Today's Football

[jamesg46]

Messi leaving Barcelona!!!!

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58108298

Wow! Only PSG next?

My thought was City. Link back with Pep & the money is there... I'd love to see it tbh.

Forget the move for Kane.

[greenmark]

Messi leaving Barcelona!!!!

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58108298

Wow! Only PSG next?

My thought was City. Link back with Pep & the money is there... I'd love to see it tbh.

Forget the move for Kane.

They've just bought someone that is only a playmaker. Do they need another at a whacking fee and salary?
But, yes Messi in the Prem is pretty intriguing.
Kane is right on the cusp. It seems he wants trophys.
Only Man City might guarantee that. Any other club is a leap in the dark and a move anywhere else could only be for cash.
And if so, fair play to Kane, he's given plenty to Spurs and can leave with head held high.

[jamesg46]

Wow! Only PSG next?

My thought was City. Link back with Pep & the money is there... I'd love to see it tbh.

Forget the move for Kane.

They've just bought someone that is only a playmaker. Do they need another at a whacking fee and salary?
But, yes Messi in the Prem is pretty intriguing.
Kane is right on the cusp. It seems he wants trophys.
Only Man City might guarantee that. Any other club is a leap in the dark and a move anywhere else could only be for cash.
And if so, fair play to Kane, he's given plenty to Spurs and can leave with head held high.

It's all about what sells merchandise & grabs attention... the whole world for the last few years has wanted to see Messi in the Prem... Pep and Messi at City is a signature of quality that nobody can slate. If he's not at Barca, my money is he goes City.

There is no whacking fee, just a whacking salary... minus the elevation of revenue he brings to City through attention, current and future i can see it happening if Barca don't keep him. He's a marketing dream.

[greenmark]

My thought was City. Link back with Pep & the money is there... I'd love to see it tbh.

Forget the move for Kane.

They've just bought someone that is only a playmaker. Do they need another at a whacking fee and salary?
But, yes Messi in the Prem is pretty intriguing.
Kane is right on the cusp. It seems he wants trophys.
Only Man City might guarantee that. Any other club is a leap in the dark and a move anywhere else could only be for cash.
And if so, fair play to Kane, he's given plenty to Spurs and can leave with head held high.

It's all about what sells merchandise & grabs attention... the whole world for the last few years has wanted to see Messi in the Prem... Pep and Messi at City is a signature of quality that nobody can slate. If he's not at Barca, my money is he goes City.

There is no whacking fee, just a whacking salary... minus the elevation of revenue he brings to City through attention, current and future i can see it happening if Barca don't keep him. He's a marketing dream.

Doh! Whacking fee! What a dipstick! Good point, well made. As is the image rights revenue point too.
Stiil think PSG though. Can't picture a team with Grealish, Messi and Sterling all noodling around the area. Too crowded.

EDIT: Then again. Messi, Xavi, Iniesta all noodling around the area! Hmmm! Interesting.

[jamesg46]

They've just bought someone that is only a playmaker. Do they need another at a whacking fee and salary?
But, yes Messi in the Prem is pretty intriguing.
Kane is right on the cusp. It seems he wants trophys.
Only Man City might guarantee that. Any other club is a leap in the dark and a move anywhere else could only be for cash.
And if so, fair play to Kane, he's given plenty to Spurs and can leave with head held high.

It's all about what sells merchandise & grabs attention... the whole world for the last few years has wanted to see Messi in the Prem... Pep and Messi at City is a signature of quality that nobody can slate. If he's not at Barca, my money is he goes City.

There is no whacking fee, just a whacking salary... minus the elevation of revenue he brings to City through attention, current and future i can see it happening if Barca don't keep him. He's a marketing dream.

Doh! Whacking fee! What a dipstick! Good point, well made. As is the image rights revenue point too.
Stiil think PSG though. Can't picture a team with Grealish, Messi and Sterling all noodling around the area. Too crowded.

EDIT: Then again. Messi, Xavi, Iniesta all noodling around the area! Hmmm! Interesting.

Gonna be an interesting story to follow at the very least. Could all be football politics between Messi and Barca and a U turn may happen. There is only a few options though because the money involved is staggering... China is one but I just can't see that, PSG is possible like you've mentioned and then either City or a U turn from Barca for me. I don't see him at any other Prem team, for me it's a U turn or City.

[Trader Pat]

They've just bought someone that is only a playmaker. Do they need another at a whacking fee and salary?
But, yes Messi in the Prem is pretty intriguing.
Kane is right on the cusp. It seems he wants trophys.
Only Man City might guarantee that. Any other club is a leap in the dark and a move anywhere else could only be for cash.
And if so, fair play to Kane, he's given plenty to Spurs and can leave with head held high.

PSG is odds on and No Transfer at 4's looks tasty, I've already had a nibble. My head says he's going nowhere but my heart would love to see him at PSG. I'd like to see him win another Champions League and he's not going to do that at Barcelona which is more like a circus than a football club recently. PSG already have a hell of a team ahead of the new season (Neymar, Mbappe, Ramos, Hakimi, Donnarumma, Wijnaldum, Di Maria) imagine adding Messi to that lot!

City is a non starter for me, they've just bought Grealish and given him the #10 shirt and a bigger reason for Messi not going there is FFP. They may have been cleared by CAS but they're still being investigated by the Premier League. If they were to bring Messi in they would have to be in breach of FFP. China won't happen either, the Chinese Super League isn't the cash cow it was a few years ago especially since the Chinese government put their foot down so PSG is the only realistic option.

I have no sympathy for Kane, he doesn't come across as the brightest bulb in the box but the team behind him are obviously all 30 watts as well which I suppose is to be expected when his agent is his brother. Imagine signing a 6 year contract with a 'gentleman's agreement' in invisible ink instead of a release clause?! I bet Daniel Levy still bursts into fits of laughter when he thinks of that! The Grealish transfer was handled very well by all parties, signed a new contract last season with a £100m release clause for any Champions League team so everyone goes away happy and unlike Kane, Grealish hasn't soured his relationship with the fans. Kane is going nowhere unless City stump up £110+ so he'll probably have some groveling to do to the Spurs fans when the season starts.

[greenmark]

They've just bought someone that is only a playmaker. Do they need another at a whacking fee and salary?
But, yes Messi in the Prem is pretty intriguing.
Kane is right on the cusp. It seems he wants trophys.
Only Man City might guarantee that. Any other club is a leap in the dark and a move anywhere else could only be for cash.
And if so, fair play to Kane, he's given plenty to Spurs and can leave with head held high.

PSG is odds on and No Transfer at 4's looks tasty, I've already had a nibble. My head says he's going nowhere but my heart would love to see him at PSG. I'd like to see him win another Champions League and he's not going to do that at Barcelona which is more like a circus than a football club recently. PSG already have a hell of a team ahead of the new season (Neymar, Mbappe, Ramos, Hakimi, Donnarumma, Wijnaldum, Di Maria) imagine adding Messi to that lot!

City is a non starter for me, they've just bought Grealish and given him the #10 shirt and a bigger reason for Messi not going there is FFP. They may have been cleared by CAS but they're still being investigated by the Premier League. If they were to bring Messi in they would have to be in breach of FFP. China won't happen either, the Chinese Super League isn't the cash cow it was a few years ago especially since the Chinese government put their foot down so PSG is the only realistic option.

I have no sympathy for Kane, he doesn't come across as the brightest bulb in the box but the team behind him are obviously all 30 watts as well which I suppose is to be expected when his agent is his brother. Imagine signing a 6 year contract with a 'gentleman's agreement' in invisible ink instead of a release clause?! I bet Daniel Levy still bursts into fits of laughter when he thinks of that! The Grealish transfer was handled very well by all parties, signed a new contract last season with a £100m release clause for any Champions League team so everyone goes away happy and unlike Kane, Grealish hasn't soured his relationship with the fans. Kane is going nowhere unless City stump up £110+ so he'll probably have some groveling to do to the Spurs fans when the season starts.

Interesting perspective from the Beeb here on Messi.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58108519

Kane can't stay at Spurs. He'll look a fool if he does. "I want trophies......Oh no, hang on, massive new contract, I'll stay then". He's been below par for a while now, so I guess that must be the speculaton around his future. Thing is, he strikes me as someone that really does extract the max out of his potential. Thats hard to do when you're surrounded by uncertainty. And if Levy plays hardball Kane is going to be seriously grumpy. No winners in that scenario.

[Trader Pat]

Kane can't stay at Spurs. He'll look a fool if he does. "I want trophies......Oh no, hang on, massive new contract, I'll stay then". He's been below par for a while now, so I guess that must be the speculaton around his future. Thing is, he strikes me as someone that really does extract the max out of his potential. Thats hard to do when you're surrounded by uncertainty. And if Levy plays hardball Kane is going to be seriously grumpy. No winners in that scenario.

He already looks a fool for not insisting on a release clause when he signed the contract. It's not up to Kane though, it will come down to whether or not City pay what Spurs want. Spurs are under no pressure to sell and Kane doesn't come across as the type of guy who'll throw a tantrum and refuse to play.


I thought Guardiola's comments on Messi were interesting.

"We spent £40m on Jack Grealish," he said when asked if there was interest in Messi. "We paid £100m and brought £60m in transfers."

"He will wear the number 10 because we were convinced with Grealish and we were convinced Leo would continue at Barcelona, so right now he is not in our thoughts."

"We were convinced Leo would continue at Barcelona"...... I think Grealish is lucky the Messi news broke after he signed his contract!

[greenmark]

Kane can't stay at Spurs. He'll look a fool if he does. "I want trophies......Oh no, hang on, massive new contract, I'll stay then". He's been below par for a while now, so I guess that must be the speculaton around his future. Thing is, he strikes me as someone that really does extract the max out of his potential. Thats hard to do when you're surrounded by uncertainty. And if Levy plays hardball Kane is going to be seriously grumpy. No winners in that scenario.

He already looks a fool for not insisting on a release clause when he signed the contract. It's not up to Kane though, it will come down to whether or not City pay what Spurs want. Spurs are under no pressure to sell and Kane doesn't come across as the type of guy who'll throw a tantrum and refuse to play.


I thought Guardiola's comments on Messi were interesting.

"We spent £40m on Jack Grealish," he said when asked if there was interest in Messi. "We paid £100m and brought £60m in transfers."

"He will wear the number 10 because we were convinced with Grealish and we were convinced Leo would continue at Barcelona, so right now he is not in our thoughts."

"We were convinced Leo would continue at Barcelona"...... I think Grealish is lucky the Messi news broke after he signed his contract!

I aslo don't think Kane will trow a tantrum. But I do beieve its impossible to be the best you can when you're being prevented from following your dreams. And I think thats where Kane is now. There is zero chance of him achieving at Spurs compared to what he might at City. 28 for a stiker is a pivotal moment.
It''s now or never. And IMO I think the lad deserves a shot at glory.

[Trader Pat]

I aslo don't think Kane will trow a tantrum. But I do beieve its impossible to be the best you can when you're being prevented from following your dreams. And I think thats where Kane is now. There is zero chance of him achieving at Spurs compared to what he might at City. 28 for a stiker is a pivotal moment.
It''s now or never. And IMO I think the lad deserves a shot at glory.

Looks like it will be one of those few occasions where a top top footballer won't be able to have his cake and eat it.

He's paying the price for not having a top agent or at the very least someone who knows what they're doing. Messi and Neymar are represented by their father's and it works well but there's no way either of them or a Raiola, Mendes or a Barnett would have let him sign that contract.

This might all be by the by if City stump up the cash but it looks more likely Kane will be staying.

[Derek27]

Does anyone know what happens when a footy market doesn't go in-play? Are all bets after match start time void?

[greenmark]

I aslo don't think Kane will trow a tantrum. But I do beieve its impossible to be the best you can when you're being prevented from following your dreams. And I think thats where Kane is now. There is zero chance of him achieving at Spurs compared to what he might at City. 28 for a stiker is a pivotal moment.
It''s now or never. And IMO I think the lad deserves a shot at glory.

Looks like it will be one of those few occasions where a top top footballer won't be able to have his cake and eat it.

He's paying the price for not having a top agent or at the very least someone who knows what they're doing. Messi and Neymar are represented by their father's and it works well but there's no way either of them or a Raiola, Mendes or a Barnett would have let him sign that contract.

This might all be by the by if City stump up the cash but it looks more likely Kane will be staying.

Its interesting to me that Pep is now willing to throw numbers around, as in suggesting they could only afford Grealish due to £60millioin for academy and loan sales. And alos that no club can buy this year without selling.
He's now engaging in a media messaging campaign at Levy ie you need to sell Kane or you'll stagnate and given Spurs have a 1.17 billion debt and no sugar daddy to bale them out, he may have a point.
Problem for Levy is how do you replace Kane? No wonder he's holding out for the full price. 2 £70million strikers may not replace Kane's goals and his developing assists.

[Kai]

Bit late to have a dabble in the Messi market? Doesn't look like this saga is going to drag on.

[Derek27]

Remember your old school days when a fight broke out, you didn't care what it was about, you just steamed in.

So much for "friendlies".

[greenmark]

What is going with the Sky Cov v Forest coverage.
Appalling quality on certain cameras.
Is it colour mixing or contrast?
Everyone looks like an extra out of 70's nuclear attack film, glowing and fuzzy.
Great to know my £95 is well spent. (Oops, this shousld have been on the Rant Corner thread). Sorry!