It is beyond arguing that the transfer market is in fact a sad development within modern football, the real detrimental factor is the growth of influence at the hands of players agents

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By Mr. H.

What effect is the transfer window having on the stability of not just teams, but players as well?

I am specifically referring to the Adebayor and Ronaldo saga’s taking place this summer (winter for me in Jozies, Mr H, the Gooner Exile!).

For starters, how damaging is the transfer window, with all it’s politics of who wants who, on the stability of clubs, specifically our own, Arsenal, who due to financial constraints, or whatever the reason, have chosen a path of player development rather than to allow the club to be drowned in the torrent of rising prices incurred in the market itself (Arse-avin’ Andre).

It is beyond arguing that the transfer market is in fact a sad development within modern football, the real detrimental factor is the growth of influence at the hands of players agents.

I have said it before and will say it again, Agents are ruining the stability of teams like Arsenal. Due to our commitment to being a team independent of big Investors who will leave once the profit margin has been filled, we have therefore developed a developmental structure, bringing in youth players and making them future stars in Europe.

The problem comes when you combine these two factors together.

Agents get paid according to whatever contracts they can get their players that they represent. Ultimately it is in any players agent’s best interest to constantly unsettle the players they represent in order to constantly work for new and better contracts, NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE PLAYER THEY REPRESENT, but for themselves, it is their job!!!

Take for example Ade and Ronaldo. Both brilliant players, developed to their best by both Wenger and Ferguson. In the eyes of their agents, this is the best time to seek to fashion artificial discontent, for their own personal financial gains.

The real problem arises for Arsenal, with their development programmes that are already in place. Agents realize AW’s love for youth talent. They seek to organize contracts for youth players, where elsewhere their long term talent would not be recognized. Wenger develops these young talents only to have their resolve shaken up by their agents seeking to get them better terms on their contracts in Europe or elsewhere in the Premiership.

As such, the very central stability of teams, so central for success, is unsettled, by agents who realize that this will be in their best interest in terms of getting more lucrative contracts out there.

All this serves to do in the long run, is to paint players with the mercenary brush. Ade for example, I have read many articles, voicing’s of opinion and down right rants about Ade, even songs were sung about him at Barnet. The sad fact is, how much of the Mercenary is Ade, and how much is his cock faced agent? This agitation leads to unsettle players within the team, who would have at one stage thought the unsettled player to be central to the stability of the team as a whole.

This unsettling of players ultimately becomes a tool of European Clubs with ZERO scruples. Who SCHOOLED and RE EDUCATED AC Milan, in their own backyard? Who made the Euro Champs look like tired old men? We did, and for me it was one of the greatest moments of a very tough season. Who scored the second goal, and whose defence gave them no chance to take on Almunia?

Adebayor scored and Flaminis dogged defence made Kaka look truly Kaka!

As a result Flaminis gone to play in the Uefa, and AC have made it their mission to unsettle the very goal scorer that savaged them last season. This political tool of unsettling players by displaying “interest” is a ruthless development within the transfer window. Players who at one stage would have been the spear head of the next season are now uncertain and unsure, disliked by once loyal fans and distanced from the real heart of the club.

There is something not right about Football.

For me, the best approach for dealing with this new politics of transfers would be team salary caps, like in the NBA. This gives a new approach to strategy, as teams like CSKA Chelski, would no longer be able to buy themselves silverware due to being able to buy up any player they want at any price. No longer would teams be able to fill their squad with Superstars, but rather would have to balance the brilliant with the average. Secondly, it would promote the development of local talent, rather than the search for established and over payed millionaire superstars.

Something needs to be done, since every season that passes, more and more players are exploited by their agents, unsettling teams around Europe and ultimately filling all the leagues in Europe with mercenary players ready to jump ship at the slightest hint of more cash. The best squads are grown, players develop and learn how to play as a unit. The quality of football will drop if we witness new starting elevens every season due to player discontent manufactured and created by greedy agents.

Who agrees? Who hates me because I hate agents? If you are an agent, any time mate, I got gloves and i’m ready!!!! I’ll even pay for your ticket!!!

In Wengerball I trust.