I’ve seen a lot of discussion around player contracts recently and it got me thinking about franchise tagging and the benefits this could have for Premier League clubs, particularly at the lower end of the table.
Ignoring the COVID-19 crisis for one moment, could a Premier League version of club tagging benefit the overall competitiveness of the league? Would anyone here be in favour of/against introducing it generally, or specifically for Academy players?
For anyone wondering what I’m talking about, a brief definition:
In the National Football League (NFL), the franchise tag is a designation a team may apply to a player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are met. Each team only has one franchise tag per year.
I wouldn’t be against it. It would curtail some of the influence agents/players exert on clubs. It would also protect clubs who develop players through the academy only to face the prospect of selling them to the “big six" or risk them running down their contracts.
“Franchise” tagging in the Premier League
posted on 3/4/20
I’m pretty sure the Bosman ruling won’t apply once we leave the EU. It’s written into EU Law, not English.
Depends on the youngster doesn’t it. I don’t think Everton would’ve thought twice about tagging 16 year old Rooney. Would’ve been nice not to lose Pogba for £100k. I think there’s a version of it that could work. I don’t ever see it happening, mind you. But I wouldn’t be against it.
posted on 3/4/20
comment by Joe The King Exotic (U10026)
posted 4 minutes ago
I think players should have the freedom to be able to choose what club they play for.
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This would only effect 1 player at each club if we followed the NFL model.
posted on 3/4/20
Let me rephrase that. I’m NOT pretty sure the Bosman rule won’t apply, but I’m pretty sure it’s specific to the European Union, so would need to be adopted/retained exceptionally, meaning there could be a window for PL clubs to seek an alternative.
posted on 3/4/20
comment by The Lambeau Leap (U21050)
posted 3 seconds ago
I’m pretty sure the Bosman ruling won’t apply once we leave the EU. It’s written into EU Law, not English.
Depends on the youngster doesn’t it. I don’t think Everton would’ve thought twice about tagging 16 year old Rooney. Would’ve been nice not to lose Pogba for £100k. I think there’s a version of it that could work. I don’t ever see it happening, mind you. But I wouldn’t be against it.
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Most of the laws will be carried over and written into UK law, after all the UK was a major player in shaping them.
In fact one of the major agreements between the EU and UK, during withdrawal talks was guaranteeing the rights of EU workers.
posted on 3/4/20
And I don’t think it should. The compensation regarding academy players is a different issue, something that should be looked at with regard to increasing compensation packages. Forcing a player to stay another year doesn’t address that issue, and wouldn’t necessarily mean a transfer fee came the way of the club.
posted on 3/4/20
Sorry if I’m being a bit simple on this Lambeau, but when I’m saying I can’t see a club tagging a young’un, it’s because they would have to pay him. Making him instantly one of the highest paid players in the country, let alone his club.
Southampton and the like, don’t have the funds for that.
posted on 4/4/20
I see your point, OP however, I am also a NFL fan and you know Franchise tag almost never works.
There is a complete breakdown of trust between the team and the player, the player never quite gives their all, wouldn't risk injury as It could all be over in a second, and the player after said tag is applied almost always wants to leave the club, anyway.
I am all for curtailing agent power, a lot. For starters, agent fees should be paid by the player. Period. Not the club but Franchise-tagging a player is not the way.
posted on 4/4/20
Oh, I mean for the 'star players' or one a club wants to keep. Tagging a rotation player is no big deal but FT' a QB or an elite running back ( considering how devalued the positions is) never sits well in the mouth for the player.
posted on 4/4/20
It’s a fair point TRC, and you’re right it can sour the relationship. Case in point, Bell in 2018. There’d obviously have to be a bespoke version of it tailored to the Premier League. I was really thinking aloud about how clubs could be afforded more protection from other clubs/agents/players. I’d be thinking of this as more a means to lock in youth products than necessarily tying up the star buys. We’ve obviously got the luxury of knowing the shortcomings of the system in the NFL, so where a 20% bump doesn’t really cut it in the NFL for a consecutive tag, the PFA could determine a ratchet in collaboration with the teams - first tag minimum guarantee, second tag has to be within x% of top earners and so on.
The tag system in the NFL is destabilising because it’s not longer fit for purpose. A PL compromise that afforded protection to clubs and players would appeal to me. Collaboration with the PFA would help.
Ideally, I’d love to see a cap introduced. The money in the league is such that Everton can reject and £85m bid from Barcelona, which is brilliant for the league as whole, but money goes back into player contracts instead of to the benefit of fans. The distribution of wealth and the trickle down to fans in the NFL is much better than in the Prem, in my opinion.
It’s possible that all of this is a thinly veiled way of me wondering how we can get rid of people like Raiola.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a communist. However, knowing that players the state of Lingard sit there earning £100k a week screams at me that some sort of order needs to be restored.
posted on 4/4/20
''It’s possible that all of this is a thinly veiled way of me wondering how we can get rid of people like Raiola. ''
Wholeheartedly. I agree
''Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a communist. However, knowing that players the state of Lingard sit there earning £100k a week screams at me that some sort of order needs to be restored. ''
Oh I agree. The system as it is is broken. It certainly needs a revamp. And yes, Lingard shouldn't be earning more than a third of that.
A better distribution favours the entire league and product at large, not just a few.