Flip

Really seems like he's enjoying playing. Might sound funny, but looks like he has a new best friend in Neymar. For the past 18 months Neymar only looked for Messi and not the other way. Now both just look for each other. Pedro ran his socks off yesterday, but Messi kept only looking for Neymar. Was great seeing him give Neymar the penalty midweek, which shows hes back to his humble self after being a bit selfish and uninterested for 12-18 months IMO. Team is doing well, but that defense is like you say, still hugely insecure.

Barcelona have been amazing today.

messi 2-0. Barta did brilliant there.

What a ridiculous goal that would've been from Messi (who was onside as well). Him and Neymars counter attacks are better than Bales and CRonaldo at the moment.

is this a joke? Does it look like a joke?

2-2...

Much ignorance of pre-Chelsea Willian. ooooh 23 goals in 7 years in Ukraine and Russia, I was wrong. He's not a goal scorer though, it's like judging someone like Iniesta on goals. Willian plays further up the pitch, sure, but he also gives his team another dimension (or at least did). Now he just does what you are talking about for most part.

Much ignorance of pre-Chelsea Willian. Even the last game where he didn't have to play that covering role he was a decent threat. Wasn't as good as I have seen him before, but was a much improved performance over the ones he's had this season. Still has a lot to desire in the final third.

That's actually fair enough Baba and you are right in a way, but like I said while age is on his side I didn't think the fee was right and I did understand why he left Chelsea as he wasn't a striker ready to play for a team like them. I'm not saying he can't be one of the best because he does have talent, but I just think there's a lot left before he is the type of player that many and maybe himself seem to think he is already

He's good player and has had games where he's looked impressive games. Just thought he as a player isn't as good as some were making it out at the time (including you I think). He's nowhere near the complete player, but he has no doubt the talent to improve and the age on the right side. Think it's the same with Lucas at PSG. Has a lot of talent, went for a big fee but just doesn't impress me because they lack footballing-intelligence. I'm not writing him off, just thought at the time the fee was too big for him as I'm don't think he'll blossom into one of the best strikers in the world. Like I said I might be proven completely wrong in 2-3 years time, but as for now he's still just a talent in my opinion. Cost less than Willian though, who is a great player. Never called him great did I? Willian does have ten fold the intelligence on the pitch that Lukaku has though.

He's good player and has had games where he's looked impressive games. Just thought he as a player isn't as good as some were making it out at the time (including you I think). He's nowhere near the complete player, but he has no doubt the talent to improve and the age on the right side. Think it's the same with Lucas at PSG. Has a lot of talent, went for a big fee but just doesn't impress me because they lack footballing-intelligence. I'm not writing him off, just thought at the time the fee was too big for him as I'm don't think he'll blossom into one of the best strikers in the world. Like I said I might be proven completely wrong in 2-3 years time, but as for now he's still just a talent in my opinion.

Think you agreed with me back when the transfer happened and I thought it wasn't a shabby deal by Chelsea at all. I've never been super impressed by the kid despite his age. Has some very good games where he is unstoppable, but he's also very inconsistent and doesn't use his size the right way. Like you said, his link up play is pretty average/poor and that should be a fundamental part of his game.

You're the perfect human being man. Good for you.

Why is it unhealthy for footballers to seek out jobs that pay them more? Do you judge your coworkers when they leave your workplace for another company that pays more? Footballers are somehow supposed to be saints who care about the fans more than they care about themselves. To these guys, it's just another job. It's a ridiculously high paying job, but it's just a job. They will work for the highest and most comfortable payer. Same as everyone else in the economy. And yet people will judge them for doing this. The hypocrisy is unbelievable. I'm sure trophies and all are great, but for the majority of footballers who aren't that good, they won't ever win a trophy anyway. They play to sustain a good lifestyle. They play to earn so that their kids and grandkids have a comfortable life. Or so they can make sure their parents have a comfortable life. It's unbelievable that people judge footballers that want to move to a club that would pay them more. As if they wouldn't do it in a second in their normal jobs. There are many considerations to a job. Pay is one. Comfort is another. Working conditions is another. For footballers, the latter two are pretty much the same everywhere, right? It's just the pay that's difference. Fair play to the players that look out for themselves because if they didn't, the owners sure as hell wouldn't. You think Ashley would pay a single pound more than he actually has to? Oh Pip, I was agreeing with you. What I meant is that they could do the job of agents if they were educated enough and use solicitors to get contracts done and save themselves money and also not have deals falling through because of agent fees. I understand the need of their service because they maximize the players earnings in many ways just like a real estate agent will try and get sellers most money possible. Still doesn't make me think it's healthy for footballers not to get a move done down to agent fees or an agents opinion. Neymar would've gone to Real Madrid had it not been for his own will to play along Messi. His agent was trying to force him to Real Madrid because he has a better relationship with them having represented plenty of players who played there.

Was going to say Willian is having his first decent game this season and then he scores most probably the winner. Played centrally and did it well.

Mike Williamson is shit.

Might have been Neymar's worst performance for Barcelona. Hasn't succeeded with one dribble, one finish, isn't moving and missed a penalty. Back to Copa del Rey rather than Copa del Ney. Needs a rest.

GTFI

Aye. Unlucky. Huge from Messi nonetheless. Messi seems to be really getting along with Neymar.

Suarez has been unbelievably shit once again in front of goal. Missed three or four chances already .

Oh absolutely, but there's some problem with those options as they're not going to help players seek new clubs etc. Probably be healthier for footballers and football in general without agents, but they still do fulfill a role which in todays football is needed.

They earn their money. Of course, sometimes their advice doesn't pay off, but most of the time the players are still well rewarded financially. Players aren't like fans, most of them don't have a dog in this fight. They look after themselves and fair play to them. I imagine the average worker doesn't really care about their company. They care about it doing well when they're there, but if they leave? It's just another company, like the millions out there. The players feel the same way, IMO. Agents also handle stuff like contracts and negotiations which most players don't have a clue how to do. They also have contacts in the game that family members of players don't. Look at someone like Mendes who will move players to clubs where he's close to the owners. This is obviously to the benefit of the players because Mendes' influence allows him to get players higher wages. I don't understand the hate for agents. They're the best thing going for players. I don't see agents that act against their client's best interests regularly and without them, more of the profit in football would go to owners. I don't see why the system should be like that that. Anyway, the craziest thing about this deal is that it's a domestic deal. I don't understand why people in England pay so much to watch football on TV and why no other country is willing to pay the same? The difference is becoming an order of magnitude. Why do Dutch people don't want to pay to watch Ajax on TV? Why are they willing to pay so little? We're not even talking about foreign money. We're simply talking domestic, which is crazy. Pip, you're a staunch free market neoliberal, I'm unsurprised you support the role people like agents who are essentially a parasite making money for not really doing, creating or having any discernible talent themselves. Like I said, there's numerous people fulfilling jobs like this now who are making money out of nothing which apparently makes them commendable. You mention Mendes. Is he good? Is he good for footballers? He doesn't seem to have done much for Falcao's career or Hulk's career in recent years. Unless all that really matters is making 300k a week instead of 200k. I'm sure looking at the fees and wages involved for the players he's made himself a lot of dodgy Russian money in the process though. And this guy is supposed to be an example of a top agent. I dread to think about all the low end agents pushing their clients between various clubs to get their slice. As much as I hate to say it and despite agreeing with you regarding the parasite reference, Pips does have a point. Agents are there to give a service to players because they know the market, just like a real estate agent. Doesn't need to exist, but their expertise helps the seller or buyer get the best deal possible. I dislike agents just like you, but I do understand that for most of these uneducated footballers they need to exist or they'd not be getting their right share.

Already explained this; mad shagging. Happened to you few times then?

Pretty obvious isn't it? The betting man. People the world over are watching matches for free, not paying a penny in subscriptions. It's the gambling that's keeping it all going the way it is. And it's going to get worse. Are there many countries where subscription to watch PL football is free? I meant watching the games at pubs, and watching online. Pubs still probably pay a larger fee for subscription unless they only have one tv right? As for watching online it's illegal so I think with this amount of fee they might come harder on illegal streaming. We'll see. It's a crazy fee, but at the same time it's supply and demand. The attraction of PL has really grown a lot in South and Central America over the past few years and even in the US I imagine more people watch it than ever. Doubt betting has that big of an impact on the fee tbh. Obviously you might be right, but I think with national channels all over the world willing to pay for the rights to show them in their own countries I'm not sure the fee is impossible to turn-over based on selling parts of its rights. Anyways, CRAZY MONEY nonetheless

Pretty obvious isn't it? The betting man. People the world over are watching matches for free, not paying a penny in subscriptions. It's the gambling that's keeping it all going the way it is. And it's going to get worse. Are there many countries where subscription to watch PL football is free?