Football

[JD2168]

There are reports that Paris Saint Germain have accepted a £259 million pound offer from Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia for Kylian Mbappe.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

There are reports that Paris Saint Germain have accepted a £259 million pound offer from Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia for Kylian Mbappe.

That now fully confirms my belief that football should no longer be classified as a sport.

 

[Purple Train]

That now fully confirms my belief that football should no longer be classified as a sport.

Hear hear.

 

[Cross City]

There are reports that Paris Saint Germain have accepted a £259 million pound offer from Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia for Kylian Mbappe.

That now fully confirms my belief that football should no longer be classified as a sport.

Hear hear.

Money in football has always been the same. The foundation of the Football League was centred around money. This is no different.

English football has been hoovering up Europe's best for decades but now a different country is doing it to us all of a sudden people are up in arms about it.

Saudi leagues won't be able to sustain this, they won't pull in the viewers and the fact they obviosuly can't compete in the Champions League will mean they get bored quickly IMO.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Money in football has always been the same. The foundation of the Football League was centred around money. This is no different.

English football has been hoovering up Europe's best for decades but now a different country is doing it to us all of a sudden people are up in arms about it.

Saudi leagues won't be able to sustain this, they won't pull in the viewers and the fact they obviosuly can't compete in the Champions League will mean they get bored quickly IMO.

There is no way that such a comparison can be made. Even allowing for inflation since the formation of the Football League, what do you think was the highest transfer fee in those days of yore. Money flows inwards to the Saudi coffers from their oil revenues. You make mention of English football hoovering up Europe's best players for decades, yet certain Spanish clubs such as Real Madrid or Barcelona have had the pick of the best of the South American players for decades, Messi in his prime being a notable example. When it comes to major football competitions, England without its football imports are noticeable in lack of success rates in comparison to other winners of the World Cup in terms of trophy wins.

You also say that Saudi leagues will not pull in the viewers, but there are world-wide TV coverage opportunities which you may have overlooked.

 

[Cross City]

There is no way that such a comparison can be made. Even allowing for inflation since the formation of the Football League, what do you think was the highest transfer fee in those days of yore. Money flows inwards to the Saudi coffers from their oil revenues. You make mention of English football hoovering up Europe's best players for decades, yet certain Spanish clubs such as Real Madrid or Barcelona have had the pick of the best of the South American players for decades, Messi in his prime being a notable example. When it comes to major football competitions, England without its football imports are noticeable in lack of success rates in comparison to other winners of the World Cup in terms of trophy wins.

You also say that Saudi leagues will not pull in the viewers, but there are world-wide TV coverage opportunities which you may have overlooked.

I never mentioned the amounts, and anyway it's all proportional. Football has been about money since it started and it always will be. People are moaning about this only because the norm is threatened. To start bringing in whataboutisms around inflation and oil money is irrelevant.

This is sadly ironic we're talking about this the day after Trevor Francis (a Blues legend and personal hero of mine) died. The best part of 50 years ago he goes sold for a million quid, doubling the UK transfer record at the time.

World wide TV coverage yes, but how long will the viewership keep up when it's a bunch of disinterested (and for the most part, at the end of their career) players, playing for clubs most have never heard of, in a country that isn't viewed favourably, in a league less prestigious than every top division in Europe. It'll reach a ceiling like the MLS did when they started doing the same thing 15ish years ago.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I never mentioned the amounts, and anyway it's all proportional. Football has been about money since it started and it always will be. People are moaning about this only because the norm is threatened. To start bringing in whataboutisms around inflation and oil money is irrelevant.

If you honestly consider the vast amount of oil revenue wealth in Saudi is "irrelevant", how on earth can a Saudi club afford to bid £259 million pounds for a single player?

I am old enough to remember the times of "the maximum wage" for players in football in this country.

 

[birchesgreen]

I wonder if a top player in his prime really wants to play in the Saudi league, it won't be for sporting excellence let's face it. But good luck to him, i'd certainly switch jobs for that kind of cash!

 

[Cross City]

If you honestly consider the vast amount of oil revenue wealth in Saudi is "irrelevant", how on earth can a Saudi club afford to bid £259 million pounds for a single player?

I am old enough to remember the times of "the maximum wage" for players in football in this country.

I'm saying where the money comes from is irrelevant. Sugar-daddies and businesses bankroling clubs has happened for over a hundred years.

 

[75A]

I wonder if a top player in his prime really wants to play in the Saudi league, it won't be for sporting excellence let's face it. But good luck to him, i'd certainly switch jobs for that kind of cash!

There are people in the world (me included) who are mercenary and would do it just for the money.
I had the best job in the world in the early 80's - a Secondman @ Brighton MT, did it for three and half years, left to Join BT because from day 1 I was earning more money.
Do I regret it? yes big time, but money is money.

 

[JD2168]

Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson has completed a controversial transfer to Al Ettifaq of Saudi Arabia. The transfer is controversial after his previous comments in support of the LGBTQ+ community as homosexuality is illegal in Saudi Arabia.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson has completed a controversial transfer to Al Ettifaq of Saudi Arabia. The transfer is controversial after his previous comments in support of the LGBTQ+ community as homosexuality is illegal in Saudi Arabia.

His new club’s tweet announcing his arrival is hilarious. Riddled with spelling mistakes and a video of Hendo with his rainbow captain band crudely edited to be black and white

But I suppose £700k a week tax free will help him cope with being seen as a massive hypocrite

 

[dangie]

Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson has completed a controversial transfer to Al Ettifaq of Saudi Arabia. The transfer is controversial after his previous comments in support of the LGBTQ+ community as homosexuality is illegal in Saudi Arabia.

Well you know what they say ‘Everyone has their price’.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

North West Counties Football League....Premier Division

Bury FC 5 ... Glossop North End 1

Bury FC now back as a single team after the amalgamation on their home ground of Gigg Lane in this first match of the season and were 3-0 up at half time. Could not ask for a better start to the season.

 

[1D54]

North West Counties Football League....Premier Division

Bury FC 5 ... Glossop North End 1

Bury FC now back as a single team after the amalgamation on their home ground of Gigg Lane in this first match of the season and were 3-0 up at half time. Could not ask for a better start to the season.

Probably worth mentioning the fantastic attendance of 5,451 as well

 

[75A]

Probably worth mentioning the fantastic attendance of 5,451 as well

Wow, that's what you call a crowd.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Wow, that's what you call a crowd.

It is indeed, for a North West Counties Football League match.

 

[REVUpminster]

England 6 China 1 so far. It's women against boys.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

England 6 China 1 so far. It's women against boys.

England being the "boys" presumably?

 

[REVUpminster]

England being the "boys" presumably?

England were bigger, stronger, faster.

 

[JamesT]

England were bigger, stronger, faster.

But not Harder, she plays for Denmark

 

[156421]

Anyone else noticed a lack of male referees in this tournament... there was a female referee at the men's world cup last year. A bit of consistency wouldn't go amiss.

 

[Haywain]

Anyone else noticed a lack of male referees in this tournament... there was a female referee at the men's world cup last year. A bit of consistency wouldn't go amiss.

I have noticed but it doesn't bother me in the slightest. There is no problem with the standard of refereeing.

 

[75A]

Unlike English football.

 

[JamesT]

Anyone else noticed a lack of male referees in this tournament... there was a female referee at the men's world cup last year. A bit of consistency wouldn't go amiss.

They haven't had male referees at the Women's World Cup since the 1995 tournament. There are some male officials doing VAR.
I think if there had been more than a token female officiating presence at the men's world cup it would be worth re-examining the only women referees rule. (3 of the 36 referees were female, 1 of the 64 matches had a female referee in 2022).
It's not as if male referees have been lacking in opportunities to referee elite matches.

 

[156421]

Unlike English football.

Could any data be provided?

 

[Haywain]

Could any data be provided?

I think it's a reference to my 'standard of refereeing' comment.

 

[156421]

I think it's a reference to my 'standard of refereeing' comment.

Yes that would seem to be the case, but I think such sweeping statements need to be backed up and/or to quote the post to which they are a reply.

 

[75A]

Yes that would seem to be the case, but I think such sweeping statements need to be backed up and/or to quote the post to which they are a reply.

Yes it is regarding the standard of refereeing in English football, i can't comment on Irish, Welsh or Scottish because I don't watch them.
English referees certainly aren't helped by VAR, but from the level I know (Isthmian League) to the level I watch on television (Championship & Premier League) the standards have declined over the years, modern Referees may be fitter than ever but they make some absolute howlers.
I perhaps should also add that I was a Referee myself from 1974 to 1998.

 

[Haywain]

One thing that's easily overlooked is that the quality of refereeing is only as good as the number of people willing to do it, and with the amount of abuse and, increasingly, assaults that referees are on the wrong end of there is an ever decreasing number of willing volunteers. Some of those who leave the game or don't come forward wouldn't be very good anyway, but some would be and they are lost to the game. As well as the numbers problem, there is far more analysis these days through all manner of channels whether it be TV or social media, and often this is accompanied by assessments from people with a very poor understanding of the laws of the game and their interpretation.

And, for the record, I tried refereeing once and recognised my own shortcomings long before the 90 minutes was up. At least it spared the players any added time!