The European football thread

[14232949]

Originally Posted by Fluffy Kittens

You see in his statement he blamed the media. This is why I don't like Liverpool, its always someone else's fault. The scousers will actually buy it as well.

Higuain is leaving Madrid I think. Out of Barca and Madrid I think he's more likely to join Madrid.

Monaco bought Falcao BTW. 51m. They have spent 111m and there is still three months of the window left to go.

Jeez, it shows how shallow football is in 2013, that a team recently promoted to the Ligue 1 can now buy who they want. Not so long ago, the top players in the world would have laughed at the idea of going to play in the French League.
However, between PSG and Monaco, there's enough financial drawing power to bring in whoever they want. Would be interesting if another team were bought over, could make the French league a compelling watch.

[Cuthbert]

Exactly, it's becoming more and more about money, I suppose you have to move with the times and all but I'm fed up of it. Defeats the purpose of sport if trophies are just going to the highest bidder when their money wasn't actually self generated.

I really despise PSG though, a relatively new club only formed because Paris didn't have a big club.

[14232949]

But, it's not just been happening recently. Blackburn Rovers pretty much bought the Premier League in 95.
Big cities should have big teams, but I agree with you. I don't like the monopolization of football either.
Too many billionaires with too much money.

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by Mankycaaant

But, it's not just been happening recently. Blackburn Rovers pretty much bought the Premier League in 95.
Big cities should have big teams, but I agree with you. I don't like the monopolization of football either.
Too many billionaires with too much money.

Yeah there has always been money in football. I remember reading football wasn't professional for it's first few years as the fat cats in charge wanted it to just be about improving the health and fitness of British men, it was the time of the industrial revolution when every city was covered in smog and smoke from factories. Preston North End pinched the Scottish players (they were world class at this time haha) and secretly paid them.

This man bribed the FA and got Arsenal promoted (despite them finishing 5th ) and the rest is history - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Norris_(businessman)

But not to the extent it's happening now. £111m in four or five days ffs, yes it's relative (a million 20 years ago isn't the same as a million now) but when has a promoted club gone on a spending spree worth more than clubs who could win the title the next year? When you're seeing players like Gareth Barry on 200k a week and driving Lamborghinis you have to say enough is enough. Then there's the ticket prices as well...

Maybe they should. Paris have been practically handed one on a plate though. It's not right, I don't think.

It is depressing to think the European elite will possibly be:

Anzhi
PSG
Monaco
Chelsea
City

(Saying that though Barca and Real are no angels when it comes to money either.)

[Cuthbert]

Anyone know why Messi hasn't been playing the last few games? Is he injured or Barca just want to give him a long rest over the summer?

Season final tally: Apps - 50. Goals - 60.

73 last season. He's shit.

[Jabonator]

He's injured.

[Goofle]

Nah, he's shit.

[Cuthbert]

England are so, so boring. Dull as feck.

Were not crap either just bang average.

[Cuthbert]

I like Theo but if he wants to play as a striker he should be instinctively hitting that across goal.

Hart's distribution is toss also.

[Goofle]

Theo won't be a striker for another three years at least. If at all.