John McGinn

[Toronto Villa]

Yep. And I think he’s mainly talking about the mental side of being prepared for games at the highest level. And always performing to a high standard and meeting expectations of coaches, fans etc. So not just the outcome but all that now comes being a top end player. Then there is the extra media a lot of them do especially captains and high profile players.

I agree with him and Rodri. There are far too many games being played. Especially with international football. Throw in pre season games across the globe and an expanded CL, coupled with domestic cups, the players don’t rest anymore.

[Risso]

Somebody made the point on the radio yesterday though, that the players are part of a 25 man squad. If Rodri is getting to the point where he wants to go on strike, why isn't his manager giving him more of a rest?

[edgysatsuma89]

Someone like Rodri is screwed because he is about as integral as a player gets. He needs to be a bit shitter, that may help him.

[pauliewalnuts]

He's brilliant, Rodri. I think he's the best player in his position in the world. The way they are so much weaker without him, despite being such a powerful side says it all.

[Risso]

He is, he's a fantastic player. But there's an easy answer to playing too many games, and it's not organising strike action.

[pauliewalnuts]

Nah, I think footballers need to rise up and seize the means of production. Only in this way will they ever be truly free.

Going back to Rodri, he is definitely great and everything, but he tucks his shirt into his shorts and then wears his shorts way too high.

It's a bit of a 'special' look.

[Toronto Villa]

Somebody made the point on the radio yesterday though, that the players are part of a 25 man squad. If Rodri is getting to the point where he wants to go on strike, why isn't his manager giving him more of a rest?

I agree with the broader point he’s making. Not the strike nonsense. I just feel they are burning the best players into the ground. We saw it in the Euros where many players just looked knackered after a long season. And we see it in the WC too in 2026 when the competition is even bigger. Clubs don’t want to turn down the money tied broadening their global reach. We will be a bigger part of it soon enough fucking off to all parts of the globe. The whole nations league right after the Euros is absolute stupidity.

[paul_e]

It's obvious to anyone who isn't an AI bot that there are far too many games being played (this also applies to the championship, L1 and L2 which have too many teams).

I'd withdraw teams in Europe from the league cup (but keep a european place for the winners) as a start.
I'd then remove all 2 legged ties across all competitions and remove all replays.
Then I'd look at reducing the league to 16 teams in the top 2 leagues with 3 20 team leagues below that.

That'd mean a minimum of 39 and a maximum of 48 games for a CL side which seems reasonable compared to the current situation which makes 65-70 realistic for a side like Man City who expect to compete in all 4 competitions.

Then you look at internationals where a competitive side like Spain or England will play something like 30 games over the course qualifying, friendlies and tournaments in each 2 year cycle. Currently that means some players can be pushing towards 75-80 games a season and playing competitively from early August to early July without a break.

With the club level reforms you bring that down to 50-60 at most which is still a bit too high but is better and with fewer games you could shift the calendar around to have all club football finished by mid May and then start the international tournaments earlier so the season is complete by something like June 20th to give a solid 7-8week gap before the new season starts.

[VillaTim]

Should squad sizes be increased to say 35 players and by that i don't mean clubs go out and spend a lot more .

[paul_e]

Should squad sizes be increased to say 35 players and by that i don't mean clubs go out and spend a lot more .

No, if anything changes around squads it should be to encourage more U21 players from the academy to be included so something like 3-4 players in the matchday 20 have to meet the club-trained criteria.

[LeeB]

Nah, I think footballers need to rise up and seize the means of production. Only in this way will they ever be truly free.

Going back to Rodri, he is definitely great and everything, but he tucks his shirt into his shorts and then wears his shorts way too high.

It's a bit of a 'special' look.

It's the kind of look that suggests he'd be comfortable enforcing a fascist state should one come into being.

[Ads]

It's the kind of rubbish he'll wince at in 20 years when he'd give his right nut to be back kicking a ball in anger. Once it's gone, it's gone- a bit like his eyebrows.

[LeeB]

He is, he's a fantastic player. But there's an easy answer to playing too many games, and it's not organising strike action.

I'm not sure what else they can do though really, it's pretty crazy when another organisation that you're not employed by can increase your workload without consultation.

[Dave]

He is, he's a fantastic player. But there's an easy answer to playing too many games, and it's not organising strike action.

I'm not sure what else they can do though really, it's pretty crazy when another organisation that you're not employed by can increase your workload without consultation.

A suggestion I heard the other day is that they don't go on strike, but when they sign a contract all players insist on a "per season my labour will be available for 45 / 50 / 55 club matches to be chosen by the club" clause.

So if Man City or Arsenal are expecting to be in the FA Cup final or the latter stages of the Champions League then maybe they use some of their other riches at home to Ipswich and Leicester instead of running Saka and Rodri into the ground.

[PeterWithesShin]

At the same time his employers are probably happy with the extra CL games, it helps them pay his current £180k a week and his rumoured new contract offer of £375k a week. Clubs will never agree to fewer games when players are after obscene wages. It's become a vicious circle.