[Albion] The Barca fire sale

[Swansman]

No sympathy. Evil club management.

If only these clubs were "moral" enough to allow themselves be owned by Russian oligarchs, UAE princes, American scammers and British betting company owners, they would perhaps be a lot less "evil"...

Different attitudes to football & society. In England there is no problem with some Arab slave owner owning your club, in parts of Spain it would never be accepted. On the other hand, in Spain they have a lot of nepotism and built-in injustices (like how the TV deals work) that would (probably) never be accepted in England.

If the people of Barcelona allowed some Sheikh to take over their club, they would probably be in a better position right now. Would they be less "evil"? I dont know.

 

[FatSuperman]

You're correct in a way. If Bale were on 600,000€ a week then that would be his take home. All taxes etc would be paid by the club on top of that. It's why many overseas workers, when promised £10 an hour, wonder why they end up with £7.50.

Jeeeessssus. So what are assuming Bale costs the club per year, including tax?

 

[drew]

Wasn't there controversy years back, it probably still goes on, where Barcelona and Madrid councils sold cheap land to the football teams (Barca and RM) who then sold it on for a fortune to developers and pocketed the profits? Cannot stand either of them, any club who is £1bn in debt needs to be liquidated and relegated 8 divisions.......


Don't forget also Manure are allegedly over a billion pounds in debt due to loans and the owners questionable accounting practices.

TNBA

TTF

Not sure I've seen anything about questionable accounting practices at Manure. Fans resent that the club is in debt but it is a serviceable debt. They also resent that the Glazers take a salary.

 

[drew]

You're correct in a way. If Bale were on 600,000€ a week then that would be his take home. All taxes etc would be paid by the club on top of that. It's why many overseas workers, when promised £10 an hour, wonder why they end up with £7.50.

I've not heard that before. Normally players wages are always quoted gross, not take home.

 

[Southern Scouse]

I have no sympathy for them, as long as Betis keep out of trouble, which is unlikely.
More importantly is I’m pretty sure there must be some real bargains especially in the Barca B team to be had.

 

[beorhthelm]

And it’s ALL theirs and Reals fault.

Stole all the league’s TV money and choked the competition, making their league worthless and less interesting. Spent well beyond their means, and tried to start the super league to bail out their debts.

No sympathy. Evil club management.

concise summary. though "evil" is a touch strong, they're greedy and ego-led.

as i understand the problems are facilitated and compounded by banks, local and national government that treat the top clubs as pawns in their manoeuvres, allowing free loans, dodgy land deals and tax arrangements as noted (also a tax free period where expat are not taxed).

 

[Lethargic]

If only these clubs were "moral" enough to allow themselves be owned by Russian oligarchs, UAE princes, American scammers and British betting company owners, they would perhaps be a lot less "evil"...

Different attitudes to football & society. In England there is no problem with some Arab slave owner owning your club, in parts of Spain it would never be accepted. On the other hand, in Spain they have a lot of nepotism and built-in injustices (like how the TV deals work) that would (probably) never be accepted in England.

If the people of Barcelona allowed some Sheikh to take over their club, they would probably be in a better position right now. Would they be less "evil"? I dont know.

That's simply not true any (as long as its someone else's) club that goes down that path is strongly vilified and there is plenty of tutting.

 

[Guinness Boy]

If only these clubs were "moral" enough to allow themselves be owned by Russian oligarchs, UAE princes, American scammers and British betting company owners, they would perhaps be a lot less "evil"...

Different attitudes to football & society. In England there is no problem with some Arab slave owner owning your club, in parts of Spain it would never be accepted. On the other hand, in Spain they have a lot of nepotism and built-in injustices (like how the TV deals work) that would (probably) never be accepted in England.

If the people of Barcelona allowed some Sheikh to take over their club, they would probably be in a better position right now. Would they be less "evil"? I dont know.

This. In fact the EPL would prefer that the goings on of some of their owners are whitewashed from social media altogether.

The IDEA of Barca is great. "More than a club". Community club with elected president. Nods to other community offshoots at the ground (e.g. space for their basketball and water polo teams in the museum). Football played the same way and in a skillful and entertaining manner at every level. Representative of the politics of their fans and on the right side in the civil war.

Unfortunately the consequences when a bad president gets in are shocking. Coutinho is exactly the transfer I'd have mentioned if you didn't.

Barcelona is a great city and their football CAN be outstanding. Unfortunately - even given all the above - they lost me forever at "European Super League".

 

[B-right-on]

Obvious why they pushed the ESL really hard. A desperate ploy to deal with their horrendous financial situation.

Seen Barca play and been to Camp Nou a few times. Play some lovely football.

 

[Badger Boy]

It's not too much of a surprise really, they're both very poorly run clubs and La Liga generally is in a bit of a state financially. I'm not sure how it can be rectified though. In the short term it's quite straight forward, sell a few of the players on the edges of the squad and return to using La Masia to feed players through. They need some future planning as well so they don't end up paying top dollar for every signing. That's meant to be Real Madrid's thing but they've blown huge money on Coutinho and Dembele - both fantastic players but the deals were obscene. Griezmann wasn't cheap either and any club which allows Suarez to leave for €5.5m but keeps Martin Braithwaite is in a real mess.

 

[CP 0 3 BHA]

I've just read the latest Athletic article on the Barca saga.

The reason their mismanagement is coming home to roost seems to be the robust and legally enforceable FFP regulations that La Liga impose. These include not allowing super-rich owners to input unlimited funds to distort competition, and imposes strict budget constraints in advance of each summer's transfer window which affect wage bills and transfer fees payable.

If only the UK football authorities had the balls to do the same.

 

[Machiavelli]

This. In fact the EPL would prefer that the goings on of some of their owners are whitewashed from social media altogether.

The IDEA of Barca is great. "More than a club". Community club with elected president. Nods to other community offshoots at the ground (e.g. space for their basketball and water polo teams in the museum). Football played the same way and in a skillful and entertaining manner at every level. Representative of the politics of their fans and on the right side in the civil war.

Unfortunately the consequences when a bad president gets in are shocking. Coutinho is exactly the transfer I'd have mentioned if you didn't.

Barcelona is a great city and their football CAN be outstanding. Unfortunately - even given all the above - they lost me forever at "European Super League".

Yes, nice to see some delightful harmony between you, I and [MENTION=38333]Swansman[/MENTION]. I'd add that the Barca model also illustrates the problems of representative democracy, where the electorate get bought off with any old shit. Couldn't happen over here.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

If only these clubs were "moral" enough to allow themselves be owned by Russian oligarchs, UAE princes, American scammers and British betting company owners, they would perhaps be a lot less "evil"...

Different attitudes to football & society. In England there is no problem with some Arab slave owner owning your club, in parts of Spain it would never be accepted. On the other hand, in Spain they have a lot of nepotism and built-in injustices (like how the TV deals work) that would (probably) never be accepted in England.

If the people of Barcelona allowed some Sheikh to take over their club, they would probably be in a better position right now. Would they be less "evil"? I dont know.

Are you suggesting that there are variations in attitude to each aspect of human behavour from one nation to the next? And are you perhaps implying that the only thing we have in common is the ability to turn a blind eye to our own shortcomings while condemning the behaviour of others?

Typical Scandinavian whataboutery

 

[White Fan man]

Are you suggesting that there are variations in attitude to each aspect of human behavour from one nation to the next? And are you perhaps implying that the only thing we have in common is the ability to turn a blind eye to our own shortcomings while condemning the behaviour of others?

Typical Scandinavian whataboutery

The EPL has been responsible for weakening the teams below the top 3 clubs and Spanish employment law requires a 'buy-out' clause in the contract. This is how Neymar left for PSG and I don't think it is fair if all other clubs in UEFA don't have the same rules. If you remember Neymar's deal was done just before the transfer window shut and Barca had a huge gap to fill and got stung on Coutinho and Dembele. All the other players then had their contracts changed to include even higher buy-out clauses but that means a big hike in wages too. Bartomeu wasn't even voted in as president, he took over from Rosell who ended up in jail. Bartomeu wasn't even a football man but being Rosell's pal he made loads of mistakes.
The other problem in Spain is until recently both of the two best players in the world played for the two biggest clubs and whenever Messi got a pay rise, RM then ensured Ronaldo got paid more. This unfortunately drags wages upwards of all the other players who wouldn't normally get these sums.

 

[sant andreu]

They want to offload Martin Braithwaite, who'll be a bit more expensive after recent performances. Is he what we need up front?

Nothing to do with answering that question, but he's just entered The Forbes rich people list. Apparently he invested in the US property market with a relative.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

The EPL has been responsible for weakening the teams below the top 3 clubs and Spanish employment law requires a 'buy-out' clause in the contract. This is how Neymar left for PSG and I don't think it is fair if all other clubs in UEFA don't have the same rules. If you remember Neymar's deal was done just before the transfer window shut and Barca had a huge gap to fill and got stung on Coutinho and Dembele. All the other players then had their contracts changed to include even higher buy-out clauses but that means a big hike in wages too. Bartomeu wasn't even voted in as president, he took over from Rosell who ended up in jail. Bartomeu wasn't even a football man but being Rosell's pal he made loads of mistakes.
The other problem in Spain is until recently both of the two best players in the world played for the two biggest clubs and whenever Messi got a pay rise, RM then ensured Ronaldo got paid more. This unfortunately drags wages upwards of all the other players who wouldn't normally get these sums.

Interesting. Yes it does make sense that contract rules should be the same across Europe in order to ensure a fair playing field. Unfortunately the whole of the UK (not football's elite) is complicit in ensuring this will never happen; we left the EU so that we could be free from having to keep in step with other nations.

Separately I don't agree that the EPL has been responsible for weakening teams below the top 3. I couldn't even tell you who the top 3 are? Arsenal, Citeh, ManUre, Liverpool, Chelsi and others have rich foreign owners....which three are doing all the others down?

 

[jcdenton08]

F**k Barcelona - they is shite.

Well I mean... They're not... So...

 

[Swansman]

Interesting. Yes it does make sense that contract rules should be the same across Europe in order to ensure a fair playing field. Unfortunately the whole of the UK (not football's elite) is complicit in ensuring this will never happen; we left the EU so that we could be free from having to keep in step with other nations.

Separately I don't agree that the EPL has been responsible for weakening teams below the top 3. I couldn't even tell you who the top 3 are? Arsenal, Citeh, ManUre, Liverpool, Chelsi and others have rich foreign owners....which three are doing all the others down?

I dont really no why the rest of the world - part of EU or not - would adapt to Spanish employment laws.

 

[Springal]

Goal reporting we are interested, as are West Ham & Norwich. Probably agent talk

 

[Machiavelli]

Goal reporting we are interested, as are West Ham & Norwich. Probably agent talk

Interested in the Barca fire sale?