When asked the question, Rodri says football isn’t far away from players going on strike due to how many fixtures they have to play.
He stresses that’s not an opinion exclusive to Man City, but in dressing rooms throughout the game.
I have to say as someone familiar with the care industry, I would feel very let down if one Gunner stood outside with a banner demanding better treatment, not when they are earning thousands of pounds a week.
Reflecting society, some want the best of both worlds. They are happy to get the outrageous wages, which is a consequence of how much the product is being shown but want to the same amount of work as before?
In most professions, the more you earn the greater output an employer will demand of you.
NHS workers protest for an increase in salaries because their hours and demands are being overwhelmed which isn’t reflected in their pay.
If Rodri refused to play, demanded he only play twice a week, have summers off, etc but then accepted a wage cap of 100,000 pounds a week I would respect him for that.
Instead, he wants to take and take and take but gives nothing back in return.
Will my TV subscriptions, ticket prices, Shirts be cheaper if less football takes place?
Rodri is well qualified to talk about the physical and mental demand of a schedule where he’s barely had any time off. Yet it’s never stopped him from being outstanding.
If you look at Messi and Ronaldo, for nearly two decades winning La Liga, it didn’t impact them winning the Champions League, which didn’t then prevent them having the fitness to lift trophies with their nations.
In the history of the sport, the best teams and players play the most games and walk away with Doubles, even Trebles. That’s never changed yet (and this is scary) fans are starting to believe it is.
I read some Gooners concerned this week that we have, three days before heading to Manchester, have to travel to …. Italy!
Whisper it quietly …. Apart from the additional 2 European games you’re playing the same number of games your peers played for decades.
In fact, in the early 000’s you played 17 games to win the Champions League, in 2024 it’s 15.
The format for the domestic Cups is also smaller.
So, at Arsenal’s most successful period in their history more club fixtures existed on their calendar.
In reality, this workload entails you a couple of times a week (sometimes three) to kick a ball around for 90 minutes. That is managed by rest days, world class medical experts, dieticians, chefs etc and luxury accommodation and transport.
I am of course not a professional doctor. I don’t have the data to tell you whose stats are in the danger zones.
The moment though your employer is sending you halfway round the world for preseason then they can’t claim player welfare is their priority.
The Gunners could have had friendlies exclusively in London for fitness, allowing everyone to be at home with their families instead of being abroad for a week.
That could only improve a person’s mental health.
If Josh Kroenke could have ordered any Gunner, not at the Euros or Copa America, to stay at home for a couple of months doing their training at the workplace. The priority though was to head to America and sell their brand to the USA.
The moment that happens you can’t complain about the schedule.
When Mikel Arteta was asked about injuries, he essentially said it was part of the game and his squad would embrace the challenge.
That’s the attitude I want.
If one Arsenal player went on strike, I would be ashamed.
Dan
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Indeed excellent analysis, the motivation to Earn trophies comes with a price, naturally player fatigue wont be ruled out, those complaining of a tight fixture and indeed it is, should pronounce themselves inneligible immediately (IF YOU DONT WANT TO RUB SHOULDERS WITH MONKEYS, DONT PARTICIPATE IN THE MONKEY DANCE). clubs have to consider ideal approaches towards managing individual players, certainly rotation is going to be key this season. It is also an opportunity for Squad Bench players to patiently wait for their opportunities to shine. We should indeed expect new revelations of players this season.
These players moan a lot. 99% of the world’s population would kill to be in their positions.
Why do teams have up to 25 players? Is it not so that others can step in during fatigue, injuries, suspensions, tactical changes, etc?
Managers should rotate their teams and not moan like Klopp and Guardiola. It’s now the player’s turn to go straight to the media amd moan.
Rotate, use your players, not saying wholesale changes, but there are players available.
If it’s too much for the players, in their opinion, then reduce the games as they ask but reduce their salaries as well with a salary cap.
I’m sorry but I have little sympathy for millionaires complaining about a work schedule, yet still wanting massive wages.
The idea of any strike would be ludicrous, and they would find they have little support from the fans.
Cut back on the national friendlies, have the national teams call up different players, no need to select every top star for seemingly every friendly.
Best they just get on with it, because millionaires whining while people struggle with increased cost of living is a bad stance; read the room FFS.
Completely agree with Dan’s article, clubs have big squads nowadays to cope with the extra games. Would Rodri accept a decrease in salary if they played less games…I think not.
This increase in games is being create by FIFA and UEFA with this two new competitions the Nations Cup and Club World Cup.So is there is any strike it should be directed against them with the National teams and not interfering with the Club actual activities.I will agree with the players.
Dan
While it’s fresh in my mind, the trip to Italy has little to do with the players wanting time off but rather the late returns to the UK after an away fixture can quite easily cause repercussions for the Premier League weekend match.
I’m currently on holiday in France and the match kicks off here at 9pm. If I stay awake the tie will end around 11.15 Europe time. Add in the post match interviews etc they won’t take off until 1.15 Arriving back in the UK after 2 and then having to get home after that
On the main thrust of the subject I agree with you for the most part. I think it’s scandalous that premier league players earn such ridiculous salaries but I don’t know how that can change in the world we live in today.
I also don’t know how to reconcile the number of games played by the top teams with turning out for your nation as well. Odegaard and Haaland had a restful summer but Rice, Saka et al were busy at the Euros.
If my memory serves me correctly, many players have played with niggling injuries which worsen over time and in some cases cause long lasting damage. I’m not referring to heading the ball, but being on the receiving end of crunching tackles that cause arthritis and numerous operations
I think the fact is that there has been a considerable increase of matches. Look at Saka for instance.
Of course if you disagree with the market rates
then just stop contributing.
So if we give Saka summer off , Arsenal will let him stay at home with family and train in London yeah ?
Been happening for decades Sue
Best players handle it
Must be hard having to run around for 90-180 minutes a week while travelling on chartered planes with beds .
The mind boggles how pampered footballers are compared to proper working people .
Absolutely bollocks using excuses about playing in Italy ,it’s a quick nip there and back ,let them fly on easy jet and having to get through 3 hours airport security and long delays then it will hold up as an excuse until then just 😂
The money they earn being the sole reason you won’t try to be a little reasonable to their plight only shows bitterness
Forget what they earn
You most likely earn more than me
Everybody earns differently
And what the next man earn doesn’t stop us from living our lives
I may never be the richest man in the world
Should i start envying and being bitter at Elon Musk, Gates etc cos they earn earn stupendously than me ?
Software Developers earn more than Bankers, Bankers earn more than Teachers, Teachers earn more than some Labourers
It doesn’t make sense hating on them cis they’re in a career field that really pays
Go play football if you want to earn that much also
Leave what they earn out ?
Are these workers overworked physically and mentally ?
That’s all you should try to understand as a fellow human being ?
That’s the point I dont see their plight
You can’t leave out their contract mate
If I sign a contract to do over 40 hours a week I cant then complain
I can go back to 40 hours a week but take home less pay
I dont think they overworked
Newcastle and Spurs days after Prem season instead of resting for Euros and Copa America played a lucrative friendly in Australia
So they can’t be that bad