The Financial Fair Play Rules introduced by UEFA President Michel Platini a few years back are finally starting to have some impact, and it’s making some clubs wonder whether they can afford players – in terms of both wages and transfer fees.
Andy Carroll – no way back at Liverpool
The rules have been introduced to put an end to suicidal spending by football clubs who have spent money they haven’t got – and have ended up in administration – bankruptcy – and they include many clubs with Portsmouth, Southampton and Rangers being just three of them.
The new rules are also meant to put an end to Billionaires coming in and buying a club, and paying out huge money to buy a team – as in the case of clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City, PSG and QPR – to name only a few.
So clubs must balance their books as any business must, and it’s not often you hear managers talk about finances – when talking about a player they want – but that’s exactly what Sam Allardyce at West Ham has done recently about Andy Carroll:
“In one fell swoop the financial restrictions mean Andy Carroll can’t sign for us from Liverpool because it’s too expensive, even if he wanted to.”
There have been many reports that Newcastle would take back big Andy – but not at £17M, and the Gateshead-born striker may have to simply report back to pre-season training in July, knowing quite clearly that manager Brendan Rodgers doesn’t want him.
But the Reds hardly want to keep paying out £80K/week in wages to a player who just doesn’t fit into their new way of playing the game.
This is what a source has told the Evening Chronicle today:
“Andy is realistic about next season.” “He is not expecting to be at Newcastle or West Ham.” “He’s prepared to go back to Liverpool and fight for his place.”
“Andy feels there is still some unfinished business at Liverpool and wants to continue his good rapport with the Kop.”
That sounds like a politically correct statement from one of Andy’s acquaintances, and it will scare Liverpool – because there simply doesn’t seem to be a way back for Andy at the Reds.
The Evening Chronicle reported a day or so ago that there had been no contract between Newcastle and Liverpool for the Geordie striker, but Newcastle’s best strategy could well be to wait and see what happens this summer.
And we suppose at the worst we could even try to take him for a season long loan deal – but Liverpool will want to get his wages off the books, and we cannot see Newcastle paying his full wages on loan.
Newcastle will also not pay out anywhere close to what Andy is getting in wages at Liverpool if he does come back to us – but that doesn’t say he wouldn’t return to his home town club for a much lower wage.
And remember that legally he has every right to simply stay at Liverpool for the next three years and pick up a ridiculously high wage for basically being on the bench.
We don’t think that will happen, and therefore Newcastle are still in with a decent shout of getting him in the summer – but it’s a terrible situation for both Andy and Liverpool – no doubt about that.
And it’s a situation Newcastle have been in a few times in the past.
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46 comments so far
Rainrix
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:19 AM
Comment #1Ed you seem to want carroll back more than pardew :).
darrenfletcher88
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:20 AM
Comment #2What a player bayern has just signed in the form off gotze from Dortmund,yes 33 mill is a lot but just shows the thriving for success!! Yes are mould is great signing good players for low fees but if u want success great players cost u top money, Rvp for united? I think my heart would stop if Ashley paided 15 mill for a player never mind 33, but just shows investment brings success!! No investment u end up where we are,before people say about the 18 mill spent in jan yes that was great, buts that’s probz what Rvp has been paided this year,top wages and fees brings success
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:20 AM
Comment #3darren…I get what you’re saying, but investment doesn’t bring success, smart investment does. It’s a tricky balancing act, one that Man U generally do well with. However, to find an example of a team that don’t, well, look no further than our next opponents.
BarcelonaMag
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:20 AM
Comment #4It doesn’t sound like such a “terible situation” to me. I have to go to work today!
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:22 AM
Comment #5Barcelona…More so for Liverpool. Not sure how happy most would be having an employee on those wages, with that initial outlay for a player they don’t even want now – seems fairly terrible and my heart bleeds for ’em 🙂
Rainrix
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:24 AM
Comment #6http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11711/8666828/QPR-promise-to-keep-squad-intact-unless-big-offers-come-in
Seems the QPR higher ups are doing their upmost to destroy the club for good 🙂
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:27 AM
Comment #7Rainrix…Saw that one earlier. Great stuff. QPR, the joke that just gets funnier.
ichrisho
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:28 AM
Comment #8QPR are a prefect example to how not to run a club.. still though nice to see ‘Arry get his dues… Fanny… Who on QPR team bar Holiett and Remy would anyone bid big for?
AwToonnufc
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:29 AM
Comment #9Ed I think its time to drop the Carroll talk. Everyday is a new post about his situation. Even if newcastle haven’t been mentioned! not having a go! But I’d personally be livid if we bring him back for anything more than 4 mil. Which Liverpool will never do so, hopefully he’ll be sold somewhere else and we can stop reading about him.
t00ntime
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:30 AM
Comment #10@Darren read the article you just posted on and realise why high investment+wages doesnt mean succes…
Quality players make succes, the price doesnt matter. It just so happens that most good players cost more. Arsenal paid 1.7mil for RVP but according to you he wasnt good enough for arsenal? But when man utd paid alot for him, he became a great player?
I know what your saying but how your saying it is wrong. Otherwise QPR+Chelsea+man city, man utd must be the top 4 and newcastle+arsenal must be last?
Rainrix
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:30 AM
Comment #11Ibiza… Cant wait for harrys interview after they get relegated, it’ll be like a nightmare on elm street 🙂
i take it qpr will be relegated whenever villa get a single point then?
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:31 AM
Comment #12ichrisho…I imagine Samba would probably get offers. Maybe Odemwinge…oh no, he didn’t make it in the end…
Aw…Do you really think him going elsewhere will stop the links to Newcastle? This saga will run on until he retires imo.
blew
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:33 AM
Comment #13Another day another Andy Carroll story.
Different heading.
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:35 AM
Comment #14Rainrix…Isn’t every harry interview like watching nightmare on elm street?
Not sure actually, it said last night that if Villa had won then Reading and QPR would be relegated. Seems they still have 12 points to play for and Villa are 10 points ahead, so I guess a Villa win is needed or either team to lose their next game.
Rainrix
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:39 AM
Comment #15Ibiza… Its not always such a bloodbath is a harry interview, well not most of the time. And plus harrys no where near as sexy as old freddie 🙂
I just looked at the table and you’re right villa are 10 points ahead with 12 to play for, so 2 points to villa or reading and QPR losing a single match will send them down i think.
ichrisho
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:40 AM
Comment #16While we are on Carroll – Who would take Big Sam back? 🙂 Lets see that headline Ed!!!!
Transfer Sage
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:41 AM
Comment #17You need to spend big to be at the top of the league, its a sad fact, look at all title winning teams.
Man utd, chelsea, man city
barca, real
inter, juventus
bayern, dortmund (not a much but still spend good money)
You can buy young players and develop them but ti takes time. Then some of these leave, dont make it etc so you need to buy to get a ready made player you haven’t produced youself.
Even barca with their academy buy big players they need, villa, sanchez, eto’o, ibrahimovich, etc.
Money doesn’t guarantee success, need to spend it well, but you need to spend big fee’s to win leagues.
LewSpi v2.0
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:42 AM
Comment #18I’ve probably missed this on the comments on previous articles, but what would everybodys team be with Papiss out, I’m guessing we all agree on the following?
—————-Eliot
Debuchy Saylor Mapou Haidara
———–Tiote—Cabaye
HBA——–Sissoko——Marveaux
————-Gouffran
Although we’re proabbly more likely to see Perch, Gutierrez and Shola in there somewhere. Not forgetting Gosling at some point.
Beattie25
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:43 AM
Comment #19Mario Gotze to Bayern, unbelievable.
I have ties to Dortmund and I can tell you this will feel worse for them than Carroll leaving from us.
It’s sickening but it’ll be interesting to see who they sign.
I only thrive of big deals like this knowing how inconsistent we are in the transfer window. God I wish we had some ambition. I’m not talking £30 million players but the Bayern mission statement regarding transfers (roughly translated) is ‘strengthen yourself to weaken your rivals’.
If only we realised that we have to strengthen to weaken our rivals.
‘Stand still and you go backwards’ that should serve to be our new motto and a reminder of the importance of transfer windows.
darrenfletcher88
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:43 AM
Comment #20@ibiza, lets be honest Man U have had
the same foundation for years but, rio 30 mill,Rooney 30 mill, Valencia 18 mill, jones 12 mill,de gea 18 mill,should I go on?? Ok Anderson 14 mill,nani 13 mill,shoul I go on?? Ok Rvp 24, Ashley young 20 mill,kagawa 17 mill,them amounts are close, they have spent more than people realise!! Take the 80 mill from ronaldo off and they have spent more on players than we will in the next 30 years man
t00ntime
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:44 AM
Comment #21HBA wont start for the rest of the season. AP has already said that.
Beattie25
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:48 AM
Comment #22Ibiza
Our next opponents haven’t had recent success with recent signings but all their success has come from investment.
Going back to the 70’s and 80’s they had investment. Under Rafa they had investment and then they tried to back Kenny but they didn’t have success.
That’s swings and roundabouts. At least they’re trying to achieve something and not penny pinching. I’d rather try and fail than not try at all.
Transfer Sage
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:48 AM
Comment #23darren
if you take man utd’s most expensive 11 and city’s you get the same amount, give or take a few million.
It’s just more frowned upon for city because they did it quickly and not over time.
It’s like any start up business, invest heavily up front to push yourself up the market, then make your money back over time.
Beattie25
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:49 AM
Comment #24Sage
Isn’t that how Ashley did it with Sports Direct?
He obliterated the opposition through investment. Why so different here?
Rainrix
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:49 AM
Comment #25http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/alan-pardew-expects-cheick-tiote-2995303
Cheicks straight back in then.
Beattie25
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:51 AM
Comment #26Rainrix
That’s all we need. Unfit and out of form Tiote walking straight back into the team. Player reputations before anything else it seems.
Rotonda heights
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:52 AM
Comment #27ichrisho
Not my first choice but over Pardew I’d drive Poyet here. Bit racist as well as I understand Poyet better than Paul Lambert.
darrenfletcher88
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:53 AM
Comment #28@transfer sage,your right, we will never do that that’s the sad thing!! Yes Swansea won sliver ware but when will they win there next bit?? Never?? U no what I mean? Big investment means success!! Unfortunately unless a sugar daddy comes in our Ashley takes risks and open his wallet we will never win nout
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:53 AM
Comment #29Darren…Much like Barcelona, Man U bring players through the team and supplement that with buying well. Yes they spend big on some players, but usually it’s for the missing ingredient or two. I’m not disagreeing that investment is needed for success, just need the inclusion of “smart”,as many teams have shown it’s not just about throwing large amounts of money at it. That’s all I am saying 🙂
ichrisho…..NNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Rainrix…I’m fairly confident one of those two will slip up, it really is only that 3rd spot that is in question. Squeaky bum time.
Beattie25
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:54 AM
Comment #30Poyet thinks the reaction to Suarez has been over the top.
Sorry but I have lost a little respect for Poyet trying to defend his fellow countryman.
If that was our player I’d want the manager to do what Rodgers did not what Martinez did with Mcmanaman.
Rainrix
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:55 AM
Comment #31Beattie… Hardly surprising anymore is it?
Thought you’d appreciate this as well 😉
https://twitter.com/NUFC_Stats/status/325922953873207296/photo/1
Says a lot when our left winger is in the same position as our left back on average 😐
Ian Toon
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:56 AM
Comment #32Good Morning – What a lovely day. I don’t want us to sign Carroll at any price. Those who complain about us being a direct side would then have something to complain about. Generally the more direct a side the more defensive they would be in a 4-5-1 formation. Planting nine players between the opposition and the goal with the ST( AC) competing for possession and holding the ball up for breaking players from midfield. I only wanted to get rid of one manager and that was Allardyce and his brand of football. For me I favour a possession, pass and move short passing game, with effectively a five man midfield which is subtle with more finesse. Come season end we can structure an almost finished product side by buying astutely. Brain not brawn.
Transfer Sage
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:56 AM
Comment #33beattie
because the money in football is beyond his reach…he is worth 2bil with a lot of that tied up in his companies, sports direct and newcastle united.
And with sports direct he has built quite slowly, took a long time to get where he is now. he bought struggling brands/companies then sold stuff with a famous brand name but lower quality for lower price so people get the impression it’s a bargain (or at least he ranges it from low to high quality so you can get the big brand but for fee).
It’s only once he got to be a big player that he dropped prices so nothing around him could compete with his company. He could never do that in football as there are too many much bigger competitors.
Rotonda heights
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:57 AM
Comment #34I think that’s code for carrol doesn’t want to give up 80k a week. Don’t blame him. I know pardew is turning us in to stoke even better than allardyce tried and everything would be set up for carrol but 80K a week talks.
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:57 AM
Comment #35Beattie…Not sure what we’re debating here, I was only pointing out that simply spending money doesn’t bring success.
I do think a team can improve it’s playing team without silly money being spent, we’ve seen it, but there are question marks over how far that can go….just look at Arsenal.
It’s all relative to what people consider progress, success and investment and as always, what the timeline is.
darrenfletcher88
Apr 23, 2013 at 10:59 AM
Comment #36What teams that have thrown loads off money at players have not done well?? Qpr have spent nout compared to Chelsea,city etc??
Jackel001
Apr 23, 2013 at 11:00 AM
Comment #37On Cisse, could be a blessing as goofy hasn’t had the opportunity to play up front yet it could mean he’ll want to show what he can do.
Btw Goetze to Munich for 32 mill, putting a few quid on them to win the lot next season!
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Apr 23, 2013 at 11:08 AM
Comment #38Darren…I feel I may be missing your point.
if we’re talking about league “winners”, then there is certainly a trend to suggest that investment equals success, however there is also financial proof that spending big (in relative terms) does not.
Just look at the PL:
http://transferleague.co.uk/league-tables/transfer-league-table-last-five-seasons.html
darrenfletcher88
Apr 23, 2013 at 11:12 AM
Comment #39And how many off them teams are better off than us?? Even Liverpool?? Spent like crazy but there always there or there abouts! Give any the choice take everything Liverpool has got now or Newcastle I no what people would choose
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Apr 23, 2013 at 11:18 AM
Comment #40Darren…Better off that us in the league this season? Of course they are. Do I think they have a better squad? Not really no. I think they have had a better season mainly due to Suarez tbh.
What is it we’re debating here mate, as I’m completely lost now 🙂