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General/Non-Spurs Transfers

al_pacino

woo
Feb 2, 2005
4,577
4,112
You'd think the bubble would burst but the money they are spending is nothing to them. Look at all the smiles and handshakes with yesterday's golf news to see how a few greased palms can everything better.
 

Tucker

Shitehawk
Jul 15, 2013
31,592
147,771
It'll collapse. You cannot build a league on 30+ y/o players on colossal contracts. It didn't work with the MLS in the 70s, it didn't work with the CSL, it didn't work with the Qatari league, it won't work here. Be it because imperialism or just the chokehold they have on TV rights, I can't see a non-European league becoming a top league. Maybe Brazil, but that'd be because it's Brazil.
There was talk a couple of years ago of the big Brazilian clubs finally sorting out their weird football structure and making a go of it. If they did they’d be able to stake a hold to the America’s footballing market simply down to the time zones.

Would be interesting to see them get the financial muscle to at least keep hold of some of their more average players, let alone the mega stars.
 

aliyid

Well-Known Member
Dec 28, 2004
7,051
20,348


Pretty big for the MLS. Be weird not watching him in Europe anymore

Genuinely hope he gives it a good shot. The US league is far from easy, they may not be at the same technical level as the big five leagues in Europe but fitness wise it's a tough slog for older pros.

Would love to see a fully engaged Messi taking on MLS with a point to prove.
 

jpascavitz

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2019
1,855
7,272
Genuinely hope he gives it a good shot. The US league is far from easy, they may not be at the same technical level as the big five leagues in Europe but fitness wise it's a tough slog for older pros.

Would love to see a fully engaged Messi taking on MLS with a point to prove.

MLS IMO (I'm from USA) did a really good job growing their brand but am hearing mixed things this year.

It was a big offseason for TV rights and Apple TV bought the rights, but not only did you have to be subscribed to Apple TV.. You had to purchase MLS season pass in addition to Apple TV.

MLS the few seasons before was contracted through ESPN+. Many people have ESPN+ because they show all the domestic English competitions, as well as Bundesliga, Eresidivie, in addition to college sports and golf access. I actually watched more MLS matches than ever due to ESPN+. This season, I've only watched one, and that was in person hahah

I bet Messi will certainly help. And tbh some of the in-person matches I've attended have been great. Esp. at the locations with "soccer"-specific stadiums.
 

Yid121

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2008
3,468
3,150


Pretty big for the MLS. Be weird not watching him in Europe anymore

Pretty gutted about this tbh. Would love to still watch him in European competitions etc and I think he easily still has the quality to do so.
 

beats1

Well-Known Member
Feb 22, 2010
30,041
29,638
I wonder when that particular bubble will burst. They seem to be thinking if they can attract the big names in the game they can grow the league. But the truth is no one cares about their clubs and deep down footballs popularity isn’t only about the players.
It'll collapse. You cannot build a league on 30+ y/o players on colossal contracts. It didn't work with the MLS in the 70s, it didn't work with the CSL, it didn't work with the Qatari league, it won't work here. Be it because imperialism or just the chokehold they have on TV rights, I can't see a non-European league becoming a top league. Maybe Brazil, but that'd be because it's Brazil.
Problem is all those places didn't have an endless pit of money or a goal outside of football except for the case of Qatar but its worth remembering the FA gave the clubs $10m each to buy foreign players but worth remembering Qatar is a tiny place with more migrants than citizens. Also Qatar wasn't hellbent on using football then to lobby support for the country.

Saudi Arabia on the other hand has a different goal. It was to use its influence in football to influence the world stage.

They have the money to push this ridiculously far
 

rabbikeane

Well-Known Member
Mar 29, 2005
7,014
12,890
I wonder when that particular bubble will burst. They seem to be thinking if they can attract the big names in the game they can grow the league. But the truth is no one cares about their clubs and deep down footballs popularity isn’t only about the players.

It seems to be an agenda to get the World Cup to Saudi Arabia, the Chinese league was also with political back tone. Don't know though, very few cared about Manchester City as well, now they're the biggest club out there. If they are intent on giving more money to their league than Premier League make then that's where the interest will move. If they make the league available on a streaming platform world wide then people will watch it.
 

cwy21

Well-Known Member
May 11, 2009
9,876
8,610
You've lived a great life when you can turn down over $100M to live in Miami over Saudi Arabia.
 

KaribYid

Well-Known Member
Jul 2, 2012
1,311
7,857
Romano gets all the hype but I dont think there's a journalist out there with better sources than Ornstein.

First to call us giving Ange a 4-year contract when every one else was saying 2+1
Called Messi to Miami back in October
Broke the Bellingham story
First to reveal we were bringing in Munn

Etc etc
 

robertgoulet

SC Resident Crooner Extraordinaire
Jul 23, 2013
3,612
12,552
Problem is all those places didn't have an endless pit of money or a goal outside of football except for the case of Qatar but its worth remembering the FA gave the clubs $10m each to buy foreign players but worth remembering Qatar is a tiny place with more migrants than citizens. Also Qatar wasn't hellbent on using football then to lobby support for the country.

Saudi Arabia on the other hand has a different goal. It was to use its influence in football to influence the world stage.

They have the money to push this ridiculously far
They arent going to be able to just throw money at everyone though. It's going to be a certain type of person and player that is going to take the money to play in a country like Saudi Arabia and live under their laws. It's not a glamourous place. If you're already a famous multi-multi millionaire how much money do you actually need to sacrifice a comfortable, Western lifestyle? I reckon you will see a big run early of these players going there for $, then word will get back to the others that "yes I made a ton of money but it was a terrible experience" and it will cool. You'll still have paper chasers going there, and guys looking for one final large payday, but I can't see it becoming a legitimate Top 5-10 league.
 

hughy

I'm SUPER cereal.
Nov 18, 2007
31,995
57,411
Just dawned on me that I might never see Messi play another competitive match unless he goes to another major tournament with Argentina.

Like fuck am I going out of my way to watch MLS.
 

robertgoulet

SC Resident Crooner Extraordinaire
Jul 23, 2013
3,612
12,552
MLS IMO (I'm from USA) did a really good job growing their brand but am hearing mixed things this year.

It was a big offseason for TV rights and Apple TV bought the rights, but not only did you have to be subscribed to Apple TV.. You had to purchase MLS season pass in addition to Apple TV.

MLS the few seasons before was contracted through ESPN+. Many people have ESPN+ because they show all the domestic English competitions, as well as Bundesliga, Eresidivie, in addition to college sports and golf access. I actually watched more MLS matches than ever due to ESPN+. This season, I've only watched one, and that was in person hahah

I bet Messi will certainly help. And tbh some of the in-person matches I've attended have been great. Esp. at the locations with "soccer"-specific stadiums.
They need to take the handbrake off. Spending on players is too restrictive. Roster rules are too cumbersome.

If Saudi Arabia was smart they'd just buy MLS.
 

taidgh

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2004
7,915
16,287
You've lived a great life when you can turn down over $100M to live in Miami over Saudi Arabia.
If kante gets a contract for 100m per year, you'd imagine Messi would be on at least double that. That would match what Ronaldo is on. I'd guess Messi would earn even more.
 

CanadaSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 14, 2013
1,450
4,367
MLS is so bad. I think it has actually regressed over the last decade, which makes sense because they keep piling on teams to the league.
 

beats1

Well-Known Member
Feb 22, 2010
30,041
29,638
They arent going to be able to just throw money at everyone though. It's going to be a certain type of person and player that is going to take the money to play in a country like Saudi Arabia and live under their laws. It's not a glamourous place. If you're already a famous multi-multi millionaire how much money do you actually need to sacrifice a comfortable, Western lifestyle? I reckon you will see a big run early of these players going there for $, then word will get back to the others that "yes I made a ton of money but it was a terrible experience" and it will cool. You'll still have paper chasers going there, and guys looking for one final large payday, but I can't see it becoming a legitimate Top 5-10 league.
It wont overtake the CL or PL, that's not their aim their aim is to sports wash and its not gonna go away any time soon

They just agreed a deal to pump billions in to the LIVgolf/PGA merger

This isn't going away and unlike china, USA, Turkey and etc. they have bottomless pockets

Look at how the landscape of Dubai has changed since the MCFC merger. Im not saying they are responsible for Dubai's major influence but Abu Dhabi gets a lot of good press in the west despite questionable acts.

Saudi Arabia wants to become the new Dubai
 
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