Thierry Henry on the crowded schedule discourse: “They are playing too many games. The best players in the world are being treated like CATTLE. Did you like this Euros compared to previous years? Most of the best players looking tired on the pitch, I see a lot of them have lost the joy of playing..”
by ChiefLeef22
30 comments
I mean, a lot of ex player talk shit but if Henry is on board count me in.
Henry is true to be honest.
Sorry can anyone explain why Man City are playing on 1 day’s rest?
They played Sunday vs Arsenal, then again today?
Other than Christmas, does that ever happen? It’s usually at least 2 days of rest right?
Insane to me how they can just modify terms of employment unilaterally. Where are the workers rights? Even the american leagues have protections for this shit. The NFL tries this shit without written consent from the players union and the court would laugh their asses off at the NFL and tell them to fuck off.
I agree.
Trouble is players want more money and less games; FIFA/UEFA/FA want more games, more money and to drive down players salaries. I’m with the players, fuck the “self governed, non-voted in clowns at FIFA/UEFA”
I completely agree with the point, but i loved the euros this yesr
They are being treated like Gladiators, we’re watching these humans slowly deteriorate their body just for entertainment.. that is not cool at all
Cattle who make more money then any of us could even dream about. Yes, I understand the toll it takes on their body, and I agree there should be some changes to give them more vacation time and an actual off season.
BUT, they play twice a week and make crazy cash. I’m tired of everyone acting like these are some poor abused people lol.
If things don’t change on the schedule side, then clubs and countries need to decide how they manage players’ time more strategically. They need to create bigger squads, rotating heavily, basically choosing to devalue certain competitions based on value deemed that season or cycle.
We’ve seen big clubs in England avoid fielding 1st choice 11s in the League cup for years.
Ultimately fans want to see the best players when they switch on.
I lost the joy at my work.
Can I also work less for the same pay?
The euroes was great. Plenty of terrible tournaments in the past.
[removed]
Yes, I wonder how Bricklayers/ labourers etc all feel about this.
If they don’t like it, stop! Go get a more standard routine job.
They want those millions, they play when is required.
Yawn
Sad how whenever this gets brought up people just say shit up you’re on X amount.
Same people will say the above and then moan because their team dropped points because they had loads of injuries.
It’s an actual issue and we’ve just seen a guy who’s played 70 odd games at the absolute highest level for essentially 3 years straight break down because his body said no more.
I don’t really like him, but Rodri is spot on and it’s unsustainable.
I don’t know a single person that thinks we need this many games. It has to stop somewhere
Schrodinger’s cattle, simultaneously treated well by loving farmers and also being the literal word used to describe someone being treated very poorly.
He is correct.
There is one very simple solution … It s called squad rotation. Just because a top team plays 60 games in a season, it doesn’t t mean that players have to play that amount …
lol, cry me a river.
Imo every other Summer between the major international tournaments (WC and continentals) players should get the opportunity to rest for entirety of June. Everybody deserves at least 4 weeks off a year. In recent years we have seen European leagues finish later and later.
However the “Nations league” is just a novelty money making tournament and international managers should treat it that way. Experiment with the fringe players, leave the main squad out.
A lot of the top players are probably playing too many games a season but this quote itself feels stupid
This conversation would have been universally agreed upon, unfortunately the wrong players said it so it became tribal and controversial.
Several ACLs already, just like last season. Quality of the game is degraded, both in the players that miss out and never fully gain their fitness back in the tight schedules and the exhaustion of those who actually do play. Overall games will get slower and more predictable, because high intensity football just won’t be feasible without huge depth.
For people saying:
‘But look at much money the make’.
Or..
‘Teams should rotate squads more’.
Football is a money business. If you think decision makers at clubs are the least bit concerned about player welfare, you’re deluded. The only time they’ll care is when they get injured, then they’ll get them recovered ASAP to get back on the pitch.
They care about you watching the match, buying whatever new subscription you need to watch sport on a different day, buying tickets to the game.
If City announced they’re playing a youth team tonight vs Watford, they ain’t getting as many viewers – simple as.
Thierry is literally stating the sport and players are being rinsed for profit. It takes the magic out the game for players and viewers. I’m so fed up of playing a lucky dip of what service I need to watch what match. UEFA will keep finding ways to get more matches on offer, so they can create more bidding wars for streaming rights.
I think pretty soon we are going to see a bunch of international retirements at younger ages. Seems that’s one of the only viable ways a player can reduce the number of games
Surely people want to see the best players in the world playing at 100% in every competition? If that means reducing the number of games I think I’d prefer that.
I’m glad this topic is finally getting the air time and respect it deserves. Klopp raised it years ago and everyone criticised him. If that was you, then you’re part of the problem
100% agree! If they want the players to play these many matches then you need to cut the length of a match to 45min and remove offside, ie never going to happen. I say it’s time for a strike!
I don’t think the number of games has anything to do with the players looking like they’re not having fun. It’s the amount of money involved, the individualism and cynicism it’s caused which is the root cause of that.
The constant cheating, faking, and complaining doesn’t help either. Fair play is gone and football is way more fun when you play fair.
It’s unfortunate that nothing will be done about this
FIFAUEFA “We will keep adding games until morale improves!”