Luciano Becchio’s transfer deadline day decision to switch from Leeds United to Norwich City offers clear evidence of quite how quickly the relative fortunes of different clubs can change. When the Elland Road outfit were ‘living the dream’ under the chairmanship of Peter Ridsdale, most notably progressing to the Champions League semi-final in 2001, the Canaries were in the midst of a nine-year spell in the comparative wilderness of Division 1.
Now the prolific Argentine striker, arguably his team’s most important player given his goal-scoring contribution, is following the path of Bradley Johnson, Robert Snodgrass, and most painfully local favourite Jonny Howson, in swapping West Yorkshire for Norfolk.
Leeds’ supporters are hardened to such disappointment after the financial debacle at their club which culminated in their 2004 relegation from the Premier League, a 2007 plunge into administration and astonishingly, three years spent in English football’s third-tier.
As the Whites steadily work their way back towards the upper echelons however, it must come as a blow that the three time league champions – an honour held by Leeds as recently as 1992 – are unable to hold onto key individuals in the face of interest from an outfit they will consider, despite current status, as their inferiors.
United are a mere six points away from a play-off place, and enjoying a season in which they have seen off stellar top-flight opposition in Everton, Southampton, and Tottenham Hotspur in cup competition at their vibrant home ground. An evocative tussle at Manchester City awaits in the fifth round of the F.A. Cup.
While Norwich can point to fine progress since their own unwelcome dalliance with League One football, and a Carrow Road ground which is packed fortnightly to its near 27,000 capacity with a boisterous home support, Leeds can boast of a 39,460 arena which still positively bounces with visceral passion on the most fevered of nights.
The predicament of the Yorkshire side is slightly unique due to the incredible fiscal circumstances that accompanied their decline, but it is typical of those clubs which suddenly find themselves operating outside the elite. When Howson decided a year ago to leave the environment in which he had been playing since nine years of age, and with his side apparently on the up, the lure of guaranteed Premier League football was obvious.
Regardless of the controversially excessive parachute payments ‘awarded’ to those clubs demoted to the Championship it is not unusual for players to be haemorrhaged prior to starting a campaign a league below. What is more, unless promotion is looking something of a certainly, any club in the 24 team dogfight that comprises England’s second-tier remain perpetually vulnerable to losing a key performer.
Those in that insidious situation include some of the grandest names in the English game. Birmingham City were a Premier League outfit only 20 months ago but are now open to offers for any of their squad, even actively seeking to sell their prized asset, goalkeeper Jack Butland, for a sum below his true worth.
Crystal Palace, irrespective of their fantastic season to date, were helpless in any attempt to try and retain the exceptional Wilfired Zaha from the biggest sharks in the sea, Manchester United.
It is the prospect of a similar circumstance that sparks genuine fear into those presently fighting to remain in the top-20 club clique. Wolves and Bolton Wanderers, relegated last term, are floundering in the bottom reaches of the Championship and adding further proof to what a daunting prospect achieving an immediate return is.
There is a fresh £5bn pot of television cash to be shared among the gilded 20 from the beginning of the 2013/2014 campaign. The idea of missing out on such a windfall only adds to the terror of those who can feel the big-time slipping away. The approach to avoiding the worst possible timed relegation is differing among those scrapping it out to finish above the telling perforated line.
Scarred by their last day survival in May, QPR owner Tony Fernandes had already backed Mark Hughes at considerable cost in the summer transfer market, agreeing exorbitant fees and wages for players such as; Esteban Granero, Julio Cesar, Junior Hoilett, and Jose Bosingwa. The Malaysian owner is now undertaking a remarkable high-stakes gamble in supporting the judgement of Harry Redknapp and acceding to the excessive demands of his manager’s targets and their clubs.