The on topic thread

[RPCB]

What an elite head of hair Arsene has maintained over the years. 3rd best at Arsenal after Giroud and Bellerin. Outstanding stuff. Considering my dad's receding hairline I'll probably be a bald campaigner like Pep when I'm Wenger's age, ffs.

Instead of the current campaigner, you currently are?

 

[Fryer Tuck]

First ever time a team won it three times in a row.

Two second places and a third place also in the span of six years. Huddersfield of the '20s was awesome!

 

[Venkman]

If Catalunya did get independence... is there any precedent for a club playing in a different national league to its own country's league? I guess Welsh teams in England but they're not independent. Just wondering what the chances of Barca going over to France would be. Would really change the status of La Liga / Ligue 1.

 

[Zidane98]

If Catalunya did get independence... is there any precedent for a club playing in a different national league to its own country's league? I guess Welsh teams in England but they're not independent. Just wondering what the chances of Barca going over to France would be. Would really change the status of La Liga / Ligue 1.

Nothing will change. No different to Monaco playing in Ligue 1. Or Wellington playing in the A League.

 

[Venkman]

Nothing will change. No different to Monaco playing in Ligue 1. Or Wellington playing in the A League.

okay, so I guess both parties would just have to agree (?) Barca might move just because of historical animosity with Madrid and thinking it would by in France's interest just to improve the status and quality of their league.

 

[Venkman]

Would leave Madrid without much to do. Barca/ Paris would be the new El Classico - La Classique

 

[RossFC]

Would leave Madrid without much to do. Barca/ Paris would be the new El Classico - La Classique

Reals rivalry with Atletico would just be pumped up if Barca left.

 

[RPCB]

Maybe I am missing something here but why would Barcelona leave Spain to play in England? I get that Wellington playing in the A-League and Swansea playing in England is used as a reference but wouldn’t that be the exact same thing as Barcelona still playing in Spain if Catalonia gains independence from Spain? It seems like it would be no different to Wellington and Swansea’s situations.

“In the case of independence, Catalan teams in La Liga Barcelona, Espanyol and Girona will have to decide where they want to play: in the Spanish league or a neighbouring country like Italy, France or the (English) Premier League," he said. Catalonia sports minister.

Sounds like there’s no guarantee that anything would change. And why would Barcelona come to England to play and not have the same rules as everyone else? They can start at the bottom of the English football pyramid.

 

[Fryer Tuck]

If Catalunya did get independence... is there any precedent for a club playing in a different national league to its own country's league? I guess Welsh teams in England but they're not independent. Just wondering what the chances of Barca going over to France would be. Would really change the status of La Liga / Ligue 1.

Plenty.

Berwick and Tweedmouth play in Scotland (England).
Gretna and Annan used to play in England (Scotland)
Derry City have played in both Irish Leagues
Kleinwalsertal plays in Germany (Austria)
The 7 Lichtenstein clubs.

Heck, the Wellington Phoenix playing in another confederation.

Then again, in terms of a club of sheer size in comparison to the leagues... Derry's the closest I can think of, they're a big club either side of the border.

You would think that would be the most likely probability, Barca to France. But I feel if they do that, that just undermines their entire wish for independence. It would be a poor look.

Spain is still big even without Catalonia. The Madrid derby will become even bigger.

It's funny to think that if this happens, two of the top three clubs in France aren't French.

 

[typeclub]

Barca need us more than we need them. They live off us as the best club in Spain so our rivalry will just be with the next best team like it is now. Barca will be a small club like PSG if they go to FR.

The league doesn't care if Barca when they're not in Spain. Its the government pressuring the league who are under pressure from the EU since they don't want any more Brexits.

 

[Fryer Tuck]

Barca need us more than we need them. They live off us as the best club in Spain so our rivalry will just be with the next best team like it is now. Barca will be a small club like PSG if they go to FR.

The league doesn't care if Barca when they're not in Spain. Its the government pressuring the league who are under pressure from the EU since they don't want any more Brexits.

And that's how it should be. No club is bigger than its league.

I would like to think this Catalan pride might get some bandwagoners to consider jumping to their local teams and providing Spanish teams and standing stronger.

Yes, losing Catalonia will hurt (It's like losing South Africa out of Spain), but even without the region, Spain is still a big country.

However, the big concern is all the other little communities. If they start getting pushing for independence... eep.

 

[Venkman]

I'm not really talking politics and the merits of Catalunya independence. just thinking through the possibilities. I don't think they stick with their own league it would just be death to a club like Barca, although admirable in an idealistic way. The imperative of not staying in Spain is just the historical animosity. They would still most likely stick with La Liga but IF they went to France I disagree with other posters here it would hurt La Liga and Real way more than the other way around. All of sudden Ligue 1 would be near to, the biggest league in Europe.

 

[Fryer Tuck]

I'm not really talking politics and the merits of Catalunya independence. just thinking through the possibilities. I don't think they stick with their own league it would just be death to a club like Barca, although admirable in an idealistic way. The imperative of not staying in Spain is just the historical animosity. They would still most likely stick with La Liga but IF they went to France I disagree with other posters here it would hurt La Liga and Real way more than the other way around. All of sudden Ligue 1 would be near to, the biggest league in Europe.

Spain without Barca is still a big country, and still is a big league. Depending on how clean the Catalonia cut is, it could either spur on Spanish pride, or could be the end of Spain as we know it (and you though Belgium was at risk of dying.) I believe the Catalonia cut is a big mistake, and Catalonia will be worse off being independent (it might spur the rest of Spain to perform).

But here's the key point: Barca in Liege 1 is temporary at best. If there is any credibility to Barca's statements and action, they would lose a lot of respect and support if they play in France for any longer than necessary. Barca prides itself on being Catalan, and it's not doing that if its playing in France. If the Catalans are as prideful to their nation as they are showing, smaller Catalan teams will become bigger, and Barca no longer represents that.

I can't see Barca staying in France for too long. They will return to Catalonia, and let's face it, unless Spain breaks up, it will probably only be like Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria or Greece basically. If they stay in France, they will whittle away. They will still have some status, but it will be a far cry from what they are now. They will be a club with no identity if they continue to stay in France.

I will say one thing: I will respect Barca a huge amount if they go to the Catalan league and grow the game. If they get success, you'll get no qualms from me. Going to France is a patch job at best, and the French League will be worse once the stay is over.

 

[Bojan KantKick]

Barca won't leave la liga. They'd lose far too much money.

 

[undefined]

Barca won't leave la liga. They'd lose far too much money.

They're a club that went without a profitable corporation for a shirt sponsor until 2013. Money isn't really that important to Barca. /s

 

[Magma]

i think it's moreso la liga would lose a shitload of money.

 

[kangaspurs]

Spain without Barca is still a big country, and still is a big league. Depending on how clean the Catalonia cut is, it could either spur on Spanish pride, or could be the end of Spain as we know it (and you though Belgium was at risk of dying.) I believe the Catalonia cut is a big mistake, and Catalonia will be worse off being independent (it might spur the rest of Spain to perform).

But here's the key point: Barca in Liege 1 is temporary at best. If there is any credibility to Barca's statements and action, they would lose a lot of respect and support if they play in France for any longer than necessary. Barca prides itself on being Catalan, and it's not doing that if its playing in France. If the Catalans are as prideful to their nation as they are showing, smaller Catalan teams will become bigger, and Barca no longer represents that.

I can't see Barca staying in France for too long. They will return to Catalonia, and let's face it, unless Spain breaks up, it will probably only be like Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria or Greece basically. If they stay in France, they will whittle away. They will still have some status, but it will be a far cry from what they are now. They will be a club with no identity if they continue to stay in France.

I will say one thing: I will respect Barca a huge amount if they go to the Catalan league and grow the game. If they get success, you'll get no qualms from me. Going to France is a patch job at best, and the French League will be worse once the stay is over.

That's the thing though, if Catalunya are successful are successful in their secession, how long until there is an upswing in the nationalism of the other autonomous areas of Spain, particularly Basque country which has had it's own efforts at secession. Admittedly I'm not familiar enough with Spanish politics to know how likely it is that other places like Andalusia would go down this path, but there could be a domino effect.

 

[Bojan KantKick]

i think it's moreso la liga would lose a shitload of money.

they need each other

 

[Bojan KantKick]

They're a club that went without a profitable corporation for a shirt sponsor until 2013. Money isn't really that important to Barca. /s

and now they whore themselves out to countries who profit from slavery.

 

[Magma]

they need each other

eh, barca are a juggernaut. i dont know the figures or anything but i suspect that la liga lean on barca and madrid a lot more than the other way around. and i dont see the valencia's of the world exactly stepping up to fill that massive void.

but it's all tough talk from tebas who is just taking the position of most non catalan spaniards.

 

[Bojan KantKick]

eh, barca are a juggernaut. i dont know the figures or anything but i suspect that la liga lean on barca and madrid a lot more than the other way around. and i dont see the valencia's of the world exactly stepping up to fill that massive void.

but it's all tough talk from tebas who is just taking the position of most non catalan spaniards.

i understand what you are saying but they could not afford to pay the players if they went to a minnow league with more even tv money distribution like ligue 1. If you took £100m of TV revenue away from Spurs they'd be in strife

 

[undefined]

and now they whore themselves out to countries who profit from slavery.

The transition from UNICEF to other non-for-profit organisation Qatar Foundation and then to Qatar Airways really was clever. Managed to add a substantial revenue stream without tarnishing their do-good image.

 

[jd2010]

Spurs have come out and said they'll track down the fans who had the banner. Pretty interesting story that i'm sure many dont know of. Basically Marcos Alonso was drink driving at 20 in Madrid and hit a 19 year old female. Got a 61k Euro fine but was facing up to 4 years jail

 

[chef]

View attachment 423991

Spurs have come out and said they'll track down the fans who had the banner. Pretty interesting story that i'm sure many dont know of. Basically Marcos Alonso was drink driving at 20 in Madrid and hit a 19 year old female. Got a 61k Euro fine but was facing up to 4 years jail

Got brought up on here a few times before TBH.

Wasn't she a passenger in the car?

Hes a very lucky boy to be alive let alone in a jail cell and he'd be tortured by this for the rest of his life. But her families the ones that would be still really suffering and would feel ripped off with the weak slap on the wrist that he got.

 

[jd2010]

Got brought up on here a few times before TBH.

Wasn't she a passenger in the car?

Hes a very lucky boy to be alive let alone in a jail cell and he'd be tortured by this for the rest of his life. But her families the ones that would be still really suffering and would feel ripped off with the weak slap on the wrist that he got.

I'd never heard of it until i saw the link on newsnow today.

Article didnt mention if she was in the car. Said his brother and former teammate were with him and suffered broken ribs and collarbone while he walked away ok.