at Wigan and the last World Cup.

Given his attraction to microphones and TV cameras, Roberto would have been on the TV at every opportunity, which could only be good for EFC’s profile over here.

But, hey, what’s the States when sunny Dubai beckons.

Sorry to be positive on here but ffs stop finding things wrong all the time and get yourselves a girlfriend, boyfriend or hobby and stop finding fault.

I believe in the "project" – not short termism; we're not a sacking manager club, despite what you’re force-fed by the tabloids or TalkSport. Smile, enjoy life... it can be Phenomenal!

But it did not last; we then slumped again in the last few games. So did the break actually work... Who knows???

We would be better off sending Martinez away to finish his coaching badge.... what’s that you say? He has his coaching badges. You could have fooled me!!! Well send him away to maybe learn a Plan B... or even a Plan C. Or maybe just make him listen to a few senior players. Baines springs to mind. Maybe Jags and Barry. How about Big Duncan Ferguson?

Everton had an old motto (I honestly don’t know if it still applies to the club today): "Help, not Hinder". Somebody should tell Martinez that. COYBs.

I know full well that there is a section of the fans who have never taken to him, nor probably ever will. But sometimes, the sniping beggars belief. I saw so many negative comments about Saturday’s win over Bournemouth that I was shocked.

I have NO doubt that RM wants to get things right and is doing everything in his power to achieve great things. It was never going to be achieved quickly. He needs our full support for at least another 12 months before we really question his position.

Talking about these overpaid prats, did anyone see Fernandinho showing off his Jimmy Choo’s yesterday on MotD whilst messing around in his indoor football pitch? Those shoes cost a bomb.

We are Everton, do we need to be brave and dare a little. It’s squeaky bum time, no matter what!

There’s places all over the entire fucking world they coud have chosen to go to, James. Why see it as some kind of snub to the States? I don’t see anyone from anywhere else taking it personal like:

"They’re taking the piss by not coming over to Pontypridd. They could’ve had a go on the Pitt ponies, wandered into the Dr Who experience, and then crunched along that street comprised of discarded curry and chips cartons, dirty knickers and dog crap. Not any old dog crap either. The classic '80s white kind that you don’t really come across anymore. But, nooo, bunch of know-nothing, inconsiderate bellends blow it off and bugger off to Dubai instead. What’s that all about???"

The lads have been superb all season, always punching above our weight.

Roberto should be given a few extra days rest too, as he has worked his plums off. It's all in the mind you see, thinking all the time about keeping the fans happy, whilst turning out performance after performance.

I can only imagine how hard Roberto must find his life, having to make like-for-like changes each match around the 65th and 75th minute.

1. It’s only a 7 hour flight.

2. It’s only a 4 hour time difference.

3. We have about 10 days before we play again.

4. Footballers have a lot of time on their hands and aren’t the brightest bunch when it comes to having time to themselves.

5. It’s good for team bonding/morale.

6. The weather in the UK is miserable – it’s sunny in Dubai.

7. They/Everton can afford it.

Personally I think it’s a good idea – we’d all take it if we could wouldn’t we? Why not when otherwise they’d be twiddling their thumbs here for a week in the cold.

Weather is supposed to start getting better this week though.

Phil (#30), there’s plenty of booze over here.

According to a Premier League manager on 5Live this week, they do light training during the week but it’s primarily a chance for the players to interact and socialise with each other while out of the media spotlight. He saw it as an invaluable bonding exercise rather than a reward.

Frankly, I couldn’t give a toss what they do or where they go if it ultimately improves results.

Seriously though I'd much prefer what Moyes used to do and just work them really hard in the Lakes or Scotland cycling up mountains etc , apparently it got them all ten times fitter.

The worry with warm weather training is sometimes coming back into a cold climate takes a few days getting used to again, and as already stated, it didn't exactly work that much this time last year.

Um...I'm not a millionaire, consequently my life is full of the type of frustrations suffered by non-millionaires the world over.

Now if I just let those frustrations morph into a sort of angry envy...

BASTARDS!!! If they're not killed in The inevitable war of..erm..Dubai, they'll be burnt to death by the sun, the overpaid, spoiled....SHIT-HOUSES!!!

Ahhh, that feels better, you can't whack Toffeevent.

Come on, people, this is hardly news or even new.

However, it is really humid for most of the year and most sportsmen have difficulty working in the climate.Going to Dubai is something that they should play down and not promote as most fans cannot afford these breaks and it seems that players are being pampered for under-performing.

Oumar Niasse in particular must think 'what a job he has got' – free holidays for doing nothing.

Sorted

I've even supped the demon drink with Dubai Govt ministers, in private. Principles versus practice.

I thought our club was one of the few with scruples so why support yet another institutionally racist gulf country like Qatar and its thousand plus deaths on building the stadiums for the bent World Cup in 2022...

There’s my ToffeeVent!

Insane venting by the look of it.

"Dubai!? They should all be forced to make shoes from hollowed-out melons and forced to hop all the way Leeds...bollocko!"

"I think Kenya/Peebles/Athens/Jibrovia (name somewhere that isn't Dubai) would have been better"

"With the money they fucking earn, we should be allowed to shoot them all in the face with a nail-gun, then march them to Alder Hey and force them to dance for the nurses in a really gay way"

As for the Jose Baxter thread, I'm scared to look.

"Get hold of the little twat, then fill a bath full of acid and sharks..."

Although part of me wonders if we're having a warm weather camp in the middle of the season for that reason, why haven't we done it in preseason to build fitness up?

Either way, if it helps us improve results over the last 12 games so we at least finish in the top half then what harm can it do?