Anzhi Makhachkala

[from_the_stands]

FC Anzhi Makhachkala are a Russian Premier League football club based in the Repulic of Dagestan, and are building themselves up to be the next big thing in European football. Purchased by billionaire Suleyman Kerimov (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suleyman_Kerimov), the club is club is captained by Brazilian legend, Roberto Carlos, and boasts the likes of Samuel Eto and Yuri Zhirkov, amongst others, and have been linked with Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard!

Since the club is located in a somewhat problematic region of Russia, the players live and train in Moscow, and fly in for home matches. This equates to a 1,000 mile round trip for every home match! Plans are in place for the building of a new stadium, which will provide for 40,000 fans, and meet UEFA requirements.

Clearly this is a club to keep an eye on.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Anzhi_Makhachkala

[Aidan11]

They certainly have ambition. Signed Eto'o on a massive salary and are rumoured to want Capello as boss when his contract is up with England this summer.

[englandmad666]

The problem is that they will never be a force while playing 1000 miles away from there training ground, its just a payday for a player like eto with no ambition

[from_the_stands]

The problem is that they will never be a force while playing 1000 miles away from there training ground, its just a payday for a player like eto with no ambition

Maybe Eto's ambition is to get rich quick?

[englandmad666]

The problem is that they will never be a force while playing 1000 miles away from there training ground, its just a payday for a player like eto with no ambition

Maybe Eto's ambition is to get rich quick?

Not a bad ambition i suppose but i think if you where after real glory you wouldnt move to russia, maybe im wrong but still think money is the only motivation

[Alviro Patterson]

When Etoo has won:

Africa Cup of Nations (twice)
Olympic Gold
UEFA Champions League (three times)
FIFA Club World Cup

What else is there to aim for?

[from_the_stands]

The problem is that they will never be a force while playing 1000 miles away from there training ground, its just a payday for a player like eto with no ambition

Maybe Eto's ambition is to get rich quick?

Not a bad ambition i suppose but i think if you where after real glory you wouldnt move to russia, maybe im wrong but still think money is the only motivation

Russian football is on the rise. They're hosting the World Cup in 2018, and their league is currently ranked 7th in Europe. In a few short years, I could see them breaking into the top 5. And with all the billionaires that live in Moscow, who's to say that other Russian clubs won't go on massive buying sprees at some point?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_coefficient

[englandmad666]

When Etoo has won:

Africa Cup of Nations (twice)
Olympic Gold
UEFA Champions League (three times)
FIFA Club World Cup

What else is there to aim for?

Hmmmm how about the premier league? The Fa cup? many more trophys to win and great players never get tired of winning.

I can see a russia club coming big but it would have to be in the right part of russia, not sure this place is.

[from_the_stands]

Anzhi Makhachkala are currently 7th in the Russian League, with about 6 games to go in the season.

http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=rus/nationalleague/standings.html

This is the story about the chase for Lampard and Gerrard, who are both being offered £13m a year each to sign on the dotted line!

http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/875772-steven-gerrard-and-frank-lampard-targeted-by-super-rich-anzhi

I definately should have tried harder in PE!

[Aidan11]

They are welcome to them.

[from_the_stands]

They are welcome to them.

Gerrard won't go, but i wouldn't be surprised if Lampard does. He's 33, has the chance to become the world's highest paid footballer, and he'll be living in a country where the lovelies are... lovely!

[Alviro Patterson]

When Etoo has won:

Africa Cup of Nations (twice)
Olympic Gold
UEFA Champions League (three times)
FIFA Club World Cup

What else is there to aim for?

Hmmmm how about the premier league? The Fa cup? many more trophys to win and great players never get tired of winning.

I can see a russia club coming big but it would have to be in the right part of russia, not sure this place is.

Good points in Etoo proving his worth in English football, would be interesting on how he fares against tough defenders at a high tempo.

Playing in an up and coming footballing nation presents a unique challenge, leaving a legacy can be rewarding from a footballing perspective as well as financial gain.

[Alviro Patterson]

They are welcome to them.

Gerrard won't go, but i wouldn't be surprised if Lampard does. He's 33, has the chance to become the world's highest paid footballer, and he'll be living in a country where the lovelies are... lovely!

Should draw a contract for John Terry and his brother for that reason alone.

[Aidan11]

They are welcome to them.

Gerrard won't go, but i wouldn't be surprised if Lampard does. He's 33, has the chance to become the world's highest paid footballer, and he'll be living in a country where the lovelies are... lovely!

I don't think his missus-to-be would be happy.

[from_the_stands]

They are welcome to them.

Gerrard won't go, but i wouldn't be surprised if Lampard does. He's 33, has the chance to become the world's highest paid footballer, and he'll be living in a country where the lovelies are... lovely!

I don't think his missus-to-be would be happy.

I would think that the £13 million contract would help aleviate any anxieties in relation to Lampard playing away. Having a footballer husband who earns squillions tends to have that effect!