Ivorian hitman set to face last-minute decision on fitness due to international commitments
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| Wilfried Bony: Will he be available on Saturday? |
Well I guess we're in the big time now - we're sweating on the availability of a star player because of a meaningless friendly which isn't even taking place in either of the countries who are set to play in it! Yes folks, Mexico are playing Ivory Coast in...wait for it...New Jersey. No, I don't get it either.
I assume this is in the mould of Brazil playing friendlies at the Emirates - OK, it's nice to see footballing superstars on your doorstep, especially so if you don't have that calibre of football readily available, but I still bemoan the growing commercialisation of the game which is heaping extra pressure on an already crowded fixture list. I understand that there will always be international friendlies, and that players missing competitive fixtures will always be part and parcel of the game, however a friendly the best part of 3500 miles away with the league opener only three days away is taking the Michael I feel. They've had all summer to play friendlies! Why start just when we need our entire squad available?!
Obviously, Bony isn't the only player who's set to see some action tomorrow. Ashley Williams, Ben Davies, Neil Taylor and now Jazz Richards have all been called up to the Wales squad for the friendly with the Republic of Ireland, while Jonathan De Guzman has been called up to the Holland squad for their friendly with Portugal. With reference to the Welsh players, is anyone else looking at those four players and thinking we could be looking at a potential Wales back four? Davies to CB and the rest works itself out. I believe James Collins is unavailable, so switching Davies inside may not be as drastic a measure as some would have you believe.
As for Bony, we can only hope that the match, coupled with the lengthy travel time, doesn't affect him too much. No doubt he's as eager to play as the fans are to see him run out against Manchester United, in what promises to be an excellent occasion.