They will carry on throwing money at it. They will not give up after 2 years
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Saudi Arabia Premier league
- Thread starter john jako
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They will carry on throwing money at it. They will not give up after 2 years
I don't think they'll give up on it. I think the players that attract attention will give up on it. The likes of Ruben Neves and Jota etc., small names too in reality, I think will come back after 2 season whoring it in.
roydo
in memoriam - 1965-2024
I dont disagree, but to what end? No matter how much cash they lob at football, the one thing they dont have is unaffordable. Even to them.
Just look at Aramco one of the companies owned by the Kingdom that brings in profits of 3 billion per week last year. They about 25 years left of oil production, they will in the next decade throw billions and billions to grow tourism and tempt the services industry to come and base themselves in Saudi.
Have a look at the plans they have to create a new super city called Neom. They are sport washing on a scale never seen before.
Dubai have tried to diversify their economy in a few ways, including making it a global transport hub, a world renowned financial sector away from the west...
... and tourism. If you look at how much Dubai is investing in making it become a global player, this will help it eventually move away from their reliance on oil.
Saudi Arabia is now looking to do the same by trying to make it a more attractive place for non-Saudis or those who aren't visiting Mecca for the hajj.
Sport is one of their ways of doing that, alongside some absolutely mammoth infrastructure projects they're currently looking at building.
This is a decent video talking about some of the stuff they're looking at building.
Sports washing means most people are talking about them spending money and how rich they are, not how they chop heads off.
They will be replaced, players and definatley the agents will be tempted just for the cash and with it being tax free for them.
It's all a wait and see of course I just don't see this as anything but another China or a Super League. Instant uproar, fades to memory shortly after.
roydo
in memoriam - 1965-2024
Yeah, get that. Visited Dubai in the early years on their transition, (they were never that reliant on oil anyrate
compared to Saudi.). I just dont get why paying Jordan Henderson £700k a week is in any way going to achieve that.
We will have to wait and see but they will not want this to be a failure so will carry on throwing cash galore at it.
Another factor people seem to overlook is what it might do to players in the national team. If they stop getting selected because of playing in a weak leauge, will it keep them wanting to play there? Especially season's leading up to a WC.
As Blues, we're probably a bit reluctant to admit that Henderson is probably a fairly recognisable player: RS captain; CL winner; key England international.
While he won't have the high profile status of other better players, it's still a coup to draw him there. Gerrard is getting someone he knows and trusts too.
But in reality, that still doesn't justify £700k per week or what other gross amount he's getting. However, he is simply one pawn in the wider game they're playing.
They need to draw recognisable talents to play over there, and because of that they (the State, PIF etc.) will bankroll players coming above their merit.
If it opens the doors for other players to come, it will help embed the league; if the league's status grows, they'll be able to attract other talents down the line.
My thoughts, as already stated, are that it won't be that easy and will take a generation to achieve what they desire (if they ever do), but they have the dosh to do it.
roydo
in memoriam - 1965-2024
Agree on Henderson. Underrated in my opinion. But their league aint too shabby as it is, nor the Saudi national team. Beat Argentina didnt they? But if they grew their national and league teams organically, like many countries have done, they would have a steady base instead of this circus. Remember the days when England tonked Turkey 8 or 9 nil? Or Norway beating England "You took a hell of a beating"; both are strong leagues and national teams these days.
There is not a reason on the planet why Saudi football could not emulate that. Morocco did well in the WC as well. Thats the way go, imo.
I see some false equivalence here. You've talked about national teams beating each other, whereas I think Saudis national team is already stronger than their league.
By that, it's recognised as being fairly decent - especially in the region. But, they want to build the profile of their league to become a global player.
And to do that, you need to attract global talent to play there. Look at the PL for example, it is recognised for having top talent, but what percentage are English?
La Liga has top Spanish players, but it's also known for attracting the best South American talent, alongside big players from Europe and elsewhere.
So do to that, you need to attract players from elsewhere, which in turn will attract audiences from around the global. There, they hope, it'll become cyclical.
In terms of grassroots, I've said the same (see below), but it isn't going to be a quick fix. Developing the league through foreign exposure may help that.
It'll only go to strengthen their national team, like you referred to, but as I said that ain't their primary goal. That's to make their league the pinnacle.
How many are Saudi golfers are there? That hasn't stopped them spending billions on LIV golf, to make it the most prestigious tournament. Their tournament.
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