11/21/24
September 01, 2006
Double whammy in transfer flurry: The most frantic day in Premiership transfer history saw West Ham pull off an incredible coup by signing two of Argentina's World Cup superstars and ended with Ashley Cole joining Chelsea in exchange for William Gallas with minutes to spare.
posted by skydivedad to soccer at 06:58 AM - 13 comments
Apparently here's how they pulled it off. Amazing P.S. Go Blue.........
posted by skydivedad at 07:17 AM on September 01, 2006
You know what's the most amazing thing in that article? There are reader comments at the bottom, they're all readable and none of them attack any of the others. Can't get that at a US paper site. Thanks for the link.
posted by yerfatma at 07:32 AM on September 01, 2006
Thanks for the links - reminded me why I never read that paranoid, racist, doomsaying rag of a newspaper. There aren't concerns about what the deal means for the long-term financial future of West Ham, oh no, "there are concerns that the heart and soul is about to be ripped from the club." There isn't confusion as to how the club pulled off the signings, apparently, "behind the scenes there is a web of intrigue and suspicion in the corridors of power at Upton Park." No one can be named without some mention of their nationality (he's an Iranian, but he has British and Canadian passports, Portsmouth being flush with cash has to be linked with Russia, and, horror of horrors, neither of the two foreign players speak English!), and the word "may" is tossed in every five minutes just in case anyone might want to actually check up on some of the shit they're speculating about. [/rant] Sorry. I'm not a big fan. On topic, someone sent me this quote from Tevez, as posted on the Guardian website yesterday. It's clearly not real, but funny all the same: "As a young boy in the favelas of Buenos Aires I watched Tony Cottee, Julian Dicks and John Moncur and dreamt one day I too could wear the famous claret and blue and, how you say, be blowing bubbles."
posted by JJ at 08:01 AM on September 01, 2006
Thanks JJ for filling me in on the nature of that newspaper. I had no idea and will make an effort to never post the ilks of them again. I apologize for using them as a source. There's got to be a way to get some kind of warning or fuller description from google as to the true nature of the websites they rank high in the searches. I was overly excited about seeing Cole going to Chelsea. Anyway, with the background info from you I'll be a little more skeptical when reading the English Press.
posted by skydivedad at 08:41 AM on September 01, 2006
I'd stop calling the Hammers the Hammies too unless you want a visit from the ICF. Further developments at West Ham.
posted by squealy at 09:56 AM on September 01, 2006
DaMarcus Beasley [PSV Eindhoven - Manchester City]: This could be a huge win for the US team if DMB can become the first choice left winger for City. Chimbonda finally got his wish, out of Wigan to Spurs, and Malbranque same thing but will all of Jol's dealings jell before its too late or will malcontents be malcontents? Liverpool was all exits the last few days, Sinama-Pongolle, Le Tallec, Mellor and Kronkamp apparently not able to pick up Spanish fast enough, plus Potter, Traore and Barragan earlier in the month with only the big Duth blonde inbound. West Ham in takeover discussions said a club statement to the Stock Exchange. But the mystery buyer is not MSI, the group which owned the rights to Tevez and Mascherano and sold them to Hammers, according the BBC. But they are, acording to the Independent. Meanwhile odds on the club winning the UEFA Cup improved from 42-1 to 18-1. I'm not sure Chelsea improved themselves that much by trading Ashley Cole for William Gallas and the GBP5M kicker shows it.
posted by billsaysthis at 10:07 AM on September 01, 2006
Thanks for the heads-up squealy. The Hammers it is of course. Phew, this Post sure is turning out to be more trouble then its worth. I know there's a good story in here somewhere but I sure managed to bork it up. Those ICF guys could track down the bloke who called the West Ham club "just a little training club" for Chelsea in one of the readers comments on the Daily Mail Post.
posted by skydivedad at 10:14 AM on September 01, 2006
There was nothing wrong with your post skydivedad. In fact I found the Hammies reference rather amusing. Definitely strange days indeed at the Hammies.
posted by squealy at 10:21 AM on September 01, 2006
Anyone care to explain something I read about the West Ham deal... Apparently the 2 new Argentine players HAVE to be sold if they receive offers over a certain amount of money? And that each of the players is already expected to move to Chelsea and ManU based on this "must sell"?
West Ham will have to sell Carlos Tevez or Javier Mascherano if a club bids more than £35m for either player. (Guardian) With Tevez likely to head for Chelsea and Mascherano attracting the attention of Manchester United. (Daily Mirror)
posted by scully at 10:35 AM on September 01, 2006
terra: It's unusual, for sure. The business aspects and international FIFA regs around ownership of clubs and the whiff of "collusion" is what interests me. According to this Guardian article, here's what they're saying about Joorabchian and his company MSI: 1. They owned a controlling interest ("at least half") in Tevez and Mascherano. This is just so weird to me since I thought it was only contracts between players and clubs that mattered. But, yes, of course, sports (and talent) agents are growing in power in pro sports. 2. They also own a controlling interest in Corinthians, the Sao Paolo, Brazil club where Tevez and Mascherano played. 3. They were forced to sell their interest in the players because English FA doesn't allow players to be "owned" by anyone other than clubs. (see point 1.) 4. They secured the "sell-on" clause you refer to that forces the Hammers to sell should a pre-specified minimum amount (in this case, 35m GBP) be offered. That's a little sketchy, but club owners are complicit in allowing this because, hey, the benefit from this, too. Also, there is some precedent for this happening for other players in the EPL (I just can't remember who, perhaps it was Rooney or some other star player). And yes, the article does mention the West Ham move as essentially putting Tevez and Mascherano "in the shop window" to be snapped up by other clubs. Why MSI didn't hold on and just sell them to Real or some other Spanish club, I don't know. 5. Joorabchian offered (obo MSI) to buy West Ham for 90m GBP last year. It was rejected. But I guess, based on this latest transaction, everyone remained good friends. 6. UEFA and, now, the EU Parliament are investigating MSI. 7. There are allegations that MSI is funded by or has ties to Russian billionaires Boris Berezosky and Roman Abramovich (yes, he of Chelski). What I want to know is, who is this MSI (Media Sports International)? Who funds them?
posted by worldcup2002 at 11:24 AM on September 01, 2006
It's not that unusual for a player to insist on a clause in his contract saying he must be allowed to leave if a certain amount of money is offered for him. I think Ashley Cole had a £15m clause in his contract for instance (but not if it was Chelsea who offered it). Hehe.
posted by squealy at 11:43 AM on September 01, 2006
Lots of (big club) players have transfer fee trigger clauses, it puzzled me too at first but now I just accept it. What's more interesting, to me, is when a transfer deal includes a split of the next sale fee--and did MSI, directly or through their Corinthians interests, get one in the West Ham deal.
posted by billsaysthis at 06:48 PM on September 02, 2006
Impressive coup for the Hammies and totally out of this world signings! My goodness I can't imagine how they managed to pull this one off. Chelsea getting Cole from the other London Club seems like it took forever, lets see if he can challenge Wayne Bridge for the left-back spot and with Pascal Cygan leaving for Villareal the Gunners can breath a little easier with Gallas.