Pidge’s Radical Rant!

By Pidge On · 10 Comments · In Opinion

The title of this little rant (you can pretend if it is an article if you want but 90% of mine turn into rants!!!) may give the impression it is based on our CL draw but it is not (Well it is but not in its entirety!!)

I was watching Sky Sports News the other day and it got me thinking after hearing an article and comparing it to other sports.

The piece in question was regarding the High Court ruling over England’s Rugby stars being release by their respective clubs for Internationals regardless of their club commitments in the particular week of said international.

I then realised that this is a common occurrence in cricket too. So in 2 of our major 3 sports, the world does not stop simply because the National Team are playing.

So I say why not do it in football.

Don’t get me wrong, I do not mean for meaningless friendlies which all of us seem to dislike. This should be strictly for competitive internationals. After all, it is partly done in the winter when the African Nations is played and clubs lose some players. When there is any form of competitive international if a player is called up then off they go. No ifs, buts or maybes. If their club says they are injured then they cannot play in the nearest club game after / on the date of the international(s). Just imagine the top players leaving the clubs for internationals, how open this would leave the league. No more top 4 clubs as right through the league each club has internationals so they would lose some players. Also, this would then leave a few games open each year for the fringe and reserve players to get involved in the real matches that really mean something. It gives them something to strive for. How many times do younger / lesser known players get bought for their talent but never see more than a combined hour on the pitch in the premiership? In my opinion , very often. I feel for the likes of Jack Hobbs who I do not really think will get much of a chance, the same for Paul Anderson once the season starts.

Maybe, just maybe someone may not have had this idea and think, ‘œbloody hell, that Pidge is a genius!’. Ok, maybe not but hey, I think it’s a bloody good idea!!

Now moving forward, this ridiculous notion that we will be playing Maccabi Haifa in Haifa!? Firstly that is already a ‘œNo No’ from UEFA. The simple fact that since the trouble has flared up, Haifa has been hit by some 60 rockets fired by Hezbollah (Bloody hell I spelt that wrong and MS Word has the correct spelling in it’s dictionary!!! No wonder Bill Gates is minted!!). The Israeli FA think that Tel Aviv is a safe place to have the game played. Yeah right, how many suicide bombs have been done there? Well into double figures. The fact that Al Quieda have jumped on this opportunity to rally hatred towards Israel and they do not actually think much of Arabs anyway shows how unstable this situation is.

It also appears that Cyprus may well be out of the question as that is where all evacuees appear to be going. However in the past, matches have been played in Italy, Greece and Turkey. But then again looking at those 3 alternatives!!?? Hmmmmmmm, Turkey, still not the best place to be if you are a westerner. Greece, Involving the Greek FA leaves you open to their Government! Italy’¦’¦..enough said!!!!!!.

I am sure a safe and logical situation will be at the end of this but I would not expect it soon knowing the meetings about meetings UEFA seem to have!

The simple fact is that innocent people are dying and they live there, why risk bringing in foreigners to play a worthless football match (it is worthless compared to life!) and risk anything happening to them?

All that appears to be known is that the Israeli authorities want to give cast iron guarantees for safety. I do not think that from their hearts (nor heads) can give this and mean it.

Time will tell.

Pidge

Postscript ‘“ Not much of a rant that was it!

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    Pidge

    Pidge is a former Anfield steward who has been providing his forthright opinions on the site since we came online back in 2001.

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  • NightStalker

    A much better idea for development of players is to have a squad of 18 and 2 extra sub positions. It would then be much easier for young players to get into first team squads and possibly get a little more game time when the pressure is off, for instance when you are 4-0 up at home. This standard policy in Europe and the continent. Why not in England?

  • NightStalker

    A much better idea for development of players is to have a squad of 18 and 2 extra sub positions. It would then be much easier for young players to get into first team squads and possibly get a little more game time when the pressure is off, for instance when you are 4-0 up at home. This standard policy in Europe and the continent. Why not in England?

  • All that appears to be known i

    The simple fact is that innocent people are dying and they live there, why risk bringing in foreigners to play a worthless football match (it is worthless compared to life!) and risk anything happening to tResponse hem? A much better idea for developA much better idea for developmA much better idea for development of players is to have a squad of 18 and 2 extra sub positions. It would then be much easier for young players to get into first team squads and possibly get a little more game time when the pressure is off, for instance when you are 4-0 up at home. This standard policy in Europe and the continent. Why not in England?

    ent of players is to have a squad of 18 and 2 extra sub positions. It would then be much easier for young players to get into first team squads and possibly get a little more game time when the pressure is off, for instance when you are 4-0 up at home. This standard policy in Europe and the continent. Why not in England?

    ment of players is to have a squad of 18 and 2 extra sub positions. It would then be much easier for young players to get into first team squads and possibly get a little more game time when the pressure is off, for instance when you are 4-0 up at home. This standard policy in Europe and the continent. Why not in England?

  • All that appears to be known is that the Israeli authorities want to give cast iron guarantees for safety. I do not think that from their hearts (nor heads) can give this and mean it.

    The simple fact is that innocent people are dying and they live there, why risk bringing in foreigners to play a worthless football match (it is worthless compared to life!) and risk anything happening to tResponse hem? A much better idea for developA much better idea for developmA much better idea for development of players is to have a squad of 18 and 2 extra sub positions. It would then be much easier for young players to get into first team squads and possibly get a little more game time when the pressure is off, for instance when you are 4-0 up at home. This standard policy in Europe and the continent. Why not in England?

    ent of players is to have a squad of 18 and 2 extra sub positions. It would then be much easier for young players to get into first team squads and possibly get a little more game time when the pressure is off, for instance when you are 4-0 up at home. This standard policy in Europe and the continent. Why not in England?

    ment of players is to have a squad of 18 and 2 extra sub positions. It would then be much easier for young players to get into first team squads and possibly get a little more game time when the pressure is off, for instance when you are 4-0 up at home. This standard policy in Europe and the continent. Why not in England?

  • William

    Generally, your comments are fair, except for one small point. There is no basis whatsoever for your remark about Turkey being not a good place to be if you are a Westerner. I know because my wife is Turkish and I have had the opportunity to visit that country on numerous occasion. Whereas 90% of the country is indeed within the geo-political entity that is called the ‘middle east’, Turkey, although predominately Muslim, is very different compared to other Middle eastern countries, most of whom are Arabic, and very different people in terms of how religion plays a part in how they live as well as the political makeup of their governments. Turkey is totally secular and structured like most ‘western’ countries. It is poor by comparison to the west, but in no way, shape or form, is it a place where westerners would feel isolated or threatened in anyway and again, I speak from person experience. I am Irish, by the way.

  • William

    Generally, your comments are fair, except for one small point. There is no basis whatsoever for your remark about Turkey being not a good place to be if you are a Westerner. I know because my wife is Turkish and I have had the opportunity to visit that country on numerous occasion. Whereas 90% of the country is indeed within the geo-political entity that is called the ‘middle east’, Turkey, although predominately Muslim, is very different compared to other Middle eastern countries, most of whom are Arabic, and very different people in terms of how religion plays a part in how they live as well as the political makeup of their governments. Turkey is totally secular and structured like most ‘western’ countries. It is poor by comparison to the west, but in no way, shape or form, is it a place where westerners would feel isolated or threatened in anyway and again, I speak from person experience. I am Irish, by the way.

  • Andy Fielder

    It’s insane to consider sending players/officials/fans anywhere near Israel for a game! I heard a report on the radio the other day (ironically, originating from Haifa!) that said that Hezbollah now have missiles capable of reaching the northern outskirts of Tel Aviv!!! It’s only going to get worse, so make the decision now to move the game to a neutral, secure, civilized venue, for everyone’s sake.

  • Andy Fielder

    It’s insane to consider sending players/officials/fans anywhere near Israel for a game! I heard a report on the radio the other day (ironically, originating from Haifa!) that said that Hezbollah now have missiles capable of reaching the northern outskirts of Tel Aviv!!! It’s only going to get worse, so make the decision now to move the game to a neutral, secure, civilized venue, for everyone’s sake.

  • Dylan

    Good points. I think the idea of releasing players for international duty is an optimistic view but well justified. I’m not telling you anything new when making reference tothe multi-million pound industry just the premier league is, yet alone on a global scale. Sponsors, big wigs and even fans will not want a dip in the qualityof football on such a regular basis within the seson. At the end of the day they want to see a Carra and Gerrard not Hobbs and Anderson. Sadly money is slowing killing the development at grass root levels of this game, but yet we all want our clubs to buy the big names and quality talent (me included!!), and for that reason thats why each club picks up over 25 million a season for just being involved in the premier league. All the Chel$ki lads are saying how they are making the premiership the best league in the world by bringing in coffin-dodgers like Shuv-itchenko which basically says it all!

  • Dylan

    Good points. I think the idea of releasing players for international duty is an optimistic view but well justified. I’m not telling you anything new when making reference tothe multi-million pound industry just the premier league is, yet alone on a global scale. Sponsors, big wigs and even fans will not want a dip in the qualityof football on such a regular basis within the seson. At the end of the day they want to see a Carra and Gerrard not Hobbs and Anderson. Sadly money is slowing killing the development at grass root levels of this game, but yet we all want our clubs to buy the big names and quality talent (me included!!), and for that reason thats why each club picks up over 25 million a season for just being involved in the premier league. All the Chel$ki lads are saying how they are making the premiership the best league in the world by bringing in coffin-dodgers like Shuv-itchenko which basically says it all!