The College Dropout

There’s already non-European teams playing in UEFA competition. I don’t think Saudi will want to compete in the champions league though. They can host their own competition(s) where KSA take all the money and not UEFA.

No… because like you said, they have another footballing priority. Doesn’t mean that won’t try and do all they can. But NUFC has a limit.

If I’m Mbappe, I’m asking for 1.1bn for a year.

And UEFA would have done it to themselves. I think PIF would’ve been happy to do the Man City/PSG thing but they’ve been forced to pursue multiple strategies and simply go around UEFA.

My thoughts are less-so about Mbappe. There will come a critical mass moment but it will require Saudi keeping this up for a decade. I don’t think Mbappe joins them. But if Saudi keep chipping away at it. Fill the league with ASM and Neves quality of players. Then suddenly Diaby takes the offer. The Fulham manager takes the job. The next Mbappe joins. Then the world has to respect the teams. Then they can start their own International Super League to run alongside European leagues. A super league is inevitable. But it doesn’t have to be European. Or European only. Much like what they’re doing with us. This could be a decade(s) long project.

Yeh Europeans aren't the be-all and end-all of football. And I really do think they could create their own international club competition with European teams. That will attract European viewers to the SA league as those clubs will be relevant.

I agree. That's why I said "net positive", it's not binary. Higher competition for us - is simply not a good thing. Another powerful league taking players is not good for Premier League clubs. I agree they are doing all they can with us. But their own league has the most potential to achieve their goals. They can rewrite the rules of football rather than follow what Europeans have decided and agreed, which fundamentally limits what SA can do.

But he's old and passed his best. These clubs can't compete with SA anyway. The UAE just won the Champions League. Qatar has had the 3 best players in the world (at a point) playing for them.

They don't need too. They could create their own international club competition. Invite clubs from all around the world. ESL 12 or whatever from Europe. 4 From SA. 2 From South America. 2 from elsewhere. Whatever. But they can do their own thing like Golf. There's no reason the "UEFA Champions League" has to be the default premier club competition in the world. It's just that Europe has had all the money.

Mbappe going to Saudi would fundamentally change football in Europe. I think international recognition is one thing that holds back SA league. As in, players in that division will be overlooked for their national teams - particularly some of the older players and the players on the cusp. That's a big reason Diaby joined Villa - he'll not play for France while in the SA league. But Mbappe joining? It changes so much. As you say, what stops Saudi from creating an international Champions League? I don't think it's a net positive for us. We become irrelevant if the SA league becomes relevant.

Interesting one Zaha. He must be at the ‘I want a new challenge’ stage of his career. He’s stated before he wants to win trophies and seemingly wants to play in the champions league. And seemingly he’ll do that by any means necessary. If I were him or his agent. I would be on the phone to Arteta, Howe and co. and offering my services for £80k p/w. But I think he’s too used to being a big fish mentally and in his play style. Palace aren’t overly reliant on him anymore.

You sell a popular player on FM you’ll get a message saying fans are angry and upset at the direction of the club. It’s typical fandom. It’s fine to *think* it won’t work. As you say time will tell. I’ve stated multiple times I’ve never rated Gordon based on what I’ve seen and most meaningful statistics. But I’ve never said ‘he’s going to be a failure and this is an awful transfer’. I’ve said I hope he succeeds, he does have some great attributes that he can develop. But I’ll still get multiple messages in that vain above.

I agree the ‘well the club is run by professionals so shut the fuck up’ style posts are weak and annoying. The ‘I trust the club and its decisions’ lane is fine and valid. But it’s annoying when used to silence others. The club WILL get transfers wrong. Eventually it might get a manager wrong too. They are not above question or scepticism.

Aye. But can anyone fully assess the impact of his injury at this stage? Chelsea bought Fofana just after an ACL (correction fibula fracture). He’s had another massive injury again. Wilson did his other ACL after injuring his first and is generally injury prone too. Again I’m a massive fan of the lad. Enjoyed him at Southampton. Baller. But anything over £35m is surely mad.

I’m a big fan of the lad. Don’t think he’s done ‘absolutely nowt’ but the fee and the injury is mad. £110m+ for 3 English players without a single England cap is mad. Although I think Tino has the highest ceiling of the 3 and he would have the lowest cost.

@Milanistahow would you compare Tonali to Barella?

as if we’re the only club in the world who tries to do business quietly. All parties must want quiet business for that to happen.

Might help them with FFP. A loan with an obligation to buy next year for say £20m.

Let’s use stats in the correct context. He played 23 minutes or more 6 times in the league. 1 of which was a dead rubber. In contrast he played for 10 minutes or less in 16 of his 22 appearances in the leagues. Comtrast to Garnacho. Who didn’t make a single appearance in the first 15 GWs. Once he starts getting minutes, consistently gets 20+ when fit. He’s getting enough minutes to develop and is clearly being given a pathway to be a proper member of the first team.

I’m not talking about my opinion on the lad. I’m looking at Howe’s past decisions, current decisions to predict his future decisions. Anderson was the footballing equivalent of the 6th/7th man in our midfield but instead of using him, Howe chose to stick with what was already out there. He didn’t trust him or consider him ready for real responsibility. 20% of his PL minutes came in a dead rubber. Another 20% came with an injury crisis. For his own development he needs real minutes. I don’t see Howe giving him the minutes he needs unless Howe says otherwise.

Aye at the age of 18. The next season at the age of 19, for a team challenging for the title he got almost 2,000 minutes. The equivalent of 21 full games. With over half of those coming in the premier league. From the age of 19, when fit, Jones has been a proper member of that squad. Relied on to perform.

That’s your understanding. I think Howe simply didn’t think he had a choice but to run our lads into the ground. He said himself Joelinton and Bruno played through injury and knocks often. If Howe thought Anderson was ready, he would get proper minutes. Even when he didn’t start, Howe would give ASM solid minutes. And the other starter was a bad performance away from ASM coming in. That wasn’t the case in midfield.

Like Curtis Jones actually gets minutes for Liverpool. He’s a proper member of the squad.

500 minutes is inconsequential. It’s not enough for his development. It’s the equivalent of 5.5 full games. If Howe was willing to give him solid minutes I would be delighted. But he’s not. You don’t develop youth by having them sit on the bench for seasons on end. They either get minutes at the club like Garnacho or you loan them out to get minutes elsewhere like Amad Diallo.

Why should I consider Dummett playing for Newcastle when Howe doesn’t?