EPL and European Football season 2017-18

Thought this was about time, since the EPL starts this weekend with the Charity Shield.

Neymar is officially in PSG.
How will Barca cope with that?
They can't, they simply can't.

Apocalypse said:

Neymar is officially in PSG.
How will Barca cope with that?
They can't, they simply can't.

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I think Barca are on a downward trend but they have been for the past season, Neymar included. I think 220 million for him is ludicrous. He scored a grand total of 20 goals last season. Is he anywhere near the best player in the world? I think Barca will get themselves out of a big financial hole by taking PSG's Qatari riyals and will probably be a better side if they replace him with Philippe Coutinho.

So, I think they'll cope better without the ridiculously over-rated Neymar.

Apocalypse said:

Neymar is officially in PSG.
How will Barca cope with that?
They can't, they simply can't.

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Famous last words. They have 27 days to fill the hole, and even if they dont, they do have talent that can get the chance of filling the space. And you forget, Iniesta can play in that spot if need be.

They now have 222 million they can play around with or pay down debt. Will the leadership panic buy, or play it cool? Well we shall see although I aint optimistic.

Personally I think they should find a replacement for Iniesta. They have Arda, Iniesta, Denis Suarez, Rafinha, Deulofeu and Munir in the first team that can replace Neymar. Now they are not as good, but if they can click with Suarez and Messi, then anything is possible. Replacing Iniesta is more difficult. Now who they can find to replace Iniesta.. well that is the 200 million euro question and since they never really replaced Xavi either, then they basically have to replace both of them now.. and boy that is difficult. One thing is for sure, they need a creative midfielder, and none of those mentioned as transfer rumors are that... Coutinho can play in the midfield, but he likes the wing more. You could move Messi down but then who takes the right hand side.

27 days and we shall see. One thing is for sure, all the targets prices just jumped 100%... which aint good.

Andalublue said:

I think Barca are on a downward trend but they have been for the past season, Neymar included. I think 220 million for him is ludicrous. He scored a grand total of 20 goals last season. Is he anywhere near the best player in the world? I think Barca will get themselves out of a big financial hole by taking PSG's Qatari riyals and will probably be a better side if they replace him with Philippe Coutinho.

So, I think they'll cope better without the ridiculously over-rated Neymar.

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Come on, Neymar is the best player in a world with no Cristiano and Messi.
He had 20 goals and 21 assists last season and that wasn't a good season for him.
I guess we're going to see what he's worth now that he'll actually be the leader of a team, but there's no way he can be considered an overrated player.

I figure that whoever Barca will bring in it won't be enough and the fact that the move was made in August means there won't be enough time for Barca to build itself properly.
They were very dependent on him tactically after all.

Apocalypse said:

Come on, Neymar is the best player in a world with no Cristiano and Messi.

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Same old silly media-led assertions simply because he plays for one of the big two. There was a time when people said that about Kaká and Higuaín and Robinho and Ronaldinho and Figo, but only when they played for Real or Barca. The instant they moved clubs, they suddenly stopped being 'Best in the World'. Let's see how good he is when he's playing all his football in Ligue 1. Will anyone even notice him week-in, week-out when he's playing away at Guingamp?

He had 20 goals and 21 assists last season and that wasn't a good season for him.

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So, he's better than Lewandowski, Cavani, Aubameyang, Suárez, Agüero, Kane? All of those names vastly out-scored and out-assisted him. He's never been the top scorer or assister in any league he's ever played in.

I guess we're going to see what he's worth now that he'll actually be the leader of a team, but there's no way he can be considered an overrated player.

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You don't think that 220€ million overrates him? I haven't read or heard a single pundit voice the opinion that of course he's worth that much.

I figure that whoever Barca will bring in it won't be enough and the fact that the move was made in August means there won't be enough time for Barca to build itself properly.
They were very dependent on him tactically after all.

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Spoken like a true Realbot. :mrgreen:

Andalublue said:

Same old silly media-led assertions simply because he plays for one of the big two. There was a time when people said that about Kaká and Higuaín and Robinho and Ronaldinho and Figo, but only when they played for Real or Barca.

The instant they moved clubs, they suddenly stopped being 'Best in the World'. Let's see how good he is when he's playing all his football in Ligue 1. Will anyone even notice him week-in, week-out when he's playing away at Guingamp?

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Sorry but got to stop you there. Kaka was already one of the best when he joined Real from Milan.. he was the 2007 Fifa Player of the year.. 2 years before he joined Real. Higuain was never considered one of the best, but as a massive talent that flopped. Robinho .. what drugs are you on? He has never been considered the worlds best, but a talent. Figo... Ballon D'or winner while at Barca.. reason Real snatched him up. He then left for Inter at the end of his career. As for Ronaldinho, his star was replaced by Messi and his own party attitude. Where they played has never mattered.. Ronaldinho was done by the time he left Barca.

So, he's better than Lewandowski, Cavani, Aubameyang, Suárez, Agüero, Kane? All of those names vastly out-scored and out-assisted him. He's never been the top scorer or assister in any league he's ever played in.

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Hmm to be honest, he does not play the same position as the above. They are dedicated strikers, where as Neymar is left sided forward/winger. However lets look at the stats.

Lewandowski - 38 goals 5 assists.
Cavani - 12 goals 1 assist (why is he even on your list?)
Aubameyang - 40 goals 3 assists
Suarez - 36 goals 15 assists.
Aguero - 30 goals 5 assists
Kane - 35 goals 7 assists.

Neymar - 20 goals 19 assists. Yea Neymar had a bad year because people are expecting too much of him in a team with 2 other high scorers and assistsers.

You don't think that 220€ million overrates him? I haven't read or heard a single pundit voice the opinion that of course he's worth that much.

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No one is worth that much, no one is worth 50 million.

Andalublue said:

I think Barca are on a downward trend but they have been for the past season, Neymar included. I think 220 million for him is ludicrous. He scored a grand total of 20 goals last season. Is he anywhere near the best player in the world? I think Barca will get themselves out of a big financial hole by taking PSG's Qatari riyals and will probably be a better side if they replace him with Philippe Coutinho.

So, I think they'll cope better without the ridiculously over-rated Neymar.

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Neymar's 20 goals are not too shabby considering the other two strikers he played with. Messsi with 50+ and Suarez 40+. Only so many available. I agree the transfer fee was astronomical. PSG must be counting on additional interests and endorsements to recoup some of the money. Unlike American sports, at least the Europeans just sell the players like so much livestock.

Rexedgar said:

Neymar's 20 goals are not too shabby considering the other two strikers he played with. Messsi with 50+ and Suarez 40+. Only so many available. I agree the transfer fee was astronomical. PSG must be counting on additional interests and endorsements to recoup some of the money. Unlike American sports, at least the Europeans just sell the players like so much livestock.

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The fee was paid by Neymar, not the club. The owners "lent" him the fee as I understand it, and did it to bypass financial fair play rules.

PeteEU said:

Hmm to be honest, he does not play the same position as the above. They are dedicated strikers, where as Neymar is left sided forward/winger. However lets look at the stats.

Lewandowski - 38 goals 5 assists.

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He scored 43 goals.

Cavani - 12 goals 1 assist (why is he even on your list?)

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I don't know what stats you are referring to but mine show him scoring 49 goals, not 12.

Suarez - 36 goals 15 assists.

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37 goals.

Aguero - 30 goals 5 assists

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33 goals.


You need a different stat source.

No one is worth that much, no one is worth 50 million.

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So, you agree he's overrated. Thanks for that.

Andalublue said:

He scored 43 goals.

I don't know what stats you are referring to but mine show him scoring 49 goals, not 12.

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You are correct, for some reason the Ligue 1 numbers are not included in the stats I have.

37 goals.

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You counted Supercopa.. I did not Just as I did not count his national team goals and friendly goals.

33 goals.

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Yes, did not include the 3 goals from CL qualifying.

You need a different stat source.

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Nope, although their Cavani stats were way off... else they were accurate. It depends what you include in the total.

So, you agree he's overrated. Thanks for that.

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No I agree he is not worth that much. He is a far superior player technically than say Aguero and Kane. And lets not forget, he is still young and has 77 caps for Brazil with 55 goals. He will beat Pele if he stays fit. Overrated he is not...

Seems that the first buy that Barca are going to do, is triggering the release clause of Inigo Martinez of Real Sociadad. Almost tempted to saying about bloody time, they have been eyeing him up since he was 18. Only reason he is not the top Spanish defender is because of Pique and Ramos.

Now back to the EPL. Only team I see at the moment that has improved enough over the transfer season, is Man City. They replaced their ageing left and right backs, and beefed up the goalkeeping situation. All they now need is a controlling midfielder and they are set.

The main competition will be Chelsea, but that depends if Morata can do what he is bought to do. Defensively they are the best and the midfield/attack is great. Question is if the problem kids in the team will cause too many problems and take focus away.

Man United might challenge, but it really depends on the ability of Lukaku to work. Personally I think he is overrated. Now if they get rid of Fellaini... then all bets are off!

Arsenal are laughable.. Getting a new attacker.. come on, that was never really their problem, and Tottenham has not bought anything.. not that they really need anything but need to grow up and play with more consistency. Liverpool well...I still believe they have the potential... but they need to solve the defensive issues.

Now, Everton.. they might challenge 3-6 place. Rooney is a brilliant get. Getting Klassen and Sandro might just be enough.

But to be honest, English teams are not having a good transfer season yet again.. extreme high prices for average players in many cases... I mean 50 million for Kyle Walker? Well there is 26 days left, lets see what happens.

How on earth could Lukaku miss that?.. watching Real Madrid show Man U what a real team looks like... and Lukaku..

I just watched the second half of that game. Real were the better team, but United had a 30-minute spell in which they really worried Real. Fellaini surprised me by really putting the cat amongst the pigeons. Never rated him, but he was good tonight. It seemed like the right result, but the margin wasn't that great.

Just wish they both could have lost. :mrgreen:

Real Madrid will try and become the greatest team of all time this season.
They certainly have the tools for it.

Isco was brilliant.

Apocalypse said:

Real Madrid will try and become the greatest team of all time this season.
They certainly have the tools for it.

Isco was brilliant.

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Greatest player of all time, greatest team of all time, greatest goal of all time, yadda yadda. These are just nerd games. How about the greatest painting of all time? Or the greatest country of all time? These things are never anything more than an opinion.

Andalublue said:

Greatest player of all time, greatest team of all time, greatest goal of all time, yadda yadda. These are just nerd games. How about the greatest painting of all time? Or the greatest country of all time? These things are never anything more than an opinion.

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And opinions matter, don't they?

Apocalypse said:

And opinions matter, don't they?

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Only mine, my friend. Only mine. eace

Andalublue said:

Only mine, my friend. Only mine. eace

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As always. :lol:

Liverpool turn down €100m for Coutinho. I wonder how high Barca will have to go to get the Americans to sell.

http://www.bbc.com/sport

Andalublue said:

Liverpool turn down €100m for Coutinho. I wonder how high Barca will have to go to get the Americans to sell.

Home - BBC Sport

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Good question.. Coutinho aint worth 100 million. BVB upped the price on Dembele to 150 million.. yea right. I suspect that they might wait and see after the first leg of the Super Cup. Nothing better than an El Classico to test the potential Neymar replacements in the club.

They also cooled the interest in Inigo Martinez as Valverde wants to give Marlon a chance, which could signal an attitude change towards Coutinho and Dembele as well.

We shall see.

PeteEU said:

Good question.. Coutinho aint worth 100 million.

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In a world where Neymar's worth 200m, he is. But I agree. I don't think any player's worth that, not even Messi or CR7.

BVB upped the price on Dembele to 150 million.. yea right.

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Of course they did. They know Barca have got €200m burning a hole in their pocket. Selling players for these astronomical amounts only really benefits a club if they don't need to buy a replacement.

We shall see.

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We shall.

Andalublue said:

In a world where Neymar's worth 200m, he is. But I agree. I don't think any player's worth that, not even Messi or CR7.

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Neymar aint worth 200m... well if he stays for a certain amount of years, and the PSG becomes a world brand, then maybe. The reason that Beckham and Ronaldo made sense to Real, is that their brand world wide. Basically their prices were paid before they even kicked a ball in shirt sales and endorsements. However when you get to the 100+ mark, and depending on the player... then well. A good example is Bale.. hugely expensive but as a personality and marketing object he is pretty much a dud. He is welsh which means next to no (sustained) presence on the international stage, and of course Ronaldo overshadowing everything. His value has certainly not been paid back. Now Neymar has better skills than Bale, comes from an actual footballing legendary nation that goes regularly to world cups, and he has established a brand around him. He will easily bring in 100 million, but 200.. well..

Of course they did. They know Barca have got €200m burning a hole in their pocket. Selling players for these astronomical amounts only really benefits a club if they don't need to buy a replacement.

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Latest is he has gone AWOL from training and the manager does not know where he is. Looks like he is moving.. question is to where and for how much.

We shall.

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On a positive note... 1 day till EPL starts and 3 till the Super Cup El Classico... this weekend is going to be LIT!...

PeteEU said:

Neymar aint worth 200m... well if he stays for a certain amount of years, and the PSG becomes a world brand, then maybe. The reason that Beckham and Ronaldo made sense to Real, is that their brand world wide. Basically their prices were paid before they even kicked a ball in shirt sales and endorsements. However when you get to the 100+ mark, and depending on the player... then well. A good example is Bale.. hugely expensive but as a personality and marketing object he is pretty much a dud. He is welsh which means next to no (sustained) presence on the international stage, and of course Ronaldo overshadowing everything. His value has certainly not been paid back. Now Neymar has better skills than Bale, comes from an actual footballing legendary nation that goes regularly to world cups, and he has established a brand around him. He will easily bring in 100 million, but 200.. well..



Latest is he has gone AWOL from training and the manager does not know where he is. Looks like he is moving.. question is to where and for how much.



On a positive note... 1 day till EPL starts and 3 till the Super Cup El Classico... this weekend is going to be LIT!...

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LIT? What's that?

Andalublue said:

LIT? What's that?

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Lit as on fire.. its yankie slang!... thought you were younger than me and yet you dont know lit? Get with the times old man!