PL 2021/22 Season

[fabinho]

But are you consistently the one of the best in the world at doing your job, and are those working conditions conducive to performing at the very peak of performance?

Of course not, but I don't see how that's relevant? Player welfare is pretty much as good as it gets as a professional footballer. It's certainly far, far better than those working in care homes, hospitals, public services etc. They're maybe not treated like the Queen, but they're certainly not in a position to moan and expect public support or sympathy.

He'll be Instagraming a selfie with SLAVE on his forehead soon.

[Venton]

Of course not, but I don't see how that's relevant? Player welfare is pretty much as good as it gets as a professional footballer. It's certainly far, far better than those working in care homes, hospitals, public services etc. They're maybe not treated like the Queen, but they're certainly not in a position to moan and expect public support or sympathy.

He'll be Instagraming a selfie with SLAVE on his forehead soon.

I have to admit, I've only got so much sympathy to dole out and there's a few in front of professional footballers in this big old world.

[Mark79]

Of course not, but I don't see how that's relevant? Player welfare is pretty much as good as it gets as a professional footballer. It's certainly far, far better than those working in care homes, hospitals, public services etc. They're maybe not treated like the Queen, but they're certainly not in a position to moan and expect public support or sympathy.

He'll be Instagraming a selfie with SLAVE on his forehead soon.

Why does everything have to be a comparison? Everything is relative to your own circumstance. He’s a footballer talking about the realities of his profession.

They’re not moaning, nor looking for sympathy. He’s rightly pointing out that they’re already pushed to brink of physical capacity and it’s just not feasible to continue to add more and more fixtures to the schedule, or expect them to play twice in 48 hours.

Fans are quick enough to complain when players ‘don’t put a shift in’ or are ‘injured again’. We always want players to perform at the peak of their abilities and yet we don’t want to hear it when they speak out about the factors that make it increasingly difficult for them to do so.

[Exiled_red]

I don't get why the players union aren't raising the player welfare issues isn't that what they are there for?

[Fivex]

Why does everything have to be a comparison? Everything is relative to your own circumstance. He’s a footballer talking about the realities of his profession.

They’re not moaning, nor looking for sympathy. He’s rightly pointing out that they’re already pushed to brink of physical capacity and it’s just not feasible to continue to add more and more fixtures to the schedule, or expect them to play twice in 48 hours.

Fans are quick enough to complain when players ‘don’t put a shift in’ or are ‘injured again’. We always want players to perform at the peak of their abilities and yet we don’t want to hear it when they speak out about the factors that make it increasingly difficult for them to do so.

[Mr Pink]

Why does everything have to be a comparison? Everything is relative to your own circumstance. He’s a footballer talking about the realities of his profession.

[Norbs]

I don't get why the players union aren't raising the player welfare issues isn't that what they are there for?

There must be some element of reality where they are aware that without the vast sums of money entering the sport, there isn't the scope for their earnings to be as high.

[RichC]

Why does everything have to be a comparison? Everything is relative to your own circumstance. He’s a footballer talking about the realities of his profession.

They’re not moaning, nor looking for sympathy. He’s rightly pointing out that they’re already pushed to brink of physical capacity and it’s just not feasible to continue to add more and more fixtures to the schedule, or expect them to play twice in 48 hours.

Fans are quick enough to complain when players ‘don’t put a shift in’ or are ‘injured again’. We always want players to perform at the peak of their abilities and yet we don’t want to hear it when they speak out about the factors that make it increasingly difficult for them to do so.

[fabinho]

Why does everything have to be a comparison? Everything is relative to your own circumstance. He’s a footballer talking about the realities of his profession.

They’re not moaning, nor looking for sympathy. He’s rightly pointing out that they’re already pushed to brink of physical capacity and it’s just not feasible to continue to add more and more fixtures to the schedule, or expect them to play twice in 48 hours.

Fans are quick enough to complain when players ‘don’t put a shift in’ or are ‘injured again’. We always want players to perform at the peak of their abilities and yet we don’t want to hear it when they speak out about the factors that make it increasingly difficult for them to do so.

The reality is that he is one of the most privileged people to walk the earth. The reality is that their welfare is probably second only to that of World Leaders, billionaires and royalty.

The comparison is that of their lives, to that of the vast majority of other people on this planet. They have the very best support infrastructure at their beck and call, and he is complaining and his is moaning. Henderson won't play twice in 48 hours, he'd probably play once and a bit part role as a substitute.

Once a year at the same time of year, every year, they have to play their part in a few more games over a week or two and that's it. They're monitored constantly, have the very best health specialists in the industry available. If they're not 100% they won't play or they'll play for a shorter period of time.

I don't find it particularly becoming to hear men in their positions moan, and Henderson's self appointed position of spokesperson of the EPL grates on me to be honest. I find him a little annoying these days, as I do quite a few others. They love to jump on the bandwagon with an easy tweet, they'll take the knee for a few seconds, all piss easy stuff and worthwhile, but then they're all off to the World Cup without a second thought when the right thing to do was to say "**** you", but that would mean actually having to make a proper personal sacrifice. I don't buy it and more people in the media should call them out occasionally.

[Fredo]

Our African players will be able to play against Chelsea as their departure for AFCON has been delayed.

[Mark79]

The reality is that he is one of the most privileged people to walk the earth. The reality is that their welfare is probably second only to that of World Leaders, billionaires and royalty.

The comparison is that of their lives, to that of the vast majority of other people on this planet. They have the very best support infrastructure at their beck and call, and he is complaining and his is moaning. Henderson won't play twice in 48 hours, he'd probably play once and a bit part role as a substitute.

Once a year at the same time of year, every year, they have to play their part in a few more games over a week or two and that's it. They're monitored constantly, have the very best health specialists in the industry available. If they're not 100% they won't play or they'll play for a shorter period of time.

I don't find it particularly becoming to hear men in their positions moan, and Henderson's self appointed position of spokesperson of the EPL grates on me to be honest. I find him a little annoying these days, as I do quite a few others. They love to jump on the bandwagon with an easy tweet, they'll take the knee for a few seconds, all piss easy stuff and worthwhile, but then they're all off to the World Cup without a second thought when the right thing to do was to say "**** you", but that would mean actually having to make a proper personal sacrifice. I don't buy it and more people in the media should call them out occasionally.

Muscle and fatigue injuries multiply during this period of the season every year. All the monitoring and health specialists in the world can do nothing to counter that. Players play below 100% frequently throughout the season and especially at this point.

They’re not moaning. They’re making a very valid argument. Stop creating unnecessary problems with a dumb schedule, which is far more concerned about money than allowing players to be at their best.

Most fans don’t want to lose players to injury and hurt their team’s chances of success. Nor do we want to have see heavily rotated selections for the same reason. Nor do we want to watch knackered players struggle to play at their best. Make the schedule more manageable, everyone wins.

What any of this has got to do with World Leaders, billionaires and royalty - I’ve got absolutely no idea.

[Norbs]

They don't lose pay when they're injured though do they

[Mark79]

They never claimed that they do though, did they?

[Norbs]

No but they have a safety net and whether they play 30 or 50 games a season won't really bother them. Their income is protected

[fabinho]

Muscle and fatigue injuries multiply during this period of the season every year. All the monitoring and health specialists in the world can do nothing to counter that. Players play below 100% frequently throughout the season and especially at this point.

They’re not moaning. They’re making a very valid argument. Stop creating unnecessary problems with a dumb schedule, which is far more concerned about money than allowing players to be at their best.

Most fans don’t want to lose players to injury and hurt their team’s chances of success. Nor do we want to have see heavily rotated selections for the same reason. Nor do we want to watch knackered players struggle to play at their best. Make the schedule more manageable, everyone wins.

What any of this has got to do with World Leaders, billionaires and royalty - I’ve got absolutely no idea.

It's because he's saying that nobody really takes their welfare seriously, and I'm suggesting that it's taken almost as seriously as the very richest and most important people on the planet.

There are plenty of people putting in extra shifts all over the festive period, that's life. People in the NHS are working horrendous hours at the moment, caring for people with real problems. Sometimes life's a bit of a struggle but we're all pretty fortunate, only some are more fortunate than others.

With regards to muscle fatigue, then that's what rotation is for and it's up to the managers and support team to manage it.

Suck it up and crack on.