Bernardo Silva now being tipped to join the likes on Ronaldo, Kante and many others. I get older players going but if Silva was to sign for a Saudi club then thats a bit of a game changer as he’s only 28. 
 

Can you knock someone for wanting more money in a career that only has a short lifespan? 

If it goes along a route many aren't happy with, then nations could get together, and withdraw from Fifa/Uefa and set up another system.

Would take some sorting, but far from impossible. 

3 hours ago, DazBob said:

Just seen your post above saying they'd not qualify for any World Cups. 

Well, I reckon, given how much they're expanding the number of teams in a tournament they'd have a slight chance, and also given the number of kids who'll be born over there in the coming years, there'll be kids of superstar footballers being born over there left, right and centre who'll be eligible to play for them. 

Give it 20 years or so and they'll be a decent team.  Especially when the likes of Neymar Jnr Jnr is being offered a billion dollars to proudly play for Saudi Arabia.

Nowt to do with that. £ to a piece of shit they'll naturalised a lot of these guys & present them as the Saudi team. Within 2 years that'll start being the noise.

If UEFA Block Saudi teams from playing, they'll simply start their own Super League and we'll be back where we were the other year.

Sky will pretend to be outraged, but will be at the front of the queue for TV rights when it inevitably goes ahead

 

3 hours ago, DazBob said:

Just seen your post above saying they'd not qualify for any World Cups. 

Well, I reckon, given how much they're expanding the number of teams in a tournament they'd have a slight chance, and also given the number of kids who'll be born over there in the coming years, there'll be kids of superstar footballers being born over there left, right and centre who'll be eligible to play for them. 

Give it 20 years or so and they'll be a decent team.  Especially when the likes of Neymar Jnr Jnr is being offered a billion dollars to proudly play for Saudi Arabia.

Other than Vialli I cannot think of many wealthy world class footballers. To get good you need to do nothing else than kick a football around all day and night. Cannot see Neymars lad doing that in Dubai's back streets with the Sultans son.

10 minutes ago, Nowack said:

Other than Vialli I cannot think of many wealthy world class footballers. To get good you need to do nothing else than kick a football around all day and night. Cannot see Neymars lad doing that in Dubai's back streets with the Sultans son.

Other than Vialli, off the top off my head, I can think of players such as Maldini, Chiesa, Haaland,  Kluivert, Gudjohnsen and Thuram.  All of whom are better than anything the Saudis have ever produced.  I doubt many of them were kicking a popped casey against a back street wall in a favela. 

3 hours ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

Nowt to do with that. £ to a piece of shit they'll naturalised a lot of these guys & present them as the Saudi team. Within 2 years that'll start being the noise.

Players over the age of 21 have to have been resident in a country for five years before they can declare their allegiance to a country they weren't born in

Just now, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Players over the age of 21 have to have been resident in a country for five years before they can declare their allegiance to a country they weren't born in

Good fact. Thanks.

They'll work on that. Don't assume it'll stay that way.

Just now, Dr. Feelgood said:

Good fact. Thanks.

They'll work on that. Don't assume it'll stay that way.

Why?

2 hours ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Players over the age of 21 have to have been resident in a country for five years before they can declare their allegiance to a country they weren't born in

How fast if you transfer to the country you were born in? We could get Haaland

7 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

If it goes along a route many aren't happy with, then nations could get together, and withdraw from Fifa/Uefa and set up another system.

Would take some sorting, but far from impossible. 

Far more likely to be the other way, with FIFA & UEFA keeping the status quo and the Saudis will be the ones leading the charge to a Super League. The difference is that, unlike Europe, their clubs don’t generate ‘eyeballs’ so they will be completely reliant on the pull of the players rather than the club themselves. A risky strategy. 

29 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Far more likely to be the other way, with FIFA & UEFA keeping the status quo and the Saudis will be the ones leading the charge to a Super League. The difference is that, unlike Europe, their clubs don’t generate ‘eyeballs’ so they will be completely reliant on the pull of the players rather than the club themselves. A risky strategy. 

Hopefully. 

I was just playing out a scenario should the current authorities go down the route of letting them in, which I don't see happening. 

The far east might also start looking enviously should too much be offered to the middle east. Another can of worms potentially!

Some club shop straighteners there: triads v salafis, Italian ultras v orthodox extremists, and so on.

30 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Hopefully. 

I was just playing out a scenario should the current authorities go down the route of letting them in, which I don't see happening. 

The far east might also start looking enviously should too much be offered to the middle east. Another can of worms potentially!

Some club shop straighteners there: triads v salafis, Italian ultras v orthodox extremists, and so on.

There's a quietly developing power battle between FIFA and UEFA which could well prove relevant

FIFA dislike the fact the UEFA's Champions League is so dominant and influencial at club level and are pushing for the their own Club World Cup to steal the mantle, and in turn give FIFA even more power over the sport

That's the avenue the Saudi's could look to go down, or threaten to go down, and it's why there's a possibility UEFA might ultimately bend to their will

Would that work do you think?

OK fifa go and do their own version, but that wouldn't stop eufa from doing theirs.

Might end up creating a bit of a split I suppose wrt club football, but in terms of international football South America and Europe tend to be the big players, and a split there would certainly not help fifa in any pursuit of dominance.

17 hours ago, Zico said:

Israel are in UEFA

Think the reason behind this is that half of the Middle East (Asian confederation) wouldnt play them. 

Good luck to them. Vital trade partner. The red rags may fuck this up once they get in.

14 hours ago, bolty58 said:

Good luck to them. Vital trade partner. The red rags may fuck this up once they get in.

That's the next row.

They've been invited over, and no doubt a royal visit will occur too. The two families have a long time friendship 

On 18/08/2023 at 04:55, jayjayoghani said:

Think the reason behind this is that half of the Middle East (Asian confederation) wouldnt play them. 

Its stated as security reasons, i believe

4 hours ago, Casino said:

Its stated as security reasons, i believe

Maccabi haifa v Al hilal champs league 3rd round qualifiers will be pwopa nawty in 2025.

And none of us will give a fuck. 

I'd laugh my cock off if Salah went to SA

1 hour ago, Zico said:

I'd laugh my cock off if Salah went to SA

Almost certain I'd think.

They're hollowing out top teams at the moment & I don't see them stopping. 

2 hours ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

Almost certain I'd think.

They're hollowing out top teams at the moment & I don't see them stopping. 

Been a blessing for a few to get decent money towards FFP.

When does the expanded World club cup start? That would make sense as a first step for Saudi to compete with Europe 

7 hours ago, Zico said:

I'd laugh my cock off if Salah went to SA

Liverpool never really replaced after losing Sadio Mané so the loss of Mo Salah would tip them a bit further.

Bring it on.

Somert on SKY saying the Saudi league are now going after the best referees in footballs top flights

6 hours ago, Zico said:

Somert on SKY saying the Saudi league are now going after the best referees in footballs top flights

At least the prem won't lose any refs then.

9 hours ago, Zico said:

Somert on SKY saying the Saudi league are now going after the best referees in footballs top flights

A positive this for me, gives our lot in particular a chance to reset.

Finally get rid of these refs who have built these characters and brands. Focus on the next lot integrating themselves better with the technology, pay them better but as a way to entice actual former players to the role rather than failed sunday leaguers with a superiority complex.