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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (4 Viewers)

FreeBaGeL said:
I don't know if it matters alongside all that other stuff as well but isn't Messi also a big fan of Miami the city as well? Already owns property there, allegedly vacationed there all the time.

For a guy that has already won everything and is just looking to ride out the last years of his career while making stupid money, I would imagine chilling on the beach in Miami alongside a nation and fans that are just happy to have you there is more appealing than living in some dreary English city where fans are going to turn on you if you don't instantly win them every trophy in existence.
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@Capella

Messi already filthy rich. not that people don't want more money... he obviously does, but the straight money being offered by Saudi was insane- and they turned it down (mostly because of the wife and family not wanting to be there for 2 years).

He was playing for one of, if not the highest paying euro clubs in PSG. Barca really wanted him back, and he really wanted to go back. but Barca is in financial duress, and couldn't even put together an offer that would be anything but embarrassing, especially compared to the amounts being offered by MLS and Saudi.

From what I'd read, a determining factor- lifestyle was important for him (along with the insane package from MLS). as bagel said- he already had a spot in Miami and was familiar with and liked it. I've read as well that when Becks started Miami, the talks began as far back as then... if at least unofficially. another aspect of the lifestyle that I've heard- he was looking forward to being under far less spotlight and pressure from the media and fans vs europe, where you're accosted and having every element of your game and life micro-analyzed the second you leave your house 24/7. I don't think it's any shock that the (apparently staged) visit he and his wife made to a Publix was one of the first news pieces on him- he wanted a more "normal" life.
 
The Z Machine said:
bigbottom said:
massraider said:
bigbottom said:
Got my kid and his friend tickets to Arsenal Barca at SoFi. He better send me a freaking thank you card.
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My brother the Arsenal fan lives in LA and is going as well.

I'm gonna hit that stadium for first time for Raiders/Chargers in Sept
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I just hope that Barca recovers from whatever gastric issues are plaguing them.
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I don't
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Well, I’m not a fan, but my kid is going to be seriously bummed if they cancel the Arsenal friendly (his team for the last decade and playing in his back yard).
 
bigbottom said:
The Z Machine said:
bigbottom said:
massraider said:
bigbottom said:
Got my kid and his friend tickets to Arsenal Barca at SoFi. He better send me a freaking thank you card.
Click to expand...
My brother the Arsenal fan lives in LA and is going as well.

I'm gonna hit that stadium for first time for Raiders/Chargers in Sept
Click to expand...

I just hope that Barca recovers from whatever gastric issues are plaguing them.
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I don't
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Well, I’m not a fan, but my kid is going to be seriously bummed if they cancel the Arsenal friendly (his team for the last decade and playing in his back yard).
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Lol. I thought you were laying a joke about their finances. I forgot they were actually sick. I don't wish illness on anyone, so I too hope they recover soon.
 
I have no idea if this is true but a 1 billion investment in a player to effectively rent him for one year is really insane

===========================================


James Benge

@jamesbenge

Al Hilal offering €300m transfer fee to PSG. In addition to this they are prepared to offer Mbappe a salary package of €700m over one year, after which he would be free to depart for Real Madrid should he so wish.
 
NewlyRetired said:
I have no idea if this is true but a 1 billion investment in a player to effectively rent him for one year is really insane

===========================================

James Benge
@jamesbenge

Al Hilal offering €300m transfer fee to PSG. In addition to this they are prepared to offer Mbappe a salary package of €700m over one year, after which he would be free to depart for Real Madrid should he so wish.
Click to expand...

I still can't see myself ever watching any of these games, partly because I just don't have the time to try to work in another league to my schedule. I'm sure I am not the target market anyway. The names of these clubs are hard for me to keep straight due to lack of familiarity and language issues. I know I've heard of Al Hilal but have no idea who plays there. Offhand, I also couldn't say where Ronaldo, Benz, Kante, Gerrard, Firmino or any others are playing/coaching.
 
Let me just say I despise what the Saudis are doing to sports. And yes, it’s not too different than what some others have done but like CM there’s no way I’ll ever watch their league or at least not any time soon. Also, I don’t really blame the players that much for going over there - it’s crazy money.
 
bigbottom said:
I have no idea if this is true but a 1 billion investment in a player to effectively rent him for one year is really insane
NewlyRetired said:
===========================================

James Benge
@jamesbenge

Al Hilal offering €300m transfer fee to PSG. In addition to this they are prepared to offer Mbappe a salary package of €700m over one year, after which he would be free to depart for Real Madrid should he so wish.
Click to expand...

I still can't see myself ever watching any of these games, partly because I just don't have the time to try to work in another league to my schedule. I'm sure I am not the target market anyway. The names of these clubs are hard for me to keep straight due to lack of familiarity and language issues. I know I've heard of Al Hilal but have no idea who plays there. Offhand, I also couldn't say where Ronaldo, Benz, Kante, Gerrard, Firmino or any others are playing/coaching.
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That's how I feel about MLS ;)
 
AAABatteries said:
Let me just say I despise what the Saudis are doing to sports. And yes, it’s not too different than what some others have done but like CM there’s no way I’ll ever watch their league or at least not any time soon. Also, I don’t really blame the players that much for going over there - it’s crazy money.
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This.

Take as much of that oil money you can get, players!
But I won't watch.
 
AAABatteries said:
Let me just say I despise what the Saudis are doing to sports. And yes, it’s not too different than what some others have done but like CM there’s no way I’ll ever watch their league or at least not any time soon. Also, I don’t really blame the players that much for going over there - it’s crazy money.
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I already quit watching PGA tour events after the merger last month and I miss it a lot less than I thought I would. Won't be difficult at all to ignore the Saudi soccer league either.

I don't have a problem at all with the players taking what they can get. But I won't be watching.
 
NewlyRetired said:
I have no idea if this is true but a 1 billion investment in a player to effectively rent him for one year is really insane

===========================================

James Benge
@jamesbenge

Al Hilal offering €300m transfer fee to PSG. In addition to this they are prepared to offer Mbappe a salary package of €700m over one year, after which he would be free to depart for Real Madrid should he so wish.
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:lmao:

 
NewlyRetired said:
NewlyRetired said:
I have no idea if this is true but a 1 billion investment in a player to effectively rent him for one year is really insane

===========================================

James Benge
@jamesbenge

Al Hilal offering €300m transfer fee to PSG. In addition to this they are prepared to offer Mbappe a salary package of €700m over one year, after which he would be free to depart for Real Madrid should he so wish.
Click to expand...


:lmao:

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Fabrizio just gave this a "here we go?"

:lmao: :lmao:
 
@JoePompliano
Inter Miami has added 11 million Instagram followers since Lionel Messi joined the team.They now have more followers than every NFL, MLB, and NHL team — and Inter Miami has more followers than the other 28 MLS teams combined.That’s the Messi effect (Chart via @LevAkabas)

Inter Miami is now the 4th most followed sports team in the United States.
• Warriors (NBA): 31 million
• Lakers (NBA): 23 million
• Cavaliers (NBA): 16 million
• Inter Miami (MLS): 12 million

For an MLS team that had 1 million IG followers a month ago, that’s absurd.
Click to expand...
 
CletiusMaximus said:
@JoePompliano
Inter Miami has added 11 million Instagram followers since Lionel Messi joined the team.They now have more followers than every NFL, MLB, and NHL team — and Inter Miami has more followers than the other 28 MLS teams combined.That’s the Messi effect (Chart via @LevAkabas)

Inter Miami is now the 4th most followed sports team in the United States.
• Warriors (NBA): 31 million
• Lakers (NBA): 23 million
• Cavaliers (NBA): 16 million
• Inter Miami (MLS): 12 million

For an MLS team that had 1 million IG followers a month ago, that’s absurd.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

The key, for me, is neither the 11 million now nor the 1 million before Messi. How many stick around post Messi will determine whether he had an effect or not (and I obviously don't mean Instagram specifically).

Pele and Becks before Messi had massive effects on the sport in the US over the long term. Messi will not have the ability to move the needle that much obviously since the sport in the US is significantly stronger than when either Pele or Becks entered the league but he does need to have some long term effect, even if we don't see it on the surface.

edit: It is quite linear when you break it down

Pele helped the US get WC1994
WC 1994 helped the US create MLS
MLS helped the US land Becks
Becks helped the US land Messi

What Messi helps may not be known for a long time.
 
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The Power of Messi. These numbers don't include any Apple TV/English language viewers. And this was at the exact same time as the US WWC game which drew big numbers on Fox.

Soccer, she is healthy in the US..at least for big events/games

============================

[Jaime Ojeda] #Messi's debut with #InterMiamiCF drew 1.753 million viewers in the opening match of the #LeaguesCup on Univision/TUDN's non-exclusive Spanish-language television broadcast (N/A the # on Apple TV). It is the most watched #MLS broadcast in Spanish in history.
 
NewlyRetired said:
CletiusMaximus said:
@JoePompliano
Inter Miami has added 11 million Instagram followers since Lionel Messi joined the team.They now have more followers than every NFL, MLB, and NHL team — and Inter Miami has more followers than the other 28 MLS teams combined.That’s the Messi effect (Chart via @LevAkabas)

Inter Miami is now the 4th most followed sports team in the United States.
• Warriors (NBA): 31 million
• Lakers (NBA): 23 million
• Cavaliers (NBA): 16 million
• Inter Miami (MLS): 12 million

For an MLS team that had 1 million IG followers a month ago, that’s absurd.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

The key, for me, is neither the 11 million now nor the 1 million before Messi. How many stick around post Messi will determine whether he had an effect or not (and I obviously don't mean Instagram specifically).

Pele and Becks before Messi had massive effects on the sport in the US over the long term. Messi will not have the ability to move the needle that much obviously since the sport in the US is significantly stronger than when either Pele or Becks entered the league but he does need to have some long term effect, even if we don't see it on the surface.

edit: It is quite linear when you break it down

Pele helped the US get WC1994
WC 1994 helped the US create MLS
MLS helped the US land Becks
Becks helped the US land Messi

What Messi helps may not be known for a long time.
Click to expand...
Still lots and lots of needle moving left on an absolute dollar basis, growth by a factor of 10 or more, I'd bet. The concept of compound interest applies to U.S. interest in soccer, I think.

I track soccer here and there, mostly the major tournaments and the bigger European club leagues. A month ago I didn't know Miami had a professional team. Messi signed and I checked out when the San Jose Quakes play them. They don't. Different divisions. Shucks. But now I want to go to a Quakes game. Never been. So we're going later this year.

Friday night I was looking for game highlights to see how Messi did. I can't name 10 teams in MLS, but I probably soon will be able to.

I have AppleTV and was going to cancel it. Looks like I can watch Miami with my AppleTV account. Only way actually. Not going to cancel.

Went to a USL game a few weeks ago. Oakland Roots, a quickly growing team, aided by the departure of our professional teams, no doubt. The mayor of San Francisco is talking about an MLS team in San Francisco.

Create a relegation-based system in the U.S. with the MLS and USL teams and I'm in. All in? Not sure, but my interest in most U.S. professional sports is nearly gone aside from the NFL.

I spend thousands of dollars a year on/for my son to play soccer.

Soccer is headed in the right direction in this country and has been for a couple generations.

I wonder what happened to the collective value of the MLS after Messi signed?
 
massraider said:
The Saudis are making a serious push for Mbappe. They might get to a billion between fee and salary.
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It’s not clear how much or any of these deals are actual money and how much is the player controlling their image rights. I’ve seen that the Mbappes actual salary is really 200 million versus the 700 million. Now granted 200 million is still a lot, but if the rest of the salaries are also really only 2/7ths plus image rights, these deals make a lot more sense.

I also don’t really get the end game here for Saudi. I think the only way this really makes sense is if they’re going to front the funds for an International club league and want one of their clubs in it. Between all the Arab owned Euro teams (City, PSG, Newcastle) and those still wanting a bigger league (RM and Barca) and the ManU sale, you’re quickly getting critical mass.
 
Liverpool's likely midfield for 23/24...

Thiago Alcantra - 32 years old
Alexis Mac Allister - 24 years old
Curtis Jones - 22 years old
Dominik Szobozslai - 22 years old
Harvey Elliott - 20 years old
Lucas Lavia - 19 years old
Stefan Bajcetic - 19 years old

Especially if they move to a 3-4-3 officially, with TAA alongside Lavia(?) in the back of a 4-man box, this is going to be a year of transition for LFC. Will take a group this young and this new some time to gel I'd think.
 
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Dinsy Ejotuz said:
Liverpool's likely midfield for 23/24...

Thiago Alcantra - 32 years old
Alexis Mac Allister - 24 years old
Curtis Jones - 22 years old
Dominik Szobozslai - 22 years old
Harvey Elliott - 20 years old
Lucas Lavia - 19 years old
Stefan Bajcetic - 19 years old

Especially if they move to a 3-4-3 officially, with TAA alongside Lavia(?) in the back of a 4-man box, this is going to be a year of transition for LFC. Will take a group this young and this new some time to gel I'd think.
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Romeo Lavia fyi.

That's certainly a young midfield, but also a very talented one. Everyone of those guys from Jones on down was a wonderkid on either FM22 or FM23. Mac Allister was Argentina's second best player according to some pundits at the WC.

Might take a year to two to gel, but then Liverpool might be set at midfield until 2030.
 
CletiusMaximus said:
NewlyRetired said:
I have no idea if this is true but a 1 billion investment in a player to effectively rent him for one year is really insane

===========================================

James Benge
@jamesbenge

Al Hilal offering €300m transfer fee to PSG. In addition to this they are prepared to offer Mbappe a salary package of €700m over one year, after which he would be free to depart for Real Madrid should he so wish.
Click to expand...

I still can't see myself ever watching any of these games, partly because I just don't have the time to try to work in another league to my schedule. I'm sure I am not the target market anyway. The names of these clubs are hard for me to keep straight due to lack of familiarity and language issues. I know I've heard of Al Hilal but have no idea who plays there. Offhand, I also couldn't say where Ronaldo, Benz, Kante, Gerrard, Firmino or any others are playing/coaching.
Click to expand...
There's Al Acart, Al Amode, Al Jarreau, Al Bundy. Lots of great teams.
 
According to Fabrizio:
Real Sociedad is negotiating for Donnie Van de Beek.
Galatasaray is negotiating for Fred
Once Fred and Donnie leave then they can submit on Amrabat.

United rejected a 20m offer from West Ham for Maguire
United improved their bid for Hojlund

****
Bailly may be on to Al Nassr, Dean Henderson might be off to Forest...
If United can finalize Hojlund and Amrabat, sell off Fred/DvdB/Bailly/Henderson and maybe even Magure, it may turn out to be a nice window.
 
titusbramble said:
If you like your Championship, here's well regarded Championship youtuber Ben Bloom giving his 1-24 for next season, hook that "24th - Sheffield Wednesday" up to my veins
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I was at Disney World this week and saw a Sheffield Wednesday shirt in the wild. Didn't recognize the crest so I asked the kid wearing it and he told me. They were British. No way a non-Brit is sporting a Wednesday kit. Although to be fair my son might have been wearing a Galatasaray shirt...
 
An Argentinian goal keeper was wearing a regular ol' baseball hat during a match today to help block out the sun.

Effective I guess but he looked like a dork.
 
he has a point and yet I am not sure this is something that can be fixed unless they come up with some really odd ball schedule of no summer and no winter games

=============================

Justin Horneker
@hornekerjustin

It was notable that Roman Bürki took some time in his post-match last night to talk about how untenable the current MLS calendar seems, "We need a break, it's over 100 degrees out here and we just play through it all summer. I don't get why we do this."
 
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