(That long since we've had any, couldn't find the thread)

Alan Nixon: "Top Liverpool starlet Cameron Branagan will Ben allowed out on loan in Jan.

Bolton lead the race for the 20 year old midfielder"

Edited December 11, 20169 yr by Ratwhite

4 minutes ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

They fully intend to have these guys naturalised in due course & present a national team full of stars.

Got to be the plan, hasn't it?

Start looking at talented (but not destined for world class) young Brazilians etc.
Pay them and their families millions to escape the favelas.

4 minutes ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

They fully intend to have these guys naturalised in due course & present a national team full of stars.

Meanwhile, at the business end, the selling teams are reducing their FFP exposure ...and we'll see loads of these being loaned out on favourable terms.

The words I'm looking for are fraud, conned & manipulation I think.

Missed the boat on loans from one club to another club with the same owners. Lampard from New York City to Man City. Brighton do it all the time with their Belgian club, e.g. the Japanese guy.

These Saudis will have all their ducks in a row backed up by a top legal team paid on a money no object basis.

33 minutes ago, globaldiver said:

Where are looking to compete? 

football is a lucrative business and a highly visible one. Just my two cents conspiracy theory but seems to me that the Saudis are cleverly trying to westernise and future proof their economy as they will have to become less reliant on oil money in time.

Case study: City had to spunk tons of money to catch up to the other big 4 and whilst they are still spunking now, they’re also established as a European elite, so they don’t have to spunk quite as much, since players want to be there for the prestige, rather than (or in addition to) the money now. You can see how that might work on a league scale rather than club scale for the Saudi league.

For the Saudi nation I imagine they will be thinking a top level sport product will help bring reputability to their country, bring new investors and opportunities. Football won’t be their only target, they’ve already done similar with golf and probably are looking into other markets other than sport too.

Gotta spend money to make money

43 minutes ago, Mantra said:

I’m assuming their thinking is that if they invest enough in bringing superstars (even old ones) to their league it will raise the standard of the league over time.

Then when the league has reached a certain level they may be able to offer more sustainable wages and look to compete with European leagues on a more balanced level.

Then they can focus on developing their own national players 

 

39 minutes ago, globaldiver said:

Where are looking to compete? 

I said a few weeks ago, I'd not be surprised, given the money they seem willing to splash out, if they end up with a club in the Champions League - or if that's not possible, force/push through the proposed European Super League, with a few of their clubs in it.

However they do it, I can see them regularly playing against European clubs, and they've got the finances to happily pay for, and pull apart the European leagues.

3 minutes ago, Mantra said:

football is a lucrative business and a highly visible one. Just my two cents conspiracy theory but seems to me that the Saudis are cleverly trying to westernise and future proof their economy as they will have to become less reliant on oil money in time.

Case study: City had to spunk tons of money to catch up to the other big 4 and whilst they are still spunking now, they’re also established as a European elite, so they don’t have to spunk quite as much, since players want to be there for the prestige, rather than (or in addition to) the money now. You can see how that might work on a league scale rather than club scale for the Saudi league.

For the Saudi nation I imagine they will be thinking a top level sport product will help bring reputability to their country, bring new investors and opportunities. Football won’t be their only target, they’ve already done similar with golf and probably are looking into other markets other than sport too.

Gotta spend money to make money

They've still got about 300/400 years of oil left haven't they, so no immediate rush I wouldn't have thought

You're right though, they'll get their fingers into every decent sport. They'll "own" football within a few years, they already have fucked about with golf, and have a presence in horse racing. Whilst a lot more tricky, I'm sure they'll try to get involved in shit like Basketball, American Football and Baseball, just because of the reach they have. They'll leave shit like darts and snooker alone though.

The problem is that they have all the money in the world, it really is almost never ending for them

13 minutes ago, Sweep said:

They've still got about 300/400 years of oil left haven't they, so no immediate rush I wouldn't have thought

You're right though, they'll get their fingers into every decent sport. They'll "own" football within a few years, they already have fucked about with golf, and have a presence in horse racing. Whilst a lot more tricky, I'm sure they'll try to get involved in shit like Basketball, American Football and Baseball, just because of the reach they have. They'll leave shit like darts and snooker alone though.

The problem is that they have all the money in the world, it really is almost never ending for them

Yeah I’m sure the oil reserves are still plentiful but western demand for oil will likely reduce over the next 100 years as fossil fuels begin to be phased out and renewable energy brought to the fore

Anyone that thinks the Saudis give two fucks about how they look or what the western world thinks of their beliefs is massively mistaken.

They dont want acceptance, they want control. 

3 minutes ago, Mantra said:

Yeah I’m sure the oil reserves are still plentiful but western demand for oil will likely reduce over the next 100 years as fossil fuels begin to be phased out and renewable energy brought to the fore

Part of the reason they're diversifying and installing solar generation equipment. 

1 minute ago, gonzo said:

Anyone that thinks the Saudis give two fucks about how they look or what the western world thinks of their beliefs is massively mistaken.

They dont want acceptance, they want control. 

Won't get any near control until they ease up a bit.

Hearne jnr is currently on tms talking about them- they're not making money (yet) on sports investments and it's almost a vanity project. That may well change in future, but that will inevitably lead to a degree of natural social change.

 

1 hour ago, globaldiver said:

Where are looking to compete? 

In the European Champions League.

14 minutes ago, Mantra said:

Yeah I’m sure the oil reserves are still plentiful but western demand for oil will likely reduce over the next 100 years as fossil fuels begin to be phased out and renewable energy brought to the fore

probably, oil will still be used for many things moving forward, I agree our reliance on it will reduce (or should), but we'll still be pulling it out of the ground for a long, long time yet.

As Gonzo says, the worrying thing is it appears they want to be in control, and they've got the money to do it

16 minutes ago, Mantra said:

Yeah I’m sure the oil reserves are still plentiful but western demand for oil will likely reduce over the next 100 years as fossil fuels begin to be phased out and renewable energy brought to the fore

You believe everything you read I take it ?

1 hour ago, Ani said:

Blimey I agree with you !

first time for everything 😂😂👍

😁

9 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Won't get any near control until they ease up a bit.

Hearne jnr is currently on tms talking about them- they're not making money (yet) on sports investments and it's almost a vanity project. That may well change in future, but that will inevitably lead to a degree of natural social change.

 

There didn't seem to be very much social change at the World Cup

11 minutes ago, DazBob said:

In the European Champions League.

Better chance of getting into Eurovision .

15 minutes ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

You believe everything you read I take it ?

Only when I take off my tinfoil hat

12 minutes ago, globaldiver said:

Better chance of getting into Eurovision .

....but not impossible. I can see that being their aim (Champions League, not Eurovision 😃)

Saudis: Hi UEFA, can we join the CL please

UEFA: No

Saudis: We'll bung you a few Billion Dollars a year officially, as well as a shit load of cash in brown envelopes unofficially

UEFA: OK, give us a couple of years to restructure, and then you're in, we can get rid of the Scotchers, because they really are fcuking shit

39 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Anyone that thinks the Saudis give two fucks about how they look or what the western world thinks of their beliefs is massively mistaken.

They dont want acceptance, they want control. 

As does every other nation state, or at least increased influence on global politics.

Part of the way they can get more control/influence is if they become more “acceptable” via sportswashing and integrating/interfering with Western nations.

1 hour ago, Traf said:

Got to be the plan, hasn't it?

Start looking at talented (but not destined for world class) young Brazilians etc.
Pay them and their families millions to escape the favelas.

i think its bahrain that bought a few world class athletes

47 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

There didn't seem to be very much social change at the World Cup

Wasn't in Saudi!

Moreover, you wouldn't have expected to see women bathing in very little on the beach in Qatar not so long ago.

Didn't stop a certain attractive commentator from doing so at some point beforehand or during.

When you listen to those ex pats who live there when the spoke, it was nothing like as bad as portrayed.

Things are already changing, albeit slowly.

another one we “shouldn’t have let go”

Meanwhile Denis politic at dinamo bucharest

https://www.instagram.com/p/CvHusRIqpiq/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

 

tearing it up 🔥🔥🔥(They lost their first two matches in the super liga)

Edited July 28, 20232 yr by Mantra

George Taft

Definitely wrong letting him go

3 hours ago, globaldiver said:

Better chance of getting into Eurovision .

Nah.  They'll end up in the Champions League because money talks.

They'll not want anything to do with Eurovision because of all the bummers.

7 minutes ago, DazBob said:

They'll not want anything to do with Eurovision because of all the bummers.

Good point