Gassin's finest
C'est diabolique
- May 12, 2010
- 40,176
- 96,382
It's about as sustainable as that mad city that's just a 20 mile long line or something. Just further insanity brought on by limitless wealth.
Saudi League chat.
- Thread starter McFlash
- Start date
Yiddo100
Well-Known Member
- Jan 16, 2019
- 10,982
- 55,392
I’ve never watched any of it and have no idea how good the Saudi players are but as the foreign players go he probably has one of the poorer squads, Al Hilal probably the strongest.
Bluto Blutarsky
Well-Known Member
- Mar 4, 2021
- 19,394
- 86,579
Nunu managed the winning team last season.
agrdavidsfan
Ledley's Knee!
- Aug 25, 2005
- 10,918
- 13,352
Apparently, Jota is already leaving
Marty
Audere est farce
- Mar 10, 2005
- 42,276
- 71,216
Saudis probably realised they signed the wrong Jota
agrdavidsfan
Ledley's Knee!
- Aug 25, 2005
- 10,918
- 13,352
neogenisis
*Gensy*
- Jun 27, 2006
- 6,120
- 13,941
Mitrovich/Laporte going and United are in talks to sell Varane, shit is getting real.
TheChosenOne
A dislike or neg rep = fat fingers
- Dec 13, 2005
- 49,025
- 52,191
The BBC are showing fixtures and resuls from the SA league.
.
.
Happyhammy
Well-Known Member
- Jul 2, 2019
- 162
- 540
Jorge Mendes at work again? This is the last window before the new agent fee caps come in.
robotsonic
Well-Known Member
- Aug 20, 2013
- 3,038
- 13,502
More ageing players...
kev1nxxx
Well-Known Member
- Jan 27, 2013
- 284
- 657
BREAKING: The Saudi Arabian football association is
Tucker
Shitehawk
- Jul 15, 2013
- 34,238
- 159,444
Dashy
Well-Known Member
- Aug 27, 2013
- 150
- 764
I always wondered what happened to Jan Mølby.
Dirty Ewok
Well-Known Member
- Aug 29, 2012
- 9,436
- 20,507
Sounds like Nuno and Benzema may not be getting along.
Nuno reportedly told board Benzema doesn't fit his style of play. Also reports that Benzema requested to be captain and that annoyed Nuno.
So, guess Nuno is likely to get fired.
Must be trying to set himself up for a gig when the first PL manager gets fired.
Nuno reportedly told board Benzema doesn't fit his style of play. Also reports that Benzema requested to be captain and that annoyed Nuno.
So, guess Nuno is likely to get fired.
Must be trying to set himself up for a gig when the first PL manager gets fired.
Timberwolf
Well-Known Member
- Jan 17, 2008
- 10,328
- 50,217
(Posted this in the Veiga thread but also here since it's much more relevant)
For the international or FIFA-obsessed young football fan that cares more about individual players than teams or football culture they'll happily switch to the Saudi league without too much thought.
They're clearly going all in on the recruitment and no-one can compete with them in that area so I think it will live or die by the lifestyle and overall product.
Was listening to a podcast the other day and apparently the games are all played in obscene heat and the attendances are largely pretty pathetic (half full 30k stadium for Jordan Henderson's debut at 35+ degrees).
The real test will be in a year or two when the novelty wears off for the first wave of players that have gone there. Do they all start coming back to Europe after 1 or 2 seasons of tax-free millions? Do they complain about the conditions, lack of fan culture and lifestyle? Or do they re-sign and just ride the Saudi money train for the remainder of their careers?
Right now we're only seeing the appeal of the money, but it's hard to sustain a league or generate long term excitement if players are only willing to sign short-term deals and/or start complaining about the league and leaving Saudi clubs at the first opportunity.
And if that starts to happen what do the Saudi clubs do in response? Start only offering longer deals and refusing to let players leave? Then players start to get wary of signing for them as they don't want to get trapped in Saudi for 4-5 years...
It gets complicated.
For the international or FIFA-obsessed young football fan that cares more about individual players than teams or football culture they'll happily switch to the Saudi league without too much thought.
They're clearly going all in on the recruitment and no-one can compete with them in that area so I think it will live or die by the lifestyle and overall product.
Was listening to a podcast the other day and apparently the games are all played in obscene heat and the attendances are largely pretty pathetic (half full 30k stadium for Jordan Henderson's debut at 35+ degrees).
The real test will be in a year or two when the novelty wears off for the first wave of players that have gone there. Do they all start coming back to Europe after 1 or 2 seasons of tax-free millions? Do they complain about the conditions, lack of fan culture and lifestyle? Or do they re-sign and just ride the Saudi money train for the remainder of their careers?
Right now we're only seeing the appeal of the money, but it's hard to sustain a league or generate long term excitement if players are only willing to sign short-term deals and/or start complaining about the league and leaving Saudi clubs at the first opportunity.
And if that starts to happen what do the Saudi clubs do in response? Start only offering longer deals and refusing to let players leave? Then players start to get wary of signing for them as they don't want to get trapped in Saudi for 4-5 years...
It gets complicated.
ajspurs
Well-Known Member
- Jul 7, 2007
- 23,959
- 33,314
Still honestly can't see myself being greatly interested in a Saudi match for years and years, if that, and not until the individual clubs form some sort of identity. As of now I just think of players 'going to Saudi', I see the club mentioned and forget it 5 seconds later. I may watch clips/highlights of games to see what certain individuals may do (like Messi in the MLS) but never a full match.
Would rather watch a Championship match and I can't see that changing any time soon.
Would rather watch a Championship match and I can't see that changing any time soon.
KILLA_SIN
Well-Known Member
- May 24, 2008
- 8,406
- 15,499
Prob will interest a lot of people in Asia/ME/Africa
Tucker
Shitehawk
- Jul 15, 2013
- 34,238
- 159,444
Do any of these kids actually watch football though? I know that sounds like a silly question, but my gut says that they’re more than likely completely absorbed by FUT and so don’t really care about where a player is playing, so long as they get them in a pack.
Can‘t see them sitting down of an evening to watch Al Hillal vs Al Mu’ray.
Japhet
Well-Known Member
- Aug 30, 2010
- 19,626
- 58,912
They want to get into UEFA competitions but surely they have zero chance of complying with the ludicrous salaries they pay and no sustainable income. The only way is if FFP gets scrapped altogether and UEFA take a massive bung.
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