2023 Summer transfer window - hopes, needs, expectations and rumours.

[Simon Page]

It would be crazy it it was claimed the US is as bad as Saudi Arabia. But it wasn't, so it isn't.

[AV84]

Are you seriously comparing Miami with Saudi?

There are a lot of direct comparisons, yes. Florida, and some other states, are basically the Christian equivalent of Islamic states. An awful lot of government institutions in the US are inherently racist by virtue of having been set up to be racist. Women had more rights in the 50s than they do now. They still teach the bible instead of evolution in some places.  Etc. etc. etc.

But my point was simply that we Westerners seem to judge human rights abuses in certain places a lot harsher than we do in other places.

[ChicagoLion]

It would be crazy it it was claimed the US is as bad as Saudi Arabia. But it wasn't, so it isn't.

No, that was not the context.
But the comparison is.

[dave shelley]

The night he got 5 vs Forest, he missed the 4 easiest chances. Should have walked away with 8-9 on his own that night. Went missing a lot in games for me. Decent backup/ competition for Watkins but certainly not a improvement

I think Abraham got 4 that night, pretty sure El Ghazi got the other.

[Footy-Vill]

*Tin foil hat on* Am I thinking a bit too deeply when I say PIF might be using those Saudi clubs not only to establish their domestic league but to weaken Newcastle's Premier League rivals?  If Newcastle can't spend any more money due to FFP, the next best option for them is to throw spanners into the works of their rivals' plans?

It would be crazy it it was claimed the US is as bad as Saudi Arabia. But it wasn't, so it isn't.

No, that was not the context.
But the comparison is.

I don't see this totally because they haven't signed Harry Kane, Haaland, De Bruyne, Salah, or Fernandes as examples.I do think the money is talking, and basically, the Premier League will find they may have to merge and have games over there in the whole. Its like that saying: "f you can't beat them, join them"
Like it or not, it's a real threat, and like golf, all it takes is a statement signing by one of the top 5 players in the Prem at their peak to make the move.
It's fascinating to see how clubs and the Premier league clubs react.We all know what happened with the Golf.


 

[ChicagoLion]

You can buy a beer in Florida, wear want you want, women can dress how they want, go out alone, drive and own a car, you can worship wherever you want. There are LGBT communities in every city with bars and clubs operating without restrictions etc etc
Yes Just like Saudi.

[Dave]

This is the thing that really bugs me. Everyone they're signing is already set up for life, unless they've been really stupid with their money. So the lure of 25 million for a year, or whatever it is, should not be enough to make already very wealthy people throw away all moral reasoning.

But we're in the intellectually comfortable position of being able to treat such things as a thought experiment rather than a life decision, knowing that we'll never actually have to make that choice.

Anyone can say that they'd take a clean conscience and £5m over a bit of guilt and £10m when it's someone else's money they are playing with.

[Clark W Griswold]

Are you seriously comparing Miami with Saudi?

There are a lot of direct comparisons, yes. Florida, and some other states, are basically the Christian equivalent of Islamic states. An awful lot of government institutions in the US are inherently racist by virtue of having been set up to be racist. Women had more rights in the 50s than they do now. They still teach the bible instead of evolution in some places.  Etc. etc. etc.

But my point was simply that we Westerners seem to judge human rights abuses in certain places a lot harsher than we do in other places.

Utter fucking drivel.

[Footy-Vill]

I'm sure, however, imported footballers on millions of dollars a month are going to see a very sanitised view of the country they are flocking to.

Yes players and coaches follow the money.
Especially in this day and age.

[Risso]

I don't see this totally because they haven't signed Harry Kane, Haaland, De Bruyne, Salah, or Fernandes as examples.I do think the money is talking, and basically, the Premier League will find they may have to merge and have games over there in the whole. Its like that saying: "f you can't beat them, join them"
Like it or not, it's a real threat, and like golf, all it takes is a statement signing by one of the top 5 players in the Prem at their peak to make the move.
It's fascinating to see how clubs and the Premier league clubs react.We all know what happened with the Golf.

It's a bit different with golf though Footy, as obviously the sport is just a collection of individuals competing against each other, and if you get say, ten of the top 20 players then you've essentially taken over half the sport. With football, there are always going to be the teams remaining even if some of the top players are picked off, and taking enough players to destabilise all of the major European leagues would be very difficult indeed, even for them. You're right to be worried though, it's obviously a major development and one that isn't good.

[villadelph]

I like to think that if I were a top class player at the tail end of my career and with millions already in the bank that i'd either publically tell them to go fuck themselves, or take their money. And then use every penny they paid me from day one to support LGBT causes around the world.

This is the thing that really bugs me. Everyone they're signing is already set up for life, unless they've been really stupid with their money. So the lure of 25 million for a year, or whatever it is, should not be enough to make already very wealthy people throw away all moral reasoning.

That said, there's a lot of countries around the world with very questionable human rights records these days. The US, for example, is an awful place for many people at the moment, but we don't seem to judge it the same way when people do business with them. People praising Messi for going to Miami, of all places, over Saudi, is really bar on the floor stuff.

No, it's not. It's filled with a bunch of people who don't travel enough to realize how fortunate they are. Often occupied by first world problems, these people who claim its an "awful" place have never been anywhere awful. Turn off your television, this comment is ridiculous.

[Ads]

You can buy a beer in Florida, wear want you want, women can dress how they want, go out alone, drive and own a car, you can worship wherever you want. There are LGBT communities in every city with bars and clubs operating without restrictions etc etc
Yes Just like Saudi.

Spring Break in Riyadh would be er, interesting.

[ChicagoLion]

After the ESL we all wait to see what the next incarnation of “globalising the game” will be. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the next move comes from Or is backed by the Saudis.

[Goldenballs]

Using Mahrez as an example, a 32 year old offered a contract worth £25m a year is going to be hard to turn down. £75m over a 3 year deal?

I'd like to think I'd take a stand, but in reality I doubt I would. Although I don't think they do a suncream with a high enough spf factor for me to go there with my skin colour (or lack of)

[Toronto Villa]

If football clubs themselves don’t stand up to this and force the governing bodies to step in then this only gets worse. What’s happening can’t be proved entirely. That is Newcastle or Chelsea are using PIF or the like to offset FFP. But it sure seems that way. Very convenient how Chelsea mainly having signed a load of players are able to find homes quickly for many of them or Newcastle will creatively find places for players to go while they invest in players they actually want. If football wants to stay competitive and fair, (don’t laugh at the back), then there needs to be transparency as to what the Saudis are doing. Especially clubs with shared ownership.