Comments on: The Bundesliga’s Three Musketeers: catch them while you can http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/ World Soccer views and news Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:33:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Kevin Fylan http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/#comment-336668 Kevin Fylan Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:35:23 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/#comment-336668 I'd never seen him before he came to Germany and I was just blown away by his first couple of games for Werder. As you say, the balance and speed of thought and reaction of the guy is incredible. I think he could do a good job for Barcelona, but only if he's allowed a bit more freedom than they give Deco, who sometimes seems to be the guy snapping at heels in midfield, rather than the creative midfielder we know he can be. I'm not sure there's really space for him in the team unless one or two players leave. I’d never seen him before he came to Germany and I was just blown away by his first couple of games for Werder. As you say, the balance and speed of thought and reaction of the guy is incredible.
I think he could do a good job for Barcelona, but only if he’s allowed a bit more freedom than they give Deco, who sometimes seems to be the guy snapping at heels in midfield, rather than the creative midfielder we know he can be. I’m not sure there’s really space for him in the team unless one or two players leave.

]]> By: nextsoccerstar.com http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/#comment-336649 nextsoccerstar.com Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:27:24 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/#comment-336649 I saw Diego play for Santos just before he and Robinho left. It didn't take a genius to spot that he would become something special. His balance was exceptional and speed of thought was lightning fast. If he lacks anything it is absolute pace, but he makes up for that in those other areas. He reminded me of Kenny Dalglish a little when he was younger, able to float between attack and midfield, yet always be a direct threat to the goal. His destination could well be Barcelona. Certainly he has all the attributes needed to take over from Deco, which is some compliment! I saw Diego play for Santos just before he and Robinho left. It didn’t take a genius to spot that he would become something special. His balance was exceptional and speed of thought was lightning fast. If he lacks anything it is absolute pace, but he makes up for that in those other areas. He reminded me of Kenny Dalglish a little when he was younger, able to float between attack and midfield, yet always be a direct threat to the goal.

His destination could well be Barcelona. Certainly he has all the attributes needed to take over from Deco, which is some compliment!

]]> By: Weekly Dose 13.2.08 - Miscellaneous - The Offside - German Football League Blog http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/#comment-336629 Weekly Dose 13.2.08 - Miscellaneous - The Offside - German Football League Blog Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:21:27 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/#comment-336629 [...] The Athos, Portos and Aramis of the Bundesliga. Who’ll be D’Artagnan then? (Reuters Soccer Blog) [...] [...] The Athos, Portos and Aramis of the Bundesliga. Who’ll be D’Artagnan then? (Reuters Soccer Blog) [...]

]]> By: Kevin Fylan http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/#comment-336622 Kevin Fylan Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:13:15 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/#comment-336622 That's a great survey of the financial state of affairs in Germany, Jan. I suspect the next TV rights deal is going to be a lot more ruthless. I'd bet the early evening highlights programme (sacrosanct until now) is going to be pushed way back into the night, and surely at some point they're going to have a go at forcing through pay per view. That’s a great survey of the financial state of affairs in Germany, Jan. I suspect the next TV rights deal is going to be a lot more ruthless. I’d bet the early evening highlights programme (sacrosanct until now) is going to be pushed way back into the night, and surely at some point they’re going to have a go at forcing through pay per view.

]]> By: Betfair Blogger http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/#comment-336615 Betfair Blogger Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:58:45 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/#comment-336615 I agree with a lot of what you are saying. It is disappointing that players will leave a league, such as the German one, where they may be playing better football but not promoting their careers as much as they may elsewhere. But looking at it from a footballers point of view, would you really turn down a move to Real Madrid? I don't think it is always about the lifestyle and money, though I'm sure that could play a big part in anyone's decision. What about the prospect of playing with some of the best players in the world and the chance of winning the Champions League? I've heard a lot about Diego (though I'll admit I only knew about him because I used to buy him on Championship Manager) and he does seem like a really exciting player. But not many people know about him... I just think that a big move would really see players like him progress further, though of course it can have its disadvantages too. Chances are at a big club they might end up as part of a squad rotation system and end up missing out on matches every other week, when they could be playing a full 90 minutes for a smaller side. I agree with a lot of what you are saying. It is disappointing that players will leave a league, such as the German one, where they may be playing better football but not promoting their careers as much as they may elsewhere. But looking at it from a footballers point of view, would you really turn down a move to Real Madrid?

I don’t think it is always about the lifestyle and money, though I’m sure that could play a big part in anyone’s decision. What about the prospect of playing with some of the best players in the world and the chance of winning the Champions League?

I’ve heard a lot about Diego (though I’ll admit I only knew about him because I used to buy him on Championship Manager) and he does seem like a really exciting player. But not many people know about him… I just think that a big move would really see players like him progress further, though of course it can have its disadvantages too. Chances are at a big club they might end up as part of a squad rotation system and end up missing out on matches every other week, when they could be playing a full 90 minutes for a smaller side.

]]> By: Jan http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/#comment-336614 Jan Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:32:35 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/#comment-336614 There is definitely more money to be made in the global market for the Bundesliga and every few months the league officials announce a new record number of countries who show live matches. But the majority of the income is still generated in every league's home market. In terms of matchday and sponsorship revenue the Bundesliga generates around €900m. That's second to the EPLs massive 1.2bn. But that's the penalty the Bundesliga has to pay for low ticket prices. Spain comes next with €750m, while Italy and France are trailing far behind. Ligue 1 generates less than half than the Bundesliga in that area. But in terms of TV money the Bundesliga is clearly trailing the other major European leagues. There is only one pay TV station in Germany, which struggles to attract a high subscription base for many reasons. One is the fact, that Premiere (the pay TV service) faced a competition of around thirty free to air TV stations, when they entered the market. In England there were only five when Rupert Murdoch started the EPL money game. Going from there Premiere always struggled, mix in the bankruptcy of a media tycoon and high free TV saturation of Bundesliga football and you end up with something like a €420m a year TV deal... But at the end of the day, in terms of total turnover the Bundesliga is actually right up there with Spain and Italy. The Bundesliga is lacking an elite circle of clubs, something like the Big Four in England. This would go a long way to put the club's in a stronger position to buy and keep players. Spain probably has an advantage when it comes to taxes and thus wage budgets, while Serie A is just a complete financial mystery to me. There is definitely more money to be made in the global market for the Bundesliga and every few months the league officials announce a new record number of countries who show live matches. But the majority of the income is still generated in every league’s home market.

In terms of matchday and sponsorship revenue the Bundesliga generates around €900m. That’s second to the EPLs massive 1.2bn. But that’s the penalty the Bundesliga has to pay for low ticket prices. Spain comes next with €750m, while Italy and France are trailing far behind. Ligue 1 generates less than half than the Bundesliga in that area.

But in terms of TV money the Bundesliga is clearly trailing the other major European leagues. There is only one pay TV station in Germany, which struggles to attract a high subscription base for many reasons. One is the fact, that Premiere (the pay TV service) faced a competition of around thirty free to air TV stations, when they entered the market. In England there were only five when Rupert Murdoch started the EPL money game. Going from there Premiere always struggled, mix in the bankruptcy of a media tycoon and high free TV saturation of Bundesliga football and you end up with something like a €420m a year TV deal…

But at the end of the day, in terms of total turnover the Bundesliga is actually right up there with Spain and Italy. The Bundesliga is lacking an elite circle of clubs, something like the Big Four in England. This would go a long way to put the club’s in a stronger position to buy and keep players. Spain probably has an advantage when it comes to taxes and thus wage budgets, while Serie A is just a complete financial mystery to me.

]]> By: Kevin Fylan http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/#comment-336613 Kevin Fylan Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:54:40 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/#comment-336613 It certainly is a problem, Five Times. I always tell mates from England and Spain that the Bundesliga is great to watch -- more goals than the other leagues, great attacking players, loads of excitement and good players (like the three above) but no one believes me... It has a really bad image problem. If they could keep the likes of Diego and Van der Vaart for a few more seasons, and build a marketing strategy around them, it would certainly be a start. It certainly is a problem, Five Times. I always tell mates from England and Spain that the Bundesliga is great to watch — more goals than the other leagues, great attacking players, loads of excitement and good players (like the three above) but no one believes me…
It has a really bad image problem. If they could keep the likes of Diego and Van der Vaart for a few more seasons, and build a marketing strategy around them, it would certainly be a start.

]]> By: Five Times http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/#comment-336611 Five Times Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:12:54 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/#comment-336611 The Bundesliga just has to rethink their marketing strategies to attract more fans from overseas to make their clubs look attractive to sponsors or investors. Regaining the champions league heydays of Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich would help a lot too. We live in a globalised world now, if you fail to catch up with the act, you're likely to suffer. The Bundesliga just has to rethink their marketing strategies to attract more fans from overseas to make their clubs look attractive to sponsors or investors. Regaining the champions league heydays of Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich would help a lot too.

We live in a globalised world now, if you fail to catch up with the act, you’re likely to suffer.

]]> By: Kevin Fylan http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/#comment-336610 Kevin Fylan Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:54:30 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/#comment-336610 Hi Gonzalo. Werder have been very firm with interested clubs, saying he's not going anywhere, but it's interesting that they said the other day (about Juve), "Even for 25 million euros we wouldn't sell him." That sounds to me like setting the bar. I'd like to see him stay at Werder but I think he could be a good signing for Real. He's more consistent than Guti anyway. As for Barca, I fear he might get devoured... Hi Gonzalo. Werder have been very firm with interested clubs, saying he’s not going anywhere, but it’s interesting that they said the other day (about Juve), “Even for 25 million euros we wouldn’t sell him.” That sounds to me like setting the bar.
I’d like to see him stay at Werder but I think he could be a good signing for Real. He’s more consistent than Guti anyway. As for Barca, I fear he might get devoured…

]]> By: footballfilter.com http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/#comment-336609 footballfilter.com Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:28:59 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2008/02/12/the-bundesligas-three-musketeers-catch-them-while-you-can/#comment-336609 <strong>The Bundesliga’s Three Musketeers: catch them while you can - Reuters Soccer Blog</strong> A look into Ribery, Diego and van der Vaart playing in the Bunedesliga The Bundesliga’s Three Musketeers: catch them while you can - Reuters Soccer Blog

A look into Ribery, Diego and van der Vaart playing in the Bunedesliga

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