Back when Jimmy was loaned to them, for the first half of the 00/01 season, Lech had been just relegated to the second division. They stayed there for that season and the next.
Way, way better. They have roughly equivalent populations and the natural resources they do have are the same and in similar concentrations and when the USSR collapsed their per capita GNPs were about the same. Poland's GNP per capita is now 3 times that of Ukraine's. EU membership and its funding has had a lot to do with that, obviously, but so has the governments it's had, before this one at least.
It can be very misleading (not saying you). Some decry that the USA is becoming socialist. It is important not to confuse Sweden's genuine socialism with the Soviet's "socialism". In any case, we and most of Europe have a capitalist/socialist hybrid
FYP The things that the contemporary American right calls "socialism" and the first steps on the slippery slope to . . . whatever would be SOP for Social-Democratic and Christian Democratic/conservative parties alike everywhere else. Everywhere else except the UK, and Australia that is. I often wonder whether that's because those other countries don't have Murdoch "news" outlets . . .
Sweden is socialist?!?!?! That's a surprise, including to Swedes. Very few of the (potentially) profit-making sectors of the economy are socially-owned (by the state, local governments, cooperatives, etc.) and there are no plans to increase that proportion. It's definitely social-democratic, but to call it socialist is seriously stretching the meaning of "socialist".
The "Nordiska Modellen" (Nordic Model) is widely accepted to be a form of social corporatism, with universalist healthcare, an ample welfare services network, and a fully unionized workforce. In short, it's neither socialism (no central planning or government/union owned corporations), nor capitalism (with control of the economy left purely to the market). It's one of the hybrids. In fact, most countries these days follow hybrid models. Pure socialism, I guess the closest is Cuba. And pure capitalism, the closest is probably Bangladesh.
For rational people, "socialist" isn't a dirty word. Seden has important elements of socialism: socialized education, health care and retirement. I think it is accurate to call it a socialist/capitalist hybrid. I work in Sweden quite a bit and it is one of the greatest places on earth.
But it does have different meanings to different people. In the US, both the populist left and the populist right use it in the way we used to use the term "social democracy" -- i.e., a system with more regulation and state provision of public goods than we have now. The technical (Marxist) definition of socialism was a stage in the transition to communism. And even the Democratic Socialists of America defined an end goal of socialism as the abolition of capitalism.
No social network ("socialism") and transnationals had a "right to employment" policy put in place by their government (=fire at will), so that now the kids working in the factories there get murdered in the most gruesome ways if they fall under the production quota. https://www.researchgate.net/public...ure_and_Evolution_of_Capitalism_in_Bangladesh https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/news/socialism-disaster-capitalism-2012313 https://www.researchgate.net/public...ld_Labour_Criticism_in_Bangladesh_An_Analysis Pure capitalism is hell on earth for those in the lower classes, specially the kids. Charles Dickens wrote extensively about such (prison for debt, murder of anyone trying to obtain rights for workers, and children of debtor parents who became indentured servants since they could walk).
True. But your statement that only the irrational are wary of it is false because of the various legitimate definitions floating around. Better to talk specific policies than labels that lead to confusion and unnecessary conflict.
I didn't bring up socialism, someone else blaming Polands poverty on 45 years of socialism. Let's drop it for the good of soccer!
One would have to surmise that he took the highest $$$ amount on the table wouldn't one? He must have had other offers given his strike rate recently, even if it was pay for play offers?
I don't think that is clear. It could be where he wants to live, how players are treated, facilities, as well as money.
That's the most likely scenario. With a sizeable fanbase by local standards that's hungry for success but without a title since 2014-15, Poznan are fumbling around in mid-table, sliding towards the bottom - 8th just before the break, they're now 12th in a 16-team league. An under-pressure management, with cash, with the window closing and dealing with a free agent: an MLS-sized offer would have been on the table, probably with sweeteners. Interestingly, the deal is until December 31st, with a two-party option to extend for two years thereafter. IMO the latter might have been the decider for Aron: if he does well and stays fit, he'll have a good salary until he's just turned 33 and retirement or a final season in MLS is looming. Aron may have preferred an MLS-type offer in MLS, the stateside offers probably weren't good enough, concrete enough or with an attractive enough club.
Like a Viking in Poland: Aron Johannsson @ Lech Poznan PS: The Vikings in Poland were mainly traders and, well, mercenaries.