Newcastle v Tottenham in Melbourne today.

[bobbymanc]

Let's get this right, FA Cup replays have been scrapped essentially at the request of the Premier League and their clubs due to the increased workload faced by their players. Today Newcastle play Tottenham in a post-season friendly in Melbourne, Australia. Both teams are taking players who will be involved in Euro 2024 which starts in 3 weeks.

 

Are they intentionally trying to take the Michael? Surely something has to be done about this? Actions like this are paramount to gaslighting the rest of the footballing community.

 

Please discuss.

[manc_vale]

It's very carefully managed. Look at the teams, Newcastle and Tottenham. It's testing the water, it's giving a fairly high ranking teams, enough to show that the premier league take this seriously, but not one of the big 4 who would no doubt complain bitterly. To hell with the lower leagues; give them a measly handout to keep them sweet. 

There is no foreign market or TV money in the lower leagues so the teams get shafted by the Premier league. The gap between the Premier league and other leagues grows and grows. The championship has become a pit of debt as desperate chairpersons gamble on a shot at the big time. This, along with FFP, bites back at the Premier league. It's a stacked deck, the premier league is a league within a league. It's the big clubs and then half a table of rubbish. Bournemouth vs Brentford or Wolves anyone - yawn....

Do I mind or care? not really. Football in the lower leagues, apart from a glimmer of cash in the 90's, has always been cash strapped. There is the occasional Salford/Wrexham anomaly, but after a while the glitter and razzmatazz fade and the teams return to around their previous level (see Wigan, Bradford etc). 

 

[Jacko51]

2 hours ago, bobbymanc said:

Let's get this right, FA Cup replays have been scrapped essentially at the request of the Premier League and their clubs due to the increased workload faced by their players. Today Newcastle play Tottenham in a post-season friendly in Melbourne, Australia. Both teams are taking players who will be involved in Euro 2024 which starts in 3 weeks.

 

Are they intentionally trying to take the Michael? Surely something has to be done about this? Actions like this are paramount to gaslighting the rest of the footballing community.

 

Please discuss.

The managers don't want this.  The players definitely don't want this.  It's just stupid.

[Jacko51]

Alfie Devine has just come on aa a sub for Spuds. 

[Valient1961]

Eddie Howe and Ange dare not say anything about the fixture congestion next season and players fatigue me thinks 😳

[Jacko51]

They can, their bosses can’t. 

[valiant_593]

Trippier gone off injured? 

[Spunk Trumpet]

The powers that be are laughing in your faces.

They tell you scrapping FA cup replays is for player welfare and then do this. 
 

Take a look at the super league. Fans went nuts. They backed down. But look at next seasons champions league format. They’ve quietly incorporated it anyway! 
 

All about greed. 
Something will give in the next 5 years. It has to. 

[Paul6754]

Hopefully someone high up in football circles will see what's going on and challenge this rank bad hypocrisy, somehow I doubt it.  

[darren1810]

Pure greed. 

[Loggerheads Sage]

Wonder how the authorities square this with their net zero climate waffle they peddle from time to time?      Ridiculous 

[MelbourneValiant]

Were full teams played in this? I attended two of these show piece games before.

Both matches ere crap and played at a laughable intensity less that of training session for a testimonial.