...::[The Footy Desk]::... (Part 2)

[smokeless6]

Yeah, Chelsea have the quality to win it, no doubt about that.

 

Back on December 8th I made the bold prediction that Chelsea were about to go through some turmoil. At the time there was seemingly little reason to think so, they were winning every match. But I could see some signs, I thought, and sure enough the shine's come off the side since then. they've struggled for results.

 

But there's too much quality in the side for this to last long, and Tuchel I think, has proven himself in the Premier League, and he's shown me to be a really good tactician. His immediate and complete effect on Chelsea's defensive solidity was shocking really, and made me eat my words. That they could be so open under SuperFrank and yet be the best defensive side in the league under Tuchel with essentially the same players. Maybe it was as simple as putting Kante back where he belongs. Round peg, round hole.

 

But yes, in a one-off final trends and history mean nothing and I fear Chelsea's ability to counter Liverpool and shut them down. Should be a good chess match between Tuchel and Klopp.

 

[Eutyphro]

In other news, this Man United - West Ham game is absolutely dreadful to watch.

Edit: Nice last minute winner though I guess.

Edited January 22, 2022 by Eutyphro

[smokeless6]

1 hour ago, Eutyphro said:

Edit: Nice last minute winner though I guess.

 

It's a matter of perspective

[Jason]

Was only able to watch the second half, once again the story of the tape was our midfield not being good enough on the ball, can't pick out dangerous passes leaving the wide players and forwards dropping dip to get on the ball.

 

Defensively starting to look more solid though, overall looking better as well, more like a team, less disjointed and messy. I imagine Ralf is begging the board for a midfielder this Jan but I don't see it happening, there's absolutely zero talk of anything right now.

[Girish]

Thank f*ck for Spurs! No matter how much of a bad run of form we are in, can always count on Spurs to give us a win! That's 3 wins in 17 days against Spurs & Conte, and without conceding too!

 

Spurs have 4 games in hand but still, it would be a massive accomplishment for Conte if he can get them into top 4.

[Lonely-Martin]

Obviously disappointing but we're just no way near the top 3 when they're playing nearer their best. A game that doesn't hamper our top 4 chances too much given other results and potential points with games in hand, but of course the win would have always helped. sh*t happens.

 

Bit of a break to freshen up and get the likes of Sonny back fit, and time to sign/sell a couple players, Levy, I hope and go again. Conte's done well to only lose 1 in 10 in the league with that broken ass squad, it's so obvious we need a lil' bit of work and if done right, could be a stronger second half of the season. But we'll see.

[Jason]

Kane's goal was never a foul for me, Silva's sold the ref a bridge with that one. Ball was behind him and he knew he was in trouble so he's made the most out of some slight contact. Spurs may think they're a bit unlucky after that as it would've gave them something to defend but that's the way it goes with Premiership refs at the moment.

 

Decent weekend for us in the end, huge 3 points against a top 4 rival, Arsenal drop 2 points, Spurs drop 3. Wouldn't have been awful if Spurs/Chelsea drew, or even if Spurs won tbh, as it'd drag Chelsea right into the top 4 battle and open up 3rd.

[Lonely-Martin]

10 minutes ago, Jason said:

Kane's goal was never a foul for me, Silva's sold the ref a bridge with that one. Ball was behind him and he knew he was in trouble so he's made the most out of some slight contact. Spurs may think they're a bit unlucky after that as it would've gave them something to defend but that's the way it goes with Premiership refs at the moment.

 

Decent weekend for us in the end, huge 3 points against a top 4 rival, Arsenal drop 2 points, Spurs drop 3. Wouldn't have been awful if Spurs/Chelsea drew, or even if Spurs won tbh, as it'd drag Chelsea right into the top 4 battle and open up 3rd.

 

Aye, but it's a non contact sport these days mind you.

 

Can't believe Roy Keane of all people is actually defending that decision too though. Football must've gone proper soft for it to get to even Roy Keane making excuses. Made me chuckle, lol.

 

Gone beyond caring these days, the refs will just make it up as they go along. Looking at Liverpool's penalty today too, just shocking how poor it is currently.

Edited January 23, 2022 by Lonely-Martin
Autospell fail.

[TheSantader25]

Not a foul for me either. More and more of these types of decisions can be seen recently. Fouls that are not fouls. Handballs that are not handballs. It's as if Ref's turn a blind eye to these types of situations sometimes and sometimes they just don't. And I'm starting to think it's clearly on purpose. A lot of games feel fixed to me because of these decisions nowadays. They completely disrupt the result.

Edited January 23, 2022 by TheSantader25

[Testarossa]

Yeah I didn't think it was a foul either, touch looked very light, but oh well. Just lots of work left to do this transfer window, we really need to get some new blood in cause our defense and midfield at the moment is just appalling. Nothing else that hasn't been said before really.

[Eutyphro]

It's because watching things on VAR in slow motion makes everything look 10 times worse, that refs make strange decisions. This should start being factored in, because especially the Premier League has a tradition of allowing contact. If the decision against Kane was made in Spain it would not surprise me much, but in the Premier League it is strange.

[smokeless6]

Liverpool got the three points yesterday away to Palace, but on a different day it ends another way. I thought the scoreline flattered the Reds. Too often, and too easily, they were cut open by Palace, especially vulnerable to through balls on the floor. If Palace had worn their shooting boots, or if Alisson wasn't so sharp this could have easily been dropped points. Matip and Van Dijk looked like they just met. And the penalty Jota drew was soft.

 

As it is they took advantage of City's slip, but they'll need to play better defensively if they hope to close the gap.

[TheSantader25]

6 months loan of Adama Traore happening apparently. He's a good dribbler but his end product is pretty awful usually (cheaper version of Dembele lol). We'll see how it works and maybe activate a purchase option.

 

I'm kinda interested to see him play at RB every once in a while. He could be a threat in that position if his defending doesn't completely suck. But he's never been used there as far as I can remember.

Edited January 27, 2022 by TheSantader25

[smokeless6]

His end product has no product at all! A change in scenery may have an effect, but he was a flop at Wolves. 8 goals and 12 assists in 123 league games.

 

Is this a done deal? I've not seen an announcement. What are the terms? Loan with option to buy?

 

Did anyone see Infantino claim that a two-year World Cup cycle would help to end the refugee crisis? What a clown.

[Jason]

You hear the term over rated said a lot in modern football, often with top but inconsistent players.

 

Adama Traore on the other hand is a genuine example of an over rated footballer, his stats are absolutely dreadful for a player with his hype and interest. He's awful.

 

He also cannot play right back at all, he has been used as a right wing back and it's believed Conte wanted him for that role but RWB wasn't some secret sauce for him either.

 

He's sh*te and if he wasn't Wolves wouldn't be loaning him out with an option to buy.

[TheSantader25]

18 minutes ago, smokeless6 said:

His end product has no product at all! A change in scenery may have an effect, but he was a flop at Wolves. 8 goals and 12 assists in 123 league games.

 

Is this a done deal? I've not seen an announcement. What are the terms? Loan with option to buy?

 

Did anyone see Infantino claim that a two-year World Cup cycle would help to end the refugee crisis? What a clown.

He's not a good goal scorer at all. But I think Wolves often play too defensively for him to show his full potential as a chance creator. That's why I think he should try a more defensive position to be more productive for his team. But then again word is, he rejected Tottenham because Conte wanted to play him as a wing back so yeah this could be a sh*t signing. But either way we need reinforcements because of the injuries to finish top 4 because it's crucial for our next transfer window.

 

The deal is not official yet but it's pretty much done as it seems. Loan with option to buy (non mandatory) at the end of the season. Either way, we'll see how he does in the next 6 months.

Edited January 27, 2022 by TheSantader25
dreadful mistakes

[smokeless6]

I'm not hating on him, and I genuinely hope it works out for all parties. But I've been watching since he arrived and with his speed and strength Traore simply should have more impact. That he doesn't points to technical skill, football IQ, mentality, or all three. And as Jason pointed out, it's Wolves willing to see the back of him.

 

I wonder if the world has more Traores or Dembeles in it? Gotta be a couple thousand professional footballers with these surnames.

 

Xavi talking about three more signings. If they buy any of them to put even more leverage on their debt the fans should revolt. Barca seem to want to still run with the big dogs, and with their DNA and glittering past it's understandable. But in my view they've been disastrously run for years now and the bill is coming due. That they still spend money on new players seem madness to me, and surely it puts their long term future in even more doubt.

 

Now's the time to take it on the chin, to throw your hands up and accept mid-table mediocrity until the club can be made stable once again. I'm sure there are advantages to having a fan-owned club. But from where I sit it comes with a price, an elected president. By necessity, the president seeks popular support among those who elect him. This can, and maybe often does, run counter to what makes a football club a healthy entity. Selling players does not tend to gather support, but big name signings sure do. Results on the pitch do, which takes better players and more money. It's a spiral where a club like Barca become victims of their own success in a sense. And people like Laporta have no interest in being the man to throw a blanket over it, there's always another election coming.

 

In my opinion, Barca need a president whose sole focus is sustainment and solvency. Too big to fail? Perhaps. But it sure looks like a house of cards from here.

[Donald Lov]

Barca is in desperate need of somebody who can manage to pull off grade A deals even at times of crisis, like Inter's Marotta. Amazing how he was able to not only keep Inter afloat after the seemingly devastating summer's window, but arguably improve the overall quality of the team.

[TheSantader25]

@smokeless6

 

I think I need to explain the situation with Barca in the past 3 years because a lot of people still get it wrong. The reason Barca couldn't keep Messi and make signings this summer was simply because they had a reduced salary cap enforced by FFP and La Liga because of the deficit caused in the previous seasons. If you generate less income than your expenses, your salary cap gets tremendously decreased. Due to Astronomical wages and ridiculous signings combined with COVID in the past 4 years, Barca finally had more expenses in the last two years and got battered by FFP. As a result players had to be let go and salaries had to be reduced.

 

But since the deficit had already happened, Barca's salary cap was reduced and they could not make ANY moves whatsoever even if they HAD any money generated. But after this season Barca will generate a positive income again and their cap will go back to normal. The current salary cap is 98 million at the moment and is very small, but in the summer it will be 400 million. That's why Barca are getting linked with every target imaginable at the moment. They CAN make moves again this summer because the situation will change. They will have two new sponsors as well and there are talks of huge deals happening. It's a huge summer for Barca.

 

The debt has indeed increased though because of what happened under Bartomeu but that doesn't mean Barca will no longer generate huge money and will stop. They are indeed too big to fail. They will simply adjust their policies and pay the debt long term. You will not see Barca run wild like the past 4 years and make 150 million signings and pay astronomical wages which caused this situation in the first place. But you won't see them sit around and do nothing either. That would mean their eventual downfall and make paying the debt even harder.

 

In short, Barca have a lot of money. They aren't broke, but have to be way more careful with it now.

Edited January 27, 2022 by TheSantader25

[smokeless6]

19 minutes ago, TheSantader25 said:

@smokeless6

 

You will not see Barca run wild like the past 4 years and make 150 million signings.

 

I'm not so sure

 

Right, their lowered cap was the direct result of the financial mismanagement. That's the consequence, and honestly if it weren't for La Liga and their rules, Barca probably would have spent big again, wouldn't they? Wouldn't Messi be a Barca player right now on massive wages if it weren't for the rule?

 

Obviously Covid is the main catalyst here. But peeling it back, Barca were hit harder than other top clubs because the player wages are an astonishing percentage of their income. I saw it not too long ago. It was like 75% in 2020. That means match day income is vital to profit. When that was taken away with the pandemic, Barca were in trouble. They'd be in even worse shape if many players hadn't taken wage cuts or re-worked their contacts to ease the burden.

 

Again, I have no malice to Barca, but the custodians have a responsibility to ensure the club is healthy and solvent. It doesn't appear that is the case to me.

Edited January 27, 2022 by smokeless6

[TheSantader25]

11 minutes ago, smokeless6 said:

 

I'm not so sure

 

Right, their lowered cap was the direct result of the financial mismanagement. That's the consequence, and honestly if it weren't for La Liga and their rules, Barca probably would have spent big again, wouldn't they? Wouldn't Messi be a Barca player right now on massive wages if it weren't for the rule?

 

Obviously Covid is the main catalyst here. But peeling it back, Barca were hit harder than other top clubs because the player wages are an astonishing percentage of their expenditure. I saw it not too long ago. It was like 75%. That means match day income is vital to profit. When that was taken away with the pandemic, Barca were in trouble. They'd be in even worse shape if many players hadn't taken wage cuts or re-worked their contacts to ease the burden.

 

Again, I have no malice to Barca, but the custodians have a responsibility to ensure the club is healthy and solvent. It doesn't appear that is the case to me.

We are not paying the wages that we did before. Ferran Torres as an example has a salary that is half of what Dembele has been earning in the past 5 years. Adama Traore is reducing his salary to come to Barca. We have offloaded Coutinho, Messi and Griezmann (and hopefully soon Dembele) which probably earn up to 200 million in a season combined. We have reduced salaries for the rest of the players and you don't see us making signings of 300 million (like the Coutinho + Dembele) anymore.  And Messi could have been kept if the president had accepted a 50 year sh*tty CVC TV deal from La liga but he didn't because it would hurt the club long term. You can't say Barca haven't adjusted their policies since the new president. 

 

I'm simply saying don't think Barca won't generate huge money anymore and will just sit still and do nothing until they end up as a mid table team. They will adjust their policies while trying to remain at the top because they absolutely can with good management.

Edited January 27, 2022 by TheSantader25

[smokeless6]

3 minutes ago, TheSantader25 said:

They will adjust their policies while trying to remain at the top because they absolutely can with good management.

 

Fair enough, and I agree this is the proper course. You just have more faith perhaps that it is the one which will be followed. Thanks for your insight.

[smokeless6]

This summer is shaping up to be one unlike we've ever seen before. Never before have I seen so many top names, players in their primes, available on frees after their contracts expire. Bosmans.  I usually skip every other year or two of Football Manager, but I'll have to pick up 2023 if this summer is the starting state. Top level free agents are gold in FM.

 

Check this link for an incomplete list, but one featuring the most well-known whose contracts are expiring at season's end.

 

https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/2021/04/out-of-contract-in-2022-best-free-agents-available-on-a-bosman

 

Of course even though the clubs that sign these players will avoid transfers fees, the special circumstances are leveraged by their agents and some of that money saved is instead spent in inflated wages and agent fees. Look how much we are saving you! Pay us more.

 

On a tangential note, few things in the sporting world bother me more than clubs paying player agent fees. That should change.

 

These players may indeed sign with their clubs again, but this year is shaping up to be pretty wild with some big names moving on frees.

[Jason]

Players running down their contracts is gonna continue to be a thing going forward I think. Clubs don't want to sell for anything but insane fees leading to players who want to leave end up staying put. So, run down the contract and get a huge signing on bonus and job done.

[smokeless6]

Yep, I think a number of clubs have made big mistakes, though they, and it seems often, their supporters, will not say so.

 

Pogba could have been sold for big money, at least pre-pandemic. Mbappe, even though he might still re-sign and there are signs he might, could walk for free. How much did Madrid offer? 150m? But he will walk for free? We'll see.

 

Donnarumma last year was another. He will be in the conversation as the best keeper in world football for the next 15 years and Milan got zip.

 

Messi too.

 

I get that these clubs want to hold on to their best players, who wouldn't? But pragmatism has to take hold, and the club has to come first. But too late now, at least for this crop. What I think needs to happen is that transfer values must be reigned in. It's madness that Chris Wood costs a club 25m, or Maguire for 80m. That's obscene money.

 

I hope to see more of a trend of 'trades', rather than purchases as we move forward. it would be healthier for clubs, and more interesting to me as a fan, to see transactions with players going in both directions, deals that find an acceptable balance with little or no money involved.

[TheSantader25]

The transfer fees have inflated ridiculously since PSG bought Neymar and will continue to do so. Therefore running down your contract is your best bet for moving to a new club. 

 

Unfortunately the commission fees for agents are a big problem though and should be addressed by FIFA immediately. Though I guess Fifa want to focus on much more important crap like making world cups annually or something to save Africa so what do I know?

[Jason]

Mason Greenwood was the most exciting player out of the United academy in a long time, everyone expected him to be our main man in a few years banging the goals in. He's a special player.

 

He also happens to be a domestic abuser and rapist.

 

For f*ck sake.

[Eutyphro]

Yeah, really messed up stuff. We've had Man City and B. Mendy, but he was arguably their worst player. Mason is really talented, and this is just sad.

[TheSantader25]

Psychopathic behavior right here from Greenwood. What the f*ck is wrong with these people? I just can't stand it sometimes.

[Jason]

Football comes second to what is going on with him and his ex-partner, and rightly so, but selfishly think of the football outcome from this he's really left us in a pickle.

 

We've been trimming the squad down and loaning out fringe players who never play resulting in our squad size coming right down... but to lose Greenwood, who I imagine won't play again this season and likely not ever again for us, is a massive f*cking issue. He's our go to right winger right now, with our depth being Sancho (who's gonna have to step up now, I suspect) but now we're short in that area.

 

Being short in holding midfield is already hurting us, being short on the wing too is potentially a serious issue. Hope we can get someone in before the deadline but given the unexpected nature of todays news and the club being dead silent on incomings all month, we aint getting anyone. Frustrating stuff as it just looked like we were hitting good form, with Rashford and Greenwood back to scoring ways...