But Why 

Zealand got that narcos DEA agent look now

Zealand’s inner Ted Lasso coming out more and more

as an Aussie who went to this friendly, totally agree it should never have really happened, but I'm certainly still going to take my opportunity to go see it when it happens.

let's not forget chelsea were contractually obliged to play a friendly and field their best players a week before the europa league final in 2019, IN THE US. Loftus cheek got a really bad injury in the game, and missed a whole year of football. just for some extra cash.

under your moustache is a very strange place to put your brain cells

Zealand your facial hair makes women treat you like tottenham treats trophies

Doing this is outrageous but doing this in a Euro AND Olympics year is borderline criminal 😂

Yeah, most starters only played 30-45 minutes, but I remember when Spurs announced it everyone was just totally confused. Now they get a little time off before they go to the Euros, Copa America, or the Olympics. Then it's another couple weeks off and they're back for pre-season, no way this sustainable.

I was in the stadium. They were pretty much all checked out. I didn’t realise it was the same night I would be coaching training, if I wasn’t in 70 bucks I would’ve rather gone to training. Tried to do match analysis, wasn’t much to gain from it. I will say though there were a lot of kids there, this stuff is big for building the game here. It was also cool to see Ange since he’s a Melbourne boy and it was great to get a chance to celebrate him. We also have a large Korean population who got to see Son play, which is huge for them.

Even crazier when you realise Tottenham’s U21s (most of whom travelled to Australia) have a cup final literally on Sunday.

Omg it’s Ted Lasso (with a new an improved forehead)

To play devil's advocate, if that game were an official premier league match, it would have been the most attended premier league match of the season

Zealand on his Valtteri Bottas phase.

Who cares about Pedro Porro when we’ve got Pedro Pascal’s Narcos character hosting this channel now

Bro looks like an Australian Ted Lasso. Fell off

You need to do a video on the subsequent ALeague all star 8-0 victory over Newcastle. This is a PR disaster all round

Chest hair has migrated to the upper lip - transformation to Pablo Zealand well on the way

You should see rugby. It's as intense as American Football, but you'll be lucky to get two weeks off in an entire year if you're an elite player. It's insane.

There is a thing called “a strike”. I recommend that the players exercise this, to stop friendliest like these

In a year when the Copa America and Euros are happening this is one of the stupidest things they could have these players do. We have seen players get injured in these kind of games and then what?? An injury could ruin their chances of playing, career and ruin it for the team.

Emile Heskey a Newcastle Jets legend

There's a video of Son leaving the stadium, and when journalists asked him a couple of questions he just said "Can you please let me go today?" Those dudes are beat.

Someone at Newcastle accidentally pressed the arrange friendly button when buying Garang kuol

Even A-League fans hate these matches too in a way. Most of the fans who come to these games don't even follow Australian soccer because of the "poor quality" and "zero atmosphere" yet 80k will happily line themselves up for a meaningless friendly MIDWEEK, which funnily enough is 10x the average attendance of A League matches. The more these friendlies happen you could argue the less likely fans would turn to the local game here in Aus

Movember's come early for Zealand

The A-League Allstar match was a disgrace. Newcastle actually charged people to watch youth players they’ve never heard of lose 8-0. Disrespectful to Newcastle fans, Australian league fans and the Australian league

Moustache and visible chest hair. Now we are talking.

70 matches a year is kinda cute. On our chaotic and absurd brazilian calendar, we have some teams playing more than 90 matches a season (Palmeiras 2021 for example, 91 games in total). It's insane and it needs to stop.

"On a Wednesday, I don't do a lot" Italian Zealand intensifies ❤

the only defence is that a friendly isn't the same as a competitive match. The worst part is the travelling.

But we gotta scrap those FA Cup replays in order to declutter the calendar and for the player's welfare, right?

I know the video is coming, but I can't stop laughing at Barcelona

I think the "players are playing too many matches" argument doesnt apply too much to Spurs. They played 1 game more than the bare minimum this season. 38 league games, 2 FA Cup games, 1 Carabao Cup game. There are very valid reasons for Spurs to take this trip! Players getting a bit more used to flying off to a remote place for a match (Europa league next season), visiting the manager's hometown (Melbourne) and giving 8-10 academy players a real look in before the summer. All the players were very visibly excited to go to this game. Fixture congestion is a real issue, but this match isn't the issue. Game happened 3 days after the season instead of a week later to let them start their vacation right after

Oh and the bill to introduce an independent regulator got temporarily stop. The PM announced an election for 4th July and that means our government stops next week, and there's not enough time to get the bill through. It will be able to start again after the election, but the MP who spearheaded the effort is stepping down and won't get any credit

Fixture congestion = they want more friendlies in Australia, China, the US, Saudi Arabia, and fewer matches in regular competitions that don't bring the same money

Thank you, Freddie

the reason why is because both Tottenham and Newcastle generate much less revenue than the teams they are trying to compete with, and PSR rules make it hard to compete under those circumstances. This game represents a decent amount of additional commercial revenue and an opportunity to expand the clubs brands into a new market. Its a match thats more about the business of football than the game of football

The main culprit, IMO at least is FFP, which pushes the club to squeeze every penny from anywhere they can. If you get 2 million per friendly game in the US (random figure), playing 5 friendlies means you can afford 1 more 50 million player (amortised over 5 years).

Z, please look at the bright side of flying the players to Australia: they can finally catch a proper night's sleep on the flight ;)

Honestly, it has gotten to the point where the amazing money these players make is almost less for compensation for their skill but compensation for the crazy schedule and the understanding that for a lot of players, their careers will be cut short due to injury.

I come for the football. I stay for the Reformation references.

The extended delays with VAR has more to do with the injuries.

At least the Newcastle and Spurs players have a month until the Euros... Ireland Women has 2 games against Sweden next week in Euro 2025 qualifying, (31st at home and 4th away). Arsenal Women played the A-League All Stars in a friendly today (24th) in Australia. Ireland's captain Katie McCabe played for Arsenal, and the national team have had to come up with a sleep schedule for her to minimise the impact of jetlag

After the first half, both teams took off most of their best players and played their academy players, most of whom who hadn’t played at all in the season so I agree, but with the caveat that they didn’t play their best players for the whole match so it wasn’t so bad.

Strange story alert: Equatorial Guinea has been ordered to forfeit two WCQ games from 2023 due to using Emilio Nsue. They previously had to do this in 2013, however the CAF has let him play in several AFCONs in that time span. FIFA seems to deem him ineligible and the CAF deems him eligible, and no one is exactly sure why there's a discrepancy.

Playing devil's advocate here: The key players didn't play that many minutes. They didn't over exert themselves. Young players got some minutes in their legs. 78,000 Aussie's got to see two premier league players play when they would otherwise not have the opportunity to do so

I wonder if its possible that a player signs a contract that specifically exempts them from extra friendlies/intercontinental tours/early cup games etc... Sure some clubs might not want it and it might drop the wages but at some point a team will take them on it.

Ill bring up this arguement to my boss next week. Maybe i get some days off. 😂

Normally would agree with Z, but gotta disagree with this one. Spurs got knocked out of most competitions early and the youngsters didn’t get many chance with the first team. Most of the starters came off at halftime. Not the same as an intense prem or national team game

The weird part about getting rid of replays is that lower league teams literally play MORE games than Premier league teams, yet they still want FA cup replays

Z goes for that Tom of Finland look and we’re all here for it.

If they had marketed this more like an exhibition over a real friendly, thrn the team has a week holiday together in Aus as team bonding, then I see less of an issue. But they clearly need those pennies.

The players and managers might care about fixture congestion, but the higher ups at the club certainly don't.

Every time national football week comes in FM I'd get so pissed, I spent weeks trying to get my players fit not exhausted resting them in games and training only for national football to fuck them up. I also don't organise/accept friendlies in FM.

Im concerned for your brain cells if they are located under your mustache Z

Whilst it is stupid to play after season freindlies, the big problem with game congestion is about time inbetween games being less than 3 days. Playing more and giving your players less time off doesn't help, but the calender getting too full is kinda a seperate issue

its mostly unrelated to the video but you did mention how you were experiencing strain from sitting in that gaming chair. you should really consider investing in a office chair designed for comfort, i would personally recommend getting a refurbished one as they’re just better value but its improved my life tremendously as someone working at a desk

Not to forget also that most European and South American players on these teams will then have to go to their national teams for Euros and Copa America this summer...

Z getting extra spicy today now he's rocking the stach

Newcastle got rocked 8-0 by the All-Stars this morning. And then half these guys will be moving to Euros or Copa America camps next week.

I get your point but three things, I've not heard Howe complain about fixture congestion, it is after the season (FA cup replays are during, but shouldn't have been stopped imo) lastly look at the teams Newcastle made 13 subs I think. The players left England immediately after the Sunday matches. The two teams are both trying to increase global awareness beyond Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal. It's difficult because of the media bias towards this teams but hey ho. Btw respect for the Imps shirt the other day. Get a Gateshead one 😆

Wow, Tom Bogerts youtube channel is really taking off.

Yeah they’re post season friendlies are a little silly but really need stuff like this to help grow the game in Australia, hopefully it gets people interested in attending A-league games and growing the game locally, but I doubt that actually happens

I was watching FM on you tube, the other week and I'm sure somebody played a friendly between the last match of the league and the champions league final because there was a 2 week period of playing no matches, there is international football coming up in Germany in 3 weeks and there is international friendlies before the tournament. That friendly might benefit the players if they have been picked for Euro 24.

FFP is forcing clubs to squeeze as money out of their team as possible, in order to be able to improve their squads. There were multiple players on Newcastle and Howe stating that it was far from ideal to play these friendly matches. I'm sure most at the top floor at St. James' Park acknowledges that too, but how do you catch up with clubs doing their outmost to pull the rug up from under them in any other way then do everything possible to maximize income counting towards FFP/PSR?

Xavi out at Barca. I'm dying with laughter

I imagine that if Arjen Robben would've played in these heavy schedules, he would've retired at 25

I'm a Newcastle fan & as soon as this tour was announced, I agree, this annoyed me for precisely these reasons. Deliberately keeping this comment short so I don't have a soap-box moment, but... The double standard is obvious and shows the contempt the clubs who do this nonsense have for players & fans

Why - because these clubs are trying to grow their fanbase globally, and Australia has a potentially large supporter base. Plus, in Australia we don't get big matches on a weekly basis.

I learnt about this friendly when Google told me and I was very confused. Only a few weeks until the euros kick off too

Curious about your take on this. 55k sellout in Vancouver for the Miami game, just for their top players to not even make the trip. Should players rest at home vs road games?

Mustache power! ⭐️

West ham are playing bournemouth and wolves in post season frendlies i think theyre in the us as well

Milan vs Roma in Perth as well

We also have a Tottenham vs Bayern friendly match coming up too.

let me play a sad song on my 30cm violin. They literally get paid more in 3 days than most people get in 3 years. They picked that job so they have to stick to the schedule and if they don't like it, find a different job.

Do you have any thoughts on the season of fabian hürzeler at fc st. pauli?

These matches are “promotion friendlies” play in another country up your support therefor more money into the club, which as you said Z goes against that crap they say about “too many games” But they literally have a 52 man squad for a reason

About the US sports calendar, don't they play 5x a week in the NBA and some times 2x in the same day in the MLB?

can't believe big ange said he was taking the lads on holiday to see his place in australia and then made them play a game, shame, shame

It’s also causing a stir in Australia because our domestic league is heavily struggling and all promo went towards a game featuring overseas teams that will not grow the game. It’s dumb on every level except making money for people already making millions. If you want to grow the game, invest in the local game

These comments joking about his looks but this is a serious topic. The higher ups in football is slowly changing the format to add more games but of course players wont complain bc clubs will just pay more

Zealand looks like Ted lasso now

"But why" is exactly my reaction when I see Z with the mustache again

Spurs fan here, Romero didn’t travel to Australia and went back to Argentina instead, that’s my future captain

how long before the MetLife turf fucking destroys Michael Olise's knee?

love you too Zealand ❤

This must honestly take a physical and mental toll on them

I think it will not be that crazy. Brazilian and Argentinian teams are playing 75-90 games every year

I seriously thought that the Christian Eriksen incident 3 years ago would be the catalyst for change, but here we are.

I was at that Barcelona game in Tokyo last year... Look the football was underwealming but the girl I went with is my girlfriend now so I would like to thank Laporta for being greedy and desperate enough to do an end of the season friedly in Tokyo, now you can stop doing that

Those poor players forced to play all the time just so they can retire rich by the time they're my age. I dont know how i'll sleep tonight knowing about all the suffering taking place.

I still can not feel any pity for these players at all. They might work a lot, but their wages for one year is enough for the average person to retire and live VERY comfortably. Players like Martial earns more in one year than i probably will do in my whole life and he plays maybe 10 matches per season.

omg i love the mustache

Zealand complains about doing too many videos/streams on main account while building a second account to give us more content. The irony is not lost on me, lol.

No Frog 🐸 😢

Pedri, Gavi, Balde, Fati.... Barcelona has 4 glaring examples of what overplaying young talent can do. Wonderkids to what ifs is the unfortunate reality of this.

Zealand - Friday night in Melbourne Australia. A-Leagues All Stars (Aus) 8 Newcastle United 0

wait until you learn about the brazilian state championships

My biggest problem of the match is that there are two teams playing with low intensity wanting to avoid injuries - yawn. The match was a borefest Newcastle staying behind to play against the A-League all stars. Ideally Tottenham should be playing the A-League All Star (or both sides) and this fixture be cancelled. considering Ange background in the league and he was the inaugural coach of the A-league all star team (he coached them against David Moyes’ Man Utd) there would be symbolism of home town hero returning. Also the match will be more entertaining, the gap in quality of A-League players is made up by the fact that the A-League players are determined to win and would play with intensity because they would want a Premier league scalp. In 2022 Barcelona came on post season to play ALeague all star and it was an entertaining match. A-league took the lead and went 2-1 because the players wanted to achieve a significant scalp of beating a massive team. this forces Barcelona to lift their effort and put in intensity to avoid humiliation and they came back to win 3-2. It showed the benefit that having one side who is determined to win even if the players are significantly inferior is better than having two EPL side going through the motions trying to avoid injuries.