Deuce Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 3 minutes ago, wormy said: You would. I am a shit gambler to be fair. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 Spurs selling Sanchez to Spartak seemingly. Seems a bit on the nose after taking advantage of the can fuck off for free rule to get Solomon from Shakhtar. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astroblack Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 Is the Saudi league even on TV? I’ve never come across it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menace Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 32 minutes ago, Deuce said: I’d still put my money on MLS being the biggest long-term competitor to the European leagues. I wonder why Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaKa Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 (edited) Players that go to Saudi aren't just going to come back after a couple of seasons. They are all going to be earning more than any Euro club will be willing to pay them. When the summer hols come around and all these players are hanging out together and they get to bragging about how much they earn etc, the pull will only get stronger for those that aren't there already. People are going to watch it too. As more players folks are familiar with move there and the teams get better, they will tune in. A few viral clips of ASM, Firmino and Mahrez linking up for example and enough people will give it a look in. Edited July 25, 2023 by KaKa Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbandit Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 Just now, KaKa said: Players that go to Saudi aren't just going to come back after a couple of seasons. They are all going to be earning more than any Euro club will be willing to pay them. When the summer hols come around and all these players are hanging out together and they get to bragging about how much they earn etc, the pull will only get stronger for those that aren't there already. People are going to watch it too. As more players folks are familiar with move there and the teams get better, they will tune in. A few viral clips of ASM, Firmino and Mahrez linking up for example and enough people will tune in. If SA is in for the long game sure, they have to build all the infrastructure around it, not just bring in huge names. On top of that, you have to rely on footballers accepting SA as a place to live and to buy in to the way of life there. There’s a lot that needs to go together but it’s not out of the question Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimbo Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 I'm becoming increasingly convinced this is part of a Saudi plan to make themselves the main driver of a super league. I don't see how their domestic league can become a success like this in the medium to long term. The goal eventually has to be commercial viability, but the money being thrown about has no chance of ever being that. PIF isn't just going to flush billions down the toilet year after year. When the league starts to become successful are they going to start offering less money? That seems unlikely. The money only makes sense in the context of a super league. They'll build the profile of their chosen clubs, build relationships with the top players, and build relationships with the ESL clubs by taking their deadwood and shoveling money into their pockets, then in 2-3 years they will make their move. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaKa Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 4 minutes ago, gbandit said: If SA is in for the long game sure, they have to build all the infrastructure around it, not just bring in huge names. On top of that, you have to rely on footballers accepting SA as a place to live and to buy in to the way of life there. There’s a lot that needs to go together but it’s not out of the question Look at the players they are signing this summer. It's not just big names. As far as living over there goes they will be putting these players up in the most lavish and luxurious accomodations, which they are already known for. The lifestyle will probably be just as big an attraction for some. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Prophet Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 Sounds far from ideal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbandit Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 2 minutes ago, KaKa said: Look at the players they are signing this summer. It's not just big names. As far as living over there goes they will be putting these players up in the most lavish and luxurious accomodations, which they are already known for. The lifestyle will probably be just as big an attraction for some. Like I say, I’m someone who can definitely see it happening but there are a lot of things at play here: Even if they bring over a ton of quality players, there’ll still be a significant number of poor players on every team. That’s going to be extremely frustrating and demotivating for elite footballers. Equally, the sums of money involved are so high that people could easily just stop caring about football, especially when it’s about winning a league that doesn’t have major fans etc. The coaching, managers, academies, fitness teams and all that infrastructure has to go there too. That’s clearly possible with the money going round but will take time. Will footballers want to live in a culture where they can’t hit up strip clubs, get pissed all the time, gamble? Will their partners want to bring their children up there? Potentially footballers and their partners will be fine with that but who knows. The only way spending this sort of money makes sense is if they have a long-term plan to either build a world-beating league or to front a super league of elite clubs like Kimbo says. They have to go all in to make that happen. Let’s talk about where things are at in 12 months. If they keep building at the pace they are right now, it’ll look a lot more convincing Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubaricho Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 Re: Saudi, when these players stop getting picked for their national teams their ears will perk back up towards Europe. I realize they’re getting minted over there, living in luxury, etc. But it’s going to feel a long long way from home either way and they’re going to start to feel very disconnected from it all. And when those national team calls stop coming it’ll be a wake up call. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 (edited) 22 minutes ago, Menace said: I wonder why I’m not even an MLS fanboy, but the league is on the right path. Steady growth, financially stable, state-of-the-art facilities. Already attracting top South American talent with higher wages (or at least, guarantees that they’ll be paid on time ) than Argentinian or Brazilian clubs can offer. For most European players, prospect of living and playing in the U.S. is a far easier sell than Saudi Arabia, China, etc. It’s not anything imminent, but 20 years from now I’d not be surprised if MLS were competing for the Tonalis and Isaks in their prime. Edited July 25, 2023 by Deuce Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wormy Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 33 minutes ago, Deuce said: I am a shit gambler to be fair. I knew there must be a reason I liked you. A man after my own heart. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxst Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 32 minutes ago, Disco said: Spurs selling Sanchez to Spartak seemingly. Seems a bit on the nose after taking advantage of the can fuck off for free rule to get Solomon from Shakhtar. Western clubs allowed to trade with Russia? Genuine question- haven’t a clue who owns what and level of sanctions etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 I wonder who Spurs will Target if Kane Goes ? A Spurs fan I know says it could be Wilson. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toon25 Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 There's no way the MLS will ever rival Europe. For a multitude of factors - not least travel times between games/times zones and the fact there are so many other sports vying for air time and competition. SA will doubtless be building infrastructure as we speak on pretty much a blank canvas. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 3 minutes ago, Ben said: I wonder who Spurs will Target if Kane Goes ? A Spurs fan I know says it could be Wilson. I would just give it Richarlison down the middle. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astroblack Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 5 minutes ago, Ben said: I wonder who Spurs will Target if Kane Goes ? A Spurs fan I know says it could be Wilson. Think Toney would be their best bet no pun intended. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 11 minutes ago, Manxst said: Western clubs allowed to trade with Russia? Genuine question- haven’t a clue who owns what and level of sanctions etc. Seemingly so. Spartak are owned by Lukoil who are sanctioned, I think, like so seems a bit off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 On 24/07/2023 at 12:30, Whitley mag said: Jesper Lindstrom to Juventus potentially, looks a player and would undoubtedly have upgraded our right side. Feck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxst Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 7 minutes ago, Ben said: I wonder who Spurs will Target if Kane Goes ? A Spurs fan I know says it could be Wilson. Vlahovic? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
astraguy Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 wolves would be fucked in any other season,but i cant see any of the 3 who come up stying up Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astroblack Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 17 minutes ago, Deuce said: I’m not even an MLS fanboy, but the league is on the right path. Steady growth, financially stable, state-of-the-art facilities. Already attracting top South American talent with higher wages (or at least, guarantees that they’ll be paid on time ) than Argentinian or Brazilian clubs can offer. For most European players, prospect of living and playing in the U.S. is a far easier sell than Saudi Arabia, China, etc. It’s not anything imminent, but 20 years from now I’d not be surprised if MLS were competing for the Tonalis and Isaks in their prime. Think a good way for the MLS to accelerate growth would have been to put it on regular TV. It’s even harder to access now that it’s on Apple TV. Was watching an AFTV program yesterday with some British ex pats and they were saying how the PL is such a “smash hit”. It just made think about how small the MLS really is. Any good player produced by the MLS will be snapped by Europe ie Alphonso Davies, Dempsey, even Miggy. Hold outs like Landon Donovan will be seen as players who never fulfilled their potential. The MLS is that thing you feel like you should be watching but never get around to. I have a bunch of friends I went to high school with who weren’t into soccer 15 years ago but now they’re Liverpool fans or Chelsea fans. It’s like basketball in England. No one supports the Dairylea Dunkers. They support NBA teams. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 15 minutes ago, toon25 said: There's no way the MLS will ever rival Europe. For a multitude of factors - not least travel times between games/times zones and the fact there are so many other sports vying for air time and competition. SA will doubtless be building infrastructure as we speak on pretty much a blank canvas. Don’t most English clubs bus their squads several hours across the country for matches? We have planes here that accomplish the same. not to mention that Europe-based players already have to travel across the continent for UEFA competitions. Doubtful MLS will ever be the pre-eminent sports league in the U.S., but it’s a massive sports market with a lot of space. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubaricho Posted July 25, 2023 Share Posted July 25, 2023 I think the one thing that hamstrings the MLS a bit, when it comes to viewership and less when it comes to attendance, is the time of day/night the matches are on. Are people really going to put aside time on a Saturday night at 7 or 8pm to watch a match after having watched two, maybe three PL matches already that day? Nah. The only time I ever see MLS is on a bar TV when I’m out that night doing my normal Saturday night things. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now