2020/21 International Club Football Thread

[Senator Clay Davis]

They basically have to let Messi walk for free to get the cash relief from not paying his gargantuan salary. Just staggering mismanagement.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

They basically have to let Messi walk for free to get the cash relief from not paying his gargantuan salary. Just staggering mismanagement.

Well....the problem is that they set his buyout clause insanely high. So nobody can buy him, so he has to walk for free. And in the meantime his wages are astronomical.

Whoever thought this was a good idea is a certifiable idiot.

They should have at least made Messi's buyout clause reasonable because hes 33 and some idiot with deep pockets would buy him.

Now you're going to let one of the most valuable players on the face of the Earth walk away for nothing and you're going to beg him to do it because you cant afford for him to stay.

[cheevers]

Originally Posted by Locke

Well....the problem is that they set his buyout clause insanely high. So nobody can buy him, so he has to walk for free. And in the meantime his wages are astronomical.

Whoever thought this was a good idea is a certifiable idiot.

They should have at least made Messi's buyout clause reasonable because hes 33 and some idiot with deep pockets would buy him.

Now you're going to let one of the most valuable players on the face of the Earth walk away for nothing and you're going to beg him to do it because you cant afford for him to stay.

I could be wrong about this, but the buyout clause only means that if someone hits that number they have to allow them to negotiate with him. I believe clubs can bid less than that and Barcelona has the option to accept it still.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Locke

Well....the problem is that they set his buyout clause insanely high. So nobody can buy him, so he has to walk for free. And in the meantime his wages are astronomical.

Whoever thought this was a good idea is a certifiable idiot.

They should have at least made Messi's buyout clause reasonable because hes 33 and some idiot with deep pockets would buy him.

Now you're going to let one of the most valuable players on the face of the Earth walk away for nothing and you're going to beg him to do it because you cant afford for him to stay.

A buyout clause isn't a purchase floor, it's legally required in Spain and they're set high to force a negotiation. They used to be normal amounts until PSG triggered Neymar's.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Locke

And the thing is, its hard to even blame COVID. Sure, its not helping by keeping fans out of the stands, but these clubs make unthinkable money on TV deals, sponsorships, etc.

Its just terrible management.

I wouldnt be surprised if, on an annual basis Barcelona makes more on their TV revenue than the entire NHL.

Covid really has exposed how tightly some of those clubs are calculating. They are reliant on steady cashflow and they just have no reserves at all. So if all of a sudden the money stops coming in, they are in a lot of trouble fast ... and of course those who have already worked badly will go belly up first. Just look at Germany, where Schalke is drowning both on and off the pitch. It's amazing just how quickly the wheels can fall off.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

Covid really has exposed how tightly some of those clubs are calculating. They are reliant on steady cashflow and they just have no reserves at all. So if all of a sudden the money stops coming in, they are in a lot of trouble fast ... and of course those who have already worked badly will go belly up first. Just look at Germany, where Schalke is drowning both on and off the pitch. It's amazing just how quickly the wheels can fall off.

Frankly, and I know that you loathe my club of choice, but I am so happy as a Liverpool fan at the moment.

We went through this BS with Hicks and Gillette. FSG seem like a well-run organization that know what they're doing. We've got a decent team with some excellent exploits recently and there seems to be no dire financial concerns.

Steady on.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Dana needs to get these two to Fight Island

https://twitter.com/user/status/1354166676128997383

[devo22]

clearly says "go do your voodoo ####, you little donkey". Oh boy ...

[devo22]

Messis last contract has been leaked in Spanish media. Both Messi and Barcelona want to sue the newspaper for leaking the contract details, but don't seem to deny the validity of the numbers reported.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1355679184086036486

Dear god.

[The Familia]

Over $800 million Canadian to kick a ball....not much to say other than Barcelona can go bankrupt.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The Messi contract is not why they are a financial debacle right now. Coutinho, Griezmann, Dembele etc.. are far worse blunders. It's an obscene contract, but he's probably worth it in terms of the total revenue generation. Feels like they know he's on his way out and are leaking this to make him look like the villain in their financial mess.

[devo22]

pretty weird strategy though. Sure, Messi will now look even greedier in the eyes of many people, but this doesn't improve their own image at all. Their decision to hand out such a ludicrous contract will be called out, there's going to be a lot of Schadenfreude about their situation and everybody knows they are leaking this themselves, which is a dick move in its own right. Making Messi the villain is one thing, but leaking this whale of a contract doesn't exactly look like a good PR decision, to put it mildly.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

pretty weird strategy though. Sure, Messi will now look even greedier in the eyes of many people, but this doesn't improve their own image at all. Their decision to hand out such a ludicrous contract will be called out, there's going to be a lot of Schadenfreude about their situation and everybody knows they are leaking this themselves, which is a dick move in its own right. Making Messi the villain is one thing, but leaking this whale of a contract doesn't exactly look like a good PR decision, to put it mildly.

I have to agree. While Barca are struggling financially now all people have to do is point to this contract and say:

"Its your own fault."

[Bagor]

Strange going ons at Marseille.

Villas-Boas offers his resignation over their transfer policy and the signing of players that he doesn't want.

Marseille responds by suspending him?

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55905232

[d_phaneuf]

Neymar will miss the next few weeks with a condition of his sister's birthday

7 straight years!

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Strange going ons at Marseille.

Villas-Boas offers his resignation over their transfer policy and the signing of players that he doesn't want.

Marseille responds by suspending him?

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55905232

Just a disaster. Club buying a player they manager diesnt want then won't let him resign. Payet and Thauvin fighting. Fans rioting leading to a postponed game. Sampaoli is rumored next. Saudis want to buy the team but McCourt won't sell. And they're 9th in the table.

Marseille's always been drama, cant get anywhere.

[Swift]

Originally Posted by d_phaneuf

Neymar will miss the next few weeks with a condition of his sister's birthday

7 straight years!

LOL, had to google this to see what you meant. I didn't realise this was a thing!

[cam_wmh]

Sounds like, Upemecano going is to Bayern. Kinda bummed, wanted him at United.

[devo22]

Gladbach coach Marco Rose will take over at Dortmund in the summer. Interesting to see how he does there - he did really well at Salzburg and now Gladbach, but Dortmund is a big challenge for sure.

also have to wonder if he takes over a CL or EL club then. Dortmund is only 6th right now and already 6 points behind 4th.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by devo22

Gladbach coach Marco Rose will take over at Dortmund in the summer. Interesting to see how he does there - he did really well at Salzburg and now Gladbach, but Dortmund is a big challenge for sure.

also have to wonder if he takes over a CL or EL club then. Dortmund is only 6th right now and already 6 points behind 4th.

I see the other Red Bull club, is is trying to make winning the Bundesliga, not a Bayern joke.

Have you watched much of them? I mean outside of watching them eliminate United, I didn't see a singular scoring threat -- and the stats support that story -- scoring by committee, nobody with more than 4.