From an Everton point of view I think there is more noise because it effects our whole midfield. Last year it only effected Doucoure who was crap anyway.
That doesn't tally with the Doucoure story from last season where he needed to be informed by the ref that sunset had arrived, at which time he ran over to the touchline next break in play to guzzle a load of water.
Yes, but did you train like a professional athlete and play intense games of football during it?
What do you think all the nutritionist's and sport scientists are there for. It will be managed, just like it always has been since the beginning of Muslims doing sport.
No, but even with my lack of anywhere near that level of physical fitness, I felt no ill effect.
That's my point. If you were subject to that level of activity you'd have had a different experience.
Yes Dave I am saying that, I think it has been proven over and over again, season after season with every Muslim athlete who is devout on the planet.
Science says it has its effect. Doesn't really matter what the anecdotal evidence says...which is laced through with subjectivity.
neither of us are qualified enough to make this call but I have season upon season of evidence that Muslim players play fine through Ramadan.
I think there's a lot of cultural claptrap involved in such pronouncements from players. They're hardly likely to say their performances have suffered from it, and others aren't likely to question that for fear of being seen to pass judgement on a religious issue.
But this is not a new thing, it's been going on for years and years and years. If a manager thought a players energy levels aren't what th3ey should be, they wouldn't play them. As it is there are probably thousands of Muslim athletes who carry on during Ramadan.
The novelty is that it's our ENTIRE starting centre midfield that's impacted.
