Players threaten strike action over fixture burnout

From BBC Football:

Will players really strike over too much football?

Thanks for that link, Michael.

Although there will be countless arguments and different opinions about this, I thought Rodri spoke nearly as well as he plays football.

He went off in the final against England and a lesser but fresher player ended up having a more influential bearing on the outcome. You only have to see the way Pickford has performed since the Euros, and he plays in a position and for a team that means he doesn't do nowhere near the physical running that a lot of these top players have to do.

This might intensify the calls for a breakaway league, or people calling for less international football.

I think of course saying the word 'strike' is tantamount to clickbait in this context, and grossly overblown.

Some players can handle it, others can't. They have so much power now — how hard would it be for those who are concerned to put a limit on the number of games the will play into their contracts? [Even sounds stupid reading that back!]

Then you have people like Ashley Young who just won't stop playing — even when you want them too!

Everton played circa 60 competitive matches in each of the 76-77, 83-84 and 84-85 seasons, largely using the same starters for most games, with only one substitute allowed, and a few games played on less than perfect pitches.

These days, loads of substitutions, constant rotation, and near perfect pitches for most games. Most of the clubs competing in Europe have big and good enough squads to deal with those demands.

What the Everton sides had, of those seasons mentioned above, was a 'natural' cycle of games, if you will, weekend game (Saturday or Sunday), midweek game (Tuesday or Wednesday), rather than what we have now a Saturday through to Monday domestic game, followed by a Tuesday through to Thursday midweek game.

Those clubs involved in Europe, want to cash-in on that by going on fairly lengthy tours in faraway places, and from that standpoint I can understand why players may feel as if they never get a proper break.

Then of course there are those pesky Internationals to deal with, which if you are good enough to be selected adds yet more fixtures to the busy schedule.

I have some but not a great deal of sympathy with players who find themselves in this situation, but the clubs would argue that the demands made on the top players, is being adequately rewarded in their wages and other financial benefits, sponsorship, advertising etc.

Fifa, Uefa, and the national FAs are all responsible for fixtures but often they are competing for their individual benefit and there is not much sign that they would sit down and agree a timetable that would be more player friendly.

Correct me if I am wrong but, when we won the league in 1986-87, we only used 14 players all season.

Paul @5,

I'd doubt that we only used 14 players, particularly in that injury ravaged season.

I expect our cousins in the 70s only used that few players to win the title.

It'd be a guess, but I would think 1978-79 would be close to 14 players.

Paul, Fred is correct, we used 21 players that season.

I checked, because I've always thought it was one of the great managerial achievements by Howard Kendall to win the league with such a mixed-bag squad.

Striking is an extreme option, which I don't think will happen. Who wouldn't want to play football?

But I do have empathy. Fifa and Uefa are squeezing every ounce out of these players as they increase the amount of matches players are put through.

Sadly, football has long been taken away from the people who keep it alive. The supporters.

Dance monkey, dance!…(as I shoot a pistol at their feet and giggle!)

Why do any of these millionaire clowns (and I mean that literally) think that anyone cares about their well being!… they are just modern-day gladiators. I don't care if they get ripped to shreds by a lion, just roll in the next poor soul… I am baying for blood and don't care one iota about anyone's health or well-being as they don't give two shit about ours (see our few recent PL games).

If they want to play less games, then Rodri can sign for us or Tranmere and get about £100-200,000k per week else. We literally watch 22 millionaires kick a ball around every week and they don't even play 90 minutes! The ball is only in play for around 55-60 minutes per match anyway and that's a proven fact.

I work 7 days a week some weeks, for wayyyyyyy less money than them… Premier League teams only train for 90 minutes per day. Let that sink in… they show up in their Bentleys, get massages, eat 5-star brekky, train for 90 mins, get some 5-star food to take home with them, then drive home in a Bentley to their million quid houses and 10/10 birds.

I don't give a fuck if they all break their legs tomorrow. Get some young lads in and we'll go again. Gobshites… my old man missed Christmases and birthdays working on oil rigs in the fucking North Sea! How dare they!

Footballers, celebrities and politicians don't live in the real world but like to pontificate to those that do.