I’d say he’s the greatest footballer of his generation, full stop.
He’s done more for Portugal on the international stage than Messi has for Argentina, for a start; he has also done it in more than one league.
I strongly suspect that a lot of people don’t like Ronaldo because he comes across as arrogant and self-centred, as opposed to the supposedly humble Messi, which gives the Barcelona player an undeserved advantage in comparisons.
His devotion to fitness is ridiculous. 36 and more than two years older than Messi, and I think those are a big two years in football. Take nothing away from Messi, though, and look how close their stats are again this year. To have one footballer of this quality in a generation is enjoyable enough. Don’t think we’ll see two like this ever again, not year after year performance for fifteen years.
I love this fesshole account.
There is a lady tennis player (World number 2)who has left the French open over refusing to do pressers. I think she was kicked out as its contractual in order to take part in the tournament. She is citing mental health and I can sympathise with her. They can sometimes seem akin to bear baiting in the way journos go after someone who has lost or not done well. If nothing spectacular or controversial happens at an event then they ask really tired/trite questions. It must be soul destroying to have to fulfil these interviews.
Man Shitty account perhaps?
You actually feel this most when even the best managers are happiest when they are asked proper football questions. Sometimes even tactical about their own team. I found that they’re quite open to talk about it, but don’t get asked so much stuff, because it doesn’t sell clicks. Of course, they’ll find a way of saying something without saying much. But the sheer number of pressers and media obligations… quality of questions is really poor most of the time.
On the 365 piece (which I agree with despite thinking John Nic can sometimes be a bit annoying) there is a picture of Gareth Southgate at a press conference sitting in front of a wall of sponsor logos. And that is why press conferences and post match interviews take place. It isn’t for the questions and it isn’t for the answers. It is to put elite sportspeople in front of sponsor logos so an association can be drawn between them.
When they say media obligations, I think they mean corporate obligations.
Very well said. I also think many of the journalists complaining about the Osaka incident are actually dunking on themselves without realizing with the arguments they’re making. Many of them point to media coverage as being what gives them the platform to make enough money that a $15k fine can be waved away without concern. What they are actually saying is they cannot justify their role simply from writing about the sport and performances, but need a fake avenue to give them opportunities to push novel angles.
If they do need to persist with the amount of press reports, both pre and post match, why not relax the expectation of the manager always being the one in the hot seat…
I’m sure they have other tasks to do
To make it fair, if managers/players have to do pressers right after the game, then get the feckin refs out immediately after the game to explain their decisions. Have a monitor there for them to be able to see how they’ve fecked up with their decisions.
Do it in front of one of those sponsors boards to fulfill their corporate responsibilities.
To be honest all I need to know from Klopp in a press conference is who is out and who isn’t.
Crazy
At least it’s a year and not 10.
I wonder how many like him are out there and been suffering for how long.
Glad Eriksen is fine.
After the pandemic football is slowly going back to normal. But what does normal mean?
Too many games. Too many competitions.
Enough is enough.
Some competitions have to be cancelled.
Number of games have to be reduced.
more teams for the club World Cup - are you kidding?
24 teams start the EUROs but after 36 games only 8 Teams crash out - ridiculous.
who needs the Nations League?
For English football:
I think the PL should find a way to make all clubs play 2 games less - would already make a big change.
Number of games in FA and League cups should also be reduced (especially for teams who are involved in Europe).
Shouldn’t FIFPro (International Federation of Professional Footballers) be able to do something about it?
Gini Wijnaldum for example was involved in 65 games for club and country since July. That’s just crazy.
Shouldn’t there be something like ‘work-life-balance’ for athletes?
FIFPro have to say 'no player should be allowed to play more than 50 games a year. 40 for club + 10 for country‘.
Not only that, they’re also planning to add more games to the Club World Cup.