Village Idiot

Messi to announce his decision at 6pm Spanish time. He's now expected to stay.

Yeah, people cheering for a collapse of TV deals are nuts. TV money is a higher % of revenue for small clubs than it is for big clubs.

Source is highly questionable, mind. I'll wait until it's not just reported by the Spanish equivalent of the Daily Mail.

I think that's a bad situation for Barcelona, they really should try to get a substantial fee. A year is a long time. If he stays for the year I think there's a pretty small chance he leaves at all. Presidential elections next year too right? He can sign a deal with anybody in just 4 months. I don't think he'd stay past next season. Anyway, if this is his last season I hope they stick a filmmaking crew on him and release a documentary in 20 years. Last time a GOAT did it it worked a charm.

I think that's a bad situation for Barcelona, they really should try to get a substantial fee. There's no bids though. All news being reported is that nobody can afford him ffp-wise unless he goes on a free or there's some kind of swap involved.

Messi's dad admits that his son is now considering staying put this year and leaving on a free next season.

And we'll be going to the Championship. I don't like Everton but I can't knock their ambition. ambition is all well and good but they've married that to ridiculously stupid recruitment the amount of money they've spent on transfers and no doubt wages in the last few years for 0 actual benefit in finishing position is ludicrous They didn't have Ancelotti over those years. They'd shite managers, now they've addressed that. I hope it fails but they won't end up in the same catastrophic position that we're in which is probably relegation. Honestly, I remain skeptical that Ancelotti is a good fit for Everton.

You’re right. So he might well be the first (Kluivert did the reverse). Can’t say I’m too excited, but he started for the English champion so he’d sure be of help to us right now. But I foresee Liverpool taking us to the cleaners for another middling signing that will end up in our bench.

It would be the first former NUFC we employ since... Robson? I can't really think of an Ex-NUFC footballer then going to play for us.

Next year's Spanish Segunda B is going to be a blast in FM. 100 teams split among 10 groups, with a plan to transition to 40. I'm losing my sanity just reading about the promotion/relegation playoff structure.

Yeah, Dembele has loads of ability but can't stay healthy for more than 8 games straight. And there's still doubts about his professionalism.

They are not in a great position themselves. But Real Madrid will have a clear run for the title in the next 2-3 years, indeed.

Bielsa's doing one of those "sign players with the same name" FM challenges.

Koeman told him his influence and privileges with the team have stopped. So if Messi wins this battle, does that pretty much mean Koeman has lost both the Barcelona and Netherlands job? Did he sign the official contract with Barcelona? I don’t see how the president leaves? Him and his team have to pay off the clubs debt out of their own pocket should he resign now - can he effectively go on gardening leave and pave the way for a temporary government so to speak? I didn't know that the president and his team have to pay off the clubs debt if he resigns. But if he steps down next year, does that mean he is still accountable for the debts or he is excused as it is the end of the term? You basically have to leave the club in profit or at break even - if you have made a loss, then you have to pay that off out of your own pocket - these are the rules - which is the reason why Barca are in disarray - the President has nowhere to go Makes sense. But what happens next year then. Isn't there some election in Feb. Does the club have to break even by then? Surely that is not happening given the debts. If they manage to get cash for Messi plus getting his humongous contract off the books, that would probably go a long way to sort it out. They have insurance, mind, they wouldn't be ponying up the full amount themselves (we're talking millions of €). But they are not millionaires.

Koeman told him his influence and privileges with the team have stopped. So if Messi wins this battle, does that pretty much mean Koeman has lost both the Barcelona and Netherlands job? Did he sign the official contract with Barcelona? I don’t see how the president leaves? Him and his team have to pay off the clubs debt out of their own pocket should he resign now - can he effectively go on gardening leave and pave the way for a temporary government so to speak? I didn't know that the president and his team have to pay off the clubs debt if he resigns. But if he steps down next year, does that mean he is still accountable for the debts or he is excused as it is the end of the term? You basically have to leave the club in profit or at break even - if you have made a loss, then you have to pay that off out of your own pocket - these are the rules - which is the reason why Barca are in disarray - the President has nowhere to go Yeah, that's how it works. At the end of the board's tenure (whether they quit or they serve the full term) they have to pony up the difference if the club has lost money since they took over. Now, given Covid, that would be impossible, so the president needs the extra year to avoid bankrupting himself. The rule was put there to make the board manage the club responsibly, since they are not the clubs owners and thus not liable like a club owner would be. But it's probably too blunt.

Froggy will be happy to know that the Argie outlet that broke the Messi news now claims his dad (and rep) is in talks with ManU. I'm going back to the booze.

Good to hear that. He's always had a ton of athleticism and raw ability, but extremely poor decision making and awareness.

Yeah, he's called up a bunch of youngsters to have a look at them. Good move, even if I can't really see most of them having an impact in the coming years (have I missed Adama Traoré finally developing a football brain?)

For some reason I had it my mind Engonga was never called up. So second and third then.It should become more normal as the second and third generation immigrants (Spain didn't receive a sizable immigration from Africa until the 1990s) grow up. Brazilians we already had a few: Donato, Senna, Thiago... EDIT: Forgot about Iñaki Williams too. Disregard everything I said, I need coffee

Ansu Fati and Adama Traore called up for Spain (it's a list with lots of youngsters, Luís Enrique has always said he doesn't care for the League of Nations and will use it to try new players). They will be the first players of African ethnicity to play for Spain.

I'm pretty glum at the moment. We've wasted money on useless players, and the bank is dry. Our squad is old, and besides De Jong there just isn't much to build for the future. Honestly, I just want to look at us and think we are well run. If we are well run we'll eventually float back to the top.

Dude will be out of the club next year no matter what, since Barça presidents can only serve two terms. I don't know what he's trying to do, save his legacy? Too late for that.

He's one of the most beloved ex-players among Barça fans. The board is just trying the old "sign a club legend as coach" trick to appease the fanbase & local media. It will be a wasted year, and then the true rebuild will start when a new board is elected at the end of next season. Pity to have left Messi's late years to waste.

Probably could hold Bayern to less than 8...

So, about the situation brewing at Valencia. The local press is reporting that the club has told players it can't meet wage obligations for the upcoming season, and has offered the squad to pay them with promissory notes - which the players have refused unless they come guaranteed by the club ownership. Club sources say the deal they proposed the players was just to reduce the club's financing burden, and that players will get their money as normal. The club potentially faces relegation if wages are left unpaid.