[boumavilla]

(Original post by Zerforax)
Would still probably go

La Liga*
Premier League*
Bundesliga
Serie A
Ligue 1
Eredivisie

Glad that someone (you're not the only one though) appreciates the Eredivisie! It is better than the Russian and Ukranian leagues, it just lacks a bit of money. One day money will be in the Dutch Leagues, and they will improve drastically!

[I Kant Spall]

(Original post by boumavilla)
Glad that someone (you're not the only one though) appreciates the Eredivisie! It is better than the Russian and Ukranian leagues, it just lacks a bit of money. One day money will be in the Dutch Leagues, and they will improve drastically!

I watched the Dutch league earlier this year, though I didn't follow it through unfortunately. An American player Jozy Altidore went to AZ Alkmaar so I decided to watch a few games. Rasmus Elm also plays there, so that was a bonus.

The Eredivisie is an awesome league for spectators. There's so much parity, even though Ajax always seems to get lucky and nick it at the end. You get a first glimpse of the players who start their careers in the Eredivisie and then move on to bigger clubs. The talent that seems to come from there is unreal... damn good scouts.

Lastly, my favorite thing about the Eredivisie, is that it is managed so, so well. As an example, they maintain a YouTube channel that uploads regularly and now has over 5,000 videos including clips, game highlights, post-game conferences, and a few good series. They truly get that it is 2012 and take advantage of how connected and technologically savvy the Dutch are. Anyone can subscribe, if you can tolerate hearing Dutch. XD

[R-KAM]

(Original post by Mess.)
I am sure he could have made practically the same almost anywhere else at a club that will at least compete in a decent league. I'm sure City, Barca and Real at the least would have given him whatever he wanted.

Where would you want to live, Manchester or Paris tbf?

[boumavilla]

(Original post by I Kant Spall)
I watched the Dutch league earlier this year, though I didn't follow it through unfortunately. An American player Jozy Altidore went to AZ Alkmaar so I decided to watch a few games. Rasmus Elm also plays there, so that was a bonus.

The Eredivisie is an awesome league for spectators. There's so much parity, even though Ajax always seems to get lucky and nick it at the end. You get a first glimpse of the players who start their careers in the Eredivisie and then move on to bigger clubs. The talent that seems to come from there is unreal... damn good scouts.

Lastly, my favorite thing about the Eredivisie, is that it is managed so, so well. As an example, they maintain a YouTube channel that uploads regularly and now has over 5,000 videos including clips, game highlights, post-game conferences, and a few good series. They truly get that it is 2012 and take advantage of how connected and technologically savvy the Dutch are. Anyone can subscribe, if you can tolerate hearing Dutch. XD

Hey that's not very nice about the Dutch language, I learn how to speak it from there heel erg bedankt!
But yeah, I love all the clips they post on there, every match is available! Do you watch 90 minutes without knowing the scores? I love doing that, it's like doing the same with Match of the Day!
The good thing is, I hope that with more clubs from the Netherlands doing well in the Europa League, in the future the Eredivisie will become a league with another Champions League spot, therefore giving it more money and perhaps more coverage worldwide. This'll improve the league drastically!

[marcusmerehay]

Inter have reportedly agreed deals for Diego Forlan (4m Euros) and Samir Handanovic (14m) - a real statement of intent after such a dreadful season.

Handanovic is one of the best keepers in Europe, too.

[Abiraleft]

(Original post by marcusmerehay)
Inter have reportedly agreed deals for Diego Forlan (4m Euros) and Samir Handanovic (14m) - a real statement of intent after such a dreadful season.

Handanovic is one of the best keepers in Europe, too.

Forlan's already at Inter. Or did you mean a move away?

[marcusmerehay]

(Original post by Abiraleft)
Forlan's already at Inter. Or did you mean a move away?

Course he is.

Saw something about it from Cristian Acconci on Twitter this morning, I'll try and find it again, possible I've just read it wrong.

EDIT: He's moving to Internacional, that's where my confusion was. Only skim-read it.

Reportedly Inter are also signing Mauro Caballero from Libertad - never heard of him though, guess he must be a youngster.

[Darth Vader 7]

(Original post by marcusmerehay)
Inter have reportedly agreed deals for Diego Forlan (4m Euros) and Samir Handanovic (14m) - a real statement of intent after such a dreadful season.

Handanovic is one of the best keepers in Europe, too.

That's weird. I thought I read up that Juve have agreed deals for Isla, Asamoah and Handanovic from Udinese...

I probably read it wrong lol.

[marcusmerehay]

(Original post by Darth Vader 7)
That's weird. I thought I read up that Juve have agreed deals for Isla, Asamoah and Handanovic from Udinese...

I probably read it wrong lol.

Certainly they've been chasing Isla and Asamoah, but why would they go for Handanovic when Buffon still has a couple of years left in him?

[Darth Vader 7]

(Original post by marcusmerehay)
Certainly they've been chasing Isla and Asamoah, but why would they go for Handanovic when Buffon still has a couple of years left in him?

That's what I thought but then I thought that he was going to be his understudy (only 27).

If Inter are signing him, what went from with Cesar?

[marcusmerehay]

(Original post by Darth Vader 7)
That's what I thought but then I thought that he was going to be his understudy (only 27).

If Inter are signing him, what went from with Cesar?

I've no idea, but they surely have some sort of plan for him.

Looking at Juve though, I guess they do need a keeper - of the three they have, Buffon is actually the youngest at 34 (Manninger and Storari are both 35).

[Darth Vader 7]

(Original post by marcusmerehay)
I've no idea, but they surely have some sort of plan for him.

Looking at Juve though, I guess they do need a keeper - of the three they have, Buffon is actually the youngest at 34 (Manninger and Storari are both 35).

Buffon's only 34? I thought he'd be pushing 40 right about now. He's been around for so long.

Maybe they'll go for a keeper that's in their early 20s as his successor.

[marcusmerehay]

(Original post by Darth Vader 7)
Buffon's only 34? I thought he'd be pushing 40 right about now. He's been around for so long.

Maybe they'll go for a keeper that's in their early 20s as his successor.

He made his Parma debut when he was only 17 which is ridiculously young especially for a goalkeeper, probably why it feels like so long.

As I recall, he kept a clean sheet on his debut, against one of the Milan sides too.

He's an all-time hero of mine, with the likes of Yashin/Tomaszewski/Maier and (of course) Seaman.

[Darth Vader 7]

(Original post by marcusmerehay)
He made his Parma debut when he was only 17 which is ridiculously young especially for a goalkeeper, probably why it feels like so long.

As I recall, he kept a clean sheet on his debut, against one of the Milan sides too.

He's an all-time hero of mine, with the likes of Yashin/Tomaszewski/Maier and (of course) Seaman.

I really enjoyed watching him during the 2006 World cup (just when I was starting out with football!). Would've loved to watch Seaman in his prime.

[marcusmerehay]

Galatasaray have signed Demba Ba from Newcastle for £9m. Good signing.

[Darth Vader 7]

(Original post by marcusmerehay)
Galatasaray have signed Demba Ba from Newcastle for £9m. Good signing.

Sauce?

[marcusmerehay]

(Original post by Darth Vader 7)
Sauce?

Sky Italia have been reporting it.

Newcastle fans are suggesting Luuk De Jong is coming in as a replacement.

[KingMessi]

(Original post by marcusmerehay)
Galatasaray have signed Demba Ba from Newcastle for £9m. Good signing.

That's a very good signing; it was foolish of Newcastle to have a release clause as low as 7 million in his contract...

[marcusmerehay]

(Original post by KingMessi)
That's a very good signing; it was foolish of Newcastle to have a release clause as low as 7 million in his contract...

Turkish League seems to be quite popular at the moment, particularly for African footballers, not sure why though as racism is still an issue over there.

At Galatasaray he'll be joining the likes of Eboue, Baros and Elmander so there's decent quality there.

[KingMessi]

(Original post by marcusmerehay)
Turkish League seems to be quite popular at the moment, particularly for African footballers, not sure why though as racism is still an issue over there.

At Galatasaray he'll be joining the likes of Eboue, Baros and Elmander so there's decent quality there.

Hmm, I wasn't aware of that. It's still a step down for Ba, no? I guess he wasn't particularly enamoured by being shifted out to the left. Meh, Eto'o went to Anzhi...if the cash is good enough, other issues become secondary, I suppose.