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The Footie Thread

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The top league of English football has been going the way of that in Scotland for some years now…with the scoffing that that league got from down south about how uncompetitive it was for the title…only really Rangers or Celtic.

I’m sorry to say that the EPL, though not quite yet the plaything of two teams, is heading that way. Maybe not two, but not more than a small handful. And that is a pity as the competitiveness in the top league of English football to be the top dog was always what made it really attractive to the ‘non-aligned’.
 
The top league of English football has been going the way of that in Scotland for some years now…with the scoffing that that league got from down south about how uncompetitive it was for the title…only really Rangers or Celtic.

I’m sorry to say that the EPL, though not quite yet the plaything of two teams, is heading that way. Maybe not two, but not more than a small handful. And that is a pity as the competitiveness in the top league of English football to be the top dog was always what made it really attractive to the ‘non-aligned’.
I disagree, the top league of English football has like it is now for years ( City dominance).
Liverpool won the 1st division 1976 -1990 =14yrs a total of 10 times .
Manchester Utd won the Premiership from 1993. - 2003 =10 yrs a total of 8 times ..
I struggle to remember the media & fans making a fuss back then .
 
The top league of English football has been going the way of that in Scotland for some years now…with the scoffing that that league got from down south about how uncompetitive it was for the title…only really Rangers or Celtic.

I’m sorry to say that the EPL, though not quite yet the plaything of two teams, is heading that way. Maybe not two, but not more than a small handful. And that is a pity as the competitiveness in the top league of English football to be the top dog was always what made it really attractive to the ‘non-aligned’.
I think the issue is just as much the poor quality of football as it is the lack of competition.
 
I'm curious what regular Leicester watchers make of Maddison.
I am operating on a sample size of 1 live match at the start of last season. Leicester were pretty insipid (they lost 2-0 to whu) and he was anonymous throughout and looked very delicate/ lightweight.
Obviously I'm hoping that this can be extrapolated to a full season, but I'm wondering what system or complementary players might bring out the best in him.

I have friends and family who are season ticket holders and he really polarises opinion.

I heard the question asked earlier as to why nobody else apparently came into him and there was no sign of a bidding war. One answer really made me think.

The pundit in question said it was probably the same reason he doesn’t regularly make the England squad despite his obvious on field credentials.

It does make you wonder whether he has a real attitude/application problem, or if there is another behind the scenes issue which makes managers shy away from him.
 
I think Maddison is a very good signing exactly the kind of player we need and a bargin, he fits into the new manager’s philosophy of playing attacking football, I only hope the pressure of playing in a big competitive league doesn’t change his style of play
 
I have friends and family who are season ticket holders and he really polarises opinion.

I heard the question asked earlier as to why nobody else apparently came into him and there was no sign of a bidding war. One answer really made me think.

The pundit in question said it was probably the same reason he doesn’t regularly make the England squad despite his obvious on field credentials.

It does make you wonder whether he has a real attitude/application problem, or if there is another behind the scenes issue which makes managers shy away from him.

I don’t get the hype around him. Yes he’s capable of good things but he also goes missing for lengthy periods in a game, and occasionally for several games in a row. He’s shone in a Leicester team that’s been failing/ageing but I don’t think he’s consistent enough to be labelled as a star - capable of great things but every player has those games occasionally.

Maybe Spurs will bring the best out of him but I’m more inclined to think they won’t.
 

FairPlay to him.

Let’s be honest we’d all jump at the chance.
Just like we’d have all signed up to LIV 🤷‍♂️
I don't see it as being the same as LIV. With LIV they tripled their money for less work, but essentially doing the same thing. However in Koulibaly's case he wasn't exactly on a pittance at Chelsea. He's just turned 32 so not exactly past it for a defender. He's gone from a first rate league to a fifth rate league where he will be forgotten about and never play a meaningful match again. Just for a bit more money.
 
I don’t get the hype around him. Yes he’s capable of good things but he also goes missing for lengthy periods in a game, and occasionally for several games in a row. He’s shone in a Leicester team that’s been failing/ageing but I don’t think he’s consistent enough to be labelled as a star - capable of great things but every player has those games occasionally.

Maybe Spurs will bring the best out of him but I’m more inclined to think they won’t.
I think even his set piece delivery will be useful. He plays in a position where we have zero other options, all our 'number 10s' were cleared out while we played the pathetic 3-4-3 system. I do think there's something not quite right about him - seemingly no other interest in him, doesn't get many England caps despite fans' insistence - could be an attitude problem, I don't know. But as I say, he gives us something we don't have from anyone else. Can't see him being a total flop when we've seen what he can do.
 
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I think even his set piece delivery will be useless. He plays in a position where we have zero other options, all our 'number 10s' were cleared out while we played the pathetic 3-4-3 system. I do think there's something not quite right about him - seemingly no other interest in him, doesn't get many England caps despite fans' insistence - could be an attitude problem, I don't know. But as I say, he gives us something we don't have from anyone else. Can't see him being a total flop when we've seen what he can do.
This is the thing though, there seemed to be huge calls for Maddison to get into the World Cup squad by fans and pundits alike. Southgate was possibly pressured into taking him, and continued to take him after he got injured, as he was maybe worried about the backlash if he didn't. Or perhaps he simply took him as he felt he was good enough, and willing to take a risk in bringing him after he got injured.

Either way, a bad or average player does not get that sort of support to get a call up. He must have been doing some very good things on the football pitch. However, he played in a broken and tired team. It is probably hard for any player, no matter how good they are, to perform at consistently high standards in a team that is regularly getting battered. He can't win the ball back on his own (even if his strength was in defensive midfield, which it isn't), and there is not a lot he can do in attack when his team is chasing shadows, or if his team mates are playing bad passes or making poor runs when in possession.
 
I don't see it as being the same as LIV. With LIV they tripled their money for less work, but essentially doing the same thing. However in Koulibaly's case he wasn't exactly on a pittance at Chelsea. He's just turned 32 so not exactly past it for a defender. He's gone from a first rate league to a fifth rate league where he will be forgotten about and never play a meaningful match again. Just for a bit more money.
I think you have to get in their mindset to an extent. If you grow up in Africa then the European leagues are a means to an end, nothing more. Playing in England, Germany, Saudi, it is irrelevant to most. That isn't a criticism, it is reality. A fair number of the African players use the money to support an extended family, if you can add 50% to your salary then all of that extended family benefits and benefits for ever more. Having a legacy in the PL doesn't register, it is just a job.
 
I think Maddison is a very good signing exactly the kind of player we need and a bargin, he fits into the new manager’s philosophy of playing attacking football, I only hope the pressure of playing in a big competitive league doesn’t change his style of play
He is a quality player, playing quality balls. If Kane stays then he and Son will benefit hugely from Maddison slipping passes through for them. I would love him at Everton and I think he would improve most teams in the PL.
 
I think you have to get in their mindset to an extent. If you grow up in Africa then the European leagues are a means to an end, nothing more. Playing in England, Germany, Saudi, it is irrelevant to most. That isn't a criticism, it is reality. A fair number of the African players use the money to support an extended family, if you can add 50% to your salary then all of that extended family benefits and benefits for ever more. Having a legacy in the PL doesn't register, it is just a job.
I understand it to an extent, I just feel for anyone there's a point where you'd barely notice more money. If my wage went from 300k to 500k you're making such a stupid amount that I wouldn't notice the difference. Especially if it means playing in a rubbish league and never having to try, against competing in the Champion's League and so on. I suppose if he's sending all his money back home then fair play to him.
 
He is a quality player, playing quality balls. If Kane stays then he and Son will benefit hugely from Maddison slipping passes through for them. I would love him at Everton and I think he would improve most teams in the PL.
You could say he represents a decent replacement for Eriksen, finally. We've just not had it since he left.
 
He can't win the ball back on his own (even if his strength was in defensive midfield, which it isn't), and there is not a lot he can do in attack when his team is chasing shadows, or if his team mates are playing bad passes or making poor runs when in possession.
You do know he's going to Spurs though??
May as well have burnt the 40m and used it to give a nice finishing rub to the artisan cheeses...
 
I understand it to an extent, I just feel for anyone there's a point where you'd barely notice more money. If my wage went from 300k to 500k you're making such a stupid amount that I wouldn't notice the difference. Especially if it means playing in a rubbish league and never having to try, against competing in the Champion's League and so on. I suppose if he's sending all his money back home then fair play to him.
I am generalising to an extent so maybe I am giving him more credit than he deserves. It does seem to be a common theme with a lot of African players though so I think it is a reasonable explanation. Let's think the best of him though, that's nicer :)

On money generally I think I heard a quote once on a theme of, you have money and you upgrade to business class flights. Then you move to 1st class, then private jets. Then you buy your own plane. Your team mate has a newer Lear jet, you need to upgrade.......For those materialistically inclined, there is always a newer toy to buy, more excess to spend your money on. I couldn't go to those levels even if I had the money, I don't think I would lose the value of money to that extent. Others need 4 custom made Bentleys because hey, 3 just are not enough 😆

On that theme, I discovered the other week that a guy i play with in Opens works at an Aston Martin specialist up here, we never talk work but I was mentioning that my car had a dent removed, resprayed etc and one of our group joked this guy would have done it if you added 2 x 0's onto the bill. They do bespoke re-fits, internal, paint jobs etc. They don't sell the cars, just do alterations to make them unique. Crazy prices charged but these are people who have money to burn, ie footballers. That's why they need more money, to look different in the car park :rolleyes:
 
I don't see it as being the same as LIV. With LIV they tripled their money for less work, but essentially doing the same thing. However in Koulibaly's case he wasn't exactly on a pittance at Chelsea. He's just turned 32 so not exactly past it for a defender. He's gone from a first rate league to a fifth rate league where he will be forgotten about and never play a meaningful match again. Just for a bit more money.
Reports of £300k pw.
 
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