Asking Pep to care about literally anything other than adding to his precious trophy collection is like pissing into the wind.Perhaps Rodri should look at his own manager and ask why when Manchester City play an away game in the league cup against league one Oxford United, Guardiola picks Rodri, Foden and Bernardo in his starting line up. If Pep gave more of a shit about the tiredness of his players and less about how many trophies he can add to his collection, perhaps city players wouldn’t be complaining about playing too many games.
How many more games are they legitimately playing than say 20 years ago?
Are there that many more games these days than historically? My perception is the problem for players is more a result of modern-day pressing focused tactics.
I understand what you're saying - and get the argument.As I understand the issue, Rodri is concerned about the number of matches that players like himself are playing in a calendar year.
I assume that this issue of too many matches applies solely, or almost solely, to the highest level footballers. I don't believe League One footballers are being subjected to the same schedule. This is an assumption on my part as I don't have any info one way or the other.
So, it's the players who are regulars for their national teams, those playing in numerous competitions throughout the year, those on clubs that do extensive pre-season tours, etc.
Those are also the players who've seen astronomical increases in their wages over the last 25 years. Those wage increases have largely come about because of football globalization and the numerous economic opportunities arising that clubs have taken advantage of.
It seems that playing 60+ times a year may be a pre-requisite for footballers earning 200/300/400k and more per week.
I’m curious because you’re saying we have to go abroad if we want global pull. That’s clearly not true.
So tell me why do they need to go to the States every year?
And this is what Rodri is on about, it isn't about the current number of games, it's about the increased number of games and the fact that no one consulted the players
Do they? I didn't realise every year we go to the states. I didnt realise Australia / Thailand are also known as the states.
Maybe because our shirt sponsor who is a American company, who pays us more than any sponsor used to pay us 30 years ago. People must be deluded to think that we would get money but not have to play a few games in pre season where it suits them.
Why do you think City over the last few years since growing their brand are travelling alot more, same with Spurs. Why do you think Spurs go to Asia?
Do you know how many footballers there are? If every single footballer is consulted, then I am not sure you will get the right answers.
Or is it that we only consult the ultra rich ones?
Does it genuinely please you that a private company has power over Manchester United? Like, does that make you happy?
It’s so weird to me that anyone can feel that way.
I mean they dont have power.
I understand you dont want United to have commercial deals but in the world we live in, those are necessary to compete with the rest.
What are you on about? Of course I want United to have commercial deals.
Succinctly and accurately put, thank you. Felt I was losing brain cells reading some of the initial posts.The point Rodri is making is clearly correct. If players are overplayed, the quality of the football they produce is reduced. Which is bad for fans.
And if your solution is for the best players to be rotated more, that's hardly ideal for fans either. Because typically we want to see the best players playing the best possible level of football, especially if we're paying increasingly high ticket prices to go see those games.
And yet the immediate knee-jerk response of so many people is to criticise the players and make braindead comparisons to nurses, teachers, etc. In effect siding with the football bodies who are looking to extract as much money as possible from fans through a diluted product with higher prices, rather than the actual talent we pay to watch.
Rodri is right, there are too many more matches now but not for the reasons he’s putting forward.
Purely because it’s more matches that absolutely fecking nobody wants not any of that player welfare shite.
This new Cl format is absolutely shite, the staggered kick off times, the fact about twenty television companies have rights to show the Cl to the point I don’t even know which channel is showing what and when.
The two legged playoff round is another shite thing nobody really needs to see. Just do it over one leg you fecking idiots. And now that this has come to pass why are the EFL still insisting on a two legged league cup semi.
The club World Cup. I mean seriously, does anyone anywhere give a toss about this? Apart from probably Brazilians. They’re the only ones who’ve given a shit about this tournament previously so will assume that’s the case.
I have absolutely no sympathy for the players however. They created this environment with their wage demands and their agents. This is a consequence of that. And let’s face facts, it only really affects a handful of clubs. Most footballers it doesn’t affect. As @noodlehair said, this can easily be fixed by squad rotation.
Perhaps Rodri should look at his own manager and ask why when Manchester City play an away game in the league cup against league one Oxford United, Guardiola picks Rodri, Foden and Bernardo in his starting line up. If Pep gave more of a shit about the tiredness of his players and less about how many trophies he can add to his collection, perhaps city players wouldn’t be complaining about playing too many games. But he doesn’t, which is why he’s happy to dope his players and send out a full strength city team at home to Blackpool rovers in the fa cup third round.
But not from private companies?
I find it interesting that you look at this situation and think oh players overworked.
When you actually look at it, there are other reasons the players wont mention.. like their own commercial deals. So they have to do their own bits, like players who sign up to Addidas, Nike etc.. and others have to fly across and do shoots.
I guess you dont mind players getting commercial deals where they have to have a number of shoots but its bad if the club gets commercial deals.
Your straw men collection must rival Diddys Baby Oil stockpile.
Manchester United are a huge global brand. They will attract sponsorship revenues due to that. All will be from Private Industry. But accepting a sponsorship deal that has absolute requirements that leave the club beholden to travel to a country and play games there, is daft. The tail is wagging the dog. I’d argue that it’s a necessity to have an aspect of it in the contract, but not every single summer. I’d also argue that hosting the MLS Champions or two largest teams, at Old Trafford, would add a gravitas to the club that jogging around in California, doesn’t.
That you’re equating a two day photoshoot every 2-3 years with a player being overworked through an additional 10-15 matches, is childish or stupid. Not least because the vast majority are held in England.
I mean where do you see 10-15 games added a season? In club games where is this coming from? You have shown 0 evidence of this.
Also, only teams that get to finals of every cup competition will have to play those many games, which is like 1 team once in like 10 years. How often does a PL club get into all cup comps final in a season?
Taking abu dhabi blood money makes him disgusting. It doesn't make him wrong on this issue though
Foden played 72 games last year. Alvarez played 75.
Stop saying this only affects the players playing all the games! That’s the topic!
You are literally arguing against counting.
Its like 0.01% of players. Lets reduce the games by 30% because 0.01% of players play too much.
Great logic.
Also where did you get 72 games from?
Fcuking hell lad. It’s not lower all player numbers by X%. It’s ’ensure that players do not play 70 games a season’.
If you lower elite matches down to a sustainable number, say 50-55ish, the job is done. The 99% are not the people we’re talking about, so stop referencing them.
Last season he only played 53 with an average of 80 minutes per game?Okay can you breakdown the 72 games Foden played last season please? and Alvarez?
The problem is the internationals. The league season hasn't changed too much really but it seems every break is taken over with stupid friendlies and the nations league.
Internationals should only be qualifying for the big tournaments and then the tournaments themselves.
It would solve so many issues.
Last season he only played 53 with an average of 80 minutes per game?
International friendlies and world cup?This is why I want him to give me a breakdown of where he is getting 72 games from? I suspect he was counting pre season and behind closed door games.
International friendlies and world cup?
That would be a great start. And as someone else already mentioned as well, exclude the teams playing in Europe from the League cup. It's doesn't have the pull or prestige of the FA cup anyway so separating the two a bit more could be a good thing.
Last season he only played 53 with an average of 80 minutes per game?
This is why I want him to give me a breakdown of where he is getting 72 games from? I suspect he was counting pre season and behind closed door games.
Jesus Christ lads, it was a thirty second Google. “That’s why I want him to give me a breakdown”. Give over.
It excludes pre season matches.
Before the inevitable chirps of ‘what about this guy or that guy’… go and look it up yourself. I’m using the most extreme example as that’s what’s being quoted everywhere.
Remember the players at the top clubs are looking at last season, and the following two. Some players will have ZERO rest between seasons. Season end into Nations League into Club World Cup into Community Shield / Season opener. Then the same the following year with a World Cup.
What part of counting or calendars are you struggling with?
There’s so much info out there. Hundreds of opinion pieces by journos that have done the heavy lifting for you.
Players are speaking. FIFPRO have released studies. Hamstring injuries are up from 12% to 24% of time spent out of the game. (The Hamstring being the most common circuit breaker through overuse).
Indulge in the debate honestly. Give this a listen and see if it reframes how you think about it.
Podcast link
I’ve just skipped through it a little, it covers dates and volume, I’m not supporting everything said, but it feels like you’re running on vibes. Or a sense of ‘they’re paid enough just shut up’ or ‘It’s up to the teams’.
The calendar is full. I’d quite like the best players to be fit as I like watching football. The governing bodies and clubs want money. More games = More money. I want to watch great football. If you don’t, all good.
Again, I cannot see where Foden or Alvarez has played 70+ games, I am still waiting for you to show me the breakdown rather than a tweet from ESPN.
Your comment about 0 rest is a lie again, like the number of games, you are just making things up to try and push this. Can you show me any player that has had 0 rest?
Footballers get minimum 3 weeks off after a season, regardless if you played International tournaments or not, during the season players all get 1/2 days off a week as well.
Right now, you mention Foden, he played alot last season, this season he has been rested by Pep and only back in the starting 11 now. So he has had whole of August and 1 /2 of September where he isnt starting games.
I like what you are doing... make things up and then ask me if I am struggling to understand. I do fail to understand false information, yes you are correct.
You’re living in a fantasy land mate. Utterly wrong headed bollocks that’s denying observable reality. Must be fun.
I'm pretty sure Lampard played more than 70 games once and more than 60 multiple times. I'm not having that he didn't run or work as much as players nowadays.
How many games did the likes of Scholes and Giggs play in the late 90s/early 00s when you guys were winning everything?
20 or 30 years ago, clubs were allowed fewer subs and the sports medicine was not as good.
Rodri should have a chat with Pep before he goes on strike.
As to what make things up figures ? Saying a player played 72 games when he played 61. Adding games based on what you feel?
Make claims like some players get 0 days recovery between seasons, but cannot show me one player who has that?
So if I disagree with incorrect information Its denying observable reality? Must be fun to make things up and believing its true.
Click the link, read the content. I’m not going to pore through databases and make a list for you. The numbers are cited everywhere.
More recently, this quotes a potential 85 matches for Rodri. Link (you have to click it to know what’s in it)
This link has further details. Link - this link has content with links for further reading.
Here is the FifPro study Another link! Still need to click to read the data
And again, here is the Podcast I linked before, that I’ve now listened to in full, it has sources, and all of the information you need. It is an impossibility to read all this, and listen to the analysis, and cling to the idea that all players get 3 weeks rest and all the other guff you believe.
