Rasmus Elm

Goat · August 21, 2009

It doesnt matter if the Dutch League is the biggest. Az will win titles, thats all that matters.

Dutch Toffee · August 21, 2009

bluebastardo said:
I have a friend who lives right next to AZ's stadium .
Az are a good team , but I don't think they are playing in a league that compares with the Premiership , and I don't expect them to qualify from the group stages .
Everton have one foot in the door of the Europa group stages now , so either club can offer him at least 6 games of European football in that respect . The fact that we are associated with other players though suggests we might not be too interested in him so good luck to the guy whatever he chooses .

As for the Champions league , I don't like the fact that the top teams are protected by ranks and always avoid each other etc . Just another way of keeping the rich teams rich .

I agree on everything you wrote in this post, but AZ would be a good club for Elm to develop further as a player. It's a step up from the Swedish league, I guess and the prospect of playing week in and week out, must appeal to a young player like him. Also, as I said earlier this week, I doubt Elm would be on more than 15-20 k a week at Everton and Az won't have a problem meeting that salary.

John Lennon · August 21, 2009

I really want this lad but I can't see it now. He must surely have made his mind up now?

Dutch Toffee · August 21, 2009

MikelsGoat said:
Amazing how the Dutch can travel forward in time.

I only now realised, what I said. :mellow:

Blue Wiz · August 21, 2009

bluebastardo said:
Everton have one foot in the door of the Europa group stages now, so either club can offer him at least 6 games of European football in that respect. The fact that we are associated with other players though suggests we might not be too interested in him so good luck to the guy whatever he chooses.

Elm is Cup-tied since he have played with Kalmar in Europe. So us being in Europe wouldn't have much influence for him. Papers are more and more inclining that he'll go to Germany.

Blue Wiz · August 21, 2009

teppic · August 21, 2009

alkmaar over everton?

what a head the ball.

nesky · August 21, 2009

teppic said:
alkmaar over everton?

what a head the ball.

Odd to say the least. But I recall Sebastian Deisler choosing Hertha Berlin over Bayern Munich, much to the latter's bemusement at the time although a few seasons later they got their man... only for him to quit the game due to mental health issues.

nesky · August 21, 2009

bluebastardo said:
As for the Champions league , I don't like the fact that the top teams are protected by ranks and always avoid each other etc . Just another way of keeping the rich teams rich .

Yes, seeding is nice word for rigging. The last thing they want is a small provincial club like Nottingham Forest winning the CL ever again.

Blue Wiz · August 21, 2009

nesky said:
Yes, seeding is nice word for rigging. The last thing they want is a small provincial club like Nottingham Forest winning the CL ever again.

They have changed it at the last qualificationstage since champions from a country will face another champion and teams from bigger leagues will face another team from a bigger league in the last round so more countries will be a part of the groupstage. That change I do like and it doesn't favor the big leagues.

If only they could remove the "third place team in the group will join the Europa League in their playoff" rule. Those teams qualified for one competition and therefore shouldn't get a second chance at another cup just because they were knocked out.

Nebbiolo · August 21, 2009

Blue Wiz said:
Those teams qualified for one competition and therefore shouldn't get a second chance at another cup just because they were knocked out.

Particularly since the majority are dross anyway.

There are way too many games in the Europa as well.

Oh for the old days of the European Cup, UEFA Cup and Cup Winners Cup.