pokerjoke
Money List Winner
Merry Xmas PeteOo I love a good discussion....or is it an argument?
Firstly, for anyone to say that Man U are categorically the biggest club in the world and treat it as a fact is either seriously biased or deluded. Ok, an argument can be made alongside certain points, which are more off-field than on, but to me that is barely arguable also at least based on 4-5 points.
For years, all that mattered was the following:-
Club history
Number of trophies
Storied players
Ground size
Attendances
Again not necessarily in order, but all in the mix.
Nowadays, the following has been added:-
Turnover
Number of "supporters" worldwide
Shirt sales
Twitter followers
Possibly a few more.
I do have certain problems with Real Madrid's History - Franco's "influence", Franco himself, the city council bailing them out with regards to paying over the top to buy their training ground, Barca and Real being able to negotiate their own TV deals, at the expense of the other clubs. I'm sure there is much more and that's even before how "sympathetically" they are refereed at home and abroad. In a daft way, I think their first 2-3 European cups where when English teams werent in it for a part, and possibly also before it became a priority for all clubs.
However, in terms of trophies won (13 European cups), profile, stadium size, average home league gate, worldwide fan base (different sites come up with different results) and world class players over the years, there is only one winner for me.
Man U / Barca might be a little bit of a closer argument, but take into account the similar standing to Real - profile, stadium size...........Barca could also be in second place.
Business wise / turnover may bring different results, but to me football is a sport and is what I would judge it on.
Overall, how many Man U players have Real and Barca signed when they were at their height? Have Man U ever taken a player from Barca or Real when they were at their height? Even over the last 20 years when Man U have mainly been top dog, have many world class players chosen them above Real or Barca?
Real have had Ronaldo, Figo, Zidane, Di-stefano, Fat Ronaldo, Sanchez, Puskas, Butragueno, Kaka.........the list is endless.
Barca - Figo, Cruyff, Neymar, Messi, Ronaldinho,Kluivert, Maradona, Ronaldo, Suarez, Ibrahimovic........again what a list.
Man U have also had some great players, but to be fair quite a few come through the ranks such as Beckham, Best, Charlton as well as big signings, but not signings on the same scale as the above.
The pressure argument, is another argument.... or is it discussion?
Merrx Xmas, everybody.
Nice to know I’m only biased
Pieman is deluded lol
