Think you have misinterpreted what I said. When I said fans were paying through the nose, I meant the fans in the countries where the matches are being played. I expect these are still paying top dollar to watch squad players when they may be expecting the superstars. Bit like when the Hong Kong (?) fans nearly rioted because Messi never played
How about growing the game? Isn't that why players move to Saudi?Yes, of course it is about money. They are not doing it to support the local clubs in America or Asia after all. Why should the big clubs sacrifice a lot of their income, so that small local clubs can get a few scraps??? How many big business' in any industry have a business plan that supports smaller business's in their area to their own financial detriment? Maybe there are a few charitable businesses like that, but not many. In fact, if the smaller business' are in the same industry, the bigger business would probably be happy in stealing all their custom to be fair. Perhaps these smaller football clubs should worry about themselves, see what they can do to increase their income, rather than just hold out their hands and beg for other clubs to support them?
And, yet again, we seem to assume players will get knackered flying half way around the world. Must be really difficult in their first class (private) airplanes, staying in 5 star hotels. Chilling in the pool every day, getting massages, getting fed perfect diets, etc. What a rigorous and tough life these young man lead
As for jet leg. I think most clubs land back in England a week or 2 before the new season starts. I reckon they'll be OK. I'm sure the club managers and officials want to ensure their players are fresh and ready for the start of the season, so no doubt they'll have considered all these concerns
Right, so now it is the responsibility of Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea to grow the game? How do you define that? You could argue they've done a hell of a lot to grow the game, given how the popularity of the Premier League has skyrocketed over the last 20/30 years.How about growing the game? Isn't that why players move to Saudi?
The fans will probably see better players on pre season tours than they often would at League Cup games. After all, the whole point of pre-season is to get your players, especially your top players, ready for the season. Obviously, the players whose season has literally just ended as they were in the latter stages of an international tournament will be given time off to recover, but that should still leave enough high profile players going on tour at most clubs?
love itJames Maclean - say no more!
Got to love the intensity. Who said these games don't matter
To be fair I saw some great ones including an England side v Fulham and brutal ones especially some non-league sides where players were trying out and wanting to impress
You nailed it in the last sentence.
Did he have dodgy hamstrings before he went to the bottlers.
Played 35 times in our 18/19 PL campaignn and 6 in the Spurs 19/20 season and 15 in their 21/22 so I am guessing out the rest of the time injured or not selectedDid he have dodgy hamstrings before he went to the bottlers.
Because most of these clubs now have worldwide fanbases and those fanbases bring in a lot of money into the prem from the telly rights - they aren’t huge money spinners for the clubs but the Prem keeps the overseas fans happy and paying their overseas rights
Let’s hope they don’t start using tiredness as an excuse
Which will transcend into an injury crisis once Liverpool/City/United/Arsenal/other start to struggle. Isn't that the usual first line of defence from managers now?Let’s hope they don’t start using tiredness as an excuse
What makes you think the managers get to choose where they go?
