La Liga 2014/15 Discussion Thread

Turtwig · 22-07-2014 01:14PM

It's borderline ridiculous. They are the biggest global brands so I can see why having such players is important revenue wise, but it makes the game even more farcical. Especially if Barca don't get a cb!

Smithwicks Man · 22-07-2014 01:41PM

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

Its not good for football in general that Real and Barcelona seem to be trying to outdo each other with these marquee signings.
Alot of clubs are hugely in debt and these guys are splurging ridiculous amounts of money on unproven and unnecessary players .
Its becoming ridiculous ,its like a teenager playing fantasy football.

In agreement without everything except the unproven bit.

Luis Suarez, Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez are hardly unproven players.

elefant · 22-07-2014 02:23PM

Turtwig wrote: »

It's borderline ridiculous. They are the biggest global brands so I can see why having such players is important revenue wise, but it makes the game even more farcical. Especially if Barca don't get a cb!

Barca have agreed a 20 million deal with Valencia for Jeremy Mathieu.

Turtwig · 22-07-2014 02:28PM

Oh wow. Pigs do fly. :eek:

NIMAN · 22-07-2014 02:31PM

Big teams need to keep things fresh and sign new players, marketing and keeping the fan base is all important in the modern football world.

Football fans are fickle, they will get bored with a steady team.

MisterAnarchy · 22-07-2014 03:13PM

elefant wrote: »

Barca have agreed a 20 million deal with Valencia for Jeremy Mathieu.

20m euro for a 30-year-old left-back-cum-central defender ,more nonsense by Barcelona.

elefant · 22-07-2014 03:27PM

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

20m euro for a 30-year-old left-back-cum-central defender ,more nonsense by Barcelona.

He was very good last season; plays with his heart on his sleeve, and he can play a bit of ball like Barca like.

Great deal for Valencia though for a defender his age, especially for converted CB. Hopefully this new Asian money means that there will be less of Valencia's jewels leaving for relative pittances. The loss of Bernat is a pain though.

Corholio · 22-07-2014 03:33PM

Of course the Rodriguez transfer fee is ridiculous, as is Suarez's, as is Costa's etc etc. Although remember Monaco bought him for €45 million, so it was hardly going to be anywhere around that since he's been world cup top scorer since.

English clubs are doing it too, so its hardly just Real and Barca. The main difference is they are signing even higher marquee players than the English teams, so they're going to be a bit more.

NIMAN · 22-07-2014 04:16PM

Some might say signing Bale for €100mill was better value than Arsenal signing Ozil for €50mill.

I have to agree that the money at the top clubs now is getting ridiculous, they are handing out silly money and its a spiral which keeps itself fed. Add in astronomical wages for so many players, it makes you wonder how they clubs can continue to function as viable businesses at all.

dfx- · 22-07-2014 04:53PM

elefant wrote: »

He was very good last season; plays with his heart on his sleeve, and he can play a bit of ball like Barca like.

Also decently tall from what I remember

Dempsey · 22-07-2014 05:22PM

NIMAN wrote: »

Some might say signing Bale for €100mill was better value than Arsenal signing Ozil for €50mill.

I have to agree that the money at the top clubs now is getting ridiculous, they are handing out silly money and its a spiral which keeps itself fed. Add in astronomical wages for so many players, it makes you wonder how they clubs can continue to function as viable businesses at all.

As long as fans continue to be allowed to be milked, it will be sustainable.

brianregan09 · 22-07-2014 05:26PM

The way southampton have been knocking players out of the park i'm surprised they didn't have a go at flogging Madrid Jay Rodriguez to chance there arm

MisterAnarchy · 23-07-2014 12:53PM

Real Madrid seem to have abandoned their recent policy of trying to introduce Spanish players to the team and have reverted to their Galactico policy
Alvaro Morata has been sold to Juventus, Arbeloa will be little more than a utility man this season ,Casillas could be sold too, Isco is also likely to be sold during the summer and Asier Illarramendi has failed to earn the trust of Carlo Ancelotti.
Reminds me of the time they flogged off all the Dutch players 5 years ago,there doesnt seem to be much forward planning at the club .

gimmick · 23-07-2014 01:16PM

Spanish media claiming Real sold 50000 JAMES shirts yesterday.

Thats a nice bit of their outlay recouped straight off.

NIMAN · 23-07-2014 01:43PM

gimmick wrote: »

Spanish media claiming Real sold 50000 JAMES shirts yesterday.

Thats a nice bit of their outlay recouped straight off.

I wouldn't say its even made a dent in what they are paying. I don't buy this whole shirt sale hype.

50,000 shirts at say €60 each = €3million. Say Adidas and Real Madrid split the cash, I would say it would be pushing it to say the club get €30 per shirt. Thats €1.5mill.
And after the initial rush, sales will drop off dramatically.

Even if they sell another €5million worth of shirts, he cost €85million, plus I am sure he must be getting at least €150k per week (or another €47mill in wages over his 6yr deal).

Gonna need some short sales to recoup over €130million costs.

Corholio · 23-07-2014 01:51PM

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

Real Madrid seem to have abandoned their recent policy of trying to introduce Spanish players to the team and have reverted to their Galactico policy
Alvaro Morata has been sold to Juventus, Arbeloa will be little more than a utility man this season ,Casillas could be sold too, Isco is also likely to be sold during the summer and Asier Illarramendi has failed to earn the trust of Carlo Ancelotti.
Reminds me of the time they flogged off all the Dutch players 5 years ago,there doesnt seem to be much forward planning at the club .

In fairness Casillas was already no.2 at the club, Carvajal was superb last season so no way Arbeloa was getting his place there. Isco was in and out of the team without hugely impressing and Illarramendi was seen as Alonso's long term replacement although not sure he impressed enough to be that. I think they got a great deal for Morata to be honest, his game is more suited to other leagues.

MisterAnarchy · 23-07-2014 01:52PM

NIMAN wrote: »

I wouldn't say its even made a dent in what they are paying. I don't buy this whole shirt sale hype.

50,000 shirts at say €60 each = €3million. Say Adidas and Real Madrid split the cash, I would say it would be pushing it to say the club get €30 per shirt. Thats €1.5mill.
And after the initial rush, sales will drop off dramatically.

Even if they sell another €5million worth of shirts, he cost €85million, plus I am sure he must be getting at least €150k per week (or another €47mill in wages over his 6yr deal).

Gonna need some short sales to recoup over €130million costs.

I'd say the retailer gets a nice cut too but in this case the club sold the jerseys directly at 77 euro a pop.
Anyone know what percentage of a jersey sold in a normal shop goes to the club ,probably 35% ?

gimmick · 23-07-2014 01:58PM

Is Morata the most over rated reserve ever? He has been linked with everyone over the last few years, but got feck all game time for Madrid. Seems whatever deal they got for him is a good one.

NIMAN · 23-07-2014 02:10PM

I think Morata had a great record for their reserve and uunderage sides, but then so have another loads of players in the past, and they never got the chance at senior level. Raul was the last who made it. Morata is just the latest Portillo.

Jese had actually looked more impressive too in the 1st team before he got his knee injury, so I assume he will be back soon and the club probably seen him as more of a prospect than Morata. Morata never looked as good as he was hyped up to be anytime I seen him play. Bit like a Morientes player methinks. Jese has more going for him.

SlickRic · 24-07-2014 02:02PM

his hair just gets better and better.

he said Rodriguez's move proves La Liga is the best league in the world.

it merely proves that the top 2 have more money than anyone else tbh.

but yeah, the big story, Bale's wonderful new hairpiece.

Smithwicks Man · 24-07-2014 05:40PM

SlickRic wrote: »

his hair just gets better and better.

he said Rodriguez's move proves La Liga is the best league in the world.

it merely proves that the top 2 have more money than anyone else tbh.

but yeah, the big story, Bale's wonderful new hairpiece.

It is the best league in the world really. Has the highest calibre of player.

The old cliché that the EPL is the greatest league in the world seems to be dying off somewhat, as it should have done years ago.

Blatter · 24-07-2014 05:44PM

Smithwicks Man wrote: »

It is the best league in the world really. Has the highest calibre of player.

The old cliché that the EPL is the greatest league in the world seems to be dying off somewhat, as it should have done years ago.

It depends what you're definition of 'best' is tbh, it's quite subjective.

I think the PL has the best blend of quality and competitiveness.

Smithwicks Man · 24-07-2014 05:59PM

Blatter wrote: »

It depends what you're definition of 'best' is tbh, it's quite subjective.

I think the PL has the best blend of quality and competitiveness.

Very true, although I cringe every time a Sky pundit or commentator blurts out the "best league in the world" tripe at every chance they get. It's embarrassing.

I do agree it's subjective but the quality of player at Real and Barca has reached new heights this summer and the general quality of player for the mid-table teams is higher than what people think.

Also, the performance of Spanish clubs in Europe has far exceeded the performance of English clubs over the last 5 years.

These are the most important things to consider when comparing the leagues imo.

NIMAN · 24-07-2014 10:07PM

I see sales of James shirts is now at 378,000 in 48hrs!

Sorry but not buying that.

bradlente · 24-07-2014 11:15PM

NIMAN wrote: »

I see sales of James shirts is now at 378,000 in 48hrs!

Sorry but not buying that.

Yeah it's the Daily Mail reporting it too.

DildoFaggins · 24-07-2014 11:34PM

Premier League is the most exciting and competitive of the top leagues Serie A is very competitive and could be brilliant this season with Roma,Napoli,Inter and Fiorentina building very good teams.
La Liga is crap Barca and Madrid just corrupt the league,all the billionaires know they will never be allowed buy a team and compete with them,that's partly what happened with Malaga.
How Real are allowed to spend this much every year is a joke.

dreamers75 · 25-07-2014 07:52AM

Smithwicks Man wrote: »

It is the best league in the world really. Has the highest calibre of player.

The destruction of the Champions team proves otherwise, it has the 2 teams all players want to play for.

I prefer La Liga on the whole but the money situation is ridiculous, championship clubs can offer more wages than most la liga teams.

Which is detrimental to the league as all the best players leave.

elefant · 25-07-2014 08:29AM

DildoFaggins wrote: »

La Liga is crap Barca and Madrid just corrupt the league,all the billionaires know they will never be allowed buy a team and compete with them,that's partly what happened with Malaga.

How is that what happened with Malaga?

gimmick · 25-07-2014 09:03AM

What happened with Malaga was their white knight was full of sh*t.

Saying La Liga is crap is a bit silly. Their trophy haul in European competitions in recent seasons debunks that.

Too Tough To Die · 25-07-2014 09:31AM

In terms of quality across the league, from 1 to 20 La Liga is unrivaled but there is plenty to dislike about the league too.

La Liga 2014/15 Discussion Thread

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