We are the cunts we accuse Barca of being

[rurikbird]

Does anybody still remember Raheem Sterling transfer saga? One of our best and most promising players was able to force a move against our wishes by acting like a total cunt aided and abetted by his agent, the now-infamous Aidy Ward. It seems like our entire transfer strategy for this summer has been based on the assumption that we can do the same to Leipzig and Southampton. We have the money and the Champions League and one of the best managers in the world that most players would love to play for.

So why hasn't it worked (so far)? Are we being too nice? Did the players we counted on to kick up a fuss refused to do so? Has the financial power changed football so much that that the likes of Leipzig and Saints have more holding power vis-a-vis us now than us vis-a-vis Man City in 2012? Is our negotiating team simply incompetent? It seems like we want to become the cunts we accuse others of being, but for some reason we can't quite pull it off.

 

[Modo]

Like I said in another thread, what goes around, comes around.

Who was the first player to do us dirty like that, btw?
People say Owen or McManamam but both forced our hand due to their contracts expiring. Well Macca left for nothing but Owen only had a year left.
Personally I'd say that the first player to do that is Mascherano, we had him tied down for at least two more years.

 

[Markeh]

Hadn't city just won the league? We aren't successful enough and we didn't spend enough at the time when having money made you special.

We're not rich enough now either to compete with the top level and buy a piece of success.

Money, success

 

[Mersey86]

So why hasn't it worked so far? ........ Has the financial power changed football so much that that the likes of Leipzig and Saints have more holding power vis-a-vis us now than us vis-a-vis Man City in 2012?

That's the answer I'd go with ..... though with elements of the others. The money involved is near sickening, when you consider the world's poverty. In fact anybody who calls a football player his hero these days needs a good slapping.

 

[Red Mullet]

You're only really be a cunt if you truly are one. We're not which actually is a good thing.

 

[Halmeister]

The financial aspect is a good one. Everyone has money these days. Add into the fact that we're utterly incompetent and it's a wonder we got Salah done.

 

[rurikbird]

You're only really be a cunt if you truly are one. We're not which actually is a good thing.

Hmm, that's an interesting, positive take on it. According to your theory, we're not cunts, but trying to act like we are and it's not working, because see above. So what's the solution then?

 

[gareth_thomas]

We should try and sign players than can be purchased

 

[Hyena]

In my country there's a saying - Being a cunt is like making love. It is always easier the second time!

We're amateurs. Bayern and Barca have it down to an art. That's the difference

 

[gkmacca]

I think the Barca comparison is wrong. What gets most people so angry at Barca is the way they don't even bother to 'tap up' other clubs' players - they simply publicly announce their intentions to sign the players, then use the media to post their illegal negotiations with the players' agents, and then just wait for chaos to ensue. That's what's outrageous about them.

They're like thieves who invite themselves in through the front door, pour out a drink for themselves, sit down opposite you and talk you through how they're going to steal your stuff.

Like all clubs, we were alerted by agents to certain players' willingness to move, and we started talks. Tapping up, yes, but that's how 99% of transfers start. Aside from the almighty cock-up inside the club over VVD, the rest has just been unfortunate. It hasn't helped that like all Premier League clubs we find ourselves in a climate where foreign clubs know we have a fortune to spend, so even the most simple deal has become a tiresome negotiation as the selling clubs suddenly play hard to get, pretend no one is for sale, and the price shoots up. It's become so much the norm this summer that it's hard to believe any club really means it when they insist a player isn't for sale.

But the Barca comparison is way off, and it's just a curiously British case of self-inflicted masochism if it's claimed otherwise.

 

[Hyena]

I think the Barca comparison is wrong. What gets most people so angry at Barca is the way they don't even bother to 'tap up' other clubs' players - they simply publicly announce their intentions to sign the players, then use the media to post their illegal negotiations with the players' agents, and then just wait for chaos to ensue. That's what's outrageous about them.

They're like thieves who invite themselves in through the front door, pour out a drink for themselves, sit down opposite you and talk you through how they're going to steal your stuff.

Like all clubs, we were alerted by agents to certain players' willingness to move, and we started talks. Tapping up, yes, but that's how 99% of transfers start. Aside from the almighty cock-up inside the club over VVD, the rest has just been unfortunate. It hasn't helped that like all Premier League clubs we find ourselves in a climate where foreign clubs know we have a fortune to spend, so even the most simple deal has become a tiresome negotiation as the selling clubs suddenly play hard to get, pretend no one is for sale, and the price shoots up. It's become so much the norm this summer that it's hard to believe any club really means it when they insist a player isn't for sale.

But the Barca comparison is way off, and it's just a curiously British case of self-inflicted masochism if it's claimed otherwise.

Are VVD and Keita really for sale, though?

 

[gkmacca]

Are VVD and Keita really for sale, though?

The former, probably, the latter, it seems not. I really can't believe people aren't seeing any distinction between how Barca behave and the rest. Maybe there's a self-flagellation gene.

 

[Hansern]

Its easy being a cunt when you're one of the top clubs in the World, and you know that every player wants to sign for you. I e Barca and Bayern.

We came 7th? And he had 2 years left on his deal. Not the best position to be in

 

[Oliver Twist]

The ultimate goal is the same even if the means to that end are not.

I see very little distinction between one team tapping up and another. Everyone's at it. We're all cunts.

 

[gkmacca]

Its easy being a cunt when you're one of the top clubs in the World, and you know that every player wants to sign for you. I e Barca and Bayern.

No, it should be easier NOT to be one, because you don't need to scrap away to find and get decent players, The fact they all want to come to you diminishes the need to stoop to long, public and illegal strategies. A quick private word with the club and an agent is all that is needed. And, after all, as such a club you are already spoilt for choice, so there's no need to be desperate about it.

 

[Frogfish]

Maybe there's a self-flagellation gene.

It's 6CM. That's par for the course.

 

[beejay]

There's also the super-agent thing, like how Mourinho works with Raolo and Mendes and they make things happen.

Still, let's give it until the end of the window until we reach any conclusions there's still time for some big deals particularly if we can clinch CL qualification.