So, what do we think is actually going on here? Will he leave Fulham? And if he does, will he come to us?
It's a strange one this. Obviously at the beginning of the summer, it seemed an absolute certainty, but the longer it drags on, the less likely it seems to get.
A while before the Borini move was announced, there was an article by a Liverpool fan in Boston that I read on here, saying that Borini was done and that a deal was close for Dempsey, coming from John Henry himself.
Then obviously there was the PR trainwreck that was the transfer being reported on NESV's website before it even happened.
And now, he's either been left out of or refused to go on Fulham's pre season tour, depending what source you believe.
But, since then, it just seems to have gone a bit quiet in all honesty. I'm not overly worried, I'm sure Rodgers will get in who he needs to.And I'm not complaining about things being done behind closed doors, I think it's great. ( There's just not really a lot else to talk about right now.)
I think he'd be a great signing for us, goals from midfield were sorely missing last season. So, going into the last year of his contract, is this just Fulham hanging on for a better price? Or has the deal really gone cold?
Dempsey
posted on 4/8/12
The draft thing is an interesting idea, but realistically, would never happen. We've seen how long it's taken, and how much opposition there has been to video technology.
It seems that the people in control are very old fashioned, and almost seem frightened of radically changing the sport.
As an example, look at Phil Gartside and Richard Scudamore's recent suggestions for changing the Premier League. As it is, neither suggestion is particularly great, but there seemed a reluctance from anyone involved in the top levels of the game to even entertain the ideas and make constructive amendments to the proposals.
posted on 4/8/12
But then here lies the problem. I not saying it work as the same template but maybe something similar. In response to the last post and completely reaffirms my point, the current system is unsustainable.
There must he another way, if not the draft, then what? What other suggestions do people have? I think its an interesting subject. But currently, there is too much player power and certain teams in world football holding all the aces.
What do other people think?
posted on 4/8/12
If they had set a wage and transfer cap there wouldn't be any problems. The longer they leave it, the higher it will be.
posted on 4/8/12
Think that's a good point. Don't rugby do that?
Get bitter out lads.
posted on 4/8/12
With that no club would be able to come along and buy themselves a title etc. It would simply be down to which manager can convince players to come and which manager manages to get the right players to suit how he wants to play.
posted on 4/8/12
So are we calling it rugby then?
posted on 4/8/12
Well, the FFP was supposed to achieve this, but unless the powers that be have the bottle to place sanctions on clubs blatantly fudging the system, then nothing is going to be achieved.
I agree the current state of the game is not sustainable, as we've already seen with Leeds, Rangers and Portsmouth. And very nearly ourselves.
Looking at Germany, they have implemented very well what we are talking about here. Every club is required to prove at the start of each season that they are solvent at the start of the season.
Thing is, a wage cap or whatever can't be voluntary, if we decide to implement it here, then we will see a mass exodus of our top talent to Italy and Spain where they will still receive their silly wages.
posted on 4/8/12
>>Well, the FFP was supposed to achieve this
FFP never attempted anything of the sort.
If you made a lot in revenue, you'd be allowed to pay pretty much whatever you wanted to.
There is nothing cap-like in FFP at all.
FFP is specifically designed to keep the big (marketable) clubs currently at the top at the top forever without competition.
Fairness was never an objective, stifling any and all competition to their bread and butter income streams was the only objective.
posted on 4/8/12
What I meant was that FFP was supposed to level the playing field, in that a rich oil baron couldn't buy a mid to low table team and pump money into them like Chelsea and Man City. Not that it implemented a wage cap or anything of the sort. Just that it was supposed to be the first step in reigning in the silly money being chucked around in football.
Or that's publicly what it was supposed to do anyway.
posted on 4/8/12
>>What I meant was that FFP was supposed to level the playing field
It was meant to maintain the status quo for the big marketable clubs. No more irritating upstarts challenging their dominance.
Sponsors and football bureaucrats hate that sort of thing. They like their gravy train of cash nice, predictable and manageable.