One of my favorite aspects of silly season is the pride and prejudice demonstrated around transfer prices. Obviously, managing resources is important and there is always a relationship between the cost of a single player and the overall budget for transfers, but it makes me laugh to no end listening to people arguing over the cost (and perceived value) of players.
People taking Liverpool to task for paying £35 for Andy Carroll or £13-£16 million for Henderson, as if we'd been "ripped off" on the price and how "crazy" we are to pay to get the player; endlessly amusing. It's like a group of old women beaming with pride as they argue over who got the best price on a tin of biscuits.
Let's face facts; there is no statement of how much money is actually available, we're in GREAT hands with FSG and Kenny Dalglish, I trust them to allocate resources and manage priorities, and it is crucial that they get the players they want and need to challenge for trophies.
Yes, the success and failure of a club is tied to its players, yes the players in and out are defined by the transfer market, and yes, the amount of money you spend in the market can be relatively correlated to Top 4 success (barring Arsenal), but in the end, its all billionaires spending millions to make their investments earn money and compete.
Why so much pride in ripping other clubs off or not being taken to the cleaners? OK, it is part of the fun to point to our rivals' failures in the market (Anderson) and to trumpet our successes (buying Suarez, selling Torres), but honestly price debates are hilarious. Henderson scores or sets up a match winning goal in one game? Worth every penny. Misses a sitter that would have won the match? **** and not worth the price. Supporters are governed by emotion; I hope our owners and manager are driven by strategy.
It's not like we have any control; its up to Kenny and FSG. No one gives a **** how much "you would pay," because you don't have all the required information. Wouldn't we all rather get the players we want and let FSG worry about the price than have FSG and Kenny use the supporter's logic about cost ("£16 million! That's a **** load of money! he's not worth it!") and miss out on our targets. We've done that for years, its time to buy what we need and push on for 19!
One last thing: FSG are used to dealing in the baseball market where there are no (or rarely any) transfer fees but where top players make an insane amount of money. Looking at the wage bill at Liverpool AND the transfer costs, it all seems reasonable to American eyes. This is the same group that spent $51 million dollars to TALK to Daisuke Matsuzaka; not sign him, not pay him-- the rights to negotiate with the player were $51 million, who they then signed for $52 million over six years. So-- $103 million US for what was a slightly above average pitcher for a six year deal.
£16 million on Jordan Henderson is piss in the bucket.
People taking Liverpool to task for paying £35 for Andy Carroll or £13-£16 million for Henderson, as if we'd been "ripped off" on the price and how "crazy" we are to pay to get the player; endlessly amusing. It's like a group of old women beaming with pride as they argue over who got the best price on a tin of biscuits.
Let's face facts; there is no statement of how much money is actually available, we're in GREAT hands with FSG and Kenny Dalglish, I trust them to allocate resources and manage priorities, and it is crucial that they get the players they want and need to challenge for trophies.
Yes, the success and failure of a club is tied to its players, yes the players in and out are defined by the transfer market, and yes, the amount of money you spend in the market can be relatively correlated to Top 4 success (barring Arsenal), but in the end, its all billionaires spending millions to make their investments earn money and compete.
Why so much pride in ripping other clubs off or not being taken to the cleaners? OK, it is part of the fun to point to our rivals' failures in the market (Anderson) and to trumpet our successes (buying Suarez, selling Torres), but honestly price debates are hilarious. Henderson scores or sets up a match winning goal in one game? Worth every penny. Misses a sitter that would have won the match? **** and not worth the price. Supporters are governed by emotion; I hope our owners and manager are driven by strategy.
It's not like we have any control; its up to Kenny and FSG. No one gives a **** how much "you would pay," because you don't have all the required information. Wouldn't we all rather get the players we want and let FSG worry about the price than have FSG and Kenny use the supporter's logic about cost ("£16 million! That's a **** load of money! he's not worth it!") and miss out on our targets. We've done that for years, its time to buy what we need and push on for 19!
One last thing: FSG are used to dealing in the baseball market where there are no (or rarely any) transfer fees but where top players make an insane amount of money. Looking at the wage bill at Liverpool AND the transfer costs, it all seems reasonable to American eyes. This is the same group that spent $51 million dollars to TALK to Daisuke Matsuzaka; not sign him, not pay him-- the rights to negotiate with the player were $51 million, who they then signed for $52 million over six years. So-- $103 million US for what was a slightly above average pitcher for a six year deal.
£16 million on Jordan Henderson is piss in the bucket.
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