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The 2023-2024 Football Thread
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I would query the use of the verb "disrespected" here, because it conveys a sense of aggrieved entitlement.There is a good article in the Metro by Rio Ferdinand
'Disrespected' England stars urged to retire by Rio Ferdinand
Gareth Southgate's latest squad had several shocking omissions.metro.co.uk
Basically he is saying that players who are in form but are being overlooked because of 'favorites' should retire from international duty due to being 'disrespected' by the England manager. Rio goes onto say that being in form and playing well for your club has always been the way to get yourself a lookin into getting a place in the England team but when the England manager picks players who have hardly kicked a ball for their club it get's players thinking what do they have to do to get into the squad.
Rio picks out two players in particular, Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips, two players who have hardly kicked a ball for their respective clubs but are picked for the Ukraine game and the friendly against Scotland. Rio points out that Southgate should be picking players who are in form to fill those positions even if it means using inexperienced in form players, at least they get experience.
Nobody has an automatic right to selection, and not being chosen is not a sign of "disrespect", but of preference - for a variety of reasons (fitness, maturity, temperament, willingness to take direction, etc) - for others.
However, the thing is that Southgate (a patently decent and intelligent man) has been (by far) the best manager since the legendary Alf Ramsey - the only others to have come anywhere close in the intervening years are Bobby Robson and Terry Venables - and the England fans have become used to (and have come to expect) their team doing pretty well internationally.
Moreover, international teams these days rarely play at the level of sophistication of the very best club teams; they cannot, they have neither the players, - not a full complement of quality players - nor the time to learn to develop and play effortlessly as a team, not if you wish to play the sort of sophisticated stuff that you can see in the top clubs.
Ah, fair enough.
I think that the way in which light falls - especially sunlight - may make it look as though it was (is) darker, almost black.
I think you are forgetting the England manager with the 100% record?
But as Alf Ramsey said of his teams. He didn’t pick the best 11 players. He chose the 11 that would play together the best.
The sort of opposite of a string of Chelsea managers. Just buy the best available and hope they become a team.
National team selections are red meat for the media and 'proper football men' and every armchair tactician on the planet.
On the one hand we can't avoid discussing it, but on the other we all know that every international window comes with some sort of 'controversial' selection decisions. We pluck a bunch of players out of different systems and mash them into a unit with little preparation and expect results. And both USA and England fans ought to also know by now that qualification typically goes more or smoothly and then we fail at the tournament.
So while it's fun to fill the time chatting, we all know what's going to happen in the end and it really doesn't matter who gets picked. 🤣
From a pure footballing point of view, I have no problem with Maguire and Hendo in the England squad. But from a moral point of view he should have left Hernderson out.
On the one hand we can't avoid discussing it, but on the other we all know that every international window comes with some sort of 'controversial' selection decisions. We pluck a bunch of players out of different systems and mash them into a unit with little preparation and expect results. And both USA and England fans ought to also know by now that qualification typically goes more or smoothly and then we fail at the tournament.
So while it's fun to fill the time chatting, we all know what's going to happen in the end and it really doesn't matter who gets picked. 🤣
From a pure footballing point of view, I have no problem with Maguire and Hendo in the England squad. But from a moral point of view he should have left Hernderson out.
Amrabat supposedly trained as normal during his first two training sessions with United. It's probably an issue that needs to be managed and monitored, but shouldn't be a huge deal or anything.
There's more than enough actual drama going on at United: possible domestic violence charges shaping up against Antony that have seen him dropped from the Brazil squad already, and Jadon Sancho's very ill-advised rant on social media contradicting his manager about his training. We've got so much rotten luck or bad judgement with our right-sided attackers lately:
- Mason Greenwood: sent packing to Spain after missing a season and a half due to sexual assault charges
- Antony: will probably be charged with sexual assault and therefore will be suspended himself, was a fairly disappointing signing before that
- Jason Sancho: Whinged his way out of the club. Now officially one of United's worst ever signings. I think most people were still giving him some time to come good, but he burned all his goodwill with one dumb social media post.
- Amad Diallo: picked up a long term injury in the preseason
- Facundo Pellistri: he's a right-footed right winger playing for a manager that strongly prefers inverted wide attackers.
It was shocking to see Sancho’s post. ETH has no option but to respond. Ill-advised to say the least.
On Manchester United, I think that ETH was entirely correct.
Reverting to an earlier topic, yesterday, the Spanish men's team released a statement - at an impromptu press conference that they had called - where they - represented by the captain, Álvaro Morata, speaking on behalf of the entire team, - (unanimously) condemned the "unacceptable behaviour" of Luis Rubiales and stressed their support for and solidarity with the women's team.
And, today, it has been announced that Jorge Vilda has been sacked as coach of the women's team.
Reverting to an earlier topic, yesterday, the Spanish men's team released a statement - at an impromptu press conference that they had called - where they - represented by the captain, Álvaro Morata, speaking on behalf of the entire team, - (unanimously) condemned the "unacceptable behaviour" of Luis Rubiales and stressed their support for and solidarity with the women's team.
And, today, it has been announced that Jorge Vilda has been sacked as coach of the women's team.
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It’s good that they have spoken out, but if they refused to play, I’m sure this matter would have been concluded by now.
Agree completely.
However, I am delighted that the team as a team (as opposed to a few individuals who were enthusiastic and supportive of the women's team from the start) have spoken out now, although, my own view is that they could have taken this step somewhat earlier.
Indeed. Did they take it because it was the right thing to do? Or because they felt pressurised by the media to do so?
Hopefully the former.
I think they would have done it sooner but I'm guessing they didn't because as they want it to be a 'team' decision standing together with the women's team, it would need the team captain to contact all the players to make sure they were all in agreement because the captain would not be able to say he was speaking on behalf of the team if not all the team players was contacted. That's my take on why they did not do it earlier.
Hopefully the former, but I suspect that there may have been a possible third reason:
Spanish football has been consumed by this scandal, and this must be having an impact on the organisation of the men's game, as, after all, Rubiales is head (albeit currently suspended for 90 days) of the RFEF - the body responsible for football in Spain.
I'd imagine that the RFEF is utterly consumed by this debacle (entirely of their own making) - in fact, in a clear attempt at putting some distance between themselves and their beleagured president, Rubiales, they issued a statement today apologising for the "enormous damage" caused by the actions of Rubiales, and describing his behaviour as "totally unacceptable".
Of course, this could have - and should have - been said a fortnight ago.
But, better late than never.
Football has proven that when a player want's out, they use social media to criticise their club. So many players have found themselves fined by their club or worse been put on the transfer list. The problem with United though is their boardroom are bottlers. ETH may want Sancho gone for publicly criticising him but I doubt the board will want to get rid of Sancho.
The Spanish men are trying the thread the needle of avoiding open conflict with the RFEF while also being seen as showing solidarity with the women's team. And yes, if they just went on strike day one of this fiasco things would hve been different.
Of course, in the world of the 2020s, it's impossible not to pick a side on anything. Rubiales must go. It's going to be painful and the face-saving exercises will be very silly and unsatisfying for everyone. But there is just no way we can take the RFEF seriously going forward if he remains a his post. Regardless how much dirt he has on everyone, or how central he might be to their little good 'ol boys club, at some point even he must be become expendable.
ETH did get his way on Ronaldo, though. Sancho may prove to be more complicated by the huge amount of money United paid Dortmund for him, the lucrative contract they handed him, the dreadful form that's seen his stock plummet, and the youthfulness that most likely means he's not ready to go to Saudi.
German football pundit Raphael Honigstein has mentioned recently that Sancho has previously had issues with off-pitch professionalism at Dortmund - tardiness, attitude, etc. So he as a little bit of a track record in that department.
I wonder if that is something they failed to pass on to United, that he has an off-the pitch attitude problem.
He also got into trouble with Southgate on England duty. But of course many players get into hot water with their managers over attitude and behavior. Usually it's dealt with internally and everyone moves on. Obviously in Sancho's case it has gotten a little out of hand.
Jorge Vilda got fired as Spain's coach after the Gold, and now earlier Spanish midfielder Montserrat Tome, takes over and becomes first woman at the job.
To make a long story short, it seems to been quite turbulent in Spain after the 'kiss-scandal'.
justwomenssports.com
worldsoccertalk.com
To make a long story short, it seems to been quite turbulent in Spain after the 'kiss-scandal'.
Spain names ex-player Montse Tomé as first female head coach - Just Women's Sports
An assistant coach with the team during the 2023 World Cup, Jorge Vilda's replacement will make her debut as head coach in late September.
justwomenssports.com
Spain sacks women's head coach Vilda after World Cup win
The turnover in the Spain soccer ranks continues as the Federation sacked women's head coach Jorge Vilda just two weeks after winning the World Cup. Vilda faced heavy controversy over the last year for the treatment of women's players. That behavior came from both the head coach and the...
worldsoccertalk.com
Sweden star Fridolina Rolfö to have meniscus surgery. We will miss her in the coming National League games, and the Olympic qualification, for sure. But good that she get the surgery done now. It was clearly obvious that she was limited of her knee during WWC.
Meniscus injuries and surgeries are no fun - I’ve had 2, one in each knee.
Meniscus injuries and surgeries are no fun - I’ve had 2, one in each knee.
Knee injuries are usually career ending. Hopefully it will work out for her.Sweden star Fridolina Rolfö to have meniscus surgery. We will miss her in the coming National League games, and the Olympic qualification, for sure. But good that she get the surgery done now. It was clearly obvious that she was limited of her knee during WWC.
Meniscus injuries and surgeries are no fun - I’ve had 2, one in each knee.
I think United has a discipline problem. Evidence shows Mason Greenwood is a spouse abuser. There is alleged evidence that Anthony is now a spouse abuser and you have Sancho publicly criticizing his managers decisions. I wonder which player is next in the headlines.
Interesting to note all of them are under 24. I wonder if the mega amounts of money they earn is going to their heads.
Interesting to note all of them are under 24. I wonder if the mega amounts of money they earn is going to their heads.
What a mess both on and off the pitch.
Manchester United shares dive on report sale is off
Shares see biggest ever one-day fall after a report that the team will be taken off the market.
www.bbc.co.uk