2007/2008 European football thread

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

Fixed

Yawn

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Yawn

Well then show me when this will happen. What is the timeline to get this going? Who has already signed up for it? Is it a FIFA or UEFA competition? What will happen to the Champions League? How will domestic leagues be restructured? I want facts via links here not opinion. TIA.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

Well then show me when this will happen. What is the timeline to get this going? Who has already signed up for it? Is it a FIFA or UEFA competition? What will happen to the Champions League? How will domestic leagues be restructured? I want facts via links here not opinion. TIA.

Whatever dude you wanna be bitchy then whatever floats your boat.

[ukhotstove]

post #9 were is your FACT that Southend will go down without Freddy Eastwood ?

post #26 Where is your FACT that Curbishley has no clue when it comes to buying players ?

Seems like we can all post things without facts sheesh

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

post #9 were is your FACT that Southend will go down without Freddy Eastwood ?

Apologies for not being very clear. I was talking about them selling him in January where they could have cashed in on him. And if someone wants to show me that they had a better chance of staying up last season without him then have at it.

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

post #26 Where is your FACT that Curbishley has no clue when it comes to buying players ?

Seems like we can all post things without facts sheesh

If you want to argue that Craig Bellamy is the best you can buy for £7.5M and £70,000 p/w and that Lucas Neill is worth every penny of his £60,000 p/w then that's fine. I also disagree that Upson is really £6M. Boa Morte and perhaps Scott Parker (never got to see enough of him to know how good he is or not) are his better buys if a bit pricey. But then that's the climate right now when it comes to the transfer market.

I didn't mean to come across as stating fact but then I did say it was only my belief and it still is.

I still believe that Curbishley has no clue when it comes to buying players.

If I am wrong in my opinion I will be very happy to acknowledge that. Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion but stating your opinions as fact is not on. At least bring some evidence to back up your thoughts, that's all that's needed. Or, just state it's your opinion and don't get pissy whenever someone disagrees.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Some do advocate revenue sharing in European football

http://www.economist.com/finance/dis...ory_id=9474097

Some influential voices would like the same sort of block exemption for European sport. The Independent European Sport Review, launched last year by several EU sports ministers, declared that “football should not be a contest between corporate leviathans with the outcome dictated by whoever has the deepest pockets.” It advocated greater revenue sharing, wage-bill caps and restrictions on player transfers, and suggested block exemptions as a way of reconciling these measures with EU competition law. The report was warmly endorsed by UEFA, European football's governing body.

Whether or not it can work I just don't know. Of course, it says that EU Ministeres are involved in this kind of talk so it's probably already failed Maybe the big 12+ will bugger off on their own, and quite frankly I really couldn't care less, but whatever happens there MUST be a hell of a lot more done to get more of a competitive balance and help out any and every league that isn't the Premiership or Serie A or whatever.

[mlyons]

Meh. The transfer system already brings a form of revenue sharing to European football -- at least relative to American sports leagues. Every minnow knows they can squeeze more out of Liverpool or Chelsea for a player than they could get from Fulham or Wigan, and they take advantage of it. If that isn't wealth redistribution, I don't know what is.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by mlyons

Meh. The transfer system already brings a form of revenue sharing to European football -- at least relative to American sports leagues. Every minnow knows they can squeeze more out of Liverpool or Chelsea for a player than they could get from Fulham or Wigan, and they take advantage of it. If that isn't wealth redistribution, I don't know what is.

Yeah I agree with you on the transfer front but it really isn't the minnows asking for more it's the big boys out muscling the Wigan's of this world, but on the other hand they can afford it as they get more from the EPL than the Fulham's and Wigan's of the world.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

Some do advocate revenue sharing in European football

http://www.economist.com/finance/dis...ory_id=9474097


Whether or not it can work I just don't know. Of course, it says that EU Ministeres are involved in this kind of talk so it's probably already failed Maybe the big 12+ will bugger off on their own, and quite frankly I really couldn't care less, but whatever happens there MUST be a hell of a lot more done to get more of a competitive balance and help out any and every league that isn't the Premiership or Serie A or whatever.

My point is though that Man Utd have more chance of refusing revenue sharing in the EPL than the Yankees have of over turning revenue sharing simply because United have more options than the Yankees would have, reason being Man Utd would have a far easier time of breaking away than say the Yankees and the EPL know this and they aren’t about to shoot the geese that lay the golden eggs by rocking the boat with talk of revenue sharing.

And what got my goat about opinions is and you should know this as every football fan should, football is made up of passion, opinions and facts and facts are the lowest of the food chain and that’s what makes it the beautiful game that it is.

[ukhotstove]

Feel sorry for the lad but the word karma springs to mind.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...td/6904015.stm

[Tommysixfingers]

I just read that Fredrik Ljungberg is about to transfer to West Ham. Hope he stays healthy throughout the season.

[edrooney]

Originally Posted by Tommysixfingers

I just read that Fredrik Ljungberg is about to transfer to West Ham. Hope he stays healthy throughout the season.

I'm totally preparing for them over-spending on him. He hasn't done anything of any worth, other than get injured, for 2 years. At his best, he was one of the best midfielders in Europe, with a phenomenal scoring record for the Arse, but that was a while ago.

Expect them to pay between 6m and 8m, with wages around 60k pw.

[mlyons]

Bayern's spending spree already started paying off -- Franck Ribery scored two for them in his first meaningful match with the club. I think he might end up a bargain even at 30 million Euros. He's a hell of a playmaker.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by mlyons

Bayern's spending spree already started paying off -- Franck Ribery scored two for them in his first meaningful match with the club. I think he might end up a bargain even at 30 million Euros. He's a hell of a playmaker.

Its likely to be a travesty. Its plain wrong when one club can spemd more on players than all the others combined. Coming off such a great Bundeliga season, we are likely in store for one of the worst. Maybe karma will step in and doom Bayern to an injury plagued disappointing season. But likely the money will talk and Bayern will win an undeserved championship.

[edrooney]

Originally Posted by bababui

Its likely to be a travesty. Its plain wrong when one club can spemd more on players than all the others combined. Coming off such a great Bundeliga season, we are likely in store for one of the worst. Maybe karma will step in and doom Bayern to an injury plagued disappointing season. But likely the money will talk and Bayern will win an undeserved championship.

I don't know about 'undeserved'. The rules are the same for every team. They have more money because they're the biggest team and have been for many many years. Can't blame this incarnation of the club for spending money that they have.

Now, I think that the win means a little less when you've 'paid for it', and the credit due to the players / management etc is diminished by the financial advantage. But if they win the league because they're the best club, then it's deserved.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by edrooney

I don't know about 'undeserved'. The rules are the same for every team. They have more money because they're the biggest team and have been for many many years. Can't blame this incarnation of the club for spending money that they have.

Now, I think that the win means a little less when you've 'paid for it', and the credit due to the players / management etc is diminished by the financial advantage. But if they win the league because they're the best club, then it's deserved.

But isnt this a disfunctional system? Is it good for the Bundesliga as a whole? This reminds me of industrial USA at the end of the 19th century when the Morgans and Vanderbilts and Rockefellers dominated industry. Bayern basically have a monopoly on German football in the terms of the cash they have at their disposal. I rather like Bayern but I hate what they have done and I hate a system that would allow it. This is my rant, at least.

[mlyons]

Originally Posted by bababui

But isnt this a disfunctional system? Is it good for the Bundesliga as a whole? This reminds me of industrial USA at the end of the 19th century when the Morgans and Vanderbilts and Rockefellers dominated industry. Bayern basically have a monopoly on German football in the terms of the cash they have at their disposal. I rather like Bayern but I hate what they have done and I hate a system that would allow it. This is my rant, at least.

Bundesliga attendance is at its highest in history, and the only pro sports league with higher average per event attendance is the NFL, I believe. Last season's Bundesliga was the most exciting and competitive race in Europe. I wouldn't call that dysfunctional.

[edrooney]

Originally Posted by bababui

But isnt this a disfunctional system? Is it good for the Bundesliga as a whole? This reminds me of industrial USA at the end of the 19th century when the Morgans and Vanderbilts and Rockefellers dominated industry. Bayern basically have a monopoly on German football in the terms of the cash they have at their disposal. I rather like Bayern but I hate what they have done and I hate a system that would allow it. This is my rant, at least.

I agree with you. The dominance of the 'Big 4' in the EPL, and Bayern in the Bundesliga is a bad thing for football as a competitive and spectator sport. Aberrations like last season in the Bundesliga are the welcome exception.

I also hate the system that allows it, and would hope for more competitive parity as per American pro sports. But it's not going to happen, the EU will never let it happen.

So what are Bayern / Chelsea / Real etc. going to do? Handicap themselves by not spending their money in the hope of a competitive league? The majority of big Euro clubs are PLCs, so they are legally obliged to do everything they can do to (a) make a profit, which means (in part) (b), creating success on the field.

So can't fault Bayern for what they've done, but the system sucks.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by mlyons

Bundesliga attendance is at its highest in history, and the only pro sports league with higher average per event attendance is the NFL, I believe. Last season's Bundesliga was the most exciting and competitive race in Europe. I wouldn't call that dysfunctional.

Did you actually read my post?? Last season saw some parity in the league. This year won't.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by edrooney

I agree with you. The dominance of the 'Big 4' in the EPL, and Bayern in the Bundesliga is a bad thing for football as a competitive and spectator sport. Aberrations like last season in the Bundesliga are the welcome exception.

I also hate the system that allows it, and would hope for more competitive parity as per American pro sports. But it's not going to happen, the EU will never let it happen.

So what are Bayern / Chelsea / Real etc. going to do? Handicap themselves by not spending their money in the hope of a competitive league? The majority of big Euro clubs are PLCs, so they are legally obliged to do everything they can do to (a) make a profit, which means (in part) (b), creating success on the field.

So can't fault Bayern for what they've done, but the system sucks.

Well said. I'm not sure that the EU is being consistent. Why would they attack Microsoft yet allow this similiar situation in football to go on??