Destabilisation of transfer market

Coffin · 24-08-2009, 6:06 PM

How did football ever get to this?

I'm sat here reading reports that Joleon Lescott, the good player that he is, finds his way to Man City valued at £24m. I'm asking myself how good is this guy? What's he won? How many shirts will he sell? Does he have resale value? Will he be first choice?

Another example other than Lescott is Xabi Alonso. Last year he almost moved to another club (Arsenal if you believe the reports, which I don't, as the top 4 never trade such stature players) but my point being his value was around £15m. Any fan will tell you he had a good following summer and season; but for him to be subsequently sold for almost £30m is disproportionate.

Obviously the influence of Real's presidency and City's investors has a large part to play in all this. Some may claim other Clubs have been spending exorbitantly for years but seldom have Clubs paid over the odds without hesitation or disregard. Rio Ferdinand at the age of 23 was hardly a bad buy even for £30m. The same would apply to a 18 year old Wayne Rooney for £25m.

So how did football ever get to this? What will define success for City this season? How can Cristiano Ronaldo possibly match his stratospheric transfer fee?

My good friends dad who works for the local FA is getting on a bit so can't go to as many games as he used to. Now, he only watches the games themselves on TV and ignores quite literally everything else. He has no interest in the 'breaking news' that Sky often report. His football interest literally lives for the 90 minutes.

I am only 28 years old, having followed the game intensely since a young teen but can understand why some "oldies" are disillusioned with the modern game. There was once a time, win lose or draw, you would be satisfied in knowing your 11 players on the pitch had given their all.

Arsene Wenger has often stated the need to entertain the paying spectator is equally important as winning the game. And whilst I may be entirely bias, I find it rewarding to know Arsenal continue to play their game whilst living within their means.

This isn't quite a rant but I wonder if the way the game has changed over the last 15 years is ultimately for the better

**Steven** · 24-08-2009, 6:20 PM

Real Madrid and Manchester City can hardly be taken as representative of the whole. At the end of the day £22-24million is nothing to the owners. You have to remember that up until a year and a halve ago, Chelsea were facing the same charges. Suddenly the purse strings were tightened and Man City were pricing Chelsea out of the market. Who woulda thunk it in the heady days of Ranieri and Mourinho spending(!)

I would also think the market is only destabilised if those teams are in for the same players. Any agent trying it on will soon have their bluff called when they realise they risk losing their cut

I would suppose that whether anybody thinks the alleged fee for Lescott is irrelevant. The owners can clearly spare it. Ultimately will he improve City? The answer is yes. Based on the opening lot of games the big 4 might have expanded to 6. And to be honest, the thought of upstarts is rather more the issue than the transfers being made I feel

Miyazaki · 24-08-2009, 7:34 PM

The likes of Man €ity are altering the transfer market in this country, chairmen and managers are expecting to recieve higher prices for their players.

Reports are that Blackburn want £8 million for Warnock, who is possibly worth £5m, but not £8m.

Lescott is maybe worth £7m at a stretch and isn't even an England regular. I would really expect Ferdinand or Terry for that sort of money.

Moyes must be laughing his way to the bank.

domtheone · 24-08-2009, 7:36 PM

Totally mad.

Where will it all end.

Caps needed on transfer fees, wages etc etc.

Miyazaki · 24-08-2009, 7:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by domtheone

Totally mad.

Where will it all end.

Caps needed on transfer fees, wages etc etc.

Absolutely agree.

I think it is disgusting that 1/2 of all Premier League clubs are now foreign owned.

thfccambs · 24-08-2009, 7:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miyazaki

Absolutely agree.

Coming from a Villa supporter that values Young @ 30m.

Quote:

Arsenal continue to play their game whilst living within their means.

They don't spend big money on player as they haven't got it, still paying for a stadium.
.

Miyazaki · 24-08-2009, 7:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thfccambs

Coming from a Villa supporter that values Young @ 30m.

.

In the current market, and certainly as a price to give to 'Arry or Hughes.

QuietRiot1983 · 24-08-2009, 7:44 PM

Trust me, we're not paying 24mil, despite what the press or SSN tell you.
It's more like 12 + Jo at the end of the season. The '24mil' is to appease the Everton fans so they don't get on Moyes' back, despite the fact he "won't have time" to spend it.

thfccambs · 24-08-2009, 7:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuietRiot1983

Trust me, we're not paying 24mil, despite what the press or SSN tell you.
It's more like 12 + Jo at the end of the season. The '24mil' is to appease the Everton fans so they don't get on Moyes' back, despite the fact he "won't have time" to spend it.

Your wrong, i know for a fact it's a lot more then 12m.

Miyazaki · 24-08-2009, 7:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuietRiot1983

Trust me, we're not paying 24mil, despite what the press or SSN tell you.
It's more like 12 + Jo at the end of the season. The '24mil' is to appease the Everton fans so they don't get on Moyes' back, despite the fact he "won't have time" to spend it.

********.

Where's your source then?

QuietRiot1983 · 24-08-2009, 7:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thfccambs

Your wrong, i know for a fact it's a lot more then 12m.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miyazaki

********.

Where's your source then?

Same one as always. 100% reliable. Don't really care if you don't believe me, because I know it's right.

Miyazaki · 24-08-2009, 7:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuietRiot1983

Same one as always. 100% reliable. Don't really care if you don't believe me, because I know it's right.

Ok then.

thfccambs · 24-08-2009, 7:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuietRiot1983

Same one as always. 100% reliable. Don't really care if you don't believe me, because I know it's right.

We'll agree to disagree then.

QuietRiot1983 · 24-08-2009, 7:58 PM

Sounds good to me.

EDIT:

needed to add smiley to make it sound more like I'm legit.

jabintendo · 24-08-2009, 8:07 PM

How many times has Lescott actually played at centre back because i seem to remember him alot at left back.

Coffin · 25-08-2009, 8:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

I would also think the market is only destabilised if those teams are in for the same players

I disagree, Utd get £80m for Ronaldo so suddenly any player they are then interested in suddenly goes up 20%. Frank Ribery, great player that he is, isn't worth the fee Bayern are asking

Quote:

Originally Posted by domtheone

Where will it all end.

When clubs start going bankrupt

Quote:

Originally Posted by thfccambs

They don't spend big money on player as they haven't got it, still paying for a stadium.

Exactly, we live within our own revenue, don't rely (yet?) on foreign investment nor bankroll the Club. I'm not one of these fair weather Arsenal fans and recognise the model we have is for the long term. Only in 10-20 years time will the fans see why we had to go down this route.

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuietRiot1983

Trust me

sdb123 · 25-08-2009, 8:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miyazaki

In the current market, and certainly as a price to give to 'Arry or Hughes.

Excellent, Chelsea will have him for £15m then.

sdb123 · 25-08-2009, 8:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffin

Exactly, we live within our own revenue, don't rely (yet?) on foreign investment

Really? How much longer with Mr Usmanov (sp?) and partners around?

sdb123 · 25-08-2009, 8:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jabintendo

How many times has Lescott actually played at centre back because i seem to remember him alot at left back.

His early career was spent at LB, went to CB when at Wolves - to be fair he can play in either quite omfortably.

Coffin · 25-08-2009, 8:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdb123

Really? How much longer with Mr Usmanov (sp?) and partners around?

Hence the 'yet?'

sdb123 · 25-08-2009, 8:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuietRiot1983

Trust me, we're not paying 24mil, despite what the press or SSN tell you.
It's more like 12 + Jo at the end of the season. The '24mil' is to appease the Everton fans so they don't get on Moyes' back, despite the fact he "won't have time" to spend it.

I remember you posting this. Have you started your protest yet at City trying to buy success or are you going to wait until you've actually won something?

sdb123 · 25-08-2009, 8:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffin

Hence the 'yet?'

I know....it won't be long.

sdb123 · 25-08-2009, 8:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miyazaki

I think it is disgusting that 1/2 of all Premier League clubs are now foreign owned.

Would you rather have Doug Ellis instead of Randy Lerner then?

dazza74 · 25-08-2009, 8:50 AM

There seems only three clubs that have spent big this summer (Real Madrid & Barcelona) which is mostly down to unfair distribution of money from TV rights in La Liga and tax laws and Man City who've more money than sense

What's pushed the prices up for me is that a lot of clubs have dug their heals in this summer and decided that you can only buy our prized assets if you are willing to pay frankly silly money. I'd like to see a more level playing field but I feel we will only see that if the game changes and we form a European super league where the big clubs play each other week in week out and the only real money in the game is through equal distribution of TV rights. We do away effectively with a multi billionaire turning up at a club over night and out bidding anyone else in the market.

sdb123 · 25-08-2009, 9:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dazza74

I'd like to see a more level playing field but I feel we will only see that if the game changes and we form a European super league where the big clubs play each other week in week out and the only real money in the game is through equal distribution of TV rights.

Whilst a good idea, I can only see such a League causing an even bigger disparity between the 'big' clubs and others.

dazza74 · 25-08-2009, 9:30 AM

One of the things I'd like to see is for the national game to take on more importance again, my dream would be for a World Cup to be held every two years would mean more countries get to hold the tournament and we wouldn't be waiting over 50 years to try and get this tournament here again. I think these could do an awful lot of good for the game, would be nice to give the game back more to the nation as a whole rather than those who can afford a sky / espn subscription every month.

sdb123 · 25-08-2009, 9:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dazza74

One of the things I'd like to see is for the national game to take on more importance again, my dream would be for a World Cup to be held every two years would mean more countries get to hold the tournament.

That would have a big impact on the Euro's, African Nations, etc.

Aaron D84 · 25-08-2009, 9:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuietRiot1983

Trust me, we're not paying 24mil, despite what the press or SSN tell you.
It's more like 12 + Jo at the end of the season. The '24mil' is to appease the Everton fans so they don't get on Moyes' back, despite the fact he "won't have time" to spend it.

I somehow don't think a club like Everton who are as skint as they are and tight on the purse strings would be spending £9 million on a winger if they were only getting around £12 million leaving £3million to replace their prize centre half.

dazza74 · 25-08-2009, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdb123

That would have a big impact on the Euro's, African Nations, etc.

Granted, nothing to stop you holding these tournaments containing those countries that don't quality for the world cup that year. I just think it's to long a wait 4 years for the world cup to come around again and the policy to move it to a different continent each time, like I say if we were successfull to get the 2018 tournament that's a long time a 52 year gap for a nation with supposedly the most popular league in the world.

QuietRiot1983 · 25-08-2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdb123

I remember you posting this. Have you started your protest yet at City trying to buy success or are you going to wait until you've actually won something?

You 'remember' eh? More like you searched my posts.

Either way, if you'd actually seen anything this club are doing now, they are 100% keeping the fans involved, one of the main aims of the new owners is keeping the fans at the heart of things. They're doing an exceptional job of it, too. Nothing but praise for them.
Besides, Richards, Onuoha, Ireland..all still parts of the long term plans, all on long term contracts.

If you believe that redtops, that we're paying Barry, Tevez, Adebayor et al 150k a week plus, then there's not much I can say to convince you we're not "buying" success. But even if that were true, we wouldn't be doing anything that United haven't done for the past 20 years, or Chelsea more recently.

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