Footballoholic, Why can't the Premier League clubs put their foot down and force the big two Spanish clubs to look for flavour of the month players in Ligue 1, Serie A and Bundesliga? So instead of them getting Bale and Suarez, They can look at players such as Verrati, Pogba and Reus? Having said that if we sold Aguero or you boys sold Hazard,  Luckily we have Liverpool and Spurs mistakes to learn from, Instead of buying quantity, You could replace an Aguero with a combination of players such as Koke, Reus and Benzema/Cavani.

 

 

My guess is that "marque" players generally aren't plying their trade in the other leagues you mentioned. 

 

The best talent of Germany generally ends up at Bayern Munich although Real Madrid did sign the much coveted Tony Kroos this summer and previously signed Ozil and Khederia.

 

The last examples of big signings from Italy to go to Spain were Sanchez whose time with Barca was rather muted (probably due to having to play second fiddle to Messi) and Ibrahimovic who had a massive falling out with Pep Guardiola within months of arriving at Barca.  

ForeverCarefree, You're probably right fella, Plus the Premier League marquee player is significantly more marketable what with the Premier League being so popular in Spain. What Madrid do so well is they dangle a big carrot and then indirectly try to bully the Premier League club by running a story of that player being linked with them on the front page of Marca, I do however get this feeling that Spurs and Liverpool almost felt it was a compliment to have Real Madrid and Barca come in for one of their players, If they were to buy a player from one of us, They will know they probably have to throw in a key player into the deal or add £20 million more on top because we are capable of keeping an unhappy bunny at the club.

Firstly, sorry for chipping in on a question addressed to Footballoholic.

The Bale and Suarez deals were good deals in terms of money. Spurs and Liverpool got good money. Good enough money to bring world class players to the Uk. Both teams threw the money away but we can't blame the buying clubs for that. World class players do come our way but the lure in terms of prestige and income of certain overseas clubs will remain. Also, the money is very important. LFC made a £52 million profit on Suarez and Spurs signed Bale for £7 million and sold him for £85 million. Clubs need money and how can such prices and profits be rejected? In our case, we ****** up spending the money but that's our fault.

So how badly beaten will liverpool get tonight? I don't see them coming away with anything from Ludogrets tbh, not when real madrid went there and come away with a 1-2 win, having had to work hard for the result.

Spud, I hear your argument but what irks me more about the Bale deal is, Bale is absolutely world class better than what Modric was when he went, Yet Levy had the courage to reject Chelsea's bids for Modric but not the courage to reject Madrids bid for Bale. Let me paint a picture, If Bale was still at Spurs and say in that transfer window, You added one or two more quality players, Spending no more than £50 million which means you weren't spending more than what your budget allows, Do you think Spurs would be in a better position than where they are now? I honestly think Spurs would be a title challenger and definitely in the Champions League which in itself would bring you the money you supposedly lost out on the Bale deal. What's even more depressing for Spurs fans is, With United's decline, You would have had a chance to make even more progress in that time, hindsight is wonderful Spud Lol

So how badly beaten will liverpool get tonight? I don't see them coming away with anything from Ludogrets tbh, not when real madrid went there and come away with a 1-2 win, having had to work hard for the result.

For Valerie's sake (see the Rodgers' thread) I hope they get stuffed by Ludogrets.

So of the two English sides playing tonight which manager do we think is under greater pressure to turn around recent bad form?

Rodgers got Liverpool close to winning the league last season but ultimately that's all they had to play for, juggling two prestigious competitions at the same time has proven difficult for Rodgers and he looks set to progress in Champions League more through the fact that others in the group just lack quality themselves.

Wenger won something for the first time in nine years and we were told it was the turning point for the club, the first step towards continuous domestic success for years to come and yet despite spending more money than the likes of Chelsea and having the wage bill to match, the spending argument is no longer there for Wenger and yet his Arsenal side have looked poor with the exception of Sanchez.

Will both managers last the season?

Who do you think is under the bigger pressure and scrutiny?

I personally feel Wenger is under bigger pressure, Rodgers has a good relationship with the owners and the fans still like him due to the fact he took them on an unbelievable rollercoaster ride last year and the feeling is it's possibly nothing more than a hangover, Wenger on the other hand has lost all support, I have not seen or heard one Arsenal fan back him to continue over the last few weeks, Other than the guy who dresses in Arsenal gear but I'm not sure he's all there up top. 

 

The other factor that is putting pressure on Wenger is possibly the Klopp coming to England stories, I think Rodgers will survive, and Wenger won't be sacked but could possibly announce he is leaving some time during the season or he gets Arsenal on a roll in the Champions League and they get to the Semi's and the fan trust in him comes back which leads to his position being stable again.

Wenger too.

Liverpool fans seem not to be expecting much from this season. The team's dreadful.

Arsenal have a better team on paper than LFC and their fans (well, the ones I know) are frustrated with the season so far and with the Gooners lack of robustness. If Arsenal lose this eve, the pressure on Wenger will crank up again.

Also, Rodgers is a noob compared to Wenger. Wenger going would be a huge story as, whenever it happens, it does bring an era to a close. Because of that consequence, the pressure on Wenger in greater.

Hoping for an Arsenal loss so we can see Claude again.

Strange, from up here I would say both sets of fans are about 50/50 with their respective managers

Currently hanging around outside Arsenal tube station, going to the Emirates to see BVB decimate Arsenal tonight.

Guy selling half and half scarfs for a tenner each. And people are actually buying them! He is selling them for £8 to english people and jacking up the price to £10 for any Johnny foreigner who asks him how much haha

Spud, I hear your argument but what irks me more about the Bale deal is, Bale is absolutely world class better than what Modric was when he went, Yet Levy had the courage to reject Chelsea's bids for Modric but not the courage to reject Madrids bid for Bale. Let me paint a picture, If Bale was still at Spurs and say in that transfer window, You added one or two more quality players, Spending no more than £50 million which means you weren't spending more than what your budget allows, Do you think Spurs would be in a better position than where they are now? I honestly think Spurs would be a title challenger and definitely in the Champions League which in itself would bring you the money you supposedly lost out on the Bale deal. What's even more depressing for Spurs fans is, With United's decline, You would have had a chance to make even more progress in that time, hindsight is wonderful Spud Lol

Hindsight is the thing mate :-)

I thought Bale might stay and got that wrong. Then I thought we'd buy a good player or two and got that wrong too.

Then I thought AVB/Sherwood/Pochettino seemed ok and might do well given time and got that wrong too :-)

^ You mean you hoped ;)

Ricky Lamebert love in on Sky right now. My goodness, he's hardly a world beater is he. 

Firstly, sorry for chipping in on a question addressed to Footballoholic.

The Bale and Suarez deals were good deals in terms of money. Spurs and Liverpool got good money. Good enough money to bring world class players to the Uk. Both teams threw the money away but we can't blame the buying clubs for that. World class players do come our way but the lure in terms of prestige and income of certain overseas clubs will remain. Also, the money is very important. LFC made a £52 million profit on Suarez and Spurs signed Bale for £7 million and sold him for £85 million. Clubs need money and how can such prices and profits be rejected? In our case, we ****** up spending the money but that's our fault.

And which world class players were those exactly spud?

Graeme Souness on sky sports said if Gerrard played in Chelsea's team that he'd be one of the key players....um where?

The club pool or darts tournament, maybe

Can't decide whether to watch Liverpool or Arsenal. What's everyone else doing?

So Wenger has picked Sonogoals ahead of Podolski..............someone who can actually score a goal.

And which world class players were those exactly spud?

None! I meant that we had the money to do so (i.e. buy a few very good players) but didn't do so.

Graeme Souness on sky sports said if Gerrard played in Chelsea's team that he'd be one of the key players....um where?

 

I guess some people will never come to terms with the fact that saint Gerrard is finished now. I wouldn't pick Gerrard ahead of a single one of our midfieders.

Anyone got a link for the Liverpool game?  Got the Arsenal  game on tv

So Wenger has picked Sonogoals ahead of Podolski..............someone who can actually score a goal.

Is Podolski a proper striker though? Always thought of him as a winger who identifies as a striker like Schurrle but can't really do the job.

So-nogoal scores his first ever for arsenal