Saudi League thread

[shamans]

As most on here I don’t know much about the league. Ronaldo’s move there has sparked my interest in the league a bit and after checking out the top teams it’s not as bad as it looks.

So much so that I honestly wonder if it will be “easy” even for Ronaldo.

 

[Jim Beam]

It's pretty much pinnacle in football. Also, most games are on a knife-edge I heard.

Haters gonna hate though.

 

[Lay]

The crowd attendances vary from 150 people to 22k, depending on the team, 4 of the clubs have had lows of 1000 or less. The most successful Asian team is the Saudi club Al-Hilal with 4 AFC Champions League triumphs.

Ighalo, Banega, Aboubaker, Luiz Gustavo, Ospina, Talisca, Adam Maher (wasn't he some wonderkid alongside Bakkali at PSV?) ply their trade in the league. Nuno Espirito Santo manages Al-Ittihad. The league has 3 Portuguese managers.

After 10 games, Talisca (his teammate) is top scorer with 9 goals. Ighalo is second with 6 goals.

 

[Spiersey]

I watch the majority of games in the league. Im quietly optimistic that a broadcaster might pick up some games.

It’s a pretty competitive league, especially the top sides. The locals are the highest level in Asia outside of Japan/South Korea. A fair bit better than Chinese/Qatar locals. The foreigns are also very good (relative to Asia) the level has improved the last couple of years. Hilal have had some really good sides over the last 5 years and gave Chelsea a competitive game in February.

Nassr are probably the 3rd best side this season behind Shabab and Hilal. Isn’t that much between them all this season though

Not that sure Ronaldo improves them all THAT much. Talisca basically has a free role behind Aboubakar (not too dissimilar to what Bruno actually had at times at United). Talisca is really good for the level but he’s prone to just shooting from anywhere. He really doesn’t compliment Ronaldo on paper. They’re allowed 7 foreigns so I’d imagine they’ll play Talisca, Aboubakar and Ronaldo which could lose them balance potentially. This will probably only be an issue against the better sides though. There’s a fairly big gulf from the top few sides to the bottom 4/5. A few opportunities for star padding.

 

[Scandi Red]

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[That_Bloke]

Third stage of grief: Bargaining.

 

[Red the Bear]

For Asian standards they're very good.

Al hillal for example holds the record for most Asian champions leagues won and they generally get some very decent talent from the abroad.

 

[Acrobat7]

I just imagine Ronaldo coming out onto the pitch in front of 300 people.

 

[Sassy Colin]

I don't think anybody cares about the Saudi league.

 

[shamans]

I watch the majority of games in the league. Im quietly optimistic that a broadcaster might pick up some games.

It’s a pretty competitive league, especially the top sides. The locals are the highest level in Asia outside of Japan/South Korea. A fair bit better than Chinese/Qatar locals. The foreigns are also very good (relative to Asia) the level has improved the last couple of years. Hilal have had some really good sides over the last 5 years and gave Chelsea a competitive game in February.

Nassr are probably the 3rd best side this season behind Shabab and Hilal. Isn’t that much between them all this season though

Not that sure Ronaldo improves them all THAT much. Talisca basically has a free role behind Aboubakar (not too dissimilar to what Bruno actually had at times at United). Talisca is really good for the level but he’s prone to just shooting from anywhere. He really doesn’t compliment Ronaldo on paper. They’re allowed 7 foreigns so I’d imagine they’ll play Talisca, Aboubakar and Ronaldo which could lose them balance potentially. This will probably only be an issue against the better sides though. There’s a fairly big gulf from the top few sides to the bottom 4/5. A few opportunities for star padding.

very insightful thanks!

 

[dove]

Fanboy alert. Apart from that, league is shite.

 

[TheNewEra]

It's ranked around 27th globally for it's competitiveness, it's below the Championship.

 

[Pintu]

It's ranked around 27th globally for it's competitiveness, it's below the Championship.

The Football Lovers have ranked the top 50 football leagues in the world. Our ranking of the best soccer leagues in the world is based on TV views/popularity, the presence of top players, social media buzz generated from league games, and the success of clubs from these leagues in various continental tournaments.

Not sure the ranking is very trustworthy for the lower leagues. They ranked MLS in 10th, higher than Brazilian Série A, Scottish SPL, or the Turkish Süper Lig… But yea it is reasonable to suggest the Saudi League is on the same tier of the championship… I’d have thought their very top teams are better than championship level and the rest are on a much lower level.

 

[Glorio]

Sounds like Ronaldo might end up with a hattrick of relegations to the bench if Shamans is to be believed because let's be honest, Ronaldo's an extremely poor player right now.

 

[CallyRed]

I don't think anybody cares about the Saudi league.

Ronaldo fanboys do. And there are plenty on this forum who will fishing for a stream to see their hero in action.

 

[Robbie Boy]

What a thread

 

[Dan_F]

I just imagine Ronaldo coming out onto the pitch in front of 300 people.

Let’s be honest, that’s not going to happen is it.

 

[Sassy Colin]

Let’s be honest, that’s not going to happen is it.

200?

 

[No Idea For Nickname]

Ronaldo fanboys do. And there are plenty on this forum who will fishing for a stream to see their hero in action.

Aah, looking forward reading on Caf how EtH was horrible to him and should have let him play every second of every game when he scores a goal, or two.

 

[Pintu]

200?

He’s done that before… For over a year.

Empty Camp Nou for a top CL game.

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Edit: for context.

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[Dan_F]

200?

I have no idea how big the stadiums are, but they are obviously going to be full every time his team plays.

 

[Sassy Colin]

I have no idea how big the stadiums are, but they are obviously going to be full every time his team plays.

Obviously

 

[FrankFoot]

I just imagine Ronaldo coming out onto the pitch in front of 300 people.

He is definitely gonna play in full stadiums.

Probably the only reasons stadiums are gonna be full while he is there.

 

[GlasgowCeltic]

what’s the level below farmers league?

 

[Red00012]

I just imagine Ronaldo coming out onto the pitch in front of 300 people.

He’ll sell out every game

 

[Deco10Legend]

what’s the level below farmers league?

Prison League?

 

[I’m loving my life]

So @Spiersey - that’s really insightful, and amazing to think Ronaldo might even cock up his new club’s performances and tactical cohesion.

 

[Jim Beam]

Who would you like to win it... Al-Nassr? Al-Shabab? Al-Hilal? Al Capone? Anyone but Al-Nassr?

How about a poll?

 

[Vidyoyo]

Lots of casual racism in this thread. Just because nobody cares and it's a rubbish league doesn't mean it's a rubbish league that nobody cares about.

 

[Blackwidow]

Luiz Gustavo went
from Gylfi Sigurdsson at Hoffenheim (he left when Firmino came in January 2011)
to Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Robben, Ribery, Müller, Neuer, Alaba (Bayern)
to Draxler, De Bruyne, Schürrle, Bendtner, Perisic (Wolfsburg)
to Evra, Payet, Balotelli (Marseille)
to Özil (Fenerbahce)
to CR7... at Al-Nassr...

He won the CL and even played in a historical... World Cup semi-final.

 

[lex talionis]

I don't think anybody cares about the Saudi league.

Surely someone must care about this league. Even with Ronaldo, there’s no particular reason to cram in this league into one’s viewing schedule unless you’re from the region.

 

[Acrobat7]

Lots of casual racism in this thread. Just because nobody cares and it's a rubbish league doesn't mean it's a rubbish league that nobody cares about.

Where did you spot that?

 

[Vidyoyo]

Where did you spot that?

I didn't. I was just trying to work it into a joke by pretending my post was going to be serious.

 

[Gazza]

As most on here I don’t know much about the league. Ronaldo’s move there has sparked my interest in the league a bit and after checking out the top teams it’s not as bad as it looks.

So much so that I honestly wonder if it will be “easy” even for Ronaldo.

How so? I'm curious how you can say that, did you very quickly just watch several of their matches in the last few days?

 

[always_hoping]

Aah, looking forward reading on Caf how EtH was horrible to him and should have let him play every second of every game when he scores a goal, or two.

Yep no doubt that will happen.

To the OP Is this a serious or piss take of a thread?

 

[alexthelion]

How so? I'm curious how you can say that, did you very quickly just watch several of their matches in the last few days?

Trying to make out it's a fairly good level for when his hero CR37 scores.

Shameless fanboys are shameless.

 

[Pintu]

It looks like the PL... One horse league. Unfortunately for CR7 he didn't join their City: Al-Hilal.

 

[shamans]

How so? I'm curious how you can say that, did you very quickly just watch several of their matches in the last few days?

Googled the squads and there a lot of players I recognize: Igahlo, Abubakar, Talisca, Ospina. I had no clue they played here. Really should have been obvious enough without me explaining

Trying to make out it's a fairly good level for when his hero CR37 scores.

Shameless fanboys are shameless.

you sound like an angry little kid. Go for a walk. Yes I am fan boying when I wrote in the OP that on merit Ronaldo may not even find it easy

 

[Gazza]

Trying to make out it's a fairly good level for when his hero CR37 scores.

Shameless fanboys are shameless.

Pretty much. "You know up until yesterday I thought the Saudi league was of a very low standard, but then I looked at the league table and saw that they have some very good teams."

 

[Gazza]

Googled the squads and there a lot of players I recognize: Igahlo, Abubakar, Talisca, Ospina. I had no clue they played here. Really should have been obvious enough without me explaining




you sound like an angry little kid. Go for a walk. Yes I am fan boying when I wrote in the OP that on merit Ronaldo may not even find it easy

So 'it's not as bad it looks' = there are some players I have heard of. Got it! Was just asking you to elaborate, no need to be so sensitive!