Liverpool’s Man-Utd-sized rebuild, value for Darwin Nunez, illegal streamers, and more Mails…
It’s a bumper Friday Mailbox, with missives on whether Darwin Nunez is worth that kind of money, Liverpool’s rebuild, and plenty more besides.
Get your views in to theeditor@football365.com…
Nunez is worth it
The Darwin Nunez-to-Liverpool-transfer discussion is one which checks all the boxes.
One, a great debate can be had about whether he would actually be a great fit for Liverpool. Klopp thinks so, so that should be a big yes. Moreover, the big players from the Portuguese league have adjusted rather well and quickly to the Premier League: Bruno, Jota, and Luis Diaz come to mind. I am sure there are other aspects, but I am more interested in the maaaaney side of things.
Two, is Nunez worth 85 million pounds? There are three camps here: 1) no, 2) yes, 3) a player is worth what a club is willing to pay. I think Nunez isn’t worth all 85 million pounds, but if Liverpool think it’s alright to pay that much for him, fair play. I sincerely believe there are other excellent and versatile attackers Liverpool can buy for well under 85 million pounds. These include, off the top of my head, Lautaro Martinez (24, 67.5 million pounds, Inter need cash), Victor Osimhen (23, 58.5 million pounds, chef’s kiss), Jonathan David (22, 40.5 million pounds, the pace, oooh the pace) – all figures from our friends at Transfermarkt.
But if Klopp and the transfer committee think Nunez is THE REAL DEAL, then it’s alright. Let’s work out how to fund the transfer, because it is us who are finally going to approach Benfica and enter into discussions with the club, not Julian Ward.
Liverpool will be selling a few players this summer. They want 40 million pounds or so for Mane. I think they will settle for around 35 million pounds. Nat Phillips is wanted by Bournemouth, could squeeze out 15 million for him. A similar sum for Neco Williams from Fulham maybe, especially if Calvin Ramsay from Aberdeen arrives at Anfield. Talk of Minamino and Ox leaving is also doing the rounds. These five players can fetch Liverpool close to 100 million pounds. That should pay for Nunez.
But perhaps the most important reason Liverpool want Nunez has already been written by Dave Tickner (Liverpool need Darwin Nunez because we need Liverpool to challenge Man City). City had a better GD last season and they have now added Haaland to that group. Liverpool are going to lose Mane this summer and Bobby and Salah next summer. An entirely new front three will be needed: Diaz, Jota, Nunez sounds rather handy.
TL:DR: Nunez expensive, cheaper alternatives available, but Klopp likes the Uruguayan. Liverpool can raise the money from player sales to buy him. Very important purchase considering the First Triumvirate is breaking up.
Cheers,
Siddharth (an embarrassment of riches at full-back is always good).
Six times Liverpool and Man Utd have fought over players before Darwin Nunez
Is Liverpool’s rebuild as big as Man Utd’s?
The constant drip of briefings and rumours about Salah and Mane, makes me think that Liverpool have as big a rebuild job as ManU.
Once elite players openly court favour from other teams, it is an unfortunate fact of modern life that you are better to let them go.
Salah thinks he is worth 400 k a week – and he may well find someone willing to pay that.
The choice for Liverpool is – pay and then have a stream of other players asking for rises or let him go and chance their arm in the transfer market.
I think it’s is better to sell now and go on the hunt for the next crop of young talent. This shouldn’t worry Liverpool as Klopp seems to have a great scouting team, a clear idea of who and how a player would fit in and the coaching skills to develop young players.
Once you open the door to Salah and Mane going, then you have to look at who replaces them – Firminho is on the wane, Jota started well but has faded but Diaz seems a solid choice. As much as I love Minamino and Origi, they deserve to be running out every week just not at the elite level.
In order to fight battles on many fronts, you need at least 5 to 8 options for most positions across the team. And this is where you start looking at the age of many of the other players in the squad – 31, Henderson – 31, Milner – 36, van Dijk – 30. Salah is 30 in the next few weeks and Mane is already there.
So for all the talk of Ten Hag, there is an equal job to be done at Anfield.
Better to sell the prized cows now for what you can get, that risk them leaving for nothing after an indifferent season which will no doubt be distracted by the wrong time World Cup.
Buy young with potential because the World Cup is going to mangle any team reliant on regularly paying international players – unless you’re City and your squad are all internationals.
Simon of Whitegate (Obligatory brackets)
…I’ve been thinking this since before this incredibly poor season ended, and seeing today’s article regarding the Nunez “tug-of-war” cemented it further. Man Utd should not be trying to fish in the big boy pond for the Haaland’s and Nunez’s of the world, they need to get humble with their transfer policy.
If the 2021/22 season has shown us anything, it’s that this current squad are about as far from a cohesive, functioning team as it’s possible to get. In Ten Hag we have gained a manager that has been working with predominantly young, hungry players. They are developed within a framework which aims to create an excellent footballing unit, but to also help these players fulfil potential to become future stars. For me, that should be the approach that this new Utd management hierarchy should be taking inspiration from.
As the Nunez article rightly highlights, they are simply not the draw that they used to be right now. They appear dysfunctional from the outside, and this season leaves them without the carrot of Champions League football. But in a way this gives the opportunity to reboot the squad, whilst committing to a genuine long-term vision (dare I say “project”) to develop the team over the next few years. A number of squad places have been freed up due to contracts ending. Use the scouting network to bring in the next big things that are hungry to prove themselves and be part of the reboot, and forget trying to bring in today’s big things who potentially don’t want there (De Jong, I’m looking at you). And also give trust and playing time to the youngsters coming through from the youth teams.
Do I actually think this will happen? No, of course not. This would take a large slice of bravery and guile from Utd, and unfortunately those are qualities that seem to be severely lacking within the club right now. I hope that Ten Hag is able to utilise his Ajax experience to recruit and develop the squad into a newly functioning team. But as we know, it’s the hope that kills you!
Matt – Bristol
Defending United
Just some missives following up on Ian King’s latest missive about United being in direct straights and needing a rebuild…
Rebuilding is demonstrably what they’re doing.
In the last year they have replaced the executive vice chairman, appointed a director of football, appointed a deputy director of football, appointed a technical director, replaced the manager, replaced the senior first team coaches, changed the senior scouts, started the masterplanning process to refurbish the training facilities, started the masterplanning process to refurbish or replace Old Trafford, and allowed (or been forced to allow) six (mostly expensive) players who will not be missed contracts to expire.
The rebuild has already started. It has been ongoing for some time. Are all those changes going to reap dividends, are they the right appointments – I don’t know, but they are demonstrably making extensive structural changes to the way the club is operated. For Ian to say there is no sign of a plan, seemingly just on the basis that they haven’t taken up Rangnick’s consultancy role, is blinkered (possibly deliberately so). There is evidently a plan and tremendous change going on at the club, but time will tell if its for the good.
Now, I have no great affection for the Glazers, but they have never been shy about letting the club spend the money it earns. As has been gleefully (and correctly) pointed out by many commentators on this website when discussing United’s transfer spending and wage bill. The problem has always been an organisational one, spending the money incorrectly, and that that is being addressed is cause for optimism for a United fan.
Also, I’m calling BS on the suggestion that “United’s structural inertia allowed Spurs to nip in and get this truly transformative coach” in Antonio Conte. Spurs pipping Arsenal and (a little bit more than pipping) United to fourth last season is the footballing equivalent of winning employee of the month at Boris Johnson’s number 10 – should be genuinely impressive, but…
Antonio Conte has managed eight different clubs in the last 13 years, some of them very well indeed, but he is the shortest term of short-term fixes. Based on his own track record, he’s probably already past the half-way point of his Tottenham career already and has already made various disgruntled noises during his tenure there about leaving. Unless Tottenham win the league next season (which would make the short term approach justified, and which I will not rule out, but think is unlikely), what is the point of them having Conte? They’ll be back in a similar mess to when they hired him before long and looking for another new manager. He was not going to turn this United team into winners in a few months. Yes United missed out to Tottenham on the CL this season, but I am near certain that they will be better off in the long run by taking a longer term view. Conte would have been another sticking plaster for United and exactly the sort of short-term thinking that Ian is criticising elsewhere in his article.
So which is it, Ian. Taking a long term view and a coherent plan, or appointing Antonio Conte, who’ll get as good a tune as possible out of them, but probably only for one season? You only get to beat United with one of those two sticks…
Andy (MUFC)
More streamers
In response to Lewis of Busby Way, I’m exactly the same. Until quite recently I had Sky Sports, but when just a fraction of the games I want to watch are on there (Villa), and the ones that are, I’ve often got other family responsibilities, I just can’t justify £35 odd a month for maybe an hour a month that I get to watch it. Pretty much everyone that illegally streams would quite happily buy a digital season ticket for their team, I know I certainly would.
The age-old argument about protecting the lower leagues with the 3pm blackout, surely that needs revisiting. What percentage of people, who, unable to watch the match they would prefer to watch on TV, choose instead to go to a lower league or more local match? Anecdotally, I’d be amazed if it was as high as 10%.
The depth of the English football pyramid is supposedly one of the things that makes the Premier League great. I don’t disagree with that, but it feels a bit unfair that the rest of the world gets to enjoy all of the supposedly quality product that the lower leagues support, when people who support the clubs in this country (even season ticket holders!) don’t get the opportunity to see at least half of their teams matches. If you’re not a season ticket holder, you have to pay at least twice as much to watch maybe a quarter of the matches that the rest of the world get to see live.
So, like Lewis, I will occasionally partake it the odd stream of my team when life gives me the opportunity, and I also don’t feel at all guilty.
Anon
More unapologetic streamers
…I wholeheartedly agree with Lewis, Busby Way and would like to expand on this.
I live in Jersey and to go and watch Spurs it costs me around £400-500 and Rangers about £300 per game when you include flights, accommodation, tickets and of course beer. I always pray that Sky/BT doesn’t move the game last minute which would really screw me over as usually the flights are inflexible, and I have to re-book another another hotel.
As much as I love the atmosphere and the day out (I used to go once a month), I just don’t have the time or money now I’m a father. So, I usually watch from home or in my local. I used to own a Sky box, but when they started letting Setanta/ESPN/BT get involved it would have cost me around £60-80 per month and even then, you aren’t guaranteed to get all your teams games, so I really don’t consider this huge monthly bill worth it to watch a couple of my team’s games a month.
I have streamed for over 10 years now and while the quality is not great, it’s getting better even though usually a minute or two behind real time, so I put my phone away in case my mates message me. My reason for feeling absolutely no guilt is that while on my travels back in the day, I found that in most Asian countries, the locals can watch EVERY SINGLE Premier League game for free. Also in Australia, All Premier league games were part of the Fox Sports package so technically no extra charge. Even in Ireland, which is closer to England than Jersey, get to watch a 3PM kick off every week with Premier Sports (which I also have for free now)
I completely understand the whole ‘supply and demand’ pricing system, but I just don’t agree with how much us Brits pay to watch football when the rest of the world basically gets it for free (yes, I’m aware it’s not free as the TV stations pays the EPL for it, they probably make the money back in advertisement).
As mentioned here in Jersey we pay a lot to go away and watch one game and we don’t have the choice of TV boxes as Sky is our only choice for sports. I pay £80 a year for my ‘not quite legal’ TV box, and it has every single Premier League game on including the 3PM games, plus every single game of all the other big 5 countries plus all the Movies and Kids shows with little to no chance of me going to prison so it’s an absolute no brainer. When they start (as suggested by Lewis) a pay TV for my club/individual games, I will gladly pay a fair price to watch all the games in real-time. And it won’t stop me from going over to watch the games either as you just can’t beat being there and soaking up the atmosphere and local refreshments. I think the lack of guilt comes from the fact that there are players who sit on a bench and get paid over £100K a week and they are still getting paid this regardless of how I watch my footy.
Bring on pay per view or season tickets to legally watch football at home. It’s quite do-able, but while people will still pay astronomical amounts for Sky/BT, they have no reason to change their ways.
Stuart Mackenzie, Spurs & Rangers since 85
Salah’s legacy is safe
Imagine being so entitled in life, that you would question Mo Salah’s legacy. As an opposing fan, there is only 1 player ahead of Salah & that is Gerrard due to “vibes”. In terms of talent, impact and quality. no one in the last 3 decades even comes to close. Liv would be a top 10 team without him, and the impact he created. Please stop with these nonsensical thoughts and stupid ass opinions.
He came, he literally won you everything you never even dreamt of, and completed his contract like an utter professional. if he leaves next year, you lot should build him a statue and carry him on your shoulders to wherever he plans to next. There is no player i hated seeing than Salah because he was just head and shoulders above the rest.
Imagine comparing him to Torres, Coutinho, Suarez etc who came, won nothing, and left for better days. He is literally your savior from decades more of mediocrity. Liverpool really need a decade back into their wilderness days to appreciate what they have.
Aman (I am enraged and i dont even like Liverpool)
…I hate to dump on a fellow Red, but man does transfer season bring out the iffy takes. If it’s not reading all the hot takes on Nunez from the swath of Man U supporting Portuguese league experts it’s this idea that a player like Salah, exercising his contract rights is somehow going to taint his legacy in the process.
Really?
Since 2017 we have been in 3 European Finals, won the league, finished second by a hair twice, won an FA Cup, League Cup, World Club Championship all with Mo Salah being one of the most important players on the pitch. In that time he has won 3 Golden Boots and was probably denied at least one Ballon D’Or in that time. He is bar none, not up for debate one of the best players in Liverpool history and we’ve been watching him week in and week out for the past 5 seasons. His arrival coincided with Liverpool getting back into the Champions League and then making it to the final.
All of this on top of Salah appearing to be a genuinely top class human being means that short of him signing for United on a free next year, he would struggle to taint that legacy.
The reality is, Salah has earned the right to negotiate for the money he feels he is worth in the same way Liverpool is right in trying to maintain a salary structure that works for the club. There are no bad guys here. Salah hasn’t once delivered an ultimatum, he has been clear on his willingness to sign and his declaration now that he is happy to see out his contact is not a bad thing for him or the Club. Liverpool for its part can look to see if they can find common ground with Salah and in the absence of that have 12 months to scout and ensure the replacement is in place without having a drop off.
Make no mistake, I want Salah to re-sign. He isn’t done as an elite footballer and I’d love those final years to be in Liverpool. But I can’t fault him if he can get a massive wage packet somewhere else and decides to go.
Lets put this legacy stuff to bed for both him and (for now) Mane. Their arrivals have coincided with a period of sustained success that was unheard of even 10 years ago. They potentially depart Liverpool leaving it better than they found it and we owe them gratitude for that. At the same time, no player is bigger than the Club and this regime have shown the aptitude and ability to pivot on from the loss of key players.
Mark LFC
…I don’t really understand the views of fans such as Vikas. That Salah is going to somehow taint his legacy by leaving on a free. If Salah leaves next summer, he will have fulfilled his contract. He will have played the exact same number of years as he promised to. It was a contract that all parties agreed to.
That is all Salah is obligated to do. He is not obligated to sign a new contract so that he can then ask for a transfer so that Liverpool receive a fee. If he wants to experience playing elsewhere, or he can make more money elsewhere that’s entirely up to him.
It seems that footballers can’t really win. Harry Kane requested a move and he was basically called an idiot for signing a long term deal. Yet when a player fulfills their contract and leaves for nothing, they are seen to have somehow denied the club a transfer fee. You can’t have it both ways.
If Salah were to stay and achieve more at Liverpool, he would of course become even more of a legend. But if he does leave, it doesn’t taint anything of what he has achieved so far.
Mike, LFC, London
Milner is more than a machine
Interesting question posed by Paul in the morning Mailbox – Milner or Rooney – who would you rather be? As a Red – obviously it’s Milner – I can’t see myself ever wanting to be an Evertonian who played for United.
But one thing I think is lost a lot when people talk about Milner in this way (not having a go at Paul, BTW), is just how GOOD he was and is. When he started playing for Leeds you could see the quality straight away. At the time I remember hoping Liverpool would sign him (again when he went to Villa, Newcastle and City). When we finally got him you could see how much of a difference he could have made to us. Would have loved to see Milner, Alonso and Gerrard in 3 for example.
For a little context – Milner currently sits 9th on the Premier League all time assists table. Appreciate this could be tainted with longevity, however consider he has played at right and left back, on the wing and in centre midfield. The others on that list, Giggs, Silva, Gerrard etc. all played more or less the same position during their peak years. So I think he compares very favourably as a creator. His passing and crossing ability are excellent – and he reads the game exceptionally well – it’s probably this, more than conditioning that mean he is able to compete at 37 in the middle of the park.
Agree the work rate and professionalism are second to none, but never forget he’s a quality player who gives so much more than that.
Cheers,
Marc
…I bet Wayne Rooney, sitting in court silently watching Twitter brought to life before his very eyes, would swap his career for James Milner’s in a second. Both have won pretty much everything in the game but Milner has done it while achieving the most important thing for a footballer’s career – he did it all under the radar. Milner has enough honours for anyone, enough money for the rest of his life and beyond, is still actively playing football and nobody knows what his sexual proclivities are or whether he loves his granny a little too much. Sounds perfect to me but I’m a jaded office worker so I guess that’s to be expected.
Actually living Rooney’s career would have been a nightmare with all the scrutiny bringing far too much stress.
SC, Belfast
…In response to Paul; Good mail, I think I would be in the Rooney camp. He’s closer to what I would have wanted to be when I was growing up, rough, naturally gifted and seemed to be living the dream. Whereas Milner is probably who I admire the most as an older gent, hardworking, dedicated and vanilla.
I do want to also pose an alternative that I’m not sure the answer. Would you rather be a Sol Campbell or a Ledley King?
As a Spurs fan Campbell’s departure stung a bit (a bit) but as an England fan I also recognised just how good a player he was and always wanted him on the team sheet. He was immense, one of the best English defenders in my opinion. But, I’m not sure I speak to any fan of any of his clubs who remember him fondly, he has the accolades but no adulation. He’s always left under a cloud and seemingly broken bridges.
Ledders was a great player and I genuinely think could have been one of the best we have produced, he seems to be respected massively by a vast majority of fans from all clubs but doesn’t have the medals as a result i.e. the adulation but no accolades.
I’m not sure where I stand really. Do the shiny trinkets keep you warm at night or does the respect put a smile on your face. I guess there is merit in both, as a kid, it’s probably Campbell as an adult it’s probably King. Not really debating who was better, but what approach fit’s best.
Steve (THFC)
Arsenal or Spurs
Sorry but F365 are well within their rights to compare Arsenal and Spurs.
Before Roman’s roubles, the pair were unquestionably London’s biggest clubs. There’s not a great deal of difference in the size of their respective stadia, you’re just as likely to come across a Spurs fan as an Arsenal fan when walking around North London and the two clubs were separated by only a couple of points last season.
And while Spurs have Champions League football, it’s Arsenal who have actually won silverware more recently and more consistently. Even from an Arsenal perspective – I’d have to say it’s honours even when you’re considering which club is a more attractive prospect. If you’re under 24 – you sign for Arsenal – over that age and you’d opt for Spurs.
Graham Simons, Gooner, Norf London
…MAW in LA asks “if Spurs really were a more attractive option for players than Arsenal then why are we the betting favourites in the Jesus/Tielemans transfer races?”
This is an easy one. It’s because more people are betting on Jesus and Tielemans to join arsenal than are betting on Jesus and Tielemans to join spurs. Shorter odds at the bookies does not make something more likely to happen. It’s a cost benefit analysis by the bookies to either lure in idiot’s who don’t understand how bookies makes millions upon millions of pounds or to manage their pay outs.
See also England being second favourites to win every tournament according to the bookies despite only being to the final of any tournament twice.
Seriously, who bets on transfer rumours? That can’t be healthy.
Alex, South London
…In response to MAW, the reason we are top of the “fanbase vibes” rankings is because we have a great manager, a great team and Champions League football next season. Three things his club don’t have.
As for Tielemans and Jesus, first of all Arsenal haven’t signed either of them. And second of all Spurs are not in for those players because we already have superior players in those positions. We have just signed Inter Milan’s player of the season and are in talks over signing the best centre back in Spain.
Spurs are operating in a different section of the market to Arsenal, we are in the “champions League club looking to mount a title challenge next season” market while Arsenal are in the “looking to avoid the Conference League again next season” market. There isnt one area where Arsenal are a more attractive proposition to Spurs, we have a superior manager, team, stadium and facilities.
The big two is set to become a big three next season. Our front three is the best in the league and we are strengthening the areas where we are lacking. And our manager is easily the equal of Pep and Klopp. Spurs have all the ingredients to win the league and you are deluded if you believe otherwise.
Barry Fox
Everton is no one’s business
Just curious as to why everyone and their mother seems to have such a strong opinion on who happens to be Everton manager and how/why he does or doesn’t deserve the job?
Take Rohit, Abu Dhabi as an example. He seems personally upset that Frank is our manager. Not his, he’s clearly a Liverpool supporter.
To put it succinctly mind your own business. We don’t see mails/comments/articles on who should be Newcastle/Arsenal/Spurs manager etc… Yet Everton still seem to attract the heat, to put it politely.
We will be fine, worry about your own club.
Rafa is gone, live with it, we are on the way back up. Top half next season, hopefully top 7.
Last thing, I think the WC in Winter could so easily mess up the league with players distracted, not wanting to get injury before WC and then actually getting injuries during the WC. Madness
Steve Limerick Ireland
…Good to see some emails from what appears to be old school Everton fans with a genuine love for the club. I’m not sure Frank will achieve much next season but he has clearly done the job asked of him this year, with the added bonus of appearing to rally the fanbase behind the team and the club. You could argue this is more important than staying up… but I doubt the accountants on Merseyside would agree…
So is it time to acknowledge that this style of managerial appointment has value. Possibly huge value. Is there significant benefit in promoting a bloke to a position he possibly doesn’t deserve on the back of his legacy/personality on the pitch as opposed to the number of badges he has earnt, or the number of mid-tier German clubs he has managed? F365 has consistently taken shots at Frank, basically saying his appointment to major roles is a form of racism/privilege and there is no doubt some truth in that, but maybe football is a simpler game than we all like to think.
It could easily be argued that Solksjaers promotion to United manager was not earned. It could also be easily argued that he was the best United manager since Alex Ferguson. At his team’s peak, united were as good as managerial legends Van Gaal and Mourinho. The babyface assassin had us unbeatable away from home and at times playing exciting counter attacking football. The vibe was great, the results were solid. It didn’t last forever, but this team was built on vibes, passion, history. There was little managerial expertise and what appeared to be little tactical acumen. Just cute little Ole smiling, warming all our hearts and outperforming 2 of the most respected tacticians in the history of football.
You could argue Klopps Liverpool is built as much around personality, work rate and passion as much as it is on strategy, technique and ingenuity. He has created a vibe around the club and entire city. The same could be said for Fergies United. It could easily be argued that Pep did not deserve the Barcelona job due to lack of experience. Yet hes become one of the all-time greats…
Its nice to have the odd tactical genius in the league but they are a rare commodity. How many supposedly tactically excellent managers outside of the top four could be considered a success? We know these teams are as likely to have success with an English legend with less experience as they are with some Guardiola lite wannabe from Dusseldorf. So why get upset when the likes of Frank gets the job. These bang average continental managers haven’t brought much to the league. The standard outside the top 6 is piss poor regardless who of gets the job or where they are from.
It was cute to see Frank almost in tears after Everton stayed up. It was lovely when he grabbed Seamus Coleman and sung his praises as a human. Frank probably knows the tea lady’s name and gets her a Christmas card. He might even go out for a few pints around Liverpool. I’m sure many would scoff at this. There’s been plenty to be ashamed about when it comes to English football, but appointing managers who care about clubs and instill passion in a team isn’t one of them…
Shz
Alexander-Arnold and the anthem
So Trent is criticised for not singing the anthem. Nothing new, plenty of players past and present don’t sing it and are also criticised.
The wider question should be – why should they be forced to? If you have to force, coerce or shame someone into singing them anthem then that anthem really isn’t worth singing.
For many, myself included, that anthem is a representation of a government and monarchy which has systematically allowed its people to suffer so that they may prosper. It’s celebration of increasing child poverty, wealth inequality, human rights abuses, xenophobia and many other terrible things. And that’s not even mentioning the atrocious history it also represents.
For a lot of people they feel uncomfortable celebrating that country and government and choose instead to not sing. That should be fine. That should actually be encouraged should someone feel that way. That’s what freedom of expression is. It’s also good to want to make people ask questions of its questionable government.
I also understand that for some people that anthem is a celebration of the good things about this country, the relative wealth and safety we all live in by comparison to some other places. And that’s fine too, nobody is stopping you from belting out how much you love your literal master. And I fully encourage you to do so if that’s how you feel. That too is what freedom of expression is.
Nobody should be criticised for singing or not signing an anthem. That’s just wrong. If you take a look at all the countries which force you to praise your leader and sing in their honour you won’t like the list your version of the UK will live in.
It’s a non issue and should be a non issue. Let them sing, or not. But stop criticising them for exercising their rights.
Lee
