Neymar

[kun]

He’s had a solid career but can’t help but think that he wasted his talent over there and now with this move to Saudi. In hindsight the move to PSG to escape from Messi’s shadow ruined his career

Solid career is unbelievably harsh.

That’s how I would describe a career like that of Antoine Sibierski or Emmanuel Eboué. Neymar won countless trophies and will no doubt end his career as Brazil’s all time top scorer.

Okay, he may not have lived up to the unbelievably high standards set by his incredible talent as a teenager and by Messi and Ronaldo - but he has had a brilliant career and is definitely one of the best players I’ve ever seen play.

 

[kun]

Mate football is steamrolling to becoming a circus, it's much better to embrace it and welcome it than just deny it is happening.

I will accept that if we ignore the money and just turn teams out without anyone having the billions I would probably enjoy it more, as it is it's a circus we are a part of and for me the more the merrier until it blows chunks and pulls back a bit from the madness we have now.

In short I would like to see a transition from where football is to where it becomes a lot less about the money, I will watch city if we dragged 11 lads out of a pub as long as they wore the shirt with some pride.

The new expanded Club World Cup will start to take on more significance if leagues outside Europe (not just SA) improve. There is no need for a move to Europe no matter how much lobbying they do.

 

[ford7]

 

[handsofstone]

Neymar would've been the best in the world for the majority of his career had he not had the 2 greatest footballers of all time play through his era when he was at his pomp

And ironically, he arguably could've done more with the ability he has

Unbelievable player who lost his spark after leaving Barca, not in the fact he lost his talent he just didn't seem to be aiming for that top spot anymore.

Some player, but no business being at any elite club given the money he'd recommend to turn up ad and when he wants.

 

[WesthoughtonJohn]

Solid career is unbelievably harsh.

That’s how I would describe a career like that of Antoine Sibierski or Emmanuel Eboué. Neymar won countless trophies and will no doubt end his career as Brazil’s all time top scorer.

You should have used Harry Kane as well pmsl.
Neymar won 8 trophies with Barca - so that's not too shabby.
I tend to discount his trophies in France tbh, with the squads PSG had while he was there they should have been hoovering up the lot - bit like Celtic

 

[Dax777]

Happy for him. Go make that money.

 

[Summerbuzz]

Champs League is definitely lesser without him

 

[Dax777]

You should have used Harry Kane as well pmsl.
Neymar won 8 trophies with Barca - so that's not too shabby.
I tend to discount his trophies in France tbh, with the squads PSG had while he was there they should have been hoovering up the lot - bit like Celtic

Same could be said of his Barca squad. They too were at least a mile better than 2nd best.

I'd count all his 14 trophies personally. I think he's had a fantastic career. True, it fell short of being the greatest of his generation. Which was the projectuon at his unset. But Messi and Ronaldo lasted Uber long at the top. Shit happens. Still a great career.

Deserves every penny he can get as he reaches is golden football years. I was a big critic of his, but that's coz I expect more.

 

[FJRMCFC]

The first 3 seasons in Paris should’ve been his peak years and he played less than 20 league games all 3 years.

Injuries robbed us of a true all time great. People mock him for being a play act but he was on the end of some truly brutal tackles in Ligue 1

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Quelle surprise.

 

[kun]

You should have used Harry Kane as well pmsl.
Neymar won 8 trophies with Barca - so that's not too shabby.
I tend to discount his trophies in France tbh, with the squads PSG had while he was there they should have been hoovering up the lot - bit like Celtic

They count less maybe but they count.

Don’t forget he won the Copa Libertadores and 3 consecutive League Titles at Santos, as well as a Confederations Cup, Copa America and Olympic Gold medal with Brazil.

Champions League
Copa America
Copa Libertadores
Confederation Cup
Olympic Gold
10 League titles across 3 countries
124 caps and counting

That’s a hell of a “solid career”

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Idk if this is just a joke but I have seen this idea put forward seriously so

That wouldn’t just piss off the cartel it would piss off me and 90+% of fans as it would be fucking stupid. Saudi Arabia is nowhere near Europe.

It’s a European competition. If they want that level of competition, they should focus on improving the Asian Champions League - and getting people from Asia to actually watch that instead of European football. There are 4.7 billion people in Asia and only 700 million people in Europe. There is more than enough potential to grow the Asian Champions League and the Saudi Pro League to the level of top European competition without making a mockery of UEFA.

Saudi Arabia probably isn’t much further away than Kazakhstan when it comes to Europe.

Never underestimate the potential for UEFA to have their palms greased.

 

[kun]

Saudi Arabia probably isn’t much further away than Kazakhstan when it comes to Europe.

Never underestimate the potential for UEFA to have their palms greased.

True. Israel is also very much not in Europe.
Although with Israel it’s because they were expelled from AFC competition in the 70s.

The Eurasian former-soviet countries are more awkward than Saudi which is, clear as day, an Asian country.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

True. Israel is also very much not in Europe.
Although with Israel it’s because they were expelled from AFC competition in the 70s.

The Eurasian former-soviet countries are more awkward than Saudi which is, clear as day, an Asian country.

Saudi will push for it though. Otherwise their league will be short lived.

 

[skillman]

Staggering numbers he’s been offered. Such a shame he’s ended up there, he should be consistently one of the best in the world and eventually in the conversation with the best ever but not now.

 

[Stoned Rose]

Incredible player but imo a massive vagina for going to Saudi.

 

[Bez]

Very injury prone. Not been at it for years.

 

[BufordUSABlue]

At his best, under a world class coach and mentor, he is as good as anyone else on the planet.

Sadly, he has become one on the biggest slapped arses on the planet and will never become the player and icon he should have been.

Go enjoy the money and life style in Saudi as it seems like you are suited to such.

 

[domalino]

Saudi Arabia probably isn’t much further away than Kazakhstan when it comes to Europe.

Never underestimate the potential for UEFA to have their palms greased.

The only reason the Champions League is limited to Europe is because in 1955 a French journalist invited only European clubs, probably due to budget.

I don't know why some people are pretending it's breaking some sacred law that a country outside europe could play in it. If tranatlantic flight had come a couple of years sooner we'd probably have South American and North American clubs in it from the beginning.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

The only reason the Champions League is limited to Europe is because in 1955 a French journalist invited only European clubs, probably due to budget.

I don't know why some people are pretending it's breaking some sacred law that a country outside europe could play in it.

The biggest issue that could arise is that it would make the CL even larger, meaning less time for domestic competitions.

It'll be interesting to see what the dynamic of football is like 10-15 years from now. Most countries politics are looking inwards, whereas football is looking outwards, whilst socialism is a dirty word in politics, but almost demanded in football. Quite the contrast in approaches.

If Saudi Arabia become a viable threat to European football’s dominance, they will be offered a seat at the table pretty quickly, I would suspect.