Yes. 100 per cent, yes. I'll watch what I say on this topic and won't say too much, as I'm evidently someone with a dog in the race and I'm very much dependent on the outcome of this situation, but I'm entirely confident that players will be ready to support club staff if and when the time comes. What I also know, however, is players are sceptical on just handing the money straight over with no questions asked and want to know why mega-rich owners and authorities are calling on and even shaming players to get them to pay their staff for them... Football clubs of a certain level should not be taking advantage of the government's furlough support. It is nothing but a disgrace, in my opinion. And away from the collective pay cut argument, many are privately contributing to hospitals, foodbanks and local charities. I can say this with certainty because about 10 days ago, I had the pleasure of helping to make some of these arrangements after being contacted directly to help find causes to support. Fin.
PFA says Premier League 30% pay cut plans would harm NHS - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52168692
And they should be skeptical. For an example across the pond: the NBA used to cry that it was in dire shape, when it had a collective bargaining agreement that guaranteed the players 57% (more or less) of league-wide revenues. After a lockout, the new CBA brought that down to 50%, because the owners stated that half the teams in the league were in financial danger. Within a couple years, the league's revenues were through the roof. The league had been sandbagging on TV deals and using some rather dubious accounting methods of "basketball-related income" in order to make their financial situation look far worse. And one of the first things the NBA did during this crisis, where owners are even richer in the aggregate than in the Premier League (you aren't getting a team without putting up a billion at this point, in your currency of choice), was point the finger at the players when revenues dried up, because the players can't unilaterally forgo salary under the collectively-bargained system. It's all bullshit; there isn't any reason why those billionaires and private equity firms can't pay their staff. It's just that they'd prefer not to, and people understand "$35m a year in salary" better than they understand "$3-4b in assets".
Apparently City have confirmed that they won't be utilising the government's job retention scheme. It might just be a case of them trying to deflect away from the Kyle Walker story, but either way, fair play from them (if true).
No need to worry about his wellbeing. I doubt he even knows there's a pandemic going on while he mills about his mansion. I'm a little pleased to be honest, just having that slice of normality.
I am not normally critical of footballers and their conduct but the prizes to being the outstanding tw**s for during this lockdown phase has to go to Grealish and the not-so clever Kyle Walker for breaking all adivce and regulations after themselves givng advide about staying safe. I suspect Walker will be on his way out of City sooner rather than later, while Jack could well be at Villa longer than he expected as high profile clubs don't want guys that bring bad publicity.
There's talk of Man City coming down extremely hard on Walker and going for a £250k fine to set an example at the club. One of the most expensive escort callouts ever!
I’m still trying to workout how he “enjoyed” them whilst maintaining a 2 metre gap. Has he ever been nutmegged?