Toffeeweb - Talking Points - The club should put a time limit on sales out

The club should put a time limit on sales out

Just a thought but why does DM not make a statement saying no-one has bid for any of our players (Baines, Fellaine, Heitinga) but say if anyone intends to bid then any business must be concluded by the end of July Otherwise we won't be able to replace and other targets will have gone elsewhere.

Just say that after the last day in July we will not consider offers for any players... end of.

For example, if the Baines rumour came true, then at least he would be able to do something about it immediately and Pranjic etc would at least know where they stood. At this rate, any prospective left backs could have already moved clubs by the end of August leaving us with no-one worth mentioning left to get in as a replacement.

Or is this just too obvious a stance to take??
Steve Cotton, Canberra Posted 21/07/2012 at 09:57:16

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James Marshall
981 Posted 21/07/2012 at 14:15:33

Two words:

Employment law.

You can't put such restrictions on movement of players/employees just because you don't think you'll be able to find an adequate replacement in time for the start of a new season.

Steve Cotton
983 Posted 21/07/2012 at 14:23:37

Yes James, that may be true but a statement to the effect that if anyone wants to mount a bid then do so sooner rather than later would also show our intent. Do the deal and let us move on or look elsewhere. I appreciate the law wont let you but if DM makes a stance then other prospective buyers will know that they need to move sooner rather than later.

Late moves are always a sign of desperation for at least one of the parties and may well be beneficial in a loan, but a permanent transfer of a main player should be in a sensible timescale. It would also hopefully protect both parties from a stupid fee required at the last minute and will allow the player and his replacment to settle in a team early.

Brian Williams
992 Posted 21/07/2012 at 16:24:06

Actually you CAN put restrictions on movement of players etc.

If a player is under contract to a club then there's absolutely nothing wrong with making the statement.

Not selling someone within a certain date, and saying so publicly, breaks no employment law at all it simply states that the club won't accept offers after a certain date!

Tony Watson
010 Posted 21/07/2012 at 18:16:22

Employment laws are very different for fixed term contracts, so it would be perfectly legal.

However...

Surely such a statement would be perceived by all as meaning "these lot are for sale". Not a smart move to announce it publicly.

GJ Butler
016 Posted 21/07/2012 at 18:34:53

You can say what you like but it can't stop a club bidding for your player on August 1st, and we may not be in a position to reject regardless of what time the fax came in.

John Crawley
026 Posted 21/07/2012 at 19:35:18

Steve - interesting point. I remember a few years back when Benitez did a similar thing over Alonso. It brought the situation to a head and forced Alonso to make a formal transfer request. I always thought Moyes should have done the same thing with the Lescott situation. However, I'm not sure it is the right thing to do in the current situation as no one seems to be particularly angling for a move away.

Brian Waring
028 Posted 21/07/2012 at 19:52:09

Maybe Spurs could put a deadline on Pienaar, maybe then we'll get a fucking move on.

Matt Traynor
029 Posted 21/07/2012 at 19:54:55

The reason Moyes won't do it is his employer needs the big sale to go out on deadline day, so there's no time to re-invest. You know, like we did with Arteta. And Rooney.

Steve Cotton
031 Posted 21/07/2012 at 20:19:19

Matt,

That is what we all think, and to be honest it seems more likely than not. Perhaps BK should be honest with us all from the end of a season instead of letting us all hope that things are looking up.... Oh no, I forgot, he needs to sell season tickets.... Okay, well... keep us all in the dark then.

Brian we can't move on Pienaar because we are absolutely broke and everything is hanging on Yobo finally going. Sadly if the Turks suspected we were that desperate, they would offer under value and sit back.... oh yeah, they did!

I am sure that a lot of clubs are run worse but we should not just accept it and let our aging fanbase feel that the club is on the slippery slope.

James Flynn
034 Posted 21/07/2012 at 20:44:21

Two words:

It's not Moyes's money.

Callum Wilson
035 Posted 21/07/2012 at 20:53:14

Not quite sure that's two words, James (#034).

Barry Rathbone
036 Posted 21/07/2012 at 20:48:08

Steve, the big assumption is players or more likely their agents would take a blind bit of notice.

Once tapped up and heads are turned all bets are off - see Robin Van Persie for the latest example of where the power lies.

Ray McBurney
038 Posted 21/07/2012 at 21:03:54

Why not list them on ebay? With a reasonable reserve!

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