Villa Players on International Duty - Covid impacts

[Lastfootstamper]

We had no reason to appease or refuse them this. Like their UK based Brazilian counterparts, they're not allowed into Brazil. Says Brazil.

Maybe the "they'll only play two games" bit actually referred to the other two in this stint, Bolivia and Venezuela, not this one. Although from what I can make of it, they couldn't play in the Bolivia game anyway even if they'd flown to Argentina directly after Venezuela as everybody entering the country must isolate for 7 days. Which surely fecks up almost their entire side.

[TonyD]

SGT certainly wouldn’t be happy. 

[ozzjim]

Apparently Emi Martinez' brother has confirmed Emi and Emi are going to fly to Croatia on Monday and have an arrangement with the Argentine FA to do so.

[TonyD]

What’s happening in Croatia?

[cdbearsfan]

If you go to Croatia you don't have to quarantine so they could go there and, at least, exercise and be able to get out of their rooms. They would then be able to come back to the UK after ten days relatively fit to return.

[Sexual Ealing]

I don't know what's happened here but I blame Dean Smith. None of Bielsa's players were involved.

[Demitri_C]

I don't know what's happened here but I blame Dean Smith. None of Bielsa's players were involved.

These are the kind of situations that make me realise how soft smith is. Scared to upset a player so you let them do as they please. Klopp, ferguson, tuchel wouldnt stand for this shit

[sid1964]

Will we have the same issue with the next international games in October and November? If we do both of the Argentinian players could be missing for a few games again

[ozzjim]

You would sincerely hope this is the last time we allow them to go.

[gpbarr]

I don't know what's happened here but I blame Dean Smith. None of Bielsa's players were involved.

These are the kind of situations that make me realise how soft smith is. Scared to upset a player so you let them do as they please. Klopp, ferguson, tuchel wouldnt stand for this shit

So your Smith, what exactly would you suggest he have done to prevent this?

[CT]

I don't know what's happened here but I blame Dean Smith. None of Bielsa's players were involved.

These are the kind of situations that make me realise how soft smith is. Scared to upset a player so you let them do as they please. Klopp, ferguson, tuchel wouldnt stand for this shit

So your Smith, what exactly would you suggest he have done to prevent this?

Exactly. He told them that he, and the club, didn’t want them to go.

They still went. I mean, we can’t stop injured players leaving now, so I’m not sure what Smith can do about the ones that are fit too.

The days of Ryan Giggs having a toenail injury to miss an international and then making a miraculous recovery for the weekend are gone.

[ozzjim]

I don't know what's happened here but I blame Dean Smith. None of Bielsa's players were involved.

These are the kind of situations that make me realise how soft smith is. Scared to upset a player so you let them do as they please. Klopp, ferguson, tuchel wouldnt stand for this shit

So your Smith, what exactly would you suggest he have done to prevent this?

60 odd other players didn't travel. So their clubs (I don't think this is Smith decision or influence thing) prevented them from going. We have been soft here.

[Flin5tone]

I'm sorry but if playing international fixtures for this ridiculous World Cup means staff are missing large chunks of work,wages should be deducted and donated to Charity.

[Risso]

Twitter seems to be full of salty Arsenal fans this morning. Apparently Martinez was a bully in the changing room (eh?!) and keeps mentioning them in interviews since he's left. Very strange bunch, Arsenal fans.

[gpbarr]

Still no plausible suggestion as to what Smith could have done - scapegoat hunting I guess.

Deducting wages means nothing anymore - these players are multimillionaires. Ban them to the reserves - have a word - they are world class players and we need everyone of those right now. Pissing them off isn’t smart in our situation. And suggesting “other” players didn’t go is silly because their FA didn’t ask them too - Brazil as an example didn’t call their European based players. This is specific to Argentina and as far as I’m aware only Villa and Spurs were thus impacted.

I’m pissed off too - it’s a shambles - but let’s not turn this into Smiths fault. Sometimes players just need to take responsibility - hopefully they’ll think twice next time.