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Post by Viking Hall on Aug 9, 2021 8:58:23 GMT -5
I honestly don’t understand any of this. They’re spending a lot on a guy who basically needs to score out of the gate for the price and has no resale value because of his age. It feels like he’s the last option and they happen to be able to spend that much since Inter need money. It's definitely one of the stranger signings made in the past few seasons, especially when you consider it's a re-signing too. I personally rate Lukaku, and was fuming when United let him go, but that aside, it doesn't mean he doesn't have his doubters when it comes to whether he's a good fit in the Premier League and those doubters are going to meme the hell out of him the second he misses a sitter or doesn't get his first touch right. Like you said, it feels like he's a Plan B, C or even D signing when you consider who they've been linked with since the end of the season (I'm looking at you Haaland) but €115m doesn't really reflect that either. If it is a case that they needed a player to fill a gap until Plan A becomes available then someone like Danny Ings suddenly becomes a far more sensible looking signing. He's cost Villa a fraction of what Lukaku has cost (I imagine their wages differ wildly too) and would come with a fraction of the expectations too and would be far less of an issue when he's forced out in a season or two when they buy yet another new toy. Having said that, it can't be ignored that there's something of a drought when it comes to good young(ish) strikers in Europe at the moment though. Of the Top 20 scorers in Europes major leagues last season, 15 are 28 or older and most of those well into their 30's as well. Personally I think I'd prefer putting my faith in Tammy Abraham for another season, but then I don't have hundreds of millions at my disposal either.
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Post by government mule on Aug 9, 2021 9:01:28 GMT -5
I know it's all down to the money on the table, but for f***s sake Messi, show some ambition by not going to probably the most one sided league in Europe. Logically, though, is there anyone else that can afford him? Because the literal only other clubs I can think of are Man City, who just spent £100m on a guy near Messi's position, LA Galaxy and Inter Miami who a) have restrictions on foreign players and b) have a salary cap for their league. Like, anywhere else would likely bankrupt the club on wages alone. No, that is the sad thing and why he will only ever end up at PSG or Man City, just feel it will be a wasted opportunity to do something different with his experiences. I can see him finishing up in the MLS/Argentina in a couple of years time but he has plenty left in the tank before that happens.
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salz4life
Grimlock
Prichard is a guy who gets that his job is to service his boss.
Posts: 13,946
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Post by salz4life on Aug 9, 2021 12:27:36 GMT -5
MLS should just make an exception and let their teams do whatever it takes to get him in the league. Granted, it's probably not wise financially, but Messi in America would be huge.
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salz4life
Grimlock
Prichard is a guy who gets that his job is to service his boss.
Posts: 13,946
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Post by salz4life on Aug 9, 2021 12:27:57 GMT -5
and from what I have read/heard.... it would be Miami.
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Post by eJm on Aug 9, 2021 12:32:50 GMT -5
and from what I have read/heard.... it would be Miami. There was a rumor that Beckham was trying to get Messi and Ronaldo to spend their twilight years in Miami to help push the club higher and it could still happen with Messi potentially on a two-year contract with PSG but yeah, with the players they have right now, they maxed out the quota.
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Post by Hit Girl on Aug 10, 2021 0:56:34 GMT -5
The idea of Messi being managed by Phil Neville is too funny.
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Post by Mighty Attack Tribble on Aug 10, 2021 7:20:16 GMT -5
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Post by eJm on Aug 10, 2021 8:28:59 GMT -5
Levy couldn't intercept the plane on time.
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Post by DiBiase is Good on Aug 10, 2021 15:09:42 GMT -5
Obviously there’s a massive wage bill to be paid but PSG have brought in Donnarumma, Wijnaldum, Ramos and Messi in one summer for the combined transfer fees of f*** all. That is pretty damn impressive.
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Post by eJm on Aug 10, 2021 15:11:34 GMT -5
Obviously there’s a massive wage bill to be paid but PSG have brought in Donnarumma, Wijnaldum, Ramos and Messi in one summer for the combined transfer fees of f*** all. That is pretty damn impressive. Yeah, that's, like, a spine of a team which considering it's PSG, sort of says a lot.
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Post by Mighty Attack Tribble on Aug 10, 2021 15:27:56 GMT -5
Obviously there’s a massive wage bill to be paid but PSG have brought in Donnarumma, Wijnaldum, Ramos and Messi in one summer for the combined transfer fees of f*** all. That is pretty damn impressive. That's some Football Manager save game editor level stuff.
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Post by eJm on Aug 10, 2021 15:40:25 GMT -5
Obviously there’s a massive wage bill to be paid but PSG have brought in Donnarumma, Wijnaldum, Ramos and Messi in one summer for the combined transfer fees of f*** all. That is pretty damn impressive. That's some Football Manager save game editor level stuff. 2010 is my favourite Football Manager simply because I somehow managed to get Samuel Eto'o, Carlos Tevez and Fabio Cannavaro all on frees and even that seems quaint in comparison.
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Post by Mr PONYMANIA Mr Jenzie on Aug 10, 2021 15:55:24 GMT -5
OH GOD DAMMIT RANGERS just lost 1-2 to malmo, ending their challenge for the champions league by 2-4
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Post by eJm on Aug 10, 2021 16:43:51 GMT -5
This seriously feels like a Tweet from Earth 2 or something.
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Post by Mighty Attack Tribble on Aug 10, 2021 17:03:51 GMT -5
This seriously feels like a Tweet from Earth 2 or something. I cannot express how much I loathe the use of no. 30 for outfield players.
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Post by DiBiase is Good on Aug 10, 2021 17:43:07 GMT -5
This seriously feels like a Tweet from Earth 2 or something. I cannot express how much I loathe the use of no. 30 for outfield players. Have I missed something? I never knew 30 was a goalie number.
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Post by Mighty Attack Tribble on Aug 10, 2021 18:00:49 GMT -5
I cannot express how much I loathe the use of no. 30 for outfield players. Have I missed something? I never knew 30 was a goalie number. I'm very fussy about numbers and showing my age. To me 1, 13, and 30 are goalkeeper numbers. 2 and 3 are right and left full backs, 4 is a defensive midfield number and 6 is a centre back. And don't even get me started about players wearing 9 and not playing as strikers. Not crazy about first-team regulars wearing numbers in the 40s and above beyond their first season, either.
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Post by DiBiase is Good on Aug 10, 2021 18:09:45 GMT -5
Have I missed something? I never knew 30 was a goalie number. I'm very fussy about numbers and showing my age. To me 1, 13, and 30 are goalkeeper numbers. 2 and 3 are right and left full backs, 4 is a defensive midfield number and 6 is a centre back. And don't even get me started about players wearing 9 and not playing as strikers. Not crazy about first-team regulars wearing numbers in the 40s and above beyond their first season, either. 1 and 13 I obviously knew about (as well as 22 being the old third goalie number in the old 22 man squad days) but I genuinely didn’t know about 30 being associated with goalies.
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Post by DiBiase is Good on Aug 10, 2021 18:15:18 GMT -5
Talking about weird squad numbers I vaguely remember watching Ossie Ardiles wearing #1 for Argentina. Turns out it was because they would go alphabetically by surname.
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Post by Mighty Attack Tribble on Aug 10, 2021 18:16:36 GMT -5
I'm very fussy about numbers and showing my age. To me 1, 13, and 30 are goalkeeper numbers. 2 and 3 are right and left full backs, 4 is a defensive midfield number and 6 is a centre back. And don't even get me started about players wearing 9 and not playing as strikers. Not crazy about first-team regulars wearing numbers in the 40s and above beyond their first season, either. 1 and 13 I obviously knew about (as well as 22 being the old third goalie number in the old 22 man squad days) but I genuinely didn’t know about 30 being associated with goalies. It was pretty much the de facto third goalkeeper's number for a lot of clubs back when squad numbers were first introduced in English football. Not so much on the continent, of course, and now it's quite uncommon for goalkeepers to use it, but it's what I grew up with and I'm not changing my views now, dammit.
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