Bet every chairman in Europe is waiting for Monaco to flash up on the caller ID...
Never really had any interest in Ligue 1, but safe to say PSG/Monaco have killed it dead. Gone from one of the most open leagues in Europe to an SPL II.
Imagine if some rich oil company took over a Dutch club?
The money spinner would be fantastic for the league though.
That could well be Brazil's first-choice centre-back pairing in the World Cup next year if Marquinhos continues to impress (although it's also dependent on Dante faltering quite a lot, admittedly ).
That could well be Brazil's first-choice centre-back pairing in the World Cup next year if Marquinhos continues to impress (although it's also dependent on Dante faltering quite a lot, admittedly ).
Doesn't Luiz normally start for Brazil anyway haha?
Brazil with CB's coming out of their ears and Fred and Jo as their main strikers. The thought of Brazil with a truly world class number 9 is actually quite scary.
Brazil with CB's coming out of their ears and Fred and Jo as their main strikers. The thought of Brazil with a truly world class number 9 is actually quite scary.
Its a double edged sword, although he's not great and you have to put up with him for 60mins, its 60mins of tiring out the opposition fullback before Moura or Bernard tears them to shreds. I would think Hulk will struggle more than he currently does, now with Monaco he's going to be much more watchable and directly comparable to the likes of Moura, instead of living off his Porto rep.
It wouldn't be. You should be proud of how much of the league's talent is home-grown and stuff!
I think the Ajax fans summed it up quite well:
Cant think of anything worse for Dutch football tbh. Doubt it'll ever happen, Dutch people are particularly adverse to these kinds of takeovers, even more so than the Germans. Maybe a small cash injection into say Feyenoord would liven things up as they're way off the pace tbh and Ajax/PSV/Feyenoord/Twente going all out would be brilliant. There's a purity about Dutch football though that I love. Ajax are probably too big but that comes from Amsterdam being such a dominating city in Holland.
I'd quite like a Benelux league though. With 35m odd people it could become alot more significant and maybe Ajax could make a proper challenge for the CL...
Personally I dont understand anyway who says that PSG/Monaco have been 'good for French football'. Theyve absolutely killed the fairness of a league that was the most open in Europe. Even the SPL is better because Celtic/Rangers earned their dominant position over decades rather than just throwing petrodollars at it.
Was at the St.Pauli vs 1860 Munich match in Hamburg last night. The atmosphere in a 2nd division Bundesliga game is easily better than any EPL game. German football is so much better than English .
Was at the St.Pauli vs 1860 Munich match in Hamburg last night. The atmosphere in a 2nd division Bundesliga game is easily better than any EPL game. German football is so much better than English .
I dunno. Maybe in EPL yes but I've been to some Championship/league 1 games and the fans were brilliant. Went to Elland road last season (was in the area and a mate invited me) and the fans really cheered their team on no matter what. Every end was just chanting 'Leeds, leeds, leeds' / their anthem over and over with such vehemence and always giving the players their support whatever they did.
I dunno. Maybe in EPL yes but I've been to some Championship/league 1 games and the fans were brilliant. Went to Elland road last season (was in the area and a mate invited me) and the fans really cheered their team on no matter what. Every end was just chanting 'Leeds, leeds, leeds' / their anthem over and over with such vehemence and always giving the players their support whatever they did.
Yeah fair enough, QPR used to be like that too. Been to Elland road years ago and in fairness it was as good as anywhere ive been in England.
Big big fan of the whole continental ultras style though with choreos, flares and coordinated jumping etc. Just an unbelievable experience. Crystal Palce have an ultras scene going which is impressive so good to see them in the EPL.
Cant think of anything worse for Dutch football tbh. Doubt it'll ever happen, Dutch people are particularly adverse to these kinds of takeovers, even more so than the Germans. Maybe a small cash injection into say Feyenoord would liven things up as they're way off the pace tbh and Ajax/PSV/Feyenoord/Twente going all out would be brilliant. There's a purity about Dutch football though that I love. Ajax are probably too big but that comes from Amsterdam being such a dominating city in Holland.
I'd quite like a Benelux league though. With 35m odd people it could become alot more significant and maybe Ajax could make a proper challenge for the CL...
Personally I dont understand anyway who says that PSG/Monaco have been 'good for French football'. Theyve absolutely killed the fairness of a league that was the most open in Europe. Even the SPL is better because Celtic/Rangers earned their dominant position over decades rather than just throwing petrodollars at it.
True, Dutch football is known for being home grown. Tbf, Twente have tried to spend money - and failed, last season for them was a right flop, yet they had a strong enough squad to compete for Europe in the Premier League and other competitions.
I've been part of many Benelux league discussions in the past...nobody seems to like the idea due to the finance, it could ruin Dutch and Belgium teams that would be forced to play in the second division. What's more, the Dutch teams are stronger than the Belgium teams. Also, let's not forget the poor teams from Luxembourg that would have to play in 27th division!
In all seriousness, watch out for De Boer at Ajax, I think he's building something.
Was at the St.Pauli vs 1860 Munich match in Hamburg last night. The atmosphere in a 2nd division Bundesliga game is easily better than any EPL game. German football is so much better than English .
St.Pauli fans are pretty crazy though.
Whilst we're on 2.Bundesliga, check this cracking finish by Danny Latza for Bochum earlier. I apologise for the poor quality of video but it was the best i could find.