The question is do those player want to go there. Even Man City had issues attracting talent at first, granted they set their sights much, much higher. And none of those guys are exactly on top clubs themselves. And you're right, Demichelis was a terrible waste of money. He has little mobility left. Perhaps they could have found a better defender if they'd had taken more time to search for one. However they also did say that they wanted players who could instill the team with character, which is why they bought so many older guys. At least I think I remember that being said.
As I wrote that I made an amendment bc I'm thinking it was more of a philosophical bent rather than a strategic one. They may have thought that age would provide stability. I think I remember them saying something to that effect once. And the names that you mention are all players who have already played at the highest level and won many trophies so are not as hungry to be with big clubs now but are satisfied with less prestigious but ambitious clubs. Not to mention that those clubs aren't looking to sign a balanced side. One or two signings are enough. You need to spend at every position to compete in Spain for CL spots or trophies. Still you make a good point. Málaga may have miscalculated.
The Sheikh is a shrewd businessman, and it seems he's not following PSG or City's route. I view the signings made as a bridge into the future. Its the first step. 2012 is bound to be a big year for Malaga. I can definitely see them bring in some fresher, younger faces in the future. Keep in mind that a lot of their signings were smart purchases and not overinflated transfers.
Completely agree about the transfers being the bridge to what's in store in the future. Malaga bought a lot of relatively older players with big names to sell jerseys and generate unprecedented revenue. They're bound to use all that revenue now for younger talents. It's that same procedure all smaller clubs, especially those taken over by multi-millionaire business owners, go through in transitioning to one of the league's big clubs. They know exactly what they're doing. Also, they're currently 6th place. That's really good for a club a lot of people at the beginning of the season said fostered a host of washed up players ready for retirement.
Fourth place and only one point behind Valencia. Sitting pretty! Monday's match at Osasuna will be very important.
Valencia slipping up against Betis on Sunday would certainly help matters. Maybe they'll be tired from their Europa League match against Atleti today.
Matchday. Says Pellegrini: "It's a very important match for us, but not a decisive one. We'll go out with optimism and defend our Champions League place from the first minute until the last." I'm not so sure about that. A win over Osasuna would be a huge boost.
It ends 1-1. Probably not the best result for Málaga, but it's better than a loss. It will be tough to solidify a Champions League spot with the run-in the team has.
http://football-italia.net/19547/del-piero-considers-malaga hope he decides to go. would love for him to score an all important goal to take Malaga to the CL
It has been alleged/reported that the owner of Malaga after spending €150m+in the last 2 years has decided that TV rights distribution in Spain is unfair (it is) and no longer wants to spend new monies on the club. He has also stated that the Madrid media is bias/racist and that's why they are against Malaga. - At present Malaga owes approx €14m to the treasury and €5m to 2 clubs for transfers in 2011/12 season. The rumor is Malaga could sell Cazorla, Rondon, etc to pay for the debt or the owner could sell the club. If Malaga are reported to UEFA for unpaid transfers then Malaga will likely not play in CL play offs. Update > July 12, 2012 Malaga players complained to AFE (Association of Spanish Footballers) that up to 40% of their wages for 2011/2012 season remain unpaid*. * 2011/2012 wages were due to players by June 30, 2012 > July 16, 2012 Luis Rubiales, head of the AFE had a meeting with Malaga players. > July 17, 2012 Casado, Director of Development and Business for Malaga makes pact with players (except Rondon, Mathijsen, Van Nistelrooy and Cazorla) and signs 2 promissory notes to pay players their wages that were due on June 30, 2011 for 2011/12 season on July 31, 2012 and November 30, 2012. > July 1, 2012 Morning Rondon, Mathijsen, Van Nistelrooy and Cazorla file official complaint with AFE for unpaid wages (40%) that were due on June 30, 2012. > July 18, 2012 Afternoon Rondon, Mathijsen, Van Nistelrooy and Cazorla withdraw their wage complaints when Casado agrees to include them in the Pact and sign 2 promissory notes with them. > July 19, 20 Cazorla via his reps sends in his Transfer request to Malaga. - Rumor is Arsenal have made €20m bid Cazorla. > July 19, 2012 Villarreal and Osasuna file complaint to LFP (Spanish Professional football League). - For unpaid VAT (€3m) for sale of Cazorla to Malaga for 2011/12 season - For unpaid transfer fee (€2m of €6m) for sale of Monreal to Malaga. > July 20, 12 LFP suspends Malaga from signing new players till Malaga pays it debts to the 2 clubs. > July 22, 2012 Malaga is still waiting for the arrival of their VP Ghubn (as he can sign checks) to settle debts and pay the 1st promissory note to players. > July 27, 2012 Malaga owner has send his rep Shatat to Malaga to see the situation of debt payments to clubs and owed wages to players. > July 28, 2012 Word is the owner of Malaga is negotiating with group lead by Albanian businessman R. Taci of Taci Group and Taci Oil to sell the club. .
If they sell Cazorla, it's over for this club. I guess this ownership group bit off more than they could chew, or didn't have the resources to build a new stadium as they'd planned. I still hope that this works out bc Spain needs another club to challenge Real and Barca. Plus it's from another region of Spain from the Big 2, this should work. http://www.crunchsports.com/categor...a-not-for-sale-insist-Malaga-CF-201207240027/ http://elcentrocampista.com/2012/07...ould-be-a-backward-step-on-and-off-the-pitch/ I think part of the reason why this is happening is because of the fiscal environment in Spain. It may not have been as welcoming to Al Thani as France and England have been to Middle Eastern owners in the past as this article seems to suggest. It seems that certain business deals that were tied to ownership of the club, which seemed likely given the economic environment were mired in red tape and corruption, so Al Thani is pulling the plug on his Malaga CF project early and moving on. http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/andy-mitten/malaga-lurching-boom-bust-152742713.html
Well get ready because he is on his way to Arsenal supposedly for 16M Euros, and Pelligrini is also on his way out. Incredible to see Malaga implode in a matter of weeks although this situation had been ongoing internally for much longer. As a Betico I was glad and at the same time a little jealous to see Malaga get the inject of money regardless from where it came from because that is the only way to compete against the big two. Problem with only one owner like Malaga or what we had with Lopera is that the fans are the ones who get screwed at the end when they can not block any decisions at the shareholder meetings. Anyone with a business acumen knows there are risks in sports ownership and if you don't have the stomach or pocketbook to see your investment go through rough patches you're in the wrong business. Guess this means that Er Glorioso may actually have a chance to be the highest Andalucian team in the standings this year!
Update #2 > July 29, 2012 - It is alleged/rumored Malaga currently have a €70m+ debt and it's growing. (Monies owed to clubs, creditors, players/staff, treasury, VAT and vendors) > July 30, 2012 Morning - Taci Group/Taci Oil denies they are interested in buying Malaga. - Malaga is for Sale and the rumor is the owner of Malaga is negotiating with 3 new groups from; America, Russia and Ukraine, however the sell wouldn't be till sometime in August, 2012. > July 30, 2012 Afternoon - It's been reported Malaga have failed to make 2nd payment of €3.5m that was due on July 27, 2012 to former owner Sanz for acquisition of the club in 2010. > July 30, 2012 - Is the due date for Malaga to pay the 1st promissory note to players for wages** that were due on June 30, 2012 for 2011/12 season. ** 40% of the wages are outstanding from 2011/12 season of which 30% are due on July 31, 2012 and 70% on Nov 30, 2012. > August 1, 2012 - Malaga project is over, as the Sheikh (owner) will not put up new monies or borrow, so the club will sell Cazorla, Rondon, Toulalan and possibly Isco for cash to make payments that are due immediately to players and clubs. - Director of Football, Antonio Fernandez has been relieved of his duties. > August 2, 2012 - River Plate have filed complain with FIFA for €1m, due for Buonanotte transfer. - Cazorla is being sold to Arsenal for €16m cash. Villarreal - To -> Malaga (For €19m cash + €2m variable + €0.5m sell on fee) - Pellegrini future is in doubt since Malaga can not afford to pay his wages of €3.5m year anymore. > August 5, 2012 - Cazorla has been sold to Arsenal for €16m cash. - Rondon has been sold to Rubin Kazan for €10m. -- Break down of €70m+ debt of Malaga as of August 1, 2012. a) 40% of the wages to players/staff that are outstanding from 2011/12 season. b) July wages to players/staff for 2012/13 season. c) €4m (€3.5m VAT + €0.5m Sell on) for Cazrola to Villlarreal, €1m to River Plate for Buonanotte, €2.5m to Hamburg for Mathijsen, €2m to Osasuna for Monreal. d) 2nd payment of €3.5m to former owner Sanz that was due on July 27, 2013. e) €14m owed taxes to the Tax man/Hacienda from time of purchase. (Sheikh bought Malaga from Sanz for €36m + debts + taxes owed) in 2010. f) €30m owed to creditors, vendors, etc. .
If you are talking about ugly green then no, it doesn't mean that. You need an owner with more than 75 pesetas in his pocket to have a chance.
Isco is being linked with Man City. I can say for sure that any youngster that goes to City won't be pleased about it later on. Isco should stay in Spain.
The Nike one for this season? Where did you get it? If Diego Lugano signs for them I want a jersey with his name and number.
At a soccer store named SOccer Post, at Morristown, NJ, right across from the train Station. I work as a soccer ref as well so I go there all the time to get my ref stuff, plus I get discounts as well.
Really? You think they still have them in stock? I live in Hamburg,NJ and contacted Onion Bag in North Bergen and they don't carry it.
I'm about 40min. to an hour. Rt.23 to 287. I've been to the Soccer Post in Franklin Lakes they have a good selection of stuff. My favorite place to get stuff from is Subside Sports.
Onionbag is great. Ever been to the store in North Bergen? They are great if you want personalized items. I like subside sports for the stuff they sell besides Jerseys. Like training gear and polos.