Brugge & Napoli each with the full 9 pts

Napoli is a buzzsaw right now. Everyone better pray they don't get them in the first couple knockout rounds.

So if Barcelona fails to qualify for knockout stage do they go into default right away or is it like a 6 months later kind of deal.

texagbeliever said:

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So if Barcelona fails to qualify for knockout stage do they go into default right away or is it like a 6 months later kind of deal.

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They'll probably manage to delay it a few months by selling off all income from in stadium advertising for the next century

Or they could just not pay some player wages for a bit again.

jeffk said:

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Or they could just not pay some player wages for a bit again.

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They're probably still paying Messi somewhere.

Maybe they could play mid-week friendlies to generate extra cash? Kinda like that cash grab they did with City.

texagbeliever said:

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So if Barcelona fails to qualify for knockout stage do they go into default right away or is it like a 6 months later kind of deal.

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I suppose they've already made their payment for raphinha from September (remember the article saying they'd pursue it if Barca didn't deliver?).

They're fighting hard in Spanish courts with atleti for the griezman fee based on playing time.

Press is off of de jong for the time being too I suppose.

Real Madrid back in action this afternoon.

CCV injured? Not even in the 20 for Celtic?

Yeah, he's injured.

Americans in Champions League

Sergiño Dest starting for AC Milan at Chelsea
Christian Pulisic on bench for Chelsea
Weston McKennie starting for Juventus vs Maccabi Haifa
Josh Cohen starting for Haifa
John Brooks on bench for Benfica vs PSG
(Carter-Vickers, Reyna injured)#usmnt

— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) October 5, 2022

jeffk said:

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Yeah, he's injured.

Americans in Champions League

Sergiño Dest starting for AC Milan at Chelsea
Christian Pulisic on bench for Chelsea
Weston McKennie starting for Juventus vs Maccabi Haifa
Josh Cohen starting for Haifa
John Brooks on bench for Benfica vs PSG
(Carter-Vickers, Reyna injured)#usmnt

— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) October 5, 2022

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Still think i'm watching Chelsea, sadly.

I'll leave this hear. Cracks me up. Personally I love Micah and his energy. This guys impersonation is spot on.

His Micah Richards impression is too good 😂👏 pic.twitter.com/gDBpQeUEGW

— ODDSbible (@ODDSbible) October 2, 2022

I hope AC Milan is up 4 nil and they bring in Pulsic who scores 2 and assists 1 and they lose 4-3.

Well. That was a nice idea. To their credit, Chelsea look dominant so far.

deadbq03 said:

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Well. That was a nice idea. To their credit, Chelsea look dominant so far.

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Yeah, they look pretty good. dammit.

I hope Giroud scores 4.

It only took 10 years longer, but it seems oil money has finally broken football. That team is a cheat code currently

wangus12 said:

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It only took 10 years longer, but it seems oil money has finally broken football. That team is a cheat code currently

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Haaland put them over the top.

You want to blame something for City's dominance? Don't blame oil. Blame Real Madrid. Their insane luck in the CL has forced City's hand.

Texaggie7nine said:

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You want to blame something for City's dominance? Don't blame oil. Blame Real Madrid. Their insane luck in the CL has forced City's hand.

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I prefer to hate both clubs.

I wish there was an app that would text you when your favorite player gets subbed in.

Texaggie7nine said:

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You want to blame something for City's dominance? Don't blame oil. Blame Real Madrid. Their insane luck in the CL has forced City's hand.

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Disagree. What happened this past off-season is moot. They're not in a position to even dream of keeping up with RM if it weren't for oil money.

deadbq03 said:

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Texaggie7nine said:

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You want to blame something for City's dominance? Don't blame oil. Blame Real Madrid. Their insane luck in the CL has forced City's hand.

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Disagree. What happened this past off-season is moot. They're not in a position to even dream of keeping up with RM if it weren't for oil money.

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Oh so you're just an elitist who only wants old money teams to ever dominate?

No I'm a Leipzig fan, so that's clearly not the case.

I wasn't necessarily making a value judgment (although I could if you want me to go there).

"Oil money" is a bit of a misnomer. The problem, as most people see it and call it, is that the oil money at play here is largely state oil money.

To say that it's just oil money makes it sound like Chevron is the controlling entity when in actuality it's an Emerati Royal Family.

It's like saying Newcastle is run with "investment money."

What makes "oil" money any different from other forms though? All the big clubs live off of money reserves that came from outside their performance on the field.

jeffk said:

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"Oil money" is a bit of a misnomer. The problem, as most people see it and call it, is that the oil money at play here is largely state oil money.

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Spot on

.

Texaggie7nine said:

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What makes "oil" money any different from other forms though? All the big clubs live off of money reserves that came from outside their performance on the field.

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No, they really don't. Most have to keep clean balance sheets instead of having rich owners nail them out. In fact, sometimes rather than bailouts, it's the opposite… like how the Glazers are basically stealing money from United by taking dividends for themselves.

It's not (necessarily) about oil. City, PSG, Chelsea (under Russkies), and Newcastle have ownership that doesn't care about the balance sheet. Their goal isn't ROI; they're sportswashing. Boehly might be spending like crazy right now, but I guarantee he's doing it to make money back later. Sovereign petrostate's don't care. Their ROI is getting people to like them. Their ROI is getting financially involved in Western nations as a political shield. That's the difference.

And while Leipzig's critics can rightly lambast the way Red Bull subverted the 50+1 by sinking money into a 5th tier team - the fact is that now that they're in the Bundesliga, they've had to become their own entity and have to be financially independent, so they too are an investment, not simply an advertising money sink.

Ok now do Barca

🔊 Sound on 🔊 pic.twitter.com/NjJECLQ4Ub

— Maine Road Ramble (@MaineRoadRamble) October 5, 2022

Texaggie7nine said:

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Ok now do Barca

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Did you not see all the magic tricks this summer? They mortgaged their future to stay solvent.

With no help from La Liga or Spainish gov officials???

jeffk said:

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"Oil money" is a bit of a misnomer. The problem, as most people see it and call it, is that the oil money at play here is largely state oil money.

To say that it's just oil money makes it sound like Chevron is the controlling entity when in actuality it's an Emerati Royal Family.

It's like saying Newcastle is run with "investment money."

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It is not much different because it is an investment. I mean, let's not pretend like teams like City are money pits.

https://theathletic.com/3512302/2022/01/12/man-city-return-to-profitability-as-their-revenue-overtook-man-utd-for-first-time-last-season/

It's more profitable than United for the first time and Newcastle can be no different in a decade or so.