AuthorJeffEyesRimmer So it seems like that this summer’s transfer window is going to become the most ludicrous of all time. The money being discussed is beyond ridiculous and it’s gone from the obscene to now surreal. I mean $60 million for a defender that only last season was valued at $13million! Nearly $100 for an 18 year old that has one good season, crazy times. Talk of $183 million for Morata and Ronaldo, mental. While I understand that the fees being bandied about are the result of whatever the market value is there must be a better way? Well we just so happen to have another system that works in place - the draft system. I know I know it would never be implemented in Europe etc. like it is in the USA but could it work? How could it be implemented? It would take a major change in the grassroots system first to make things work. Firstly, the current system has players picked up at a very young age and put into clubs academies, whereas in America the draft system has players picked up from the colleges. So this process of picking kids up on contracts as young as six would need to change. This could either be with fixed football academies, with the best youth players pooled or it could be part of the university system and then could be signed from. Actual diplomas and scholarships like in the USA could be provided. This has a knock on effect of players getting a good education and would help with life after football or if the player failed to make the grade they would have something to fall back on. Too many players fall through the cracks and have nothing to show for it from the academies/clubs.
When players do make it through and are ‘drafted’ fixed contracts can be signed then, similar to the USA or the AFL here in Australia. Draft picks could be pooled to each league, with the best rated youngsters being graded at the academy or university. The best players will be first given options in the EPL for instance, and then the Championship etc. then the next group and so on. I know it sounds a bit like a cattle market but we are already past that point in the current situation we find ourselves in now. It would not be perfect but there is a better chance of players of higher quality being spread around the divisions rather than currently left to rot in the reserves or under 18s etc. A fixed contract could be given and they wouldn’t be able to breach this unless for trade picks or for special reasons. This would reduce the current player power and prevent things like Dimtri Payet situation at West Ham last season when he refused to play when he wanted a move. This trading system could work well with the loan system in this scenario too. The worst sides from the previous season would get first picks from academies in respective countries; this would make it more competitive in leagues. All the big five leagues have the same sides winning all the time (with odd exceptions) and so this spreading out of more quality players would increase the competitiveness of each league. I think I should clarify what I mean by trade picks and trading at this point. What I mean is if a big team really wants a player from another club they can offer trades to each other in a fixed transfer window. Say you want player X because they might be amazing and you can offer them more money etc. well the team that currently has that player under contract might want two or three players in return, maybe the other teams squad players but who could improve their own squad. This could mean a spreading of more quality in the leagues, also potentially giving players more time on the pitch rather than rotting on the bench or reserves. Wouldn’t it be better if Liverpool for instance traded a few of their younger players or squad players to Southampton for Van Dijk. Liverpool would get the player they want; Southampton would get several players to boost their first team and potentially a gem for the future. The biggest knock on effect I think would be the removal for the need for huge fees being paid to agents. Paul Pogbas agent earned an alleged $40million from the deal that took him from Juventus to Manchester United, that’s just daft and corrupt. Removal of this issue would mean agents needing to work harder and would prevent the mass pooling of players under so called ‘super agents’ who seem to have the power to move players wherever they want nowadays. The lack of transfer fees and agents would also free up money for the owners to focus on other avenues and could be put into improving match day experience, reducing ticket prices and better grounds. Maybe the clubs could finally get round to improving the disability access that they promised and failed to deliver. The increase in quality spread through the league helps the owners market their club more and improve revenue too. Additionally, with a better product TV executives would have a better product to sell to us. Finally, central academies/universities with this trading system would improve the number of home grown players and this could improve the international game as well. While I concede that a draft/trading system will never come into force, there are certainly some merits in it. Do you have any thoughts on the draft system or even another system entirely? The current transfer market is just so out of touch with the real world something needs to change. |
AuthorsJust Some Fans Writing About Football. Archives
June 2018
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