⛔️ {Thread is NOW CLOSED. New Football Thread, Link on Last Page.}⛔️

[Kimchi Papi]

^ Depends on how the election goes this summer for Barca. There could be a huge upheaval at the club which could effect whether or not Messi stays or leaves. He could force a move if he's not happy with the results. I think starting with Pep leaving, there has been a tremendous amount of crap going on behind closed doors politically at Barca.

Messi doesn't owe anything to Barca either. He's paid back whatever Socios may think he owes in spades... I'm cool if he ever leaves though... It is what it is...

BTW, I bet some of those russian oligarchs & oil sheikhs paid off Platini & his uefa cronies some big $$$ to relax FFP... Some Cayman Islands off shore account got swoll recently...

 

[rolaholic]

It would be sooo weird seeing him in any blaugranaless shirt but you're right,he doesn't owe Barca anything 

. I'd love to see him in England...

 

[Kimchi Papi]

Damn, Pep's scarf game is strong...

I know beans is a fan of Pep's fit, I wonder if he approves of his scarf game too...

View media item 1540291

 

[tomdiginson]

Raheem doesn't owe Liverpool anything either. He owes it to himself to make as much money as he can & go to a club that gives him the best chance at winning & becoming a better player. With apologies to tomdiginson , that ain't happening at Liverpool.

The transfer committee has totally bungled that team & there's seems to be a malaise in the psyche of the players too. The players just don't know how to collectively pull together to win.

I'm not sure Rodgers is culpable for it either.

I wouldn't be mad at Sterling if he leaves. Dude should get paid. If Henderson is getting 100k a week plus other bonuses, Sterling should be getting more. Rodgers transfer choices are questionable. His lineups are also terrible. Not sure what he is even doing anymore.We overspent(As usual) on Lovren. Dude is terrible. Every single attacker gets past him. We acquired Sakho and barely used him and only used him out of desperation and then he went down. We have all these other guys on the bench and for some reason Rodgers wont play them after he went after them. He has midfielders playing as defenders and we have defenders on the bench. All sorts of backwards ****. He needs to be sacked.

 

[rolaholic]

I feel like Rogers won't get sacked unless they fall out of the top 5  

 

 

[Kimchi Papi]

Rodgers isn't the sole entity making the transfer decisions nor does he have final say. It's the the "Liverpool transfer committee" which consists of Rodgers, the head of recruitment, the Head of Performance and Analysis, the managing director, senior scouts, & finally 3 of John Henry's Boston cronies.

If Henry is as smart as he & the people around him that tell him he is, one should be able look at the transfer business under his ownership while this committee has been in power to see it hasn't worked.

That's why I think Rodgers will stay because he signed on knowing this power structure & tows the company line. Hopefully Klopp or someone of his ilk would look at the way Henry is running things & look elsewhere.

 

[eiddyfouw]

Brazilian national team's squad selection sold to firm, alleges report

The Brazilian national team's squad selection has not entirely been in the hands of its coaches since 2012, alleges a report out of Brazil.

In a shocking exposé in Saturday's O Estadao, the newspaper reveals Brazil's football federation, CBF, entered into a multimillion dollar secret contract with marketing firm ISE in 2006, and since the deal's renewal in December of 2011, has given powers of player call-ups to the Cayman Islands-based company and its business partners.

According to the paper, ISE and its holders have stipulated that a certain group of "A Team" players must feature in all international competitions, and that any potential substitutes must meet a certain marketability standard.

States the document: "CBF will guarantee and ensure that A Team players that are playing in official competitions will participate in any and every match."

Should one of the "A Team" players be injured, the contract mandates CBF must show proof to ISE with a medical certificate.

"Any changes to the list shall be communicated in writing to ISE and confirmed by mutual accord," the paper reports of the contract. "In this case, CBF will endeavor to substitute new players of a similar level in relation to marketing value, technical ability and reputation."

The agreement also instructs that Brazil friendlies can not be used to test up-and-coming youth players, or to prepare the Olympic team, which consists mainly of under-23s. And it further specifies that preparation for the national team's run-ups to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will be exclusive to the company.

The CBF denied the story's allegations on Sunday, saying the report raises "unfounded suspicions."

O Estadao's story goes on to assert CBF is subject to pay a penalty if it fails to adhere to the selection demands.

The report also details how the governing body sold off the rights to organize the national team's friendlies to another third party, and reveals that, included in the contract, all broadcasting rights and copyrights are under full control of the Cayman-based company.

The contract will end in 2022.

http://www.espnfc.com/brazil/story/2455221/brazil-national-team-squad-selection-sold-to-firm-report

 

[Kimchi Papi]

^ I'll bet you Sandro Rossell has a hand in that... He has a lot of ties to football in Brazil which is what he did prior to coming to Barca... Dude is definitely a sith lord... (crooked as heck)....

 

[eiddyfouw]

SIGNING: Chris Ramsey appointed QPR Head Coach on permanent basis until 2018 (qpr.co.uk)


They know damn well no one wants that position.

 

[QU!K]

I wonder if Suarez winning after leaving Anfield had any effects on Sterlings decision

 

[rolaholic]

Serie A has punished Inter for a section of their fans racist chants aimed at Pogba on Saturday. The team has been given a 1 match stadium ban and the section where those fans were will be closed if it happens again. Nice to see some proactiveness in this issue

 

[Kimchi Papi]

I bet Raheem looked around the locker room earlier this year without Sturridge & Hannibal there & felt like "I must be on the short bus" & wanted to get off quick...

 

[flyeed]

That report about the Brazilian NT is crazy if true

I wonder what players are out there that felt snubbed by this policy

 

[Coupé It]

This is why Liverpool can never have nice things (or just simply hold on to them)...

Just keep on giving Rodgers trucks load of cash to overspend on overrated players, makes sense.

 

[Retroballer]

That report about the Brazilian NT is crazy if true

I wonder what players are out there that felt snubbed by this policy

Makes the Diego Costa switch seem reasonable now.

 

[eiddyfouw]

I wonder if Suarez winning after leaving Anfield had any effects on Sterlings decision

I doubt it. But what I wouldn't doubt, is that his lack of replacement had an effect on his decision.

I wonder where Prince Raheem will end up...I wouldn't mind seeing him go abroad to a BVB, or if he stayed locally, a (yeah, I know....so cliche and expected) Southampton.

 

[eiddyfouw]

This is why Liverpool can never have nice things (or just simply hold on to them)...

Just keep on giving Rodgers trucks load of cash to overspend on overrated players, makes sense.

It's not just his decision.

But on the matter, can anyone name a stellar signing that Rodgers made at his time in Swansea when he WAS in total control of transfers? I genuinely a bit unfamiliar with his signings right now....

Was MICHU his signing?

 

[Kimchi Papi]

If reports are true, kudos to an absolute legend. Thank you for the most beautiful football I've ever seen.

View media item 1540425View media item 1540436View media item 1540435

 

[DsLee]

MLS is still meh, but I'm actually pumped for the LAFC stadium. No one drops $250 million on a 20,000 seat stadium without something else up their sleeves. With the news a month or so ago of Cristiano preferring LA if he were coming to MLS, I wouldn't be surprised if this group went all in on him.

 

[eiddyfouw]

Speaking of rumors of a legend....

Andrea Pirlo is leaving Juventus in the summer. He will play in Qatar. (calciomercato.com)

If true, this will be the end of an era.

 

[d3si]

Manchester United will offer David De Gea a new four-year deal worth up to £250,000 a week.

 

[Kimchi Papi]

Milan want Carlo back...

 

[rolaholic]

350k euro's a week for a keeper . Looks like LVG is serious about keeping him and not selling him just yet ,at least not at a bargain price which they'd get from Real if he were to move know with his contract almost up.

 

[QU!K]

http://www.vice.com/read/ex-footballer-drug-dealer-394

 

[flyeed]

Damn b United isn't keeping De Gea, the only thing this move does is troll Real into having to increase his wages.