Chelsea’s home game against Manchester United originally set down for December 18 last year was snowed off. It was then rescheduled for March 1 BUT that may need to be postponed again until May depending on results in the FA Cup. That’s five full months after its original date, five months in which a suitable date could not be found. Yet Wednesday February 9 would have been perfectly acceptable for all concerned EXCEPT that England was set down to play a game in Denmark which is nothing more than a friendly, exhibition, training match, call it what you will, but certainly a totally meaningless one (and looking at the latest online betting odds, they’re favourites to win). WHY?
Unlike so many other FIFA and UEFA decisions in the past, a perfectly sensible one was recently made which sees qualifying matches during international weekends being played on Friday and Tuesday nights. It’s an innovation which is welcomed by everyone yet meaningless games are still being insanely scheduled for Wednesday nights. It has a huge impact on the flexibility of rearranging unexpected, postponed matches – and for that matter Cup replays, like the one involving United and Chelsea.
How sensible would it have been for Denmark v England to be played on Tuesday evening, that’s if it was even needed to be played at all, leaving Wednesday night to be available for rearranged fixtures. International players involved in their club matches should then be allowed to withdraw from those official training sessions .
Does all that sound feasible? Don’t ask me, I’m only an amateur observer but at least see what the professional international and club managers think. Clubs, after all, do fork out huge salaries to their top players and must surely deserve to have a significant input on decisions that can make or break them in the final wash up.
Championship titles, money spinning European qualification, managers losing their jobs and relegation into the abyss can all play a huge part at the end of season equation. One point, one lousy single point, won or lost during these meaningless, international training games can literally change the course of a clubs proud history – and the solution can be so, so simple!
POSTSCRIPT – Just a thought straight out of left field which may be worth considering. As the Premier International World Sporting Event, the FIFA World Cup should remain exactly as it is but changes could be worth looking at for all other tournaments. Why not make Euro, South American, African, Asian Cups etc, only eligible for players who are nationals but play for clubs in their own countries?
Examples will be the likes of Carlo Tevez and Lionel Messi being unable to represent Argentina in the Copa America, Australia’s Tim Cahill and Korea’s Jung Si Park in the Asian Cup while Didier Drogba will not be able to play in the African Cup unless he returns to a club in the Ivory Coast. It will help develop players remaining at home – as well as the game itself, while still giving an opportunity for those plying their trade overseas to represent their country in the biggest tournament of all. Too far fetched? I wonder!
Should players only have to be released for Euro and World Cup qualifiers?
Without going into the mystery of FIFA, that Is way to complex for here(and me) and not approriate.Merely a money making machine.
My concern, like most lads and lasses that support United, is the preparation for the United players.This game on Saturday is huge for Manchester United,as it is for City.I can think of only one player, who will make a signficant aeroplane journey, that is Javier Hernandez.Edwin has retired,Rio is injured,Patrice out of favour 😉 Rafael will not travel.Smalling will not be used.Not sure about our captain,I am sure he will not travel to Serbia/wherever, even if they are involved?.Jonny Evans well he is just shit, so who cares!:) Micheal Carrick, will not travel, he looks totally dejected with the England set up after the World cup, debacle.Paul Scholes, did the “BIG” Thing, Club before England.Ji Sung Park, just back, from the non event, in Qatar (FIFA), Retired from the South korean national team.Darren Fletcher,called off,from Scotland.Giggs, well he is just useless, he wont play for Wales. :).Dimitar Berbatov, well again, sensible and astute,retired from the Bulgarian, national set up.Without going through the whole,United squad, I think in the main, the players of importance for the early Saturday, kickoff, are Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney,within the context of this article.
The Journey to Mexico/ Timbucktoo, will be a Devil, and effect the team selection for the Bitter’s game.Rooney may actually get a “goal” and find some form in Denmark, or possibly, stay there!
Ps my message to all United players Involved, post a sickie note.A mere nonesense the non qualifiers.
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Do Manchester City, have any International players? Its a puzzle! 😉
A POINT NOT MENTIONED IS THE INJURIES THAT OFTEN HAPPEN IN THESE ‘FRIENDLIES’ WHICH CAN RULE A PLAYER OUT FOR WEEKS, EVEN MONTHS IF THE INJURY IS SERIOUS ENOUGH. WHY DO WE HAVE THESE GAMES AT ALL, ESPECIALLY IN SUCH CROWDED SEASONS. WHY CAN THEY NOT BE PLAYED AFTER THE SEASON CLOSES, OR EVEN BETTER, HAVE A SIX WEEK MID SEASON BREAK, LIKE OTHER LEAGUES ON THE CONTINENT, THIS WOULD ALLOW THESE SO CALLED FRIENDLIES TO BE PLAYED AND ALLOW THE PLAYERS IMPORTANT RECUPPERATION TIME AND SHOULD A PLAYER BE INJURED WHILST ON DUTY FOR HIS COUNTRY, HIS COUNTRY SHOULD PICK UP HIS WAGE TAB UNTIL HE IS FULLY RECOVERED.
I WON’T GO INTO THE CHEL$KI DEBACLE OF UNNECESSARILY CALLING OFF A GAME, SOLELY IN MY ESTIMATION, BECAUSE THEY WERE OFF SONG AND DROPPING POINTS LIKE TEN PINS.
BRED RED.
Please… Giggs is not useless. He had only one poor game this season against Wolves. He’s 37 years old and SAF should have given him more rest after the Blackpool and Villa games. When he is fresh, or coming on as a sub, he can win games for MU.
@in1voice. ha ha, did you notice the 🙂 after I wrote that? possibly, lack of humour!.Nor do I think,Jonny Evan’s is shit, clearly a lot of United supporters do, and want to pin, bad results on,one or two players.My post was,sarcasism,and humour.Cheers.
These pointless Internationals are a complete joke, all the top players pull of with ‘injuries’ and who can blame them, like @BredRed says a lot of players pick up injuries in games that mean nothing.
Let’s scrap these pointless internationals, none of this benefits the National team (not that im too bothered) and it just adds to an already busy fixture list.
I sincerly believe that Red Scot’s comemnts should be taken ‘tongue in cheek’ and an attemt to inject a little humour into a debilitating debate.
Just about every football fan world wide, would have to agree that Ryan Giggs is a football legend who at 37 years young is still banging them in and still mesmerising his opponents.
The only other player I can recall to have enjoyed such longevity was the incomparable Sir Stanley Matthews.
When will Ryan, a pillar of perfection, never a bad influence and a big plus for football generally receive the honours he so richly deserves?
Sir Ryan, now that ha a nice ring to it!!!
Bred Red.