tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56083964411644799332024-03-13T20:31:11.109+00:00Look Back in Mild BewildermentA blog mainly about football but I reserve the right to stray into other stuffStandaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-14364677149719445952016-05-04T14:49:00.000+01:002016-05-04T14:49:55.644+01:00Leicester City Defy Gravity and Soccernomics <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W00lbTllksE/Vyn3T3Y7ZtI/AAAAAAAAAoY/wHzZ1Rl_VtsBBSOiyYNNjf3FQxFIcUj0gCLcB/s1600/Leicester1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W00lbTllksE/Vyn3T3Y7ZtI/AAAAAAAAAoY/wHzZ1Rl_VtsBBSOiyYNNjf3FQxFIcUj0gCLcB/s400/Leicester1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This time last year I wrote<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;"><i>Another Premier League season is drawing to a close and the whole circus shuts down for the summer. Fans will be looking for their club to strengthen push on to the next level. For the most part it won't happen some clubs will rise some will fall but unless either one of the elite has a complete meltdown or a club from the mid-table mix has a year of all years then the table at the end of May 2016 will look pretty similar to this years and the glass ceiling will remain intact.</i></span></blockquote>
Well here we are in 2016 and Leicester City have made me look a little foolish and to a lesser extent so have Spurs. To recap my hypothesis was based on the central premise that the financial advantages enjoyed by the top 6 which are reflected in their wage bills pretty much cemented their place at the top of the English game. The financial hierarchy is demonstrated in the following table<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; text-align: center; width: 355px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 2816; mso-width-source: userset; width: 58pt;" width="77"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 3364; mso-width-source: userset; width: 69pt;" width="92"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 3986; mso-width-source: userset; width: 82pt;" width="109"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2816; mso-width-source: userset; width: 58pt;" width="77"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="60" style="height: 45.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="60" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; height: 45pt; width: 58pt;" width="77">Rank</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; width: 69pt;" width="92">Current League Position</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; width: 82pt;" width="109">2014/2015</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; width: 58pt;" width="77">Wages (£m)</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="21" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">1</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">9</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Chelsea</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">216</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="21" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">2</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">5</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Man United</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">203</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="21" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">3</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">4</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Man City </td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">194</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="21" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">4</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">3</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Arsenal</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">192.2</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="21" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">5</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">8</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Liverpool </td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">166.1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="21" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">6</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">2</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Spurs</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">100.8</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="21" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">7</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">20</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Aston Villa</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">83.8</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="21" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">8</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">11</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Everton</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">78</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="21" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">9</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">18</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Sunderland</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">75.1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="21" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">10</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">6</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">West Ham</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">73</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="21" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">11</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">7</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Southampton</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">72</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="21" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">12</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">13</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Swansea</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">71</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="21" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">13</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">14</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">West Brom</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">69.8</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="21" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">14</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">16</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Crystal Palace</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">68</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="21" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">15</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">10</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Stoke City</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">67</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="21" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">16</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">17</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Newcastle</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">65</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="21" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">17</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">1</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Leicester</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">57</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="21" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">18</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">19</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Norwich</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">48</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="21" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">19</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">15</td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Bournemouth </td>
<td class="xl64" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">30.4</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="21" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">20</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">12</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Watford</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">20.6</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It should be noted that the newly promoted teams (Norwich,Bournemouth and Watford) salary bills refers to the last year in the Championship typically these numbers will rise by 50 to 100 percent during first season in the Premier League although in this case Norwich's is already relatively high which in all probability reflects their recent Premier League history and as such might not grow quite as rapidly. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Leicester City finished top with one of the lowest wage bills in the division which is truly remarkable and stands everything I previously wrote on it's head. In fairness I wasn't the only one and Leicester City were priced at 5000/1 by the bookies at the start of the season. To put that probability into context had the Premier League been run in it's current format since the Bronze Age Leicester City would be expected to have won it once.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
While there was woeful under performances from some of the elite the plain fact is that clubs who on the face of it better equipped than Leicester to take advantage of the situation failed to do so. An opportunity was lost by half a dozen teams they didn't have terrible seasons but put alongside Leicester's rise there really is a sense of an opportunity spurned. In particular Arsenal performed in line with expectations but in a year where the recently dominant Manchester clubs and Chelsea hit the self destruct button, Arsenal should have been the next taxi off the rank but their engine stalled. </div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<br /><b>Maybe Economic Determinism in football is dead</b></h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This year all of the major European leagues have been contested by the top 2 or 3 wealthiest clubs within the league and in many instances won by either the richest or the second richest. The Champions League semi finals were contested by 3 out of the top 6 richest clubs in Europe, so no Leicester City are the outlier the wonderful exception to the rule.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Is the Premier League Different? </b></h4>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
The nature of the Premier League TV deal makes the league a little different in a number of respects.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>1. A relative even distribution of TV money </b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There is a disparity between the wealthiest English clubs and the rest but it is far less pronounced than other European Leagues. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The wealth in European Leagues is far more heavily concentrated. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In Spain Barcelona and Real Madrid are 3 times richer than Athletico Madrid and at least 4 times wealthier than the fourth wealthiest and anything up to 20 times wealthier than the smallest. To put this into context this would like giving a League One team entry to the Premier League. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In Germany Bayern are fifty percent richer than Dortmund who in turn are 30% richer than Schalke and no other club even has 25% of Bayern's income</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
France PSG are 4 times richer than any other team in the division they are so wealthy that I think their revenue is greater than the poorest 10 Ligue 1 teams combined.. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>2. It is the biggest deal in Europe</b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
To put the Premier League TV revenue into context according to Deloittes West Bromwich Albion are the least wealthiest club in the Premier League that appears in their "Football Rich List" and they are richer than all but</div>
<br />
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">4 Italian Teams</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">3 German Teams</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">3 Spanish Teams</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">1 Turkish Team</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">1 French Team</li>
</ul>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So while WBA are relative paupers they are wealthier than most teams on the continent and therefore even they are able to attract better players than similar sized clubs in other leagues.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>3. The big beasts aren't that big</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Question: Why are Alexis Sánchez and Mesut Özil Arsenal players?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Answer: Because Barcelona and Real Madrid didn't want them.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
For all their wealth the top Premier League clubs have 4 other beasts to compete with when it comes to the top talent and certainly when that talent is at it's peak they tend to lose out to the Spanish giants and in some cases to PSG and Bayern Munich who are often be the first choice for the elite players in Ligue 1 or Bundesliga. As such they cannot sign and retain the players that would truly elevate above the rank and file of the Premier League.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Conclusion </b></h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Leicester City are the glorious exception to the rule but it doesn't disprove the rule. It remains unlikely that a less wealthy club will disrupt the European football elite. If it was going to happen anywhere it would be in England because as we have seen the League is the most competitive in the world and there are factors which make the lesser lights in England a little bit tougher than their counter parts elsewhere in Europe</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
As for next season will the old order reestablish itself? Probably although Leicester City's place in the hierarchy is about to be transformed by a huge influx of money from the Champions League, regression to mean maybe but the mean has moved and it probably doesn't include relegation.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-73646295782808757732015-08-31T10:41:00.000+01:002015-08-31T10:41:12.201+01:00Beware Revolution in Progress<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jqml3bzj_RY/VcUO_MPPRWI/AAAAAAAAAn0/Qv_aSY_fuy4/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jqml3bzj_RY/VcUO_MPPRWI/AAAAAAAAAn0/Qv_aSY_fuy4/s1600/untitled.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawson that's your Man!!! - Tony Pulis</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Welcome to the Workers Revolution. It started in the depths of the Winter of Discontent the Illustrious Leader of the Revolution ,Tony Pulis has lead the troops on the long march to Premier League safety and is now preparing to storm the winter palace. <br />
<br />
As with all Workers Revolutions the ruling class of the old the regime were quickly dispatched and some of the more obviously bourgeois elements sought refuge abroad, Blanco for instance quickly scarpered to Argentina to avoid the proletarian delights of Pulisball. <br />
<br />
Once the immediate objectives were secured a more far reaching purge got underway various bourgeois and revisionist cabals have been rooted out and sent to the Gulag or Norwich. Such enemies of people as the much reviled Terry Burton and his secretive side kick Mervyn Day are no longer in office. In the short term the Glorious Leader will take on the onerous task of overseeing the continual struggle for Premier League survival aided by a cadre of true believers such as Gerry Francis and David Kemp.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TCSaDmrvIjU/VcUOU0s6wjI/AAAAAAAAAns/1N8BGfzS9OQ/s1600/_80378813_tony_pulis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TCSaDmrvIjU/VcUOU0s6wjI/AAAAAAAAAns/1N8BGfzS9OQ/s320/_80378813_tony_pulis.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you make Revolution you cannot mark time -Lenin </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Revolution is now gathering pace attacking full backs are a distant memory and the flawed notion that possession of the football had anything to do with winning football matches has been banished. We will defend our clean sheet with revolutionary fervour and beat down any opposition to Pulisball even if the decadent passing game has reached such resolutely proletarian strongholds as Stoke. <br />
<br />
When will it end? There is no end only revolutionary toil and there is no alternative no opposition just a few intellectuals casting envious glances in the direction of South Wales where the freedom and prosperity go hand in glove. If the populace grows tired of the shackles and a diet of bread and circuses then maybe something changes but in the meantime the football at West Bromwich Albion will be grimmer than a wet Wednesday evening in Vladivostock.Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-58025423685255235412015-05-24T18:13:00.000+01:002015-05-24T18:13:02.890+01:00Mid - Table BluesBelow is the Premier League table based on wages and it's resemblance to the actual league table is uncanny. There are teams that have over or underachieved but for the most part the league table is an accurate reflection of a team's wage bill.<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 355px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 2816; mso-width-source: userset; width: 58pt;" width="77"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 3364; mso-width-source: userset; width: 69pt;" width="92"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 3986; mso-width-source: userset; width: 82pt;" width="109"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2816; mso-width-source: userset; width: 58pt;" width="77"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="60" style="height: 45.0pt;">
<td class="xl66" height="60" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; height: 45pt; width: 58pt;" width="77">Rank</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; width: 69pt;" width="92">League Position</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; width: 82pt;" width="109">2013/2014</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; width: 58pt;" width="77">Wages (£m)</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="21" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">1</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">4</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Man United</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">215</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="21" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">2</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">2</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Man City </td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">205</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="21" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">3</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">1</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Chelsea</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">193</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="21" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">4</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">3</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Arsenal</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">166</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="21" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">5</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">5</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Liverpool </td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">144</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="21" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">6</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">6</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Spurs</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">100</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="21" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">7</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">15</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Newcastle</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">78</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="21" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">8</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">20</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">QPR</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">75</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="21" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">9</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">16</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Sunderland</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">70</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="21" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">10</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">17</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Aston Villa</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">69</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="21" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">11</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">11</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Everton</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">69</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="21" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">12</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">13</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">West Brom</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">65</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="21" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">13</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">12</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">West Ham</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">64</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="21" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">14</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">9</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Swansea</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">63</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="21" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">15</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">7</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Southampton</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">63</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="21" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">16</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">8</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Stoke City</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">61</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="21" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">17</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">10</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Crystal Palace</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">46</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="21" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">18</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">18</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Hull City</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">43.3</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="21" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">19</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">14</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Leicester</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">36.3</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="21" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; height: 15.75pt;">20</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">19</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Burnley</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">25</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There are a few important things to note about the above table.<br />
<br />
1. The numbers are for the 2013/14 year and as such do not take account of recruitment and contracts that have been signed since<br />
<br />
2. The figures quoted for Burnley Leicester and QPR relate to their last season in the Championship. No that is not a mistake QPR did manage to finish sixth in the Championship with a salary bill equivalent to 8th in the Premier League.<br />
<br />
If we were to look at these numbers in 12 months time I would expect the rankings to be similar but Hull's and Palace's wage bills to be closer to £60m and both Leicester and Burnley would be paying considerably more. The Premier league FFP regulations might have a dampening effect on the wage spiral but given that retained profit and profit's from player sales and any growth in other revenues can fund increased wages I would be surprised if most of the club's wage bills had not risen by the time the 2014/2015 season kicked off.<br />
<br />
One can can argue the merits of individual team's performance in relation to their wage bill (let's all laugh at QPR) but the broader trends are more interesting and explain the polarisation between the top 6 and the rest of the Premier League.<br />
<br />
Firstly the difference between Newcastle (7th) and Stoke (16th) is just £17m or a Wayne Rooney and a Jordan Henderson. Not that either player is likely to be rocking up at St James Park any time soon but it gives a measure of the difference in wages between the clubs. In theory Newcastle's top earners will earn a bit more than Stoke's and that should be reflected in the depth and quality of Newcastle's squad compared to Stoke's. The fact that has not been reflected in the league table means that things are not quite right at Newcastle or Stoke are doing something right but the gap is bridgeable.<br />
<br />
However the difference between Spurs (6th) and Newcastle (7th) at £22m is greater than that that exists between Stoke and Newcastle. That is the real glass ceiling whilst a long way behind their rivals for the Champion's Leagues Spurs are way ahead of the rest of the division in terms of spending power. Thus there is a cluster of clubs who are scrabbling for places in the lower half of the division with no way of breaking out and in reality not much difference in the quality of the playing squads.<br />
<br />
Every season a team breaks out of the mid table quagmire Southampton Everton and Newcastle have all done so in recent years and unfortunately their reward for success is Europa league football. This is a huge problem because the depth of squad required for a successful European campaign alongside a Premier League campaign costs in excess of £100m. Even with the additional income that a Europa League campaign might generate those clubs cannot sustain a wage bill of that magnitude therefore they tend to regress back into the pack the following season.<br />
<br />
Even without the burden of Europa League football it is very difficult for a club to buck the relationship between wages and league position for any extended period of time. Firstly if a group of players overachieves the most likely outcome is they regress back to their norm the following year. Furthermore the bigger clubs often poach players and coaching staff from the best of the rest and regression becomes a lot more likely than progression.<br />
<br />
This further underlines the achievement of Southampton this season under the leadership Ronald Koeman having lost their Head Coach and 5 of their better players albeit for significant fees they managed to build on the previous season's achievements. However it is a difficult trick to turn and one that cannot be sustained forever. Les Reed the club's technical director has stated an aim of qualifying for the Champions League within 5 years. Unless something very dramatic happens on the south coast it isn't going to happen. Eventually Southampton are going to have to match the wages offered by teams with a lot bigger turnover than themselves or face continual rounds of sale and replacement which inevitably will go wrong at some point.<br />
<br />
The majority of clubs and their fans are in the same boat stuck in desperately competitive mini-league with no means of upward escape but with the ever present danger of downward ejection. How fans feel about this varies and I think they might be summed up as<br />
<br />
<b>Just happy to be here</b><br />
<br />
Crystal Palace,Swansea City,Hull City,Leicester City,Burnley,Southampton<br />
<br />
Teams that either have more years outside the top flight than in it, recent experience of football in the lower reaches of the football league and near financial ruin. Generally just being in the Premier is great from the fan's perspective particularly when it is bolstered by a relatively comfortable league finishes in the case of Southampton Palace and Swansea. <b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Is this it ?</b><br />
<br />
West Brom Stoke West Ham Sunderland<br />
<br />
Teams which have always lived in the shadow of more illustrious neighbours but have been in the top flight more often than not and are currently been in the Premier League for an extended period. Here there is a general sense of unease amongst the fans who probably realise their club's limitations but are frustrated by their role as the league's supporting cast. <br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Sleeping Giants </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Aston Villa and Everton<br />
<br />
Clubs with big fan bases traditionally regarded as "big clubs" but simply unable to live up to their fan's expectations. The ownership at both clubs have realised that they can either manage the club within it's means or chase the dream. They chose sensibly not to go broke and in the case of Villa the adjustment has been a painful one.<br />
<br />
<b>Confused </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
QPR<br />
<b><br /></b>
Countless millions have been thrown at this vanity project. The model is totally unsustainable the ownership have grandiose plans put their money where their mouth is but the whole thing is a shambles.<b> </b>After four years of inflated expectations and mismanagement the club faces an uncertain future in the Championship and QPR fans must be bewildered by the experience. <br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Seething </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Newcastle<br />
<b><br /></b>
After 20 years of mismanagement false dawns and shockingly a relegation, the third best supported club in the league and the 7th largest by turnover is lurching from one self induced crisis to another and the fans are not in the least bit happy. The economic reality for Newcastle is the same as the majority of clubs in the division but somehow the club has made that reality particularly unpalatable for the fans.<br />
<br />
<b>Managing the Reality</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
If seventh is the top end of most team's realistic expectations how do the majority premier clubs keep their fans engaged? While it is tempting to say look at Newcastle and do the opposite to that and a lot of it is just good PR but remember genuine progress on the pitch is virtually impossible.<br />
<br />
<b>1. Manage Expectations</b> - Tough to do on the one hand the reality is not very exciting and many clubs are over achieving by just surviving in the league and fans do understand this but it does not need to be rammed down their throats. Clubs should always talk about making progress even when frankly it is unlikely and if a reality check is required reference Man United not clubs that are seen as rivals<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>2. Respect the club's traditions</b> Fan's emotional engagement with the club is about symbols and shared memories. There is everything to be gained by honouring them and very little to be garnered from changing them to try to appeal to a global audience. Man U are a global brand with a world wide following not because they wear red but because they are the most successful club in the global TV era. <br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>3. Value for money</b> Ticket prices are an issue for teams that do not have a well healed following or one that is global. On the one hand a mid-table club needs to get every penny it can in to compete but it cannot offer a guarantee of success and the feel good factor that brings. In short most clubs are selling a broken dream and that cannot be sold at a premium price. Yes some fans are happy to see the worlds best players strut their stuff at their local ground but most are concerned about their team and how it performs and perpetual mid-table mediocrity is not very exciting.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>4 The cups are a lifeline,</b> Fans thrive on the excitement of cup competitions and clubs need to look beyond the apathy shown towards the early rounds (partly created by their own neglect and by the way football fans purchase football) and see the energising impact that a cup final appearance has on the mid-table clubs that make it to finals.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>5. Engage fans </b>A lot of the ill will that clubs have generated through half baked ideas could be avoided if clubs just talked to their fans and gauged their reaction. Fans might be overly wedded to their traditions and innately conservative but equally they want the club to succeed and will embrace change if it is required to move the club forward but owners need to at least try to take the fans with them. Clubs that exist in a state of perpetual war between fans and ownership seldom prosper. <br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>6. Style Matters </b>Sam Alladyce and Tony Pulis must hate Swansea. Up until Swansea's promotion the the standard approach to surviving on a tight budget was a dogged defence hard work and grind out results, which was characterised by Pulis at Stoke and Alladyce at Bolton. Swansea's emergence showed that free flowing passing football could be achieved on a budget and they became the style template that many fans aspired to rather than the more direct style that characterised many of the mid table teams in the Premier League. From a club insiders perspective survival is all that matters but fans crave entertainment and expect their team to at least to try to play decent football and ultimately fan discontent curtailed Alladyce's and Pulis's tenures at West Ham and Stoke. <br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>7. Youth Development </b>is absolutely key those clubs that do it well have a far better chance of breaking out than those that don't either because they can supplement their squads with home grown players or benefit from the profit generated by selling players at inflated prices to the Champions League elite. Equally fans are more likely to warm to players that have a strong connection with the club that has been established over the years that the player spends in the club's academy. <br />
<br />
Another Premier League season is drawing to a close and the whole circus closes down for the summer. Fans will be looking for their club to strengthen push on to the next level. For the most part it won't happen some clubs will rise some will fall but unless either one of the elite has a complete meltdown or a club from the mid-table mix has a year of all years then the table at the end of May 2016 will look pretty similar to this years and the glass ceiling will remain intact. Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-73043068965598431132015-02-03T22:03:00.000+00:002015-02-03T22:07:06.416+00:00January Sales Madness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uWXuWOLVDms/VMzDKf53MWI/AAAAAAAAAkw/L2-fRjqyGmw/s1600/Jim-White.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uWXuWOLVDms/VMzDKf53MWI/AAAAAAAAAkw/L2-fRjqyGmw/s1600/Jim-White.jpg" height="231" width="400" /></a></div>
Despite the best efforts of the Sky Sports team to whip up some excitement around the January transfer window most clubs do the bulk of their transfer business in the summer.<br />
<br />
Only the desperate plunge headlong into the January market which is any commentator will tell is difficult with clubs reluctant to sell their best players but eager to unload expensive duds.<br />
<br />
The bad news is that the Albion were in the market which tells it's own story. A new manager wanting to stamp his mark on the squad and a couple of summers where the club has got it wrong has lead Albion into being a lot more active than anyone at the club would like. <br />
<br />
In summary Albion's business at the close is<br />
<br />
<b>In </b><br />
<b><br /></b><b>McManaman and Fletcher </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Out</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Samaras, Blanco, Varela, </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
So we lost three and gained two. The shape of the squad is pretty much unaltered on the face of it although Pulis has moved on players that he was never going to play and replaced them with ones that he might.<br />
<br />
However those bald facts barely tell the story of a day which was remarkable in it's twists and turns. There were two additional signings lined up Martin Olsson from Norwich and Carlton Cole from West Ham which were scuppered in the closing hours of the window. As part of the deal that would have bought Olsson to Albion Graham Dorrans was heading to Norwich and there were on going reports of Brown Ideye heading off to the Middle East.<br />
<br />
Both Cole and Dorrans were at their new clubs waiting for the all clear by the time things unravelled although it was never clear whether Olsson made it to the Hawthorns or was stuck in snow or unable to agree terms. Cole was on the threshold of joining the Baggies when a deal to take Adebayor from Spurs to West Ham collapsed and lead to a heated exchange between the player and his current manager <a href="http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/west-brom-carlton-cole-furious-8574810">(see here)</a>.<br />
<br />
How much interest the club had in selling Ideye remains to be seen but even allowing for Cole's arrival it would have left us short of a striker and I guess unless another deal could have been lined up then there was never any real prospect of Ideye moving on in this window although there has to be a long term question mark over his future at the Hawthorns and the club may yet have to take a hefty loss on their record signing. There is no such question mark over Dorrans it is absolutely plain his future lies away from the Hawthorns, tonight there is talk of the deal being resurrected as a loan deal. <br />
<br />
<b>Pulisball or bust?</b><br />
<br />
How far down the road to Pulisball have we travelled? Firstly the arrival of Darren Fletcher from Man United is a vital part of the jigsaw as it gives Pulis a midfield all rounder that is key to making his 4-4-2 work. There is no doubt that Fletcher will go straight into the side and the only doubt is whether he will partner Gardner or Yacob.<br />
<br />
Callum McManaman is pretty much a straight swap for Varela and as such will provide width on the right, a left sided counter part might have been on Pulis's wish list but for the time being he will have to make do with his current options which is Chris Brunt.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The non arrival of Martin Olsson leaves an interesting dilemma, Albion are not short of left backs there are 3, Pocognoli, Baird and Davidson (albeit he's been away at the Asia Cup) and it would appear that none are to Pulis' taste. The last two games has seen Lescott deployed as a left back with mixed results (bad and very bad) and it is clear that Albion's star Centre Back is not happy in the role. Personally I don't care which of the three he goes with but persevering with the Lescott experiment is doomed to failure.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Up front we are short of a Pulis style target man and Cole was lined up to provide the muscle and aerial threat that makes Pulisball effective. We are now very dependent on Anichebe with Ideye,Berahino and possibly Sessegnon providing support. I would worry if we lost Anichebe to injury and the medical staff will probably be working overtime to keep Vic on the pitch.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Conclusion</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
This window was very much the first step on the path to Pulisball but the certain trends emerging already. The signings and targets were unimaginative in every sense of the word. All were British based known quantities which is the hallmark of Pulis work in the transfer market.There was a plan to the recruitment he was filling in the obvious gaps in the squad although the left back thing is a bit of a puzzle. The full blown revolution will wait until summer if we are still in the Premier League I think will be in for an even more dramatic deadline day at the end of August. </div>
Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-28630496015116577472015-01-24T20:04:00.001+00:002015-09-15T23:50:42.882+01:00It' s a Dog and It Barks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V1PUqKsGZBA/VMCimICqtPI/AAAAAAAAAkg/Ea0DWzynzpg/s1600/dog-with-baseball-cap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V1PUqKsGZBA/VMCimICqtPI/AAAAAAAAAkg/Ea0DWzynzpg/s1600/dog-with-baseball-cap.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Within moments of the Albion team being announced on Monday evening for the game against Everton there were dozens of tweets along the lines of where's Varela? The answer he was at home packing his bags for Parma.<br />
<br />
The Portuguese winger was an undoubted talent but his time at West Brom had been blighted by injury and lack of fitness. Although there were signs that he was capable of making a contribution. However it was plain from the off that Pulis did not fancy him and he has been shipped out as part of the clear out that accompanies the appointment of a new Head Coach when the transfer window is open and a team is under going a turnaround.<br />
<br />
To date Samaras Blanco and Daniels have also left and in truth these players were on the fringe of the team even under Irvine but certainly didn't have a future in Pulisball. I would guess that anything up to half the squad does not fit the Pulisball model and whatever happens during this window more players will be leaving in the summer.<br />
<br />
Pulisball is based on a rigid 4-4-2 which sits deep and counters with wingers being the sole source of creativity in the team. It is based on solid defensive organisation and getting the ball forward quickly. It requires players to be physically fit and disciplined. Players are judged by their contribution off the ball as much as on it.<br />
<br />
Throughout his management career Pulis has tended to shun rotation both at Stoke and at Palace he had a core of players he played week in week out. That is part of Pulisball methodology the more close knit the unit is the stronger is it's bond and the stronger the team ethic. As such he will settle on a line up he trusts and unless something happens to radically change things those players not in the side may as well pack their bags.<br />
<br />
Bearing in mind this window is only the opening salvo in the Pulis revolution outlined below is how I see the squad shaping up or in some cases shipping out.<br />
<br />
<b>Goalkeepers </b>Foster Myhill with the promising Rose being promoted to the first team as backup. Neither keeper is prone to thinking that they really are footballers and playing silly buggers with the ball at their feet which I guess would be a trait that would give Pulis a minor coronary.<br />
<br />
<b>Defenders </b>are expected to defend and are judged on their contributions as defenders and this includes the full backs. It is little surprise that Gamboa and Pocognoli are out of favour both can be barnstorming as axillary wingers but can be a little flakey as defenders for Pulis this is the wrong way round. Wisdom and Baird are solid defenders hence their inclusion.<br />
<br />
With regard to Centre Backs he will have a favoured pairing and it will be played week in week out. At the moment it would appear to be MacAuley and Lescott. The question marks around the centre backs are not specifically to do with the style of play but ones which any coach need to resolve at some point, namely does MacAuley have another year in his ageing legs? Is Dawson good enough to be first choice? If Olsson is not a regular starter will he be content to get the occasional outing as a squad player? None of the answers to these questions will be resolved much before the summer unless we recruit another Centre Back which an answer in itself although to which question remains to be seen.<br />
<br />
<b>Midfield </b>A 4-4-2 requires central midfielders to be all rounders and be able to cover the ground box to box. Of the current squad only Gardner fulfils the specification. Mulmbu whose form has been sporadic for a little while is out for the next 4 to 6 weeks in any event and I fear that his indiscipline in a positional sense might not find favour with Pulis longer term.<br />
<br />
Yacob presents an interesting dilemma. He is absolutely not a central midfielder in a 4-4-2. His whole footballing education and instinct is to play as a no 5 in the classical Argentine tradition which in the modern game is most often associated with a 4-2-3-1 formation. The danger when deployed in a 4-4-2 it becomes a 4-1-4-1 which was pretty much the shape at Everton on Monday night although Yacob delivered defensive master class. While Yacob's willingness to tackle anything that moves will find favour with a coach that values defensive solidity above all else in the short term but longer term if the team is to become more progressive I suspect Yacob will be replaced with a genuine all rounder.<br />
<br />
There are three players you could argue are best deployed as attacking midfielders behind a lone striker Morrison, Dorrans and Sessegnon the bad news for those players is that role don't exist in Pulisball and if they are going to have much of a future they need to find a new role in the team. Morrison is too light weight to do the heavy lifting in the central midfield and while Dorrans is more physically robust there has to be a real question mark over his ability particularity as a central midfielder at Premier League level.<br />
<br />
I could write a whole blog on the enigma that is Sessegnon but regardless of how he is deployed it is difficult to see Pulis being happy with the one brilliant performance in five particularly when he is not in the mood he really can be totally anonymous . Coaches have lost their jobs backing Sessegnon, Pullis won't nor will he deploy him centrally unless he pushes him up alongside the main striker or perhaps as a winger. In truth I cannot see this working long term.<br />
<br />
Finally Chris Brunt who now Varela has gone is the only wide player at the club (aside from possibly Sessegnon). Ironically if played with an attacking full back like Pocognoli Brunt can be quite effective in a 4-4-2. but he absolutely is not the type of winger required to make Pulisball work.<br />
<br />
<b>Attackers.</b><br />
<br />
In a team which will typically sit deep a target man is a must ideally one that is good with his back to goal,win more than his fair share of possession and bag a few goals. Anichebe is okay in many respects but has a question mark over his fitness and has never been prolific. Neither Idye or Berahino are classic target men in the Pulisball tradition (think Crouch Fuller Beattie and Chamakh ) but partnered with the right target man i.e. one that would drop a little deeper and allow their partner sit on the shoulder of the last defender could be effective and deliver the team's main goal threat.<br />
<br />
Ideye has not flourished since his arrival and part of that is his attributes are very much the same as Berahino's therefore it is difficult to imagine a partnership between the 2 working. Plainly at the moment Berahino has won the battle for the shirt and it does not look Ideye will be around beyond the summer if he is not moved on by the end of this month.<br />
<br />
The question marks surrounding Berahino's future are nothing to do with Pulisball but are entirely dependent on his willingness to sign a new contract and even then the possibility of a stellar bid materialising cannot be discounted.<br />
<br />
<b>Recruitment </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
This summer's work is currently being undone and the club is busy in the market trying to recruit as many as four players. There are many questions as to how system that delivered success as recently three summers ago could have completely unravelled in such a short space of time. I think the departure of Ashworth was key and since then there has been growing disconnect between the Recruitment Department and the club's Head Coaches.<br />
<br />
With a bigger role in scouting for the coaching staff under Pulis with an extra coach hired and two Senior Scouts let go it should be hoped that any new arrivals will be hired to fill a role in the Pulisball model. Thus far the players where there is a confirmed interest namely McManaman<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.63636302948px; line-height: 17.1830444335938px;">.</span> Fletcher and Ameobi are all players that fit the template and it is obvious where they might fit into the side.<br />
<br />
However the one thing that the arrival of Pulis will not change is the player budget and fans that think there will be any improvement in quality of the players in the squad will be disappointed. The players might look better but that is only because they are playing in a set up that fits their attributes.<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusion</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The arrival Pulis marked the end of a number of Albion careers and the beginning of the end for others. Pulisball is what it is, those fans that are looking for creativity in the middle of the park will not find it. Players that don't deliver on a consistent basis won't be tolerated and the full backs will not be rampaging forward. To pine after these things or to expect free flowing high scoring football is pointless that is not Pulisball and never has been. You know exactly what you are buying into when Pulis is put in charge of your club you are buying a dog and it barks so you should not be surprised nor complain when it does.Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-64981638273662903912015-01-01T11:29:00.000+00:002015-01-01T11:29:34.114+00:00Who You Going to Call ?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--67PsupAV9o/VKR_1p_hbdI/AAAAAAAAAkE/CDK8EOA9F-k/s1600/Tony_Pulis_2739651b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--67PsupAV9o/VKR_1p_hbdI/AAAAAAAAAkE/CDK8EOA9F-k/s1600/Tony_Pulis_2739651b.jpg" height="199" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Track back or die, okay?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Stoke City and West Brom two similar clubs were promoted from the Championship in 2008. Albion were managed by Tony Mowbray and Stoke City by Tony Pulis.<br />
<br />
It was Cavaliers v Roundheads. Mowbray's side was a fluent passing team which won plaudits for the style of football as they swept to the title. Stoke on the other hand were dogged, hard working and played rugged no nonsense percentage football.<br />
<br />
Many people thought the Albion were better prepared for life in the Premier League, alas that was not the case. Mowbray's team carried on getting plaudits for playing the right way but never the less finished rock bottom the following season. Stoke unencumbered by any notion of the beautiful game and often criticised for their robust approach stayed up comfortably. One - nil to the Roundheads.<br />
<br />
Mowbray's departure in May 2009 (not sacked despite his side being relegated) marked the end of the Baggies Cavalier phase each management appointment since was a little bit more pragmatic than the last (Pepe Mel aside). The free flowing football was quietly ditched for something a little bit more solid and less expansive particularly under Hodgson. but the football was never as industrial as that served up by Pulis's Stoke sides.<br />
<br />
Less than seven years on the chief Roundhead is about to take charge of the one time Cavaliers, which is a bit of a turn up for books. The fact that he has been invited to take the reigns is a reflection of how high his stock is following his transformation of Palace last season from relegation certainties to a team that looked entirely at home in a mid-table berth. To some extent his reputation has been further enhanced by the fact that Palace have regressed this season which makes him look even more like the Red Adair of the Premier League.<br />
<br />
Equally the fact the board seems to be prepared to push the boat out financially and compromise on coaching appointments is a reflection on how the team has lost it's way recently and needs a strong personality to take it by the neck and give it a shake. The moment seems right for Pulis to come in fight the fires and steady the ship.<br />
<br />
Longer term I am not sure that it is a marriage made in heaven. I personally still hanker after the Cavalier days of Mowbray. Swansea and Southampton have both shown that smaller clubs can thrive in the Premier League without resorting to hoofball, although both of those clubs laid down their blueprints while they were in the lower leagues and not burdened by the annual war of attrition to stay in the Premier League. Although the other leader of the Roundhead tendency Sam Allardyce has shown that given the players even he can move to a style that is a little easier on the eye. So maybe Pulisball will evolve into something a little bit less industrial there were signs that happened at Palace but let's not kid ourselves you would never of mistaken his Palace side for Brazil.<br />
<br />
I am under no illusion that just staying in the Premier League is an achievement and 5 straight years in the top flight is not be sniffed at and if we want a sixth appointing Pulis is entirely logical, but I feel it is surrendering any hope that the quality of our football will evolve or that the youngsters in our academy will be given a chance of breaking into the first team squad. For the club to grow that needs to happen, to get beyond the annual war of attrition to stay in the league we have to be bold. Unfortunately the Pulis appointment is the opposite and while we cling onto the hard won Premier League status maybe we are right to be cautious and maybe only when that battle is lost will we be able to properly regroup and rebuild under a regime that brings the Cavalier spirit back. Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-47149622853005755772014-10-26T12:08:00.000+00:002014-11-08T14:55:40.723+00:00Much Ado about Saido<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oeTU2FWBvwo/VEmeS0lxejI/AAAAAAAAAjw/0LErW_HJJww/s1600/berahino_3211009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oeTU2FWBvwo/VEmeS0lxejI/AAAAAAAAAjw/0LErW_HJJww/s1600/berahino_3211009.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Berahino leading English marksman in the Premier League</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Last year Saido Berahino burst onto to the Premier League scene with a winning goal at Old Trafford. At that point it looked like the Baggies had an unearthed a genuine prospect. A new contract was quickly agreed to keep him at West Brom for the next few years. He made 32 appearances in total but his form was at best fitful and his star was definitely on the decline on the back of some unwelcome tabloid reports that suggested that he was fonder of partying than training.<br />
<br />
This "attitude" problem seemed to be at the heart of the post match bust up following the Cardiff home game when he gave the ball away in the dying seconds of the game which lead to Cardiff's equaliser. So enraged was James "the hit man" Morrison that he reportedly cuffed the youngster round the ear. At the time I thought that whilst Saido had shown naivety in giving the ball away there were nine Albion players behind the ball and there were at least three or four senior pro's who were as culpable in allowing Cardiff to equalise. I suspect that Morrison's over reaction was a consequence of Saido's big time Charlie attitude behind the scenes as much as anything that had happened on the pitch, <br />
<br />
By the close of last season Berahino's career at the Hawthorns seemed to be sinking into the morass that was Albion's Annus horribilis. From bright young thing to infant terrible in the space of six months, most Albion fans were losing patience with him and few would have suggested building the team around him.<br />
<br />
<b>New Season New Beginning </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The 2013/2014 season was one to forget for West Brom and change was needed. During the closed season Alan Irvine was appointed into the Hawthorns hot seat. This might have been the first piece of good fortune that Saido enjoyed because Irvine has a reputation for nurturing young talent from his Everton days. Equally a new Head Coach meant a clean slate and an opportunity to move on from his previous mistakes. The second piece of good fortune was that Albion's record signing Brown Ideye spent much of the pre-season kicking his heals in Nigeria because his visa application was delayed by mind numbing red tape and religious holidays. His delayed arrival gave Berahino a chance to stake a claim for a starting place. <br />
<br />
It is fair to say that after grabbing 2 goals on the opening day Saido has gone from strength to strength. He currently has 7 goals from 9 games and has been one of the leading lights of the England under 21 set up. He is rapidly developing into the one of the best young players in the league and as such he is one again being thrust into the limelight. At this moment his coaches and teams mates have nothing but praise for him he seems to be enjoying life under Irvine and working diligently on his game.<br />
<br />
The difference between this year and last is quite marked. It is notable that he looks physically stronger, at a slender 5ft 10 Saido is not the biggest centre forward and he will always be competing against larger Centre Backs but it is vital that he can hold up the ball up under physical pressure which is starting to happen. Secondly his decision making and awareness is improving. Finally he has always had an eye for goal but there seems to be more composure in front of goal and this was demonstrated most clearly against Man United when he had one chance and took it with great aplomb, when he was through on goal I would have bet my house on him hitting the target something I wouldn't have done last season. <br />
<br />
<b>Siren Voices </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
So far so good, but a recurring theme of this blog is that fans and pundits are too quick to rush to judgement. A good run of form turns a decent prospect into a world beater and a couple of uncharacteristic errors turns a good player into the worst player ever. In this fevered environment it is small wonder that young players lose their way. Equally there are the siren voices that can lead players astray<br />
<br />
In Berahino's case the penny seems to have dropped, either he has worked it out for himself or he has at least listened to someone who has told him a party lifestyle and the life of a professional athlete are incompatible on any number of levels. Firstly there is the physical aspects of partying into the wee small hours and secondly there is negative PR, neither is good for a player. It would be unreasonable to expect a young man to live the life of Trappist monk but equally when you are making headlines for your lifestyle rather than your performances on the pitch it is time to take stock.<br />
<br />
If Saido ignores the party siren he also needs to ignore the lure of the big move siren. Given his current form speculation is rife about a move to more glamorous surroundings. As an Albion fan I want two things to happen firstly I want Saido to live up to his undoubted potential develop into a 15 plus goals a season forward and secondly I want him to retire from the game as in his mid 30's with every major honour and still be a Baggie. The first is possible but the second is unlikely. <br />
<br />
It is the nature of the modern game that once a player shines at a relatively modest club the vultures start to circle. From the player's view he only has one career and if he wants to scale the summits of Champions League football that is not going to happen at West Brom. The latest rumour is of interest is from Liverpool who are rumoured to be on the verge of offering £25m to lure him away which is £10m more than Spurs were apparently to be prepared to pay a month ago which demonstrates how fevered the speculation is that surrounds the game in general. The story will run forever on the basis of big club struggling for goals Berahino seems to be scoring for fun answer buy Berahino. Eventually it will come to pass but now is too soon for both player and club.<br />
<br />
<b>What Next ?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
It is almost unreasonable to hope that Saido will score goals at his current rate and a down swing in his form is almost inevitable. It is then that we will find out if his apparent new found maturity is for real, it is easy to do the right thing when things are going well but it takes inner resolve to carry on when things are going less well. If he comes through that then we have to say he is the genuine article.<br />
<br />
A new contract is in the pipeline and hopefully this will not go to his head in quite the same way as his first big contract did but from the club's perspective a long contract is vital to secure a top price should the almost inevitable move happen, but it is also pushes it down the the road for at least twelve months and quells the constant press speculation which is good for both club and player.<br />
<br />
With regard to England he is going to play a key role in the under 21 Championship and given the choices that the England manager has he is probably only a couple of injuries from a call up to the full squad, but he is still behind Rooney Wellbeck and Sturridge. He needs two good seasons but by the time the 2016 Euro's come around he might force himself into the reckoning.<br />
<br />
Club and player need each other in equal measure at this point in time. Saido is making a contribution in the here and now but the brighter his star burns the better for the club in the future. He is the poster boy for the club's academy which has struggled to hold onto talented youngsters but from now on we can point to Saido and genuinely say "stay with us if you are good enough you will get your chance" and that is a watershed moment for the club which has struggled to re-establish a tradition of youth development which once produced the core of each generation of Albion players.<br />
<br />
I do not want to get carried away by a few good performances but I am hopeful that in Saido Berahino we have found a home grown talent that we can be proud of.<br />
<br />
<b>Post Script</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
This week Saido was called up to the England senior squad, which was not entirely surprising given his form and Sturridge's continued absence. It might be a little too early for him but with limited options available to Roy Hodgson it was almost inevitable that he would turn to Berahino. From a playing perspective given the quality of the opposition in Scotland and Slovakia Saido should be able to make the step up. However the level of attention surrounding England and the media circus is something that Saido has yet to encounter and something that many players who have been bought up at far higher profile clubs than West Brom have sometimes struggled to adjust to. <br />
<br />
Almost as soon as the call up was announced at the pre-game press conference Berahino said <i>"My ambition will be to play in the Champions League and be involved in England seniors and go and play in big trournaments like the World Cup and the Euros". </i>Not an altogether unreasonable ambition for the top English goal scorer in the Premier League, but obviously sparked yet another flurry of transfer speculation and a few brickbats from the West Brom twitteratti. <br />
<br />
Aside from obviously raising his profile a couple of notches the call up changes nothing with regard Saido's future as a Baggie. His contract position is such that there is no pressing need to sell him regardless of who comes calling in January. Everything else hinges on two things his continued form and secondly if he signs an extended deal with Albion. If his form dips interest will quickly dry up but assuming it does not and without a new deal there is very little hope that we will be retain him beyond next summer or at the very latest the following year.<br />
<br />
I think we should enjoy his talent for the time being and trust the club to extract maximum value from the deal when the day comes for him to move on to the bigger stage.Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-32338627766972368432014-09-02T08:23:00.000+01:002014-09-02T08:23:48.744+01:00A Window on a Mad World<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-al8YWuPMFrQ/VAGpESzf61I/AAAAAAAAAjE/oMibcg-5Y0g/s1600/La-odisea-de-pedir-asilo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-al8YWuPMFrQ/VAGpESzf61I/AAAAAAAAAjE/oMibcg-5Y0g/s1600/La-odisea-de-pedir-asilo.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cells are empty and the lunatics have taken over the asylum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jim White's near hysterical reporting on Sky Sports News and the massed ranks of idiots drawn moth like to the Sky camera's up and down the land is entirely appropriate backdrop to the closing of the football transfer window. It looks bonkers, it sounds bonkers and it is entirely bonkers. At the close Premier League clubs have spent a staggering £842 even allowing for incoming fees of £440m that is still a net outlay of £402m<br />
<br />
A number of factors have fuelled this turbo-charged spending spree. There is a lot of new TV money sloshing around the Premier League and this has driven prices up. The Suarez transfer for £75m injected additional funds into Liverpool who would have been strengthening in any event and one of the world's richest clubs Man United are rebuilding under a new coach after their worst season in a generation.<br />
<br />
<b>Hey Big Spender </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<col style="mso-width-alt: 4205; mso-width-source: userset; width: 86pt;" width="115"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 3840; mso-width-source: userset; width: 79pt;" width="105"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 3254; mso-width-source: userset; width: 67pt;" width="89"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: black; border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none solid solid none; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none; width: 82pt;" width="109">Club </td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: black; border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none solid solid; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 86pt;" width="115">Total Fees Out </td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: black; border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none solid solid; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 79pt;" width="105">Total Fees In</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: black; border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: none none solid solid; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none; width: 67pt;" width="89">Net
Spend</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">Arsenal</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;"> £ 83,000,000 </td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£19,900,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£63,100,000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">Aston Villa</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;"> £ 4,200,000 </td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£1,000,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£3,200,000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">Burnley</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;"> £ 4,200,000 </td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£0</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£4,200,000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">Chelsea</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;"> £ 92,300,000 </td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£75,800,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£16,500,000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">Crystal Palace</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;"> £ 9,660,000 </td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£4,900,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£4,760,000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">Everton</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;"> £ 33,000,000 </td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£1,600,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£31,400,000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">Hull City</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;"> £ 37,950,000 </td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£15,000,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£22,950,000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">Leicester City</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;"> £ 11,400,000 </td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£0</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£11,400,000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">Liverpool</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;"> £ 117,000,000 </td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£84,460,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£32,540,000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">Man City</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£55,200,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£25,500,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£29,700,000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">Man United</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;"> £ 147,500,000 </td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£31,700,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£115,800,000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">Newcastle United</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;"> £ 35,800,000 </td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£13,000,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£22,800,000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">QPR</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;"> £ 30,500,000 </td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£16,200,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£14,300,000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">Southampton</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;"> £ 57,700,000 </td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£92,000,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">-£34,300,000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">Spurs</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;"> £ 34,330,000 </td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£26,020,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£8,310,000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">Stoke City</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;"> £ 4,400,000 </td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£3,000,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£1,400,000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">Sunderland</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;"> £ 15,250,000 </td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£4,400,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£10,850,000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">Swansea</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;"> £ 22,700,000 </td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£20,400,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£2,300,000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">WBA</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;"> £ 15,500,000 </td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£2,000,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£13,500,000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="17" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">West Ham</td>
<td class="xl64" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;"> £ 30,850,000 </td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border: 0.5pt solid white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£3,000,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-underline-style: none;">£27,850,000</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;">
<td class="xl67" height="17" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid none none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700; height: 12.75pt; text-underline-style: none;">Total</td>
<td align="right" class="xl68" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none;">£842,440,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl68" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: white; border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid none; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none;">£439,880,000</td>
<td align="right" class="xl68" style="background: rgb(166, 166, 166); border-left-color: white; border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none none solid; border-top-color: white; border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 700; text-underline-style: none;">£402,560,000</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The above figures are an estimated based on reported fees which may or may not be completely accurate equally some deals do include performance related add-ons and it is not always obvious whether the reported fee includes or excludes those elements. Even with that caveat it is obvious that the Premier League Clubs have spent a staggering amount of money on players.<br />
<br />
The following clubs have broken their transfer record this window Leicester City, West Bromwich Albion Everton,Man United and Hull City. It is impossible to say who had a good window and who had a bad one there will no doubt be some expensive lemons but equally some inspired "free" transfer that surprises everyone.<br />
<br />
Only in football would something that might cost millions would be labelled as "free" but this is the case with free transfers. Many fans would be staggered at the sums players receive as signing on fees. It is rumoured that in order to keep their wage structure intact Swansea agreed a cool £8m signing on fee for Gomis who joined from Lyon.<br />
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Loan fees are not in the above figures and these are seldom reported at all and the costs vary depending on whether the parent club as in the case of Nani is picking up all or part of the players wages. Whether this is a net inflow or out flow is anyone's guess but it given the number of players being loaned it is not insignificant.<br />
<br />
The bottom line is the figures probably understate just how much clubs have spent this window.<br />
<br />
<b>Where's the Money Gone</b><br />
<br />
A large amount of the turnover has been between Premier League clubs but aside from Ligue 1 in France (even Newcastle cannot buy enough French players to make up for the folly of PSG buying David Luiz for £40m) the Premier League has a balance of payments deficit with every other major football league totalling £406m of which £59m went to the Championship with the balance in excess of £342m going overseas.<br />
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<b>The Curious Case of Shane Long</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Whenever the market surges there is a "how much?" moment and this window's was provided by Shane Long. At the death of last summer's transfer window having made it clear that he would not be signing a new contract with West Brom Shane Long was about to move to Hull City for a reported £5m. The deal fell through when Hull tried to haggle the price down. In January with even less time to run on his contract a deal was done for £7m and Shane moved to Hull. Many Albion fans believed that was a good price imagine the shock when an not noticeably improved Shane Long went to Southampton for £12m.<br />
<br />
However the deal demonstrates the market dynamics as follows<br />
<br />
1. Strikers, even average ones go for a premium.<br />
2 The known quantity of a player with 3 seasons of premier league experience also has a premium compared to the possibility of an expensive newcomer might not settle in the English game, Southampton themselves had their fingers burnt last summer with Osvaldo.<br />
3. Contract length matters Long had 3 years left on his Hull contract compared to the 1 he had at West Brom<br />
4. Southampton had lots of money following the mass exodus and a need to bring in players quickly, Hull knew this and exploited the situation. This is only a smart move if they can line up a replacement for less than £12m.<br />
5. Between last summer and now other completely nutty benchmarks had been set by other clubs most notably Fulham's £11m purchase of Ross McCormack a player who has never kicked a ball in the Premier League. <br />
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Taking everything into account it is possible to see how the price ended up at £12m. Does the deal make sense? No, but very few transfers fees do.<br />
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<b>The Beacons of Sanity</b><br />
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Take a bow Burnley who seem not to have joined the party mindful that relegation would leave them with a massive financial hangover. Fans might moan about a tight fisted board but the Premier League bonanza might be short lived and the money does have to be build a better club long term as well as putting a team together for the here and now.<br />
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<b>Too Much too Young</b><br />
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One of the highlights of the window was the absolute gem from Jose Mourihno about Chelsea's inability to compete for Luke Shaw. At a stroke Mourihno heaped pressure on Shaw and United by outing his £5m a year salary and got his excuses in early lest Chelsea have a less than stellar season. However it is not just a bit of Mourihno boloney he does have a point. Shaw is a player of real potential with one and a half seasons as a first team player under his belt, but he has never tested at the highest levels. Despite this he is commanding a salary that would imply that he is the finished article, add in the jaw dropping fee £27m fee and you have another young English player going down the well trodden path of getting the big move early in their careers and not living up to the hype. <br />
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<b>We Can see you sneaking out</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
If anyone is getting really excited about the big money signing their club has just made there are a number of players who joined the Premier League circus with much fanfare last summer who are left with a great deal less this window. Ricky Van Wolfwinkel leaving Norwich on loan to St Eitinee and Osvaldo heading back to Italy from Southampton are cautionary tales. Finally shortly after he passed on the poisoned chalice of British transfer record onto De Maria, Torres left Chelsea for Milan on loan, remember this is a player amongst other things "guarantees you goals", "shows Chelsea's ambition" and "justified the fee because he is a world class striker". So the next time you hear one of these cherished clichés being peddled by a pundit, remember Torres. <br />
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<b>Conclusion</b><br />
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It is mad, clubs never seem to learn the lessons every time new money comes into the Premier League it goes out in the form of fees and inflated salaries. In the meantime the grass roots of the game struggle to find the resources for decent pitches and youth coaches are barely paid a living wage. The English national team is struggling on the World stage but the circus carries on regardless. One does wonder what happens when the money runs out and the English game wakes up with the hangover to end all hangovers. Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-7364069480837746922014-06-28T12:46:00.002+01:002014-07-21T15:46:18.816+01:00The Global Search<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j_Z0wRP8K6I/U6y1J3Sac1I/AAAAAAAAAhQ/Zmfx3-jRRzw/s1600/craig-gardner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j_Z0wRP8K6I/U6y1J3Sac1I/AAAAAAAAAhQ/Zmfx3-jRRzw/s1600/craig-gardner.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Gardner the first of many?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is going to be a busy summer at West Bromwich Albion. While the World Cup is unfolding in Brazil the club's recruitment team will be burning the midnight oil to find anything up to 10 players to supplement a squad much depleted by players contracts expiring or in the case of those on loan not taking up the option of permanent moves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One could argue the merits of some of those decisions but on the back of a poor run of form stretching to the back end of 2012/13 few fans could argue that the squad needed to be overhauled. The question is can the club get the right players in and can the new Head coach get them to gel into an effective unit?<br /><br /> I wrote a this last summer <a href="http://lookbackinmildbewilderment.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/can-wba-spend-10m-on-player.html">(Full entry)</a> in part because I thought that the club were pretty smart operators in the market but they abandoned what was a winning strategy under the wholly malevolent influence of Clarke and McDonough. The winning strategy had been built on seven principles six out of seven were broken last summer <br /><br /><b>1. Build a team</b> - The club had a bloated squad of 25 Senior Pro's trumpeted as the biggest and best squad in the Premier League era but no effective first 11.<br /><b>2. Research Research Research</b> We had scouted Lugano we had concluded he was not right for the Premier League and McDonough ignored the scouting reports<br /><b>3. The Wisdom of Crowds</b> Clarke and McDonough drove the agenda and marginalised the opinions of the scouts <br /><b>4. Multiple Targets</b> We got mired in the protracted pursuit of Kalou and when it fell through it was very evident there was no plan B. <br /><b>5. Target Players on the Up Escalator</b> Only Vydra from last summer's recruits could have been described as up and coming the rest were recruited from backgrounds which suggested plying their trade at the Hawthorns was a bit of a come down.<br /><b>6. Plan for Failure</b> Possibly the only thing we got right given the structure of the contracts we were able to get rid of Anelka Sinclair and Lugano who were possibly three of the worst signings in the club's history<br /><b>7. Never Shop at Harrods</b> Last summer we did try to shop at Harrods but with an Aldi budget it didn't work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Back to Basics</b><br /> <br />The dismissal of McDonough and Clarke and the hiring of Terry Burton to oversee recruitment marks a return to the principles that underpinned the club's success in the market. From Burton's comments in the a recent interview in the <a href="http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/west-brom-alan-irvine-can-7339578?">B'ham Mail</a> it is apparent the squad will be slimmed down and there will be a greater emphasis on developing our younger players. This window there will be focus on quality rather than quantity which should be music to every Albion fan's ears.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O0H53dGDsNA/U6y1yhaBTrI/AAAAAAAAAhY/lATkgvEDy3E/s1600/downloadss-185x183.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O0H53dGDsNA/U6y1yhaBTrI/AAAAAAAAAhY/lATkgvEDy3E/s1600/downloadss-185x183.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back to his Midland root Lescott signs</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To date we have picked up two players on "free transfers" from other Premier League clubs in Lescott and Gardner. Both add something to the squad Lescott is a hugely experienced defender and Gardner is a midfield all rounder that we have needed for a couple of seasons. My only concern is about their motivation as a move to the Hawthorns does not represent a step up for either player and I hope both are consummate professionals in the Scharner mould rather than egotistical has been that was Anelka.<br /><br />As ever we have been linked with a myriad of players Cresswell, Snodgrass, Robertson Hibbert, Rodwell and Riviere amongst others. How real the club's interest in any or all of these players is hard to tell. Given the absence of any full backs in the squad obviously we are in the market for full backs and probably another striker but after that a lot depends on how Alan Irvine wants to set up his team (see point 1 above). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Outbound</b><br /><br />Letting players go that don't fit or are on the fringes of the squad is very much part and parcel of managing the club's playing resources and moving on senior pro's who are not part of the first XI is vital to clearing a pathway for younger players. Two of Albion's most promising younger players have handed in transfer requests both Dawson and Thorne have grown frustrated at the lack of first team opportunities. Whether either merit starting places is debatable but their frustration is understandable and not helped by the fact that the squad got bloated last year. During the first half of the season there was always at least 5 senior players not getting into the match day squad, in that environment it is difficult for youngsters to see a way into the first team. <br /><br />If any of our existing senior pro's do not fit into Irvine's plans they need to be moved on there is no point in retaining players as third choice in their favoured position nor trying to fit square pegs into round holes or keeping a player because he might be useful on the off chance the coach might want to depart from their stock formation. <br /><br />On this basis I would be surprised if all the existing squad make it through the window. <br /><br /><b>Harrods is Closed</b><br /><br />There is no value in the Premier League transfers that involve a fee. I think the £8m deals for Snodgrass and Livermore prove that beyond reasonable doubt, there might be an exception but I am hard pressed to remember it across the last few windows. Equally the World Cup is an awful shop window I absolutely guarantee that a player will be snapped up by a European Club on the basis of a few good games in Brazil and completely flop. Gonzalo Jara is having a good World Cup he was released by West Brom and Nottingham Forest for a reason,I rest my case. <br /><br />If not Harrods where? The answer is the continent unless a team is in the Champions League Albion can pay better wages than most of the continental clubs with the exception of some of the Russian and Turkish teams. There is talent in abundance at reasonable prices in Holland Germany, Belgium, Spain, France and Italy not to mention the lesser leagues. The smaller clubs in these markets along with the Championship have to sell to balance their books and as such they are more likely to accept a reasonable offer i.e. they cannot get through a window without selling. The key is to avoid a multi-way bidding war for high profile talent like Bony under these circumstances the price is much more likely to be akin to a Premier League transaction, that is to say devoid of value and loaded with downside risk. <br /><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Conclusion</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't think the club will be repeating the mistakes of last summer, however as ever I think the fans who crave high profile signings with the big fees will be disappointed. Unless they are a very dedicated follower of every European league many of Albion's potential signings will need to be Googled by fans to get a some idea of who we have been linked with. Equally until the window closes at the end of August will we have the full picture of what the squad will look like. I will venture it will be better balanced and smaller than last year's but aside from that I would not try to second guess it's composition. </span><br />
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<b>PS</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think we might sign a full back or two</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h_d4ZUlbyyg/U5ZFx5P66GI/AAAAAAAAAhE/0Wl27lhfaXo/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h_d4ZUlbyyg/U5ZFx5P66GI/AAAAAAAAAhE/0Wl27lhfaXo/s1600/download.jpg" height="269" width="320" /></a></div>
The appointment of Alan Irvine as the Albion's new Coach has not been greeted with universal approval. I have to admit to having my reservations but I could pretty much say that of any candidate.<br />
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Personally I am a coaching agnostic I don't believe the hype surrounding coaches good or bad. There is no coach on this Earth who could transform Albion's prospects either way the club's position in football's hierarchy is determined by it's resources and in the short term those are fixed irrespective of who the coach is.Of course the Head Coach has influence on the outcomes he has to organise the players and get the most out of individually and collectively.<br />
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However any competent Coach could do that and past reputation is no indication that any new appointee will be able to achieve this in the particular circumstances that present themselves at the Hawthorns. In that context I cannot hand on heart say Irvine "terrible" Sherwood "wonderful" at best I might say I think Sherwood is better than Irvine but I have no first hand knowledge on which to base that judgement so I am as likely to be wrong as right. It's a coin flip.<br />
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I don't know if Irvine will be a success, nobody does and forecasting imminent disaster on the basis of his appointment is almost as silly as attributing flooding to God's reaction to gay marriage. Obviously his previous forays into management have not ended well. All coaches fail at some point in their career and that failure is almost inevitable given that most clubs do not have the resources to meet their fans and some owners aspirations. Only a handful of coaches are fortunate enough to work for clubs where that is the case and even there longevity is the exception rather than the rule. The reality at Preston and Sheffield Wednesday was that both clubs were in situations where relegation to Division One was always a possibility, but in neither case would fans nor owners accept that and the Head Coach was duly sacrificed to the Gods to make things better, which in Preston's case has not worked and it has only been a partial success at Wednesday where relegation to League One is still more likely than promotion. <br />
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Obviously from the preceding paragraph I do not share the sense of moral outrage that many Baggies seem to have concerning Irvine's appointment I know I am in the minority and will not be rushing to join any demonstration <a href="http://lookbackinmildbewilderment.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/all-aboard-peace-out-bandwagon.html" target="_blank">(views on the ownership here)</a> nor try to get my season ticket refunded. However the danger is that the fan reaction to the appointment is so toxic that the doom and gloom envelopes the club and the negativity alone scuppers the season before it has even started. It is arguable that the McLeish appointment had a such an impact on Villa and they have struggled ever since. I doubt it is an outcome that most fans want but some seem hell bent on it because the club has had temerity to appoint a Head Coach they don't approve of.<br />
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The challenge ahead of the new Head Coach is difficult enough without the chorus of fan hostility, Irvine has three priorities before a ball is kicked in anger in August<br />
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<b>1. Tactics </b><br />
It might seem a statement of the bleeding obvious but the coach needs to settle on a tactical format that fits the players at the club and drill them Hodgson style until they know their jobs inside out. According to players who have played under him he is going to be meticulous in his approach and his sides will be very well organised. Judging by his previous clubs he favours a 4-4-1-1 and given his long association with Moyes I think it is safe to say whilst not being an exponent of the long ball game in the way Allardyce is he will be a pragmatist rather than a coach who values beauty over results.<br />
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<b>2. Discipline </b><br />
The new Coach needs to get a grip on the dressing room from day one. There has been a gradual decline in our discipline both on and off the pitch. Irvine needs to demand a minimum level of professionalism from his new charges and if that is not forthcoming the club need to back him by shipping out the bad apples regardless of their reputations or past performances.<br />
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<b>3. Players</b><br />
Albion let 10 players go at the end of the season and there is no guarantee that even the players remaining will be retained. George Thorne has put in a transfer request and others have been linked with moves away and equally not all of the current squad might have a role in Irvine's team. All of which points to a busy summer at the club and while Irvine does not have sole responsibility for player recruitment but he does set the tactical blueprint which underpins the club's transfer activity. I think it was Clarke's lack of tactical clarity which sowed the seeds for last season's debacle. Ultimately Irvine will need to bed in at least 8 new recruits and no one should under estimate this challenge.<br />
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Aside from Moyes perhaps no candidate would have been greeted with universal acclaim and I don't know who is the more deluded, the Albion fans who thought he was a realistic target or Moyes himself thinking he is going to get another a shot at Champions League football in the short term. However whatever other candidates were spoken to or considered Albion have appointed Alan Irvine. Fans may grumble or harp on about what might have been that is irrelevant.<br />
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I suspect many of our Monday morning quarterbacks will be sitting on their sofas waiting for him to fail so they have the dubious pleasure of saying "I told you so" to my mind that is a pointless and self defeating mind set. Alan Irvine is our new Head Coach embrace the fact hope for the best and see what happens.Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-17552211948969479782014-05-24T10:28:00.000+01:002014-05-24T10:28:33.466+01:00The Unusual Suspects<div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SRubN1FlZ7s/U4Bdj4soMnI/AAAAAAAAAgU/8bUklRMyDS4/s1600/Jol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SRubN1FlZ7s/U4Bdj4soMnI/AAAAAAAAAgU/8bUklRMyDS4/s1600/Jol.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jol best English based option?</td></tr>
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Having chosen to sack rather than back Pepe Mel Albion are looking for their third Head Coach in two years. Personally I would have preferred the club to back him but I think the whole project looked doomed after the fall out from the Villa and Crystal Palace defeats saw a player rebellion and the dismissal of McDonough who was instrumental in bringing Mel to the club.<br />
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It may have been naive for Mel to try to implement his particular style of football with a squad that was singularly ill equipped to deliver it but from the outside it looked like the players were reluctant to give it much of a go. The view from some club insiders was that it wasn't working nor was it going to work and without the intervention of the Senior Pro's and Assistant Head Coach Keith Downing we would have been relegated. I would counter that by pointing out that the same Senior Pro's and coaching staff had put us in that position prior to Clarke's dismissal which might explain why most fans are not completely won over by this argument.</div>
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All recriminations aside the season is over and we start afresh. The last two appointments were far from resounding successes therefore the pressure is on the club to get it right this time. As ever there is very little information about who the club is actively considering and most names linked with post are no more than pure conjecture. If the lessons from the last two appointments are to be learnt promoting a coach however well respected into their first Head Coach position might be seen as a risk or importing an overseas coach with limited English and a radically different footballing philosophy to that had gone before might also be deemed a little bit too left field.</div>
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The position is an attractive one by dint of the club being in the Premier league it is one of the top 50 clubs in Europe. While the cull of 10 players from the first team squad presents any coach with the challenge of bedding in an influx of new players at least it gives him the opportunity of influencing shape of the squad they will be working with. <br />
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One issue seems to dominate Albion's Head Coach searches and that is control. Firstly the club has adopted a continental approach where the Head Coach is responsible for the day to day running of the squad but a Technical Director is responsible for scouting and recruitment. Secondly the club is reluctant to have a complete change of first team coaching staff when the Head Coach is appointed.<br />
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Both policies deter the traditional British gaffer and this structure might be a stumbling block for some of the names that have been linked with the position Moyes Hughton and MacKay are all keen on having control of all footballing matters. I would however point out that more clubs are implementing management structures that dilute the power once enjoyed by the traditional British gaffer. Moyes' reputation might find a club willing to do things his way but MacKay and Hughton might need to rethink their their opposition to working with a Technical Director if they want to work.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VCGstgL8kgE/U4BdoBhhhSI/AAAAAAAAAgc/7AjqFKU7ixI/s1600/sami.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VCGstgL8kgE/U4BdoBhhhSI/AAAAAAAAAgc/7AjqFKU7ixI/s1600/sami.jpg" height="176" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hyypia knows the English game</td></tr>
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In some respects it would easier for the club to appoint a continental coach that has worked with a technical director and is therefore comfortable with the club's structure. However unlike Mel they need to be English speaking and pragmatic enough to realise that the current squad has limitations and if we are to move to a more progressive style of play it will evolve rather than happen overnight. The downside of this is unless the Coach has first hand experience of the English football culture and the intensity of the Premier League they might take a while to find their feet, and on the back of a poor season there is limited scope for any coach to settle in. Of the names that have been linked with the club Mauricio Pellegrino and Sami Hyypia having both worked or at least played in England seem to be a decent fit.<br />
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<br />
If Premier League experience is vital whoever is available will have slightly damaged reputations. Of those available Moyes and Jol have the most experience but their last jobs didn't end well. Sherwood who has been linked has a few months of caretaker experience under his belt and very mixed reviews from his time at Spurs. In terms of fit Jol might be the best bet. Moyes might be more desirable but there are a host of reasons why he might not be interested in the job.<br />
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Overall I do not envy the club's task there is no coach they are likely to appoint that will meet with universal approval and whoever it is they will have their critics from the "wim doomed" brigade regardless of reputation or experience. Whoever is appointed will be operating within the constraints of a mid to lower Premier League club in the most fiercely competitive league in the world it is a tough job just keeping Albion in it, whoever we appoint I wish them well.Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-843784865373948582014-05-11T19:37:00.001+01:002014-05-11T19:37:54.918+01:00It Could have been Worse <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Thkzxdluhxg/UzrSfAx5UUI/AAAAAAAAAfk/rgnzAw7z8D4/s1600/1394899093116_lc_galleryImage_SWANSEA_WALES_MARCH_15_We.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Thkzxdluhxg/UzrSfAx5UUI/AAAAAAAAAfk/rgnzAw7z8D4/s1600/1394899093116_lc_galleryImage_SWANSEA_WALES_MARCH_15_We.JPG" height="201" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Albion Fans rallying behind Pepe Mel </td></tr>
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The problem with this season was that it was almost "normal" for West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League. On the basis that the club has around the 15th largest wage bill in the Division and over time there is a very strong correlation between wage bill and league position then 15th is roughly the outcome one can expect. To achieve that a team will need to accrue around 42 points. The final outcome was below par by roughly 6 points or 2 wins across 38 games. If the players do not perform to their collective potential Albion will face a tough season and that is what has happened. <br />
<br />
We underperformed and that was always a possible outcome but the sense of crisis that has gathered around the club seems to be far greater than one poor season. Why? I think there are a number of reasons <br />
<br />
<b>Recent History</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Albion over achieved by finishing 8th,10th and 11th in the preceding seasons and aside from the odd flirtation with the bottom half of the Division had not been under serious threat of relegation since Di-Mateo left the club in 2011. To be part of that battle for most of the season was a shock to all attached to the club.<br />
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<b>The Season Before</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The team's form over the second half of the season was pretty dire and from January to the close we picked up less than a point a game which is relegation form our 8th place finish put a better gloss on the situation than many of the performances merited.Whatever the distraction of the Odemwingie saga too many players form dropped off a cliff and the coach got into the habit if providing under performing players with excuses and grumbling about not having enough players in his squad. <br />
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<b>The Summer of the Chelsea reject</b><br />
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Aside from the Chairman's PR gaff which I wrote about at the time<b> <a href="http://lookbackinmildbewilderment.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/how-to-pacify-angry-polar-bear.html" target="_blank">(here)</a> </b>it was the summer where two new appointees Director of Football Richard Garlick and Head of Recruitment<b> </b>Dave McDonough were responsible for the club's recruitment activity. It also seemed that the Head Coach also had an agenda which did not fit with the club's stated aim of having a squad of 22 Senior players supplemented by under 21's. The fact we ended the window with 25 Senior Pros suggests that Clarke won that battle.<br />
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For whatever reason the focus seemed to be on players with Premier League experience Anelka, Sessegnon Sinclair and Anichebe were bought in as were the experienced Amalfitno and Luganno. The only up and coming recruit was Vydra. The fact that Anelka and Sinclair were players that Clarke had worked with at Chelsea and we also pursued Kalou and Lukaku would suggest that the club was being pushed in a certain direction by their Head Coach. We also retained the veterans Reid and Gera and the journeyman left back Popov on loan.<br />
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In short we got it horribly wrong. The team had been built by careful scouting and research looking for gems who would regard joining the club as a step up or an opportunity. We had assiduously avoided buying players recycled from other Premier League outfits whose careers had plateaued and whose motivation was questionable. It latter transpired that some of the signings had been made despite negative scouting reports and Anelka was signed pretty much on his past glories and his training stats gleaned from Juve.<br />
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McDonough and Clarke steered us away from what had made us successful and Garlick either lacked the gumption or authority to challenge them. The squad had plenty of experience Morrison, Mulumbu, Brunt Foster, Reid, Gera, Olsson and Ridgewell all had more than a hundred games in the Premier League. The last thing the squad needed was more experience. It needed younger hungry players to add energy and push those players who had slacked off the previous season, in fact some of those players needed to be moved on.<br />
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What was required was a small tight knit group (22 plus under 21's) working to a clear tactical blueprint. What we got was a bloated squad with no clear tactical blueprint and a half a dozen new recruits who either had no clear role or replicated what we already had and increased the average age of the squad.<br />
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Ultimately the new arrivals failed to impress and some will go down as among the worst signings in the club's history and others were just a little bit too inconsistent or injury prone.<br />
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<b>Clarke's Tactical cul-de-sac </b><br />
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By the<b> </b>end of the window Clarke had assembled a lot of players but still had no clear idea how to deploy them. During pre season Clarke had played Rosenberg and Anelka as a front two in a 442 with some promise That combination never saw active service in a competitive game however we started with a 442 in the opening games and it was largely ineffectual not just because our marque signing Anelka came up short but because our midfield was ill equipped to deal with the demands of that system.<br />
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Clarke got it right one time, it all came together for ninety minutes at Old Trafford, deprived of Anelka Clarke reverted to 4-2-3-1. When the generally ineffectual Sinclair limped off and was replaced by the live wire Berahino the team clicked Sessegnon playing just off the excellent Anichebe had one of his better games and Amalfitno looked nothing short of breath taking. The 2-1 win was a highlight that Albion fans needed to savour because it was all too fleeting. From that point on we seldom put together a whole 90 minutes of football that came close to that performance.<br />
<br />
Sessegnon proved why he was labelled inconsistent by his former club's supporters. Anichebe had more muscle strains than the human body has muscles. Amalfitno answered the the question "How could Marsaille let such a quality player out on loan?" by disappearing for large parts of games. Anelka returned which I think led to Long playing on the right wing at some point. By the time we got to Cardiff we were a tactical mess playing poorly and sliding down the table.<br />
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Clarke was sacked some might say harshly but there was very little backlash from the fans who had witnessed the rapid unravelling of a team that finished 8th the previous season. <a href="http://lookbackinmildbewilderment.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/for-whom-bell-tolls-part-ii.html" target="_blank">(see here)</a><br />
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<b>The Men In Black</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I think it is probably fair to say refereeing decisions did not even themselves out and there were games which to some degree turned on those decisions. The Ramires dive at Stamford Bridge was outrageous and deprived the team of a crucial 2 points. However too often Clarke would talk about a refereeing decision when had the players done their jobs the decision would never come into play or not had the impact that it did. Virtually in every game where we were on the wrong end of poor penalty decision we had spurned opportunities to score or made basic defensive errors in the lead up to the decision. In short too often a poor refereeing decision was used as an excuse and once coaches start blaming things beyond the players control it is a short step to players not taking responsibility for the things they can control.<br />
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The message is clear referees make mistakes, deal with it and don't use them as an excuse. One of the things I never want to see again is an Albion coach moaning about refereeing decisions Di-Matteo did it frequently prior to his demise and Clarke had got into the habit both of their teams were in a tailspin by the time they left.<br />
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<b>Anelka he came, he saw, he saluted. </b><br />
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I had more than a few reservations about Anelka's arrival but given his pre-season form I was warming to the idea by the time the season started against Southampton. However almost from the start it was very apparent that Anelka was not up to the high intensity football of the Premier League.The following week he suddenly retired prompted by the death of his friend Eric Manasse only to be talked round after a week of compassionate leave. At the time I only felt sympathy for the grief stricken player but as events unfolded those who talked him into to staying did the club a terrible disservice.<br />
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In the run up to Christmas his form was indifferent and he was frequently sidelined with relatively minor injuries. He then popped up with 2 goals against West Ham but plunged the club into the maelstrom of the<br />
'quenelle' goal celebration. Initially I was taken aback by the controversy that it generated as the gesture had no meaning on this side of the English Channel. However things took on an altogether darker tone when Anelka himself gave his actions the context of support for his friend Dieudonné who is a rabid anti-Semite.<br />
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Following a lengthy FA investigation Anelka was found guilty of making an offensive gesture and one which plainly had anti-Semitic overtones. He was somewhat fortunate to be banned for five games given the independent commission's findings (<a href="http://www.thefa.com/~/media/files/pdf/nicolas-anelka-written-reasons-060314.ashx" target="_blank">here</a>) and could have returned to the fold had he apologised and accepted a club fine. However Anelka chose to quit via twitter only to be sacked the day after for Gross Misconduct. It was a fitting end to an inglorious Albion career.</div>
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In summary Anelka played 12 times,scored twice walked out as often, was injured or suspended as frequently as he was available and poisoned the relationship between the club and it's major sponsor. All this for this at a cost of over £1 million. Thanks for absolutely nothing.<br />
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<b>Mel to the Rescue</b><br />
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The standard football narrative is a struggling team sack the Head Coach who has lost the plot, appoint a new one who quickly galvanises the team and they live happily ever after or at least to the next sustained down swing in the team's form. This seemed to be the idea behind Albion's appointment of Pepe Mel. However things did not run smoothly.<br />
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Firstly Mel is not a quick fix coach. He is has a style of play and a philosophy which did not necessarily fit the squad that he inherited. Secondly his takeover was delayed because of a difference of opinion about the number of coaches he could bring with him and the compromise took time to be thrashed out. Thirdly the players did not buy into what he was trying to do and finally he lost players to injury, suspension, sale and dismissal. <br />
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In terms of unwanted distractions Mel had to contend with the Dave McDonough sacking a post match bust up between Berahino and Morrison which has heavily reported in the press, not to mention the Anelka affair which rumbled on through the first two months of his tenure. It took time for the first win to arrive against Swansea and in the run up to it Mel was facing questions about his future. However throughout he remained positive and endeared himself to the fans with his dignity and charm.<br />
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The turning point was reached when we beat Norwich at the beginning of April which was followed up with a draw against Spurs and a precious win against West Ham which was enough to see Albion across the line.<br />
No matter what happened on the pitch the questions over Mel's future wouldn't go away and at the time of writing his future seems to be hanging in the balance pending a meeting with the club's hierarchy. <br />
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I have no idea what has gone behind the scenes but the mood music emanating out the Hawthorns suggests that despite keeping the team in the Premier League Mel will be leaving. I find this turn of events perplexing but I suspect the fall out from the player mutiny and the McDonough dismissal might have lead the board to question the wisdom of Mel's appointment. Personally I think that if the club embraces his style of high pressing football he will succeed and his impact could transform our prospects next season. However it is a risk and it does require the biggest overhaul of the playing squad since the summer of 2007 when we backed Mowbray and allowed him to break up a squad which like this one had grown complacent and barely cooperated with a newly appointed Head Coach. <br />
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<b>Conclusion</b><br />
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The season from hell is over and after everything that could go wrong went wrong we still find ourselves in the Premier League . However be in no doubt we were lucky, we survived with a points total that would have often seen us relegated and we will have to improve if we are to extend our time in the top flight.<br />
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There are many big decisions to be made. Hopefully the club will chose to back Mel but regardless of the Head Coach the club must overhaul the squad too many players have under performed for too long and they cannot be allowed to get yet another Head Coach the sack.<br />
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Ultimately the only good thing that happened is that Albion weren't relegated that aside nobody walks away with any credit.</div>
Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-69680192135447410742014-04-07T14:28:00.000+01:002014-04-07T14:28:20.686+01:00Pepe Mel Back Him or Sack Him<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7a8YHhiIgy0/U0KTNNNAWxI/AAAAAAAAAgA/7PQY1-V9vM8/s1600/kiely.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7a8YHhiIgy0/U0KTNNNAWxI/AAAAAAAAAgA/7PQY1-V9vM8/s1600/kiely.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
For the last month or so there has been a bit of speculation surrounding Pepe Mel's future as Head Coach at West Bromwich Albion. Obviously pressure mounts when a team is struggling at the wrong end of the table and the future of a Coach is on the line if he fails to achieve the sole objective of staying in the league. However even after a couple of wins and a series of creditable draws which have gone a long way to securing the club's Premier League status uncertainty seems to surround his future. <div>
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The latest round of speculation was sparked by Mel's own comment about being uncertain as to whether or not he will be here next year. There have been reports of behind the scenes strife and a players rebellion. Dave McDonough Albion's Head of Recruitment was dismissed (sorry left the club by mutual agreement) and he was instrumental in Mel's appointment. McDonough is now seen as the villain behind much of what has gone wrong at the club this year, whether this clouds the Albion's hierarchy view of the Mel appointment I don't know, but at no point has the club moved to stem the tide of speculation particularly ahead of the Swansea game. I do not have any particular insight as to the inner workings at the Hawthorns but the mood music is not great.</div>
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Despite the background of near constant crisis Mel has remained positive, engaging and has struck a cord with the fans in a way that no Albion coach has since Tony Mowbray. It is plain that he has a philosophy of attacking football played to feet, which is something that the Albion supporters are looking for after a series of progressively more "pragmatic" coaches has reduced the team to a counter attacking long ball operation grinding out enough results to stay in the league. </div>
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The board has a stark choice either back Mel or sack him. Backing him entails giving him license to break up a squad of players who have grown complacent and bring in players that fit his tactical blueprint. It will cost money in fees and wages but the books can be balanced with a little bit of player trading. If they do not want to go down this route or are only half hearted about it then sacking Mel is the only sensible alternative. Install a Clarke mark II coach who will revert to the tactics of the slow retreat, take no risks and be rewarded with a glorious 14th place finish in the Premier League until one season things go a little awry and hello Championship. </div>
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There are consequences of sacking Mel that the club need to consider. Firstly it sends a terrible message to an under performing dressing room. Secondly it runs the risk of further alienating the clubs fan base which has taken to Mel. Neither of which will make a successors task any easier nor indeed make the club a more appealing prospect to potential Head Coaches. </div>
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I firmly believe backing Mel is the only sensible alternative. Yes it is a risk but one that the club has to take for it's long term health. We have a choice of dying on our feet or dying on our knees the outcome might be the same but the former has some pride to it whereas the other carries a burden of shame and a lingering sense of what might have been. </div>
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Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-35860135313107649812014-02-13T13:27:00.000+00:002014-02-13T13:36:23.536+00:00All Aboard the Peace Out Bandwagon<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BHJZJd7fY3w/Uvy-vanTRhI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/2djbRxx-3o8/s1600/venky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BHJZJd7fY3w/Uvy-vanTRhI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/2djbRxx-3o8/s1600/venky.jpg" height="236" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice banner shame about the owners</td></tr>
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The ideal football club owner, is a benign billionaire who works entirely for the benefit of the club for no monetary gain. They cherish the traditions of the club, appoint only the best of managers have the wisdom of Solomon i.e. know when to persevere with an under achieving coach and when to fire him. They give "football people" free reign to run the club even if their decisions seem contrary and cost many millions of pounds. They listen to the fans and respond to the clamor for a player or a scapegoat for failure with just that.<br />
<br />
They build magnificent stadiums and discount tickets to the point where every seat is full and then build an even greater palace of football. They only associate the club the most wholesome of sponsors (no tacky Money Lenders or On-Line Gaming companies need apply). At the end of his tenure which is laden with trophies he hands over the club to another equally benign billionaire.<br />
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Meanwhile in the real world. Owners are motivated by profit,ego, politics, occasionally love of the club but even those increasingly rare birds the "fan" chairman probably is not entirely there out of love. Personally I trust those who are there for the money. Their motives are easily understood and generally if they trying to make money from the venture they are not going to kill the club. Obviously if someone is wealthy enough to buy a club in the first place they are probably have just a bit of an ego, although there is a difference between a healthy self belief and rampant megalomania. <br />
<br />
The Americans owners are here because they think they can make money. Those that own Arsenal and Man United have, everybody else is nursing some pretty heavy losses. The notion that sports clubs can be profitable is pretty well established in the USA most NFL teams make their owners money. With the vast quantities of money from TV ,sponsors and other commercial ventures it should be possible to make money from running a Premier League football club. The only fly in the ointment is the prospect of relegation and an absence of any of the balancing mechanisms that make the NFL a competition and the Premier League a series of mini competitions depending on the clubs bankroll.<br />
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Here is the rub because three clubs are always evicted from the rich man's club to the poor house of the Championship often with debts and overheads that cannot be sustained on the meager rations doled out through the parachute payments and much reduced income from other sources. To stay in the League most teams have to spend pretty much every penny they earn on wages and fees, which get bid up constantly and unless a steady stream of new recruits are arriving at a club fans lambaste the board for lacking ambition and coaches grumble about being down to the bare bones etc.<br />
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However ultimately three teams will be relegated and then it is a question of what can be recovered from the financial wreckage. History is not kind to those that have over extended during their time in the Premier League saddled with debt's that no honest man could pay many limp on for decades in the twilight world of the championship selling their best players to make ends meet, never quite having the squad to regain entry to the Premier League. It does not have to stop in the Championship, Leeds, Southampton,Norwich City, Wolves Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United ,Portsmouth Bradford City Swindon Town Nottingham Forrest and Charlton have all experienced Premier League football and the delights of the third tier or lower. Only two have ever made it back to the hallowed halls of the Premier League.<br />
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All this brings me to the the somewhat awkward position that West Bromwich Albion find themselves in and the uncomfortable relationship between the fans and the club's owner. There is a body of opinion within the fan base that unless an owner is behaving in the manner described in the opening paragraphs of this post will grumble about the owner being tight fisted and not investing enough in the team. When things are going badly they are joined by more reasonable fans who think that but for a little bit wisdom on the part of the ownership a couple of better players all would be well at the Hawthorns. I have no time for former but understand the latter. It is easy to be a Monday morning Quarterback and while some of the club's decisions can easily be questioned many were not entirely unreasonable at the time, obviously if you regard the club's ownership as the devil incarnate then you would never give them any benefit of the doubt or credit where it is due.<br />
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All that said I think Peace's tenure has run it's course. There was a weariness in his summer interviews, it was if his skirmishes with the the FA & Premier League over youth development and FFP had finally convinced him that he was engaged in an uneven battle that he could not win. Ultimately Peace would probably like to sell up, but he will not sell for less than he thinks the club is worth. If Fulham were sold for £200m then realistically Albion must be worth at least £100m and there are not many people who can buy an asset which lest we forget barely makes a profit for that kind of money.<br />
<br />
Assuming a buyer can be found a new owner would still be faced with the fact that Albion have one of the lower incomes in the Premier League. Keeping the club in the league is a challenge. Whatever a new owner does it is unlikely even with a £90m additional investment over the course of say three years that we would be very much better than a mid-table team and the threat of relegation would not be removed, however the consequences of a relegation might be far worse than they are today.<br />
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Peace might not be perfect but there are owners who are far worse, they may be prepared to bankroll a club for a short while but they demand changes that fans find unpalatable and when they walk away they leave problems that might take decades to sort out. <br />
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Ultimately I would much prefer the club to be owned by a supporters trust. Unfortunately unless an owner runs the club into the ground to point only the supporters want to own it is rare that the fans get a chance to take a club over. Equally I do not remember the 1990's when the club had it's broadest ownership with any great fondness. Too often the club was riven with factional infighting and at some points it seemed we had more EGM's than home fixtures. The weakness of fan ownership as is often demonstrated in Spain where<br />
too often club's get run in a manner that resembles a dysfunctional town hall because there is a constant need to respond to fan pressure. Those that shout loudest get the most attention in politics and unless the club's officers have some reasonable length of tenure democracy can kill a club almost as quickly as naked greed.<br />
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Many fans criticise Peace but the plain fact is when he does sell up and move on the club will be in a better place than when he took it over. There are not many owners who could make that claim and I do fear the new boss will be the same as the old boss or something much worse, although there is always the possibility of the benign Billionaire rocking up at B71. Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-64642498746234751782014-02-03T10:34:00.000+00:002014-02-03T13:00:12.803+00:00We're Independent Are You?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I write about football I tend to write through the prism of a hardcore Baggies fan who has experienced his fair share of ups and downs. I am biased but I hope it does not make me blind to the faults of my club or the failings the players it employs. Anyway that is my excuse I am left wondering as to what Jon Culley's is for the match report in the Independent of the game between <span style="font-size: x-large;">LIVERPOOL </span>& <span style="font-size: xx-small;">West Bromwich Albion.</span><br />
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I understand that Liverpool the team with a wage bill 3 times it's opponents, a player whose transfer fee would have paid for the entire Albion match day squad with change is the story from a national newspapers perspective hungry for clicks and eyeballs from around the world. However it does not let the writer off writing something which does justice to both sides of the story.<br />
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Albion played their part in a keenly fought contest, Culley managed to name check two Albion players who were not playing but ignored the excellent Claudio Yacob who along with his team mates.matched their more heralded opponents for possession across the game. Did he mention that Sturridge's goal might have been offside or that Gerrard might have been lucky not to be booked for a cynical foul ten minutes before he was rightly booked for a bad tackle on Yacob? No, perhaps that did not fit with the predetermined narrative.<br />
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While the game turned on Toure's dreadful error it was not solely down to Liverpool's ineptitude that the Albion rescued a point from an unpromising position of being one - nil down to a team lest we forget is chasing a Champion's League position. However reading the Independent on line one might get the impression that it was particularly when the match report is accompanied by another five hundred words on how the Liverpool manager forgave Toure for his howler. As an aside is it me or does Brendan Rodgers get more insufferable by the day?<br />
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Part of me shrugs and just pours scorn on the London based media rather pathetic attempts to report on the Albion. In fairness I am taking a shot at the Independent but I could have equally taken a shot at any of it's broadsheet competitors (apart from the Times I won't pay for the privilege of being patronised or ignored in equal measure). However there is a serious point the absence of reasonable press coverage hinders the club in getting even a tiny fragment of the global marketing pie and it reinforces the notion that match officials are there to "protect" the star players from the big clubs and if they make a bad decision against us it is no big deal because it is only West Bromwich Albion.<br />
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I know I am biased but at least I have an excuse for that bias. I am not sure the "National Media" does.Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-23566551394169766252014-01-09T23:30:00.000+00:002014-01-19T11:10:15.020+00:00Bienvenido Pepe Mel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MnnF_jxnvrg/Us8xHsdQD9I/AAAAAAAAAew/zxEjKBOluvk/s1600/Pepe-Mel_3057747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MnnF_jxnvrg/Us8xHsdQD9I/AAAAAAAAAew/zxEjKBOluvk/s1600/Pepe-Mel_3057747.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
The Baggies after an extensive search which saw the club linked with every football coach in the known universe have appointed Pepe Mel, most recently of Real Betis.<br />
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Like all new coaches he will enjoy a brief honeymoon period and then he will feel the white hot heat of unrealistic expectation. In this case he has roughly two weeks until the end of January when Albion go to Villa Park. His future does not hinge on one fixture but the outcome of the derby will either leave him basking in the warm glow of affection or facing an icy blast of doubt.<br />
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Fans are fickle and Pepe Mel has to hope that his new employers will give him time and backing to get a team that has rather lost its way of late back on track. Mel has a reputation for playing an open and attacking style of football, which many fans hope to see at the Hawthorns. That said the coach will have to navigate through the rest of a season with the current squad and if needs be compromise on style in the pursuit of the eighteen points required to secure Premier League survival.<br />
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Personally I think any coach needs a minimum of six months in the job and at least one pre season and summer transfer window before any sort of meaningful assessment can be made. He needs an opportunity to stamp his style on the team work out his best eleven and bring in players that best suit his footballing philosophy. The set up at West Brom does not give him the absolute final say in transfers but it is up to him as to what positions the club strengthens and what type of player they look to bring in.<br />
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If Mel gets past the first challenge of keeping the club in the division the summer offers him both an opportunity and a challenge. A third of the current squad is out of contract at the end of the season although the club does have options to extend for another year in a number of cases. In addition there are a number of players who although under contract might move on either in January or in the summer. By the start of next season the squad could look very different.<br />
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An influx of new players gives Mel a chance to shape a side which can deliver attacking free flowing football but equally it presents the challenge of integrating as many as 10 new players into a squad. That is a difficult balance to strike and will really test Mel's abilities as a coach and tactician. Others have failed this year notably AVB and Di-Cannio who were handed similar challenges to the one that will confront Mel.<br />
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The future is as ever uncertain whether the decision to fire Clarke and bring in Pepe Mel was correct only time will tell but the new Head Coach will be steering the club through a pivotal twelve months. I wish him well. <br />
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<br />Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-32418702345935670362013-12-16T15:21:00.000+00:002013-12-16T15:22:28.679+00:00For Whom the Bell Tolls Part II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sclFTGgokww/Uq4rrVCMmUI/AAAAAAAAAd4/Mh7G30m4hn8/s1600/Clarke+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sclFTGgokww/Uq4rrVCMmUI/AAAAAAAAAd4/Mh7G30m4hn8/s1600/Clarke+1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve Clarke in happier times.</td></tr>
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My last post <a href="http://lookbackinmildbewilderment.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/for-whom-bell-tolls.html" target="_blank"> (here)</a> concerned the almost rhythmical nature of being the Premier leagues "crisis club" and the fact that being manager of the crisis club was likely to be a job with very few long term prospects. At the time of writing it appeared to be Norwich's Chris Hughton who had the dubious privilege of being that man. I did point out that a couple of good results could place another manager in the line of fire and Martin Jol at Fulham being the obvious candidate. As things turned out Jol was indeed sacked shortly after losing to West Ham in what was deemed a must win game.<br />
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What I did not anticipate was the next managerial sacking would happen at the Hawthorns and in truth despite a poor run of form Steve Clarke was fired without ever really becoming the designated Manager under pressure at the crisis club. He was facing a must win game against Hull but the board decided that enough was enough following a pretty dire performance at Cardiff and showed Clarke the door.<br />
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In my earlier post I suggested that whoever was going to be next manager fired would not be last as the scrap to avoid relegation hotted up as the season progressed. I also suggested that not all of the sackings would be justified but in a situation when a club's owners are under pressure to do something and unable to go into the transfer market to freshen things up boards tend to axe the manager.<br />
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In Steve Clarke's case was the sacking justified ? During his first season he got off to a blistering start which faded quite badly but none the less took the Baggies to their highest league finish in years by finishing 8th. Unfortunately for Clarke he rather lost his way and in spite of a few highlights this season has witnessed a sharp decline in his team's performance to the point he was operating below expectations.<br />
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The National Media and football pundits have been quick to condemn the club for being over hasty but largely on the back of form that is nearly a year old and without having much insight into the increasingly frosty relationship Clarke had with his employers. The better informed commentators have been slower to condemn the club or at least not been surprised by the dismissal<br />
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In his departing statement issued through the LMA Clarke suggested that expectations at the Hawthorns had become unrealistically inflated in part because of his own performance the previous season. This might hold true for some fans but the board at the club is realistic almost to a fault. The bottom line is simple survival in the Premier League is the number one expectation as it is most clubs in the league. To achieve this a manager needs to see his team average a minimum of 1 point a game failure to do that over a sustained period of time and most managers are in jeopardy. The same applies to teams with loftier ambitions of Champions League qualification but here the average is 2 points. Coincidentally across all those teams that are currently averaging less than a point a match in the Premier League only one West Ham have not changed their manager.<br />
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In Steve Clarke's case he had dropped below the point a game average for the season but even that might not have been critical particularity as his team was only one win away from getting him back across the right side of the line. Aside from the slump in the team's form and a feeling of drift that was starting to envelop the club what did for Clarke more than anything else he or people close to him had briefed journalists to put pressure on the board on a few issues concerning transfers and Clarke's own future.<br />
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Some may argue that it is the modern game and media savvy coaches use briefings to fight their own internal battles over contracts and resources but this is something that is frowned upon at the Hawthorns. Chairman Peace took over in the wake of a power struggle between the then manager Gary Megson and Chairman Paul Thompson which in effect Thompson lost. Peace learnt the lesson well and the management dog does not wag the ownership tail at West Brom and any manager who plays silly buggers in the press had better deliver the goods or else.<br />
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Ultimately when a team is under performing and Albion have been for sometime the Head Coach will be given time to put things right but how long rather depends on the goodwill that he has with the club's owners if there is mitigating circumstances and an understanding fan base. In Clarke's case there was little by the way of mitigation he has a big squad and was backed as best as the club could in the most recent transfer window and while the fans were still generally behind him there was a growing sense of unease, however some of his earlier actions had eroded the critical goodwill of his employers. <br />
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Unfortunately we will never know whether it was the right decision or not. All football appointments are subject post-hoc rationalisation along the lines of Albion do well for the remainder of the season it is the right move if they do badly and it will be condemned as over hasty. The appointment of Mauricio Pochettino at the Southampton is the blueprint, roundly condemned by most pundits at the time but now hailed as a masterstroke as Southampton now sit happily in the top half of the Division.<br />
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I will stick my neck out and say the decision was the right one the team was on the slide and not to act would be wrong however a lot now hinges on the next appointment and getting the right man in will be critical.<br />
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Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-60686264885211457362013-11-05T13:11:00.000+00:002013-11-05T13:11:06.756+00:00For Whom the Bell Tolls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lIK8a0zSvoA/UnYYtzEgpAI/AAAAAAAAAdY/bTjXpZ6Eb54/s1600/chris-hughton-lsh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lIK8a0zSvoA/UnYYtzEgpAI/AAAAAAAAAdY/bTjXpZ6Eb54/s320/chris-hughton-lsh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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During the first quarter of the Premier League season the Di-Cannio era at Sunderland has predictably ended in tears and Ian Holloway has departed from Palace. The hunt is now on for the next Premier League Manager that to use the cliche is under pressure and it would appear Norwich's Chris Hughton is the name in the frame. </div>
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The Canaries have just been on the wrong end of a 7:0 thrashing at Manchester City and are currently sitting third from bottom of the Premier League so there is a certain logic given the team's mixed fortunes. It is almost pointless to ask if it is it fair. Ditching coaches in the Premier League has an almost inevitable rhythm there is a cycle where there is always a club in crisis and that club's manager is just a handful of games from the sack.</div>
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Going into the weekend there were a number of candidates for being the crisis club Fulham and Newcastle being among the alternatives . All were playing clubs that were far stronger than themselves and could suffer heavy defeats. Unfortunately for Hughton, Newcastle managed an unlikely win against Chelsea and while Fulham lost it was not a complete rout. So Norwich are this weekend's crisis club and Hughton has to face questions from the Match of the Day interviewer about whether or not he is the right man for the job.<br />
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What has happened at Norwich? Having survived in the Premier League for two seasons with a relatively modest squad mostly recruited from the Championship Norwich spent big in the summer to kick on to the next level. Unfortunately for Norwich they cannot compete with those teams with £100m plus wage bills and there is an absolute limit to the quality of player they can attract and it will never be enough to lift them out of the Premier League's mid table mix. For teams like Norwich the reality is they will never be more than about 3 defeats away from a flirtation with the relegation places and that is their lot. The summer's activity has raised expectations but equally the turnover in players has disrupted what was a tight nit unit and the newcomers are still adjusting to life in a new league and in many cases a new country. All of which has probably had a negative impact on results.<br />
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However Norwich's position is far from dire they lie 18th but are only three points adrift from 13th placed Swansea albeit with a much inferior goal difference as a consequence of their recent drubbings. Hughton is a canny and experienced coach who is used to managing in far more difficult situations than those he is currently in and frankly there are no obvious better alternatives waiting in the wings. <br />
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Next week Norwich face West Ham at home and it will no doubt be labelled a must win game. If Norwich win they will swap places with West Ham and in all probability Hughton can pass the baton onto Sam Allardyce who will be managing the new crisis club. At the end of November West Ham will have a must win fixture against Fulham and provided they win that the crisis club is likely to be Fulham Martin Jol then will be facing an uncertain future.<br />
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The point is that the bottom half of the Premier League is very tight all the teams are a pretty evenly matched and giving a coach a handful of games to save their job is unfair and irrational. At the moment it looks like Sunderland and Crystal Palace will be lucky to escape the drop but the third relegation spot will be a tight run race between anything up to 5 or 6 teams so a few poor results will see a lot of managers looking over their shoulders and boardrooms will be wondering if they need to make a change. The crisis club will change almost weekly and I am sure not all the managers will survive to the end of the season and those dismissed will have the right to feel a little aggrieved. <br />
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Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-53153583250753713712013-09-03T08:25:00.000+01:002013-09-03T09:00:30.174+01:00Level 5 Meltdown Alert <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sbFRBs-7Y4s/Uh-eCQg2izI/AAAAAAAAAcw/1yG1ol0BGW0/s1600/BS2lYXCCEAAhvgG.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sbFRBs-7Y4s/Uh-eCQg2izI/AAAAAAAAAcw/1yG1ol0BGW0/s400/BS2lYXCCEAAhvgG.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Thanks to Lisa Marshall for the above graphic</strong></td></tr>
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I don't do seething or at least I try not to certainly about events that are totally and utterly beyond my control and as such I think the most I have ever mustered on the fan meltdown-o-meter was a one which was back in the days of Gould when the Baggies fans in general were off the scale. Maybe I view current events through that prism and cannot get worked up about an owner who is reluctant to spend money on transfer fees while the team is in the Premier League and enjoying sustained success. <br />
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I know I am in the minority that looks at the bloated fees in the English transfer market sees no value just risk and is quite happy that the club has been extremely cautious in a market that makes tulip mania seem rational, it can only end in tears all bubbles do. However at the death two hefty fees (for WBA) were paid for Anichebe and Sessegnon however I am reliably informed by the legion of Football Manager experts that they are wrong big money singings. So maybe I should join them at meltdown level 3 or more likely I won't.<br />
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Take the hype away and the reality of Albion's transfer dealings are as follows<br />
<br />
<strong>Out</strong> <br />
Odemwingie, Jara, Lukaku, Thomas and Fortune<br />
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<strong>In</strong><br />
Anelka, Sinclair, Vydra, <span itemprop="name">Lugano, </span><span itemprop="name"> Amalfitano, Camp, Sessegnon and Anichebe</span><br />
<span itemprop="name"></span><br />
<span itemprop="name">Across the summer we have increased the squad size so it </span><span itemprop="name">is hard to argue from a purely numerical perspective that the squad is any weaker than last season. From a perspective of quality and balance that remains to be seen I won't rush to judgement either way. Too often players with burgeoning reputations have arrived only to disappoint whereas more modest signings have flourished so the jury ought to be out. Those fans who wanted the club to splash the cash are disappointed and many are rubbishing the new signings to prove their point that a transfer fee somehow reflects the quality of the player, it does not. </span><br />
<span itemprop="name"></span><br />
<span itemprop="name">Personally I would have liked the club to seize the initiative this summer and overhaul the squad by trading some of the senior players whose form dipped in the second half of the year and used the funds to bring in a new generation of players. However it was not to be and given that I don't run the club my opinion counts for very little so there is no point in working myself into a lather over it. </span><br />
<span itemprop="name"></span><br />
<span itemprop="name">The media is obsessed with the transfer window and whether it is the idiot Franks on radio WM whipping up a storm or the over hyped Sky Sports News understanding that something might be happening somewhere, it creates a sense of desperation amongst the fans who get the impression that everything hinges on who a club can sign. It does not. The cohesiveness of a team the coaches tactical awareness and dumb luck count for as much as a marque signing here or there.</span><br />
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The window is now closed the whole circus has packed up and left town. It is time to get over what might have been and get behind the Baggies <br />
<br />Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-39900064305902822652013-08-16T13:09:00.000+01:002013-08-16T13:09:23.356+01:00The Season of the Coach <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nC-wuf73L1o/UgXyKCp9qDI/AAAAAAAAAcY/bMDFVp4sLNw/s1600/Wenger-Dozen.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nC-wuf73L1o/UgXyKCp9qDI/AAAAAAAAAcY/bMDFVp4sLNw/s400/Wenger-Dozen.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>"I thought we had United today so what is young Moyes doing here?"</strong></td></tr>
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At the start of this season no fewer than 16 of the Premier League Managers will not have had two seasons with their current clubs. Of those 5 will be taking charge of their new clubs for the first time this weekend and uniquely 3 of the top 4 finishers from the previous campaign start with new men at the helm.</div>
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Hence every triumph or failure will be viewed as affirmation or disaffirmation of the decision to appoint Moyes, Pellageni or Mourhnio. Can Moyes fill Sir Alex's shoes? Can Pellagreni succeed in Europe? Will the return of the Special One propel Chelsea to a new golden age? I don't have the answers but I will humbly suggest the four richest clubs in England will have a private battle for the seasons major honours. There is a possibility one of their appointments will derail their club's season to a degree that will let Liverpool or Spurs gate crash the party but wouldn't bet on it. </div>
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In terms of financial firepower the biggest clubs are too far ahead of the rest for all but the most disastrous coaching appointment to make much of a difference. At the margin i.e. between the top four it might so Arsenal could view the coming season as an opportunity to finish somewhere other than fourth and let one of the others sweat on fourth in final few weeks of the season. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OeeEy1trAxs/T-TzrZS4qcI/AAAAAAAAAQw/HIYKo6VTnDQ/s1600/cq5dam.thumbnail.140.100+(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OeeEy1trAxs/T-TzrZS4qcI/AAAAAAAAAQw/HIYKo6VTnDQ/s1600/cq5dam.thumbnail.140.100+(1).png" /></a></div>
<h3>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OeeEy1trAxs/T-TzrZS4qcI/AAAAAAAAAQw/HIYKo6VTnDQ/s1600/cq5dam.thumbnail.140.100+(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />Arsenal</h3>
<b>Manager</b> Arsene Wenger<br />
<b>Last Year</b> Okay, but not great finished fourth but as with the previous campaign it was only achieved with a late sprint to the line after a fairly indifferent start. <br />
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<b>Transfer Activity </b><br />
<strong>signed</strong> Yaya Sanogo (Auxerre, free)<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<strong>sold / released </strong>Andrey Arshavin (released), Denilson (Sao Paulo,) Sebastien Squillaci (released), Martin Angha (Nuremberg), Craig Eastmond (Colchester, free), Conor Henderson (released), Jernade Meade (Swansea), Sanchez Watt (Colchester), Johan Djourou (Hamburg, loan), Vito Mannone (Sunderland ), Francis Coquelin (Freiburg) Marouane Chamakh (Crystal Palace), Ignasi Miquel (Leicester,loan), Gervinho (Roma)<br />
<br />
<strong>Prospects</strong> The summer saw a host a departures many of whom had hardly covered themselves with glory during their time at the Emirates but significantly no high profile departures. It also saw some heavy duty posturing in the market but to date no actual signings of note. The net result is an Arsenal squad that is shallower than last year and one that is need of reinforcement. Whether they recruit the right players remains to be seen and even if they do will they make significant in roads in the gap between themselves and the three teams that finished ahead of them? <br />
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<strong>Where they will finish</strong> 3rd to 6th<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DGw72hAPEfM/T-TzkE_OC1I/AAAAAAAAAQo/oXPBWTVbA_Y/s1600/ClubLogo+vile.gif" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DGw72hAPEfM/T-TzkE_OC1I/AAAAAAAAAQo/oXPBWTVbA_Y/s1600/ClubLogo+vile.gif" /></a></div>
<h3>
<b style="background-color: white;">Aston Villa</b></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Manager</b> Paul Lambert</span><b><br /></b> <strong>Last Year </strong>Another battle with relegation but Lambert's brave decision to stick with his younger players came good in the end.<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;">Transfer Activity</b><br />
<strong>signed</strong> Aleksandar Tonev (Lech Poznan), Jores Okore (Nordsjaelland), Leandro Bacuna (Groningen), Nicklas Helenius (Aalborg), Antonio Luna (Sevilla), Jed Steer (Norwich) Liam Prynn (Torquay) Jed Steer (Norwich). <br />
<strong>sold / released</strong> Richard Dunne (QPR,), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest), Jean Makoun (Rennes), Andy Marshall (released), Derrick Williams (Bristol City),Courtney Cameron (Torquay), Brett Holman (Al Nasr) Samir Carruthers (MK Dons loan), Graham Burke (Shrewsbury, loan) Stiliyan Petrov (retired)<br />
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<b>Prospects</b> This window has seen Villa have been trying to jettison some of the more costly mistakes from previous regimes and Paul Lambert's new model army is starting to take shape. Whilst the youngsters who struggled to retain the club's Premier League status will have learned a great deal from the experience it remains to be seen how far they can move forward. Obviously Benteke's U-turn on his contract is a significant boost however I don't think it is enough to take them off relegation watch altogether.<br />
<b>Where they will finish</b> 12th to 18th<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jbhW0jonI_8/UeMNgBkPsII/AAAAAAAAAbg/XgyuIIw9QEk/s1600/cq5dam_thumbnail_140_100.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jbhW0jonI_8/UeMNgBkPsII/AAAAAAAAAbg/XgyuIIw9QEk/s1600/cq5dam_thumbnail_140_100.png" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: white;">Cardiff City </b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Manager</b> Malky MacKay</span><b><br /></b> <strong>Last Year </strong>Won the Championship at a canter after years of disappointment in the play-offs.<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;">Transfer Activity</b><br />
<strong>signed </strong>Steven Caulker (Tottenham), Andreas Cornelius (FC Copenhagen), John
Brayford (Derby County), Simon Moore (Brentford) Gary Medel (Sevilla, £11m)<br />
<strong>sold / released</strong> Stephen McPhail (released), Heidar Helguson (released), Nat Jarvis (released) Jese Darko (released) Elliot Parish (released) Robert Earnshaw (released)<br />
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<b>Prospects</b> No amount of investment will banish the possibility of relegation for a newly promoted club. The board have broken the club's transfer record three times during the window and given MacKay every chance to succeed but the squad really lacks Premier League know-how and could struggle as a consequence. <br />
<b>Where they will finish</b> 15th to 20th</div>
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<h3>
<span style="background-color: white;">Chelsea</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><strong>Manager</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong> </strong>Jose Mourhinio</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><strong>Last Year</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"> business as usual bought some expensive players sacked the coach and won a trophy. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><strong>Transfer Activity</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><strong>signed </strong></span>Andre Schurrle (Bayer Leverkusen), Marco van Ginkel (Vitesse Arnhem), Mark Schwarzer (Fulham) Cristián Cuevas (O'Higgins) Stipe Perica (NK Zadar).<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"></span></span><br />
<strong>sold / released</strong> Jeffrey Bruma (PSV), Yossi Benayoun (released), Florent Malouda (Trabzonspor), Hilario (released), Ross Turnbull (released), Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid, loan), Patrick van Aanholt (Vitesse Arnhem, loan), Oriol Romeu (Valencia, loan), Paulo Ferreira (retired) Cristian Cuevas (Vitesse Arnhem, loan), Lucas Piazon (Vitesse Arnhem, loan), Todd Kane (Blackburn, loan), Marko Marin (Sevilla, loan), Gael Kakuta (Vitesse, loan), Patrick Bamford (MK Dons, loan) Wallace (Inter Milan, Loan) <br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"></span><br />
<strong>Prospects </strong>Part of the division's elite likely to finish top four almost regardless of which manager comes in through the revolving door. This season it is Mourhinio who will probably win something although it might not be either of the Champions League or Premier League. The squad bristles with talent but is yet moulded into the clinical unit that characterised the Special One's first spell at the Bridge.<br />
<strong><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">Where they will finish </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">1st to 5th</span></strong><br />
<h3 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h3>
Crystal Palace</h3>
<strong>Manager</strong> Ian Holloway<br />
<strong>Last Year</strong> Emerged from the Championship mid-table melee as underdogs to win their place in the Premier League via the play-offs.<br />
<br />
<strong>Transfer Activity</strong><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"></span><strong>signed</strong> Dwight Gayle (Peterborough), Stephen Dobbie (Brighton), Jerome Thomas (West Brom)Kevin Phillips (Blackpool), Elliot Grandin (Blackpool)Jose Campana (Sevilla) Marouane Chamakh (Arsenal) Neil Alexander (Rangers)<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>sold / released</strong></span></span> Jermaine Easter (Millwall), Alex Marrow (Blackburn), Jason Banton (MK Dons, loan) Andre Moritz (Bolton, free), Ryan Inniss (Cheltenham, loan)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><strong>Prospects.</strong> Bleak, although no worse than Blackpool's who Holloway guided to the Premier League in similar circumstances and was a little unfortunate not to keep in the division. The weakest of the promoted teams and it could be argued that Palace were punching above their weight to finish sixth in the Championship and no amount of reinforcement will give them a realistic chance of beating the drop. </span><br />
<strong>Where they will finish 17th to 20th</strong><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3VOB5gWX-yk/T-T1theSwSI/AAAAAAAAARA/8Tyi0S-Xsp4/s1600/cq5dam.thumbnail.140.100+(3).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3VOB5gWX-yk/T-T1theSwSI/AAAAAAAAARA/8Tyi0S-Xsp4/s1600/cq5dam.thumbnail.140.100+(3).png" /></a></div>
<h3>
<b style="background-color: white;">Everton</b></h3>
<div>
<b>Manager</b> Roberto Martinez </div>
<div>
<b>Last Year</b> .Finished sixth without ever really threatening to break into the Champions League spots<br />
<br />
<strong>Transfer Activity </strong><br />
<strong>Signed </strong>Arouna Kone (Wigan), Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan), Joel Robles (Atletico Madrid), Gerard Deulofeu (Barcelona)<br />
<strong>Sold / released </strong>Thomas Hitzlsperger (released), Jan Mucha (released), Jake Bidwell (Brentford), Phil Neville (retired)<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><strong>Prospects</strong> After over a decade with Moyes in charge Everton will be adjusting to a new man at the helm who has a very different philosophy to that of his predecessor. Martinez inherits a squad that has talent although it remains to be seen how the players will respond to his more expansive style and whether or not he can retain the defensive solidity that was associated with the Moyes era.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Where they will finish</b> 6th to 10th</span></div>
<div>
</div>
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<h3>
<span style="background-color: white;">Fulham</span></h3>
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Manager</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"> Martin Jol</span><br />
<strong>Last Year T</strong>rundled through the season in lower mid-table without ever being in real danger of relegation. <br />
<br />
<div>
<b>Transfer Activity</b><br />
<strong>signed </strong>Sascha Riether (Cologne), Derek Boateng (Dnipro), Fernando Amorebieta (Athletic Bilbao), Maarten Stekelenburg (Roma) Ange-Freddy Plumain (Lens) Derek Boateng (Dnipro), Ange-Freddy Plumain (Lens), Adel Taarabt
(QPR).<br />
<strong>sold / released </strong>Chris Baird (released), Simon Davies (released) Mahamadou Diarra (released), Mladen Petric (released), Mark Schwarzer (Chelsea), Tom Donegan (released), Alex Smith (Swindon, free), Dan Burn (Birmingham, loan)<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b></b></span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><strong>Prospects</strong> There has been quiet transformation going on at Fulham's this summer and while the signings have not been eye catching they are solid and will add a little bit of steel to a Fulham team that sometimes was a little bit to easy to beat last year. A combination of Taarabt and Berbatov will be enthralling to watch although the other 8 outfield players will have to be prepared to put in a shift. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<b>Where they will finish</b> 9th to 15th<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h3>
Hull City Tigers</h3>
<strong>Manager</strong> Steve Bruce<br />
<strong>Last Year</strong> managed to secure promotion to the premier league as runners up to Cardiff in the most dramatic of fashion.<br />
<br />
<strong>Transfer Activity</strong><br />
<strong>signed</strong> George Boyd (Peterborough, free), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan, free), Curtis Davies (Birmingham, undisclosed), Ahmed Elmohamady (Sunderland), Allan McGregor (Besiktas), Steve Harper (Newcastle),Yannick Sagbo (Evian) Steve Harper (Newcastle United), Jamie Devitt (Chesterfield), Danny
Graham (Sunderland, Loan) Yannick Sagbo (Evian, £3m)<br />
<strong>sold / released</strong> Sonny Bradley (Portsmouth, free), Danny East (Portsmouth, free), Mark Cullen (Luton, free), Andy Dawson (Scunthorpe, free), Jamie Devitt (released), Paul McKenna (released), Seyi Olofinjana (released), Jay Simpson (released), Jack Hobbs (Nottingham Forest, loan)Tom Cairney (Blackburn, loan)<br />
<br />
<strong>Prospects</strong> It is going to be a tough season for the Tigers. They have added a little bit of quality to last season's squad but it still looks relatively weak. Steve Bruce is an experienced manager and it will take every bit of his nous to keep Hull in the division.<br />
<strong>Where they will finish</strong> 17th to 20th <br />
<div>
</div>
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<h3>
<span style="background-color: white;">Liverpool</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Manager</b> Brendan Rodgers</span><br />
<strong>Last Year</strong> Consolidated in seventh place under new manager Brendan Rodgers<br />
<br />
<div>
<b>Transfers Activity</b><br />
<strong>signed</strong> Kolo Toure (Manchester City), Luis Alberto (Seville), Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo), Simon Mignolet (Sunderland)<br />
<strong>sold/released</strong> Andy Carroll (West Ham), Danny Wilson (Hearts), Jamie Carragher (retired), Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea), Suso (Almeria, loan) Pepe Riena (Napoli, loan), Jack Robinson (Blackpool, loan)<br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<strong>Prospects </strong>Deprived of their talismanic striker Suarez at least for the first few weeks of the season it remains to be seen whether Liverpool without the distraction of the Europa League can challenge for a top four spot. If they have unearthed some real talent in their transfer dealings this summer then it is possible but too often last season they were let down by a porous defence which the addition of Toure does not significantly improve. <br />
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white;">Where they will finish</b><span style="background-color: white;"> 5th to 10th</span></div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
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<div>
<h3>
<span style="background-color: white;">Manchester City</span></h3>
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Manager</b> Manuel Pellegrini</span></div>
<b>Last Year </b>Finished 2nd in the league, runners up in the FA Cup failed in the Champions League a dream of a season for most but not for City<br />
<br />
<b>T</b><b>ransfers Activity</b><br />
<strong>signed</strong> Fernandinho (Shakhtar Donetsk), Jesus Navas (Sevilla) Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina) Alvaro Negredo (Seville).<br />
<strong>sold / released</strong> Carlos Tevez (Juventus), Kolo Toure (Liverpool), Wayne Bridge (Reading), Ryan McGivern (Hibernian), Roque Santa Cruz (Malaga), Karim Rekik (PSV, loan), Jeremy Helan (Sheffield Wednesday)Maicon (Roma, free), Reece Wabara (Doncaster, loan)<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><strong>Prospects </strong>A very different team will kick off this season under Pellegrini compared to the one that embarked on last seasons ill fated title defence. The wayward talents of Ballotelli and Tevez have been replaced by players new to the Premier League if they adapt quickly to their new environment then this could be City's year. <strong> </strong></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white;">Where they will finish</b><span style="background-color: white;"> 1 to 4</span><br />
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<h3>
Manchester United</h3>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Manager</b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"> David Moyes</span><br />
<b>Last Year </b>Easily won the league and were unlucky to exit the Champions League at the 1/4 final stage<br />
<br />
<div>
<div>
<b>Transfer Activity</b><br />
<b style="background-color: white;">signed </b>Guillermo Varela (Penarol)<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/normal Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></b><br />
<strong>sold / released </strong>Paul Scholes (retired) Ryan Tunnicliffe (Ipswich, loan), Frederic Veseli (Ipswich, free), John Cofie (Barnsley, free), Reece Brown (Watford, free), Sean McGinty (Sheffield United, free)<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><strong>Prospects </strong>This is the season when a group of talented youngsters must step up to the plate if United are to have realistic chance of retaining their title. The long running hunt for a new midfield fulcrum to replace Scholes has yet to come to fruition and the Rooney saga remains an unwelcome distraction so on the eve of the season it is difficult to see Moyes landing the title at his first attempt but equally United will be one of the contenders.</span> </div>
<b>Where they will finish</b> 1st to 4th</div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
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<h3>
<span style="background-color: white;">Newcastle United</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Manager</b> Alan Pardew</span><br />
<div>
<strong>Last Year </strong>Dropped down the league to such a degree they managed to get themselves embroiled in the relegation battle.<br />
<br />
<b>Transfers Activity</b><br />
<strong>signed </strong><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"></span>Olivier Kemen (Metz) Loïc Rémy (QPR, Loan).<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"></span><br />
<strong>sold / released</strong> James Perch (Wigan,), Danny Simpson (QPR), Steve Harper (Hull)<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Shane Ferguson (Birmingham, Loan)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Prospects </b> Without a Europa League campaign and given January's signings have had time to settle Newcastle's league form should improve although probably not to the point where they are challenging for a Champions League place. The squad is probably stronger than last season and should be finishing in the top half of the division.</span><br />
<b>Where they will finish</b> 6th to 12th</div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
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<h3>
Norwich City </h3>
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Manager </b>Chris Hughton</span><br />
<div>
<div>
<b>Last Year </b> Started poorly recovered and then slumped back towards the trap door. <br />
<br />
<b>Transfers Activity</b><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>signed </strong>Ricky van Wolfswinkel (Sporting Lisbon), Javier Garrido (Lazio), Nathan Redmond (Birmingham), Martin Olsson (Blackburn, undisclosed), Carlo Nash (Stoke), Leroy Fer (FC Twente) Javier Garrido (Lazio) Gary Hooper (Celtic) <span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><br /></span><strong>sold / released </strong>Grant Holt (Wigan), James Vaughan (Huddersfield,), Jed Steer (Aston Villa), Chris Martin (Derby), Marc Tierney (Bolton), Simeon Jackson (Eintracht Braunschweig), Korey Smith (Oldham), Elliott Ward (Bournemouth), Tom Adeyemi (Birmingham), George Francomb (AFC Wimbledon), Lee Camp (released), Declan Rudd (Preston), Andrew Surman (Bournemouth, loan)<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<b>Prospects</b> Following a very mixed campaign last year Norwich have spent heavily this summer to add quality to their squad. A lot will depend on how quickly the new arrivals gel and adopt to life in the Premier League but they still cannot be removed from the relegation watch list.<br />
<strong>Where they will finish</strong> 10th to 18th</div>
<div>
</div>
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</div>
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<h3>
Southampton</h3>
<span style="background-color: white;"><strong>Manager</strong> Mauricio Pochettino</span><br />
<strong>Last Year </strong>After a dismal start came to terms with the Premier League and stayed up comfortably. <br />
<div>
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>Transfers Activity</strong><br />
<strong>signed </strong>Dejan Lovren (Lyon), Victor Wanyama (Celtic)<br />
<strong>sold / released </strong>Vegard Forren (Molde), Frazer Richardson (released), Danny Butterfield (released), Danny Seaborne (released), Ryan Dickson (released), Ben Reeves (MK Dons), Sam Hoskins (Yeovil) Richard Chaplow (Millwall), Steve De Ridder (FC Utrecht,)<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<b>Propspects</b> With more expensive signings arriving at St Mary's the club would hope to improve on their previous showing and chase a place in the top half of the division. Again a lot will depend on how quickly players arriving from other leagues adapt to their new surroundings but they should be strong enough to consolidate in the mid to lower reaches of the division <br />
<strong>Where they will finish</strong> 9th to 16th </div>
<div>
</div>
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<div>
<h3>
<span style="background-color: white;">Stoke City</span></h3>
<span style="background-color: white;"><strong>Manager</strong> Mark Hughes</span></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Last Year</b> A desperate second half to the campaign saw Stoke have an anxious last few weeks of the season. <br />
<br />
<b>Transfers Activity</b><br />
<strong>signed </strong>Erik Pieters (PSV, £3m), Marc Muniesa (Barcelona) Alex Grant (Portsmouth)<br />
<strong>sold / released </strong>Dean Whitehead (Middlesbrough), Carlo Nash (Norwich), Matthew Upson (Brighton), Rory Delap (Burton Albion), Matthew Lund (Rochdale), Mamady Sidibe (released), Michael Owen (retired)<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><strong>Prospects </strong>New manager Mark Hughes needs to improve a Stoke team that has been on the slide for the last 2 seasons as their hoofball style became to look ever more threadbare. The challenge facing Hughes after a disastrous spell at QPR is to change a deeply engrained style of play without losing the defensive solidity that characterised Stoke under his predecessor. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<b>Where they will finish</b> 13th to 18th </div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
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<h3>
Sunderland</h3>
<strong>Manager </strong>Paolo Di Canio<br />
<strong>Last Year</strong> A desperately poor season which resulted in the club avoiding relegation by one place and 3 points<strong>.</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Transfers Activity</b><br />
<strong>signed </strong>Modibo Diakite (Lazio), Duncan Watmore (Altrincham), Valentin Roberge (Maritimo), Cabral (Basle), David Moberg Karlsson (IFK Gothenburg), Vito Mannone (Arsenal), Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), El Hadji Ba (Le Havre), Emanuele Giaccherini (Juventus)<br />
<strong>sold / released </strong>Ahmed Elmohamady (Hull), Titus Bramble (released), Matthew Kilgallon (Blackburn), Ryan Noble (released) James McClean (Wigan) Alfred N'Diaye (Eskisehirspor, loan), Danny Graham (Hull, loan)<br />
<br />
P<span style="background-color: white;"><strong>rospects </strong>New<strong> </strong>manager Di-Cannio has supervised a mass clear out at Sunderland and has assembled what amounts to a new squad. It is a similar approach to that adopted by Mark Hughes at QPR last year and that didn't end well. Anything could happen at the Stadium of Light this year, well anything that does not involve a top 6 finish. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<strong>Where they will finish</strong> 10th to 17th </div>
</div>
</div>
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<h3>
Swansea City</h3>
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Manager </b>Micheal Laudrup</span><br />
<strong>Last Year</strong> Team of the season won the League Cup and finished nineth<br />
<b></b><br />
<b>Transfers Activity</b><br />
<strong>signed</strong> Wilfried Bony (Vitesse Arnhem,), Jose Canas (Real Betis), Jordi Amat (Espanyol), Jonathan De Guzman (Villarreal), Alejandro Pozuelo (Real Betis), Jonjo Shelvey (Liverpool), Gregor Zabret (NK Domzale), Alex Gogic (Olympiacos), Jernade Meade (Arsenal) <br />
<strong>sold / released </strong>Mark Gower (Charlton, free), David Cornell (St Mirren, loan), Kyle Bartley (Birmingham, loan) Alan Tate (Yeovil, loan), Dwight Tiendalli (released)<br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span><br />
<strong>Prospects</strong> Everything in Swansea's world looks serene. They have invested heavily in the squad which in theory makes them an even tougher proposition this year. However they do have the curse of Europa League football and that might disrupt their progress on the domestic front however it should not be enough to drag them into the relegation battle.<br />
<strong>Where they will finish</strong> 9th to 15th<br />
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<h3>
Tottenham Hotspur</h3>
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Manager</b> Andre Villas Boas</span><br />
<div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Last Year</b> Fifth again missed out on Champions League qualification by a couple of points<br />
<br />
<b>Transfers Activity</b><br />
<b>signed</b> Paulinho (Corinthians, £17m)Nacer Chadli (FC Twente), Roberto Soldado (Valencia) Etienne Capoue (Toulouse)<br />
<strong>sold/released</strong> Steven Caulker (Cardiff), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), William Gallas (released), John Bostock (Royal Antwerp), David Bentley (released), Jake Nicholson (released), Massimo Luongo (Swindon, loan), Adam Smith (Derby, loan), Ryan Mason (Swindon, loan), Bongani Khumalo (Doncaster, loan), Alex Pritchard (Swindon, loan), Ryan Mason (Swindon, loan), Grant Hall (Swindon, loan) Tom Huddlestone (Hull) Jake Livermore (Hull, loan)<br />
<br />
<strong>Prospects </strong>Villa Boas continues to mould a team that should be capable of again challenging for a Champions League spot but again is undermined by the potential sale of one of his star players to Real Madrid. There are very few players that can truly make a difference to a team's season but unfortunately Gareth Bale is one of them with him Spurs have a great chance of breaking into the top 4 less so without. Until the window closes we will not know how Spurs will do. <br />
<b>Where they will finish</b> 3rd to 7th </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FLbC7aOglqw/T-UAnvTGd4I/AAAAAAAAASw/nN93NSNY5wo/s1600/cq5dam.thumbnail.140.100+(17).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FLbC7aOglqw/T-UAnvTGd4I/AAAAAAAAASw/nN93NSNY5wo/s1600/cq5dam.thumbnail.140.100+(17).png" /></a></div>
<h3>
West Bromwich Albion</h3>
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Manager</b> Steve Clarke </span><br />
<strong>Last Year</strong> Spectacular first half to the season poor second half overall eighth which is the highest the club has finished in 30 years.<br />
<br />
<div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Transfers Activity</b><br />
<strong>signed </strong>Nicolas Anelka, (free agent) Goran Popov (Dynamo Kiev, loan) Matej Vydra (Udinese, Loan) <br />
<strong>sold / released </strong>Jerome Thomas (Crystal Palace), Gonzalo Jara (Nottingham Forest), Marc-Antoine Fortune (Wigan) <br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>Prospects </strong>Now in entering their fourth straight season in the Premier League whilst it is never possible for a club of Albion's stature to completely banish the spectre of relegation it is looks less of a possibility, although Steve Clarke will do well to replicate last years eighth place finish.<br />
<b>Where they will finish</b> 8th to 16th<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rPungWLEJXQ/T-UDeVpJi7I/AAAAAAAAATA/eH9kFzM8Lac/s1600/cq5dam.thumbnail.140.100+(18).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rPungWLEJXQ/T-UDeVpJi7I/AAAAAAAAATA/eH9kFzM8Lac/s1600/cq5dam.thumbnail.140.100+(18).png" /></a></div>
<h3>
West Ham United</h3>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Manager</b> Sam Alladyce </span></div>
<b>Last Year</b> Solid never in any real danger of relegation job done.<br />
<br />
<b>Transfer Activity</b><br />
<strong>signed </strong>Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Razvan Rat (Shakhtar Donetsk), Adrian (Real Betis), Danny Whitehead (Stockport County) Stewart Downing (Liverpool)<br />
<strong>sold / released</strong> Rob Hall (Bolton), Carlton Cole (released), Gary O'Neil (released)<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><strong>Prospects </strong>Too hard working to be relegated not good enough to trouble the upper reaches of the division. Alladyce's mission is to keep the Hammers in the Premier League until they move to the Olympic stadium which may provide the revenue to change their long term prospects and he will succeed but it will not always be pretty.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<b>Where they will finish</b> 11th to 16th<br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>Tips</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Champions</strong> <strong>Man City</strong> if I keep tipping them to do it eventually I will get it right although Chelsea will run them close.<br />
<br />
<strong>FA Cup </strong>It was refreshing to see Wigan win the trophy to break the near monopoly the elite have had over the competition in recent years however normal service will be resumed this year and<strong> Chelsea</strong> will run out winners in May<br />
<br />
<strong>League Cup </strong>The Cinderella competition the elite hardly take it seriously so the likely winner is a mid table club with a bit of momentum and no European commitments maybe <strong>Fulham</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>Champions League</strong> <strong>Bayern</strong> again they just seem to get stronger each year although if Pep tries to tinker too much with the machine maybe the juggernaut might be stopped short of the final.<br />
<br />
<strong>Europa League</strong> Maybe the Swansea story has another chapter to add but I don't think they are strong enough to cope the twin rigours of Premier League and Europa League. I would chose one of the bigger Italian or Spanish clubs I reckon <strong>Lazio</strong> are as good as bet as any.<br />
<br />
<strong>Relegation Crystal Palace Hull City Tigers and Stoke City</strong>. Think Hull and Palace are the two weakest of the promoted sides and Stoke looked poor again last year and I don't think Hughes is the man to turn it round. <br />
<br />
<strong>Champions League Qualification </strong>The usual bun fight between Arsenal & Spurs<strong> </strong>for the fourth spot with<strong> Chelsea, Man United and Man City</strong> taking the other three places.<strong> </strong>Think I will go with<strong> Spurs</strong> to edge out their local rivals although Bale's departure and new faces at Arsenal might make that prediction look a little foolish come September</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-2147334638860214592013-08-04T10:29:00.000+01:002013-08-04T18:26:00.048+01:00The Economics of the Madhouse<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S85Aisv5R50/Uf4TRyB33CI/AAAAAAAAAcI/BTbutLAHPFM/s1600/soc_g_perez_gb1_576_576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S85Aisv5R50/Uf4TRyB33CI/AAAAAAAAAcI/BTbutLAHPFM/s320/soc_g_perez_gb1_576_576.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perez waving goodbye to 80 million quid</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Real Madrid's pursuit of Gareth Bale is one of the long running saga's of the summer and if the deal is to be done it is likely to result in a fee in excess of £80m. He is not worth it or anything close to it nor will any player be worth it in the history of football ever certainly in real terms. There is an argument which I rather like for its simplicity if nothing else is the value of an asset in this case a footballer is the price that that a willing seller and a willing buyer agree it is worth. However that does not really help anyone who might want to analyse whether the seller or the buyer has the better end of the deal or as I will argue should be carted off to the nearest asylum for the economically insane and detained indefinitely. <br />
<br />
There is little point in even trying to compare Bale to any other player and use the lower fee as a benchmark. For starters that fee might not have been any more rational that the one that will lure Bale from White Hart Lane. Besides which the circumstances of the sale would almost certainly be different and that is without straying into the wonderfully subjective argument as to whether or not player a is better than player b. <br />
<br />
In search of a starting point it is possible to quantify the value of his contract at Spurs (which is in effect what Real Madrid are buying). Bale has 3 years left to run on a £3.9m p.a. contract which is worth £11.97m. That is the bottom line price to pay more or demand more implies that there is an economic worth to the seller and buyer in this case of £68m or £22m per season. If the price is a rational one the purchasing club should be able realise £22m additional value from the transaction. For the sake of argument I will set aside the slightly inconvenient fact that the player will demand and get a pay rise on joining Real so the true break even point might be set even higher. <br />
<br />
There are three ways a club can recover the fee:<br />
<br />
<strong>a) Sell the player to another club</strong>. If Spurs sell this is what they are doing and is the justification for their original £10m investment in the player when he was a teenager with nothing much more than bags of raw potential. Whether it really justifies the original investment is debatable although it will now be cited as the rationale for every inflated fee that is paid for a promising teenager. However like all long shots clubs tend remember the ones that succeed spectacularly but overlook the slow bleed of the those that do not. <br />
<br />
Spurs are fortunate in one respect that they can sell to a club that typically pays bigger fees than itself there are probably about 10 clubs in Europe who could reasonably be expected to be potential customers although that number dramatically decreases when a fee of £50m or above is demanded, but Real Madrid are not. Put simply if they buy Bale they will never make a profit on the deal because there is no other club to whom they could sell him although there would be plenty to take a chance on a cut price deal should they be unloading him in a few years time.<br />
<br />
The key flaw in this approach aside from the vagaries of form or injury is the player is perfectly at liberty to not sign a new contract and walk away for no fee thus reducing their value to the club to zero. <br />
<br />
<strong>b) Generate additional income through the signing.</strong> There are players that are so iconic that there presence at a club generates additional income through commercial deals, additional ticket and merchandise sales. However the player has to be the unique talent of his generation and have a global appeal that is greater than the club he is joining. Beckham to LA Galaxy springs to mind as the type of deal that might just work on this level. However it is very easy to overestimate the value of such spin offs claims that Manchester United would make the £22m they spent on Van-Persie in shirt sales are laughable even given the well oiled commercial machinery at Old Trafford. Bale will have zero impact on any of Real Madrid's income streams.<br />
<br />
<strong>c) Generate additional income because of the signings impact on the pitch. </strong><br />
The only thing that Bale can achieve on the pitch that makes the slightest bit of difference to Real's income is to win the champions league. With a potential windfall of £60m for winning it the Champions League offers a route to recouping the money, although that only represents a £40m net increase on a final 16 place that Real can pretty much count on regardless of what they do in the transfer market. The fact that previous expensive forays into the transfer market have not delivered the Champions League Trophy or even a final appearance since 2002 might sow a few seeds of doubt that the formula works at all.<br />
<br />
<strong> Conclusion</strong> <br />
<br />
If Bale is a success, stays at Madrid for four years during which time Real win the Champions League twice the fee makes perfect sense. That is of course assuming that those victories are in large part attributable to Bale' s presence. If any of that seems unlikely then perhaps someone should send the men in white coats for Real President <span class="fn">Florentino Pérez. Equally if Daniel Levy turns down an offer of £80m then perhaps they should stop off at White Hart Lane unless of course he knows that Perez really is barking mad and will go higher.</span>Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-89332560210458411142013-07-06T19:14:00.000+01:002013-07-07T12:19:50.101+01:00How to Pacify an Angry Polar Bear<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V26v4N1vwZw/Udf3vtlNuoI/AAAAAAAAAbA/LVPk-0Chym8/s1600/polar_bear_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V26v4N1vwZw/Udf3vtlNuoI/AAAAAAAAAbA/LVPk-0Chym8/s320/polar_bear_14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the winter, seals be afraid be very afraid</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The beginning of July is a bad time for football junkies it is 6 long weeks before the season starts and it has been six weeks since the last one closed. There has been a little bit of international action but all that does is heighten the sense of longing for real club football to start again. Right now football fans are like polar bears in summer waiting for the sea to freeze, they are hungry scavengers feeding off any morsel of news, they are bit crotchety and likely to attack if provoked. <br />
<br />
It is into this desolate football free landscape that West Bromwich Albion Chairman Jeremy Peace gave one of his few press interviews. Peace does not do much media these days he is somewhat more forthcoming than Abramovich who has barely uttered a word in a decade but has a far lower profile than say Dave Whelan. So when he gives a state of the nation address via local journalist Chris Lepkowski it is always going to provoke some reaction amongst the fans. <br />
<br />
Mr Peace seemed quite downbeat although much of what he said he had said before. He reaffirmed that the club would be operating prudently in the transfer market although he acknowledged that the club would be having a busy summer given the number of players that had left the club at the end of the season. He also rubbished FFP and the FA's youth development scheme, it has subsequently emerged that two of the brightest starlets from the Albion's academy have been poached by Liverpool and Chelsea for relative peanuts which might explain why the Baggies owner was a little bit disillusioned. <br />
<br />
So far so good the bulk of fans are with him. Those hoping for big money signings might have been disappointed but after a decade of moaning about his tight fisted ways most fans acknowledge that Peace has delivered what Albion fans would have only dared to dream of at the start of his tenure. Then he said it<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We're a mid-table Championship club that is massively over-performing.</blockquote>
Cue twitter meltdown. All of a sudden Peace was surrounded by angry Polar Bears outraged at his overly downbeat assessment of where their club was at. Even if he had said the club was over performing most would have nodded in agreement. In a world where the only thing that matters is money (history is something that is in the past and does not pay the bills today) Albion had the 15th biggest wage bill in the Premier League but managed to finish 8th the very definition of over achievement. However to label Albion a mid-table championship club angered fans to a degree I have rarely seen. Why? Logically if we are overachieving today we will regress toward the mean at some point in the future I guess the only debate is what is the mean and how quickly do we regress to it? <br />
<br />
There are a handful of clubs who pretty much will never be relegated maybe the top seven or so sides. Clubs as wealthy as Newcastle and West Ham have both contrived to be relegated in recent years so it is a real possibility for at least half the Premier league .Ten clubs are in effect trying avoid finishing in the bottom. three spots. Assuming that one of the spots is nearly always occupied by one of the promoted teams so one or two established premier league clubs will be relegated every year or the chances of getting relegated for a club like Albion are about 20% to 25% we would therefore be doing well if our current tenure lasts more than 6 or 7 seasons (next year is season 4) although should we still be in the league in 20 years time it might be time to reconsider the assumptions I have just made or it is a sustained period of good fortune.<br />
<br />
On relegation we are a championship club with parachute payments and that gives us three shots of getting out of the division before we revert to being just another ex premier league club in championship. The current roll call is Leeds United, Nottingham Forrest, Leicester City, Charlton Ipswich, Middleborough and Sheffield Wednesday. All those clubs with the exception of 'Boro and Ipswich have spent time in the footballing gulag of Division One so mid table Championship might not be the worst place to regress to.<br />
<br />
The harsh fact is strip away the income from the Premier League and most clubs are championship clubs. They may have fancy stadiums, first rate training facilities and excellent academies that would not look out of place at a higher level but none of it is worth a mess of beans when they are slogging through a Championship season against a minimum of three sides who have you at a fairly significant monetary advantage. It takes a huge effort and more than a little luck to escape via the front door and as Wolves well know there is a different route out of the Championship.<br />
<br />
Maybe the Chairman was being overly cautious maybe he down played expectations a little too much maybe you could explain his comments but the Polar Bears were having none of it, they were angry and baying for blood. This is an uncomfortable position to be in however the Chairman managed to deploy that well known polar bear pacifier, the marque signing in the form of Nicholas Anelka holding the new WBA away shirt. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cp-mL5dziYk/UdhVS8MxrhI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/onHcYsGzxSc/s1600/Nicolas-Anelka-2026183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cp-mL5dziYk/UdhVS8MxrhI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/onHcYsGzxSc/s320/Nicolas-Anelka-2026183.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I don't want to worry you but is that a Polar Bear behind you?" </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This had a remarkable effect. The polar bears stopped growling and pretty much just went back to waiting around for the winter. It seemed to escape their notice that Anelka might not be quite at his peak and that he had been away from top level football for the best part of 18 months but I guess if you have not seen fresh seal meat for a while a bit of left over caribou looks pretty appetising.<br />
<br />
Personally I am left a little bewildered by the reactions of my fellow fans both to the chairman's statement and the unbounded joy that greeted the news that Anelka had signed. It is a good signing and one that has been de-risked as much a possible by the club but it absolutely will not make or break the club next season. There are at least four more signings to come this summer getting those right and getting some younger legs into an ageing squad will be far more important. Although Anelka seems to be keeping the bears at bay for the time being.Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-83056273204282853132013-05-02T14:04:00.000+01:002013-05-02T14:04:24.524+01:00Can WBA spend £10m on a player?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wa4YKgmDqh4/UX1jhqBV6dI/AAAAAAAAAZs/oCO6LvlvyFA/s1600/money+ball.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wa4YKgmDqh4/UX1jhqBV6dI/AAAAAAAAAZs/oCO6LvlvyFA/s1600/money+ball.png" /></a>
The Baggies have been linked with a number of high profile players in recent days one of whom Wilfred Bony it has been suggested might cost up to £10m. Most fans me included who are well used to Albion's prudent approach instinctively dismiss such rumours as nonsense because we know who we are as a club and know that is not how we roll. However my perceptions of what West Brom can aspire to in the transfer market have been shaped by the current financial climate and that is about to change dramatically with the new Premier League TV deal</div>
<br />
<strong>Budget</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The club's income is set to rise because of the new Premier League TV deal assuming that all other elements of the club's income remain constant the deal will guarantee about £15m in additional income. However that is only guaranteed provided the club stay aboard the Premier League gravy train.</div>
<br />
Whilst it is safe to assume not all of the additional funds will be available to sign players as there are a number of new contracts in the pipeline. However this is offset by the departure of a number players from the current squad and there will be some additional income generated by transfer activity. <br />
<br />
The new income is certainly sufficient to cover the additional the first year costs of a £10m player. Assuming they are bought in on a 4 year contract and earn £2m a year the cost of the deal is roughly £4.5m in the first year. If spent entirely on players the additional funds could cover the purchase of three players on that basis. I would concede that it would cause havoc with the club’s cash flow position because although the fees are accounted for over the lifetime of the player’s contract they fall due in much shorter order therefore to balance the books in the short term we would have to borrow the money against future earnings. So three is totally unrealistic but one would be possible providing not much else was spent on fees. <br />
<br />
Before anyone gets excited about who that means will be heading for the Hawthorns this summer I think it might be worth pointing out that every agent and club can do what I have just done and work out that even quite a modest Premier League club is loaded and adjust their demands accordingly. The Van Wolfwinkel deal at £8m might set the tone, real value for money in the market might be difficult to find. <br />
<br />
Equally the club needs to be mindful that importing talent on higher wages will lead to higher wage demands in the future from the current squad so it is not just the current deals that need to be funded but any future deals that will be impacted by them.<br />
<br />
The club might be wise not to throw all of their new found wealth at one transfer window and as ever it will operate prudently but there is no doubt money will be available.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<strong>Wages v Fees</strong> </div>
<br />
Over the last few years Albion have been successful in building the squad by using free transfers and loan signings supplemented with the odd big money signing. To do this most of the player budget has been spent on wages. Ultimately being able to offer competitive wages is the only thing that will allow us to bring in the players we need to maintain our top flight status. <br />
<br />
In general Albion will not spend significant fees on players in their late twenties and early thirties because if the deal does not work out the club will struggle to recoup the fee. For the club to be willing to pay a significant fee the player would need to be an established first team player and under the age of 26. <br />
<br />
One key advantage of focusing on wages rather than fees is that in the event of relegation wages flex down but the fees don't.<br />
<br />
Paying a fee of £4m for a player on a salary of £1.5m a year over a 4 year contract gives an annual cost of £2.5m. If Albion dropped into the championship the players wages might fall by 50% to £0.75m but the fee would still be amortised at £1m a year so the cost would be £1.75m.<br />
<br />
Paying the same player on a free transfer £2.5m a year with a 50% flex down clause in the championship would cost £1.25m in the event of relegation. <br />
<br />
<strong>Buyer Beware</strong><br />
<br />
No purchase in football comes with a guarantee beyond the poorly researched, overpriced panic buy, at the end of a transfer window nearly always fails and if you bet your house on a marque signing you will lose your house. The fee paid is a very poor indicator of success and in certain circumstances the fee itself adds pressure to the player and becomes one of the reasons for their failure.<br />
<br />
The reality of being a mid-table Premier League side is that the best players in their position are drawn to the twenty or so richest clubs in Europe and the truly gifted are the preserve of an even smaller elite. By definition most Premier League teams are recruiting average to good players in effect there is a ceiling on the quality of player that a team like Albion can sign. However there is no limit to the money that can be spent on them in fees and wages as QPR and others have shown through the years. <br />
<br />
The key to success in the market is to mitigate the risks through a systematic approach to player recruitment and never invest so heavily in any group of players that their failure undermines the ability of the club to recover from the set back of relegation<br />
<br />
I believe the Albion hierarchy have pretty much adopted the following as a blueprint. <br />
<br />
<strong>1. Build a team</strong> <br />
<br />
This might seem like the ultimate statement of the bleeding obvious but too often clubs sign players who are nice to have but have no clear role in the existing team, and surprise surprise the transfer fails. A new player must always add something to the existing squad and not just replicate what is already there and if he doesn't well don't do the deal. The Borja Valero deal springs to mind whenever I see a club buying a player that does not seem to meet an obvious need.<br />
<br />
<strong>2. Research Research Research</strong><br />
<br />
This is an on-going process there is no point in starting to look for a left back only when you need one because yours has just broken his ankle in a preseason friendly and time to find a replacement is running out. To maximise the chances of success the leg work is carried out months and even years in advance so not only can the club identify targets for positions they know they will need but to cover for unanticipated departures or injuries.<br />
<br />
In depth scouting is essential and not just in assessing the player's footballing ability but also his character which will be key to him settling into his new club and will also expose any off field problems which might undermine his ability to perform. It never ceases to amaze me that football clubs are surprised by some of the baggage their new signings bring with them. After all they are investing millions in the player a little bit of due diligence would not go amiss.<br />
<br />
<strong>3. The Wisdom of crowds</strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Placing the recruitment process in the hands of one man particularly an old school British gaffer is a recipe for disaster. Obviously the Head Coach does have a pivotal role in identifying areas for improvement but no coach not matter how dedicated can cover the whole market and too often Head Coaches get trapped into the notion that they must have player x partly because they are unaware of the alternatives and partly because of ego, any challenge undermines their authority at the club. Equally managers will always over estimate their ability to turnaround wayward players and without a challenge from either a Director Football or an independent chief scout tend to overlook flaws that others might see.</div>
<br />
<strong>4. Multiple Targets</strong><br />
<br />
This follows naturally from points 2 and 3. When negotiating a deal for a player it is a lot easier to walk away from a deal that is becoming too expensive if you have an alternative and in many cases there will be very little to choose between potential recruits, although the price will vary.<br />
<br />
<strong>5. Target Players on the Up Escalator</strong><br />
<br />
Albion along with other mid-table clubs should wherever possible focus their efforts on finding players abroad or from championship clubs who regard joining Albion as their big break. The problem with taking established players from the bigger clubs both home and abroad is that often the player concerned is on the downward swing and joining Albion from Chelsea Man U or Milan pretty much confirms it.<br />
<br />
Very few players leave one of the bigger clubs for a mid-table team and subsequently return to a team challenging for a champions league place. I can only think of one and that is Scot Parker, which would suggest few recapture the form that got them their break into the elite in the first place.<br />
<br />
There might be a whole host of reasons for this but there must be an element that the players have lost a bit of hunger or desire, it is not to say they are not dedicated and model professionals but nor do they think they have anything to prove.<br />
<br />
<strong>6. Plan for Failure</strong><br />
<br />
There is no signing that a mid-table club can make that will guarantee their future in the Premier League so don't commit to deals that can only be sustained if the team is in the Premier League. This means two things. Firstly all players contracts have a flex down clause in them and if the players does not want to sign on that basis do not sign them, secondly if a fee is paid either there is a chance that it could be recouped or if that were not possible then club will not pay a fee that would cripple it if the fee had to be written off during a spell in the Championship.<br />
<br />
The policy implication on fees is fairly straight forward in general terms once a player reaches his late twenties the less inclined the club is to pay a significant transfer fee for his services.<br />
<br />
<strong>7. Never Shop at Harrods</strong><br />
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Once upon a time following his team's FA Cup triumph someone asked Coventry manager John Sillet what the victory meant to the club he replied "Coventry City have shopped at Woolworth’s for too long, from now on we're shopping at Harrods" There is no virtue in abandoning a tried and tested modus operandi just because of a sudden windfall and in particular when mid-table clubs start to make one big marque signing at the expense of making a number of improvements across the squad it is a sign that the club is about to lose the plot.<br />
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<strong>Conclusion</strong> <br />
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Many fans and commentators believe that it is a big summer for Albion because there are obvious gaps in the squad because of player departures. I would not disagree but I believe that the club has the systems in place to fill the gaps. <br />
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Those fans that are looking to the club to splash the cash on established Premier League players are still likely to be disappointed but it is no longer completely impossible. I would not be surprised if Albion break their transfer record this summer but I do not think we will break the 8 figure barrier, it would be possible if all we needed was one standout recruit but that is not the case this summer. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span>Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-74912918949161855802013-04-16T13:04:00.000+01:002013-04-16T13:13:42.017+01:00Narrative Fallacy and the Van Persie Myth<em></em><br />
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<em>"The narrative fallacy addresses our limited ability to look at sequences of facts without weaving an explanation into them, or, equivalently, forcing a logical link, an arrow of relationship upon them. Explanations bind facts together. They make them all the more easily remembered; they help them make more sense. Where this propensity can go wrong is when it increases our impression of understanding."</em> - Nassim Nicholas Taleb<br />
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Or put it another way Robin Van Persie might be the difference between Man United and Man City this season or he might not. To recap the narrative. Robin Van Persie was the outstanding striker of last season playing for Arsenal but with only one year left on his contract was coveted by both Manchester clubs. He chose United ahead of City, although it has been suggested that City's pursuit of the player was a bit half hearted much to the disgruntlement of their coach Roberto Mancini.<br />
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Having won a nip and tuck battle against their local rivals last year City have been left trailing in United's wake this season with Van Persie making a a noteworthy contribution to United's surge towards a twentieth league title. Football pundits in print and television make the immediate and obvious link that United signing Van Persie instead of City explains the 12 point gap that exists between United and City at the time of writing. Often it is accompanied with a the sub text that the City board should have backed Mancini's pursuit of Van Persie at all cost regardless of the rather inconvenient fact that Man City lost £90m last year and by some miracle they need to get close to break even under UEFA's financial fair play rules. <br />
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However returning to the main hypothesis a superficial review of the facts gives some credence to the belief that the Van Persie factor is the difference, given that he has again been the stand out striker of the season and delivered 20 goals for the Champions elect, whereas none of the City strikers have scored more than a dozen.<br />
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In making the link the fallacy is created and doing so pundits become blind to any other explanation. The first flaw in the thinking is to assume that if Van Persie scored 20 goals for United he would score 20 for City which is by no means certain. Accepting that Van Persie comes with a guarantee of 20 goals it should be acknowledged that he plays at another players expense so to assess Van Persie's potential impact you have to take that player's contribution out of the equation so the net gain might be 10 or 11 goals. Obviously another 10 goals across the course of a season could make a difference to the title race although it is entirely possible it makes next to no difference aside from helping City's goal difference if all the additional goals achieved was conversion of 1-0 wins into 2-0 wins then City's relative position would remain the same. <br />
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Even looking at things from the City side of the equation the string of assumptions is starting to stretch the creditability of the Van Persie is the difference myth but that disregards the United side of the equation. In an alternative universe where Van Persie opted for the blue side of Manchester it is far from certain that the outcome is any different. Had United failed to land Van Persie I am fairly sure armed with a budget in excess of £20 million and a wages of £200,000 a week United might have been able to find an alternative, who might have been something other than a complete failure. <br />
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I will be honest I don't have a fully rounded multi - factored explanation as to why this year's Premier League title race has turned into a procession or why City have tailed off so badly after last year but I know it is not solely down to Robin Van Persie's decision to join United ahead of City. Too often the football pundits looking for the glib easily digested explanation, create and the perpetuate the narrative fallacy of the star player being the difference between outcomes. in some cases they are but not as often as pundits and fans think they are.Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5608396441164479933.post-29129079464755832802013-02-01T02:46:00.001+00:002013-02-01T03:03:39.071+00:00Hung out to Dry<div style="text-align: right;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is that the rustle of a wedge of fifties I can hear ? </td></tr>
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The sorry saga of Peter Odemwingie's on off transfer to QPR finished on a farcical note late yesterday evening. The player having decamped to Loftus Road without a deal being agreed, in an apparent attempt to force through a move. Hours latter he had to return home still an Albion player suffering a very public humiliation into the bargain. </div>
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Setting aside the completely bonkers notion that going to sit on QPR's doorstep waiting to be let in was in someway a smart move Odemwingie had the grave misfortune of turning up about twenty minutes after Tony Fernandes pulled the plug on the deal by vetoing Junior Hoillet's loan move to the Albion.</div>
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In typical hard boiled fashion Albion were grinding out the last drop of juice from the mug in the game and had got the point where they going for maximum value, £3.5m, Hoillet on loan for the rest of the season with QPR paying Hoillet's not inconsiderable wages when the mug woke up and decided to quit the game. It is a pity that by the time Albion got to Fernandes he had already been turned over by the Russians and was probably getting a bit weary of being taken to the cleaners.</div>
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Having been very public in their pursuit of Odemwingie and by whatever means turned the player's head to the degree that he burnt his bridges with his current club QPR were almost honour bound to cut a deal, not doing so has left the player high and dry. They seem to have wilfully ignored the circumstances that would make a deal very expensive. Firstly Albion did not want to sell and being well run and solvent were under no pressure to sell. Secondly even if Albion could be persuaded to sell they would only do so if they could line up a replacement and the less time they had to do that the less likely the deal was going to happen. To leave the final bid to deadline day was asking for trouble and trouble is what QPR got. </div>
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Frankly not signing Odemwingie is not going to be the difference between QPR staying up or going down, he's good but he ain't Messi, however the next time they unsettle a player in this manner that player would do well to remember Odemwingie's humiliation and be a little bit more cautious in their attempts to force a move. </div>
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Throughout the saga the press have been very well informed about QPR's next move and the likely package that would be on offer to the player, Redknapp has strenuously denied any hand in leaking details to the press and I of course believe him what could he possibly gain from letting a transfer target know that there is a land of milk and honey waiting for him in West London?</div>
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All these shenanagins have left the Albion hierarchy with a bunch of awkard issues to address not least of which is what to do with the errant Odemwingie who is still a key member of the squad and top earner at the Hawthorns. Chairman Peace issued a strongly worded statement last night (<a href="http://www.wba.co.uk/news/article/no-deadline-day-move-for-peter-632183.aspx" target="_blank"> statement in full</a>) which in itself is a rarity as Peace seldom comments on day to day matters at the club (he sure as hell does not have a twitter account) and it is plain he is personally very disgruntled with the player and by inference QPR.</div>
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I have no doubt Odemwingie will move on during the summer but he won't be joining QPR and it will be on the club's terms. In the meantime Odemwinige will either get his head down and rebuild his tattered reputation or he will sulk, my guess is the latter. Albion may have won the day in standing up to a greedy self seeking player and a wheeler dealer shit or bust manager but the victory is a <span style="background-color: yellow;">pyrrhic</span> one. Odemwingie's relationship with fans has been damaged beyond repair and he will limp through the last few months of his time at the Hawthorns. It will be a sad end to his time as a Baggie but I don't think he really cares about how he will be remembered. </div>
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Standaman60http://www.blogger.com/profile/11152346830757131278noreply@blogger.com0