It's fantastic, you're special, a salad and Wolves at the weekend
Yesterday at 03:10 AM
It doesn't get much better than eating at the big table. Or it can but that means you're not paying the bill. And Tuesday felt a little like we got a table at a great restaurant, the food was fantastic and then someone else picked up the bill.
To continue the analogy, Saturday is like heading to your favourite and the best local restaurant that you know you'll get a table at whenever you show up, because you're a local and good customer.
The international break is like you've had a great Sunday, a few beers in the sun, maybe a kick about in the park in the knowledge later that there is a lovely bottle of red at home, a great film on TV and the takeaway is ordered. Then the delivery driver drops off a salad.
And Tuesday was great.
But it was a side sitting bottom of the league in a country with a population less than London. And this is just me writing that there are more games to go and we should just be happy with where we are. This is also me trying to create a link to a potential player strike because they are playing too much.
Player strike coming?
So, earlier in the week someone mentioned a player strike because they are playing too much football. And if I'm not mistaken it came from a player who was paid a million quid a month. And money shouldn't matter and it was money they were offered and they signed the contract. And the contract wasn't for one month.
The contract was probably for three to five years. So for the duration of the contract they're going to earn £30,000,000 plus. For that money, there is a good chance I'll do anything. And all this person is getting asked to do is run and kick a ball. And sure, they can get injured, but it's £30,000,000 in the bank and it's only five years.
And they signed the contract.
But I suspect what this player is mostly complaining about are the international breaks. Maybe not, but they are a grown up and they don't have a contract with their country, so if they were worried about playing too many games, they could just say no to their country. Or maybe it's that they want to say yes to everyone but that is on them.
They could just say I'm only playing for the Club that make me a millionaire every month, the entity where they have a contract.
And if the Club really cared, maybe the Club could come out and support their player by suggesting bogus international competitions be stopped. That the Champions League become about Champions and not about 20% of the League.
Maybe if the Club was serious about player welfare they'd not play any of their first team players in the League or FA Cup. Maybe.
But we're living during a time where we have to take into consideration everyones feelings, regardless of how absurd and the absurd now is normal. There is an easy fix to this, but so many people have a slice of the pie, it will never happen. It's why Aston Villa are able to charge so much for a replica shirt made in Cambodia or more than that for a ticket to watch 90 minutes of football.
And it's why they can.
So if you're a player and you think there are too many games, don't play them all. Say no to your country and be better prepared for the Club paying your salary. That is, if you're really that concerned.
Wolves on Saturday
Rant over and it's Wolves on Saturday and this is where the focus needs to be. Forget everything else and focus on this match, step back and look at the season. Step further back and look at this as three season or the duration of a regular contract. There are no second chances.
This is the time of Unai and we just have to embrace and enjoy it. We may never have a better manager again and we can write or complain or sing as many songs as you like, but one day they may be writing books or making films about this time.
It's really that good. Wolves on Saturday. Where were you?
