Now that normal service is about to be resumed in the Premier League, at least for a month until the next set of ridiculous international fixtures are played, the clubs can begin to count the cost of releasing their top players to play in these games.
Sometimes meaningless, sometimes meaningful, it is always a surprise, particularly when the season has already started, to see how willing the teams are to release their players and how inconsiderate the international coaches are.
International games now involve players travelling thousands of miles and for what? A friendly in which they may pick up an injury? What is the point? It is far more understandable when the game to be played is a World Cup qualifier but even then it is a case of pathetic scheduling by FIFA.
Like the ubiquitous roadworks on the M6 in August, FIFA suits must discuss when the most disruption can be caused to the football leagues around the world, and make the decision to screw up a couple of weeks in September, October and November, (and that’s just this year!)
Below we have listed the players from the Big Six who have travelled the furthest, (usually in the comfort of a private jet, to be fair), and the ones who have been injured. As per usual, the clubs will have to continue paying these players while they are treated while the international managers will just have to decide who else they can put at risk in the next pointless friendly.
ARSENAL
Injured
Shkodran Mustafi (thigh injury picked up with Germany)
Laurent Koscielny (achilles injury picked up with France)
Sead Kolašinac (calf injury picked up with Bosnia-Herzegovina)
Furthest travelled
Alexis Sánchez (Brazil v CHILE, Wed, Sao Paulo) – 11 hours / 9400km
David Ospina (Peru v COLOMBIA, Wed, Lima) – 12 hours / 10100km
CHELSEA
Injured
N’Golo Kante (hamstring injury picked up with France)
Furthest travelled
Willian (BRAZIL v Chile, Wed, Sao Paulo) – 11 hours / 9400km
LIVERPOOL
Injured
Sadio Mané (hamstring injury picked up with Senegal)
Furthest travelled
Philippe Coutinho (BRAZIL v Chile, Wed, Sao Paulo) – 11 hours / 9400km
Roberto Firmino (BRAZIL v Chile, Wed, Sao Paulo) – 11 hours / 9400km
MANCHESTER CITY
Injured
Fabian Delph (hamstring injury picked up with England)
Furthest travelled
Ederson (BRAZIL v Chile, Wed, Sao Paulo) – 11 hours / 9400km
Danilo (BRAZIL v Chile, Wed, Sao Paulo) – 11 hours / 9400km
Fernandinho (BRAZIL v Chile, Wed, Sao Paulo) – 11 hours / 9400km
Gabriel Jesus (BRAZIL v Chile, Wed, Sao Paulo) – 11 hours / 9400km
Claudio Bravo (Brazil v CHILE, Wed, Sao Paulo) – 11 hours / 9400km
Nicolas Otamendi (Ecuador v ARGENTINA, Wed, Quito) – 14 hours / 9200km
MANCHESTER UNITED
Injured
Marouane Fellaini (knee injury picked up with Belgium)
Daley Blind (hamstring injury picked up with the Netherlands)
Furthest travelled
Antonio Valencia (ECUADOR v Argentina, Wed, Quito) – 14 hours / 9200km
Sergio Romero (Ecuador v ARGENTINA, Wed, Quito) – 14 hours / 9200km
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Injured
None
Furthest travelled
Davinson Sanchez (Peru v COLOMBIA, Wed, Lima) – 12 hours / 10100km
So, of the six clubs, a total of eight players returned injured whilst another fourteen travelled a minimum of 9200km.
We really hope it was all worth it because the general consensus within the footballing public is that these games could be scrapped tomorrow and they would not be missed. In fact, the impression we got when canvassing opinion is that scrapping them would be a cause for celebration.
A GENUINE LEGEND
And finally, happy birthday to Sir Bobby Charlton who reaches the milestone of 80 years of age. A fitting holder of the record for most goals for both Manchester United and England for many, many years.
He scored all of his goals from his favourite attacking midfield position and his only regret, we assume, is that both his records were surpassed by an overpaid, overrated, boozing and womanising scouser who played virtually all of his career as a striker and, if he had been one tenth as good as Charlton, would have broken both records much sooner.
As the saying goes, he is not worthy.
The fact of the matter is that Charlton will be remembered as a legend at Old Trafford long after Rooney’s name is consigned to the “can you name this former player?” pages of quiz books.
So happy birthday and long may we continue to see Sir Bobby and his wife at Manchester United games in the future.
WHY SAY ANYTHING? 