Neymar

[jamesjimmybyrondean]

So who won the Bale vs Neymar debate

 

[Solius]

He's never been a serious player.

 

[Judas]

At what point do Saudi dump Newcastle? When they get invited to CL football qualifications?

Why would they dump Newcastle?

 

[Pronewbie]

It's incredible that the MBS league now has Ronaldo, Mane, Neymar, Benzema, Firminho and so on. It'll be interesting to see if this investment is sustained over the next 5 years and whether they can pivot to attracting elite-level coaches and staff and younger talents.

What's different is that this project (unlike other recent ones) is architected and backed by the Saudi leadership.

Just by successfully attracting most talents of Muslim faith, they can very easily compete with the Ligue 1. That's impressive, and I think something that Europe will struggle to get used to.

 

[Heardy]

Is there a decent source that summarises what clubs in Saudi have signed who? With the number of signings, I can’t remember who’s gone where.

Yes I know Google exists

 

[Pronewbie]

At what point do Saudi dump Newcastle? When they get invited to CL football qualifications?

Probably never in the foreseeable future. Newcastle could be an affiliated club for transfers - be it players, coaches, know-how etc.

And here's the plot twist: Newcastle ends up being the feeder club (ha!)

 

[cyberman]

Why would they dump Newcastle?

What’s the need for a sports washing exercise when they’re going so heavy in their own league? A League where they control everything from top to bottom and will get more eyes on them than any Newcastle game.
There’s no ffp and can spend as much as they want.
Id expect they’d want to flesh the league out with all the stars and add depth and quality before they try for CL and FFP rules that comes behind that.

 

[Judas]

What’s the need for a sports washing exercise when they’re going so heavy in their own league? A League where they control everything from top to bottom and will get more eyes on them than any Newcastle game.
There’s no ffp and can spend as much as they want.
Id expect they’d want to flesh the league out with all the stars and add depth and quality before they try for CL and FFP rules that comes behind that.

This will never happen, feel fairly confident saying that. The PL will always be bigger, maybe I'm being naive, but I don't see them ever overtaking our league.

 

[Port Vale Devil]

Objectively, it's hard to say he's had a bad career but given his talent level, it's been underwhelming as he could have done so much more.

He's been unfortunate from a fitness perspective but everything else was his own doing.

At the same time, I do sometimes find it hard to knock players for choosing the money as ultimately this is ultimately a job. Neymar has put up great numbers, won the CL, La Liga, Copa Libertadores plus loads of other trophies. He hasn't won the Copa or World Cup but he's generally been brilliant for Brazil and is equal with Pele for the number of goals scored for Brazil and will almost certainly take the lead. Not sure what his international future holds but he'll likely end his career with the 2nd most Brazil caps in history.

Agreed when you look back at his career and stats he has been very very good but on the other hand he should have won and done a lot more with the talent he had. He was amazing at Barcelona and just seems a shame that he chased the cash going to PSG and from there on in his club career nosedived.

Just a bit of a shame really.

 

[adexkola]

He could have had a couple of Ballon d‘Ors and played for any club. Instead he retires at 31. Obviously there is talent wasted.

Given Messi and Ronaldo, I doubt he could have had a couple of Ballon d'Ors.

He played for the club he wanted to play for. Led PSG to multiple Ligue 1 championships and a CL final. I don't see how that is a waste, unless, you are projecting your own desires onto another individual.

He's been playing football since he was a kid. Some people burn out quicker. Did Cantona waste his career?

 

[cyberman]

This will never happen, feel fairly confident saying that. The PL will always be bigger, maybe I'm being naive, but I don't see them ever overtaking our league.

I’m not saying the league, I’m saying Newcastle games?
Having Naymar, Ronaldo, Benzema etc face each other will be bigger than any 5-1 win v Villa and it’s those names that will drive their sports washing exercise.
That’s just who they have now, when it becomes more acceptable to move over there than it’s over. Every star who’s late 20s and aren’t wanted by elite Europeans will become genuine transfer targets. Newcastle can’t compete with that reach

 

[The Corinthian]

What a sad end to a career. Money talks and Neymar is a mercenary after all.

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Crazy that PSG are getting almost 50% of their initial outlay.

Also 'Money talks and Neymar is a mercenary' - why do you think he joined PSG in the first place?!

 

[OrcaFat]

He will probably be the next Saudi marquee buy

I don’t see a better option for him.

You called it.

 

[Adisa]

What a waste.

 

[BD]

It's a pity he went to PSG originally, and even more so now that he's essentially retired.

 

[UTD_Since_1978]

So are PSG going to lose Messi, Neymar & Mbappe all in the same transfer window then?

 

[Bebestation]

Reckon he would be viewed more as a GOAT if he stayed at Barcelona longer.

Soon as he left that place - his real shade ended up showing.

 

[Superunknown]

He's done nothing of note for the last 4 or so years, and he'll do nothing of note for the next 4 or so, if he's still in the game at that point.

Hard to believe he's been at PSG for longer than he was at Barcelona. You could quite easily forget about his time at PSG and not miss a thing.

 

[Iker Quesadillas]

All time top scorer for Brazil. That's hardly a waste.

Many current top goal scorers for their nation are active players. It's a function of the amount of international games played in the modern era. If things continue at this pace he'll lose the record in a generation or two.

 

[wr8_utd]

Reckon he would be viewed more as a GOAT if he stayed at Barcelona longer.

Soon as he left that place - his real shade ended up showing.

Quite the impressive transfer which went badly for almost everyone involved apart from Liverpool and Dortmund who got silly money for their players.

 

[Plastic Evra]

This will never happen, feel fairly confident saying that. The PL will always be bigger, maybe I'm being naive, but I don't see them ever overtaking our league.

Not "never" but not for the foreseeable future.

 

[mshnsh]

Personally I really do think he is bigger talent than Robben or Quaresma at the start and I don’t really mean just dribbling or ball control type of talent. He has such x factor/raw talent to make things happened out of nowhere, which is kind of rare.

I’ll give 2 objective examples to further illustrate how highly rate his talent was in the beginning:

1. Our players begged Fergie to sign young Ronaldo from Sporting after a friendly game. This is something which is unheard of for any other players before and after.

2. George Best himself claimed its first time ever he felt complimented when people compare young Ronaldo as new George Best, one of the most talented player ever.

But sure I agree Neymar was at elite level of talent too even at the very beginning. He just keep going on and did fulfill all his early promise in terms of his talent (but not achievements).

If Ronaldo did not add extraordinary goal output to his game ie continued playing as a winger, we wouldn't be talking about him. More than his natural talent, it is the maximising of what he has and some more that has led him to where he is.

 

[OrcaFat]

If Ronaldo did not add extraordinary goal output to his game ie continued playing as a winger, we wouldn't be talking about him. More than his natural talent, it is the maximising of what he has and some more that has led him to where he is.

His maximised talent is better than everyone else’s talent, maximised or not, excepting Messi (and probably Maradonna and Pele as well). People did rave about him before he became such a prolific goalscorer btw. Not sure what you’re on about to be honest.

 

[adexkola]

I’m not saying the league, I’m saying Newcastle games?
Having Naymar, Ronaldo, Benzema etc face each other will be bigger than any 5-1 win v Villa and it’s those names that will drive their sports washing exercise.
That’s just who they have now, when it becomes more acceptable to move over there than it’s over. Every star who’s late 20s and aren’t wanted by elite Europeans will become genuine transfer targets. Newcastle can’t compete with that reach

This is you assuming they own Newcastle solely for "sportswashing", so it follows that once you obtain a more efficient vehicle for said "sportswashing", you dump Newcastle.

Ok, now drop that assumption for a second.

Can you see how the idea of owning a PL club still remains appealing to someone with more money than wants, and how they can simultaneously desire a good domestic league and a foothold in the world's premier League?

 

[Cantonagotmehere]

What an utter waste of Brazilian talent. Almost makes me sad and I can't stand the guy. Leaving Barca was the stupidest move I've seen in sports over the last last few years. Go be a glutton in Saudi Neymar, see how fat you can get.....

 

[croadyman]

You called it.

I am usually rubbish at predictions

 

[Acrobat7]

Given Messi and Ronaldo, I doubt he could have had a couple of Ballon d'Ors.

He played for the club he wanted to play for. Led PSG to multiple Ligue 1 championships and a CL final. I don't see how that is a waste, unless, you are projecting your own desires onto another individual.

He's been playing football since he was a kid. Some people burn out quicker. Did Cantona waste his career?

You what, mate?

Neymar's has a greater talent than Ronaldo. He simply made less out of it compared to him. And with Neymar being a couple of years younger than Messi and Ronaldo, he absolutely had the chance to win some Ballon d'Ors.

 

[redshaw]

He's had a good career compared to most. Often players have a short spell and Neymar has done a lot from an early age at club and international level. Everyone is different, we've seen sports people like Dwight Yorke and in F1 Rosberg checkout after achieving the big prizes. He's got paid very well in his later part, had injuries and the PSG project didn't quite work out in terms of excelling in the CL.

 

[adexkola]

You what, mate?

Neymar's has a greater talent than Ronaldo. He simply made less out of it compared to him. And with Neymar being a couple of years younger than Messi and Ronaldo, he absolutely had the chance to win some Ballon d'Ors.

That is simply not true. Unless talent equals tekkers on the ball, there is nothing Neymar has done to show he's more talented than Ronaldo.

 

[Zehner]

This is you projecting your personal values (which apparently doesn't include any accomplishments in the French league) on Neymar, who by all accounts is happily going to Saudi Arabia.

He has a glittered trophy cabinet, including the CL. More trophies than R9 and Ronaldinho. He has a good national career, injuries hindering him at times, otherwise he'd probably have a Copa America title.

How exactly did he waste his talent?

I think winning the French league with PSG isn't really a big accomplishment. Of course being the star player in a team such as PSG is more than 99% of players achieve in their careers but we're talking about Neymar, probably the second biggest talent of this generation.

As said, I understand the motivations behind his move but when it became clear that this plan won't work out, he should have moved on. I think his career trajectory would have been much different then.

 

[antk]

I think winning the French league with PSG isn't really a big accomplishment. Of course being the star player in a team such as PSG is more than 99% of players achieve in their careers but we're talking about Neymar, probably the second biggest talent of this generation.

As said, I understand the motivations behind his move but when it became clear that this plan won't work out, he should have moved on. I think his career trajectory would have been much different then.

He tried in 2019 though, but PSG did not let him go / offers were not high enough.

 

[fergieisold]

What an utter waste of Brazilian talent. Almost makes me sad and I can't stand the guy. Leaving Barca was the stupidest move I've seen in sports over the last last few years. Go be a glutton in Saudi Neymar, see how fat you can get.....

Agreed, good player but could have been great. Basically spent most of his career in pointless leagues now he’s moving to Saudi.

 

[fergieisold]

You what, mate?

Neymar's has a greater talent than Ronaldo. He simply made less out of it compared to him. And with Neymar being a couple of years younger than Messi and Ronaldo, he absolutely had the chance to win some Ballon d'Ors.

More talent than Ronaldo? In what respect?

 

[Rhyme Animal]

This is you assuming they own Newcastle solely for "sportswashing", so it follows that once you obtain a more efficient vehicle for said "sportswashing", you dump Newcastle.

Ok, now drop that assumption for a second.

Can you see how the idea of owning a PL club still remains appealing to someone with more money than wants, and how they can simultaneously desire a good domestic league and a foothold in the world's premier League?

But ‘they’ only exist to Sportswash, ‘they’ (all of ‘them’) have no interest in anything other than that.

Any commercial engagement ‘they’ have within the West is to hypnotise people.

 

[HTG]

Could have been one of the greatest ever. Chose to be the ultimate mercenary. I guess it’s up to him to decide wether or not that constitutes a good career. To me it’s a waste.

 

[adexkola]

But ‘they’ only exist to Sportswash, ‘they’ (all of ‘them’) have no interest in anything other than that.

Any commercial engagement ‘they’ have within the West is to hypnotise people.

If you think that, then it makes sense that you suspect they will be dropped as soon as a shinier toy is obtained.

I don't, so I think that they will manage well holding both Newcastle and their league.

Time will tell.

 

[Rhyme Animal]

If you think that, then it makes sense that you suspect they will be dropped as soon as a shinier toy is obtained.

I don't, so I think that they will manage well holding both Newcastle and their league.

Time will tell.

…I don’t think that. It was sarcasm.

 

[adexkola]

More talent than Ronaldo? In what respect?

He has to mean aesthetically.

And I rate Neymar. A lot. But how has he shown more talent on the field than Ronaldo?

 

[Zehner]

He has to mean aesthetically.

And I rate Neymar. A lot. But how has he shown more talent on the field than Ronaldo?

Cristiano is extremely talented in his own right but Neymar was a prodigy as well. In terms of technique, agility and passing he's even more talented then Cristiano, IMO. He never was never really as good as prime CR7, at least not over the course of a season or so, but he had all the tools to be better than him. He was insanely good from 2014-2019 or so.

 

[Pass and Move]

That is simply not true. Unless talent equals tekkers on the ball, there is nothing Neymar has done to show he's more talented than Ronaldo.

I kind of agree he’s more talented than Ronaldo. I think a lot of people consider talent to mean a sort of baseline natural ability. No denying Ronaldo is the greater athlete, competitor, and so on, but in terms of pure on-the-ball, talent I’d rank Neymar higher.