[Archived] Summer Transfer Window

[modes98]

chooses MONEY over everything else that matters in life!

I think that's a bit harsh. Moving to australia is not an easy decision and especially as cardiff is only down the road from everything he has grown up with. Maybe playing in england is what matters for robbie.

[Fife Rover]

I think that's a bit harsh. Moving to australia is not an easy decision and especially as cardiff is only down the road from everything he has grown up with. Maybe playing in england is what matters for robbie.

I was not meaning JUST Robbie Fowler. My comments were using this case as an illustration of a VERY common trend these days; where footballers, agents, clubs, and even Leagues are simply taking the **** out of us the very people on whom the game ultimately relies for it's support and indeed it's very existence.

[John]

So Fowler is taking the p**s because clubs want to pay him decent money to play football?

Just accept it Fife that money is massive in football these days - every post you seem to be making at the moment is with a massive chip on your shoulder (regarding too much money in football).

Got to move on with the times.

[Kai]

I think that's a bit harsh. Moving to australia is not an easy decision and especially as cardiff is only down the road from everything he has grown up with. Maybe playing in england is what matters for robbie.

It does seem a bit harsh. Isn't also fairly well documented that Fowler doesn't really need the money due to his property investments?

"We all live in a Robbie Fowler home" is what they used to chant when he was at Man City wasn't it?

[modes98]

I was not meaning JUST Robbie Fowler. My comments were using this case as an illustration of a VERY common trend these days; where footballers, agents, clubs, and even Leagues are simply taking the **** out of us the very people on whom the game ultimately relies for it's support and indeed it's very existence.

Fair enough. That's the way of the world though, if you make more profit then people want more of a slice of it. Agents shouldn't be in the game IMO, but there are certain issues that they are needed for, however players rely on them way to much.

[thenodrog]

The re-valuation of football players since the season ended and the new money came to being has left Hughes and his team in an even stronger position.

Two months ago he had made BRFC many millions with his astute eye for a player and his mgment team's ability to develop those players. Players that obviously spring to mind are Nelsen, Mokoena, Samba, Bentley, Roberts, McCarthy, Derbyshire, and Warnock. Add the re-emergence of Emerton and I think whatever estimate people had in mind for these individuals has now been possibly doubled! What a rare talent this is amongst managers and what an asset for BRFC! He has built a strong team and made us millions in the process. In the past I've proposed that he should be on a significant bonus based on his trading account. Now I'm sure of it!

We (compared to other clubs) get the square root of sod-all from the terraces, we do however gets lots of money from TV rights. Just as importantly there is much filthy lucre out there to be targetted from the Premier and European 'buying clubs'. In fact loadsa loadsamoney to be made from these clubs! imo this should be viewed as our survival ticket! We will never have the resources to win the Prem and are highly unlikely to get into the Champions League. But that does not preclude us from regular european placings and possible cup success. In short Mark Hughes is worth his weight in gold to our club and must be protected from predators at all costs. We should make him and his team as rich as Croesus so that only the irresistable chance of winning the Champions League with a mega club could prise him away.

[John]

£2.5 million for Luke Young seems very good value in the current market.

[Fife Rover]

The re-valuation of football players since the season ended and the new money came to being has left Hughes and his team in an even stronger position.

Two months ago he had made BRFC many millions with his astute eye for a player and his mgment team's ability to develop those players. Players that obviously spring to mind are Nelsen, Mokoena, Samba, Bentley, Roberts, McCarthy, Derbyshire, and Warnock. Add the re-emergence of Emerton and I think whatever estimate people had in mind for these individuals has now been possibly doubled! What a rare talent this is amongst managers and what an asset for BRFC! He has built a strong team and made us millions in the process. In the past I've proposed that he should be on a significant bonus based on his trading account. Now I'm sure of it!

We (compared to other clubs) get the square root of sod-all from the terraces, we do however gets lots of money from TV rights. Just as importantly there is much filthy lucre out there to be targetted from the Premier and European 'buying clubs'. In fact loadsa loadsamoney to be made from these clubs! imo this should be viewed as our survival ticket! We will never have the resources to win the Prem and are highly unlikely to get into the Champions League. But that does not preclude us from regular european placings and possible cup success. In short Mark Hughes is worth his weight in gold to our club and must be protected from predators at all costs. We should make him and his team as rich as Croesus so that only the irresistable chance of winning the Champions League with a mega club could prise him away.

Yes Theno you are quite right in what you say above, and in one sense I do understand what you and John and Modes etc are all saying. But whilst I may understand, and to a certain extent fully agree with what you are all saying, I am simply arguing the case that it is not the most desirable state of affairs, and it does not NEED to be that way.

What do I mean? To try and explain it as shortly and simply as possible I will have to use a little simple mathematics.

Starting with the removal of the maximum wage for players back in the early '60s there has been an exponential rise in the costs associated with our beloved game, whilst at the same time there has not been anything like the same law applying to the rise in disposable income for the vast majority of football fans. I know that there are quite a few who have no difficulty in affording the price of admission (very easily in some cases), but how many people today in the lowest paid employment bracket can easily afford to attend every match even with a season ticket at BRFC (and they are amongst the lowest priced S/T's in the EPL) Now compare that situation to the early '60s again and you would find that even the lowest paid individuals could and did afford the admission on a pay at the gate basis and huge numbers at every club would never even dream of missing a single match. Can you honestly say that is true today? The answer is a resounding NO!!!!

This in spite of the much improved living conditions and much higher wages for all, which probably means that all but a few people in work do have more options on what they choose to do with their disposable income. But the difference is that the costs of attending football matches (not JUST the admission price) has now risen to such an extent that there are very many that cant afford, or choose not to attend because of other priorities, like paying the mortgage/rent, feeding the kids etc. I can honestly say that whilst there were indeed a few people in this invidious position 50 years ago, the percentage of population thus affected then was less than now because of the fact that the costs of attending football matches then was much less overall pro rata than it is now. Public transport was then so cheap that it was virtually free for one and all; can you say that now?

And all that before we even get to the exponential rise in costs due to football related things, driven by players tranfer fees and wages, agents fees, incidentals inside and outside the ground like programs, pies, pints, all of them HUGELY more expensive even in comparison to incomes than they have EVER been before. Football has now become a huge business and is commercially exploited to the maximum possible extent by every Tom, Dick and Harry that can possibly get in on the act. The poor paying fan is the one picking up the tab and it does not NEED to be this way. It is this way simply because the remaining people that can actually remember when it was not this way and repesented genuinely superb entertainment at very easily affordable (not even need to think about it) prices are now very few and disappearing fast. Which of course suits all the mercenary so and so's that want to do the exploiting.

[Eddie]

In the past I've proposed that he should be on a significant bonus based on his trading account. Now I'm sure of it!

You know many disagree with you, myself included, but what I want to know is why you want to do this? If you're looking at it from a business perspective, as you clearly are, then please tell me what the motivation is to offer your manager more money for making a profit on transfers? Surely Hughes can already see the benefit from making a profit as it gives him more to spend and getting players on good deals gives him more options, so why offer him more money for something he would already want to do anyway? I could maybe understand where you were coming from if we were regularly handing him a £40 million budget and this was some sort of an incentive not to just go out and blow it and not worry, but as we have a relatively small budget by premeirship standards he has to constantly look for good deals: that is what we pay him for.

Not to mention it also creates a conflict of interest. Take the Benni saga from this summer for example, let's say that Hughes was on a deal where he gets 5% of the profit made from his transfers, that means that had Benni been sold for £8-9 million (bad deal for us), he could have walked away with a few hundred thousand as a nice summer bonus. Now a man of integrity wouldn't do that, and I'm sure that Hughes is one, but I still don't want to hang that carrot out there and see if he would ever take it.

[Sandiway Blue]

i totally agree, i first started watching rovers in the 70`s at the age of 5 with my sister and my dad,which was a period where my dad brought me and my sister up on his own, with only his wage to support us all (no government help in them days!) and yet we could afford to catch a bus from rawtenstall to accrington,catch the train to blackburn then catch the special from the boulevard to most home games (and sometimes local away games) all on an average wage!

these days i can just about afford season tickets for me and my son with maybe 1 or 2 away games a season.I was at the point if ST`S had continued rising as they were, within 3 seasons i would have stopped going,sign of the times i guess....

[daren]

But now you're complaining about the general cost of living! Seems a bit harsh to blame football for the fact that getting the bus and trains to a match is expensive!

The wages are ludicrous, but Sky make a profit on the premiership, and they pay the cash. Setanta will, no doubt, make a profit also unless they do an ITV Digital. As long as this continues, wages will continue to be ludicrous. Also, many football clubs do not understand the concept of "living within their means". Wouldn't be surprised to see a few clubs follow in Leeds' footsteps in the next twenty years or so.

[LWX]

i totally agree, i first started watching rovers in the 70`s at the age of 5 with my sister and my dad,which was a period where my dad brought me and my sister up on his own, with only his wage to support us all (no government help in them days!) and yet we could afford to catch a bus from rawtenstall to accrington,catch the train to blackburn then catch the special from the boulevard to most home games (and sometimes local away games) all on an average wage!

these days i can just about afford season tickets for me and my son with maybe 1 or 2 away games a season.I was at the point if ST`S had continued rising as they were, within 3 seasons i would have stopped going,sign of the times i guess....

i know a sheff weds fan whos stopped going......in his own words "i simply won't pay it".....fair play to him.....its a bit of a heart wrencher when you sit down and look at the facts of life involved in watching modern day football......they are playing on our emotions to get us in......and i dont blame individual clubs either......its a collective shame......rovers charge what they do coz the next club does and they charge what they do coz the next one does....and so on and so on.......at least we see rovers trying a little bit.....its not enough when you look at what footie used to be like......but its probably as much as they can do..........

[unleaded]

Jeffers Gone????? Okkas in on a trial!! Okkas was set to come over during the transfer window but was pulled out at the last minute due to his Greek club changing managers but is a free agent now and Rovers will try to bring him over for a trai before any decision is made.West Ham and some German club are also in the frame.........

I hope so!!!

CARDIFF CITY are on the brink of landing the sensational double capture of ex-England strikers Robbie Fowler and Francis Jeffers.

The Western Mail understands the Bluebirds have already agreed terms with Blackburn on a £1m swoop for 26-year-old Jeffers.

The former Everton and Arsenal frontman, who scored in his only game for England, is set to be unveiled by Cardiff boss Dave Jones on Wednesday.

Negotiations with former Liverpool legend Fowler are also at a highly advanced stage.

Sources close to the Anfield legend say he has decided to come to Cardiff and, provided no other offers come in over the next four days, the 32-year-old is also expected to put pen to paper on a contract this week.

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If the Bluebirds, as expected, pull it off, the double deal will be the biggest transfer coup in the club’s recent history.

Horseracing fanatics Fowler and Jeffers are both due in South Wales tonight, where they are expected to vist the stables of top Welsh trainer Evan Williams.

The move for Jeffers appears definite after Cardiff fixed a fee with Blackburn and the player agreed personal terms.

Cardiff’s sudden swoop may explain why Jeffers’ planned move to Ipswich, where he spent two months on loan last season, suddenly collapsed.

Jeffers began his career in his hometown of Liverpool as an Everton trainee, before securing a £10m move to Arsenal in June 2001. But despite also playing for Charlton and Blackburn, Jeffers has made just 94 starts over a 10-year professional career in the Premiership, grabbing 40 goals.

His solitary appearance for England came under Sven-Goran Eriksson in February 2003, when he came on as a substitute to score a consolation goal in a 3-1 friendly defeat to Australia at Upton Park.

Fowler is also set to sign for Cardiff after turning down the opportunity to join Sydney FC, while Championship rivals Leicester completed the £2.1m signing of DJ Campbell from Birmingham yesterday.

Fowler’s agent George Scott insisted there were still other offers to be considered, but the Western Mail has learned the move to Cardiff is virtually a done deal.

Scott maintained there were still some negotiations to be overcome.

City are believed to have offered Fowler a £10,000-a-week deal, plus a substantial bonus package.

“Robbie will decide within the next five days,” said Scott.

“He understands he needs to get back into pre-season training soon if he is going to be ready for the new season.

“Robbie was impressed by Sydney, but the financial restrictions there proved impossible to overcome.

“The wage caps in Australia and America have ruled out the opportunity of going out there.

“There are still a lot of options. Cardiff are in the frame most certainly, but I’m not saying any more than that at this moment in time.

“The situation is always one where any offer is always open to negotiations. Things are always going to need to be tweaked and that’s the case here.

“If you will pardon the cliche, the goalposts can always be moved in any deal like this.”

Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale returns to Britain from his holiday in Florida on Tuesday and will be back behind his desk at Ninian Park the next day.

The Jeffers and Fowler deals should be completed then, barring any last-minute hitches.

[USABlue]

They've lost the explosive pace of Chopra and replaced it with the quagmired gait of Robbie Fowler - major change in tactics required for the Bluebirds me thinks.

Ah yes you are a big Chopra fa, who was it you were saying he'd score more goals than?

I think that's a bit harsh. Moving to australia is not an easy decision and especially as cardiff is only down the road from everything he has grown up with. Maybe playing in england is what matters for robbie.

You mean the English League right? PLease don't tell me you mean Cardiff.

So Fowler is taking the p**s because clubs want to pay him decent money to play football?

Just accept it Fife that money is massive in football these days - every post you seem to be making at the moment is with a massive chip on your shoulder (regarding too much money in football).

Got to move on with the times.

I'm with Fife, yes the money is massive but it's gone beyond that now I think. It's become pure unadulterated greed. Moving with the times is one thing but taking it up the arse to watch these players play what was a blue collar entertainment will never set well with some of us.

I wonder if the players will "move with the times" if or when the fans finally say enough and start spending their entertainment income elsewhere. I doubt it.

[Eddie]

£1 million would be very good.

[John]

Can't say I am too excited on Okkas

The ease with which he misses goal scoring opportunities, however, makes him a scapegoat for the Olympiacos fans

[USABlue]

The re-valuation of football players since the season ended and the new money came to being has left Hughes and his team in an even stronger position.

Two months ago he had made BRFC many millions with his astute eye for a player and his mgment team's ability to develop those players. Players that obviously spring to mind are Nelsen, Mokoena, Samba, Bentley, Roberts, McCarthy, Derbyshire, and Warnock. Add the re-emergence of Emerton and I think whatever estimate people had in mind for these individuals has now been possibly doubled! What a rare talent this is amongst managers and what an asset for BRFC! He has built a strong team and made us millions in the process. In the past I've proposed that he should be on a significant bonus based on his trading account. Now I'm sure of it!

We (compared to other clubs) get the square root of sod-all from the terraces, we do however gets lots of money from TV rights. Just as importantly there is much filthy lucre out there to be targetted from the Premier and European 'buying clubs'. In fact loadsa loadsamoney to be made from these clubs! imo this should be viewed as our survival ticket! We will never have the resources to win the Prem and are highly unlikely to get into the Champions League. But that does not preclude us from regular european placings and possible cup success. In short Mark Hughes is worth his weight in gold to our club and must be protected from predators at all costs. We should make him and his team as rich as Croesus so that only the irresistable chance of winning the Champions League with a mega club could prise him away.

For once tnd I find myself in 100% agreement with you. I have marked this day on the calendar.

[unleaded]

Another exclusive saying he`s not coming.............................I knew it it was too good to be true!!!

But sources close to Ninian Park have today confirmed that rumours of a double swoop for Fowler and Blackburn Rovers striker Fran Jeffers are untrue.

“Fowler is the top target and, if all goes well, he will sign on Monday evening,” said the source.

“But only one phone call was made to Blackburn Rovers.

“They want £1m for Jeffers and personal terms would be £10,000-a-week plus. All interest ended there. Jeffers will not be signing for Cardiff City.”

[USABlue]

Fife read your post and did not want to quote the whole thing. My method of measuring the rise in cost of a footy ticket. Back in the day when I went you oculd get on the Rovers for the price of a few pints, how many now? Given the Drink has most likely gone up more than the average cost of living. I have to think it that way cos I can't remember how much I paid last time I was going (maybe too many pints) on but I know it was not a terrific strain on the budget.

I don't know why people think ther ehas to be something sinister behind Hughes not spending, could it not just be that he is doing a good job. HE clearly has a hard time in his mind trying to spend huge amounts on mediocrity for that I commend him.

[philipl]

Hughes putting the squeeze on Jeffers- no loan, you stay and fight for your place.

That idea of drog's gets worse every time I read it. Never mind, at least Lancashire United bought Blackburn buses so one of his dreams is coming true.

[John]

Jones revealed he still wants to bring another goalkeeper and a striker before the start of the season, but categorically dismissed reports that Cardiff had agreed a £1m deal to sign Blackburn's Francis Jeffers.

"That is a total fabrication of a story," said Jones. "I just do not know where these people get it from.

"Someone asks you a question, you give an answer and all of a sudden two and two becomes 10. It's totally untrue and I find it absolutely amazing."

[Cocker]

GOD SIGNS FOR TAFFS

Before I read your link I thought it was either one of two things:-

1. Shearer had come back from retirement

2. They had snapped up Jansen

:ph34r:

[LWX]

jeffers aint good enough.....we should just get rid and save payin his wages....

[RevidgeBlue]

“They want £1m for Jeffers and personal terms would be £10,000-a-week plus. All interest ended there. Jeffers will not be signing for Cardiff City.”

I suggested last summer that the free transfer move for Jeffers would not be that cheap over the life of the contract with his likely wages being around 10k p.w.

At the time I was shot down by certain posters who were trying to suggest he would only be on something like 3k p.w.!

[RevidgeBlue]

Hughes putting the squeeze on Jeffers- no loan, you stay and fight for your place.

Sadly, in the light of this dismal transfer window, it probably indicates Sparky hasn't even been given enough money to replace Jeffers properly, let alone lodge a serious bid for someone of Bellamy's calibre.