Has the Premier League lost it's appeal?

[blizeH]

Benzema, Kaka, Ribery, Villa, Ronaldo and others (possibly Alonso/Mascherano - we don't know yet) have all preferred Spain, and lesser players such as Zhirkov etc have also expressed a desire to play in La Liga amongst others. Who in this transfer window has said they want to play in the Prem?

I wonder how much of it is down to Barca winning the Champion's League, maybe I'm over-thinking it, but I imagine playing in a league with the CL winners is quite a big draw. Which is especially sad under the circumstances...

Probably being over-dramatic, as there's still plenty of amazing players and managers in the league, and I still think it'll be the most competitive league for quite a few years to come, but do wonder if this is the start of an end of an era...

[Gem]

Unless our weather changes, we'll always be behind Spain.

[Maksimov]

Unless our weather changes, we'll always be behind Spain.

Spot on! Certain type of players will always prefer Spain and even Italy over England.

[TheWestwayWonder]

I think its a fair thought, and La Liga is definitely coming back into ascendency, but I dont think the PL has lost its appeal at all.

This summer has just been a perfect storm for La Liga

-UK tax laws increasing. 50% vs. 80% of income for a contract like Ronaldo's is 32.5m vs. 52m over five years

-Barca completing an incredible season and looking like god's gift to football

-Madrid having absurd money to burn

-Alot of Spanish/Iberian players who were looking likely to make big moves

-Italian football being in financial trouble

oh, and as gem says, the weather

[geezer]

TWW's hit the nail on the head with the taxation. 50% in UK versus 20% in Spain and then tehre's the weak pound versus the Euro devaluating the income even further. I don't buy into the weather rubbish especially in Ribery's case as Munich is not all that different to what we get over here. The bottom line is money.

Edited July 1, 2009 by geezer

[jordanl5182]

Has the Premier League ever been the most attractive league? When have we had a Ronaldo, Zidane, Figo, Kaka, Ronaldo, Villa, Ronaldinho, Buffon or anyone of that stature sign for us here in England.

All of the greatest players we've had have blossomed here, none of our 'greats' have been bought for £80m from Madrid. Realistically its only Barcelona, Real and Milan who attract the best of the best anyway.

The biggest transfers to England recently have been Torres, Robinho and Shevchenko etc.

Must be a weather thing...

[mad_mac]

TWW's hit the nail on the head with the taxation. 50% in UK versus 20% in Spain and then tehre's the weak pound versus the Euro devaluating the income even further. I don't buy into the weather rubbish especially in Ribery's case as Munich is not all that different to what we get over here. The bottom line is money.

Well, I'm not overly sure about that. I remember reading that several clubs in England had their players open up "off-shore" accounts so they could run them through that and not be taxed quite as heavily

Scott

[geezer]

Well, I'm not overly sure about that. I remember reading that several clubs in England had their players open up "off-shore" accounts so they could run them through that and not be taxed quite as heavily

Scott

Which, if I'm not very much mistaken is tantamount to money laundering and therefore not a good idea. :(

[sdsdsdsd]

Even though Barca/Madrid and maybe Milan are bigger than all of the English clubs, i still believe that our league is still well superior to Seria A and La liga. Oddly it has seems that Manu's image has been severely dented over the past two years even though they have won the premier league both times, won champions league once and came runner up last year. I guess money is a big part of the equation but seriously these guys are making crazy money in and outside football so there's really not much difference between 80k to 100k

[mad_mac]

Which, if I'm not very much mistaken is tantamount to money laundering and therefore not a good idea. :D

nope, money Laundering is using a legitamite business to funnel dodgy money through, thus making that money legit. These guys are just setting up bank accounts outside of the UK in order to avoid paying heavier taxes. Like the stereotypical "Swiss Bank Accounts" as Switzerland are a neutral country and offer small tax rates, and decent investment returns.

Same as places like Monaco, set up a residency there and claim it as your main residence, then you pay very little tax. it's a ahven for people wanting to avoid paying taxes and that is why it'd cost you millions for an apartment the size of a shoe box....almost like London but without the tax breaks

Scott

[geezer]

nope, money Laundering is using a legitamite business to funnel dodgy money through, thus making that money legit. These guys are just setting up bank accounts outside of the UK in order to avoid paying heavier taxes. Like the stereotypical "Swiss Bank Accounts" as Switzerland are a neutral country and offer small tax rates, and decent investment returns.

Same as places like Monaco, set up a residency there and claim it as your main residence, then you pay very little tax. it's a ahven for people wanting to avoid paying taxes and that is why it'd cost you millions for an apartment the size of a shoe box....almost like London but without the tax breaks

Scott

Wouldn't be possible for them to evade it this way Scott. By being residential and working in the UK for the time period they would be here makes them liable for taxation at the full amount on their wage no matter where they shove their money. Investing in off-shore is all about getting decent returns. Denis Bergkamp whose account was managed at one time by my nephew's wife, was particularly successful at doing this but he was still liable to pay the full British tax rate.

[mad_mac]

Thanks for clearing that up Gary. I thought they could invest in off-shore accounts and avoid taxation. I was not saying that they could buy residencies elsewhere and claim that as their permanent residence, I was just giving Monaco as an example as a way to avoid taxes.

[BLUENUT]

Thanks to Gordon Brown and his cronies the GBP£ is not worth what it was a year ago.

But.......

We still have the fastest, most entertaining league in the world. Without UEFA's intervention, it would have been an all English CL final for the 2nd year running, with 3 clubs in the semis for the 2nd year running, and all four in the quarters for the 2nd year running. 4 of the last eight!!

The only thing is, for the past few years, the EPL has been dominated by 3/4 elite clubs. This is still a selling point because up in most other footballing countries, there is an elite one or two.

The Spanish title will be decided between Barca or Real, Scotland is Ranger's or Celtic, Italy is one of the sides from Milan, most likely Inter for the 3rd year running.

Arsenal have fell off the pace in recent years, but Liverpool have upped the anti, and the past 2 seasons have seen the title decided in the very last few weeks. With the new financial backing at Man City, the David Moyes factor at Everton and the re-emergence of Villa under ONeill, who's to say the top four will select itself in the coming season, as it has done over previous years?

An interesting season ahead for the EPL, while over in Platinis France they are going to present Lyon with the trophy before the season starts, the other clubs just can't be bothered to tun up anymore.

[geezer]

Thanks for clearing that up Gary. I thought they could invest in off-shore accounts and avoid taxation. I was not saying that they could buy residencies elsewhere and claim that as their permanent residence, I was just giving Monaco as an example as a way to avoid taxes.

I've never been to Monaco. Is that where you hide away every now and then? :P

[mad_mac]

If I was mate, you'd see a bit more of me in the SW6 than you do currently!