This - but on his wages...
I know Gomez’ wage is a big stumbling block in our way to off loading him. No one is going to give him the same money as we are currently paying him. He will still command a high wage no matter where he ships up. Personally I think I would be prepared to take a cut in wages as this is only for the term of my current contract and go somewhere where I can play my part and feel wanted. The killer is the signing on fee, it is in the player’s interest to run down his contract and then demand a big sign on fee in lieu of the transfer fee.
I understand the need to protect the player and this need need is met through their contract, I understand that not everyone plays Premier League and earns significant sums of money. Surely it is not beyond the powers that be to come up with a more equitable system whereby a club can be protected from players who wish to manipulate the system purely for personal gain. These players are extremely costly assets and their worth both to themselves and the clubs needs to be recognised and protected. Your prime asset cannot be allowed to become your heaviest millstone because he gets the hump about something or other.
I know there is a solution in not buying the type of prima donnas who end up holding clubs to ransom but it would appear that as agents make colossal sums of money out of players there are always ulterior motives at play.
Perhaps I am just old fashioned and hanker back to the days when players wanted to play and to play well for the club they were with.
I remember playing for an amateur club and the manager holding up a shirt in the changing room and talking about what an honour it was to be allowed to wear the shirt and about the players who had went before us. We believed we were standing on the shoulders of giants and played according.
