An interesting article on the over reliance on them at this WC.
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12758356/world-cups-ageing-icons-from-gareth-bale-to-eden-hazard-this-has-looked-a-tournament-too-far-for-many-stars
Some interesting points I took from it:
Harry Kane at almost 30 is the second youngest captain at this WC.
Some managers staying loyal to older players despite them dropping a level and/or not playing at club level. See Bale, Godin, Hazard, Vertonghen and Alderweireld.
In my opinion while it appears that sports science and improved lifestyles are prolonging the careers of many players, it is also putting the decision in the managers hands.
In the past many players left the International scene in their early or mid 30's but now they seem to hanging on longer and it appears managers are slower to give them the bullet.
Ageing players
posted on 1/12/22
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 55 minutes ago
comment by Lisandro The King Martinez (U10026)
posted 4 minutes ago
It tells you more about who is coming through for those teams, though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To an extent but I feel International managers are often too slow to throw in someone new.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Easy for them. Drop the 'talisman' and lose then its your fault. Play the 'talisman' and lose then its their fault.
We should beware too that so many WC winners are those that peak in the last game, not the first or the groups.
posted on 1/12/22
Hazard dropped for Belgium.
posted on 1/12/22
comment by Lisandro The King Martinez (U10026)
posted 1 minute ago
Hazard dropped for Belgium.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
a kfc mega bucket awaits
posted on 1/12/22
Strikes me as a chicken and waffles man.
posted on 1/12/22
comment by Lisandro The King Martinez (U10026)
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
Doesn’t really refute my point. I do find the Hazard decision bizarre, to be fair. Not sure Wout Faes having nine games in a shiiiiite defence with no international experience is a particularly strange decision on balance, however.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Leicester's defensive record has improved massively almost exactly coinciding with this guy breaking into the team.
He's surely a better option than two guys who have declined so much that they've gone back to the Belgian league.
posted on 1/12/22
We had seen the results of playing players that were too old for years at United. We all know how it used to wind me up when ever Matic and Mata played and threw me over the edge when they both played in the same game.
This was my main concern with Ronaldo, although the baggage he brings did not help.
posted on 1/12/22
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 22 minutes ago
We had seen the results of playing players that were too old for years at United. We all know how it used to wind me up when ever Matic and Mata played and threw me over the edge when they both played in the same game.
This was my main concern with Ronaldo, although the baggage he brings did not help.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It was also my concern with Casemiro but thankfully it appears I was wrong.
We've signed too many others too late in their careers.
posted on 1/12/22
Casemiro is only 30. We should get at least three years from him.
posted on 1/12/22
On the OP, you can completely see why exceptions would be made for Messi and Ronaldo.
As regards the others, like Daz said, most of them come from countries who aren't exactly talent factories. It's hard to ditch a player who's been essential in your best performances for 50, 60 or 70 years.
posted on 1/12/22
You only have to look at the politics of moving on from established stars in the big footballing nations, must be really difficult for small ones that find some stars.