The European Club Soccer Off-Season Thread

[Locke]

It seems strange to be constantly trying to decide between the EPL thread and the Champions' League thread, so we may as well have a thread for off-season talk and discussion.

To start it off:

What is going to happen with Monaco?

Right now a Russian Billionaire has purchased 66% of the team and wants to build them into an immediate contender. Anyone seen this story before?

The issues arising are that the team was already being subsidized by the principality and will continue to do so. Further, Monaco is a tax haven so the team is effectively tax exempt so players are getting close to 100% of their actual weekly wages, a competitive advantage no other team can match without grossly overpaying their players.

So, they've just won Ligue2 and the issue has arisen about their being able to play in Ligue1. The French FA have instituted a ruling where any team that wants to play in Ligue1 must pay French taxes. Monaco have appealed this citing that this is in contravention of both French and EU law.

Not that Monaco themselves owe allegiance to either body.

So what happens? Do Monaco stay in Ligue2? They've just splashed over £100M on new players and dont seem like stopping.

The other issue is Monaco's stadium, apparently it's got a maximum capacity of around 20,000 but only regularly draws around 11,000. When questioned about FIFA Fair Play rules the Russian Billionaire apparently mentioned something about making each ticket cost about €10,000 and he'd just buy them himself. A strategy the Nashville Predators used a few years ago to qualify for NHL profit sharing, they didnt raise the prices, they just bought their own tickets.

As for some news:

Lewandowski:

Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski is hopeful of joining the club of his choice - widely believed to be Bayern Munich - but has refused to reveal their identity.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/14...choice?cc=5901

Schurrle purchase in doubt over de Bruyne.

Andre Schurrle's propose moved to Chelsea could be in jeopardy amid reports in Germany that he could remain at Bayer Leverkusen for another year.

Schurrle had looked certain to join Chelsea. According to German newspaper Die Welt, the failure to resolve the transfer saga involving Kevin de Bruyne, Schurrle, Bayer Leverkusen, Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund means a conclusion currently appears unlikely.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/14...threat?cc=5901

Roberto Martinez new Everton manager and has promised the club a Champions' League place.

New Everton manager Roberto Martinez has promised chairman Bill Kenwright that he will guide the club into the Champions League.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/14...league?cc=5901

[Locke]

This is madness.

Jose Mourinho has suggested his former Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo no longer listens to tactical instructions as he thinks he has nothing left to learn.

"Cristiano Ronaldo maybe thinks that he knows everything and that the coach cannot improve him anymore," Mourinho said. "I had a very basic problem with him: criticise him from a tactical point of view, in that moment he did not accept it very well."

Ronaldo missed Madrid's final game of the season last weekend with Mourinho claiming the attacker - as well as team-mates Iker Casillas and Pepe - had been ruled out due to unspecified back complaints.

Pepe subsequently tweeted a photo of himself surfing just a few days later, Casillas told Spanish reporters that he had been ready to play,

Meanwhile, Radio Marca has claimed that Mourinho plans to sell both Fernando Torres and Juan Mata as he shakes up the Chelsea squad for next season.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/14...ws-all?cc=5901

Torres, okay, underperforming and expensive striker, but Mata?

He was arguably Chelsea's best player last season...

[M*A*S*H 4077]

First, thanks for this thread. It was needed

I've heard Mata to Dortmund floating around on twitter by a few people who cover Dortmund.

Also sounds like Ribery and Robben are staying at Bayern.

[rubecube]

I really hope Mourinho implodes a la Mancini at City.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

First, thanks for this thread. It was needed

I've heard Mata to Dortmund floating around on twitter by a few people who cover Dortmund.

Also sounds like Ribery and Robben are staying at Bayern.

Yeah, I just figured it would be simpler to have a thread to encompass all of Europe's off-season silliness.

For example, where would you put Falcao to Monaco? Its not really CL related? Or the whole Monaco fiasco in France? It just seems simpler this way.

I just cant believe Mourinho, without having managed so much as a training session already wants to sell Chelsea's MVP of last season. That dude's level of crazy is off the charts.

As for Martinez promising a CL spot? Good luck with that buddy. Unless he gets some money and somehow can stop Moyes from poaching what talent he does have I cant see it. I think Everton are going to regress next season.

If I were Martinez, I probably would have gone to Spain.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Locke

He was arguably Chelsea's best player last season...

A certain pudgy, past his prime englishman scored more in considerably less games. They should sell the short, overlooked Spaniard to United.

[The Big Chill]

It shouldn't surprise me anymore, but it's crazy to see how money driven some players are. Falcao and the two from Porto are thought to be some of the best players in the world, yet they move to a club that may be in France's second division.

Also, Chelsea would be crazy to sell Mata! He is the most influential player on that team.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

It shouldn't surprise me anymore, but it's crazy to see how money driven some players are. Falcao and the two from Porto are thought to be some of the best players in the world, yet they move to a club that may be in France's second division.

Also, Chelsea would be crazy to sell Mata! He is the most influential player on that team.

From what I understand, Falcao didnt have a choice. Like many South Americans he's part of a 'third party ownership' arrangement that owns 55% of his rights. SO the agent/owner decides where he goes and who he plays for and takes 55%, so the opportunity of getting that fee and his wages paid in a tax haven was something he couldnt and wouldnt pass up, but I dont believe it was Falcao's call.

I actually wonder how much control Falcao actually has over his affairs.

[The Big Chill]

But he still has to sign the contract, does he not? He must have some control.

[d_phaneuf]

Ligue 1 likes money

they know Monaco will bring it in, don't see anyway they don't get some type of exemption rule

[d_phaneuf]

and LOL at Martinez promising CL football

Wigan got worse after Steve Bruce left and he took over, plus Everton have no money

they will drop out of the top 10 within 2 years

[Locke]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

But he still has to sign the contract, does he not? He must have some control.

I dont know. As I understand it, his agent controls 55% of his rights, wouldnt the agent then be the one who has to sign it? Its not really something that I'm very familiar with.

I've never heard of anyone, let alone an agent or third party owning 55% of any players' rights. I really dont know.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

and LOL at Martinez promising CL football

Wigan got worse after Steve Bruce left and he took over, plus Everton have no money

they will drop out of the top 10 within 2 years

Thats more or less what I was thinking, plus the fact that Moyes and United, who have money, will likely poach what good players Everton does have.

The season has been over for like 2 weeks and its your first day on the job, maybe keep expectations reasonable?

[Lego Man]

Originally Posted by Locke

I dont know. As I understand it, his agent controls 55% of his rights, wouldnt the agent then be the one who has to sign it? Its not really something that I'm very familiar with.

I've never heard of anyone, let alone an agent or third party owning 55% of any players' rights. I really dont know.

This response from a person on reddit explains the situation very well: http://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comme...ove_to_monaco/

And that was posted 23 days ago too!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Lego Man

This response from a person on reddit explains the situation very well: http://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comme...ove_to_monaco/

And that was posted 23 days ago too!

That was fascinating and more than a little sad.

tl;dr - Falcao had zero say in where he went.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

But he still has to sign the contract, does he not? He must have some control.

Not really, he's basically owned and goes where he's told. His options are to go along with it or not play and get paid. It's crazy to me that these arrangements exist.

[d_phaneuf]

some reports saying Arsenal met Fellani's release clause

interesting to see if United or Chelsea do as well in the next few weeks

[Matty81]

Would be nice to see Arsenal pick up Fellaini and Rooney this summer and flex a little muscle, I'm not an Arsenal fan but their supporters have not had the best of times since the Henry/Viera era and the move to the Emirates, seems like their players have jumped at the chance for bigger wages and they've bled their top couple players every summer for a few years.

I think the patience they showed in ensuring they are on solid footing financially post stadium build before starting to spend a little more freely will result in them being a powerhouse club for a long time though.

[carom]

I think this would be a good place to put this:

The top ten Ligue 1 players that Premier League clubs should be looking at

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...medium=twitter

Newcastle United's belief in liberté, égalité and fraternité saw them finish in the European places last season, and while they were somewhat overstretched and didn't enjoy this campaign anything like as much, suddenly Arsene Wenger's favourite aisle in the transfer supermarket is fashionable again and overcrowded with desperate Premier League managers looking for the latest bargain.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Would be nice to see Arsenal pick up Fellaini and Rooney this summer and flex a little muscle, I'm not an Arsenal fan but their supporters have not had the best of times since the Henry/Viera era and the move to the Emirates, seems like their players have jumped at the chance for bigger wages and they've bled their top couple players every summer for a few years.

I think the patience they showed in ensuring they are on solid footing financially post stadium build before starting to spend a little more freely will result in them being a powerhouse club for a long time though.

if you were tanking the fans of teams in English football who have had it 'easiest' in the last 8 years, ranking Arsenal anywhere in the bottom 95% would be ludicrous

how has it been tough?