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Saudi League chat.

Gassin's finest

C'est diabolique
May 12, 2010
40,024
95,694
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.
 

Yiddo100

Well-Known Member
Jan 16, 2019
10,933
55,256
Who’s got the best team is it Gerard’s?
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.
 

Flynn

SC Supporter
Sep 2, 2004
2,625
7,013
If no one give it oxygen it'll die. sure Ronaldo fanboys will do their best but we can't let them win.
 

TheChosenOne

A dislike or neg rep = fat fingers
Dec 13, 2005
48,958
51,911
The BBC are showing fixtures and resuls from the SA league.
.
E90E5B98-F37E-48A1-B145-294188DA440A.jpeg
 

Dirty Ewok

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2012
9,397
20,322
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.
 

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.
 

ajspurs

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2007
23,893
33,171
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.
 

KILLA_SIN

Well-Known Member
May 24, 2008
8,406
15,499
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.
Prob will interest a lot of people in Asia/ME/Africa
 

Tucker

Shitehawk
Jul 15, 2013
34,008
158,409
(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.
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
19,585
58,783
(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.

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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