Is barcelona the capital of Spain? Is Munich the capital of Germany? Is turin or milan the capital of Italy?
Smith-Rowe was out injured for yonks and their fans are very sorry to see him go but he wants to be first choice or at least regular and he isn't going to get that with Arsenal ,The Viera part is fairly irrelevant as he "played" 11 times in PL last season for a total of 292 mins and is less than Smith-Rowe did .
But he is still there as arteta's choice isn't he? Smith Rowe is not. Let's see what they do next. I've a feeling we might start talking about lfc in this regard shortly.
probably as Arsenal received no offers for him unlike ESR . Considering the game time for both only came to a bit part player oi think whichever an offer was received for was gone .
Not sure what your point is. You've just listed some clubs, not based in the capital, that have no problem signing players. Is Manchester the capital of England? You're not going to sign for Real and live in Barcelona, or sign for Bayern and live in Hamburg. Think of the players who've been on both club's radars and chosen Arsenal over Liverpool, or Chelsea over Liverpool, when all other aspects of the transfers have been almost identical. You've created a false equivalence.
I've listed at least 5 of the absolute premium clubs in the world Barca Bayern Juve Ac Milan Inter They are not all in capitol cities. I could list Manchester clubs as well. I could also list lesser **** clubs like atletico, West ham, spurs, Bertha Berlin, roma, lazio as clubs top players don't go to. The point being it's not just about the city. It's about the money, the chances of winning, more money and then weather and lifestyle. You are the one who said capital cities and London. I've just pointed out thst actually a lot of other factors are far more important. Money money money Trophies Lifestyle. London only brings a few nightclubs into play.. it's all about fortune and glory as indiana Jones would say.
They pay premium rates. They have several trophies to point to thst they bought like cls. They just have to not let anyone see thier tiny ground before they sign. In the end agents are making an absolute killing off their players going there. Of the clubs in London, arsenal are the top tier but have underdelivered in trophies, chelsea pay the biggest and have the trophy cabinet. Spurs have a stadium and nfl games with smaller wages and no trophies. West ham have a stadium and no trophies and even lower wages. If lfc offer a player the wages they have the set up to compete, if a player wants to go to/stay in London and accept mediocrity at some clubs then thsts on them. Right now arsenal are a hot ticket as they've been 2nd twice and pay big wages and look to be a coming side who are now overdue glory. Chelsea are.just seen as an agents dream and 75% of players signed have not one hope of playing or succeeding. A lot of them are having a replacement brought in at vast expanse before they ever get to kick a ball. It's senseless but nothing to due with London.
I think you've taken what I originally said and run with it in a different direction. Caicedo and his agent were obviously after a huge payday but one of his reasons, which is legitimate, was that his model girlfriend wanted to live in London because there are more opportunities. Similarly, all the party animals. None of my argument is about where the premium clubs are located. Players do love capital cities. It doesn't mean that players, even the top players, will choose a capital city over another one more suited to them and I never claimed that. The bolded bit is exactly my point
I agree with a lot you say here, but I would maintain that there are a number of footballers who are attracted to London over other parts of the country - just as there are plenty of non-footballers with a similar affliction. For some, it's a feeling of having "made it", to be part of its heavily promoted self-importance, the perceived glamour of being in one of the most famous places in the world. For many foreigners, London is Britain. Never really felt it myself - good to visit (I have family there) but to live there would be hellish for a misanthropic old bastard like me.
Maybe a number of bad footballers that winning clubs would want nothing to do with. If you.need that rather than world class facilties and a safe mansion to live in then you are not there to win. If someone said OK I want a top school.for kids and some exclusive neighourhood for protection while I get on with my 5 years of a contract then OK.
London is an obvious draw for players coming to PL as there are communities from pretty much everywhere in the world in London and then there are the high end eateries ,clubs etc to enjoy .
