Women’s World Cup misogyny, Jordan Spenderson and the Man Utd kids are alright

The Mailbox is laughing at one particular caveman and provides plenty of thoughts on Jordan Henderson and some take-homes from Man Utd v Leeds.

Send your thoughts to theeditor@football365.com. 

Tits and asses
I could not help but laugh throughout the entire time I was reading Anon’s email yesterday morning. This has to be the funniest thing anyone has written before, right? I mean, this has to be a great work of satire up there with Jonathan Swift’s suggestion we should eat poor children, right? That has to be it, because the alternative, that someone actually believes all that was written, thought his arguments were actually a justification of those beliefs, and wrote them down for the whole world to read, makes me shudder about what other beliefs he may hold and is to scared/ashamed to share in public forums like f365 may be.

I mean, when was the last time anyone actually noticed t*ts and a**s in a women football’s match? Maybe his cable TV (or whatever source he receives his transmissions from) are from another reality in which Blatter’s suggestion on how to bring more eyes to the women’s game. Also, little cave-kid watching the cave-men go out to hunt? And believe me, if he is interested in finding someone to talk about football with, you will. Plus, does this mean that all his extracurricular activities are only done so he can have something to talk about with his friends? Nothing is done just for his personal pleasure? That just seems… sad.

At this rate, Anon would probably have to follow the words of Jesus and gouge out his eyes (plus probably amputate his arms) to ensure he does not, you know, leer at and touch females in the office, on the street, on TV, and wherever he may encounter them.

There’s a lot more for me to say, but I’m certain the internet would do a better job of pointing out how ridiculous he sounds.

He did make me laugh all through yesterday mornin, though.
Full-blooded Cisgender Heterosexual Male (How does anyone notice Tits and Asses in those jerseys) Hoping to have time to watch the World Cup

WWC
D*cky M@lb@lls writes in to chide the crowd who feel the need to write in every WWC to let us know why they’re not watching it: “You don’t write into the mailbox justifying why you don’t watch Mongolian wrestling, Kabaddi or Polish third division matches, so why bother wasting your energy writing in to tell us what you don’t do.”

That reminds me: I wanted to let the mailbox community know why I don’t watch Mongolian wrestling, kabaddi, or the Polish third division — even though my mother, like so many mothers, is a Polish-Mongolian wrestler, and my daughter a regular kabaddi player (sport nickname: Hu-Tu-Tu… thanks Wikipedia!). Which means I can’t be anti-Mongolian, anti-Polish (boo Brexit!!) or anti-kabaddi (not to be confused with the Kabbalah, which is a variety of Jewish mysticism that I am also definitely not against).

The problem is — you’ve got it in one, ANON — boners. Poles give me tent poles; Mongolians, naturally, yurt poles… and Kabaddi players, well, it’s the “Punjabi kabaddi” that really gets me going, as it’s played on a circular field, and circles make me think of, well, you know. (Also why I had to give up studying geometry in school.)

Anyway. Maybe one day ANON and I (and the rest of those who can’t watch the WWC, kabaddi, or Polish-Mongolian wrestling) will get our lob-ons under control. Until then, there’s always the no-boners-required men’s leagues, featuring David Seaman, Rod Fanni, Brian Pinas, and Fabian Assman. Now why do I suddenly feel all funny inside?
Long-Time Reader, First-Time Writer, AFC

Anon?
The messages in response to mine contained all the expected boring virtue signalling, aggressive ad hominem attacks and strawman arguments. Give yourselves a pat on the back for calling out my weird misogyny, it makes you feel good, doesn’t it?

They also completely missed the point. I am a normal 21st century man with a respectful, healthy attitude to women. But, only during the 90 minute window every week when I watch football, I want to switch that off and go back to being a bit of a caveman. And I don’t want to be ‘distracted’ in doing so.

I repeat, the rest of the time I am a normal guy with a respectful attitude towards women. If you can’t just take my word for that then it’s impossible to have a constructive debate with you.
Brother Buzz

Kudos to Dele
Even though I’m an AFC supporter and we are auto tuned to hate all things spurs I am also first and foremost a human being. Proud of the man for speaking his truth and being vulnerable.

Having gone through a lot of ebbs and flows in life I can only imagine what the media scrutiny did to the poor lad. It is so hard when you are trying your best and somehow the mechanics in your brain – the inner critic – that imposter that sits in each person’s brain telling you “this isn’t enough” bares it’s teeth.

Kudos to Delle for taking the steps to conquer his inner demons. We all have them but not all of us have the courage or determination to meet them head on and say I will not yield to you today. Speak to someone if you are suffering – express, don’t supress.

To all the people going through shit in their lives – Keep fighting, keep going, keep growing and know that the bully in your brain is just a fake bad habit that life’s tough experience have somehow made you think is the essence of your being. It is not. It’s just another opportunity for you to conquer this challenge and keep rising higher.

“With the courage to begin and the patience to endure, victory becomes just a matter of time”

Stay well folks, be kind, life is hard and people have feelings.
T

Transfer fees
Something that occasionally bothers me in the world of football is how transfers are reported. Namely, the fee in question.

I understand if it is undisclosed and the news needs to guesstimate a figure or be told the general fee from an insider.

What I don’t get is when the news reports on fees selectively.

Mason Mount cost United £55m with £5M in add ins, reportedly based on achievements. So to me, until those achievements are recognized, the fee is £55M but it’s always reported as £60M.

Now take MacAllister. He cost reportedly £35M with a further £15-25M in add ons depending on who you read. This is always reported as £35M. Very similar to Rice, who I saw today could eventually cost £120M but is constantly reported as £105M.

More famously was the James to Everton transfer. Was it £20M? Was it free? It seems it’s whatever an either pro/anti Everton writer says it is…at least to us. Everton should know…probably.

I know I should go all stoic and not let this bother me as it’s far out of my control, but I do find it unusual how depending on a writers viewpoint, the amount will be reported in different quantities.

It’s almost like my friend saying my neighbors house cost £500k and mine cost £50k with 30 years of add ons, even though we’re neighbors.
Calvino 

Jordan Spenderson
Just out of curiosity, how do people think Henderson is gonna spend his fat stacks of cash? I imagine he’s already been at the point for some time where he has enough money to live luxuriously for the rest of his life and take care of his offspring once he’s passed away. What value does money really have beyond that? Evidently enough to take a dump on his public image and the views he has espoused for quite a while. If he goes the route of someone like Flamini and uses it as a kickstarter towards a business venture or donates a significant portion of it to charitable causes I guess some respect or goodwill could be earned back, but very few of the absolute richest of footballers seem to have gone down those paths.

I felt similar when Ronaldo moved there (I seriously can’t understand how money could be a tempting factor for him given he was already richer than any pro athlete could ever have hoped to be), and I guess ol’ Spenderson is getting a lot more flak for this than the other foot-skilled multi-millionaires who are jumping over to the Middle East for the oil/blood money, but nobody asked him to be a vocal supporter of the LGBT crowd, he seemed to do it off his own back. Really does make you feel that no matter how heartfelt it ever appeared that it was mostly just for show and good PR.

We saw over the world cup that vocal opposition to brutal regimes and human rights violations crumbles under the threat of a yellow card, so it’s no surprise that the same happens when tempted with being able to cash a £700,000 cheque every week. Hopefully in future people will treat public figures who appear to support these causes with a lot more skepticism, unless they put their ‘views’ into action rather than just sweeping them under the rug once the chequebooks come out (they probably won’t though, just keep adoring them so long as they kick those balls real good).

I’m probably sounding incredibly naive, and in truth I thought of the title ‘Jordan Spenderson’ and had to figure out an email to send along with it.
Mohammad bin Salman, Riyadh (Who even writes cheques these days anyway?)

READ MORE: Loadsamoney XI: Jordan Henderson set to join Oscar, Tevez in following the cash

More Henderson thoughts…
First off, let me just say this.

I love Jordan Henderson I really do. When he first joined Liverpool and had a pretty rough few years I hoped he would come good. My ex-gf and a few friends who all supported Liverpool disliked him and wanted him to be sold. He opted not to be a makeweight for Clint Dempsey and stayed to fight on for his place which made me like him even more. Throughout his time at Liverpool, he may not have been the most talented but nobody can fault his effort, tenacity and leadership on the pitch. An example of the man he is where during Covid he contacted fellow Premier League Captains to organise a fund for the NHS spoke volumes of the type of person he is. I was also happy to see him sharing a heartfelt hug with his dad (who has been fighting cancer) after winning the Champions League. Countless people doubted him but he has won all there is to win with Liverpool.

Which brings us to news that Henderson has accepted the 700k offer from Saudi Arabia. Now I rate Henderson as a man and a player. As a Liverpool fan, I am extremely proud of his actions thus far as captain. However it does leave a little sour taste in the mouth but as a man in my mid-30s I kind of understand it. I certainly don’t have the bank balance of Hendo and am certain that I never will. He has an opportunity at the age of 33 to make more than HALF A MILLION A WEEK. Let that sink in. He’s at an age where he might have a couple more seasons at the top level. His bank balance is obviously healthy but this is his chance for one last final payday to secure his family’s financial future for at least 2-3 generations. He’s also reuniting with Stevie G, someone he looked up to as a player.

Now it has been covered pretty extensively in the mailbox about Saudi Arabia and their issues with human rights and the LGB community so I won’t delve so much into that. I reckon Henderson if he does go to Saudi Arabia that he has the intention to maybe go as an ambassador to see if he can change hearts and minds as an ally of the LGB community but let’s face it I seriously doubt that.

At the end of the day, money does talk. I mean if I was paid 700k a week, I’ll readily confess I’ll do a lot of things that I’m not proud to admit on a public football forum no matter my morals. I’ll be sad to see him go and he will depart a legend no matter what other people say. I’m not even angry at his decision, in fact I understand it. Im just a little disappointed. I did think he was better than this. But honestly, if I was him? I probably would’ve taken the offer as well and after a couple of years with my finances well and truly secured join his hometown club, Sunderland.
Alex, Singapore (Just had a look at Al-Ittifaq’s squad and I have no idea who any of them are)

1. I don’t know his weekly wage but assuming he’s saved well he’s comfortably a multi-millionaire who doesn’t need a big last pay day.

BUT

2. He’s human. People with lots of money generally want to be richer and he will likely want to set his family and his kids up for life. Fair enough, I want that for my wife and daughter.

BUT

3. After being an LGBTQ ally in the past, it does seem strange to give that away for some extra money. I’d like to say I wouldn’t do it but I’m as per point 2, I’m only human.

Only Jordan Henderson can look at himself in the mirror and be happy with his decision. FWIW I don’t agree with his decision but him and his family presumably do.

The real test will be whether he tows the party line of his club and Country (I don’t know the situation when this will come up) or whether he has the balls to promote equality.
Tom

Pretty hesitant to wade in on Hendo (potentially…  likely…. ?) going saudi but ffs does anyone truly believe in his heart of hearts, deep in Hendo’s heart that is– aorta, chambers, core values worldview ventricles whatever– that hes abandoned his principles and beliefs ?  Surely he feels just as strongly about those issues before any of this transfer possibility ever emerged.  Gone for the bunce absolutely and beyond trite to say most all of any salaried human being would do the same.  Sure hes got to reconcile some things for himself but to the tune of that windfall yeah I think I could.  And it wouldn’t change my inner worldview one iota.  More to the pt, I don’t believe it changes his views much either.  To be clear, Jordan henderson is not being asked to support any of the regimes stances or to kill any puppies for that matter, he’s singed by proximity to a flame.

**Also, Ive heard some say his circles are not sound.  His advisors must be trying to talk him down this ledge.  Urge him to his senses.  Are you kidding me ?  Half his circles probably dont care about football but prefer an overfinch package, do it hendo, do it for us they say

From a footballing / Liverpool perspective i don’t know.  The last two yrs I really started to see the sidewatys passing and creative brain freezes / limited execution that plagued his early career.  Honestly maybe it wasnt just early career but most of his career, but at least in our contending yrs he brought legs and graft and occasional moments of top top class that just havent appeared much recently.  His abs do look incredible at the moment.  Is it a coin toss?  I’d say on the pitch we lose a bit but not fatally so.  I think where we’ll tend to lose more is round the dressing room, all the intangible stuff, some of those human conduits.  It will be interesting to say the least, and if one of Fabinho or Thiago follow him out the door (having lost Milner too ) it could be a few steps back next season before any steps fwd, just purely on the backbone and maturity and order of authority elements.  Wish I could rewind two wks when it were Thiago the most strongly linked, and Hendo & Fab stay put.  Also doubt Thiago would get any shade whatsoever for taking saudi cash but whys that
Eric, Los Angeles  CA  (So what will the mancs say when Mason greenwood lines up as their 9?  What will golf watchers do when the Aramco Masters air on tele?  What if Julian alvarez decided he wanted to become Julia suiting up in the womens division??  Would ANON watch a team full of Julias?  Cue your outrages early its tip of the iceberg stuff)

The Kids Are All Right. Some of the Adults Are Not.
I saw the United v Leeds game and was overcome with joy at the second half when our youngsters played against the Leeds senior team. No matter how hard and high the press, the back 4 – Jurado, Fish, Benett, and Williams, along with Kovar, the keeper passed their way around it with a composure that De Gea and Maguire can only dream about. Hansen-Aaroen plays like the heir to Odegaard in the Norway side. Emeran was lively and effective on the right, and Hugil took his goal with a striker’s precision. There is no guarantee that any of these players will end up at the very top, but it was heartening to see the good habits being instilled at this stage, so that the transition to the senior team would see them adapt to a similar style with ease. There might have been one long clearance in the entire 45 mins. More than the overwhelming joy at seeing Mount slot in, this should be the thing that makes United fans look forward to the future.

And while I’m here… My congratulations to Liverpool fans (and many football fans in general) for the yogi like mental gymnastics required to be on the high moral ground on Henderson’s Saudi Arabia offer, while finding it completely acceptable that he came to Liverpool for a higher pay, and better opportunities despite having grown up and playing for his boyhood club – Sunderland. And also somehow also being comfortable with the fact that potentially 9 out of the starting 11 for the upcoming season will have come to England from other countries for better money and opportunities.

Oh, and thanks to the Anon ‘T&A’ guy for reminding us that some of us will always be cave dwellers in our heads.
Ved Sen, MUFC.