The European football thread - Page 485

darkhorse · 01-10-2007, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bababui

Why is it few players want to go to Wigan?

No reputation and a city of only 81,000 ain't too attractive to top talent.

bababui · 01-10-2007, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkhorse

No reputation and a city of only 81,000 ain't too attractive to top talent.

But they are very close to Manchester and Bolton. Wy would anyone want to play in Glasgow or Middlesborrough?

The Professor · 01-10-2007, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bababui

But they are very close to Manchester and Bolton. Wy would anyone want to play in Glasgow or Middlesborrough?

Well, when it comes to Glasgow, you've got what is, perhaps, the greatest [or maybe it is just one of the most vicious] rivalry in the world of sports with the Old Firm battle between Celtic and Rangers, two clubs with plenty of reputation.

As for "Middles-bro", I couldn't say.

LFC1892 · 01-10-2007, 10:53 PM

Thanks for the help and efforts to look around for me guys. I am sure I could approach the club directly if need be-they seem to appreciate the foreign support,lol.

Big Hugg · 01-11-2007, 01:36 AM

Fulham and Standard Liege have come to an agreement, finally, on Oguchi Onyewu's transfer fee. However, it's no lock he's gonna sign with them.

Obviously, I love the Dempsey move. Hate to lose Boa Morte, but he made it clear he wanted to go and there's no point in keeping him around. He's been pretty inconsistent the last year and a half anyway.

thehatfield · 01-11-2007, 11:40 AM

Beckham, is apparently going to MLS in August. I really didn't think MLS would pull it off but they seem to be spending ABSURD money (where is it coming from if they hardly pay the other players?)

Quote:

MADRID, Spain -- Former England captain David Beckham will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season and sign a five-year deal for MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy, he told Reuters on Thursday.

"This week Real Madrid asked me to make a decision regarding my future and the offer to extend my contract for a further two seasons," Beckham told Reuters.

"After discussing several options with my family and my advisors to either stay here in Madrid or join other major British and European teams I have decided to join LA Galaxy and play in the MLS from August this year.

"I would like to thank supporters and the people of Madrid who have made my family and I so welcome in my time here making this an extremely difficult decision to make.

"I have enjoyed my time here enormously and I am extremely grateful to the club for giving me an opportunity to play for such a great team and their amazing fans."

The 31-year-old, who joined Real from Manchester United in June 2003, is the most famous player to sign up for Major League Soccer since it began in 1996.

The deal is reported to be one of the biggest in global sport with Beckham set to earn more than $250 million over the duration of his contract.

The news ends months of speculation about the future of the midfielder whose contract with Real expires at the end of the season.

Having been first choice in the Real Madrid starting lineup since he moved to Spain, Beckham lost his place following the arrival of Italian coach Fabio Capello.

He has only started five of Real's 16 league games this season and was known to be frustrated with his lack of opportunities in the first team.

darkhorse · 01-11-2007, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purple Cowboy

Beckham, is apparently going to MLS in August. I really didn't think MLS would pull it off but they seem to be spending ABSURD money (where is it coming from if they hardly pay the other players?)

5 yrs/250M? Bah! I don't believe it.

theasfl · 01-11-2007, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

I don't think Fulham will go down, imo it's between Watford, Charlton, Wigan (sad to say), West Ham and Sheff Utd.

agreed

theasfl · 01-11-2007, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Hugg

Fulham and Standard Liege have come to an agreement, finally, on Oguchi Onyewu's transfer fee. However, it's no lock he's gonna sign with them.

jesus...

no more Americans for Fulham.

and Onyewu is rather overrated for the national team...how has he been in Europe?

theasfl · 01-11-2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkhorse

5 yrs/250M? Bah! I don't believe it.

agreed...

hes the most overrated player on the planet...I can understand him being brought over here to attract the average fan...but not for ****ing $50 mil a season.

As a fan of the sport, I hope he does horribly...as a fan of the MLS I hope it does at least adequately.

Ultimately I just hope this doesnt effectively kill the Galaxy.

Sdpm100 · 01-11-2007, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theasfl

jesus...

no more Americans for Fulham.

and Onyewu is rather overrated for the national team...how has he been in Europe?

Nobody probably knows - playing for Standard Liege means you're pretty anonymous to the rest of the world.

The Professor · 01-11-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkhorse

5 yrs/250M? Bah! I don't believe it.

" "

If it is true (at that sum), I think it could be a potential catastrophe for MLS

ukhotstove · 01-11-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bababui

Are these players approachable away from the pitch? Or are the teams just doing what the players want them to do?

Alot of it has to do with ebay, Man Utd players have been told not to sign anymore shirts and stuff at their training ground as alot of the signed things were ending up on ebay. Liverpools reply was they get loads of requests for players to sign things, personally I thought me sending money for them to give to charity would have got the autograph but was wrong.

Newcastle's reply was that they only get players to sign things for charity and only way to get autograph is by going to the games and asking the players, the lower you go down the leagues the easier to get autographs, when I was younger I used to get my programmes signed by both home and away players even the likes of Chelsea, Aston Villa, Liverpool players would sign them when Wigan played them in cup games but seem's with the advent of ebay that this as all changed.

I even have one of the first Beckham auto's when he played for Preston on loan, and for about 4-5 seasons every programme of every game of Wigans season's are signed

ukhotstove · 01-11-2007, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkhorse

No reputation and a city of only 81,000 ain't too attractive to top talent.

" plus add on the fact their a new face in the Premiership.

ukhotstove · 01-11-2007, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bababui

But they are very close to Manchester and Bolton. Wy would anyone want to play in Glasgow or Middlesborrough?

Glasgow is simple you can play for two of the biggest teams in the world plus the fact your certain to play in Europe every year, Boro are finding it harder to attract players because of poor form and such but they have a chairman willing to throw loads of money at players so they can attract players.

Wigan on the other hand have a soft salary cap in place for the next few seasons until they establish themselves in the prem so they aren't weighed down with heavy contracts if they go down.

ukhotstove · 01-11-2007, 01:54 PM

Cough, cough

and who said The Ego would end up in LA ?

Did you honestly think the biggest Ego in football would turn down a chance of playing on the doorstep of Hollywood, they were made for each other.

thehatfield · 01-11-2007, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Professor

" "

If it is true (at that sum), I think it could be a potential catastrophe for MLS

ESPN radio has been reporting the $250 mil figure as well; wonder if they're just running with the soccernet story though.

It is absurd... for a league that has team salary caps at $2 mil (I'm pretty sure) I can't understand how they have the money available for a move like this.

Sdpm100 · 01-11-2007, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Cough, cough

and who said The Ego would end up in LA ?

Did you honestly think the biggest Ego in football would turn down a chance of playing on the doorstep of Hollywood, they were made for each other.

I should just stick to women's netball, shouldn't I?

ukhotstove · 01-11-2007, 02:03 PM

Maybe the salary counts into it his image rights, this was a major stumbling block with him resigning with Real, they wanted 50% of his rights but he wanted full control, maybe it should say the deal could be worth up to $250 million.

Sdpm100 · 01-11-2007, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Professor

" "

If it is true (at that sum), I think it could be a potential catastrophe for MLS

The only catastrophe would be for AEG as they are liable to pay the contract.
The $250 million will include merchandise and image rights sales as well as his basic wage.

01-11-2007, 01:36 AM	#9685
Big Hugg All Star Reserve Join Date: May 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 933	Fulham and Standard Liege have come to an agreement, finally, on Oguchi Onyewu's transfer fee. However, it's no lock he's gonna sign with them. Obviously, I love the Dempsey move. Hate to lose Boa Morte, but he made it clear he wanted to go and there's no point in keeping him around. He's been pretty inconsistent the last year and a half anyway. Last edited by Big Hugg; 01-11-2007 at 01:38 AM.

01-10-2007, 10:53 PM	#9684
LFC1892 All Star Reserve Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Global Posts: 963	Thanks for the help and efforts to look around for me guys. I am sure I could approach the club directly if need be-they seem to appreciate the foreign support,lol.

01-11-2007, 01:54 PM	#9696
ukhotstove Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: North of England Gods Country Posts: 7,175	Cough, cough and who said The Ego would end up in LA ? Did you honestly think the biggest Ego in football would turn down a chance of playing on the doorstep of Hollywood, they were made for each other.

01-11-2007, 02:03 PM	#9699
ukhotstove Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: North of England Gods Country Posts: 7,175	Maybe the salary counts into it his image rights, this was a major stumbling block with him resigning with Real, they wanted 50% of his rights but he wanted full control, maybe it should say the deal could be worth up to $250 million.