Other football summer transfer SWOOPING thread

[KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab]

Without knowing the job spec of Barca's Director of Football, it's a question I feel is valid. Wasn't it the DoF's over-riding responsibility for the development of Messi, Xavi and Iniesta? If not directly, he's the one in charge of getting the coaches in to nurture such talents, and to get them indoctrinated into the Barca ways, is he not? Or is it different in this case? Who is it, by the way?

I agree with what you say re: Ibrahimovic, by the way. They are like for like in that they are natural goalscorers, but Ibrahimovic gives you an extra dimension as you've described. I reckon Ibrahimovic has a similar level of aggression that Eto'o has. It's not often you see him marked out of a game, put it that way. I can see him doing very well, albeit not this season. But I still want, hope and think you to win the Champions League. 40/1 double on you and Spain in the world cup.

Our DoF is Txiki Begiristain, cracking forward from the times of Johan Cruyff as coach. He probably had the best first touch in Spain.

Xavi/Iniesta/Messi were already on the first team when he got in charge (well, Messi was in our feeder squad). He can sign players everybody would sign for big amounts of money, and all his lesser known gambles / promising players haven't really worked for the most part. What pisses me off is his inability to resell players at adequate prices. Case in point: we gave out Thiago Motta for 1mil a couple seasons ago, and now Genoa is selling him for 12mil. Or the Eto'o situation: they have talked his sale so much, and made it so obvious that we want to get rid of him, that his value has diminished greatly.

Thanks for the good wishes. I hope they come true!

The case of Motta is difficult - I don't remember him as a regular first teamer, and subsequent transfer values aren't really an indicator of previous reputation. We'd never have got £2 million for Gunnlaugsson otherwise! (winky - a winky facey rather than my winky...oh what the hell... )

I understand your frustrations at the publicity of Eto'o's departure, but how much has been the club, and how much has been agents/player? Besides, I still think you're shading the better deal here, even factoring in Hleb in this. A natural finisher, albeit one without electric pace or a Kevin Davies level of strength, who's good with back to goal, good with his head and a tenacity (Note: not attitude) similar to Rooney's? Hen's teeth, mate.

[Prufrock]

Barca's DoF is some basquey(dont want to offend, possibly Catalan but it has 'x' in) bloke. From what I've read, TIggixijhsuadlhslfha Ba;snvwovnow does have a lot to do with academy shizz, but Bojan is the only one to 'break through' since he's been there. If I were a Barca fan and got Ibrahimovic for Eto'o and Hleb I'd be happy, but VI, did you mention 45M euros as well?!!!!! Feck that swings it from decent deal to suicide. Straight choice of the two I'd have the Swede. Whack in forty MILLION plus Hleb and Mourinho must be pissing himself.

[KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab]

Barca's DoF is some basquey(dont want to offend, possibly Catalan but it has 'x' in) bloke. From what I've read, TIggixijhsuadlhslfha Ba;snvwovnow does have a lot to do with academy shizz, but Bojan is the only one to 'break through' since he's been there. If I were a Barca fan and got Ibrahimovic for Eto'o and Hleb I'd be happy, but VI, did you mention 45M euros as well?!!!!! Feck that swings it from decent deal to suicide. Straight choice of the two I'd have the Swede. Whack in forty MILLION plus Hleb and Mourinho must be pissing himself.

WHAT????!!!!!

sorry, missed that bit. Ah, well. Throwing money about like that, you could have Davies, Taylor and Cahill for £45 mill plus Ibrahimovic. Shore up your ageing back line, have another goalscoring wide man and an aerial threat in one swoop....

[Village_Idiot2]

Barca's DoF is some basquey(dont want to offend, possibly Catalan but it has 'x' in) bloke. From what I've read, TIggixijhsuadlhslfha Ba;snvwovnow does have a lot to do with academy shizz, but Bojan is the only one to 'break through' since he's been there. If I were a Barca fan and got Ibrahimovic for Eto'o and Hleb I'd be happy, but VI, did you mention 45M euros as well?!!!!! Feck that swings it from decent deal to suicide. Straight choice of the two I'd have the Swede. Whack in forty MILLION plus Hleb and Mourinho must be pissing himself.

WHAT????!!!!!

sorry, missed that bit. Ah, well. Throwing money about like that, you could have Davies, Taylor and Cahill for £45 mill plus Ibrahimovic. Shore up your ageing back line, have another goalscoring wide man and an aerial threat in one swoop....

It's 45mil euros (not that it makes it less daft). And yes, a good DoF could do much more for that money. To his credit, the signing of Piqué last year (5mil) and maybe Maxwell this one (4mil and looks decent enough) were good business.

I think I would be the only Barça fan cherishing the sight of SKD in our shirts though

[madmarx]

Loric Cana has now signed for sunderland..... the Everton and Arsenal Forums are going ape s*it about losing out to us for £5m

Do not bring small children to the opener ...the first 5 rows may get wet. ... lets hope he stays on until 1/2 time...the boys mental

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL_bZAdOKhk

[Bruno]

He's a top player.

I'm jealous.

[madmarx]

He's a top player.

I'm jealous.

Marsailles are in a state of shock , its like their wife has left them and shacked up with an out of work bin man...( no offence to any worthy refuse collectors where would we be without them) .

They seem to have an even lower opinion of us than Bolton do

[Village_Idiot2]

Speaks volumes of the EPL economic prowess that a player would leave France's arguably most successful club to join a lower table English club (no offense meant).

[jaffka]

Speaks volumes of the EPL economic prowess that a player would leave France's arguably most successful club to join a lower table English club (no offense meant).

I think that those days are coming to an end with the introduction of the 50% tax bracket.

[KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab]

He's a top player.

I'm jealous.

Marsailles are in a state of shock , its like their wife has left them and shacked up with an out of work bin man...( no offence to any worthy refuse collectors where would we be without them) .

They seem to have an even lower opinion of us than Bolton do

I'm a Bolton fan who doesn't have a low opinion of Sunderland. I have a low opinion of the high proportion of cock measuring delusionals that infest their fanbase, perpetually telling everyone who doesn't have a 45,000 capacity stadium they've not filled for 8 years that they're a tawdry little club not worth bothering about, and how their club is definitely going to get into te Champions League now they've signed players who didn't achieve that with their previous clubs. But I don't have a low opinion of Sunderland.

[Village_Idiot2]

Speaks volumes of the EPL economic prowess that a player would leave France's arguably most successful club to join a lower table English club (no offense meant).

I think that those days are coming to an end with the introduction of the 50% tax bracket.

That will probably make you less competitive versus Italy and Spain, but don't think you'll be paying less than the Frances or Netherlands of this world.

[madmarx]

He's a top player.

I'm jealous.

Marsailles are in a state of shock , its like their wife has left them and shacked up with an out of work bin man...( no offence to any worthy refuse collectors where would we be without them) .

They seem to have an even lower opinion of us than Bolton do

I'm a Bolton fan who doesn't have a low opinion of Sunderland. I have a low opinion of the high proportion of cock measuring delusionals that infest their fanbase, perpetually telling everyone who doesn't have a 45,000 capacity stadium they've not filled for 8 years that they're a tawdry little club not worth bothering about, and how their club is definitely going to get into te Champions League now they've signed players who didn't achieve that with their previous clubs. But I don't have a low opinion of Sunderland.

Thats just cos you,ve got a little cock though.. ?

[madmarx]

Speaks volumes of the EPL economic prowess that a player would leave France's arguably most successful club to join a lower table English club (no offense meant).

I think that those days are coming to an end with the introduction of the 50% tax bracket.

Dont most players negotiate payment net of tax?

[jaffka]

Speaks volumes of the EPL economic prowess that a player would leave France's arguably most successful club to join a lower table English club (no offense meant).

I think that those days are coming to an end with the introduction of the 50% tax bracket.

Dont most players negotiate payment net of tax?

Maths not your strong point?

You little cock.

[Village_Idiot2]

Speaks volumes of the EPL economic prowess that a player would leave France's arguably most successful club to join a lower table English club (no offense meant).

I think that those days are coming to an end with the introduction of the 50% tax bracket.

Dont most players negotiate payment net of tax?

Yes, and that means the club has to pony up the tax for them. The new bracket will mean that English clubs will need to pay more gross wages to meet equal net wages in other leagues. Other leagues will be able to do more with less, so to speak.

Spain currently has a very low tax bracket for foreign footballers (26%).

[Worthy4England]

He's a top player.

I'm jealous.

Marsailles are in a state of shock , its like their wife has left them and shacked up with an out of work bin man...( no offence to any worthy refuse collectors where would we be without them) .

They seem to have an even lower opinion of us than Bolton do

Which bit of that's untrue - he's just shacked up with thousands of 'em?

[madmarx]

He's a top player.

I'm jealous.

Marsailles are in a state of shock , its like their wife has left them and shacked up with an out of work bin man...( no offence to any worthy refuse collectors where would we be without them) .

They seem to have an even lower opinion of us than Bolton do

Which bit of that's untrue - he's just shacked up with thousands of 'em?

ahhhh... i sense the love in the room....least i havent got Rickets

As for the tax thing, what i meant was it would not affect players wanting to sign for English clubs, as they are payed net...i was forgetting that finding the extra may be problematic for some clubs, no names like

and there is no need to get personal lads just cos our new bike is shinier than yours, calling us names and that can be hurtful to a fella that ya knar.

[Worthy4England]

He's a top player.

I'm jealous.

Marsailles are in a state of shock , its like their wife has left them and shacked up with an out of work bin man...( no offence to any worthy refuse collectors where would we be without them) .

They seem to have an even lower opinion of us than Bolton do

Which bit of that's untrue - he's just shacked up with thousands of 'em?

ahhhh... i sense the love in the room....least i havent got Rickets

As for the tax thing, what i meant was it would not affect players wanting to sign for English clubs, as they are payed net...i was forgetting that finding the extra may be problematic for some clubs, no names like

and there is no need to get personal lads just cos our new bike is shinier than yours, calling us names and that can be hurtful to a fella that ya knar.

There's a difference between personal and factual although they're not necessarily mutually exclusive.

You're just jealous that we've signed Paul Robinson, Sean Davis, Zat Knight and a couple of other blokes that no one's ever heard of because our scouting system is obviously reaping dividends. No one else had even spotted 'em.

[seanworth]

He's a top player.

I'm jealous.

Marsailles are in a state of shock , its like their wife has left them and shacked up with an out of work bin man...( no offence to any worthy refuse collectors where would we be without them) .

They seem to have an even lower opinion of us than Bolton do

Which bit of that's untrue - he's just shacked up with thousands of 'em?

ahhhh... i sense the love in the room....least i havent got Rickets

As for the tax thing, what i meant was it would not affect players wanting to sign for English clubs, as they are payed net...i was forgetting that finding the extra may be problematic for some clubs, no names like

and there is no need to get personal lads just cos our new bike is shinier than yours, calling us names and that can be hurtful to a fella that ya knar.

I believe it was supposed to be pretty damned shiny last season with the man manager Keane. What happened to that polish?

[KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab]

He's a top player.

I'm jealous.

Marsailles are in a state of shock , its like their wife has left them and shacked up with an out of work bin man...( no offence to any worthy refuse collectors where would we be without them) .

They seem to have an even lower opinion of us than Bolton do

I'm a Bolton fan who doesn't have a low opinion of Sunderland. I have a low opinion of the high proportion of cock measuring delusionals that infest their fanbase, perpetually telling everyone who doesn't have a 45,000 capacity stadium they've not filled for 8 years that they're a tawdry little club not worth bothering about, and how their club is definitely going to get into te Champions League now they've signed players who didn't achieve that with their previous clubs. But I don't have a low opinion of Sunderland.

Thats just cos you,ve got a little cock though.. ?

No need to get personal. Someone's said that on this thread. Can't remember who, though....

I am more than aware that Bolton have their fair share of idiots, just as I am aware that Sunderland have their fair share of decent fans. Ours just turn on our own, rather than give it the "big club little club" rubbish that counts for nothing, represents nothing and does nothing other than to make the person comparing club sizes look sad and without foundation for their argument.