Anybody bothered about the Saudis hoovering up Prem players?
Discussion
Just wondered if anyone has any misgivings about what is happening to the Premiership, vis a vis the very real possibility of the Saudis buying up all the decent players and reducing the Prem to, well, I don't know what.
Latest one who might be off is Fabinho.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66210831
Maybe it's a good thing if the money is used to generate more home-grown talent?
Latest one who might be off is Fabinho.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66210831
Maybe it's a good thing if the money is used to generate more home-grown talent?
Wacky Racer said:
At the moment it is players nearing the end of their careers.
Thin end of the wedge though isn't it? I dunno, I'm genuinely interested to know what people think about it and why nobody at the FA seems to be concerned. Maybe they are but I've seen no comments from them about it in the press. 
Blackpuddin said:
Thin end of the wedge though isn't it? I dunno, I'm genuinely interested to know what people think about it and why nobody at the FA seems to be concerned. Maybe they are but I've seen no comments from them about it in the press.
How many international team managers will be interested in players that are playing league 2 standard football?
MCBrowncoat said:
People are being really naive if they think the end goal here would be to invest all that money to create a second or third rate league.
Al Hilal are already the most successful club in Asia. And yet what's the audience of the Saudi league? It's not even the most watched in Europe.Not forgetting the TWO most successful clubs in Europe play in the same league, and yet that league ranks outside the top 10 in the world for viewers.
Bluntly, I don't see Saudi creating a global brand or even a global legacy of player development. Sure, we should see an investment in facilities and standards improve the visibility of Saudi and middle eastern players in other leagues, but there's no way they're going to build a competitive league from importing 30+ y.o. players from abroad.
They are only doing what the premier league did in the early days so can't complain.
However there are some big stumbling blocks for SA that will mean they won't become as big, mainly the prestigious European cup competitions and top leagues which the best players do always want to compete in.
You will see many a older player go for one last big paycheck but it will take something special to attract Europe's biggest prospects to that league.
You also have the worldwide coverage of the top Euro leagues to contend with.
If this was some European nation that suddenly came into unlimited wealth then I'd probably be a bit more concerned, as it stands it will be a retirement home for aging players to top up their pensions for many years to come.
However there are some big stumbling blocks for SA that will mean they won't become as big, mainly the prestigious European cup competitions and top leagues which the best players do always want to compete in.
You will see many a older player go for one last big paycheck but it will take something special to attract Europe's biggest prospects to that league.
You also have the worldwide coverage of the top Euro leagues to contend with.
If this was some European nation that suddenly came into unlimited wealth then I'd probably be a bit more concerned, as it stands it will be a retirement home for aging players to top up their pensions for many years to come.
Wacky Racer said:
At the moment it is players nearing the end of their careers.
If you were a brilliant 20 year old brought up on a council estate, it might be difficult not to turn down £50m a year.
Footballers (bar Harry Kane) want to win things, money is good but winning trophies is better. I'd wager every footballer (bar Harry Lane) would put winning the FA Cup or the premiership on £5m a year over winning nothing on £50m a year If you were a brilliant 20 year old brought up on a council estate, it might be difficult not to turn down £50m a year.
Radec said:
However there are some big stumbling blocks for SA that will mean they won't become as big, mainly the prestigious European cup competitions and top leagues which the best players do always want to compete in.
You will see many a older player go for one last big paycheck but it will take something special to attract Europe's biggest prospects to that league.
You also have the worldwide coverage of the top Euro leagues to contend with.
Surely though the Euro prestige will erode away as the players leave for Saudi? Again I'm just guessing here but if I was the bod in charge of building up the Saudi league and I was given an unlimited budget my goal would be pretty simple. Create the world's best league. You will see many a older player go for one last big paycheck but it will take something special to attract Europe's biggest prospects to that league.
You also have the worldwide coverage of the top Euro leagues to contend with.
pablo said:
Footballers (bar Harry Kane) want to win things, money is good but winning trophies is better. I'd wager every footballer (bar Harry Lane) would put winning the FA Cup or the premiership on £5m a year over winning nothing on £50m a year
£5m and an FA Cup medal or £50m? Every footballer bar 1?You're kidding right?
Blackpuddin said:
Thin end of the wedge though isn't it?
This. They've been quietly hoovering up younger failed/relegated Premier League players and equivalent from around Europe. Then they started landing current Premier League players (and equivalent from around Europe) who were retiring. Now they appear to be nabbing a current England international amongst others.
Never mind the Premier League (and other primary leagues in Europe) being worried, UEFA should be paying close attention. Only a matter of time before there is a Saudi team in the Champions League or their version of the Champions League. Call it the "Liv Champions League" instead of "UEFA Champions League" if you will.
Money talks.
Football has history, heritage and club prestige. Probably about 5-8 clubs in the world are worth playing for if you want to be remembered as someone who did it on the best stage among the greats.
None of those are outside Europe, let alone SA and won’t be for some time for anyone other than has-beens.
None of those are outside Europe, let alone SA and won’t be for some time for anyone other than has-beens.
okgo said:
Football has history, heritage and club prestige. Probably about 5-8 clubs in the world are worth playing for if you want to be remembered as someone who did it on the best stage among the greats.
None of those are outside Europe, let alone SA and won’t be for some time for anyone other than has-beens.
None of those are outside Europe, let alone SA and won’t be for some time for anyone other than has-beens.
You really do think modern footballers crave cup winners medals and
national caps more than swimming pools of cash ?
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