4 comments

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  NJ

  10 months ago

  Agreed, the transfer season is silly, and it would make sense to conclude it before the season begins, so we can focus on the games and not who else is on the verge of a move. However, whether you shorten the season to 10, 15, or leave it at a month, a large number of deals will conclude at the end of the period. It is human nature in all sales negotiations to wait till the end of the month/quarter/year to conclude the deal. Why? Desperation, if you need to close the deal or move a player or buy one, you are more willing to (depending on your needs) pay up or get a discount.
  
  Oh and why do people go to Spain and Italy, I think the weather and culture (i.e. food) may help, but I'm definately not an expert on continental climate or cuisine. Keep up the good work, and be thankful the silly season is almost over.
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  AtlantaPompey

  10 months ago

  SWP to ManCity for 9 million pounds. Why would anyone want to join that sinking ship? They are a fire sale waiting to happen.
  
  Of course, it could be that I'm bitter that he didn't head to Pompey instead.
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  JLay

  10 months ago

  Not sure why SWP would go there either. They have a strong core, but that won't mean much when they're selling off their players in a month or two. Not sure that he's worth 9m GBP either...
  
  As for shortening the window, I think it'd be great - it would reduce the gamesmanship involved, which would be great for the game. Don't think it'd affect the press though- they'd still print useless rumors for months on end, regardless of the official window.
  
  The Ronaldo and Lampard sagas were the worst in my mind - particularly because they both came to nothing after months of speculation.
  
  "Lampard's hairdresser's sister's best friend says that he's working to finalize wages with Inter next Tuesday!" or "Lampard uses urinal next to a vaguely Italian-looking stranger!"
  
  "Calderon can't discuss what a fantastic player Ronaldo is, and how much he'd like to sign him. or the fact that he'd pay United 65m GBP for him, because he doesn't believe in tapping up! 'Ronaldo, if you read this, please call me on my mobile phone', says Calderon"
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  jjgogo

  10 months ago

  Strikes me that although it is annoying, actually worse than annoying, to continually read the same garbage gossip about the few players who are inthe transfer mix, Berbatov a prime example, it seems that people who follow the sport are anxious to see something dramatic for them to read each day. It is hard to provide that without droning on and speculating.
  Further, the only real facts that we have access as fans to, is seeing that a player is benched or absent (Berbatov) and then listening to a game hearing an announcer say things like "he's probably on the road ot the North right now" or "he's enjoying the game from home".
  The press coverage is a sport in itself.
  I agree that cutting the window into the pre-season would make for a far more stable season opener and beyond, and for selecting the best fantasy team!!! But the people who make such decisions have different lobbyists and interest holders to consider apparently.
  It will be great when the end date is here and final. Then they will all start speculating on January -- and I mean immediately, the talk will turn ... Human nature, no?
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