World Football Thread

[BigPete33]

hehe I reckon we'd talk everyones ears off

I may not be able to make it yet, going to have to organise the day off work.

[bennymacca]

I doubt Man City got Robinho on the cheap (stupid undisclosed sums).

FYI - according to fox sports

The Brazil striker, a £32.5 million ($83 million) British record buy from Real Madrid on September 1

[BigPete33]

From Fox Sports....

"Gold Coast have already tabled a $1.4 million offer to Australia midfielder Jason Culina to be the club's marquee player, and thus outside the cap, an offer which the midfielder has told friends he has accepted.

They are also chasing Socceroo defenders Scott Chipperfield and Chris Coyne, strikers Joel Porter and Shane Smeltz are believed to have signed deals already, while goalkeeper Jess Vanstratton has been unveiled as goalkeeper"

How good is that?????????????

One of the few things that worry me about the A-League is how sometimes it seems players are "coming here to retire". Jason culina is a very decent player (plays for PSV in Holland) and it'd be great to see the likes of him playing here and still having plenty left in him.

Chippers is another player I really rate and although he isn't a spring chicken anymore he still is practically guaranteed a spot in the national side.

Chris Coyne is another talent who has plenty to offer and has been doing well for the Socceroos.

I hope Gold Coast DO sign all those guys, as long as they still lose to Adelaide

[bennymacca]

seems like the a-league is starting to become a bit more than just a kindy and an old folks home.

you are right pete, that is definitely good for the a-league.

how old is culina, 28? 30 tops i would reckon. still got plenty to offer

[maccatak11]

he is 28. would be an awesome get for the a-league

[Chelsea4thewin]

i know this is good but one player doesnt make a team, cant say im a big fan of the marquee player

[BigPete33]

Very true Steve, which is exactly why I made sure I pointed out the other quality names being bandied about.

The Marquee player is a tricky one, I think it has a lot to do with the salary cap restrictions which were deliberately very tight and have been gradually loosened (but are still very tight).

There was a bit of a discussion on this on Fox Sports FC (love that show) and they mentioned the whole idea of the marquee player was to still be able to get a 'name' player in the side even though there was a salary cap.

Promote the league as best as possible but still force the clubs to be responsible and not go bust early.

In a similar vein, I believe the financial criteria is fairly strict for new clubs looking to come in to the league - quite a few boxes they have to tick. That has to be a good thing from the point of view that they'd really have to stuff up quite badly to not be on a sound footing for several years after starting up.

[krunchie]

i know this is good but one player doesnt make a team, cant say im a big fan of the marquee player

no, i agree but it serves an important purpouse to the whole competition.

Love them or hate them the marquee player raises the profile of each team and in turn the comp, this increases gate takings and income.

This income is filtered back to the clubs alowing for better wages per player and the increase in standard of players being purchased.

Well thats the way i see it.

But every competion has this set up even the EPL, Torress for liverpool, Robinho for Man C, Ronaldo for Man U, all serve this purpouse.


ohh it looks like pete has already posted this vein of thought

[bennymacca]

i know this is good but one player doesnt make a team, cant say im a big fan of the marquee player

when the clubs only have a salary cap of 2 million odd, then it makes a lot of sense to be able to sign up a gun player that would have no hope of coming otherwise.

i think that part of the reason that the marquee player thing was brought in was so that it allowed australian clubs to sign australian players while they still had something left, and not when they were dinosaurs coming back a year before they retire

and that is exactly what has happened here.

its only good for the competition.

(also think of the exposure generated by players such as romario and dwight yorke coming to play)

[Chelsea4thewin]

Torres is your marquee player, so you saying Gerrard is a second string player?