It’s that time of year again… the summer transfer market. Fans wait anxiously to see which star-studded name their manager will sign for a record transfer fee, or who will be the bargain of the season. No matter who comes through the door, there will always be the question from the fans: is he really worth that much money?
Just recently I have started reading Soccernomics by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski. This book is the football equivalent of baseball’s ‘Moneyball’. It looks at how much money teams spend and if they’re getting good value.
With the FIFA Confederations Cup and European Under 21 Championships taking place, I can guarantee that managers from the top divisions across Europe and around the world will have their eye on the fixtures, to see who could be a welcome addition to their squad.
If any player has an above average tournament, you’ll be sure to see the value for his services rise. Isco for example has had a standout season for Malaga and as a result, Real Madrid have snapped him up.
Kuper and Szymanski look at how clubs are going often overpay for a player in these circumstances. Yes, the youngster has had a good season in La Liga, but should Malaga be able to cash in on an extra 10 million Euros just because he plays well in a handful of Cup games?
Arsene Wegner has come under a lot of criticism for his transfer policy at Arsenal. He has seen the likes of Robin Van Persie, Patrick Viera, Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas and Marc Overmars all leave the Gunners and failed to really bring in players that demand a high-price tag that can improve the squad.
Kuper and Szymanksi’s take on the transfer market, is one that many people haven’t thought about before. Instead of selling players for high prices and then going out to a different club and trying to buy someone of the same caliber for just as much, if not more, why not pay your current crop of players more money?
Kuper and Symanksi’s statistics show that teams that pay higher-wages achieve higher league finishes. Just imagine how well Arsenal could have done the last 8 years, if they had offered their top players more money to stay at the club, instead of selling them and trying to buy a high-class player.
Players say they want to win trophies and that’s why they want to leave to go to a different club. But if you are getting paid more money, then it seems the trophies will follow.
Kevin Phillips right now, is in talks with Crystal Palace, saying they must meet his wage demands or he will leave the club. Nearly every team in the Championship is dying to have a proven striker like him at their club.
It may not be the most glamorous technique, but think of all the players you could still have if you just paid a bit more on wages. Of course, every player has their value, but giving players top wages and producing home grown talent is known to bring success.
So why aren’t more clubs doing it?
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