Context
The backlash from the fans over the sale of Joe Allen has been understandable. Many Swansea fans are furious that Rodgers would bid for Joe Allen after the so called 'no return' clause in his contract that forbids him from bidding on a Swansea player until a bid from another club has been accepted, this agreement is supposed to last 12months. Secondly the fact that we were entertaining a bid for Allen from Liverpool despite this clause has also deeply angered fans. I must say that I share the anger of my fellow jacks that Rodgers would return for Allen and I find it disrespectful that he cannot let us get on with our work despite us allowing him the courtesy to move when he wanted to.
He has shown a complete lack of class and respect and for that I am deeply disappointed. I know many will and do share this feeling. Despite this I am also mindful that another club or clubs might well have been in for the Welsh international and as such Rodgers may well have been the only manager to have made his interest public, therefore Liverpool may only be acting on their interest in Allen because we have entertained offers from other parties, if this is the case then I would be bitterly disappointed with the boards decision. Again though this is all speculation until proven otherwise.
What questions arise from this?
Regardless of the morality of such a bid from Liverpool the question surrounding Joe Allen is this. Should Swansea have sold a 23 year old youth team product to another club for £10-15 million or should we have rebuked all offers and let Allen play out his newly signed four year contract. My answer to this as you can probably guess is simply 'Do not sell him under any circumstances' yet it appears I am in the minority. The often quoted response to Allen speculation from my fellow Swans fans is 'we could do a lot with £15 million' and 'if the price is right then we should sell'. Well I ask you this, Why should we have sold, and what would £15 million actually do for Swansea City?
Product of Swansea, Successor to Britton
Joe Allen is 23 years old, brought through the Swansea system, nurtured by some of the most technically gifted players in our history, Martinez, Bodde, Britton and Gomez. Allen has developed into an amalgamation of Britton and Bodde and offers hard tackling, great vision, incredible passing accuracy and distribution and a touch rarely seen in the English game.
My view has always been that Britton is the brain of the team, his ability and craft makes the well oiled passing system tick over, yet beside him, sits Allen, a younger similar and hungry player, capable of one day taking over from Britton and it would seem surpassing his achievements in the game by quite some way. In Allen we have a proven, talented product of our system, philosophy and our identity. Allen represents to us not just another talented central midfielder but our first self-produced Premier League star. His value surpasses pounds and pence, but lies in our future, our image and our philosophy.
Price Vs Worth
I agree that £10-15 million sounds incredible, and as I will acknowledge this sort of offer may never come again as clubs pull back from over valued signings such as Carroll and Henderson, yet why should we have accepted an offer of £15 million when Henderson cost 20? Why should we sell because the price is right? What makes the price right? To replace Allen, Laudrup has several options. He either promote players from within, (we of course have many CM's in our squad) He could also look abroad for a bargain, and he could very well change the system which he may well do.
In regard to the second option, I defy anyone out there to give me the name of a player of Allen's age and ability who would be available for £15 million. I have asked this many times and each time the answer is silence. If, and this is key, there was a player of Allen's ability, position and age out there available for £10million then why hasn't Rodgers signed him? Surely if Rodgers wants to replicate our system and squad in Liverpool, he would snap up any young or older CM's he could of that quality? The answer I feel is that the British game does not have a player of his age and experience available to sell at the price of £10 million, I would also suggest that given Liverpool's scouting network and influence, they have yet to find a Spanish or European player of that ilk either.
Put simply, at that price Allen is irreplaceable as a like for like signing. Now I know there is an obvious flaw in this argument and that is why do we have to buy youth? Why can't we buy a late 20's player or an established pro? The answer is again LEGACY. Leon Britton is pushing 30, while he has at least three seasons at his peak left, he will one day retire. When that day comes who will step up? Forgive my negativity but I have not seen any of our youth players in the CM position even threaten a spot in the 25 man squad, if they aren't pushing for it now, how do we expect to replace and nurture a replacement for Britton in time for his departure? I know that to suggest Britton is the be all and end all is extreme, but he does represent the spine, the technical core of the team. Though systems and formations may alter over time, we all agree that Britton is the epitome of a 'Swansea player'.
'Swans type player'
You cannot just buy a new Britton, or a new Allen. These players have been moulded, shaped and cultivated into the players that they are. They are the product of the environs of Swansea City and the philosophy and style we have created. We as a club have become successful by thinking long term. We plan our route to the top, lay out beliefs on how to run the club sustainably, and how the football we play should be carried out. We also play to win, but we achieve these goals not by throwing money at big names or selling our talent but by an unrelenting commitment to our way of doing things. I understand that on face value we could spend a minimum of £10million on three new talented players and add to the squad, I get that. But by selling Allen you are gambling on finding a player committed to this club for the next 4 years and ideally beyond.
Should we survive again we are due a windfall of the likes that would make us one of the richest clubs in Britain due to our lack of debt. Quite frankly 'the price is right' no longer applies.' Some fans point to issues with paying for stadium expansions and training facilities. Yes lets do all that, but factor those costs into the business plan (no doubt they are already factored in) and not see selling players as a means to fund things. Players are not considered as part of Swansea's assests in a business sense, They are treated as players and financing of the club is not reliant on the sale of players. Why then would we start doing this now?
Joe forces the move
Joe wanted to leave, ok fine. But not before we demand a value that exceeds the £15million quoted in the press. If Joe did not want to go then quite frankly selling him would have been criminal. By moving to Liverpool he has shown that he was no longer committed to the club, do I want that sort of player here? No. But was the ball in our court? Yes! Liverpool played hard ball with us, they threw money around and it didn't work, then they changed tack, wished to steal our model and now they want our players, let us then demand the stars and the moon. Its not just bitterness from us it would be business sense. Allen had signed a 4 year deal, what had changed for him to want to leave? He was our player and we therefore had the right to value him as we wish. I think its very clear that I consider him priceless, My suggestion to Huw Jenkins was this. Huw, please do not sell Allen unless he has put in a transfer request. If he has done so, then you are duty bound to seek £15million at the very least. - By Thomas Rees (Some editing by myself to bring article current)
This Article expresses perfectly how I feel regarding the transfer of Joe Allen, and only time will tell if we have made a big mistake, personally I think we have!.......
The backlash from the fans over the sale of Joe Allen has been understandable. Many Swansea fans are furious that Rodgers would bid for Joe Allen after the so called 'no return' clause in his contract that forbids him from bidding on a Swansea player until a bid from another club has been accepted, this agreement is supposed to last 12months. Secondly the fact that we were entertaining a bid for Allen from Liverpool despite this clause has also deeply angered fans. I must say that I share the anger of my fellow jacks that Rodgers would return for Allen and I find it disrespectful that he cannot let us get on with our work despite us allowing him the courtesy to move when he wanted to.
He has shown a complete lack of class and respect and for that I am deeply disappointed. I know many will and do share this feeling. Despite this I am also mindful that another club or clubs might well have been in for the Welsh international and as such Rodgers may well have been the only manager to have made his interest public, therefore Liverpool may only be acting on their interest in Allen because we have entertained offers from other parties, if this is the case then I would be bitterly disappointed with the boards decision. Again though this is all speculation until proven otherwise.
What questions arise from this?
Regardless of the morality of such a bid from Liverpool the question surrounding Joe Allen is this. Should Swansea have sold a 23 year old youth team product to another club for £10-15 million or should we have rebuked all offers and let Allen play out his newly signed four year contract. My answer to this as you can probably guess is simply 'Do not sell him under any circumstances' yet it appears I am in the minority. The often quoted response to Allen speculation from my fellow Swans fans is 'we could do a lot with £15 million' and 'if the price is right then we should sell'. Well I ask you this, Why should we have sold, and what would £15 million actually do for Swansea City?
Product of Swansea, Successor to Britton
Joe Allen is 23 years old, brought through the Swansea system, nurtured by some of the most technically gifted players in our history, Martinez, Bodde, Britton and Gomez. Allen has developed into an amalgamation of Britton and Bodde and offers hard tackling, great vision, incredible passing accuracy and distribution and a touch rarely seen in the English game.
My view has always been that Britton is the brain of the team, his ability and craft makes the well oiled passing system tick over, yet beside him, sits Allen, a younger similar and hungry player, capable of one day taking over from Britton and it would seem surpassing his achievements in the game by quite some way. In Allen we have a proven, talented product of our system, philosophy and our identity. Allen represents to us not just another talented central midfielder but our first self-produced Premier League star. His value surpasses pounds and pence, but lies in our future, our image and our philosophy.
Price Vs Worth
I agree that £10-15 million sounds incredible, and as I will acknowledge this sort of offer may never come again as clubs pull back from over valued signings such as Carroll and Henderson, yet why should we have accepted an offer of £15 million when Henderson cost 20? Why should we sell because the price is right? What makes the price right? To replace Allen, Laudrup has several options. He either promote players from within, (we of course have many CM's in our squad) He could also look abroad for a bargain, and he could very well change the system which he may well do.
In regard to the second option, I defy anyone out there to give me the name of a player of Allen's age and ability who would be available for £15 million. I have asked this many times and each time the answer is silence. If, and this is key, there was a player of Allen's ability, position and age out there available for £10million then why hasn't Rodgers signed him? Surely if Rodgers wants to replicate our system and squad in Liverpool, he would snap up any young or older CM's he could of that quality? The answer I feel is that the British game does not have a player of his age and experience available to sell at the price of £10 million, I would also suggest that given Liverpool's scouting network and influence, they have yet to find a Spanish or European player of that ilk either.
Put simply, at that price Allen is irreplaceable as a like for like signing. Now I know there is an obvious flaw in this argument and that is why do we have to buy youth? Why can't we buy a late 20's player or an established pro? The answer is again LEGACY. Leon Britton is pushing 30, while he has at least three seasons at his peak left, he will one day retire. When that day comes who will step up? Forgive my negativity but I have not seen any of our youth players in the CM position even threaten a spot in the 25 man squad, if they aren't pushing for it now, how do we expect to replace and nurture a replacement for Britton in time for his departure? I know that to suggest Britton is the be all and end all is extreme, but he does represent the spine, the technical core of the team. Though systems and formations may alter over time, we all agree that Britton is the epitome of a 'Swansea player'.
'Swans type player'
You cannot just buy a new Britton, or a new Allen. These players have been moulded, shaped and cultivated into the players that they are. They are the product of the environs of Swansea City and the philosophy and style we have created. We as a club have become successful by thinking long term. We plan our route to the top, lay out beliefs on how to run the club sustainably, and how the football we play should be carried out. We also play to win, but we achieve these goals not by throwing money at big names or selling our talent but by an unrelenting commitment to our way of doing things. I understand that on face value we could spend a minimum of £10million on three new talented players and add to the squad, I get that. But by selling Allen you are gambling on finding a player committed to this club for the next 4 years and ideally beyond.
Should we survive again we are due a windfall of the likes that would make us one of the richest clubs in Britain due to our lack of debt. Quite frankly 'the price is right' no longer applies.' Some fans point to issues with paying for stadium expansions and training facilities. Yes lets do all that, but factor those costs into the business plan (no doubt they are already factored in) and not see selling players as a means to fund things. Players are not considered as part of Swansea's assests in a business sense, They are treated as players and financing of the club is not reliant on the sale of players. Why then would we start doing this now?
Joe forces the move
Joe wanted to leave, ok fine. But not before we demand a value that exceeds the £15million quoted in the press. If Joe did not want to go then quite frankly selling him would have been criminal. By moving to Liverpool he has shown that he was no longer committed to the club, do I want that sort of player here? No. But was the ball in our court? Yes! Liverpool played hard ball with us, they threw money around and it didn't work, then they changed tack, wished to steal our model and now they want our players, let us then demand the stars and the moon. Its not just bitterness from us it would be business sense. Allen had signed a 4 year deal, what had changed for him to want to leave? He was our player and we therefore had the right to value him as we wish. I think its very clear that I consider him priceless, My suggestion to Huw Jenkins was this. Huw, please do not sell Allen unless he has put in a transfer request. If he has done so, then you are duty bound to seek £15million at the very least. - By Thomas Rees (Some editing by myself to bring article current)
This Article expresses perfectly how I feel regarding the transfer of Joe Allen, and only time will tell if we have made a big mistake, personally I think we have!.......
