Aymeric Laporte

[Ron Burgundy]

Is FFP not going to start to play a part in some way here? How can it be allowed where hundreds of millions are being spent on these players but the clubs are not generating much revenue, or have I missed something?

FFP only applies to teams that FIFA want it to, seemingly. What a joke

 

[Tucker]

FFP only applies to teams that FIFA want it to, seemingly. What a joke

FIFA don’t administer ffp and it has nothing to do with them.

 

[Snuzzy]

Heading to Saudi league according to Ornstein.

Breaking: football.

 

[funkycoldmedina]

Bullshit. It’s only the four teams that the Saudi regime own that can afford so many big transfers. The rest of the league will still be shit.

Is that what it's going to be? 4 mega teams and however many others filled with local players? Sounds awesome.

 

[Yiddo1982]

I can see some version of the Saudi League ending up in the new Champions League or a replacement Super League within a few years.

 

[olliec]

To be honest if things keep going the way they are with the Saudi league it will end up becoming the super league. How can this be stopped? Laporte is a player we could really use.

 

[brisbanespur]

At some point even multi billionaires will want a return on their investment . I would not be surprised to see them asking to be a guest country inclusion to the champions league, just like they let the aussies into the Eurovision

Edit: sorry just saw Yiddo1982 has just said the same thing, 2 visionary posts on 1 page, why would go anywhere else for your football fortune telling

 

[neogenisis]

I can see some version of the Saudi League ending up in the new Champions League or a replacement Super League within a few years.

I read/heard somewhere that people inside the game think eventually FIFA/UEFA will need to bring them onboard like a LIV Golf type thing. I cant remember the exact story, but thats the jist.

 

[Yiddo1982]

At some point even multi billionaires will want a return on their investment . I would not be surprised to see them asking to be a guest country inclusion to the champions league, just like they let the aussies into the Eurovision

Edit: sorry just saw Yiddo1982 has just said the same thing, 2 visionary posts on 1 page, why would go anywhere else for your football fortune telling

 

[bigfrooj]

I'd love to see the premier League in its current form collapse and go back to being a competitive sporting competition. Sadly, I don't think it will happen.

Blimey that’d be a hell of a shock to lots of people on here. I loved the football in the eighties as basic as the whole experience was.

 

[KingNick]

At some point even multi billionaires will want a return on their investment . I would not be surprised to see them asking to be a guest country inclusion to the champions league, just like they let the aussies into the Eurovision

Edit: sorry just saw Yiddo1982 has just said the same thing, 2 visionary posts on 1 page, why would go anywhere else for your football fortune telling

The Saudis are definitely not putting money in securing these players as a direct investment opportunity. I thought that was widely appreciated.

 

[mil1lion]

I got alot of stick for saying that Levy have put ut in a shitty situation because of his attemt to block Saudi affairs betweend PL clubs, but now all the other clubs will be able to offload and we will still be stuck with Dier, Ndombele, Sanchez and all the other guys...

You do know they tried to get Son so your theory is floored

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

If anyone remembers the 90s, top players from abroad generally didn't come to the premiership. Even United at the time struggled to sign the superstars from the best teams.

So what changed? Well money and fame. Chelsea came along and splashed out on some big names (pre abramovic), then City started it, United more and more, then players like Makelele, Aguero etc started coming.

It was the money that brought the players to the PL first and foremost and then the league became more popular. More signings = more popularity

Most fans watch football for the players, even us. Ask me what I remember about the 90s and I'll tell you about Ginola, Sheringham, Klinsmann, Lineker, Gascoigne etc...

If you're an armchair fan, you want to see Benzema, Ronaldo, Neymar. Now they're all available in one league.

Sky will be trying to (or already have) the TV rights for the Arabian league. It will become popular, just now think about it....

You're on your sofa and two matches are on, AL Nassar vs AL Hilal is on and you know all the players and Ronaldo etc are playing.... or it's Brigton vs Burnley, which do you watch?

It will take a couple of years, but it could eventually compete with the PL and then all we need is a cup that includes SA teams.

It's all about the money. Wouldn't be surprised if pl clubs start doing pre/post season in Saudi Arabia as well.

Laporte is another example, play for a top 8 English side or recieve double the wages and play in Arabia? Easy decision to make.

 

[neogenisis]

If anyone remembers the 90s, top players from abroad generally didn't come to the premiership. Even United at the time struggled to sign the superstars from the best teams.

So what changed? Well money and fame. Chelsea came along and splashed out on some big names (pre abramovic), then City started it, United more and more, then players like Makelele, Aguero etc started coming.

It was the money that brought the players to the PL first and foremost and then the league became more popular. More signings = more popularity

Most fans watch football for the players, even us. Ask me what I remember about the 90s and I'll tell you about Ginola, Sheringham, Klinsmann, Lineker, Gascoigne etc...

If you're an armchair fan, you want to see Benzema, Ronaldo, Neymar. Now they're all available in one league.

Sky will be trying to (or already have) the TV rights for the Arabian league. It will become popular, just now think about it....

You're on your sofa and two matches are on, AL Nassar vs AL Hilal is on and you know all the players and Ronaldo etc are playing.... or it's Brigton vs Burnley, which do you watch?

It will take a couple of years, but it could eventually compete with the PL and then all we need is a cup that includes SA teams.

It's all about the money. Wouldn't be surprised if pl clubs start doing pre/post season in Saudi Arabia as well.

Laporte is another example, play for a top 8 English side or recieve double the wages and play in Arabia? Easy decision to make.

Honestly and I am not being a knob, but Im watching Brighton V Burnley, I couldn't have any less interest in the Arabian League, especially as the league will be just like the German, or French League where its just the same few teams competing.
You make good points, but I guess I grew up supporting the Club and not individual players, I had my heroes but as soon as they left the Club I didn't follow their careers at all.

 

[IfiHadTheWings]

The heat will be a factor in curbing the popularity of the league - the game yesterday with Henderson and Mane was played not far off a walking pace with 4 drinks breaks in the first half alone.

36 degrees at kick off and the humidity on the pitch was meant to be ridiculous.

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

Honestly and I am not being a knob, but Im watching Brighton V Burnley, I couldn't have any less interest in Arabian League, especially as the league will be just like the German, or French League where its just the same few teams competing.
You make good points, but I guess I grew up supporting the Club and not individual players, I had my heroes but as soon as they left the Club I didn't follow their careers as all.

It's more apparent in the other leagues but City are dominating the PL almost as much these days.

Infact, I think it's only Arsenal last year and Liverpool that have actually competed with City in the last 5 years?

 

[Timberwolf]

The mouthpiece for the league has said they will have a better league than the Premier League in 24 months.

People gave this funny ratings, but in terms of hoovering up talent it could well be the case.

In the space of about 3 months the Saudi League has signed more big names than there are now in Serie A, La Liga and the Bundesliga combined. Give it a year or two and they could be ahead of the PL and La Liga too.

The league itself may be shite to watch and a bit of a joke as a product, but in terms of big name talent it probably will be the best in the world within 2 years.

Not sure what the long term consequences are but I think this could really fuck up European football long term if they never stop throwing money at it and the players keep going there.

 

[KingNick]

Honestly and I am not being a knob, but Im watching Brighton V Burnley, I couldn't have any less interest in Arabian League, especially as the league will be just like the German, or French League where its just the same few teams competing.
You make good points, but I guess I grew up supporting the Club and not individual players, I had my heroes but as soon as they left the Club I didn't follow their careers as all.

Exactly. I don’t think Sky even achieved massive viewing figures for El Classico when it was Ronaldo v Messi.

 

[Dirty Ewok]

Now I look like a fool, thanks

Well, well, well..what do we have here....questioning my encyclopedic knowledge of the Saudi League, in the past <checks notes> 47 days of vaguely paying attention to the transfers of 4 teams I have clearly become the expert on this fine and historically significant league.


Quick...someone see if Al-Nassr will pay me for defending then.

 

[KILLA_SIN]

People gave this funny ratings, but in terms of hoovering up talent it could well be the case.

In the space of about 3 months the Saudi League has signed more big names than there are now in Serie A, La Liga and the Bundesliga combined. Give it a year or two and they could be ahead of the PL and La Liga too.

The league itself may be shite to watch and a bit of a joke as a product, but in terms of big name talent it probably will be the best in the world within 2 years.

Not sure what the long term consequences are but I think this could really fuck up European football long term if they never stop throwing money at it and the players keep going there.

Super League in Europe and this time the fans will be in favour