18 Aug 2017 19:52:24
Hi Eds. Just an observation I've had that I'd like to hear your opinion on. It seems this transfer window clubs seem more reluctant or more able to hold onto their players than I've ever seen before. Why is this? My hunch is that the extra TV money means that clubs are more financially stable without selling players and everyone's jockeying for position to give themselves the best chance of establishing a long term foothold in the PL to take advantage of the extra revenue available. I quite like it though (as frustrating as it is) as it does kind of level the playing field more than we've seen before.

1.) 18 Aug 2017
18 Aug 2017 22:28:46
I think player inflation is also letting clubs sit back safe in the knowledge that general market inflation means they will get a good price anytime in the future, and the big offer now can be rebuffed. Contract management seems to the key. We should praise LFC for getting Couts to sign a new contract last Jan with no buyout. They knew he would be off in the future so set it up, to protect the club. He knew to o and pockets a pay rise in the process. The Neymar think has just wrecked chaos to the market.
Emre Can though has not played ball, but he's in good company like Sanchez, Ox, Barclay, Ozil to name few.

2.) 18 Aug 2017
18 Aug 2017 22:51:16
I agree fella. It makes a change. I can't believe the bids that have been knocked back this window for certain players.

3.) 19 Aug 2017
18 Aug 2017 23:56:26
It's mad Twinkle. Who'd have though Sigurdson would ever be sold for £45mil? Or more telling is Southampton being happy to sit on a player worth upwards of £60mil refusing to sell. Like I said it does kind of level the playing field a bit that these clubs don't have to sell their best players regardless of the fees offered.