23 Jul 2024 17:21:25
So the top leagues and FifPro are suing Fifa.
Apparently it's due to the increase in the number of games.
Ironically. this could lead to the Super League again. which could even add more games t the crazy schedule.
{Ed001's Note - according to the CIES Football Observatory, who actually keep track of this, top players are not playing any more games. It just feels like a way to get power off FIFA so the teams can plug in a few more money spinning friendly matches around the world.}
23 Jul 2024 17:50:20
I saw that Ed01 - I have to say the figures were surprising although I guess the FA Cupp had the potential for loads of replays if you went on a Cup run.
{Ed001's Note - also European games if you went far, League Cup was 2 legs. Liverpool used to regularly play 60 games a season. The problem is that they are simply not fit in the right way any more. They have not got the stamina they used to have, in favour of being more explosive. It is perfectly possible for them to work on that but that would get in the way of the tactical stuff.}
23 Jul 2024 18:15:45
Squad rotation and the 5 subs rule also plays a massive part.
Diaz was the 2nd highest player for league minutes last season. The stats will show you that he featured in 37 of 38 games. But for minutes played he only played the equivalent of 29 league games, so everyone except Vvd featured less.
Endo only played 19 league games worth of minutes with Elliot 14 games and Tsimikas 7 games.
{Ed025's Note - if it rains tomorrow JK...can i borrow your anorak mate.. :)
23 Jul 2024 18:26:10
Ed0025 not tomorrow mate as I’m taking pictures of trains ?.
{Ed025's Note - love it JK..
23 Jul 2024 19:09:28
A question for the oldies regarding cup finals being replays, how was that even a thing? For one logistically it must have been a nightmare and did you get a free ticket if you attended the first game? Surely somebody must have suggested extra time at some point? Seems a bizarre concept.
{Ed025's Note - a FREE ticket??, you must be joking Fixer..
23 Jul 2024 19:34:14
Personally I think extra time and penalties need to be scrapped and replaced with running the “wall of death”, team with the most players standing wins.
{Ed025's Note - or a massive brawl on the centre circle with last man standing being the winner?..
23 Jul 2024 19:44:47
Simple solution, next goal wins, last man back and all the rest. Worked in every game I played in as a kid.
23 Jul 2024 20:07:04
I like it Ed25. Final whistle goes. Is that a grenade Wataru?
{Ed025's Note - nice one Davey ?
23 Jul 2024 20:41:00
Replays were always midweek. I remember there were a few sagas where there would be 2 replays before pens.
Feels like Wenger was the first to whinge about it.
23 Jul 2024 19:28:14
Ed001, I read that report and was surprised by the numbers. However, I don't believe it included international matches either did it? I thought part of the reason for the legal action was that leagues deemed FIFA were 'favouring their own competitions' which I took to mean international tournaments?
{Ed001's Note - but isn't that the point, the clubs are just whining because FIFA cares more about international footie. Of course they favour it, it should be the pinnacle of the game. It should be the best players of each nation representing their nation. Instead it is more of an afterthought because the club game rules.}
23 Jul 2024 21:33:29
Exactly, Ed01. International footie was the "be all and end all" of football decades ago. Esp. since back then, if you wanted make it to Europe to play league football, the int'l comps. was your near only channce of getting the exposure to do so. Loved int'l footie back then al whole lot. The actual best of the best played at these comps. as you said and if you wanted to prove your worth (like Maradona vowed he would in 1986 in Mexico), the World Cup was your biggest stage to show it.
Now, int'l comps. are nothing but a pathetic inconvenience for the most part. Now Im not defending FIFA here cos trust me, they have serious probs BUT I deplore how inter'l footie has been pushed to the background as some kind of inconvenience.
24 Jul 2024 03:55:04
There was a time in the early / mid 70’s when Leeds and Arsenal seemed to play each other about 8 or 9 times a year with League Cup and FA Cup replays. ?
Great point about the different type of fitness these days Ed01.
Free tickets for replays made me laugh - the youth of today eh Ed25. At least back in the day it was a lot easier for the common folk like me to get into the match, have a Bovril and a pie at half time and still have change from my sixpence.
24 Jul 2024 08:23:20
Looks like this is all from the club world cup being expanded to 32 teams. and being played when Afcon is meant to this is then forcing Afcon to move during the leagues season so they are arguing that they are favoring there own tournaments when they shouldn't be.
FIFA are a regulator and competition organizer thus bringing up conflicts of interest.
24 Jul 2024 08:45:34
Fixer, we only got a FREE ticket if we met a man called the Fixer, he usually sorted it.
24 Jul 2024 14:10:01
But aren't FIFA the reason international football is so dull these days? Surely the clubs are suing because FIFA are continually expending international competitions, introducing more games and teams and not consulting any of the leagues? I mean, isn't the 2030 WC planned across 6 different countries and 3 Continents?!