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International Break Essay

Decent Essays

If nothing else, the international break offers some respite from the misery of the Premier League season with a proliferation of silly stories. Alexandre Lacazette, for example, is going to ask his bestie Antoine Griezmann to join Arsenal. After I finish typing this, I’m chatting to my bestie Doris Stokes to see if she can persuade Johan Cruyff that it isn’t too late for a comeback. If Ferenc Puskas comes as well, we’ve got the Alexis and Özil situation covered. The pair ‘feature’ in the loopy stories of the day. Arsenal are, it says here, “eyeing a swap deal” where Alexis goes to PSG and Yoolian comes the other way. PSG’s strained FFP troubles are sure to be soothed by paying the Chilean £300k per week. There is a tacit acceptance …show more content…

English football bemused Bobby as he watched Arsenal from the bench at the Stadium of Light. The physicality of the challenges made him question the wisdom of his move to the club. The same questions floated in Lacazette’s mind. Speaking to the French media, he observed that the “refereeing decisions [still surprise me]. Sometimes I think it is a bit dangerous.” Such views won’t garner much sympathy for the striker. The media continues to portray the Premier League as the best in the world despite plenty of proof to the contrary. More excitement? Yes but thud and blunder is mistaken for ‘best’. It is visually but the repeated failure of English teams in the Champions League underline how far behind we are on the benches and pitch. Defenders receive favourable treatment in the English game. I know you’re thinking that’s not true but the perceived fussiness of officials in Europe underlines that. We’ve always been out of step with continental football. Even English officials referee the game differently in the Champions League. They are much more in line with their continental peers than the weekly fare they serve in the Premier League. And Says a Prayer for Me Why would that be? Surely the judgements passed by PGMO assessors are the same as…oh. Therein is the problem. English officials are their own paymasters. UEFA promotes ineptitude to get it off the pitch – yes, Herr Bussaca, I’m looking at you – we end up with

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