<figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-344358 aligncenter" src="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Arsenal-Crest.jpg" alt="Mikel Arteta and Arsenal" width="1024" height="681" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Arsenal-Crest.jpg 1024w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Arsenal-Crest-300x200.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Arsenal-Crest-600x399.jpg 600w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Arsenal-Crest-150x100.jpg 150w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/09/Arsenal-Crest-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure>
It’s safe to say that Mikel Arteta and Arsenal’s shopped and sold in the transfer market under a microscope.
Summer transfer windows always carry importance for ‘big’ clubs. However, Arsenal’s summer ventures took on a particular significance.
The Gunners had a simply terrible 2020/21 campaign. Arsenal finished the season eighth on the table. Consequently, they failed to qualify for European competition for the first time in 25 years.
<h3>Mikel Arteta faced squad issues</h3>
Arsenal entered the transfer window needing to spend big. In large part, that is due to the underperforming squad from the Emirates Stadium.
Prior to the previous campaign, the Gunners gave former Chelsea star Willian essentially a £30 million contract over three years (signing bonus included). Willian arrived at the north London club from Chelsea, where he excelled. The 32-year-old winger failed to maintain his level of play seen at Stamford Bridge.
<div id="attachment_343372" style="width: 778px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><figure class="image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-343372" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-343372 size-full" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20210905_CMS_344333_286a6bfabc1c7e91c53f696d99a64db26f4ba1d4_a9f0d6dd.webp&amp;width=768&amp;height=512" alt="" width="768" height="512" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/286a6bfabc1c7e91c53f696d99a64db26f4ba1d4.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/286a6bfabc1c7e91c53f696d99a64db26f4ba1d4-300x200.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/286a6bfabc1c7e91c53f696d99a64db26f4ba1d4-600x400.jpg 600w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/286a6bfabc1c7e91c53f696d99a64db26f4ba1d4-150x100.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px"></figure>Mikel Arteta managing Arsenal against Brentford (Photo credit: AFP)</div>
Along with that bad contract, Arsenal also had to replace outgoing players such as David Luiz, Dani Ceballos, Maty Ryan, and Martin Odegaard. Luiz’s contract expired at the end of the 2020/21 season. As for the other three, they played last season on loan from various clubs. Another positional need that the team had to fill was bringing in another left back. After all, Kieran Tierney may need rest or could come down with an injury.
As mentioned a couple of months ago, Arsenal had to bring in a minimum of five players. Additionally, they could sign up to eight depending on further outgoings in the squad. 
Fast forward to the transfer deadline, and the Gunners wound up bringing in six total players this summer. In short, Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu addressed needs with their roster. However, did they make the right moves? Let’s take a look.
<h3>Addressing the needs</h3>
Essentially, Mikel Arteta and company replaced Luiz, Ceballos, and Ryan with Ben White, Albert Sambi Lokonga, and Aaron Ramsdale. In doing so, Arsenal spent a combined £90 million on just these three players. The oldest of the three newcomers is just 23. Generally, this strategy keeps the wage bill down and adds value to the squad for the future. Despite what some pundits have said about Arsenal’s transfer plans, these are three main issues the club has been trying to address.
READ MORE: Arsenal’s fall out of Premier League contention.
White and Ramsdale have Premier League experience and can perform at high levels. In fact, both won Player of the Season for their respective clubs for the 2020-21 campaign. Although some have questioned the duo’s ability, which is valid, both players are obviously talented. Moreover, their talent and confidence should increase with age.
Growing pains are bound to happen with young players. Nevertheless, the club sees these two players as potential England international starters in the future.
Sambi, on the other hand, is a bit of a wild card. Many were unaware&nbsp;who the player was prior to his arrival to north London. However, the Belgian is highly rated in his home country. Moreover, he looks promising in the early stages of his Arsenal tenure.
Along with these three players, Arsenal also brought Odegaard back on a permanent contract. Signing an attacking midfielder was perhaps the most paramount move for the Gunners this summer.
Odegaard, 22, brings exactly what this Arsenal squad needs: creativity in front of goal. While it was a relatively small sample size, the Norwegian seemed to excel under Arteta. He finished last season ranked ninth in the Premier League in shot-creating actions per 90 minutes at 4.36. Also, he produced more key passes per 90 than Phil Foden, Sadio Mane and Rodrigo.
<h3>Additional acquisitions</h3>
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal also added Nuno Tavares and Takehiro Tomiyasu. Tavares will likely act as the backup left-back for Kieran Tierney. A vastly different decision to the previous Cedric Soares signing, Arsenal’s newest signing follows the youth theme. Tavares, 21, is an exciting talent with valuable experience with Benfica. The Portugal youth international appears to be a little raw with his defending. Yet, it’s worth noting, again, that he was brought in to progress as a backup for now.
<div id="attachment_344114" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><figure class="image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-344114" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-344114" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20210905_CMS_344333_79a6f5517383ec18e9a9d317572a11b23db6da7d-300x200_666e7578.webp&amp;width=300&amp;height=200" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/79a6f5517383ec18e9a9d317572a11b23db6da7d-300x200.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/79a6f5517383ec18e9a9d317572a11b23db6da7d-600x400.jpg 600w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/79a6f5517383ec18e9a9d317572a11b23db6da7d-150x100.jpg 150w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/79a6f5517383ec18e9a9d317572a11b23db6da7d.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"></figure>Hector Bellerin playing for Arsenal (Photo credit: AFP)</div>
Arsenal had to make a signing late in the window at the right back position due to Hector Bellerin’s loan-departure for Real Betis. Tomiyasu, 22, isn’t exactly a household name in the soccer world. Still, he drew interest from a number of clubs, including Arsenal’s cross-town rival, Tottenham. The versatile defender can play right back, center back, and even in defensive midfield.
Rather than opting for a marquee signing, Arsenal focused on their areas for improvement. Mikel Arteta helped six different positions rather than bolstering one or two. Arsenal fans have also been begging for their club to spend, and they did. The Gunners managed to have a <a href="https://www.transfermarkt.us/premier-league/einnahmenausgaben/wettbewerb/GB1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">higher net spend</a> than any other team in the Premier League.
<h3>Higher transfer fees, lower wage bills</h3>
Arsenal spent plenty of money on transfer fees, but they managed to actually lower the wage bill as well.
Willian’s contract termination certainly helped. The move helped save the Gunners nearly £20 million in total. Compared to last season, the club decreased their annual wages by about $12 million. They also got younger. All six new signings are aged 21-23.
Only time will tell whether these players pan out for the Gunners. Buying youngsters is obviously much more of a gamble than established, proven players.
However, Arsenal were happy to make this gamble. Arteta and company clearly had an objective to spend money on talented young players, lower the wage bill, and hopefully build a team for the long haul. This will undoubtedly be a make-or-break decision for the 39-year-old manager.

Mikel Arteta and Arsenal’s summer transfer gamble

Last season, Mikel Arteta and Arsenal flopped in a major way. Rather than going after established players through transfers, they took a different route.

Mikel Arteta and Arsenal's summer transfer gamble - World Soccer Talk

<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/12/EPL-vs-NFL.jpg"></a><figure class="image"><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/12/EPL-vs-NFL.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-123381" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20141202_CMS_115124_EPL-vs-NFL-600x402_b5e9b06d.webp&amp;width=600&amp;height=402" alt="EPL-vs-NFL" width="600" height="402" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/12/17044853/EPL-vs-NFL-600x402.jpg 600w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/12/17044853/EPL-vs-NFL-150x100.jpg 150w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/12/17044853/EPL-vs-NFL-300x201.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a></figure>
Two of the world’s biggest sports leagues, here is the NFL season ticket comparison to the Premier League.
While many soccer fans in England and Wales complain that season ticket prices at Premier League clubs are ridiculously high, the prices seem like bargains when compared to how NFL teams in the United States are fleecing fans.
In a special report by World Soccer Talk, we’ve researched season ticket prices for NFL teams and have compared it against Premier League season ticket prices provided by&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sportingintelligence.com/">SportingIntelligence</a>. The differences are eyeopening.
<h3>NFL season ticket comparison to the Premier League</h3>
First, here are the&nbsp;ticket prices in the Premier League&nbsp;for&nbsp;the 2014-15&nbsp;season, which can be seen below.
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/Premier-League-Tix.png"></a><figure class="image"><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/Premier-League-Tix.png"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-115126" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20141202_CMS_115124_Premier-League-Tix-600x396_035eacc1.webp&amp;width=580&amp;height=370" alt="Premier League Tix" width="580" height="370"></a></figure>
As we can see, rather strangely, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/08/25/manchester-city-3-1-liverpool-back-to-the-drawing-board-for-the-reds/">Manchester City</a>, the current Premier League champions, have the lowest priced season ticket. Of course City’s wealth courtesy of Sheikh Mansour ensures there isn’t a great need to recoup significant revenue through ticket sales.
If you look to the other end of the scale with Arsene Wenger’s <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/08/23/everton-vs-arsenal-player-ratings/">Arsenal</a> side charging just over £1000 for their lowest priced season ticket, the difference is staggering. The general conception is the cost of living in London is much more expensive than in other areas of the country. This can be seen by house prices and is reflected, although not as significant as perhaps necessary in the average person’s working wage.
Therefore it is no surprise Arsenal’s cheapest tickets are the most expensive. However the difference of over £200 from the next most expensive cheapest ticket, which is at Arsenal’s fierce local rivals Tottenham Hotspur is quite interesting.
Arsenal’s business model since 2005 has been focused around financing the move to and construction of the Emirates Stadium as Jeremy Wilson from the Telegraph details <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10601900/Arsenal-have-reached-their-Promised-Land-Why-2014-is-such-a-big-year-for-Arsene-Wenger-and-the-Gunners.html">here</a>. One of the reasons for such high ticket prices has been to contribute to that cause, now with the stadium believed to have been almost, if not fully, paid for, it is a surprise to see Arsenal still charging such high prices.
It is interesting that there is only one Premier League team who have reduced the price of their lowest season ticket from last season, and that is Sunderland who have committed to a 6% decrease.
But how do expensive Premier League season ticket prices compare to the NFL? The differences are staggering.
First, some&nbsp;NFL teams, depending on where the seats are, require the purchase of a Permanent&nbsp;Seat License (PSL), the right to “own” a seat,&nbsp;which can run <a href="http://business.time.com/2013/10/06/fricking-ridiculous-nfl-stadium-seat-fees-cost-thousands-but-fans-pay-up/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">anywhere from $500 to $150,000</a>. That cost doesn’t even include the price of buying a season ticket.
Second, most NFL teams have a waiting list for season tickets. So for most NFL teams, the application fee is&nbsp;$100 per person to be added to the&nbsp;waiting list in order to be notified when a season ticket becomes available. As one example, the waiting list is currently 5-10 years for the Seattle Seahawks football team. That’s nothing compared to the Green Bay Packers, where&nbsp;the <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/114877119.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">waiting list is estimated to be as many as 955 years</a>.
Having said that, there are waiting lists for many Premier League clubs too.
Third, while an average match ticket (not season ticket) for a Premier League game is £59 ($91), the average ticket for a NFL game is £52 ($84) (<a href="http://www.statista.com/statistics/193425/average-ticket-price-in-the-nfl-since-2006/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>), which seems quite competitive until you remember that season ticket holders in the Premier League get a minimum of 19 home league games (not including FA Cup matches, League Cup matches, friendlies and possible European competition) while season ticket holders at NFL teams get 8 league games (and some only get 7 games because of NFL games played in London, but exhibition games are sometimes included).
So&nbsp;let’s take a look at&nbsp;the 2014 prices for season tickets at NFL teams:
<ul>
<li>Arizona Cardinals — Cheapest season ticket: $250; Most expensive season ticket: $1,185 (<a href="http://www.azcardinals.com/tickets/seat-views-pricing-map.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Atlanta Falcons — Cheapest season ticket: $385; Most expensive season ticket: $1,463 <a href="http://vsv.atlantafalcons.com/seating_pricing.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">or more</a>&nbsp;(<a href="http://vsv.atlantafalcons.com/seating_pricing.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Baltimore Ravens — Cheapest season ticket: $620; Most expensive: $3,650 (<a href="http://www.baltimoreravens.com/gameday/tickets/psls-season-tickets/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Buffalo Bills — Cheapest season ticket: $260; Most expensive season ticket: $2,470 (<a href="http://buffalobills.io-media.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Carolina Panthers — Cheapest season ticket: $420; Most expensive: $4,300 (<a href="http://www.panthers.com/tickets/psl-club-seats.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Chicago Bears — Cheapest season ticket: $810; Most expensive season ticket: $4,050 (<a href="http://www.chicagobears.com/tickets-and-stadium/seating-chart.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Cincinnati Bengals — Cheapest season ticket: $400; Most expensive season ticket: $2,700 (<a href="http://www.bengals.com/tickets/stadium-map-and-ticket-pricing.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Cleveland Browns — Cheapest season ticket: $190; Most expensive season ticket: $4,350 (<a href="http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/tickets/2014/season-tickets-find-your-seat.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Dallas Cowboys — Price for an average premium seat per season is $3,400 (<a href="https://teammarketing.com/public/uploadedPDFs/FOOTBALL_FCI_TWENTYFOURTEEN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>); Prices for cheapest and most expensive season tickets are not publicly available</li>
<li>Denver Broncos — Cheapest season ticket: $480; Most expensive season ticket: $1,700 (<a href="http://www.denverbroncos.com/tickets-and-stadium/season-tickets.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Detroit Lions — Cheapest season ticket: $380; Most expensive season ticket: $1,092 (<a href="http://www.detroitlions.com/ford-field/seating-chart.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Green Bay Packers — Cheapest season ticket: $770 (approximately); Most expensive season ticket: $1,000; approximately (<a href="http://www.packers.com/tickets/ticket-holder-information.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Houston Texans — Cheapest season ticket: $660; Most expensive season ticket: in excess of $3,000 (<a href="http://www.houstontexans.com/2015waitlist.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Indianapolis Colts — Cheapest season ticket: $400; Most expensive season ticket: $1,260 (<a href="http://www.colts.com/stadium/stadium-map.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Jacksonville Jaguars — (Note, this is for a 9 game season this year); Cheapest season ticket: $171; Most expensive: $3,375 (<a href="http://prod.static.jaguars.clubs.nfl.com/assets/images/tickets/1407_2014_TicketMap_FINAL_v8.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Kansas City Chiefs — Cheapest season ticket: $250; Most expensive season ticket: $1,350 (<a href="http://kcchiefs.io-media.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Miami Dolphins — Cheapest season ticket: $420; Most expensive season ticket: $1,250 (<a href="http://miamidolphins.io-media.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Minnesota Vikings — Cheapest season ticket: $350; Most expensive season ticket: $1,390 (<a href="http://www.vikings.com/stadium/stadium-map.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>New England Patriots — Cheapest season ticket: $650; Most expensive season ticket: $1,950 (<a href="http://www.patriots.com/news/article-1/Patriots-introduce-variable-pricing-for-2014-season-tickets/1371bc29-dbda-4fca-8ebd-d8d743551f92" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>New Orleans Saints — Cheapest season ticket: $350; Most expensive season ticket: $3,080 (<a href="http://prod.static.saints.clubs.nfl.com/assets/tickets/14_season_tickets_prices.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>New York Giants — Cheapest season ticket: $850; Most expensive season ticket: $7,000 (<a href="http://prod.static.giants.clubs.nfl.com/assets/images/psl-pricing-map.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>New York Jets — Cheapest season ticket: $500; Most expensive: $7,000 (<a href="http://www.newyorkjets.com/tickets-and-stadium/new-stadium/seating-chart.html?icampaign=ticket-info-request_tickets-stadium-landing-find-seat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Oakland Raiders — (Note, this is for a 9 game season this year); Cheapest season ticket: $225; Most expensive: $1,350 (<a href="http://www.raiders.com/tickets/seating-price-map.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Philadelphia Eagles — Cheapest season ticket: $700; Most expensive: $1,050 or more; although exact pricing is not available publicly</li>
<li>Pittsburgh Steelers — Cheapest season ticket: $770; Most expensive: $2,600; based on 2013 prices (<a href="http://www.afansbestfriend.com/seat_license.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>San Diego Chargers — Cheapest season ticket: $390; Most expensive: $2,650&nbsp;(<a href="http://www.chargers.com/tickets/seating-chart.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>San Francisco 49ers — Cheapest season ticket: $850; Most expensive: $2,000 (<a href="http://www.levisstadium.com/club-level-map-pricing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Seattle Seahawks — Cheapest season ticket: $580; Most expensive season ticket: $4,050 (<a href="http://www.seahawks.com/tickets/seating-map.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>St Louis Rams — Cheapest season ticket: $300; Most expensive season ticket: $1,750 (<a href="http://www.stlouisrams.com/tickets/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Cheapest season ticket: $300; Most expensive season ticket: $3,950 (<a href="http://prod.static.buccaneers.clubs.nfl.com/assets/pdf/2014-Season-Pass-Members-Pricing-Map.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Tennessee Titans — Cheapest season ticket: $360; Most expensive: $2,580 (<a href="http://www.titansonline.com/stadium/seating-chart.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
<li>Washington Redskins — Cheapest season ticket: $340; Most expensive: $1,390 or more (<a href="http://redskins.io-media.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">source</a>)</li>
</ul>
Based on the above information, the average price for the cheapest season tickets across NFL is $463 (not including the price for a PSL), while the average for most expensive season tickets (not including PSL) is $2,668.
The $2,668 number&nbsp;is in stark contrast to the Premier League’s highest average season ticket price of $1,361. And that’s based on 19 Premier League home games compared to 8 (or sometimes 7) home games in NFL.
If we take the 19 guaranteed home league matches for each Premier League club and compare that to the 10 not-guaranteed home games (including 2 preseason games) for each NFL club, the average price per game based on season ticket prices is as follows:
<h5>Cheapest season ticket prices&nbsp;(averaged on a per-league game basis):</h5>
Premier League: $27 per game 
NFL: $46 per game
<h5>Most expensive season ticket prices (averaged on a per-league game basis):</h5>
Premier League: $73 per game 
NFL: $266 per game
Remember&nbsp;that not all season tickets are equal. For example, some season tickets to Premier League clubs will include friendlies, cup games and European competition with them, others don’t. Vice-versa, some season ticket packages for NFL teams will include exhibition games too.
As a side&nbsp;note, NFL teams don’t make it easy to find season ticket pricing. Oftentimes, team websites force website visitors into either calling or completing an application in order to find out pricing details. It took us several days&nbsp;of research, phone calls and patience to compile the season ticket information above for NFL teams. And even then, we were unable to obtain season ticket pricing for a few high-profile NFL teams.
While tickets to Premier League matches in England have increased at a steady pace, they seem like a relative bargain compared to how expensive seats are in the NFL. And that doesn’t take into consideration the cost of Permanent Seat Licenses. Based on the above data, we wouldn’t be surprised if Premier League ticket prices continue to skyrocket year over year.

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NFL season ticket comparison to the Premier League

A point of contention due to finances, here is the NFL season ticket comparison to the Premier League to see how two of the biggest leagues stack up.

NFL season ticket comparison to the Premier League - World Soccer Talk

<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2012/12/sky-sports-transfer-window.jpg"></a><figure class="image"><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2012/12/sky-sports-transfer-window.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-48861" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20140902_CMS_115625_sky-sports-transfer-window-600x448_789fb581.webp&amp;width=600&amp;height=448" alt="sky-sports-transfer-window" width="600" height="448" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2012/12/17071917/sky-sports-transfer-window-600x448.jpg 600w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2012/12/17071917/sky-sports-transfer-window-150x112.jpg 150w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2012/12/17071917/sky-sports-transfer-window-300x224.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2012/12/17071917/sky-sports-transfer-window.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a></figure>
After two hours of watching Rebecca Lowe, Robbie Earle, and Robbie Mustoe break down Deadline Day on NBCSN, I still can’t decide if this would be a good thing for Major League Soccer. The signal-to-noise ratio is ridiculously low, a confluence of tabloid pressures, gullibility, and potential for news (albeit slim) creating a ridiculous din, one that’s developed into a cottage industry. In this grave new world, you don’t have to be an intellect to understand. To be an expert, you just have to tolerate the content that’s being fed to you.
Not that it isn’t a splendid spectacle. Harry Redknapp talking through a car window. Peter Odemwingie denied on QPR’s doorstep. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/08/23/4-reasons-why-danny-welbeck-should-leave-manchester-united/">Danny Welbeck</a> swapping Old Trafford for the Emirates. Even absent financial lunacy like Fernando Torres’s or <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/09/01/manchester-united-sign-radamel-falcao-on-season-long-loan/">Radamel Falcao’s</a> moves, Deadline Day always provides something, and in a world where diehard fans are insatiable about their somethings, the twice-a-year fun is relatively harmless.
There is, however, a difference between being harmless and necessary, and with MLS always looking for ways to raise its profile, it’s interesting to consider what a Deadline Day event would bring to the league. MLS already has a couple of deadline days: The close of the summer transfer window (Aug. 6, this year), and the fall roster freeze (Sept. 15). What if we took those events and created a glorified coverage?
Imagine next year, with ESPN carrying much of the broadcast load, Adrian Healey, Taylor Twellman, and Alexi Lalas praising every obscure Romanian, as if he’s the next Dutch leaguer tempting English hearts? In front of 100 inches of touch screen goodness, they swap circles in and out of formations, asking how players we’ve never heard of will sway the title race.
Is he good? Is he bad? It doesn’t really matter. This wantaway from Club Atletico Rafaela would be a different maker for ‘Midtable FC’, they could say about anybody. Anonymity can’t keep us from assessing the move.
Unfortunately, there are a few things beyond mere interest that prevents this kind of spectacle; namely MLS’s rules. A cursory look across the U.S. sports’ landscape shows a telling, inverse relationship between regulation and transfer and trade window mayhem. Professional baseball and hockey, with their permissive systems, have active trade deadlines. Basketball’s more restrictive environment means stars rarely move at the end of a window, while the National Football League’s salary cap and early trade deadline render midseason moves irrelevant.
MLS’s rules are for more complex than the NFL’s, where the main constraints are huge roster needs and the complexities of signing bonuses. In MLS, homegrown, generation adidas, and designated players all have different impacts on a roster, one already constrained by a low salary cap. International slots, allocation pay-downs, and the cap-exempt players on the back end of a squad add another layer to potential deals, while the dynamics of a soft salary cap and no real revenue sharing mean a growing disparity between the haves and have nots. In MLS, you don’t just decide to trade or sign somebody. You start navigating a minefield.
Perhaps that could all be glossed over in a made-for-TV event, but to have a meaningful deadline day, you have to grapple with a series of more difficult questions: Is it worth it to open up the rules to create a more dynamic environment? If transactions generate fan interest, how do you balance that against the stability the rules provide? Is creating a more permissive environment – one a vocal minority already deride with Europe’s transfer free-for-all – a net good?
As the NFL shows, a rotisserie league’s waiver wire is not necessary to create interest, though parallels between MLS and the NFL are as ridiculous as comparing the U.S.’s soccer leagues to England’s. Ultimately, MLS has crafted a totally unique environment, one in which Deadline Day madness is unlikely to occur.
The drawbacks: We don’t get to see Alexi Lalas try to explain why ‘Cellardweller United’ will benefit from a Chilean we don’t know. We don’t get that two-hour panel show, and ultimately, we don’t get something the rest of the soccer world seems so willing to make into a biannual occasion.
On the plus side, the hype becomes a matter of perspective, not obligation. We focus on competition instead of confusion, and we never have a panel show that weaves speculation into news.
Is that a good tradeoff? After surviving our latest Deadline Day obsession, I have no idea.

The Predicament Of Having A Glorified MLS Deadline Day Coverage Or Not

The Predicament Of Having A Glorified MLS Deadline Day Coverage Or Not - World Soccer Talk

<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/02/manchester-city.jpg"></a><figure class="image"><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/02/manchester-city.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-94720" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20140829_CMS_115333_manchester-city-600x422_53939bca.webp&amp;width=600&amp;height=422" alt="manchester-city" width="600" height="422" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/02/17061423/manchester-city-600x422.jpg 600w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/02/17061423/manchester-city-150x105.jpg 150w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/02/17061423/manchester-city-300x211.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/02/17061423/manchester-city.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a></figure>
Coming off of a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/08/25/manchester-city-3-1-liverpool-back-to-the-drawing-board-for-the-reds/">decisive 3-1 victory </a>over last year’s Premier League runners up Liverpool, Manchester City will look to continue their perfect start to the early season with a lineup that will feature only a couple of changes. The most likely changes will be at fullback with Sagna in line to make his first appearance in sky blue and Alexander Kolorov rotating in for Gael Clichy. It is also possible that Fernando might be replaced by Fernandinho as the Brazilian is nearing full fitness, after a mentally and physically taxing World Cup in Brazil.
The front four largely picks itself with Silva, Nasri, and Toure all in fine early season form. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/08/28/stevan-jovetic-beginning-to-prove-his-worth-for-manchester-city/">Stevan Jovetic</a> has been a revelation over the course of pre-season and early days in the league. The striker spot will likely be occupied by either Sergio Aguero, who picked up a knock in training today, or Edin Dzeko, who took a nasty stud to the thigh Monday night. If you’re Manuel Pellegrini you really can’t go wrong picking either Aguero – scored two goals in less than 30 minutes of playing time this season – or his teammate Dzeko who appears to be in inspired form. His goals will come, as they always do, but his creativity and passing so far has been an added dimension.
City will look to score early and draw Stoke out of what will likely be a nine or even ten men behind the ball approach. An early goal at home usually means that City are on their way to three or four or more. When they have trouble scoring early they often play much tighter and with far more nervousness than when things are flowing freely and the goals are going in early and with regularity. The home match against Crystal Palace last season will be a blueprint for their opponents to analyse and try to replicate, despite City claiming a slender 1-0 victory.
On the other side of the pitch former City manager Mark Hughes is still trying to find what his best lineup is. A groin injury to the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/08/27/geoff-cameron-must-be-calculated-and-logical-about-his-playing-future/">in demand</a> American international <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/08/27/geoff-cameron-must-be-calculated-and-logical-about-his-playing-future/">Geoff Cameron</a> and the arrival of Chelsea loanee Victor Moses means that Hughes will have some more tinkering to do. He’ll likely start Moses and Krkic on the wings. with England’s favorite gangly <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X1pqDpyOIo">robot</a> Peter Crouch as the lone striker up front. Charlie Adam may not regain a place with the more dogged Glenn Whelan in a midfield that will contain essentially three holding midfielders that will try to stifle a lethal City attack.
Stoke’s best hope for a result will come from packing the middle and forcing the ball out wide. If you’re a Stoke fan you’d probably prefer it go out wide to Samir Nasri rather than David Silva. With a solid amount of Stoke grit and determination, coupled with perfect defensive organization, the Potters may be able to hold City scoreless if the Citizens are having an off day. At the other end of the field perhaps a well-timed cross could find the forehead of Peter Crouch and then the back of Joe Hart’s net.
MANCHESTER CITY&nbsp;
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/Screen-shot-2014-08-29-at-4.18.12-PM.png"></a><figure class="image"><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/Screen-shot-2014-08-29-at-4.18.12-PM.png"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-115366" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20140829_CMS_115333_Screen-shot-2014-08-29-at-4.18.12-PM_61fbcac7.webp&amp;width=331&amp;height=448" alt="Screen shot 2014-08-29 at 4.18.12 PM" width="331" height="448" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/17051003/Screen-shot-2014-08-29-at-4.18.12-PM.png 331w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/17051003/Screen-shot-2014-08-29-at-4.18.12-PM-150x203.png 150w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/17051003/Screen-shot-2014-08-29-at-4.18.12-PM-300x406.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 331px) 100vw, 331px"></a></figure>
STOKE CITY
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/Screen-shot-2014-08-29-at-4.18.42-PM.png"></a><figure class="image"><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/Screen-shot-2014-08-29-at-4.18.42-PM.png"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-115367" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20140829_CMS_115333_Screen-shot-2014-08-29-at-4.18.42-PM_48fead97.webp&amp;width=329&amp;height=444" alt="Screen shot 2014-08-29 at 4.18.42 PM" width="329" height="444" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/17051002/Screen-shot-2014-08-29-at-4.18.42-PM.png 329w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/17051002/Screen-shot-2014-08-29-at-4.18.42-PM-150x202.png 150w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/17051002/Screen-shot-2014-08-29-at-4.18.42-PM-300x404.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 329px) 100vw, 329px"></a></figure>

Manchester City vs Stoke City Predicted Lineups

Manchester City vs Stoke City Predicted Lineups - World Soccer Talk

<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/06/espn-world-cup-set.jpg"></a><figure class="image"><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/06/espn-world-cup-set.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-106224" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20140829_CMS_115331_espn-world-cup-set-600x405_69e98067.webp&amp;width=600&amp;height=405" alt="espn-world-cup-set" width="600" height="405" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/06/17053710/espn-world-cup-set-600x405.jpg 600w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/06/17053710/espn-world-cup-set-150x101.jpg 150w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/06/17053710/espn-world-cup-set-300x202.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/06/17053710/espn-world-cup-set.jpg 630w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a></figure>
I should first start off by saying to always check out <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com">WorldSoccerTalk.com</a> and the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/podcast/">World Soccer Talk podcast</a> for all of your soccer analysis, news, notes, opinions and scores. Now that the preambles are over, here are the remaining top soccer resources everyone should check out:
1. WhoScored.com – <a href="http://www.whoscored.com/Home">WhoScored</a> is a great website to visit for detailed statistics on 14 different leagues and competitions. The website keeps track of everything from goals and assists to what position a certain player was deployed at and player ratings (and everything in between).
2. Transfermarkt.com – While some, perhaps most, truly despise the transfer market, <a href="http://www.transfermarkt.com/">Transfermarkt</a> (that’s right, without the e in market) is your go-to website for all things transfer related. The website gives estimated player values, contract information, transfer history and allows you to compare players.
3. Squawka.com – <a href="http://www.squawka.com/comparison-matrix">Squawka</a> is a good site for player and team rankings, but best of all, their comparison matrix lets users compare players side by side from most of the major leagues around the world.
4. Statto.com – If you are looking for a site that features in depth statistics, ratings, results, and odds, then <a href="http://www.statto.com/">Statto</a> is a good place to start. The website compiles information from most of the European soccer leagues and international tournaments as well.
5. Soccerway.com – Much like Whoscored, Squawka, and Statto, <a href="http://us.soccerway.com/">Soccerway.com</a> compiles scores and stats from many different leagues and competitions around the world. This website also has a very thorough transfer page for teams in over 40 leagues worldwide.
6. FIFA.com – Whether you want to check out a calendar of upcoming matches, look up a rule, or view official FIFA documents, <a href="http://www.fifa.com/">FIFA.com</a> is the place to go. You can also view detailed information on official FIFA tournaments.
7. Match of the Day (UK) – The legendary television program has been on the air for over 50 years in the UK. MotD, as it is widely known as, is filled with commentary and analysis from presenter Gary Lineker and lead pundit Alan Shearer. MotD can be seen on BBC in the UK and BBC iPlayer.
8. Match of the Day (USA) – Based on the UK version, NBCSN’s MotD is hosted by Rebecca Lowe, and features pundits Robbie Earle, Robbie Mustoe, and Kyle Martino. MotD is aired on Saturdays at 11:00 p.m. (ET), Sundays at 10:30 p.m. (ET), and Mondays at 12:30 p.m. (ET) on NBCSN.
9. ESPN FC (TV Show) – Cable sports giant ESPN created ESPN FC as both a website and a soccer highlight television show. The show airs on ESPN weeknights at 6:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPNEWS and features highlights, analysis, power rankings, and bloopers from Tommy Smyth.
10. YouTube.com – If your team is rumored to be signing a youngster that you are not quite fully aware of, then <a href="https://www.youtube.com/">YouTube</a> is the place to go to see video of him. Teams and players can also have their own YouTube channels that you can subscribe to and receive behind the scenes videos, bloopers, and interviews.
11. League websites – Finally, depending on what league(s) you might follow, specific league websites (such as <a href="http://www.ligabbva.com/">Ligabbva.com</a> (La Liga), <a href="http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb.html">PremierLeague.com</a> (Premier League), <a href="http://www.bundesliga.com/en/">Bundesliga.com.en</a> (Bundesliga), <a href="http://www.legaseriea.it/en/">Legaseriea.it/en/</a> (Serie A), and <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/">MLSSoccer.com</a> (MLS) are always a good place to go to for specialized information pertaining to that certain league.

11 great resources for soccer fans

11 great resources for soccer fans - World Soccer Talk

<figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-99833" title="ryan-giggs" src="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ryan-giggs1.jpg" alt="" width="598" height="503" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/04/17055409/ryan-giggs1.jpg 598w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/04/17055409/ryan-giggs1-150x126.jpg 150w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/04/17055409/ryan-giggs1-300x252.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 598px) 100vw, 598px"></figure>
With David Moyes <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/04/22/david-moyes-sacked-as-manager-of-manchester-united/">finally getting the chop</a> at Manchester United, the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/04/22/5-leading-contenders-to-replace-david-moyes-as-manager-of-manchester-united/">search for Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor</a> goes back to square one. Since taking over from Ferguson last summer, Moyes has never looked entirely comfortable at the helm and his sacking almost feels like an act of mercy. He always seemed to be a temporary manager mistakenly given a permanent position.
So now the candidates begin to line-up for this prestigious post, with Louis van Gaal the current favorite according to the bookies. The decidedly <a href="https://plus.google.com/b/104207880717962562960/+WorldSoccerTalk/posts/FnhoVGVE3ou" target="_blank">zany Dutchman</a> has certainly made no secret of the fact that he is interested in taking the job but there are plenty of red flags, from his history of dressing rooms bust-ups to a track record of refusing to listen to his superiors at his former clubs. One supposedly strong plus for van Gaal, however, appears to be his experience.
This idea of an experienced hand as manager is one that has a fair bit of traction in soccer, as it does in other industries. The received wisdom goes that to right a ship (and a ship laden with superstar egos at that), an experienced and perhaps older manager is needed. A youngster, like Ryan Giggs, surely won’t be able to handle the pressure and expectation of such a big job, nor command the respect of his superstar players.
But a closer look at Europe’s top clubs show that increasingly, the best teams in Europe are taking on younger managers, perhaps trying to emulate the success of Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola.
<table width="298" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<colgroup>
<col span="2" width="113">
<col width="72"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="113" height="18">Club</td>
<td width="113">Manager</td>
<td width="72">Age</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">Liverpool</td>
<td>Rodgers</td>
<td>41</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">Man Utd</td>
<td>Giggs</td>
<td>40</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">Chelsea</td>
<td>Mourinho</td>
<td>51</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">Man City</td>
<td>Pellegrini</td>
<td>60</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">Arsenal</td>
<td>Wenger</td>
<td>64</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">Real Madrid</td>
<td>Ancelotti</td>
<td>54</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">Barcelona</td>
<td>Martino</td>
<td>51</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">Atletico</td>
<td>Simeone</td>
<td>43</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">Bilbao</td>
<td>Valverde</td>
<td>50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">Bayern</td>
<td>Guardiola</td>
<td>43</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">Dortmund</td>
<td>Klopp</td>
<td>46</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">Schalke</td>
<td>Keller</td>
<td>43</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">Leverkusen</td>
<td>Lewandowski</td>
<td>42</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">Juventus</td>
<td>Conte</td>
<td>44</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">Roma</td>
<td>Garcia</td>
<td>50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">Napoli</td>
<td>Benitez</td>
<td>54</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">PSG</td>
<td>Blanc</td>
<td>48</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">Monaco</td>
<td>Ranieri</td>
<td>62</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="18">Lille</td>
<td>Girard</td>
<td>60</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Of clubs currently in position to qualify for the Champions League, the average age of the manager is 50.3. The oldest of these managers is Arsene Wenger at 64 and the youngest, other than 40-year-old interim manager Ryan Giggs, is Brendan Rodgers at 41. Interestingly, the median age of the managers is also 50, suggesting that the average is not necessarily skewed by a few youngsters or veterans at either end.
France’s top clubs have the oldest managers with an average age of 56.7 and Germany’s the youngest with an average age of just 43.5. The Premier League’s top 4 have relatively older managers with an average age of 54.
If we look at just the league leaders of Europe’s top clubs, the average age drops considerably. Liverpool’s Brendan Rodgers, Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone, Juventus’ Antonio Conte, Bayern Munich’s Pep Guardiola and PSG’s Laurent Blanc are all under 50 and have an average age of 43.8. At the very top then, younger managers have become very much de rigueur.
The reasons for this trend towards younger managers at the top clubs are difficult determine and not necessarily the same across the board. Liverpool had been nowhere near the top of the league over recent seasons and last season, Brendan Rodgers appeared to have been given the job in the knowledge that it would be a long term project. Little could they have known that Rodgers would lead Liverpool to (potentially) the top of the pile in just his second season in charge.
It is a similar case with Diego Simeone. Given Atletico Madrid’s disastrous financial situation and constant need to sell their top players, Atletico couldn’t have thought that Simeone would make such a big difference in such a short amount of time. Simeone, however, has somehow managed to create a super motivated and clinical team from a few misfits, clever free transfers, and astute loans.
By contrast, Pep Guardiola was a very different appointment. Guardiola had made his name at Barcelona leading a Blaugrana side that will go down in history as one of the best ever. Despite his youth in managerial terms, his remarkable success at the Nou Camp made him a relatively safe appointment for Bayern Munich, although there was some concern at the time as to whether he would be able to replicate his success with Barcelona at Munich.
Antonio Conte’s situation was different again. The former Juventus midfielder began his managerial career at lower-profile clubs before working his way up to the Juventus job in 2011-12. The previous season, Juventus had finished 7th, not a terrible result given the Calciopoli turmoil of previous years, but not ideal either. Within one season, Conte had returned them to the top of Serie A, quite an astonishing turnaround whatever mitigating factors there may have been.
Finally, Laurent Blanc’s situation has been quite different from all of the above and he is perhaps not quite at the same level as the other managers on this list. Blanc has done a decent job guiding PSG to the top of Ligue 1 but he was low down on the list of PSG’s possible managers when Carlo Ancelotti left in the summer of 2013 for Real Madrid. There is a general feeling that regardless of PSG’s league finish this season, Blanc may be let go in the summer. PSG’s nervy performance against Chelsea in the Champions League quarterfinals may have been the final nail in the coffin.
With the retirement of Jupp Heynckes and Alex Ferguson last season there is a sense that it may be the end of an era for the older manager. Of the managers over 60 on this list, only Rene Girard can be seen to have done a stellar job with Lille whilst the likes of Arsene Wenger, Manuel Pellegrini and Claudio Ranieri have seen their respective teams not quite live up to expectations.
Perhaps it is the youthful energy of the younger manager that is needed to inspire a team in an era when football seems to be played at a faster pace than ever before. Perhaps younger managers have fresher tactical ideas than older managers. Perhaps today’s players react better to managers closer to their own age. The reasons for this trend could be many and it is hard to determine exactly which reasons are important. Indeed, at the same time, it could just be an anomaly.
Of course there are plenty of younger managers in leagues across Europe and probably the world that don’t work out as well. David Moyes himself is not exactly old at 50. But the argument that top clubs should hire older, more experienced managers seems tenuous. Louis van Gaal may end up being the right choice for Manchester United, but vast experience and age should not be equated with some kind of guarantee of success. The younger generation of managers is making their voices heard and this season in particular, they seem to be having more success than their older counterparts. As they have often done with players, the time may have come for Manchester United to choose youth over experience.
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Why the Trend Towards Younger Managers is a Positive Sign For Ryan Giggs at Manchester United

Why the Trend Towards Younger Managers is a Positive Sign For Ryan Giggs at Manchester United - World Soccer Talk

<figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-99219" title="luis-suarez-gareth-bale" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20140417_CMS_99158_luis-suarez-gareth-bale-600x434_4e34721a.webp&amp;width=600&amp;height=434" alt="" width="600" height="434" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/04/17055621/luis-suarez-gareth-bale-600x434.jpg 600w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/04/17055621/luis-suarez-gareth-bale-150x108.jpg 150w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/04/17055621/luis-suarez-gareth-bale-300x217.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/04/17055621/luis-suarez-gareth-bale.jpg 650w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></figure>
As Liverpool edge towards an improbable league title and Tottenham fade away, many have taken the opportunity to compare the differing fortunes of the two clubs. Both teams started the season having finished outside the top four and were looking to break through this season. Both (initially) had young managers with much to prove. Tottenham have slipped up, unable to take advantage of Manchester United’s slide, whilst Liverpool have soared up the table and are now serious contenders, if not favorites, for the title. The obvious question is what did Spurs do wrong and what did Liverpool do right?
Some cite the impact of Liverpool sticking by their manager Brendan Rodgers despite a poor season last year. Others would point to Liverpool’s British base of talent and the rejuvenation of Steven Gerrard as both player and leader. Liverpool’s lack of European football has also been suggested as a factor. All these points may have their merits. But there is one oft-repeated point that is irksome: the Suarez-Bale debate.
The argument goes that Tottenham’s big mistake was selling Gareth Bale to Real Madrid while Liverpool stuck to their guns by refusing to sell Luis Suarez. Suarez has since become one of the world’s best footballers at Liverpool. Bale is still one of the world’s best but now plays for Real Madrid, not Tottenham. If only Spurs had held their nerve and not sold their talisman, they could be where Liverpool are now.
This view however, is seriously misguided.
This isn’t to say that Spurs are somehow a better team without Bale. They clearly aren’t this season. What is strange is this comparison between the two situations, as if both players and teams were in identical positions going into this season. There appears to have been a kind of collective amnesia amongst the media, pundits and the wider soccer-watching public. People seem to have forgotten about everything that happened with Suarez last season and the season before and they have also forgotten about Bale’s situation at Tottenham. So let’s call this article a mythbuster: Why the Suarez and Bale sagas shouldn’t be compared.
The Real Madrid Campaign
When most football fans think about Gareth Bale now, the main thing they remember is last season where Bale was scoring wonder goals every other day. After that, perhaps the month long transfer saga that was the prelude to Bale’s eventual move to Madrid. What seems to have been forgotten is that Real Madrid were strongly linked with Bale the season before. As it turned out, it was only Luka Modric who left that summer but the link was already made and Bale made no secret of his desire to play abroad. This was not, as it seems to have been remembered, a case of Real Madrid suddenly making a big play for Bale last summer. This was a move that was nurtured carefully, and consistently pushed along by the biggest club in the world. The culmination was last year’s saga, but this had been on the cards for much longer.
In contrast, Luis Suarez was more of an afterthought in the minds of the clubs that could afford to buy him. Real Madrid were focused on the Bale transfer, which dragged out over the whole summer, Barcelona were focused on signing Neymar. PSG had decided to spend their money on Edinson Cavani. Chelsea seemed focused on Wayne Rooney whilst Manchester City were busy buying a number of players who they felt would fit into their new system under manager Manuel Pellegrini. The only club that made a serious play for Luis Suarez was Arsenal, and even they only made a derisory offer to try and trigger the buyout clause. The only other team that may have had the money to buy Suarez was Bayern Munich but it seemed unlikely that Bayern Munich under Pep Guardiola would sign such a potentially divisive player. Which brings us neatly on to the next point.
Image and Reputation&nbsp;
This season Luis Suarez has generally been well-behaved but last season and the season before, this was far from the case. First, there was the racism incident with Patrice Evra that saw Suarez face a substantial ban and Liverpool’s good name tarnished. Then last season there was of course the biting incident. Suarez was undeniably fantastic last season in a soccer sense, almost on a par with Bale in fact, but there were serious question marks about his character. Despite Arsenal’s glaring need for a striker last summer, plenty of Arsenal fans were not sold on buying Suarez largely because of his reputation and image, not because of any questions about his ability. For the global mega clubs that could afford to sign Suarez, this was always going to be a big drawback to any potential transfer.
Gareth Bale, aside from his penchant for diving (an activity that Suarez also seems to enjoy), was essentially a model footballer. Keen to stay out of limelight and never really associated with anything unsavory, from a reputational standpoint, Bale was essentially zero risk. This clean cut image combined with his remarkable talent made him extremely marketable and, over the course of last season, he became not only a Tottenham icon, but a poster boy for the Premier League as a whole. As a result, any club looking to purchase Bale would know that as long as his talent translated to a new team and, as it turned out a new league, there would be no issues with attitude, behavior and image.
The Money&nbsp;
Gareth Bale moved to Real Madrid for a fee of somewhere between £80 million and £100 million, making him one of the top three transfers in soccer history alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and potentially Neymar (it’s still unclear how much he cost but it appears to be around £80 million). For a club like Tottenham that does not have the commercial revenue of the top four clubs (or in fact Liverpool), this was a serious amount of money. In fact, even for a club with big revenue’s like Manchester United, £80 million plus was considered too much to turn down when Real Madrid came after Ronaldo.
The numbers that appeared in rumors about Suarez were significantly lower. £60 million was probably the upper limit of figures that appeared in the media but the only serious offer appeared to be Arsenal’s £40,000,001. This was likely because of image and reputational issues as even last season, it was hard to doubt Suarez’ talent. In any case, the fact remains that unless there were seriously largely bids taking place outside of the media’s knowledge, the sums of money being discussed for Suarez did not come particularly close to those linked to Bale.
Time at the Club&nbsp;
By the time Gareth Bale left Tottenham Hotspur he had been at White Hart Lane for six years, having first arrived in 2007. At first he struggled, but from around 2010 he became a genuine star and last season he became a superstar. He was a key player in Tottenham’s 2009/10 season that saw Spurs achieve Champions League qualification and burst on to the global scene a year later when he decimated Inter Milan in the Champions League quarterfinals. Tottenham fans obviously did not want Bale to leave but there was an understanding I think that Bale had been a good servant for Spurs for the last three or four seasons. Particularly as he had helped Spurs not only get into, but perform well in the Champions League.
Luis Suarez on the other hand arrived halfway through the 2010-11 season. After an impressive first half-season, his 2011-12 season was relatively disappointing as he ended up with just 11 league goals. Suarez was of course much much better in 2012-13 but still managed to get himself suspended for biting an opponent. Since Suarez signed for Liverpool, the Reds have never finished above 6th, a poor showing for a rich (if not mega-rich) club with a long history of success. Despite his brilliant goal scoring record last season, it could be argued that Suarez hadn’t really done enough to repay Liverpool for standing by him through all his troubles. Indeed there was plenty of talk last season that perhaps it was time to cut Suarez loose as he was too much of a liability.
Taking all these points into account, the only real similarity between the two players is that both had great season’s last year for teams that didn’t make the Champions League. In pretty much every other way, their situations leading into the summer of 2013 were different. To suggest that Tottenham and Liverpool basically had the same decision to make at the end of last season and went in different directions is not so much missing the wood for the trees but more like missing the wood for a couple of dead weeds.
It does of course make a compelling narrative and create a useful contrast to try and explain the differing fortunes of the two clubs, but it is a short sighted and shallow analysis. There are plenty of differences between the two clubs – their attitude towards their young managers, their willingness to promote young players and the presence of a true team captain, to name but a few. The sale of Bale and retention of Suarez however, were completely different situations and to equate them is to completely misunderstand their respective contexts.

Why Last Summer’s Gareth Bale and Luis Suarez Transfer Sagas Are Not Comparable

Why Last Summer’s Gareth Bale and Luis Suarez Transfer Sagas Are Not Comparable - World Soccer Talk

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