Sympathy for ManC (!) and the Arsenal team

 

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By Bulldog Drummond

Sympathy for ManC?   Well, yes in regard to their appeal for a delay to the PL start in 2025 with their players (and come to that Arsenal players) having to appear in yet another unwanted and fundamentally dopey “world cup” – this time for clubs.  It takes place in the USA next summer and clubs are ordered to take their strongest teams.

Of course the PL clubs involved could get together and agree not to participate and then not to pay the fines that would then be levied and challenge Fifa to do something about that, which would probably mean Fifa ordering the Premier League to banish the clubs,  but ManC don’t seem to want to get into a real fight over the issue. 

So as things stand next season, the top players won’t get a break.  The only things the club can do is transfer all their top players to another team, and then “buy” them back.  Or maybe refuse to participate in the CWC (pronounced “quack”).

As far as I know, however, Arsenal are not involved, so that’s all right.  Not our problem.

The fact is that as things stand each month that goes by the clubs lose more and more control (unless there is a court case in which as this week they normally gain some control – so maybe we need a few more court cases).   

Part of the problem that the clubs involved have, is that the media will lap up another competition even if they kowtow to ManC and say it is too much for the players to do.   For the media like more games because it means they get some “news” without having to make more things up.

So there’s a thought.  Maybe if we got rid of all the football journalists, then football might regain a bit of sanity.  Yes, having written that, that feels about right.

Meanwhile TalkSport gives us a team for today

Raya

Calafiori Gabriel Saliba Timber

Rice Partey

Martinelli Trossard Saka

Havertz 

There is generally an agreement that White has repaired himself enough to be “in contention” as the Metro  says, but they have a slightly different take on things with 

Raya

Calafiori Saliba Gabriel  Kiwior

Rice Partey

Martinelli Trossard Saka 

Havertz 

Sports Mole are rather bold and go for a 4-0 Arsenal win but they have the regular trio rather than a duo in midfield, allowing the players to move as the game dictates…

Raya;

Calafiori, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior;

Havertz, Partey, Rice;

Saka, Trossard, Martinelli

That of course does emphasise the fact that the players do tend to move around quite a lot.  But it still would not be a surprise with that line up to hear “60 million down the drain” being sung once again.   (That means Havertz scores in case you are not au fait with the Arsenal songs of the moment).

The Standard goes for the same team as Sports Mole and once we start hitting duplications in the predictions that normally means it is time to stop, and take the long and tedious journey to north London.

More anon, although anon may well mean tomorrow, depending on the time we all get back.