Football 17/18

[eFestivals]

wow - Spanish FA playing hardball, and refused to accept the PSG cheque.

They're really feckin' worried that their time as europe's leading league (for the best players, anyway) is at and end, clearly.

[jyoung]

From what I've read, they don't have much choice. Agree that they're shaking in their boots a bit though.

[eFestivals]

4 minutes ago, jyoung said:

From what I've read, they don't have much choice. Agree that they're shaking in their boots a bit though.

a lot.

They now have two mega players - old mega players, so soon none at all - one convicted of tax fraud and the other in court, with the 3rd one running away before its him.

It's over in Spain.

Edited August 3, 2017 by eFestivals

[The Nal]

3 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

a lot.

They now have two mega players - old mega players, so soon none at all - one convicted of tax fraud and the other in court, with the 3rd one running away before its him.

It's over in Spain.

Can't think of a player in the high profile bracket leaving Barca or Madrid willingly in modern times? ie have left rather than being sold.

Could be wrong though.

But yeah, huge blow for Barca. Messi, Suarez and Iniesta all 30+ now.

And this, http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2725161-how-are-cristiano-ronaldo-and-lionel-messi-staying-out-of-jail

[CRW5252]

6 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

a lot.

They now have two mega players - old mega players, so soon none at all - one convicted of tax fraud and the other in court, with the 3rd one running away before its him.

It's over in Spain.

How many players in the world do you class as 'mega'? The league will be fine.

[eFestivals]

Just now, CRW5252 said:

How many players in the world do you class as 'mega'? The league will be fine.

Isn't there just the three?

There's a few others who are close, but they're a definite step down, and equalled by players in other leagues.

I don't doubt the league will be fine, but the status of that league is hugely diminished without players of that stature.

[Hugh Jass]

There's no way that this ends other than with Neymar at PSG and the La Liga suits looking very, very foolish.

[TheGayTent]

9 minutes ago, The Nal said:

Can't think of a player in the high profile bracket leaving Barca or Madrid willingly in modern times? ie have left rather than being sold.

Could be wrong though.

But yeah, huge blow for Barca. Messi, Suarez and Iniesta all 30+ now.

And this, http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2725161-how-are-cristiano-ronaldo-and-lionel-messi-staying-out-of-jail

Figo. 

Depends how old you are and what you define as modern I guess!

[Dan R]

2 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

Isn't there just the three?

There's a few others who are close, but they're a definite step down, and equalled by players in other leagues.

I don't doubt the league will be fine, but the status of that league is hugely diminished without players of that stature.

I'd class Suarez as that stature as well, though he's over 30 now as well. Neymar was clearly going to be one of the La Liga stars for the next few years but considering Real Madrid have won 3 of the past 4 champions leagues I'd say they're safe in being a mega draw for a while.

[Hugh Jass]

All major clubs and leagues have peaks and troughs in terms of dominance. Twenty/thirty years ago the Italian clubs dominated Europe the way the Spanish clubs have been recently, there was a brief spell in the mid-00's where English clubs were dominant in Europe, before Barcelona and Spain emerged as the dominant force in football.

Barca haven't been the force they were for a good couple of years now, maybe £200m's worth of reinvestment is what they need.

[jyoung]

https://www.premierleague.com/news/444152

https://www.premierleague.com/news/442920

https://www.premierleague.com/news/444377

Couple of bits and pieces. New names / numbers, diving bans and the loss of fancy pitches.

[Hugh Jass]

3 minutes ago, jyoung said:

https://www.premierleague.com/news/444152

https://www.premierleague.com/news/442920

https://www.premierleague.com/news/444377

Couple of bits and pieces. New names / numbers, diving bans and the loss of fancy pitches.

I've been saying for years that the biggest issues facing the Premier League are creative groundsmen and the font on players' shirts.

Glad they've sorted them out at last.

[jyoung]

Just now, Hugh Jass said:

I've been saying for years that the biggest issues facing the Premier League are creative groundsmen and the font on players' shirts.

Glad they've sorted them out at last.

I agree, mate. For me personally, these changes up there with the most exciting, highly anticipated addition in recent years. Everybody remembers where they were the first time THIS happened...

 

[Hugh Jass]

1 minute ago, jyoung said:

I agree, mate. For me personally, these changes up there with the most exciting, highly anticipated addition in recent years. Everybody remembers where they were the first time THIS happened...

 

That spray has made a genuine difference to the game. And it never fails to amuse when a player gets arsey because the ref has sprayed some on his boots.

[jyoung]

4 minutes ago, Hugh Jass said:

That spray has made a genuine difference to the game. And it never fails to amuse when a player gets arsey because the ref has sprayed some on his boots.

 

[TheGayTent]

The kick off change was really important too

[pink_triangle]

6 hours ago, The Nal said:

I like Lamps on the telly. Nice to listen to someone whos actually won things sitting beside Gerrard on the panel. Rio was getting lonely propping it up. 

My problem with Gerrard is he is a shit pundit more than his medal cabinet!

[Wooderson]

Lols at Utd fans continued obsession with Gerrard. 

[pink_triangle]

I love football, I think I'm generally an equal opportunity person. However I just can't be bothered watching woman's football on to. Does that make me a bad person ?

[Comfy Bean]

4 hours ago, pink_triangle said:

My problem with Gerrard is he is a shit pundit more than his medal cabinet!

Agreed. Liking the work of Mcmanaman as co commentator.

[lost]

Story in the Spanish press suggesting as the player pays his own buyout clause. Neymar is being paid £200m to be Quatar's ambassador at the world cup so this transfer would not affect PSG under the financial fair play rules.

[Dan R]

49 minutes ago, lost said:

Story in the Spanish press suggesting as the player pays his own buyout clause. Neymar is being paid £200m to be Quatar's ambassador at the world cup so this transfer would not affect PSG under the financial fair play rules.

Think they could still be caught out in some way. A few years ago they were sanctioned for receiving a sponsorship deal by Qatar which was deemed to to be incorrectly valued. They'll have taken it into consideration though, which essentially just makes the money involved even more ridiculous.

[lost]

9 minutes ago, Dan R said:

Think they could still be caught out in some way. A few years ago they were sanctioned for receiving a sponsorship deal by Qatar which was deemed to to be incorrectly valued. They'll have taken it into consideration though, which essentially just makes the money involved even more ridiculous.

Its going to be really difficult though as under the Spanish FA rules the player buys himself out of his contract. He's then effectively a free transfer and can go where he wants. In the sponsorship deal, money was going to PSG, though in this case PSG isn't effectively involved until the player joins for free. If its correct i'm not sure what they can do? 

[TheGayTent]

Bit rich of Barcelona to be up in arms about dodgy Qatari money....?

[guypjfreak]

The money in the football has got out of control.. 80p a second is disgusting no one is worth that.

. It's wrong and I'm glad I stopped watching it a few years ago.. I hope football implodes under its own greed..