04/19/24
March 02, 2004
Chelsea gazump United: The Millionaires opened their wallets wide and pulled out GBP12M to take PSV Eindhoven striker and Holland international Arjen Robben right out from under Sir Alex's nose. This is the first big announced Summer pre-signing. What other big names will change teams? Is Cisse really coming to Anfield and will he be partnering with Owen, Baros or Heskey? Who will ManUre go after since they've lost out on this youngster?
posted by billsaysthis to soccer at 11:02 AM - 16 comments
And in case others want to know what the word means, here is the definition: "Mainly in British or Australian English, to unfairly acquire a property by bidding more than an offer that has already been accepted." More on the word can be found here. Merriam-Webster had no clue.
posted by scully at 11:41 AM on March 02, 2004
I've got a slightly different definition here, dealing more with the seller than with the buyer.
posted by garfield at 11:49 AM on March 02, 2004
*adds "gazump" to short list of prospective band names* Ronaldo and Zidane aren't going anywhere.
posted by Ufez Jones at 12:06 PM on March 02, 2004
I'm glad to see this entire thread has been devoted to a truly bizarre word. Gazump you all!
posted by wfrazerjr at 01:19 PM on March 02, 2004
Hey hey, I gotyer gazump right'ere!
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:26 PM on March 02, 2004
You can't handle my gazumpa zump zump.
posted by Ufez Jones at 01:43 PM on March 02, 2004
gazump off that dance floor.....and shake that nice gazump.
posted by garfield at 02:36 PM on March 02, 2004
I resent this thread hijack even if you are all being very funny. I want to know what other deals are percolating over in the cold, wet, rainy terrain of Dear Old England.
posted by billsaysthis at 07:54 PM on March 02, 2004
bill: you've obviously been here. Not a lot is happening in the transfer market as the window has closed - all we're getting at the moment is unsubstantial rumours and spurious claims (created by agents) that a particular club has offered vast sums of money to certain players.
posted by BigCalm at 03:07 AM on March 03, 2004
Apparently the pregame coverage of the Carling Cup included a pundit saying that he had it on very good authority that Chelsea is picking up Beckham. At least according to my host for the match who was watching the pregame coverage of the Carling Cup. Without knowing which pundit it was or what good authority he had... well, Posh doesn't like Spain as much as she'd hoped. Or something like that.
posted by gspm at 04:14 AM on March 03, 2004
What I don't get about soccer is why teams can sign players from other teams while the season is still on. I mean, how can Schalke sign Ailton (to pick an example I know about) but have Ailton be playing for Bremen, against Schalke, for the rest of the season? Don't euroleagues want to avoid the appearance of tampering? I mean--it would be a huge scandal if Kobe said not that he was opting out of his contract after the season, but that he was definitely signing with the Grizzlies. And yet this seems to be business as usual in Europe.
posted by Justin Slotman at 09:36 AM on March 03, 2004
Beckham to Chelsea? Even a neophoote like me knows that would be a huge deal...especially with RVN recently admitting they've missed Beckham's play.
posted by garfield at 10:43 AM on March 03, 2004
garf, is a neophoote a footy neophyte?
posted by billsaysthis at 11:14 AM on March 03, 2004
yup....i thought it was kinda clever.
posted by garfield at 11:48 AM on March 03, 2004
Justin, you ask the same question I think most (of us) Americans do when getting into the non-US version of the Beautiful Game. I've never heard a particularly good answer except that it's the way these things are handled and the players understand that if they tanked against their next club the system would be changed, potnetially hurting their bank accounts.
posted by billsaysthis at 10:50 PM on March 03, 2004
To be clear, I have never read, heard or used the word gazump before, but it was in the SoccerNet headline.