You are correct for sure. But fact remains Real Madrid has an old midfield (an old team period) and they will require freshening up the midfield over the next 1-2 years with a couple top players. If Wes can continue this form for this entire season, and then you compile a list of the top young midfielders in the world (23 and under), I think Wes would be a very appropriate addition to any such short list.
This is also true......but Wes took such a huge punch in the face a couple months back....and incredible low for him. And now he has (pretty magnificently) rose above it all - with some help of Allegri. Please mark my words on this- I think we just witnesses what will be the seminal turning point in his career. That was make or break you stuff....and if you (any player) can overcome such a harsh circumstance (as he has), I think he now possesses a such a strong base of emotional power.....it's going to allow him to keep this level. He's discovered his Superman power. He's not going to let it go anymore.
That was so fun partly because it was "spin... spin... stutter and blow by you!" Just an old-school 2 step setup and boom - punch line. Perfect entertainment rhythm. Very Nice!
My comment wasn't that teams will be needing new players. It was more the audacity that Weston would be too big for Juve. There has never been a player in the history of the game who was/is too big for Juventus. Not Platini, Zoff, Scirea, Gentile, Cannavaro, Ferrara, Conte, Davids, Nedved, Zidane, Inzaghi, Henry, Baggio, Zlatan, Buffon, Del Piero, etc. - Do players leave Juve for other clubs? Absolutely! - Is there 3-7 clubs that are bigger than Juventus? Sure, depending on your definition. - Will Weston start to play at a consistently high level (shown against Zenit and Fiorentina) to where a club like RM, Barca, or PSG come calling? Possible. - Will Weston leave to go to one of the big clubs in the Premier League? Probably. - But Wes, like every other player in the world will never be too big for Juventus.
You made my point right there. There are players (like Haaland) who will not be playing in Juve. No way. Because they are 'too small' for him.
No, I don’t think that’s true. There are other clubs that have more appeal at a given time- being in London or Paris, playing for a particular coach, the style of play in England vs Spain vs Germany vs Italy, the TV exposure of the EPL. But Juve’s history and realistic ambitions stack up with any club. now, on any given day, other clubs will have more money to spend and that does matter.
The problem with this line of argument.....we are really past the 'point of no return' for financing with clubs. Italy can't compete. A big part of Juve's successful European history was when Italy clubs were outspending other leagues and before TV and merchandising money exploded for clubs in England, Spain and before the Middle Eastern Sheikhs and Russian Oligarchs started buying clubs. Juve's 'history' as a club will continue to be in the rear-view mirror and they can beat the drum all they want, but as they have no shot at getting players like Mbappe and Haaland (and several others)- that tells you all you need to know. Ambition is nice, but without unbelievable money- you can't compete consistently at the elite level anymore (key word: consistently...sure an Ajax or RB Leipzig can make a run in the Champions League one season, but can't do it consistently) Look at Barcelona....all the 'name recognition' and without enough money, we see what they really are (although their investments in their academy for decades might vault them back quicker)
We will have to disagree. From Mino Raiola “It’s really hard to lie. When a club like Barcelona or Real Madrid comes in for you, with so much history and being such a big club, it’s hard to say no. “PSG is getting into his group of big clubs, City is trying, Juve have always been there. The league they play in is important too. PSG plays in the worst league of the big clubs. Bayern are in an attractive league, but we know they always win it. In Spain there are three clubs with a chance.” https://world-topnews.com/sports/ju...rling-haaland-suitors-says-agent-mino-raiola/ I hope that Weston gets to the point where he is that valued. It means that Juve will be playing well and the USMNT is that much better.
You're just going to ignore the 9 Scudetti in a row along with CL final loses in 2015 and 2017? Or is that not as impressive as Citeh and PSG's losses in 2020 and 2021?
Norwegians tend to like Italy as a place to live. Henrik Ibsen moved to Italy when Norwegians kicked him out of Norway for writing the truth about Norwegians Juve's owner just kicked in 400M or so into the club to tidy them over the Covid thing (per your counsel some posts back) which tells me they would buy Haaland if it made sense. It might not. The sticking point for Haaland will be: Who will give him the ball so he can score? That could be your problem (if you think not signing Haaland is a problem, that is). I've noticed he is very demanding on that point at Dortmund.
Lyon won a huge number of consecutive French titles as well. Ajax has dominated Dutch league during many periods. But no one would consider Ajax a giant club anymore. One can say that almost no player is bigger than ANY club, because all these clubs will last well after any individual player leaves. Even Swansea City. But you are implying that Wes can't do better than Juve in terms of ambition and opportunity. And that simply is not true. Man City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are at a different level now. If Juve can't afford Wes's demands (assuming he continues on this path), and Wes believes they can not win the Champions League in the current incarnation- then they will need to sell or let him run out his contract. Wes will control his fate, not the club. As I wrote, that makes Wes bigger than the club (at this point in time), but obviously not in the long run, since all careers are short. The very, very elite clubs may be a small, small group- but Juve no longer belongs to them. Because they can not financially compete consistently
That is so off. Comparing Ligue Un or the Eredivisie to Serie A is wrong. I am not saying that Wes can't do better than Juve. If Wes feels that he could play for a "better club" or feels he should/can get paid more, that is fine. But I will not agree if Wes was to say "I am too big for a club like Juventus" or "Juventus is beneath me as a player." Because that is what I believe you are saying. Juventus just bought the biggest defensive talent in the world 2 summers ago (Matthijs De Ligt for 80+m). The year before that they purchased CR7 for 100m on somewhere around 60m a year (before taxes) salary. If it wasn't for a once-in-a lifetime pandemic coming in and massively hurting Juve's finances, they were going to continue with the trend.
Juventus was going to sign Haaland from Molde for 2m but Juventus told him that he would have to play with the U-23's. https://www.goal.com/en/news/juvent...eir-under-23-squad/1mgcjg4adpwnf1vcrj6tj0k78t (Mino Raiola talks about Juventus wanting to put him with the U-23's) https://en.as.com/en/2021/10/09/soccer/1633777087_012393.html (former CEO Beppe Marotta on his biggest mistake at Juve) edit. It should just getting a new forward. Juve have Locatelli, McKennie, Chiesa, Dybala, Cuadrado, Kulusevski, Berna (the god himself) to get the ball to him. Probably won't happen until next summer. Some will say Juve need 2 more midfielders to be able to dominate the middle of the park before we can even talk about a 80m striker. I don't share that view, if there was a ST who could really make the CB's stay honest, it would probably change the team almost right away. For me, Danilo-Bonucci-De Ligt-Alex Sandro (or new LB) -------------Wes------Locatelli Cuadrado---Dybala-------Chiesa --------------Vlahovic would be better than Danilo-Bonucci-De Ligt-Alex Sandro (or new LB -Mckennie---Locatelli---Pogba ----------Dybala------Chiesa ----------------Morata/Kean
9 in a row isn't impressive at all. Juve only had one serious Challenger the year they went undefeated. After ..it was a cake walk. Inters dominance post calciopoli was far more impressive considering they won a treble.
That's funny. I'm trying to remember if Salzburg made the KO round of UCL when Haaland was there. They are about to do so in a tough group with Aaronson on board. I don't think Aaronson would be the rite guy for Juve but, just sayin........ On the plus side, Haaland is a good all around player who is happy to help his teammates score and plays a cool midfield build up. Having said that, I've noticed PSG are getting really fed up with the bridesmaid role and appear to be pulling out all the stops for getting the brass ring. The combination of "wants him more" and "needs him more" seems to favor PSG imHo.
Oh, but we would all enjoy watching. Part of the fun of YA these days is that Americans now play for a few of the great clubs of the world a d we get to participate and learn more about these epic rivalries. It’s very enjoyable and educational.