Thinker

3 hours ago, ranger_syntax said:

I am serious.

 

A whole new team is required.

Is it Espanyol?

2 hours ago, Bluedell said:

Article from the Record in June:

 

Rangers are going to the USA in 2025 if they manage to clinch their place in the revamped edition of the lucrative FIFA Club World Cup.

 

The Premiership side are, as it stands, one of the 12 UEFA teams who would play in the money-spinning event in June and July 2025. Rangers would qualify for one of the dozen European spots on offer because of their coefficient ranking over the last three years, although the upcoming season's results will also be used and they will need to build on lengthy runs like 2022's journey to the Europa League final to ensure participation. Only one club per country can qualify which means that clubs with higher coefficient than Rangers would miss out and open the door for the Ibrox club.

 

The tournament is estimated to be worth as much as a minimum of £25 million per team as it prepares for a dramatic revamp from its 7-team form and FIFA have just announced the venues will be in the USA. Last month, reports claimed the new competition 'will have the biggest club prize pot in the history of the game.'

The 12 teams being sent by UEFA are this year's Champions league winners, plus the previous 3 (Man City, Real Madrid and Chelsea) and the 8 teams with the highest coefficient over this year and the previous 3, with a maximum of 1 from each nation.

As it stands there are, 7 nations that we're almost certain not to catch. England, Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Portugal and the Netherlands. (There is a vanishingly small possibility that Ajax might win the Champions League, qualify that way, and that we overtake the next best Dutch team, Feyenoord, who have a 5 point lead on us.)

As it stands right now (as far as I can figure out, anyway), the race for 8th place is as follows:

A quick Google, shows it's already in the pipeline:

https://www.sportbible.com/football/super-league-saudi-pro-league-juventus-barcelona-396650-20230620

1 hour ago, MacK1950 said:

As I said on another forum if Australia can be in the Eurovision Song Contest crap  anything can happen!!!!

Also, Australia managed to negotiate themselves into the Asian Football Confederation from the Oceanian.

Compo's right- If there's enough money to be made from Saudi teams playing against the likes of Barcelona, Real and Juventus, it will happen. Maybe they'll prop up the Super League.

3 minutes ago, compo said:

I wonder how long it will be before Saudi becomes part of Europe and see teams from the Saudi league in the champions leagues don’t forget money talks.

If Israel can be in Europe, so can Saudi I suppose.

For me, the surprising thing about that article is that Hearts have a "gentleman's agreement" with Hibs. Are there any gentlemen at Easter Road?

48 minutes ago, der Berliner said:

Transfermarkt uses "market value" solely to compare similar players. They never claim nor can they evaluate the real value of a player to the selling and buying club. Hence, people can move as freebies, yet have a market value of x million pound. The EPL market is truly insane though, if that is what you meant.

I'm pretty sure Malangsob was referring to the actual transfer market rather than website.

i.e. Prices are crazy - largely because we're bidding against clubs that have so much dosh that + or - £2 million on a transfer means absolutely nothing to them.

From the thread on FF:

23 minutes ago, Franc Ergs said:

I'd like to see the three foreigner rule to make a comeback for European football.

 

If we could be classified as a UK club I could agree with that. Otherwise we'd be screwed in Europe.

Ross County make an outrageous comeback in the not-at-all cagey playoff against Thistle.

3 goals down with 20 minutes to play, and end up winning on pens.

8 hours ago, compo said:

I don’t think he needs the money 

He sure as hell doesn't need the agro.

11 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

Dortmund [1] - 2 Mainz. 

 

20 minutes left...

Cologne equaliser vs Bayern.

19 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

Bottling it!

 

0-2 down...

Missed a penalty too. They're not going to turn it around I'm afraid...

1 hour ago, Scott7 said:

Don’t underestimate Backa Topola just because they’re not as well known as Backa Beyond.

I tried so hard to find a shot of this from the back. 

23 minutes ago, Scott7 said:

Any kills?

Sitting on the greenhouse roof with his purdey, no doubt.

21 hours ago, Scott7 said:

Do it otherwise they’ll get somebody less able they can make a fool of.

I still think this is the best amongst the "for" arguments. The BBC will persuade somebody to go on in order to tick their balanced coverage checkbox, so I'd like it be the least compliant person possible. And if they do somehow manage to ambush and misrepresent Frankie, he's got a big enough social media presence to get his objections heard.

Here it comes again!

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12806616/european-super-league-fresh-plans-for-80-team-competition-announced-by-chief-executive-bernd-reichart

Surely we'd make the cut for the top 80? (Although, no doubt 99% of the revenue would be earmarked for the original elite clubs).

I'm justifiably hypocritical about this: I think the clubs behind it are unsporting, money grabbing, soulless, corporations for being prepared to shaft their national leagues in a purely dosh-motivated stitch-up. However, I'd be happy to shaft our national league for a few bob.

5 minutes ago, craig said:

The world must have stopped turning with how often you and @Bill are agreeing on things these days...... The end of days indeed

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/25/world/earth-core-turning-scli-scn-intl

Actually, yes. (Well, kind of).

1 hour ago, the gunslinger said:

linda?

I hate to break it to you this way but:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-29403392

1 hour ago, onevision said:

Pay them a percentage of the gate money.

This is the bottom line.

As a professional sportsman or woman, your income depends on how many people want to watch.

It may well be just as hard work to be a top (field) hockey player as a top footballer, but you don't get paid as much because of the lower gates and viewing figures.

It may well be just as hard work to be a top badminton player as a top tennis player, but you don't get paid as much because of the lower gates and viewing figures.

And it may well be just as hard work to be a top women's footballer as a top men's footballer, but you don't get paid as much because of the lower gates and viewing figures.