Joleon Lescott

[Blue Wiz]

In my mind there are three kinds of football players that switch teams.

1. The player that leaves a club for another of similar strength just because the money is better. (Radzinski)

2. The player that is a shining star in a club and playes regularly, goes to a better club to try and find other players of his caliber and to prove himself on a higher lvl. (Rooney)

3. The player that is mediocre in a club and doesn't play much, goes to a slightly worse side to get regular first team football and, perhaps, to become a star in that club. (Beattie)

I know there are excpetions to this (for example going to a club that the player have supported as a kid, or if the player don't get along with the coach), but as a base it serves me fine.

Depending on how they behave before and when they leave I can understand players of type 2 and 3, but never type 1.

 

[Makis]

Depending on how they behave before and when they leave I can understand players of type 2 and 3, but never type 1.

This is exactly what I have tried to understand today. What's there not to understand? Do you think the same of anyone switching jobs for better salaries?

I say it again: for almost every player, football is their job. They get paid shitloads and they probably enjoy it, but it's still their job. Why is it wrong to switch jobs to get a better salary?

 

[Blue Wiz]

This is exactly what I have tried to understand today. What's there not to understand? Do you think the same of anyone switching jobs for better salaries?

I say it again: for almost every player, football is their job. They get paid shitloads and they probably enjoy it, but it's still their job. Why is it wrong to switch jobs to get a better salary?

The difference between a footballer and me (as a standard employee) is that the footballer have sat down and negotiated a contract that binds him with the club for a set period of time, I haven't and neither have most other employees. I have only signed a paper that says I will work at my job until either I or my employer wants me to move on, with 3 months notice.

If the player isn't sure he wants to stay at a club more than say 2 years, he should only sign a contract of that length. Sure the club would probably not pay as much for a shorter contract, but if he only looks for steppingstones he should be able to find other clubs willing to pay what he wants (Newcastle, Tottenham, ManC) for a shorter contract.

 

[Makis]

The difference between a footballer and me (as a standard employee) is that the footballer have sat down and negotiated a contract that binds him with the club for a set period of time, I haven't and neither have most other employees. I have only signed a paper that says I will work at my job until either I or my employer wants me to move on, with 3 months notice.

If the player isn't sure he wants to stay at a club more than say 2 years, he should only sign a contract of that length. Sure the club would probably not pay as much for a shorter contract, but if he only looks for steppingstones he should be able to find other clubs willing to pay what he wants (Newcastle, Tottenham, ManC) for a shorter contract.

A valid point, but you talking about years here. Things change and players' careers are very short. In contrast, if we had similar kind of contracts as the norm, we would sign 10 year or longer contracts.

The player might feel the four year contract is good when he signed it but might feel after two years he is worth more. What if you were in the same situation, you signed for something you thought was a nice salary. Then five years later you think you are a very important asset to the company but you still have five years left in your contract and your company refuses to give you a raise that you feel you deserve? Wouldn't that make you unhappy? What if you did have a chance to change companies (in football terms this equates to making the whole thing public)?

As for Radzinski, I would have been ok with him changing clubs since Everton got a good price for him. The problem was he had to mouth off which was completely unneeded. I can understand people not being happy at their work, but publicly moaning like that is not acceptable.

 

[Azzbot]

In my mind there are three kinds of football players that switch teams.

1. The player that leaves a club for another of similar strength just because the money is better. (Radzinski)

2. The player that is a shining star in a club and playes regularly, goes to a better club to try and find other players of his caliber and to prove himself on a higher lvl. (Rooney)

3. The player that is mediocre in a club and doesn't play much, goes to a slightly worse side to get regular first team football and, perhaps, to become a star in that club. (Beattie)

I know there are excpetions to this (for example going to a club that the player have supported as a kid, or if the player don't get along with the coach), but as a base it serves me fine.

Depending on how they behave before and when they leave I can understand players of type 2 and 3, but never type 1.

It's not really hard to understand, lets be honest. You get asked to move from your job, to do the same thing because the money is let's say twice as good, why would you turn it down?

 

[Blue Wiz]

A valid point, but you talking about years here. Things change and players' careers are very short. In contrast, if we had similar kind of contracts as the norm, we would sign 10 year or longer contracts.

The player might feel the four year contract is good when he signed it but might feel after two years he is worth more. What if you were in the same situation, you signed for something you thought was a nice salary. Then five years later you think you are a very important asset to the company but you still have five years left in your contract and your company refuses to give you a raise that you feel you deserve? Wouldn't that make you unhappy? What if you did have a chance to change companies (in football terms this equates to making the whole thing public)?

As for Radzinski, I would have been ok with him changing clubs since Everton got a good price for him. The problem was he had to mouth off which was completely unneeded. I can understand people not being happy at their work, but publicly moaning like that is not acceptable.

I know I'm talking years, and each year is about 8% of a top players career. But there is nothing that prevents the player to sign a 2 year contract and then resign another 2 year contract if he feels he is at the right lvl of competition. Noone forces the player to sign a longer contract than he wants (except perhaps some agents).

My point is that if you sign a long deal you have to honor it, unless the employee changes your assignment (from playing regularly, to almost never play or just being a sub in a few games).

Imagine if you own a company that has placed an order worth millions with a firm for them to create some important component for your company over 4 years. You start paying them but after 3 years that firm phones you and tell you to take a hike since another firm has offered them more to create something else and they have destroyed all notes to your component. That will in theory put your business back 3 years since you need to find some other firm to do the work from scratch again. Would you think that is ok? I wouldn't if I owned the company.

 

[Blue Wiz]

It's not really hard to understand, lets be honest. You get asked to move from your job, to do the same thing because the money is let's say twice as good, why would you turn it down?

The difference is that I haven't signed a contract binding me to my employee for a set number of years like a footballer have.

 

[Azzbot]

The difference is that I haven't signed a contract binding me to my employee for a set number of years like a footballer have.

A contract isn't an oath. You don't have to stick to it. In fact, the only players who do stick to it are the ones who move on a Bosman. So that's a pretty poor argument.

 

[Lao]

Or the ones that get towards the end then renew them! look at the loyalty at MancU - Neville, Giggs, Scholes. Our own few, Yobo, Osman, Hibbert:huh: Ok so its not always great to have players renew contracts

 

[Azzbot]

Or the ones that get towards the end then renew them! look at the loyalty at MancU - Neville, Giggs, Scholes. Our own few, Yobo, Osman, Hibbert:huh: Ok so its not always great to have players renew contracts

I was obviously talking about the players who have moved clubs.

 

[Lao]

Sorry, i was being a bit flippant

I agree with comments about contracts not being an oath, but transfer fees reflect the 'breach' of contract - the more years left the higher the fee obviously.

Regardless of all this, even if we get £18M for Lescott we may have enough cash for one top signing, then We will still probably be looking at Moyes working some magic with Bosmans in the summer though, so they have their use.

 

[Azzbot]

It is a breach, but at the same time it is a legal breach.

 

[Nebbiolo]

It is a breach, but at the same time it is a legal breach.

No such thing, mate.

 

[Lao]

Not technically legal but generally accepted due to financial compensation of transfer fee.

 

[bluebloodinmyveins]

We cant replace him, its just that simple.