This image should be front and centre of campaign to reorganise the domestic, national and international schedule/structure.When the Ballon d’Or winner is getting up on the podium on crutches you’ve got a pretty powerful image the authorities have to work their arses off to ignore.
I think they are playing too many games, but you can't put Rodders injury down to fatigue. It was a freak accident after a mistimed challenge in the penalty area. Likewise Savinho injured himself last night by landing awkwardly before collecting the ball.When the Ballon d’Or winner is getting up on the podium on crutches you’ve got a pretty powerful image the authorities have to work their arses off to ignore.
It is.Last night was a classic and worrying example of too many games and quantity over quality.
In 9 out of 10 of the last seasons Pep would've had a full(ish) squad to pick from, played a very strong winning team, and said so.
The only potential benefit will be academy lads getting good minutes of competitive European & League Cup football.
A tipping point is coming !!
City are clearly and correctly prepared to be increasingly flexible regarding team selection for certain categories of games.....irrespective of injuries.Disagree with any suggestions to end it, or reduce teams playing in it, purely because it lessens our history.
We've won this a ton of times, scrap the competition and people will forget that.
We can just take it as serious as we want, like we do now. It's good experience for the younger players and a good chance for backup players.
It's also a good chance for lesser teams to go far in a competition, if they're willing to take it seriously.
A tipping point is approaching.
Look at some examples of players from the 60s who are now cripples through being patched up to play when unfit.We have more of a squad than we did in the old first division and we played more games in the old first division to win the title, it's not like players aren't rotated.
League cup and FA cup is exactly the same other than the top clubs come in later so again less games.
2023/24 England played 17 games.
1975/75 season England played 7 games
This must be the same for other international teams too.
Add the fuck up that is the new European Super... sorry Champions league and we can see where it's all going wrong, it's about time players started putting pressure on the internationals and concentrating on playing for their bread and butter which are club games.
Agreed.Players have power they should start opening their mouths instead of turning up for duty for jumped up shit matches for their countries mate.
Look at some examples of players from the 60s who are now cripples through being patched up to play when unfit.
We're more sensible about it than a lot of clubs. You can see after international tournament summers, we give everyone an extended break and don't rush them back. It's no coincidence that while we usually start a little slowly because of this, when everyone is fit and ready we're strong during the run in when other teams start to burn out.City are clearly and correctly prepared to be increasingly flexible regarding team selection for certain categories of games.....irrespective of injuries.
Additionally they are prepared to deploy a 'prevention not cure' policy to increasingly protect players from risk.
KdB is clearly being given as much time and rest as necessary to return to full physical and mental fitness and condition? even though this may be at the short term cost of team performances.
International withdrawals and retirements may increase as players begin to appreciate where their bread is buttered.
A tipping point is approaching.
They'd take that if they could relegate ourselves and Newcastle...PL down to 18 would be a good start.
However too many US owners will make sure that never happens and the ones knocking on the door from the EFL will want it up to 24 with no relegation when they get in.
PL down to 18 would be a good start.
However too many US owners will make sure that never happens and the ones knocking on the door from the EFL will want it up to 24 with no relegation when they get in.
*Number changes depending on where the scum finish. For example the top 5 and 16th place team are exempt from that season's tournament because they get a wild cards to the UEFA Sherpa Van trophyAnd the top 6* not being in the League cup
PL down to 18 would be a good start.
However too many US owners will make sure that never happens and the ones knocking on the door from the EFL will want it up to 24 with no relegation when they get in.
I'd prefer the chumps league down to 32 and have a knockout and then cap internationals at 8 games per season.
Or just be straight knock out like in the black and white days.
No 3rd or 4th place losers allowed to qualify either