Football Media

[patrickblue]

Just heard football in Scotland to be virtually spectator free, maximum of 500 people to be allowed from boxing day, wonder if our lot copy that?

Does anyone actually pay to watch Scottish football?

[johnny crossan]

Foden and Grealish crossed a line with Guardiola – it’s their job to put it right


PHIL-FODEN-JACK-GREALISH-MANCHESTER-CITY


By Sam Lee Dec 21, 2021 72


You can be pretty sure that when Pep Guardiola is asked about Jack Grealish and Phil Foden in his next press conference, he’ll close ranks and move on.

That’s how he normally handles these situations and, it must be said, it’s the right way, too. There’s no point dwelling on the type of thing that can happen during the course of a season, but it’s worth highlighting just to keep everybody on their toes.

As he so often does when he has a point to make, Guardiola went out of his way following the victory away to Newcastle United on Sunday to talk about things like attitude and, in this case, “behaviour”.

It looked to all the world that he had rotated his starting line-up before the busy Christmas schedule, but in two separate interviews, he insisted that he hadn’t.

“Not rotation, no,” he said. “I decided for this team because they deserved to play today, these guys and not the other ones.

“At Christmas time, I pay a lot of attention to behaviour on and off the pitch. And when off the pitch is not proper, they are not going to play.”

He didn’t name the players and he most likely never would have done, but it might suit him that it has become public knowledge that Foden and Grealish were in his bad books because they had had a heavy night out following the 7-0 win against Leeds United.

There is a stigma around footballers’ nights out, despite the fact that they happen all the time. City’s success over the past few years might suggest they are a group of choir boys but they can drink with the best of them, which goes to show that it’s usually not a problem at all.

But there is a time, a place and, quite simply, there’s a question of how much is too much. And right now, there’s the extra layer of responsibility around COVID-19.

City were not in full training on Wednesday, with those who had featured against Leeds due for a recovery session and media duties, so it’s not like they were unfit to train or take on important tactical messages. They also had a full day off on Thursday.

But the fact that Premier League players now have to take lateral flow COVID-19 tests every day — in an attempt to curb outbreaks as cases in the UK soar upwards — means nights out aren’t exactly the best idea, especially when you’re in a team environment. A positive test could keep you out of three games at the moment, if you’re lucky.

Guardiola wasn’t there on Wednesday, which may have added an element of “while the cat’s away”, but he certainly got word that his men weren’t in top condition — the media obligations had to be cancelled — and he felt their misdemeanour was sufficient enough to cost them their place against Newcastle. Most tellingly, he was ready to raise the issue semi-publicly.


He had done the same twice last season in exactly the same way: asked about the opportunity to rest some players in a Champions League dead rubber, he instead asserted that his players shouldn’t think they are guaranteed a place in the team based on former glories.

His message was intended for Aymeric Laporte, whose performances and attitude had dipped.

And in March, when asked about rotating his team before big Champions League games, he said that those players who have helped him during the course of the season would play more. “The rest will stay on the bench,” he said. That time he was talking about Raheem Sterling, who had questioned his team selection that same day.

Guardiola runs a tight ship and although it might not keep all of his players happy, it does keep them at the top of the table. You fall in line or leave, and for the vast majority it’s the former.

Now Grealish and Foden are learning that lesson. Interestingly, Guardiola has sent Foden a similar message already this season.

After City’s win away to Club Bruges in October, he was asked whether youngster Cole Palmer can follow Foden’s example and he tempered his praise with a word of warning.

“Cole is Cole and Phil is Phil,” he said. “Phil is the reality, otherwise he couldn’t play for England and how many minutes he’s played with us, we cannot forget last season in the Champions League knockouts how important he was.

“Phil is Phil, the only thing I want from Phil is to control his life, on and off the pitch, be more professional, more focused, I know how he loves to play football but football is not just what you do on the pitch. He already has a family and that is so good for him, he has a girlfriend and two babies, and Cole is a teenager, I don’t know even if he has a girlfriend!”

After Foden was sent home by England last year for breaking COVID-19 rules, Guardiola was incredibly supportive and even sought him out privately to tell him how much he and City think of him.

And it might seem unusual that Foden would need a warning about his private life — the popular perception is that he loves to go fishing with his dad and take his children and young siblings to Peppa Pig World — but Guardiola has noticed room for improvement.

A heavy night out for Grealish is less of a surprise, it must be said, because a few of them have been reported over the years. He was once asked about his most awkward interview and replied, “Maybe when I got caught sleeping on the road in Tenerife.”

But a few big nights didn’t hinder his progress at Aston Villa too much, and certainly weren’t deemed anywhere near enough of a problem to stop City — a club very concerned with the public perception of their spending — from splashing out £100 million.

Like with Foden, who has become a key player for Guardiola, there’s no sense of a major issue behind the scenes.

Guardiola constantly told Grealish during his recent injury lay-off that the team were missing him and needed him back as soon as possible, which helped boost the midfielder’s morale at a time he was not overly impressed with his own performances.

He was noticeably relieved and delighted to score against Leeds, his first goal since September, and that may have been taken as cause for celebration, especially after such a fine team performance and the prospect of two quiet days before the Newcastle match.

But he and Foden crossed a line with Guardiola — it’s their job to put it right.

(

[Dimples]

Strong management by Pep.
No favorites, no Billy Big Balls, no one is bigger than the club. Great message for the rest of the squad.
There is one big dog here and that is me, Pep. Get in line or get out. No rot will set in here.

Love it.

Compare this to poor old 'nice' OGS, trying to keep everyone happy, then they shaft him anyway.

[PeterParker]

BBC: Danny Welbeck scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser for Brighton to deny Chelsea victory and deal a blow to their title hopes Chelsea had looked set to move three points clear of Liverpool, until....

Interesting. If there was a team ahead of those two in the table.

[london blue 2]

Absolutely loving the piss boiling we're doing Journalists suggesting we should lose more to keep things interesting, little soulless, boring City.

Thank you SM and Pep

[Mase]

Absolutely loving the piss boiling we're doing Journalists suggesting we should lose more to keep things interesting, little soulless, boring City.

Thank you SM and Pep

When will the annual “how to stop City” stories start again? They’re always funny. Ian Ladyman telling professional managers how to stop City Brilliant.

[Dimples]

Why are there no articles like the following?

'Is Klopp over rated and has his management fcuked up Liverpool?'

Liverpool's most important team members are 30ish with no young replacements in the squad and with many almost out of contract: Salah, Mane, Bobby, VVD, Jordan & Matip. How has Klopp allowed this situation develop?
In six years as manager of Liverpool Klopp has won two major trophies, a poor return compared to 8 major trophies won by Pep over five seasons.

OR

'Mercanary Salah is holding Liverpool to ransom'

Greedy Mo Salah is demanding £500K a week from Liverpool.
He does not care that such a selfish demand would destroy Liverpool's wage structure and cause unrest in a unified first team squad.
If he does not get it he is threatening to leave on a free and fill his boots elsewhere leaving the club who nurtured him and gave him the platform to display his talents in a mess.

[Bluemoon4610]

Why are there no articles like the following?

'Is Klopp over rated and has his management fcuked up Liverpool?'

Liverpool's most important team members are 30ish with no young replacements in the squad and with many almost out of contract: Salah, Mane, Bobby, VVD, Jordan & Matip. How has Klopp allowed this situation develop?
In six years as manager of Liverpool Klopp has won two major trophies, a poor return compared to 8 major trophies won by Pep over five seasons.

OR

'Mercanary Salah is holding Liverpool to ransom'

Greedy Mo Salah is demanding £500K a week from Liverpool.
He does not care that such a selfish demand would destroy Liverpool's wage structure and cause unrest in a unified first team squad.
If he does not get it he is threatening to leave on a free and fill his boots elsewhere leaving the club who nurtured him and gave him the platform to display his talents in a mess.

You need a job as a sports journo!

[nottsblue]

European champions Chelsea have announced losses of £145.6m after tax for the year to 30 June 2021.

The Premier League club won last season's Champions League under Thomas Tuchel.

Their turnover went up from £387.8m to £416.8m thanks to an increase in broadcasting revenue.

But the club say playing games with no crowds because of Covid-19 and a reduction in profit on player sales were the main reasons for the loss.

Chelsea FC PLC continues to be supported financially by Fordstam Limited, a company owned by Roman Abramovich - with confirmation in the accounts that the club owes more than £1bn to "related companies".

The accounts also say that "the company is reliant on Fordstam Limited for its continued financial support". It says Fordstam has indicated support will continue "for the foreseeable future".

The club adds that under a "severe but plausible downside scenario of football being played behind closed doors in December 2021 and January 2022" it would be reliant on additional funding from Chelsea FC PLC, with further funds needed if the financial impact of Covid-19 were even more severe.

Premier League and EFL clubs recently chose to fulfil festive fixtures despite ongoing Covid-19 disruption, including a series of postponements and a record 103 Premier League players and staff testing positive for Covid in the seven days up to and including 26 December.

Chelsea's accounts also say there is £24.1m owed due to unspecified "ongoing legal matters" - while the club also decided an "impairment loss" of £17.9m was necessary against the value of its squad.

The club say since 30 June they have signed three players for a total of £109.7m - striker Romelu Lukaku, goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli and midfielder Saul Niguez, on loan from Atletico Madrid.

In the same period they say they have sold 13 players for a combined £103.7m. They could also receive up to £16.4m if outstanding clauses in previous transfers are all met.

Lost £145M. Absolutely shocking. Is FFP even a thing anymore

[PeterParker]

Lost £145M. Absolutely shocking. Is FFP even a thing anymore

Only if your club name starts with M and ends with anchester City.

[Mase]

They won the CL and still lost £145m. Mental.

[zuricity]

They won the CL and still lost £145m. Mental.

well they did buy a Donkey.

[Mase]

They won the CL and still lost £145m. Mental.

well they did buy a Donkey.

Werner or Lukaku? It’s like Blackpool beach there now.

[Mase]

Walker has married his childhood sweetheart?? Am I missing something here?!

[IanWright]

What do you guys think about this new programme 'Anne' that is due to be aired tomorrow? It covers the Hillsborough disaster.

I'm rather controversial on this. I genuinely don't think we should dramatize events like this for eventual monetary gain (I don't know the someone this will be but there inevitably will be a "someone" at the end of the chain)

In a year where we're going to have a Jimmy Savile series aired by the very organisation that allowed the miscarriages of justice to occur, there's something very unsettling with the way the world is going.

[Mase]

What do you guys think about this new programme 'Anne' that is due to be aired tomorrow? It covers the Hillsborough disaster.

I'm rather controversial on this. I genuinely don't think we should dramatize events like this for eventual monetary gain (I don't know the someone this will be but there inevitably will be a "someone" at the end of the chain)

In a year where we're going to have a Jimmy Savile series aired by the very organisation that allowed the miscarriages of justice to occur, there's something very unsettling with the way the world is going.

They crave sympathy. I don’t think anyone outside Liverpool will watch it

[nottsblue]

What do you guys think about this new programme 'Anne' that is due to be aired tomorrow? It covers the Hillsborough disaster.

I'm rather controversial on this. I genuinely don't think we should dramatize events like this for eventual monetary gain (I don't know the someone this will be but there inevitably will be a "someone" at the end of the chain)

In a year where we're going to have a Jimmy Savile series aired by the very organisation that allowed the miscarriages of justice to occur, there's something very unsettling with the way the world is going.

They crave sympathy. I don’t think anyone outside Liverpool will watch it

Won't be on in my house.

I'd sooner sit on the fucking tip for an hour

[CTID Hants]

What do you guys think about this new programme 'Anne' that is due to be aired tomorrow? It covers the Hillsborough disaster.

I'm rather controversial on this. I genuinely don't think we should dramatize events like this for eventual monetary gain (I don't know the someone this will be but there inevitably will be a "someone" at the end of the chain)

In a year where we're going to have a Jimmy Savile series aired by the very organisation that allowed the miscarriages of justice to occur, there's something very unsettling with the way the world is going.

I won't be watching......

[Harry Dowd scored]

What do you guys think about this new programme 'Anne' that is due to be aired tomorrow? It covers the Hillsborough disaster.

I'm rather controversial on this. I genuinely don't think we should dramatize events like this for eventual monetary gain (I don't know the someone this will be but there inevitably will be a "someone" at the end of the chain)

In a year where we're going to have a Jimmy Savile series aired by the very organisation that allowed the miscarriages of justice to occur, there's something very unsettling with the way the world is going.

I won't be watching......

I thought they had already done this with Ricky Tomlinson in it, sick of it tbh

[Mase]

Stephen Graham in it? He seems to be in everything that involves that shit hole. Fat scouse twat.