And, we're off.....2016/17

[HomerJSimpson]

The FA Cup is not a major trophy - it's domestic Cup and it's treated as such by the clubs with many using it to play second string or youth players

The League and the CL are the major trophies and you haven't got anywhere near winning either in years

That isn't what you've said historically and have always gone on about it being about winning trophies. That's changed now Arsenal won the FA cup. There can only be one PL and CL winner and realistically these are always going to go to the biggest spending clubs who can afford the best and deepest squads. That means the rest are playing for domestic honours and the FA cup rates higher than the league cup and does guarantee European football regardless of any league position

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Absolutely staggering sums in there

I feel like there's a very big bubble gonna burst one day

That bubble has supppsed to have burst every year over the last decade - when the telly companies around the globe are happy to keep biding in the billions for the coverage then it's going to keep growing.

I don't think it will burst , it may level out at touch but that would only happen with a wage cap in place

 

[Slab]

That bubble has supppsed to have burst every year over the last decade - when the telly companies around the globe are happy to keep biding in the billions for the coverage then it's going to keep growing.

I don't think it will burst , it may level out at touch but that would only happen with a wage cap in place

For the sake of the sport I hope you're right but with so many other routes to view content cropping up and typical 3 yr deals it could well be that there's more than enough time for technology development and viewer behaviour to fundamentally change such that the rights are devalued considerably from one deal to the next, with the rather large 'pop' noise to accompany it (because I don't hear about these clubs stashing it away for a rainy day)

 

[Dan2501]

Just read that Madrid had already offered 120m Euros for Mbappe and Monaco rejected it. Never change Arsene, never change. Least he'll be able to say "We almost signed Mbappe".

 

[ger147]

For the sake of the sport I hope you're right but with so many other routes to view content cropping up and typical 3 yr deals it could well be that there's more than enough time for technology development and viewer behaviour to fundamentally change such that the rights are devalued considerably from one deal to the next, with the rather large 'pop' noise to accompany it (because I don't hear about these clubs stashing it away for a rainy day)

Sky can only put their prices up so far before they start to lose customers, and ultimately its the subscribers who pick up the tab for these deals.

We've already seen the first instance of it getting too expensive when Sky didn't bid any higher than BT to keep the Champions League as at £968m, Sky recognised they couldn't make any money at that price.

The same is bound to happen at some point with the EPL if the bids continue to spiral upwards at the same rate as they have done at the last few renewals.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Sky will bid for items that a/ keep subscribers b/ appeal to their advertisers. F1 is massive for the advertisers, hit a great target market, and have a hard core that will subscribe. PL has a hard core of fans who will subscribe, plenty of advertisers for that group as well.

Personally I am not interested in the CL and wouldn't pay to watch it. I don't care that is has gone to BT and I wont leave Sky because of it. I'm sure Sky will have done their research and discovered more like me and it is not worth the fee paid.

The PL is central to Sky and they will keep paying whatever it costs. Without the PL subscribers would leave in droves, me for starters. They can't afford to lose the PL. They are trapped by the PL, not healthy for them really.

 

[Dan2501]

City have made their second signing of the season, Benjamin Mendy from Monaco. Pep must have the backing of the City owners to build for the long term, has spent over £100m on three young players. Have the makings of a very exciting squad with Ederson, Mendy, Stones, Sane, Bernardo Silva, Roberts and Jesus.

Silva and Jesus will be a really exciting combination next season. Silva has been superb for Monaco.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

That's three quality signings for City - Silva and Mendy from Monaco are superb , was hoping we would look at Mendy

 

[ger147]

Sky will bid for items that a/ keep subscribers b/ appeal to their advertisers. F1 is massive for the advertisers, hit a great target market, and have a hard core that will subscribe. PL has a hard core of fans who will subscribe, plenty of advertisers for that group as well.

Personally I am not interested in the CL and wouldn't pay to watch it. I don't care that is has gone to BT and I wont leave Sky because of it. I'm sure Sky will have done their research and discovered more like me and it is not worth the fee paid.

The PL is central to Sky and they will keep paying whatever it costs. Without the PL subscribers would leave in droves, me for starters. They can't afford to lose the PL. They are trapped by the PL, not healthy for them really.

Thry also can't afford to pay "whatever it costs" to keep the EPL.

They won't be able to up their revenue sufficiently if it jumps to £10bn for example next time, so there is deffo a limit. I can see them stretching to break even or even running it at a slight loss and then try and get their profits from other products but they can't go beyond that price wise.

Having worked at Sky myself for over 8 years the "we need the EPL" model always concerned me as you are 100% right i.e. when/if they ever lose EPL coverage they will lose a load of subscribers.

 

[Slime]

I'd say De Gea will go and we'll make a pretty penny when he does.

Who would you replace him with? He has been a heck of a keeper for you.

I heard somewhere that Romero played 20 times for United last season and only conceded 6 goals.
Maybe we already have De Gea's replacement, although I really hope he stays.
If not, keep Romero and spend the De Gea money on Harry Kane ................ please !!

 

[Deleted member 1740]

That's three quality signings for City - Silva and Mendy from Monaco are superb , was hoping we would look at Mendy

CL football and we're still shopping in aldi buying Chelsea rejects, I thought CL allowed us to buy the top players?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

CL football and we're still shopping in aldi buying Chelsea rejects, I thought CL allowed us to buy the top players?

Season hasn't even finished yet - is it worth worrying right now ? Are you really going to start stamping feet now just because City are going mad ?

And understand that Solanki rejected the Chelsea contract as opposed to being rejected by the club.

 

[Dan2501]

Solanke's good. Unlikely to be a first-team star next season, but has a lot of potential and is a very low-risk signing at £3m.

 

[Deleted member 1740]

Season hasn't even finished yet - is it worth worrying right now ? Are you really going to start stamping feet now just because City are going mad ?

And understand that Solanki rejected the Chelsea contract as opposed to being rejected by the club.

Our season finished almost 3wks ago.

Stamping my feet? I'm concerned that we're being heavily linked with Salah and the likes. Hardly kicking and screaming.

Do you want me to keep schtum and swallow everything FSG do or don't do?

 

[sawtooth]

Season hasn't even finished yet - is it worth worrying right now ? Are you really going to start stamping feet now just because City are going mad ?

And understand that Solanki rejected the Chelsea contract as opposed to being rejected by the club.

Yeah but if what they offered peanuts to keep him and could only offer squad football then it's tantamount to rejecting him.

But if it helps to say that you tempted him away and he prefers to play for a mighty team like Liverpool blah blah blah then fill yer boots.

 

[Dan2501]

Our season finished almost 3wks ago.

Stamping my feet? I'm concerned that we're being heavily linked with Salah and the likes. Hardly kicking and screaming.

Do you want me to keep schtum and swallow everything FSG do or don't do?

Salah's incredible. Might not have done much at Chelsea, but made 13 appearances. Since moving to Serie A he's been exceptional, especially since moving to Roma. Under Klopp he could be scary good.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I heard somewhere that Romero played 20 times for United last season and only conceded 6 goals.
Maybe we already have De Gea's replacement, although I really hope he stays.
If not, keep Romero and spend the De Gea money on Harry Kane ................ please !!

Promoting a player from within, how unfashionable . Would save you a lot of pennies though.

I'm afraid you can't have Kane. I don't want your mob having someone who scores that often. Keep Zlatan, he scores enough to keep getting picked but blocks the momentum of the team. Works very nicely for the rest of us :thup:

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Our season finished almost 3wks ago.

Stamping my feet? I'm concerned that we're being heavily linked with Salah and the likes. Hardly kicking and screaming.

Do you want me to keep schtum and swallow everything FSG do or don't do?

Linked ? We get linked to literally hundreds of players every single day - last year every man and his dog was moaning that we wasted money on Mane and just getting Matip on a free etc - far too many start throwing their hands up before players have even arrived or bids have been put in - i have no doubt that scouts and the club are working right now to get the players in that Klopp wants - since when did we start reacting to what is in the media ? Even if Salah does arrive - he looks a very good player who will provide more width and cover for Mane etc which is something that crippled us last season.

But surely we can't be getting worried when the window isn't even open yet.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Yeah but if what they offered peanuts to keep him and could only offer squad football then it's tantamount to rejecting him.

But if it helps to say that you tempted him away and he prefers to play for a mighty team like Liverpool blah blah blah then fill yer boots.

Eh ? I have no idea what will happen with Solanke - he just seems a young player who wanted to move clubs to get a chance to play , will never get that at Chelsea but knows that he could get it with us so turns them down to join us. It's a couple mil on a young player.

But now you are back maybe you can answer the question on if last season was a step backwards for Arsenal or not ?

 

[sawtooth]

Eh ? I have no idea what will happen with Solanke - he just seems a young player who wanted to move clubs to get a chance to play , will never get that at Chelsea but knows that he could get it with us so turns them down to join us. It's a couple mil on a young player.

But now you are back maybe you can answer the question on if last season was a step backwards for Arsenal or not ?

How can it be we won a major trophy!?