duke313 Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 8 minutes ago, bannedfromHandV said: I’m really not too concerned, as has been mentioned, other leagues have tried this approach and it’s not really worked out long term. One thing money cannot buy is culture, after a year or two of playing in front of soulless crowds for soulless trophies it’ll start to hit home and the allure will wear thin. By that point they'll be playing in a World Super League along with the best teams in Europe. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mic09 Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 13 minutes ago, bannedfromHandV said: I’m really not too concerned, as has been mentioned, other leagues have tried this approach and it’s not really worked out long term. One thing money cannot buy is culture, after a year or two of playing in front of soulless crowds for soulless trophies it’ll start to hit home and the allure will wear thin. I don't like this whole thing as much as the next person, but one thing Saudi football isn't is soulless. Regular people care about football and are really passionate about it. The fans are loud, from the supporter perspective it's a good league. From the sporting merit, much less so. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutByEaster? Posted June 21, 2023 Moderator Share Posted June 21, 2023 It's hard to try to figure out how they'll do this - ultimately the mission is to 'own' sports in Saudi Arabia - and I don't think you can rule anything out in terms of that. I mean with these guys just about anything is possible - take the Premier League's top ten teams, base them in Saudi then add another six from Europe and the Saudi big four? Make the Saudi league the pinnacle of competition, so that teams play their domestic football then if the players are good enough, they get elected for Saudi teams for four months a year - sort of like the Indian cricket leagues or central contracts with the ECB? Anything could happen and none of it looks good to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villarcana Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 (edited) Leave ‘em to it , I couldn’t care less , players will go for more money than there already infinite money (in normal human terms) to play in front of more people with more oil money , all of it to me feels dirty, it’s an unsustainable model, at the end of the day it’s still in Saudi Arabia , teams with no history housing a few show ponies , literally no one is watching that crap, I don’t care if it’s the best players in the world (eventually) I care about history, heritage and the beautiful game. This is greed, players who clearly give no f8cks and a bunch of oil pricks colosseum, no history , just fluff . In Saudi it’s great for the football fans there , everyone else will probably just see it as a bit meh Hate it Edited June 21, 2023 by Villarcana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sne Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wishywashy Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 (edited) 2 minutes ago, sne said: You can just visualise the 2 "creative writers" that compose the Football Insider workforce patting themselves on the back for coming up with this one. Guaranteed interactions. Edited June 21, 2023 by wishywashy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutByEaster? Posted June 21, 2023 Moderator Share Posted June 21, 2023 I wonder how the transfers work - does Kante's agent get an offer from Al-Hilal to consider, or does the offer come direct from PIF - if it's PIF does he then select which of the clubs he wants to play for or do they place him in one of them as a way to create balance for sporting reasons? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustibrooks Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 41 minutes ago, OutByEaster? said: I wonder how the transfers work - does Kante's agent get an offer from Al-Hilal to consider, or does the offer come direct from PIF - if it's PIF does he then select which of the clubs he wants to play for or do they place him in one of them as a way to create balance for sporting reasons? I think I was reading somewhere that in the last month, reps from those teams were based somewhere and they would invite the players and their agents to discuss with all the Saudi teams. It sounds to me that it’s PIF with the clubs reps and they speak with PIF and choose whatever team maybe? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 1 hour ago, duke313 said: By that point they'll be playing in a World Super League along with the best teams in Europe. what world super league would that be? they cant even get a european super league they'll buy the world cup, they'll buy the club world cup, they'll no doubt buy a CL final, they might buy some PL games...they wont buy a super league, at best they'll kick start a CL alternative but get the popcorn out of that one as UEFA wont give up their cash cow easily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ender4 Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 1 hour ago, bannedfromHandV said: One thing money cannot buy is culture, after a year or two of playing in front of soulless crowds for soulless trophies it’ll start to hit home and the allure will wear thin. What if they end up playing for these Saudi teams against PSG, Chelsea, Man City, Madrid, etc... in the Euro-Asian Super League? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duke313 Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 25 minutes ago, villa4europe said: what world super league would that be? they cant even get a european super league they'll buy the world cup, they'll buy the club world cup, they'll no doubt buy a CL final, they might buy some PL games...they wont buy a super league, at best they'll kick start a CL alternative but get the popcorn out of that one as UEFA wont give up their cash cow easily The one they breakaway and form with the Saudi's bankrolling it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 12 minutes ago, duke313 said: The one they breakaway and form with the Saudi's bankrolling it? that's wishy washy guesswork though wont ever happen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villarule123 Posted June 21, 2023 VT Supporter Share Posted June 21, 2023 I'm a little worried about all this given what's happened with them effectively buying golf. Players earn a lot of money but it is feasible that they start offering even more obscene amounts of cash to make them go and play there. A similar outcome to golf would be if top players (in their prime) start going there, causing a split in the game and then the eventual outcome being there would be a world super league where Fifa /UEFA/ the Saudis all merge as one. As long as Villa stay out of it, I couldn't care less. I just want to watch us play at Villa Park 19 times a season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobzy Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 5 minutes ago, villarule123 said: I'm a little worried about all this given what's happened with them effectively buying golf. Players earn a lot of money but it is feasible that they start offering even more obscene amounts of cash to make them go and play there. A similar outcome to golf would be if top players (in their prime) start going there, causing a split in the game and then the eventual outcome being there would be a world super league where Fifa /UEFA/ the Saudis all merge as one. As long as Villa stay out of it, I couldn't care less. I just want to watch us play at Villa Park 19 times a season. So you're willing to sell your soul for cup games, I see? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villarule123 Posted June 21, 2023 VT Supporter Share Posted June 21, 2023 I'd love the supposed 'Big 6' to **** off and leave the rest of us battling it out for the PL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BleedClaretAndBlue Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobzy Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 Just now, BleedClaretAndBlue said: I think that's fair. I've no problem with Saudi Arabia gobbling up the best players from around the World and the Asian Champions League becoming the new major force in World football - that's all fine, good luck to them. My only concern is with "FFP" in this country. I also think that most Villa fans would be delighted if we sold Coutinho to a Saudi club for £50m. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyblade Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 2 hours ago, bannedfromHandV said: I’m really not too concerned, as has been mentioned, other leagues have tried this approach and it’s not really worked out long term. One thing money cannot buy is culture, after a year or two of playing in front of soulless crowds for soulless trophies it’ll start to hit home and the allure will wear thin. Why are you assuming Saudi Arabia has no football heritage? Al Hilal is the most successful Asian club in history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobzy Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 2 minutes ago, Keyblade said: Why are you assuming Saudi Arabia has no football heritage? Al Hilal is the most successful Asian club in history. Someone read the BBC article... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duke313 Posted June 21, 2023 Share Posted June 21, 2023 21 minutes ago, villa4europe said: that's wishy washy guesswork though wont ever happen Keep believing that, I'm sure the PGA thought the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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