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S1-E98 : The State of the Game
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In today's episode of the Podcast, the boys have a little look at the state of the Modern game in England, focusing on avaliability of football, the quality of refereeing and the intensity of the footballing calander!
Host : Josh Vince
Guests : Joshua Duncan, Craig Matthews
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Transcript
Introduction and State of English Football
00:00:01
Speaker
every club every day the global sports podcast network work hello and welcome to the daily arsenal podcast brought to you as part of the global sports podcast network it is tuesday and today rather than talking tactics we thought that we'd talk about something a little bit different and something's been playing on our minds a little bit we're going to talk about the state of the current game, the state of football, in particular in regards to the Premier League and English football. But it kind of goes a little bit beyond
Fans Leaving Early and Ticket Price Frustrations
00:00:31
Speaker
that anyway. Joining me today are the fantastic starting 11 of Joshua Duncan and Craig Matthews. Gents, it's lovely to have you here. And I do have to say, Josh, you somewhat inspired this episode with the first thing that I kind of want to talk about.
00:00:47
Speaker
We, as a group, quite often message each other during games. We have a WhatsApp group, we talk amongst ourselves about what's going on. There's considerably more expletives in the group than there are on the podcast itself, as I'm sure you can imagine. But Josh made a really, really good point the other day. We were watching the Newcastle game and there were fans leaving and Rodney was at the game and even showed us like the amount of empty stands out there.
00:01:12
Speaker
ah Josh, I was kind of curious for you just to, on the podcast itself, sort of like, repeat the sort of sentiment you were saying about fans leaving and how much it frustrates you and the reasons behind it as well.
00:01:24
Speaker
Well, I mean, look, you're back your team to the end, you know what I mean? You're back your team until the end. And it's not like they're all losing like 8-0 or something. It's 2-0. They can get back into it. But it's so hard to get tickets, you know? I remember I used to be a Redman ball. And I had to be on like six different devices just to get a ticket, just to get a match day ticket. And it just sold out just like that, you know? And it's like... I don't know, these fake Hollywood fans, you know, because also like before tickets wasn't that hard because we weren't doing that well, you know, it was easy to get tickets. Now then all of a sudden we're doing what we was doing a bit all right. You know, everyone wants to come on the bandwagon and be like, yeah, you know, I remember my team, I support them. I mean, no, you don't leave the stadium. You're the 12th man there, you know, you don't leave. I think that's just silly.
00:02:10
Speaker
it strikes me sort of like a little bit a bit of hypocrisy almost and a self entitlement thing yeah as well because you've paid money to go and see this team clearly you have the disposable income and we're going to get on to that as well in just a minute as well you've got the disposable income to go and see this game you've got a ticket when somebody else hasn't like you say it's a nightmare getting tickets my missus works for stagecoach her manager is a leads fan and And she's her, she's his personal assistant. One of her jobs among six of her colleagues is to try and get tickets and lead her in the championship. So you have that problem at all levels of ah seemingly all top levels of the English game. Getting tickets is a nightmare. And to have the gall to leave early when somebody else, but I think you said it really well, they would kill to
Comparing Ticket Prices Across Europe
00:02:57
Speaker
be there. Yeah. Yeah. It strikes me as just, I don't know, selfish possibly is the word.
00:03:05
Speaker
Maybe. and I'm not entirely sure, but it's a sign that we wanted to address. And ah Craig, onto that note, we were talking a little bit before we started recording the podcast, which actually came out yesterday. We're doing both today. We're talking about pricing. Now, have you recently been to watch an Arsenal game? um The last game I watched was Lee Kocken gets a lot of what's a lot of the women's game this season as well because they're quite cheap for prices to go watch. So, you know, Rofl got what's a women's game as well. What's a champion's league that gets the events as well. Do you think that's kind of, that's one of the bonuses of the absurd prices that we're paying at the moment is that a lot of people are being put off going to watch the men's game live, but because the tickets are so much cheaper for the women's, it's getting better exposure.
00:03:56
Speaker
and so i agree Well, we were having a little look earlier at some ticket price comparison.
Fan Ownership and Affordable Football
00:04:05
Speaker
Let's say that. so I was doing a little bit of research and the cheapest season ticket, right, from what i from what I could find on Arsenal, cheapest season ticket is an Arsenal ah adult season ticket. Obviously you can do it as a member, but Josh, when you were a Red member, how much does that cost you a year? It's quite a lot, isn't it?
00:04:29
Speaker
um No, read remember basically when you're a red mumble, you just get like first dibs on the tickets. yeah I think it's like £30 for the year. okay It's not really cheap, but you get the first line of tickets when they go up, you've got to what pay for the ticket, but I didn't mind. I wouldn't be going to every game, but i me having a red mumble, I think um I was able to get one ticket.
00:04:48
Speaker
So I just kind of answered it. There's there' a specialist on on Arsenal's pricing website, there's a specialist Canon discount, which is a 57% discount. Now I'm assuming that this is high level subscription, sort of important individual. That season ticket is £461.
00:05:08
Speaker
um But if you are a normal adult with no special cannon discount and again, I I don't even know how on earth you get that Oh, here we go phase down to 50% over a three-year period So you don't even get the 57% discount all the time you pay 57%
Choosing Grassroots Football
00:05:25
Speaker
off and then you have to pay more afterwards if you're a normal adult and you're going for a season ticket a grand It's a grand for a season ticket. The most expensive is two grand. 2,050 pounds and 50 pence for an adult season ticket. Now, I don't know about you guys. I work i work a lot. I work hard, but not in the biggest paying job. That sort of money just isn't about these days. Craig, are you in a similar sort of boat?
00:05:56
Speaker
famous you yeah ah I'll only pay that money if I knew my team would win the trophies every season. I'll have to stretch myself to get that money. And if my team were winning trophies every season, I wouldn't be willing to sacrifice everything they had to pay. But I'm not paying two grand for my team getting knocked out by my night in the FA Cup, when we should be winning 10 men my night at a hotel with Naa after was watching on TV. Well, part of what um instigated this was seeing a clip from um keep uh keep it about soccer or it's a it's a podcast i can't remember the exact title of it and there's a clip going around so arsenal's most expensive season ticket just a basic ad at one 2050 pounds josh i'd like to ask if you have any idea how much if you were to go to previous well just recently um bunders league of champions buying leva kuzin
Refereeing Challenges in the Premier League
00:06:50
Speaker
If you were to get the most expensive season ticket as an adult, how many euros do you reckon you'd be paying? I know their tickets are quite cheap, so I think for a season ticket, I think it's like, oh yeah.
00:07:03
Speaker
200 and 400 euros. of a season ticket in the best seats in the stadium. Oh, wow. In the best seats, like we're talking along the side, sort of like mid to lower tier, perfect view, completely uninterrupted view. It's a quarter of the price.
00:07:23
Speaker
Like it doesn't, have you got sort of any idea of how, because this is the case in Europe in general, i except for Real Madrid, but they're an exception. yeah How Europeans are able to keep these prices so low when in England, in the Premier League, we're paying extortionate fees to go and watch football.
00:07:40
Speaker
It's funny, you know, because I spoke about it's not a long ago with one of my friends, and with the tickets being so low in Europe, I mean, the fans have more of a voice, you know, they they kind of, because one of the ones, it's all about the supply and demand, you know, again, in the Premier League, if if someone says, well, you know what, a grand, that's too much money, I'm i' not going to pay that, someone will happily take their place, you know, there's a queue, there's a weight in this, where in Europe, it doesn't really work like that, the fans will just be like, though, how literally have a protest, but like, we're not paying that.
00:08:08
Speaker
you know that's that's ridiculous and they all stand united and you know they they one thing with europe European teams and have you been have you been to like a Champions League night or anything like that the Emirates European teams they really go in for their team they really support their team figure that in i got them hats off to them that you know i've got the respect with respect to you they it always looks like an incredible environment whenever there's a European team and I mean to be honest anywhere in any state but particularly in the Emirates like they really really get into it and go for it and it's interesting that they're paying less money to go and watch the game but they're more invested it's like they've got the fans on a better on a in a better sort of relationship like yeah yeah
00:08:45
Speaker
Like Craig, in especially in Germany, I mean, I'm using Germany as an example, because they're really good with their fans. They have a lot of fan ownership models in Germany, sort of like fans own 51% of the club. And then obviously, big investors can come in and put more money. And that's the way I think all of them, I think actually except for Leverkusen pretty much work. Yeah.
00:09:05
Speaker
Would you kind of like to see that Craig implemented in the UK? I mean, I know it's never going to happen. We're too far down the rabbit hole now. But it seems like a way that for fans to keep control of the game. Because at the moment, it feels like the game is getting away from its working class roots. Nothing happened for years now, not as recently, but for a long time.
00:09:24
Speaker
um I agree. I feel like they need to make it more for the fans, the hardcore fans, the fans that are slow, who are more than willing to pay if you have a good deal or go watch the game. We're the fans that are passionate. We're the passionate fans of the 1COT win.
00:09:38
Speaker
The ones who come to the stadium who have the money, they don't really care about football. They just can't have a lot of jolly hours, have a lot of drinks, whatever. And then they're the ones that walk out of the stadium early. They're the ones who work out early. We're the ones who will stay for the end of the game and watch the game, go get more football. Jolt really pisses me off. When we come back from halftime and for 10 minutes, it's always in the VIP box sections, they're empty.
00:10:03
Speaker
Because no one cares about the game who pays the massive prices to go and watch it, which is seats that could be used for normal fans. but To tell you the truth, to tell you the truth, there's a customer at my bank, I had to go through their statements and things there. And they they pay for a box seat. Yeah. And yes, honestly, I think for the year, or I think it was six months, I think it was 37,000. What? Yeah, 30k. 30k. Yeah, I saw that. Yeah. Yeah.
00:10:33
Speaker
Yeah. Your expenses. We need to get your clients to sponsor us, Josh. Wow. wow I mean, imagine having that make. So this is why I um obviously I love watching Arsenal, Arsenal, my team.
00:10:50
Speaker
But if I'm going to go and watch a game, I'll go watch grassroots football. I'll go watch, you know, non-league football. Wes Dibry and Chilton, I'm going to give a shout out to. I was telling Craig before, you go to Wes Dibry and Chilton, it's a fiver to get in. You can stand around. You can walk around the pitch. and There's the clubhouse where they sell Kansas strong lager for three quid. It's not good lager, but it's three quid for lager. And you stand around the kids playing on the side as well. And everyone's just having a laugh. And it's a good environment. I think. Yeah.
00:11:19
Speaker
do you ever do you ever get a chance to go down non-league games or anything like that um what to tell you truth i um thought at work when we're working um in a private bank we do a lot of charity events yeah sometimes the the bank sponsors it so i've been to like the last match we went to play at leonorean their stadium oh cool yeah and um their season ticket i think I think there's like 150 pounds for the season ticket. Wow. That was really cheap. That's really good. Yeah. And then there's a part where you can sit in the corner flag, like they have a little dugout near there. And I think um you can order Papa John's pizza as much as by them. I think that's right. You can sit there, you pitch, you literally pitch side and you can just, apparently some people just come and just like drink and just how abusive the players wish. I don't, I don't indulge, one thing you did mention as well. I mean, I know we get fed up with, you know, people, you know, leaving games. Yeah, yeah.
00:12:15
Speaker
I guess they can, their argument is, well, you know, I paid my money, I could do it, I want with it, really. No, yeah, I do understand. I don't understand that argument of sort of like, if you have the means and you can pay for it, fair enough. And you can do what you want with that ticket. And realistically, I can't begrudge you of that. I think it's just the idea that, like, a fact I've not been to the Emirates since 2006. I've been once in my life to the Emirates.
00:12:41
Speaker
You're not a fan. I've never been able to afford it. Oh wow. It was the first game of football I was ever taken to. It was by my uncle and it was watching us beat Blackburn 6-0. And Henri was injured but he came onto the pitch and waved at all the fans. And I'll never forget that. I was about as far away as possible. I learnt so many swear words that day as well. So many swear words. Is that an emirate?
00:13:09
Speaker
it was at the end that emiss right is that emma just just jo right yeah just open it was it it was in the It was in the winter and I've not been able to go back because it's either been too expensive or also getting to London incredibly, expect even when I live closer, getting into London, if you don't live there already and I can imagine for you guys living in London, absurdly expensive. yeah It's just impossible to take it. So it's just one of those things, you know, and and it's getting harder and harder for people to go to games. And I don't know about you boys. I'd like to see that change. Definitely. Two nods there. That's what we like to see. the arsenal The Arsenal podcast in agreement. That's right. We're going to take a little break now. We're going to hear from our partners at Zencast. When we come back, we're going to talk about something even happier, refereeing. So we'll be back just after this break.
00:14:00
Speaker
Here at Global Sports Podcast Network, we spend a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:14:24
Speaker
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster. Welcome back to the Daily Arsenal Podcast. We're talking about the state of the game at the moment in today's episode on this ah Tuesday. We're going to do a little bit about refereeing now. we're gonna We're not going to take too much longer for the rest of this episode because we did a very, very long one for yesterday. But we did want to talk a bit about it. Craig, in your opinion at the moment, because we've just come out of the FA Cup sort of run. I know it's a couple of games on the Monday, which would have been yesterday, obviously, for listeners.
00:14:54
Speaker
But is it just you? Or is the quality of English refereeing seriously going down? Because the amount of mistakes that have been made this weekend without VAR seems to be monumental. I've been saying, I feel it's not on my own podcast like I do every week. I sort of refer in the country, it's very poor now. The levels of great referees I had in the past, they're not, I don't know if they're not training, they're not getting trained properly, but their standards have really dropped over the last couple of years.
00:15:22
Speaker
And I thought VAR coming in would help them, but in VAR, there was a guy to do VAR as well, making a lot of mistakes as well. Controversial decisions against us a couple of times, right? I can name a few, like, our beck and rise work college in Brighton. That was not a joke, that was not a second yellow card. Dr. Swimming sent off against us when he kicked the ball away against our man City of Etihad. That's Swimming sent off then, he didn't get a second yellow card.
00:15:49
Speaker
It's been some of the seasons have been very sketchy and I've been like, know, it seems like it's a bit worse or worse each week in the Premier League, even in lower league football will as well. It's the same referees are not really. I don't know, it was very fishy, that it doesn't sound very good. So one thing that I will say about referees is, I mean, it's kind of the classic, it's kind of the same as goalkeeper. Who would want to be a referee?
00:16:18
Speaker
Who would want to be a goalkeeper? Who would want to be a referee? Because the amount of abuse you get as a referee is is a lot. Let's be even at grassroots level. If you go to a kid's game or you walk past kids in the group playing in the park and they got a referee, parents screaming at referees. Do you think that puts people off, Craig? And do you think that sort of limits the decent quality we get in the game?
00:16:39
Speaker
I agree, because I think a lot of referees get a lot of abuse. I play football as well, some day on Saturdays as well, and I thought that the abuse of some more players get the referees. Sometimes I do, not really, I'll talk to the referee, I'll use them, I'll have a word with them and say that I'm not sure about it. During the game, after the game, I'll have quite a word of reference asking if that decision was right or not.
00:16:58
Speaker
some of these referees get, some of the parents was swo as well, as you said, like, I've been to games on space when I was younger, like, I've seen parents square up to referees and abuse referees abuse referees and things like that. There's no need for that. Like, you've got to set the referees in the day, in like, they're human in the day, but it gets to a certain stage where you have to make sure you're doing a quality performance these times, if you referee a game. But all that artful fairness,
00:17:26
Speaker
who you are for fairness. Yeah. Oh great, don't mess us
Player Welfare and Football Schedules
00:17:30
Speaker
about. You're the one who's in his ear screaming, aren't you? You're the one who's getting you're getting red cards for dissent every weekend, you're great. Come on now. No. No more. No more. Josh, i think I think one of the big problems, especially in the Premier League, I don't really know much about the European leagues, but it's something that I've seen a lot of English fans, is what seems to be a complete lack of consistency with refereeing. Does this wind you up at all? You asked a really good question. You you said um before that, you know, you feel like it's gone you know it's gone downhill. I think it's always been downhill. I don't know if you've watched Premiership here, but some of the decisions what you just look at, I think
00:18:10
Speaker
Did this what football was like when we didn't have VAR? You know, some of the decisions were just, it was laughable. It was really laughable. And now VAR's in. It's still laughable. You know, it's not, it's the level. It's just, I mean, I don't know. I don't want to be that Arsenal fan that said there's conspiracy against us, but this is, you know, this is the Arsenal podcast, or daily podcast. And I've got, I've got to mention it. Why do these decisions always affect us in the wrong way? You know? I mean, if you're going to get it wrong, at least just do it as a favour. You know what I mean? Just, you know, just do it as a favour.
00:18:41
Speaker
But i to add what you're saying, I mean, I don't I don't I don't really know how how they fix it. You know, I don't I mean, look, they get paid to do a job and don't get me wrong. Look, we won't make mistakes here and there. Yeah. Well, it's just a consistent night. if we We all when VAR, when the decision of VAR comes in there or referee makes a decision, you know, we're more likely to check in to see because because if when he's going to make a mistake, not if he's going to make a mistake.
00:19:08
Speaker
I understand what's always going to be it's not whether goingnna an easy transition. It's going to take time. You know you need to find you know a formula to make it work. I understand that, but I don't really feel like it's really helping a lot of clubs. I just get the right decision. you know just yeah get i don't I don't see why there's rules and regulations, follow the rules and regulations. If there's the rule that, all right, that is the average fan doesn't know, explain that, you know, like when you've got your hard web, when you sometimes he talks out, and that's it. That's as simple as that. You know, I don't think any other sport, there's not such a, you know, controversy when it comes to decisions, it's like tennis. It's pretty straightforward. NBA basketball is pretty straightforward. I don't, any other sport is just football that is just seems to be chaotic.
00:19:54
Speaker
Yeah, like there's sports like rugby, for example, which have the same sort of fluidity as football. yeah They've got the amount of running, they've got the amount of different opportunities that can happen. But the no one argues about the rules. And no one argues with the rap fiver in rugby. You see people, you see people arguing the smallest man on the pitch and he puts them down in their place. It's hilarious to watch. um There's something that I've heard about quite a bit recently, and I think it's a brilliant idea. It's actually from Gary Lineker, who I heard it from originally, I'm not sure if he in initially came up with the idea or not. But you mentioned tennis before Josh, obviously in in tennis, they have an appeal system.
00:20:30
Speaker
and you get a certain amount of appeals each set and if your appeal isn't held up you lose it and you don't get to use it again. If it is you can keep your appeal. I honestly think VAR at the moment it slows the game down so much analyzing every tiny decisions. If teams have the opportunity to go actually can you Can you check that for us, please? We want to appeal that decision. Do you think that would be fairer, the two of you? We'll start off with great. like I just like the idea of an appeal system rather than having everything checked. Or do you think that everything needs to be kept on top of?
00:21:07
Speaker
I wouldn't do that in cricket as well. like It's one cricket to have in the field. If someone's out, the umpire doesn't give it. and They go to the upstairs and check on the umpire, the umpire would check. I think that could be a good thing to do. I i know i know the less time wasted on something like 20 minutes or so in the game to check the AR, check all the angles and everything.
00:21:27
Speaker
I've had three or fight four decisions before, it's time to vote and to appeal in the game, two in the first one, two in the second one. That'll cut all the nonsense in the game, and yeah I would say. I agree with you on that one, I'm just going to agree with you on that one. What'd you make of that Josh, that idea?
00:21:44
Speaker
I kind of disagree a little bit. I think the appeal thing, I mean, it I guess it all comes to timing when you can make the appeal, you know, you might have a penalty decision that you think it's a clear penalty and you might have another decision that you think it's a clear handball or setting a certain record. So I think that'll ruin the game. I think what they have is if it's a clear and obvious error, they'll get involved.
00:22:07
Speaker
I have no problem with that. The problem if I have is the execution. There are certain things where you just think, well oh how well, how is he not sent off? you know And then next week, you'll see someone do the same thing, and he got sent off, or that's the same penalty. That's got nothing to do with VAR. VAR's not the problem. I don't think VAR's the problem. I think the people behind it are the problem. Whether they need extra training or they need some some sort of support, I think the people behind VAR, they're not doing a good job.
00:22:33
Speaker
you know They might be doing their best, but it's not good enough. It's not at this level. like you know If it was league one or something like that, then you know you haven't won the money like that. you know This is prime time, prime league. this is This is the biggest league in the world. in the world yeah I don't understand why you don't have the resources to able to see decision. That's the rules. Stick to it.
00:22:55
Speaker
it shouldn't take that it shouldn't take that long. if the Obviously, I got referees make mistakes. They can't be everywhere. I understand that. And we saw this weekend, I'm not too i'm not too angry about it because yeah Ref sees on my angle, from his angle, it looks like that. And you can understand a little bit. But this is why Var is here, to show everyone, well, no, the ref's wrong. And this is why he's wrong. And this is why we're right, because we've got this angle that shows everything. And that's it. There's no, there's no time to argue about.
00:23:21
Speaker
No, i think i think you I think you're right. like I watch a lot of Italian football at work with my boss who supports U of A. They're great. Their VAR is great and it's generally spot on as well and it's quick. So and I think it might be sort of a mix of what you and Craig have both said over this section is the quality of refereeing in this country is not great, the training has not been great, we're not getting enough people in and now the training of VAR is being negatively impacted by that as well. The fact that you have referees who would normally be running around on the pitch sitting in the VIR ah room, I get it because they're experts but at the same time it's like surely they should be the ones on the pitch making decisions and you should have people who are specially trained have the letter of the law directly in front of them who know exactly what they're looking for operating VIR.
00:24:06
Speaker
Well, they should know that. They're referees. They know the game better than everyone on this podcast, right? They've studied this. I don't know what type of UEFA license need to be to get a referee, but I'm pretty sure it's expensive and a lot of dedication. So they've decided to go down this dark path for God knows whatever reason to be a referee. You know, I wouldn't say my mum to be referee, you know what I mean?
00:24:33
Speaker
i I think my dad would be heartbroken if I turned around to him and said, I want to be involved in football, dad. but That's great. That's great, Josh. What do you want to be a referee?
00:24:46
Speaker
It's every parent's worst nightmare, isn't it? Well, I think that'll do it for this section of refereeing. There's a lot that we've talked about a lot there and there's some ideas, some disagreement, but I think the main point is we agree it needs to improve. It's the best league in the world. It should improve. The standards have to be higher. We're going to take a very quick break and then we're going to have a short section just talking about the congested schedule of football these days. So we'll be back just after this message.
00:25:12
Speaker
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00:25:43
Speaker
Global Sports Podcast Network, every club, every day. Welcome back to the third and final part of this Daily Arsenal Podcast. It's Josh Vince with Josh Duncan and Craig Matthews. And we're talking now about the congested schedule and the state of the game of football at the moment. Craig, if you are a team now who is in every cup competition, who goes all the way in every competition, you could be expected to be playing 60, 70 games a year. Now, there are two sides to this argument.
00:26:14
Speaker
There's the size that these are athletes who are pushing their body to the max. You can't expect them to play this much football and keep the product good and entertaining. And then there's the side that says, shut up, they're paid a hundred thousand pound a week. I don't care. Where do you kind of where do you sit in that debate? Because i I see both sides to it. The first one. So protect
Commercialization vs. Traditional Values in Football
00:26:42
Speaker
the protecting players.
00:26:45
Speaker
Not all. I look at the injuries that staff were injured because they were playing too many games. I mean, the players have been overplayed. Obviously, I've ended the season. They've got a 12 World Cup, another tournament, another Arsenal in there, but other clubs have got to play in another tournament and end the season. Full money. The football's gone. It's all about money now. I've lost the game to money, and I thought that was too many games. They've got a Nations League.
00:27:10
Speaker
got a World Cup qualifier as well. so so Unless there's football to be played, but the nation should be scrapped. They don't need the nation's league. What's it about? You win a couple games.
00:27:22
Speaker
um let trophy yeah ah come here I agree more. And then you've got like, you you got the World Cup is important. Obviously the World Cup, the World Cup, you've got the Euros as well. um Premier League, f FA Cup, League Cup,
00:27:38
Speaker
Champions League, the Royal Football League, the Royal Football Conference League. There's too much football. At first, I'm not getting enough rest, so many injuries as well. A lot of players are going to get, as I said this season, more players are going to get injured in the Premier League or around world football because the amount of football has been played. But more players are going to end up, the boy is not going to take it anymore and he's going to break down. So, yeah. What about you, Josh? Where do you stand? Protect him or shut up?
00:28:04
Speaker
um No, I think the players need a bit more protection, you know, you can see it this season, a lot of players, a lot more injuries and they look tired. But on the other hand, you know, with the extra games and the extra of the money in there, they they do get, you know, a piece old of of that, you know, of the money, you know, and a fair a fair price of it.
00:28:26
Speaker
So I think it's a thing where i think ah I think Gary Neville mentioned this a couple of months ago. I think compromise needs to be met where you know your you know you're be protecting the players and the players' welfare is there because you know i mean we know we all work in regular jobs. and If we were asked to work extra a couple of days or worth the weekend and you know extra couple of hours,
00:28:47
Speaker
it would take a dog to hold on our social life, just not even just work, just our social life, you know, don't get me wrong, these primitive players, they all got families, they all got, you know, they want to go home. They're human beings at the end of the day, you know, and them asking to do more, putting their body into more. Well, they haven't got more time to even just, you know, sit down and just spend time with your family. They're already on the road 24 seven. So I think you've got to look at the human factor of it as well. I know that we had paid money and I know that the injury side But at the same time, I'm pretty sure, you know, like, I mean, pick a player like Raheem Sterling, you know, he's got quite a big family. He would like to spend a bit more time with his kids, you know. And I think, I think now you're trying to see a bit more players requesting a bit more.
00:29:25
Speaker
I'm just time off just to kind of get their heads together. I know I'm pretty sure someone actually, I don't want to mention his name, but I have, I'm pretty sure he probably would want a bit of time off, you know, he's probably played a lot of games, you know, I think he's having a baby too as well. yeah It's a lot, it's a lot going on. So I think, I think they need to make a compromise. I think, I think you said the most important thing in that description is they're human.
00:29:52
Speaker
They're human beings and I think a lot of people when you're watching professional sport and you're supporting it and you're supporting a club and you're watching players represent that club, you forget kind of that there are people at the heart of them. And I have to agree. I think that the money in the game is not their fault.
00:30:12
Speaker
the money in the game is football's fault. And there's nothing they can do about that. Let's be honest. Sacker's not going to change the amount of money that they're being paid. First of all, why would he?
00:30:24
Speaker
If I could make that money, I would be doing it. And I'd be milking it for everything it's worth. I would be full on film josing that and getting a nasty injury and seeing out my entire contract at Manchester United on 150 grand a week. I would rinse it for everything it's worth. yeah But they are people.
00:30:46
Speaker
they have families too They have families to keep, they have extended families to keep, and they have people to see, they have lives. So I think you're right, Josh. And do you know, weirdly, that actually feels like, for especially for the three of us on a podcast, that feels like quite a positive place to end.
00:31:04
Speaker
I'm sorry, but what Craig said, but then they shouldn't leave you just like, what is that? it's it's No, honestly, honestly, it's true a value. It's a value. I genuinely, it got me think i'll thinking, I was thinking, I don't even know what the, is it a plate you win? and Is it a plate, right? I don't even know what the trophy looks like. it's like ah it It looks like the talented trophy. You know the talented trophy when you win the playoff final. That's it, that's it, that's it, yeah, that's it.
00:31:31
Speaker
Yeah, because Portugal won it a couple of years ago. I remember them winning that. Did they? Yeah, they won it a couple of years ago. Yeah, you're right. Pointless, you're right. It's pointless, I like it. That's the most sensible thing we've heard all day. It's actually pointless. What is it? I mean, if you said, like, the last four World Cup winners, you could easily do it, couldn't you? Yeah. Yeah. Argentina, then you had France, then you had, was it Germany next after them? I think it was, wasn't it?
00:31:59
Speaker
And then I would say Spain.
Conclusion and Reflections on Football Governance
00:32:02
Speaker
It's the last four World Cup winners. I genuinely did not know that Portugal had won the Nations League.
00:32:10
Speaker
It's been going for a few years. like Craig, you bang on the money. Get rid of the nation's league. And with that, we shall end today's podcast. Thank you so much for listening. I've been your host, Josh Vince. They were Josh Duncan and Craig Matthews. Make sure to follow us wherever you get your podcasts. Give us a five star rating. It really, really helps us and share us around. We'll be back tomorrow with a crossover episode with our dreaded rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
00:32:37
Speaker
on the day of the North London Derby. Let's hope it goes better than the game against Manchester United. We'll have to wait and see. but Until then, have a great day and goodbye.
00:32:53
Speaker
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