Between that and Sinead O'Connor passing away, it's a dark day for the Emerald Isle.
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The 2022-2023 Football Thread
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Between that and Sinead O'Connor passing away, it's a dark day for the Emerald Isle.
Terrific piece in this evening's (well, today's edition of the) Guardian, by Jonathan Liew: "Kylian Mbappé to Saudi talk shows football is now poker for world’s richest."
Well worth reading.
Well worth reading.
Very telling that 'Pool havent so much as hinted a formal goodbye to Henderson in any official capacity. Nothing on the website or socials.
This is an ex-captain no less.
Silence speaks volumes.
This is an ex-captain no less.
Silence speaks volumes.
The Henderson move is a symptom of larger processes in the game. Money has a corrupting influence on people, and we live in a culture that is highly aspirational, where the norm is the pursuit of wealth, and where seizing it is celebrated. Less attention is paid to the broader context and consequences of taking the money when you can.
Henderson is a very wealthy man. He is about to become a great deal wealthier. But he has, in the process, chosen to turn his back on people who needed something that can't be purchased - loyalty, courage, and conviction.
I hope, if I were in Henderson's shoes, I'd have enough of those qualities to resist the incredibly powerful lure of a pile of money so large it would make the rest of my life (and probably my childrens' lives) one long, sumptuous vacation.
I find myself feeling sad rather than angry. the Saudis have acquired a player, but, more importantly, silenced one more public voice that had stood in opposition to some of the barbaric 'values' that underpin their undemocratic and repressive regime. And demonstrated that in today's world everything is for sale.
Henderson is a very wealthy man. He is about to become a great deal wealthier. But he has, in the process, chosen to turn his back on people who needed something that can't be purchased - loyalty, courage, and conviction.
I hope, if I were in Henderson's shoes, I'd have enough of those qualities to resist the incredibly powerful lure of a pile of money so large it would make the rest of my life (and probably my childrens' lives) one long, sumptuous vacation.
I find myself feeling sad rather than angry. the Saudis have acquired a player, but, more importantly, silenced one more public voice that had stood in opposition to some of the barbaric 'values' that underpin their undemocratic and repressive regime. And demonstrated that in today's world everything is for sale.
For some. There are plenty who will not make the move. I can’t believe Messi didn’t have options over there. Instead he went to the US.
Here I’m waiting for the new season to start. I prefer watching football than all this money talk. Not long now.
I see Lisandro Martinez at it again. Shame Jude Billingham didn’t beat the crap out of him.
I hope these dangerous tackles don’t get unpunished by FA officials next season.
I hope these dangerous tackles don’t get unpunished by FA officials next season.
I do not know if the rumors were true but it is said it was Messi's partner that put a stop to the move because she did not want to be a second class citizen in the country, of which women in that country are (depending on who you talk to). Yes Messi could have lived apart from his partner, he in Saudi and her in the country where she currently lives but I believe she wanted them to be together as they have been. The move to MLS worked well for them because they have a house in Florida.
Did you hear ETH interview about the game, he bemoans about the amount of missed goal opportunities and then goes on about how extremely important it is for the club to get a striker. Yes ETH, you know you need a striker extremely badly, it is the most important thing the club needs but what does ETH do, puts all his effort into getting a midfielder and a new goalkeeper and then bemoans losing to Real Madrid because he does not have a striker. LOL that man is getting a bit delusional. Should have spent the money getting a striker instead of Mason Mount. But yes, lets keep hearing ETH moan about not having a striker lol.
The game and the goals have been overshadowed in the English sports media by the slip up of Arsenal defender Rob Holding allowing Barca to score because that is all I keep reading online.
I think that - for Arteta - these friendlies are an opportunity to test things out: Combinations, strategies, systems, players in certain positions, who works well together, what works well, and so on.
It also allows for an opportunity - away from the stress of competitive games with something riding on the outcome of the game - shows who does not - or is not able to - make the cut, and, for Holding, given that he was no longer a first choice selection option, this was possibly the last opportunity for Arteta to see whether he is able to cut it at this level, and also the last opportunity for Holding to be able to demonstrate that he is good enough to be considered for selection at this level.
Unfortunately, I think the answer - which became increasingly clear last season - is no.
Holding is a good player, but not sufficiently good enough - even, as a place-holder, or stand-in, or coming off the bench - for what Arsenal wish to do, and for where they wish to go.
Bellingham is already highly adept at the fine are of
If he keeps playing more advanced like he did last night, he's going to tear La Liga apart.
Also interesting to hear Xavi's quotes about Arteta, complaining about Arsenal's intensity levels. The Premier League is different, and both Arteta and ETH know full well what's required for a team to succeed in the league.
The more I watch Christian Eriksen play in the preseason, the more glad I am that United bought Mason Mount. He never looked the same after his injury last season, and the summer break doesn't seem to have helped him, so my expectations for him this season are pretty low.
Well, yes.
And also remember that Arteta is one of Pep's - the very definition of intensity - protégés.
Personally, I would have liked to have seen Christian Eriksen remain with Brentford, - not least because they gave him a way back, and he made a significant difference to their season - rather than move on to Manchester United.
In any case, that injury last season wasn't his only serious set-back; remember that shocking and distressing cardiac arrest he suffered when he was on international duty with Denmark?
oh dear oh dear. It is not looking good for Jordan Henderson because he is now being attacked from supporters of LGBTQ+ because Henderson is on record supporting LGBTQ+ and is now going to ply his trade in a country where homosexuality is illegal and carries the death penalty. Also this news article picked up the fact that an image of him wearing a rainbow armband has been blacked out by his new club!!!
metro.co.uk
Jordan Henderson’s rainbow armband blacked out in new club announcement video
The ex-Liverpool skipper had positioned himself as an ambassador for LGBT+ supporters in European football.
metro.co.uk
Henderson is on social media so I wonder if his new bosses have told him he is not allowed to post anything that is in support of LGBTQ+ because such activities are illegal in the country.
It will also be a very brave reporter if they get to ask him 'Jordan, you've been an avid supporter of LGBTQ+, how does it feel to be working in a country that carries the death penalty for something that you have supported for many years?'
(reporter whisked away by Saudi security services never to be seen of again)
It will also be a very brave reporter if they get to ask him 'Jordan, you've been an avid supporter of LGBTQ+, how does it feel to be working in a country that carries the death penalty for something that you have supported for many years?'
(reporter whisked away by Saudi security services never to be seen of again)
It’s depressing - but going after the player plays into the hands of the Saudis. We should be focused on standing up to them for what they are doing to people in their own country and what they are doing to the sport. Henderson is merely a pawn, and a stooge of the regime. He’s also an Englishman, so the Saudis would like nothing better than to see the English press skewer him whilst they pull the strings.
It is deeply depressing that he has chosen to go to Saudi Arabia, - it is not as though other (granted, less lucrative or remuneratively rewarding) options don't exist - not least when holding the views he has espoused in the past.oh dear oh dear. It is not looking good for Jordan Henderson because he is now being attacked from supporters of LGBTQ+ because Henderson is on record supporting LGBTQ+ and is now going to ply his trade in a country where homosexuality is illegal and carries the death penalty. Also this news article picked up the fact that an image of him wearing a rainbow armband has been blacked out by his new club!!!
Jordan Henderson’s rainbow armband blacked out in new club announcement video
The ex-Liverpool skipper had positioned himself as an ambassador for LGBT+ supporters in European football.
Reading more news articles about him, he is being accused of being a fraud a fake because anyone who is genuine about LGBTQ+ would not go and work in a country where being a homosexual carries the death penalty. LGBTQ+ supporters and groups are saying the only reason supported LGTBQ+ is so he improve his public image.
I never knew about Henderson's support for LGTBQ+ until I started reading articles about his move to Saudi Arabia. I have to admit in my opinion his support of LGBTQ+ must be fake because no one in their right mind who genuinely supports LGBTQ+ would ever go work in a country where being a homosexual carries the death penalty, regardless of how much money they threw at you.
Like I said, I am saddened by Henderson's move but I reserve my real disgust for his employers. Saudi Arabia executes people for being homosexual. That's cold-blooded murder under UK law. Far, far, far worse than Henderson's actions, even if the two are related.
I'm not defending him one bit. The LGBTQ+ community are well within their rights to question whether any of his previous words of support were genuine, or if they were, why he has seemingly turned his back on them now without any explanation. But rather than focusing on this as an individual decision, we should be looking at the broader context of why it happened. The fact that the league, the FA, and the British government aren't calling out and opposing this sportswashing crap is much worse than a hundred Jordan Hendersons going to play in Saudi Arabia.
Let's not let symptoms take attention away from the disease. Sportswashing needs to be stopped. And the people running things are doing virtually nothing to stop it. Of course, the root of the problem is hard to attack. It's much easier to destroy Henderson in the press and on the socials than it is to put pressure on institutions to clean up the game. I'm not going to waste any more words on Henderson, but I won't stop calling out the state clubs and sportswashing.
We all have choices to make. Supporting a state club is morally no better than playing in the Saudi league. Both actions give the oppressor what they want. It's not a comfortable or popular opinion but I am convinced it is the truth.
Playing devil's advocate. You can support LGBTQ+ and still want to get paid which is probably what he's thinking.
Lol you criticising British Government yet Americans benefit most from Saudi Arabia’s money by selling them Made In America military equipment. 
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