Now Platini has lost the plot

[Batman]

Platini was transferred only twice in his entire career and has never manager a club side. Typical Frenchman, likes the sound of his own voice.

Racism?


That said Platini is wrong, agree 100% with DSB and Batty, free market. Cant go around talking about restriction of trade, freedom of movement etc. Im surprised there hasn't been a challenge from a player wanting to move outside the window from one EU country to another, i supose thats why free transfers are allowed outside the window.

yep, great innit


seriously, get a f ucking life

[BwfcDan]

Great minds think alike Batman

[bobo the clown]

Platini was transferred only twice in his entire career and has never manager a club side. Typical Frenchman, likes the sound of his own voice.

Racism?

No .... just a pretty accurate observation.

He's French.

He's a tosspot.

He spouts shite for fear of saying nothing at all.

... and all that's not exactly atypical of politically minded Frenchmen.

There will be exceptions ... I just think of any at present.

[H. Pedersen]

Eliminating the transfer window would benefit the big clubs at the expense of a club like Bolton. Wouldn't our best players get snapped up the second they start producing some good form? Consider last season, we wouldn't have even gotten 5 months of service from Anelka. He'd have been poached the second one of the big 4 had a player out through injury.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Eliminating the transfer window would benefit the big clubs at the expense of a club like Bolton. Wouldn't our best players get snapped up the second they start producing some good form? Consider last season, we wouldn't have even gotten 5 months of service from Anelka. He'd have been poached the second one of the big 4 had a player out through injury.

He was around the season before, and no bugger bought him last summer.

If players get bought, clubs get money. We'd have had more time to spend the Anelka money, perhaps on a striker, rather than trying to force the issue by arguably offering over the odds. Maybe we wouldn't have had to turn, in desperation, to Rasiak. Maybe we'd've got a better striker in early February. Maybe we'd've bought Elmander in March.

Condensing the transfer activity into one mid-season month leads to fee escalation, bad buys and money wasted. And it also turns what used to be a steady part of the season, where titles were won and lost, into a speculation circus and a frantic if-it-moves-buy-it market. It may make for good 24hr sports TV but it weakens the sport.

[H. Pedersen]

Condensing the transfer activity into one mid-season month leads to fee escalation, bad buys and money wasted.

I think we would see an equal number of panic buys, if not more. Players would throw a hissy fit and demand a transfer as soon as they were left on the bench. Clubs like Newcastle or Sunderland would go two games without a win and sign 4 players in October. Transfer drama would distract players and clubs throughout the season, rather than for a month in January. Relations between the smaller clubs and fans would suffer, as children see their new £50 hero jersey rendered irrelevant as soon as Wayne Rooney hurts himself and Sir Alex decides he needs a temporary replacement

And it also turns what used to be a steady part of the season, where titles were won and lost, into a speculation circus and a frantic if-it-moves-buy-it market. It may make for good 24hr sports TV but it weakens the sport.

Granted, I didn't follow football in the pre-window era, but am I correct in assuming that was a time of greater restrictions on player movement, greater loyalty, and relative equality between leagues and clubs?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Condensing the transfer activity into one mid-season month leads to fee escalation, bad buys and money wasted.

I think we would see an equal number of panic buys, if not more. Players would throw a hissy fit and demand a transfer as soon as they were left on the bench. Clubs like Newcastle or Sunderland would go two games without a win and sign 4 players in October. Transfer drama would distract players and clubs throughout the season, rather than for a month in January.

We can't be held responsible for the actions of idiots. As it is, players throw hissy fits and refuse to play. Is that better? I'd rather get shut, myself.

And it also turns what used to be a steady part of the season, where titles were won and lost, into a speculation circus and a frantic if-it-moves-buy-it market. It may make for good 24hr sports TV but it weakens the sport.

Granted, I didn't follow football in the pre-window era, but am I correct in assuming that was a time of greater restrictions on player movement, greater loyalty, and relative equality between leagues and clubs?

Are you really that new, HP? The Sep-Dec and Feb-Mar transfer bans were brought in for the 2002-03 season. Anyway, yes, things were better in the old days when everyone had cholera. Are you trying to say that player freedom has been enhanced by a restrictive transfer window? In the old days, you could sign a player at any time between June and the end of March (IIRC). Trust me, jedi, it was a far far more stable atmosphere.

[H. Pedersen]

And it also turns what used to be a steady part of the season, where titles were won and lost, into a speculation circus and a frantic if-it-moves-buy-it market. It may make for good 24hr sports TV but it weakens the sport.

Granted, I didn't follow football in the pre-window era, but am I correct in assuming that was a time of greater restrictions on player movement, greater loyalty, and relative equality between leagues and clubs?

Are you really that new, HP? The Sep-Dec and Feb-Mar transfer bans were brought in for the 2002-03 season. Anyway, yes, things were better in the old days when everyone had cholera. Are you trying to say that player freedom has been enhanced by a restrictive transfer window? In the old days, you could sign a player at any time between June and the end of March (IIRC). Trust me, jedi, it was a far far more stable atmosphere.

Actually yes, didn't really start following the sport until the 2002 World Cup. It was the influence of my Danish teachers that got me hooked. Ah college, when I could afford to stay up until 4AM to watch a game.

At any rate, no, my point was not that player freedom has been enhanced, but that the Bosman ruling and the explosion in inequality between leagues and clubs could make a year-round transfer window unmanageable. Clubs would never be able to punch above their weight because any hint of promise would be snuffed out in weeks by billionaire club owners looking to strengthen their bench. You'd never see an FC Porto or Zenit St. Petersburg triumph in Europe because their squads would be dismantled before the end of the group stages.

[BWFC_Insane]

And it also turns what used to be a steady part of the season, where titles were won and lost, into a speculation circus and a frantic if-it-moves-buy-it market. It may make for good 24hr sports TV but it weakens the sport.

Granted, I didn't follow football in the pre-window era, but am I correct in assuming that was a time of greater restrictions on player movement, greater loyalty, and relative equality between leagues and clubs?

Are you really that new, HP? The Sep-Dec and Feb-Mar transfer bans were brought in for the 2002-03 season. Anyway, yes, things were better in the old days when everyone had cholera. Are you trying to say that player freedom has been enhanced by a restrictive transfer window? In the old days, you could sign a player at any time between June and the end of March (IIRC). Trust me, jedi, it was a far far more stable atmosphere.

Actually yes, didn't really start following the sport until the 2002 World Cup. It was the influence of my Danish teachers that got me hooked. Ah college, when I could afford to stay up until 4AM to watch a game.

At any rate, no, my point was not that player freedom has been enhanced, but that the Bosman ruling and the explosion in inequality between leagues and clubs could make a year-round transfer window unmanageable. Clubs would never be able to punch above their weight because any hint of promise would be snuffed out in weeks by billionaire club owners looking to strengthen their bench. You'd never see an FC Porto or Zenit St. Petersburg triumph in Europe because their squads would be dismantled before the end of the group stages.[/quote]

Completely and utterly wrong HP. Since the windows came in the likes of Chelsea, Man Utd etc have simply expanded their squads and are far less willing to release their players simply because they can afford to have "cover just in case".

The transfer window disadvantages the smaller club.

DSB is spot on. It serves no real purpose. For example....

Last season when we sold Anelka. Were there no window we'd have been able to keep hold of him for longer OR sell him earlier and almost certainly have found a better option than Rasiak.

The window crystallises things and drives the prices up.

Its not good for the sport and I can't believe it hasn't been challenged under EU law as its almost certainly not legal (at least according to the experts on the radio a year or so ago). As usual because the bigger clubs benefit the issue hasn't been challenged.

[CrazyHorse]

I doubt anyone is going to challenge it when all concerned parties are making money from the system.

[communistworkethic]

Platini was transferred only twice in his entire career and has never manager a club side. Typical Frenchman, likes the sound of his own voice.

Racism?

the french aren't a race, so no. Xenophobia perhaps, but it's the French who gives a shit, he could have added soap-dodging, sheep-burning, cheese-eating, war-losing, arrogant and garlic-gobbling[/quote]

[bobo the clown]

Platini was transferred only twice in his entire career and has never manager a club side. Typical Frenchman, likes the sound of his own voice.

Racism?

the french aren't a race, so no. Xenophobia perhaps, but it's the French who gives a shit, he could have added soap-dodging, sheep-burning, cheese-eating, war-losing, arrogant and garlic-gobbling ...

You left out " .... surrender monkeys !"

[H. Pedersen]

Completely and utterly wrong HP. Since the windows came in the likes of Chelsea, Man Utd etc have simply expanded their squads and are far less willing to release their players simply because they can afford to have "cover just in case".

Can you really attribute that to the transfer window? Or is it perhaps because Chelsea were bought by a billionaire crook with a bottomless put of money? United don't really seem to have that deep of a squad anyway, given that Frazier Campbell started in their season opener.

Last season when we sold Anelka. Were there no window we'd have been able to keep hold of him for longer OR sell him earlier and almost certainly have found a better option than Rasiak.

You're right, we wouldn't have had the same time contraints. But neither would Chelsea. Would they have paid £15 million if they had time to leisurely examine their options for 5 months? I don't know that they would have.

[communistworkethic]

Platini was transferred only twice in his entire career and has never manager a club side. Typical Frenchman, likes the sound of his own voice.

Racism?

the french aren't a race, so no. Xenophobia perhaps, but it's the French who gives a shit, he could have added soap-dodging, sheep-burning, cheese-eating, war-losing, arrogant and garlic-gobbling ...

You left out " .... surrender monkeys !"

went for "war-losing" as an alternative

[William the White]

Platini was transferred only twice in his entire career and has never manager a club side. Typical Frenchman, likes the sound of his own voice.

Racism?

the french aren't a race, so no. Xenophobia perhaps, but it's the French who gives a shit, he could have added soap-dodging, sheep-burning, cheese-eating, war-losing, arrogant and garlic-gobbling ...

You left out " .... surrender monkeys !"

went for "war-losing" as an alternative

And in Iraq Her Majesty's forces are winning? and in afghanistan it'll be over any day now?

Good job the french arent there.

[Soldier_Of_The_White_Army]

The day we can't rip into the French, is the day the world will stop turning!

For crying out loud! The only reason people start wars is to take the piss out of the rifle mounted two man canoe they send!

[marshall_42]

Eliminating the transfer window would benefit the big clubs at the expense of a club like Bolton. Wouldn't our best players get snapped up the second they start producing some good form? Consider last season, we wouldn't have even gotten 5 months of service from Anelka. He'd have been poached the second one of the big 4 had a player out through injury.

He was around the season before, and no bugger bought him last summer.

If players get bought, clubs get money. We'd have had more time to spend the Anelka money, perhaps on a striker, rather than trying to force the issue by arguably offering over the odds. Maybe we wouldn't have had to turn, in desperation, to Rasiak. Maybe we'd've got a better striker in early February. Maybe we'd've bought Elmander in March.

Condensing the transfer activity into one mid-season month leads to fee escalation, bad buys and money wasted. And it also turns what used to be a steady part of the season, where titles were won and lost, into a speculation circus and a frantic if-it-moves-buy-it market. It may make for good 24hr sports TV but it weakens the sport.

...sells footie magazines!

[Lord Kangana]

The day we can't rip into the French, is the day the world will stop turning!

For crying out loud! The only reason people start wars is to take the piss out of the rifle mounted two man canoe they send!

Are you jealous of the fact their squaddies are actually given equipment?

[officer_dibble]

Condensing the transfer activity into one mid-season month leads to fee escalation, bad buys and money wasted. And it also turns what used to be a steady part of the season, where titles were won and lost, into a speculation circus and a frantic if-it-moves-buy-it market. It may make for good 24hr sports TV but it weakens the sport.

Surely most sane people outside the obvious 4 (actually even within - surely Barry would be a Liverpool player for instance - if thats a good thing - without the window) would agree with this point of view.

I can move jobs when I want, why can't players move clubs if the markets right?

Clubs in the bottom leagues working on shoestrings have to prat about with 'emergency loans' etc as well, so it hurts them more.

[CAPSLOCK]

And it also turns what used to be a steady part of the season, where titles were won and lost, into a speculation circus and a frantic if-it-moves-buy-it market. It may make for good 24hr sports TV but it weakens the sport.

Granted, I didn't follow football in the pre-window era, but am I correct in assuming that was a time of greater restrictions on player movement, greater loyalty, and relative equality between leagues and clubs?

Are you really that new, HP? The Sep-Dec and Feb-Mar transfer bans were brought in for the 2002-03 season. Anyway, yes, things were better in the old days when everyone had cholera. Are you trying to say that player freedom has been enhanced by a restrictive transfer window? In the old days, you could sign a player at any time between June and the end of March (IIRC). Trust me, jedi, it was a far far more stable atmosphere.

Actually yes, didn't really start following the sport until the 2002 World Cup. It was the influence of my Danish teachers that got me hooked. Ah college, when I could afford to stay up until 4AM to watch a game.

At any rate, no, my point was not that player freedom has been enhanced, but that the Bosman ruling and the explosion in inequality between leagues and clubs could make a year-round transfer window unmanageable. Clubs would never be able to punch above their weight because any hint of promise would be snuffed out in weeks by billionaire club owners looking to strengthen their bench. You'd never see an FC Porto or Zenit St. Petersburg triumph in Europe because their squads would be dismantled before the end of the group stages.

Picked a bad un in ZSP

I reckon they could buy and sell most of the Prem