Tuesday 8 July 2008

Jo to miss start of season!

Bad news this evening: Jo is in the Brazil squad for the Olympics.

This might be exciting for those who need the esteem boost of seeing City players lining up alongside Robinho, Ronaldinho et al (it's not like Elano was at the Copa America or anything...), but given how much we paid for him it's rather frustrating.

The schedule for the tournament is here. Brazil have group matches against Belgium on August 7th, New Zealand on the 10th and then China on the 13th. Presuming they get through (which does not require much of a bold predictive leap) they ought to have a quarter-final on the 16th (against Cameroon or South Korea) and then a semi-final on the 19th - probably against Argentina. The final is on August 23rd.

If the squad have to convene a few days before the Belgium match, Jo is surely out of the Celtic friendly, which takes place on August 6th - the day before Brazil's first game. It is possible that Jo will miss the earlier Stockport County friendly (2nd August), depending on when he has to leave for Beijing. The Milan friendly is next to go - falling the day before the New Zealand match. From here it gets more and more vexing: the UEFA Cup Second Qualifying Round 1st leg (tempting fate, I know) is Thursday 14th August. Even a shock group stage exit for Brazil will presumably rule Jo out of this. The first league game at Villa Park (either Saturday 16th or Sunday 17th) clashes with the quarter-final. The first home league game, entertaining West Ham, is on the 23rd - the day of the final. Presuming Brazil reach that, there is then a five day gap before the potentially crucial UEFA Cup 2nd leg.

So, presuming Brazil do as well as they ought to, and play the whole length of the tournament, Jo will miss: the two glamour friendlies, the UEFA Cup Second Qualifying Round 1st leg, and the first two league games! If we can get him back for the UEFA Cup Second Qualifying Round 2nd leg we will have done well. How frustrating! Hughes (and Cook) may have to take action on this - thousands of City fans certainly will be hoping that they do. But in one of his first interviews at the club, Hughes made comments on the issue of club/country disputes, telling the official website:

"International football is important to the individuals involved ... But from the club manager's point of view, you are selfish on occasions, you'd prefer that they limit their commitments sometimes and come back fit and well, but that's not always an easy task."


So maybe we haven't heard the last of this yet.

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