No bloody way would we match their wages. Spurs have several players breaking the 100kp/w barrier along with Walker, Dembele, Lloris, Soldado and Townsend who I'm sure aren't getting less than 60k.
Spurs are also about to embark on the building of a much larger stadium which will bring in bigger crowds, bigger commercial sales and will generate the income to increase player salaries
Well this is a turn up for the books. I might start having an open mind about footballers again: Clyne Happy To Stay At Saints
Their news does tend to be slightly more valid than most, which is why they're not often first. They check.
I read that as "I'm happy to stay at Saints if they offer me a similar deal to other clubs" which they won't be able to do.
If you let an agent decide for you whether you switch teams or stay, I think you have a pretty good idea what's going to happen. And anyway, your agent's job is to be the fall guy. But I mean, it's good. By saying he's happy to stay, he's helping Saints get the best transfer price for him. And, I have no reason to doubt him. He probably is happy to stay at Saints and if no one comes in for him, he'll be fine. He'd be happiER if Man U came and quadrupled his wages, but if not he's content to stay one more year. As for how I feel about Clyne. I really can't get mad at someone for not wanting to extend/renew a contract. As long as they play hard while still under terms. But then not wanting to sign a new deal gets turned into "He wants out" when really it is more the club wanting them out because they don't want to lose a player for nothing. As long as players don't torpedo their sale value by boycotting games or publicly issuing ultimatums or anything like that, I got no problem. That goes for Clyne and Rodriguez as well. And Schneiderlin who screwed up last year but so far this year has been okay about things.
We may not be able to pay Spurs style wages but we must be close with Ramirez and Osvaldo - if we could offload them and with the new deal we must be able to offer good wages.
Never get too cynical. It'll scar you for life. Besides, it's only football [cue Bill Shankly comment].
Smart PR from Clyne's group. 'I'm happy to stay' is different to 'I will stay'. It suggests he may not publicly compromise his own position with Southampton, though. Financially, it makes no sense for Saints to cling on for the final year of his contact. But for Clyne, if he does have to stay here another year, he (and his agent) can reap the rewards of having no transfer fees. Facts are: - He has turned down several new contract offers - The season is almost over - Manchester United want him - He and his agency know this So, in all likelihood, Saints will source a replacement and he will be sold. But, from his side, he was always 'happy' to stay for just one more season and then make more financially from leaving a season later, if need be.
I've liked because this accurately summarises, not because I 'like' the content! Saints would rather sell than let the contract expire if he's not going to sign a new deal. Only question is will an offer that's acceptable come in? Ideally we'd hold out for £20m+, but we may only get offers c.£12-15m with one year remaining. Depends on quality and cost of possible replacements available I guess. Trust the black box....
The standard of football in the CL is not better than international standard that's for sure. Nor is it any better than the premiership standard. It is true that teams like Barcelona or Real are big clubs but their standard of play isn't better than the premier. Granted they have very good players that play a good standard but it is what you would expect from teams with top internationals. You see just as many full internationals in a premier match as you do in any CL game.
I disagree Beddy. I don't the standard in the Premier League is the best. It is the most exciting in terms of game speed and action normally, but in terms of "standard" or "quality" of football, it is not.
I'm sorry but that just isn't true, you clearly don't watch much CL football. Barca, Real & Bayern are head and shoulders above any Premier League club in terms of playing standard and have been for 5 or 6 years now; they have won 4 of the last 6 finals. Chelsea, the team who are running away with our league, this year were knocked out by 10 man PSG who subsequently went on to get thrashed over 2 legs by Barca. Arsenal and City have for years been knocked out by whoever they play against in the quarters. Liverpool last season were totally outclassed by Real Madrid and couldn't progress from a group also containing Basel and Ludogorets. United were well beaten in their last 2 finals by Barca and wont pose any threat next season if they qualify. Premier League is way overrated, a hype train created by Sky to drive their subscriber base.
It is true I don't watch as much CL as I used too but I probably watch as much as the average person in this country. But hey.....that is what a football forum is for to discuss and to disagree/agree about football matters.
The attraction of the PL is a combination of things: quality football, spirited play and no certainty about match results. Other leagues may be better in one area, but fall down in others. We may complain about the same 4 teams vying for the title, but there are fewer usual suspects than that in some leagues. However, no denying that there are several European teams that are capable of beating our top teams in the CL, but this won't be permanent...everything can change. I can understand why players may want to be in the CL...however, they won't get many games if they pick the wrong team. I freely admit that we may have/certainly would have struggled in the CL.
I posted earlier above that I don't think it is the best quality league in the world. It probably is the most sellable = Sky happy = loads of dosh pumped in.
