Defend The Transfer System

[BrooklynRed]

With Real Madrid dropping £136 million in a week on two players, and during one of the worst global recessions in recent history, it seems to me the transfer system has officially broken. Football has become so far removed from the real lives of supporters, the men and women who make up the heart and soul of the clubs, that the business side of the game has become almost unfathomable.

It's gotten so bad, that supporters around the world are hoping that an oil sheik comes swooping in to buy their clubs and pick up a few high-profile transfers. Meanwhile, efforts to keep up with the footballing aristocracy have forced many clubs deep into debt, with stadium schemes and re-financing of long term deficits the only way to stay competitive and create a long-term (VERY long term) revenue strategy to keep the clubs solvent.

With clubs from different nations having different regulations, ownership structures and tax codes (and in the case of Madrid, enormous civic subsidy), the business of football was already murky, but when a club comes to the table with €300 million to spend in a single summer and has unfettered ability to write checks and re-configure their entire squad with a few strokes of a pen, it seems to me UEFA should seriously re-consider the ideas of a transfer cap, revenue sharing and a salary cap.

Is there anyone out there who believes the current system works? I am not proposing that there is a superior model, but I would love to discuss ideas for how to create a more equitable system that allows the game to thrive and be competitive in Europe because, as it stands, this entire scheme seems like a house of cards. Where is the outrage? Ironic that, a few weeks after Barça win the biggest cup in club football with a team composed of so many players developed in their own academy, their main rivals go on a massive, unregulated shopping spree. How can it be fixed or should it just be left alone?

[Shaggy]

Good post and a great talking point. It's depressing alright, but I don't see how it will ever change. I agree in principle with a transfer & salary cap, but I think it's unworkable.

[Darkon]

I really think the sport could/need to learn from the American sports when it comes to salary/sign-on/etc. caps for clubs. In general just some sort of maximum budget would be good.

The EU have made it clear that other types of regulations are more or less illegal, so it leaves few other methods.

But it is an unfortunate development.

[dom9]

Interesting thread. I completely agree with the sentiment, although if it was Liverpool going on a similar shopping spree funded by arab petro-dollars, most people here would be completely creaming themselves.

Any attempts by UEFA or otherwise to stop it, or even criticise it would be seen as the actions bitter, jealous meddlers.

[Vermilion]

Interesting thread. I completely agree with the sentiment, although if it was Liverpool going on a similar shopping spree funded by arab petro-dollars, most people here would be completely creaming themselves.

Any attempts by UEFA or otherwise to stop it, or even criticise it would be seen as the actions bitter, jealous meddlers.

Human nature.

[Rich]

Interesting post.

The problem I have with looking at the American model is that it's pure player power and designed to even all teams, of course you get phases of dominance but that usually comes to an end and even the best franchises languish at the bottom of divisions for years on end. How would football restructure itself if similar salary caps and draft system was introduced? Surely, relegation wouldn't be an option.

The only way to stop some of the madness would be to link budgets to something like club turnover, failing that transparent accounts and limitations as to how cash can flow into a club could help with clubs that are now spending ludicrous sums.

[wiw]

There was an excellent podcast on this a few months ago on either the Times or Guardian. Will try and dig it out

[Craig_H]

Well firstly, clubs should not be allowed to be based on debt. If you're not self sufficient, you shouldnt be allowed to enter the CL and PL.

Secondly, perhaps a limit on transfer spending, so it was a percentage of turnover, and no more - that way, no club could spend more than it generates.

[Guest]

I touched upon that in that other thread and questioned the idea that clubs like Real Madrid and Chelsea have the potential to kill the game of football. By potential I mean they still need to win trophies and assert their financial dominance into success on the pitch, thing which Chelsea didn't really achieve during the last two years, neither have Real Madrid apart from one sole title.

Sometimes money alone can't buy success, it all depends on the structure of clubs and it doesn't seem Chelsea nor Real have it really geared upon achieving dominance long term (when you compare it to the vast amount of money they have).

But yes, it does kill the competition and furthers the divide between rich and poor. But on the other hand it is great to see a team such as Barca, with traditional football values sticking to its roots. There's hope for other teams if they work hard in developing this model, and is much more of a reward in the end than taking the 'easiest' of routes.

[Darkon]

Interesting post.

The problem I have with looking at the American model is that it's pure player power and designed to even all teams, of course you get phases of dominance but that usually comes to an end and even the best franchises languish at the bottom of divisions for years on end. How would football restructure itself if similar salary caps and draft system was introduced? Surely, relegation wouldn't be an option.

The only way to stop some of the madness would be to link budgets to something like club turnover, failing that transparent accounts and limitations as to how cash can flow into a club could help with clubs that are now spending ludicrous sums.

I don't believe in a draft system, it is unrealistic redrawing the whole model on which football is founded - and it would also require a redraw of the school systems in europe.

The whole relegation thing is another side that is hard to incooperate with a draft system.

I do however like the idea of a set max budget for player salary, sign on fee and such.

[Nicey]

With Real Madrid dropping £136 million in a week on two players, and during one of the worst global recessions in recent history, it seems to me the transfer system has officially broken. Football has become so far removed from the real lives of supporters, the men and women who make up the heart and soul of the clubs, that the business side of the game has become almost unfathomable.

It's gotten so bad, that supporters around the world are hoping that an oil sheik comes swooping in to buy their clubs and pick up a few high-profile transfers. Meanwhile, efforts to keep up with the footballing aristocracy have forced many clubs deep into debt, with stadium schemes and re-financing of long term deficits the only way to stay competitive and create a long-term (VERY long term) revenue strategy to keep the clubs solvent.

With clubs from different nations having different regulations, ownership structures and tax codes (and in the case of Madrid, enormous civic subsidy), the business of football was already murky, but when a club comes to the table with €300 million to spend in a single summer and has unfettered ability to write checks and re-configure their entire squad with a few strokes of a pen, it seems to me UEFA should seriously re-consider the ideas of a transfer cap, revenue sharing and a salary cap.

Is there anyone out there who believes the current system works? I am not proposing that there is a superior model, but I would love to discuss ideas for how to create a more equitable system that allows the game to thrive and be competitive in Europe because, as it stands, this entire scheme seems like a house of cards. Where is the outrage? Ironic that, a few weeks after Barça win the biggest cup in club football with a team composed of so many players developed in their own academy, their main rivals go on a massive, unregulated shopping spree. How can it be fixed or should it just be left alone?

Sensational post Two Legs Bad !!!

[Nicey]

Quite possibly the most interesting football related question posed here for some time. I agree with the sentiments of the post but at the same time money talks and bull**** walks. At the moment there really is a need to be worried, the sheer volume of foreign investment combined with the potential revenues from overseas markets threaten what's left of the very heart and soul of the domestic game.

In the interest of the game and the bigger picture I do think certain tools, rules and guidelines should be put in place. At the end of the day the game is only good as the teams competing in it. I for one thoroughly enjoyed last season and a large part of that was due to the sheer level of talent right across the Lg. I think there should be a more level field approach to the share of revenues from TV ect .. for me the beauty of football is the uncertainty of it and playing in places like craven cottage

I think you could approach this question on many many levels and it is a very important one to ponder on. One thing that popped into my conspiracy filled nogin just now, sport much like religion has been used by those with real power to influence and control the masses or great unwashed since the sun first shone on this piece of rock. Take a look at the kind of individuals and organisations involved and getting involved in the EPL. I still remember when dumb and dumber were welcomed with open arms over Moores (one of us). The King is dead long live the King .................ouch !