The 2024-2025 Football Thread

[laptech]

In my opinion the only reason Gyokeres chose Arsenal is because his national team coach would have told him he needs to play champions league football to keep his place in the national team. Why do I think this? Well look at it this way, United has Sporting's manager, the manager who Gyokeres spent his league winning time with. He knows the manager well and he knows the system Amorim uses well, it would have been a perfect fit for him. The wages would not have been a problem either.

Whilst the media kept saying numerous teams were interested in Gyokeres, only two teams put bids in for him, Arsenal and United. If what I read in the papers is correct, Sporting accepted Arsenal's bid of £63.5 million and is just the add-on's they are squabbling over. United finally paid £65.5 million (not including add-on's) for Mbeumo £2 million more than what Arsenal have paid for Gyokeres, one of Europe's best strikers, a striker United wanted and they paid £65.5 for a player who is no where near as good as Gyokeres is. United's owners/board room will be fuming over this.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

It would appear that Arsenal's summer long pursuit (a pursuit that was actively and enthusiastically encouraged by the player) of Viktor Gyokeres is about to bear fruit.

However, it remains to be seen whether he can replicate the superb form that characterised his time in Portugal, when he (eventually) makes the move to England.

 

[timber]

Sporting was quite strict on numbers because of two reasons:

Selling is a life essence for future operations. That and CL prizes. So they wanted easy objectives in a way that the real sale number is the total. The add-ons are there mainly for the buyer to look smarter. Supposedly the player representative also wavered some entitled fees.

Gyokeres was extremely unprofessional and was currently breaching his 3 year left 100M euros contract signed on his free will. Now that the deal is made perhaps there won't be any disciplinary measures but he can probably expect a fine on his remaining payments. If some day (perhaps not considering his age and Arsenal itself) a bigger club comes along you will remember this.

All in all Arsenal is buying an extraordinary player, extremely powerful physically which plays better with the ball placed on his back so that he can out everything the defenders. Despite being from northern Europe is not that good with aerial game and set pieces. I don't know Arsenal's style that well so perhaps you can all figure out if he fits well.

It seems to me a lot of people are thinking about Núñez. Well, Gyokeres is better and also had more time to develop. When Benfica got that much money from Liverpool everyone here was amazed and couldn't resist. And it seems they just bought another regular guy for also a boatload of cash.

 

[laptech]

If Arsenal do to Gyokeres what many managers do to their players which is try to change them, the way they think, the way they play, especially ones who are already exceptional then they stand to make that player worse. United are a dab hand at doing that, buying exceptional players in midfield and defense and then change them to play a different way and that player no longer becomes an exceptional player.

If Arsenal try to change the way Gyokeres plays I do not think he will be the exceptional striker. Hopefully I will be proven wrong and he will become the premier leagues top goal scorer for years to come.

 

[timber]

That even happened last year when Amorim left and the following manager wanted to do something else.

Gyokeres (and even the whole team) plummeted. After a quick reversion to Amorim's system he got back to stellar form.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Sporting was quite strict on numbers because of two reasons:

Selling is a life essence for future operations. That and CL prizes. So they wanted easy objectives in a way that the real sale number is the total. The add-ons are there mainly for the buyer to look smarter.

Gyokeres was extremely unprofessional and was currently breaching his 3 year left 100M euros contract signed on his free will. Now that the deal is made perhaps there won't be any disciplinary measures but he can probably expect a fine on his remaining payments. If some day (perhaps not considering his age and Arsenal itself) a bigger club comes along you will remember this.

All in all Arsenal is buying an extraordinary player, extremely powerful physically which plays better with the ball placed on his back so that he can out everything the defenders. Despite being from northern Europe is not that good with aerial game and set pieces. I don't know Arsenal's style that well so perhaps you can all figure out if he fits well.

It seems to me a lot of people are thinking about Núñez. Well, Gyokeres is better and also had more time to develop. When Benfica got that much money from Liverpool everyone here was amazed and couldn't resist. And it seems they just bought another regular guy for also a boatload of cash.

Agree (even though I am an Arsenal supporter and have been exceedingly irked at our ongoing reluctance to address the glaring goal-scoring deficiencies in the team and squad, thus, the pursuit of a striker to add to our ranks is both overdue and very welcome) with your statement that Gyokeres has been extremely unprofessional, and - to my mind - that bodes ill for the future.

Such conduct ought not be rewarded; moreover, as others have discovered before now, Mikel Arteta is not a manager who tolerates much by way of dissent.

 

[timber]

If it helps nothing can be said about his training ethics and field behaviour.
Until perhaps a month ago Sporting fans absolutely loved him. Now they (at least those I know) are just happy to see this settled, have the cash and move on.
Nobody doubts he will be missed.

 

[Lioness~]

Re: Viktor Gyökeres and Sporting conflict, I don't even recall 25% of that story now. But it's been a 'catfight' between Victor and sporting. But it seems like it will solve now....

I meditate and things that don't concern my own life, I dropp that very quickly from my 'shortmemory'.

But Ai made a nice summary 😄

 

[laptech]

Agree (even though I am an Arsenal supporter and have been exceedingly irked at our ongoing reluctance to address the glaring goal-scoring deficiencies in the team and squad, thus, the pursuit of a striker to add to our ranks is both overdue and very welcome) with your statement that Gyokeres has been extremely unprofessional, and - to my mind - that bodes ill for the future.

Such conduct ought not be rewarded; moreover, as others have discovered before now, Mikel Arteta is not a manager who tolerates much by way of dissent.

Some football critics have been using Mbeumo has a benchmark to criticize Gyokeres behavior. United and Brentford had been battling horns for weeks over the transfer with Mbeumo and yet the man has stayed professional throughout. Neither he or his agent has moaned or complained as to why Brentford could not get the deal done quickly. It has taken them 7 weeks. He has even been training with the squad. Now compare that to Gyokeres who has complained throughout, so has his agent. He has been very vocal against the club owners and refused to train with the squad.

Yes the man has an immense talent and I have no doubt he will do well at Arsenal but is Arsenal so desperate for a decent striker that they are prepared to buy a player who lacks professional attitude. It would seem so. I doubt the majority of Arsenal fans will care as long as he is knocking in goals every week.

 

[Lioness~]

For the record, Victor is very appreciated in our Swedish National team, and never heard of any complications around him, only the total opposite.

Again, my opinion regarding Gyökeres-story - I’m only glad he’s happy with his transfer!
If Sporting accuses him to be un-professional it’s on them as they lied to him in the 1st place.

Now I will focus on how Germany will beat up Spain today in Women’s Euro semi - I hope!

 

[Alphazoid]

Get Eze in also, and i'll be content.

Regarding unprofessionalism. I think the argument would be stronger if the reports of the gentleman's agreement wasn't so pervasive.
You could argue if it's not written in paper it doesn't exist. But everything in life operates on some element of trust and when thats broken...you run into problems.

Clubs (and players) are always trying to leverage each other for their own benefit.

Sesko is having the same issue and is being priced out of a move as we speak. He also had a gentleman's agreement but Leipzig have also slapped a heavy price tag on him.
Sesko is remaining professional whilst Gyokeres did not. You could argue Sesko can afford to wait whilst Gyok couldn't .

Ultimately you pick your battles and live with the consequences

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Get Eze in also, and i'll be content.

Regarding unprofessionalism. I think the argument would be stronger if the reports of the gentleman's agreement wasn't so pervasive.
You could argue if it's not written in paper it doesn't exist. But everything in life operates on some element of trust and when thats broken...you run into problems.

Clubs (and players) are always trying to leverage each other for their own benefit.

Sesko is having the same issue and is being priced out of a move as we speak. He also had a gentleman's agreement but Leipzig have also slapped a heavy price tag on him.
Sesko is remaining professional whilst Gyokeres did not. You could argue Sesko can afford to wait whilst Gyok couldn't .

Ultimately you pick your battles and live with the consequences

Hm.

While I am glad that we appear to have acquired someone who seems to be a very good striker (though it remains to be seen whether that form can be replicated successfully in the Premier League), I do deplore the lack of professionalism, gentleman's agreement, or not.

And I am not so sure that Sesko wouldn't have been the better buy, although I will reserve judgment until we can see how this latest purchase works out.

More to the point, having already behaved in such a manner - and been rewarded (or, insufficiently reprimanded) for his lack of professionalism, - what is to stop Gyokeres behaving in such a manner with Arsenal in the future if matters do not meet with his approval?

Granted, Arteta is intolerant of this sort of dissent, but it will be interesting to see how Gyokeres is handles, and managed, when he finally does put in an appearance at the Emirates Stadium.

 

[timber]

Get Eze in also, and i'll be content.

Regarding unprofessionalism. I think the argument would be stronger if the reports of the gentleman's agreement wasn't so pervasive.
You could argue if it's not written in paper it doesn't exist. But everything in life operates on some element of trust and when thats broken...you run into problems.

Clubs (and players) are always trying to leverage each other for their own benefit.

Sesko is having the same issue and is being priced out of a move as we speak. He also had a gentleman's agreement but Leipzig have also slapped a heavy price tag on him.
Sesko is remaining professional whilst Gyokeres did not. You could argue Sesko can afford to wait whilst Gyok couldn't .

Ultimately you pick your battles and live with the consequences

That are several subtleties in every issue but when you fail in complying a legal document in my opinion there's not much to talk about. That's the bare minimum. I'm not talking about putting in the proper effort or whatever. It's literally just showing up.
I'm not a fan of Sporting's president (in fact I think he is a bit of an idiot) but if you follow Portuguese football you know almost nobody is sold by the contract limit and when that happens it's usually for the odd player that for some reason had a low number.
Everyone knew he would be leaving and nobody would be paying 100M. He probably harmed more than helped his own transfer.

 

[Lioness~]

Ha ha, all this sound like the Monopoly game I played wiyh my brother as a kid.
You bet that we both tried to cheat each other, it was part of the game. But it took me some time and tears before I got how to play it 😂

Regarding Women's football in comparisions - I'm really happy that most reasonable good players can live well on their passion today. Still huge differensces between Men's and Women's terns financially. But I've never heard that well-payed female players are jealous of the men's terms though, not as big ego's as men usually either.

 

[Lioness~]

Bonmati’s goal (113 min) took Spain to the final against England at 27th.
Awesome goal of her ⭐️

I cheered a bit more on Germany, and they fought with a very big heart.
But I’m happy for Spain - they have no 🏆 in the EURO Championchips -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Women's_Championship
earlier.
Late on the 27th we'll know if Spain or England won the this EURO.

 

[laptech]

England v Spain in the final. Spain should win it because England have been terrible but hopefully it will be a good final.

 

[pachyderm]

...

Regarding Women's football in comparisons - I'm really happy that most reasonable good players can live well on their passion today. Still huge differences between Men's and Women's terns financially. But I've never heard that well-paid female players are jealous of the men's terms though, not as big egos as men usually either.

Same.

 

[Lioness~]

England v Spain in the final. Spain should win it because England have been terrible but hopefully it will be a good final.

I can’t cheer on England as they knocked us out, sorry - still hurts a bit, it was so close 😢
Bonmati recovered and back from meningitis so fast, it’s strong, so best luck to her and Spain.

 

[timber]

I can’t cheer on England as they knocked us out, sorry - still hurts a bit, it was so close 😢
Bonmati recovered and back from meningitis so fast, it’s strong, so best luck to her and Spain.

You can always say that only the champion was able to beat you

 

[Lioness~]

You can always say that only the champion was able to beat you

Well, after the EURO we have Nations League matches - https://www.uefa.com/womensnationsleague/ -
we'll meet Spain in semi-finals in end October.
So the cheering for Spain ends after the Euro very quickly 😉
Our recent history against them is pretty ok though - 2 wins and 1 loss.

BTW, England is already out from Nations League - guess who knocked them out? 😈

 

[daneoni]

Some Newcastle fans are really losing their minds at the thought of Isak leaving.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Some Newcastle fans are really losing their minds at the thought of Isak leaving.

I cannot deny some amusement at this spectacle.

However, I'm surprised that he seems to have indicated that he wishes to leave only now, rather than earlier.

Perhaps he needed a break, a holiday away from the frenzy of the season, a time to step back and take stock of things before coming to such a decision.

 

[Lioness~]

Some Newcastle fans are really losing their minds at the thought of Isak leaving

Nothing clear over here…about Isak, but it sounds lie he want's to leave, and looks over his alternatives.

Only rumors. It was mentions about Liverpool, but also info that Liverpool had bought Hugo Ekitike fron Eintracht Frankfurt, and he plays as a 9 just as Isak

He didn't travel with his teammates to the preseason camp due to some minor thigh injury.
We'll see ⁉️

 

[daneoni]

I cannot deny some amusement at this spectacle.

However, I'm surprised that he seems to have indicated that he wishes to leave only now, rather than earlier.

Perhaps he needed a break, a holiday away from the frenzy of the season, a time to step back and take stock of things before coming to such a decision.

I agree. If he had made his intentions clear he would've have been a Liverpool or Arsenal player by now. Or even Chelsea. His timing has been off.

I suspect he's sowed a seed of uncertainty to garner more money for his new contract (which he has arguably earned). The other viewpoint is he wants to move to a 'bigger club' given his 'reputation' as one of the best forwards in the world.

As it stands very few clubs can afford him. Even LFC will have to sell 3 players to afford him and will lose a natural left winger in exchange. And i don't see anyone paying £120m for him outside of Saudi clubs.

Newcastle are obviously worried because they've lost Wilson. Gordon and Isak were responsible for their successes. And without Isak they will have zero strikers heading into a champions league season which would be disastrous.

Nothing clear over here…about Isak, but it sounds lie he want's to leave, and looks over his alternatives.

Only rumors. It was mentions about Liverpool, but also info that Liverpool had bought Hugo Ekitike fron Eintracht Frankfurt, and he plays as a 9 just as Isak

He didn't travel with his teammates to the preseason camp due to some minor thigh injury.
We'll see ⁉️

Time will tell. He will likely stay another season. But equally won't be surprised if he moves. Stranger things have happened.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I cannot deny some amusement at this spectacle.

However, I'm surprised that he seems to have indicated that he wishes to leave only now, rather than earlier.

Perhaps he needed a break, a holiday away from the frenzy of the season, a time to step back and take stock of things before coming to such a decision.

Or perhaps someone whispered in his ear what he could earn elsewhere.