It has occurred to me on more than one occasion that this UEFA Nations League is kind of an end run around clubs not releasing players. First off, it’s a f.ucking made up tournament that doesn’t do much for any country and hasn’t resonated with the fans. A bureaucrat’s dream. It’s often said that a camel is a horse designed by committee. And so the Nations League is the same. It was then and is now a requirement that if the country called the player up, the club had/has to release him. But before these international breaks were for friendlies and the clubs could often strong arm the countries on the basis that the game was a friendly, meant nothing and no one really cared. Largely all true. But with this clusterf.uck of a tournament, these previously friendly, meaningless games are now full fledged A internationals and the appeal to common sense and fair play about meaningless games go unheard. And we get a tournament that no one cares about, few understand the permutations of and is generally seen as the Charity Sheild of competitions. A load of wank all around.
And that’s to say nothing of the match fees it spins for UEFA, players, officials, insurance brokers, individual FAs, and TV rights. Notice anyone missing from this list? That’s right, clubs and fans.
And the games - from the few minutes I've seen - are boring as shit. If UEFA and FIFA get their way we'll have games 365 days a year.
Pardon my ignorance, or just naivete, but players are paid extra for international games? A lot? Per individual player's importance or a standard fee? I guess it does explain why Pulisic(and others) would fly across the oceans for a meaningless 'friendly'.
It varies. Depends on the wealth of the individual FA and the agreement worked out between the players and management. A few years back the fee for Irish players was about £1500 per game. There are also qualification bonuses. A good reason to turn up for friendlies is to keep yourself in the public eye and to ensure you’re picked in the squad should the country qualify. Often (first tier sides) players donate their match fee to various charities. The main reason players who are earning £350,000 a week turn up for £2,000 a game is because the big money is in qualification. Qualify for the Euros or the WC and firms and industries come crawling out of the woodwork looking to sponsor/affiliate with the team and individual players. Usually at every WC, there’s always some African side who threaten to go on strike until/unless these bonuses are worked out. But once you qualify, the FA will then pay match fees with performance bonuses. R16, QFs, SFs, Final, Win. The way it works for the squads is on the pool system. Acme Inc pays the FA £10 to sponsor the team. The FA takes 10-15% and the players then put the remainder into a central pool which is then divided up, regardless of appearances. The official squad shares equally. Sometimes a player not picked for the squad is voted a share. Injury, not picked, suspension, etc. Players usually get to keep their boot money, but if the deal is wear Mo Salah RayBans at the WC, usually that goes into the central pool. Mo Salah wears Adidas Predators goes to Mo Salah. Pretty much mentioning the tournament means central pool, otherwise the money stays with the player. But within reasonable limits. If you think the FAs are hard done by on 10-15% of each deal, remember the FAs themselves can also sign deals that the players get nothing from unless they’re somehow required to participate in the marketing. Wearing a shirt with a logo, money to players; sponsoring the official website, no money to players.
What an amazing past 9 months for Conor. Liveramento should be playing today at LB - not Trent. Like to see Jones instead of Gomes as well.
To paraphrase Glenn Hoddle, I think, the present Irish side are not going to pull up any trees. 2-0 loss in Greece tonight. With a huge, 100% responsible howler by Kelleher for the Greek second late on.
Did anyone watch Trent play left back for England? I’m curious how it looked, because it’s something that I’ve wondered about as an option at Liverpool. As a left back, I would assume that he would spend most of the game in the center of midfield. With Bradley such a good option at right back, I think it could be an interesting option to have.
didn't watch - this might help? it includes this: "Alexander-Arnold has now been given the official man of the match award in all three of England's wins under Carsley." https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cj9jgy2dy8wo 'I joked I'd give him £500 if he scored' – but did Trent experiment work?
I saw a whole 5 minutes of the game, first thing I saw when I got the stream running was his pass to Grealish for the goal - very neatly seen / done by him. Mainoo better?- hard to tell by reading the UK media, they are so knee-jerk. he's a couple years older than Mainoo I believe. tbh I'd never heard of him before that game.
Mac played 60 mins last night, subbed off, not injured. Robbo played 90 mins vs Portugal. Jota 60 mins that game, subbed off, not injured. Lucho scored for Colombia - Nunez didn't for Uruguay. dunno if they played the 90. Quan played 90 mins for England U21s.
It depends. Likewise, technically, every tournament is "made up". For teams like Greece, Bulgaria, Austria & Norway and lot (that progress and have to fight with other sports, where already had top team - basketball, volleyball, hockey & handball) these evenings means more than everything 3 times of 4.