Over the last few transfer windows we have seen a number of players move for huge fees. The likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and others have spent big money over the summer on new signings. Arguably a lot of these clubs have overpaid for their new players, but that is the kind of inflated market we are currently in, with previous transfer fees seeming to set precedents for those that follow. Are these extortionate transfer fees detrimental in peoples perception of a players ability?
The high price tag that a player now comes with automatically sets him up for a fall. It raises the expectations of fans and critics, as they perceive the fee to be an indication of quality. If the player fails to make an immediate impact, or live up to the perception of his ability in relation to the price tag, that it can have a very negative effect on his game. Players need to be strong mentally to overcome that, and be very confident in their own abilities, otherwise the price tag will be a heavy weight upon their shoulders.
If a player moves for a huge fee, then straight away the price tag has people willing to jump all over him, as they deem him not to be living up to his value. It puts unnecessary pressure on a player trying to settle down into a new club, as he then feels he needs to live up to that price tag and those expectations. Some of the price tags flying around this year, in particular for English players, are hugely inflated, and it is important not to read too much into them, or to believe that they are an accurate representation of player quality.
Managers themselves subsequently have a problem because of the huge price tag the player comes with. As they have spent big money on the player, they then may feel pressure to play them week in week out just because of the price tag. Jordan Henderson is a player who has made his way into the Liverpool starting line up ahead of the more experienced players like Dirk Kuyt. As he was signed with the future in mind, it is difficult to see why he merits an immediate starting place other than the huge price tag hanging over his head. Rather than focus on players fees, and letting them dictate whether the player plays every game, the fee should be forgotten, and we should be focusing entirely on whether the player merits a place in the squad, and can justify his position, regardless of his price tag.
I’m not jumping on the anti-carroll band-wagon here but let’s face it, he has looked really sluggish and keeps losing the ball constantly. I remember Peter crouch taking 16 or 17 games to score but no-one ever got the ball off crouch because he had quick feet, was skillful and brought other players into the game. Carroll on the other hand seems to fall over his own feet most of the time and looks slow as a wet week. I can understand his frustration with Henderson the other night against Exeter because he always seems to be receiving the ball in the air rather than at his feet but, given his control with his feet, perhaps that’s why his fellow team members are aiming for his noggin!! I I really hope things change fast and he sharpens up because Liverpool look a far better team without him at the moment. Can a price tag weigh you down so much you forget how to run and keel over every 5 minutes??? Surely not. I realise he’s settling in but who would you rather see on the team-sheet, Carroll (£35 mill) or Bellamy (free). Be honest
papis cisse or lavezi would be my prefered choices.carol,huum,he is too predictable.he is airforce only.airfoce carol.
You are right, people should not get on the players’ backs because they do not live up to their price tag. It’s not the players’ fault, that someone decided to pay huge fees for them.
“Some of the price tags flying around this year, in particular for English players, are hugely inflated, and it is important not to read too much into them, or to believe that they are an accurate representation of player quality.”
So if a fee does not represent the player’s talent accuratly, it should never ever have been paid. Simple.
Not Carroll and Henderson should be blamed for being the poor football players they both undoubtedly are, but the manager for having forked out so much money for them.
Both are horrible transfers judged on the cost/performance ratio. Kenny got it completely wrong with those two. Whereas he got it completely right with Suarez. And possibly Enrique. However, on average Kenny’s transfer dealings so far have been poor as a lot of money was completely wasted on Henderson, Carroll and possibly Downing who also does not look like a 15m winger.
Of course a fee should be representative of a player’s ability. Real Madrid identified Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the best players in the world and then signed him for a world record fee. Did he struggle? Nope. Same when Zidane went to Real – did he struggle? No. Luis Figo to Real – same again, no struggles there.
This is despite all 3 players being at one time the most expensive player in the world. Why did they do well? It’s because they were quality players.
I can’t accept that fans shouldn’t judge a player or have certain expectations of a player due to what they cost. It happens in life with everything. If you spend £500 on a new tv, you have every right to expect it to be worth that money and certainly that it performs better than one at £100, otherwise it’s deemed as not being worth the money. Simples.
Unless Andy Carroll demanded that a team pay 35M for him we shouldn’t judge him for his price tag.
give him more time to with 35M value
Really missing why we are not buying Cahill during the Ngog talks? Ok Coates, but we needed a CB before Soto went and Coates is untried in this league. I am assuming the Uruguayan league isn’t as good as the EPL ?? I mean great signing etc but still need Cahill.