Full articles available at www.theswanseaway.co.uk Swans boss finally has his say on alleged dispute over transfer activity So, yesterday we had the official club statement, and close on it's heels we get a soundbite from our manager too, and in all honesty it's not one which I was overly impressed with. WalesOnline have gone with the line that "Laudrup blames the board for the rumours" and while I wouldn't go that far it does seem that he chose his words carefully, and that he's unhappy with the lack of transfer activity thus far. I see your point Michael, but maybe if it hadn't taken weeks for you to respond to the speculation it wouldn't have reached fever pitch proportions. The board can't speak on your behalf, and if it's rumoured you're off, and your agent is drip-feeding stories to the press, then you can hardly turn around and blame the board. I'm starting to think that the Dane doesn't really understand the history of this football club, and the board's (and fans') desire to maintain a solid financial footing. The Swans have a very specific transfer policy, and it's stood us in bloody good stead thus far. With all due respect to Laudrup's playing career, I'd still rather back the board over the manager when it comes to spending as up until now we've had no reason to doubt them, and if that's not good enough then perhaps you're at the wrong club. Maybe he's been guilty of naivety in the press, but that seems unlikely given his agent's previous comments. As stated yesterday, I have absolute faith in the Swans regime, and will back them over any manager. They know the club better than anyone, and if they say we can't afford to spend "X", then we can't afford it. A question for the board? Hardly, Michael. If you want to stay, awesome. If you don't, please don't mess us around.
I dont Think laudrup has messed anyone around. He gave his list to the money men and left them to do the deals. If he says the players were within wage structure and transfer range who Are we to question him? The statement from the club came yesterday afternoon and the statement from laudrup this morning so you could argue both were as bad as each other in waiting weeks to comment,why single out laudrup but not the board?
I'm with the OP on this - if it came to a choice between a Board that has steered us from near-oblivion to near-ecstasy, or a manager who flits from one club to the next every 2 years, I'm with the Board every time. They might not be perfect (who is?) but I think they're a great example of how to run a club sensibly. If Laudrup is upset because it harms his chance to add a gong to his CV, jog on!
I think the problem is that we see our selfs as little old swansea, but players and agents don't see it the same, therefore are demanding higher wages and fees when we come knocking. The cost of fame and success I suppose!
Agreed. He hasn't messed us around. He is disappointed we haven't signed anyone. If the targets identified are within our financial cababilities then he is right to question the boards inability to bring them in.
He's disappointed ! , why haven't we signed at least 5 players by now is beyond me , , perhaps the realiance on Mr Laudrup bringing in players from Spain isn't as great as we all thought .The doubt whether he'll be here next season hasn't helped for those who may have chosen us and perhaps the negotiating teasm can't give such players those assurances
I have no problem with the board,they do what they Think is best,what we have is a classic stand off, hopefully things Get sorted out, this is going to run a bit longer . Saying the likes of laudrup or members of the board should jog on is not really what this is about. Both want thr best for the club There is just disagreement on how to acheive it
This is a hurricane in a cup, or a tornado... ML has delivered a list of players he would like to the board. He believes they are within our pricerange. The board have received the list and are working on it. So fare nobody except Canas has signed. Other clubs have startet f..ing up our potensial signings and they might suddenly be out of our price range. Our board won't pay over the odds for a player (like most boards would) and we should be happy for it. ML new what he signed up for. He said himself that he investigated the club thoroughly before he signed. He knows HJ won't pay over the odds.. Besides: DO I HAVE TO REMIND YOU GUYS THAT THE TRANSFER WINDOW IS YET TO BE OPENED!! IT'S ALMOST THREE MONTHS TILL IT CLOSES. THERE IS PLENTY OF TIME TO SIGN I DECENT STRIKER....
Exactly. Am I being thick but how can we have signed anyone if the transfer window doesn't open until July 1st? (Apart from these pre-contract things). Does the transfer window open on July 1st or not?
At this point unless its from the club on its web site or I can see / hear ML talking on video I'm not putting any faith in anything - quoted or not in the media. ML is apparently on vacation in America in one sentence and the Post is quoting him in the next - nice they could magically reach him.
Well, to answer my own question, the transfer window opened at midnight on the last day of the season http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/fans/faqs/when-does-transfer-window-open-close.html
Makes a change from the Board-bashing that was all over here yesterday. If Laudrup is 'disappointed' then it's likely the Board are too. We just don't know the ins and outs. Laudrup knows that it's not as simple as saying 'Here's a list - get them'. If a club doesn't want to sell, if a player doesn't want to come here or go elsewhere for bigger wages or if he demands an inflated pay packet then we are right to say no and move on to the next target. But I don't see anything here from either side that indicates Laudrup's departure is imminent as reported elsewhere. My only concern is his agent who is increasingly looking like Hissing Sid. I just don't trust him.
Barney Tantrum seems to cause tumultuous trouble wherever he goes. He does have that sort of track record.
Seems like the rules have changed in the resent years.. This was my reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_window Sorry for stating the wrong "facts"...
Says who? Surely the board are the ones who decide whether a player is in our financial bracket or not? If they say a player isn't affordable, he isn't affordable. Laudrup, or any manager for that matter, should have no say in our transfer budget.
Well, we're sort of both right.. From Wiki that you quoted: "Although, in England, the transfer window formally opens on 1 July, transfers between clubs in the same association can take place as soon as the last competitive fixtures for the season have been played. However, many transfers will not be completed until 1 July because many players' contracts expire on 30 June. Outside of the transfer window, a club may still sign players on an emergency basis, usually if they have no goalkeeper available." So, that infers that transfers between Premier League clubs can take place after May 19th, but between clubs in different countries it must be on or after July 1st?
As HJ said yesterday, he and ML have agreed on the players they want to bring in, and I'd have thought that ML i sensible enough to know that we are no financial superpower in the game, thus if they haven't been brought in yet, then surely Laudrup has the right to feel disappointed. If a player isn't affordable then so be it, but HJ has said that there have been and I quote 'substantial funds' made available to Laudrup. Well then in that case, let's see it in the form a top class striker coming in. One thing from Laudrup's 'comments' that are pi$$ing me off a little though is that it is his 'intentions' to still be here next season. I'd rather he just come out and say he is staying or leaving as maybe that is having an effect on some players not signing for us because of the uncertainty of his future.
My point is regardless of who the targets were, if we can't afford them when push comes to shove we're not going to decide to forego all the careful financial planning of the last few years, just to get a player Laudrup really likes.
I am beginning to wonder about Laudrup. He knows how the game is played. Swansea make an offer to one of their targets, an offer that is what the player expected and he is minded to accept. His agent then touts the guy around the world. He rings Chelsea and gets to talk to Mourinho's Temporary Under Assisant Deputy Kit Manager who says "Who? Never heard of him. I think Mr. Mourinho has his targets fixed, but I will mention it to him if you want, can't see anything coming of it.". This is reported back to the player as "I've got you in the frame at Chelsea and Mr. Mourinho is talking about you, and you know what wages they pay. Of course I haven't discussed wages yet but it will be at least £x thousand". The player thinks "I'm going to Chelsea on £x thousand a week", and decides to hang fire with Swansea. If Mourinho (or whoever) gets to hear of this he thinks "Yes, I'll talk to the guy. We will keep this one in play for a few weeks to bugger up the oppostion (Swansea), and it costs me nothing". The agent loses nothing, even when it falls flat the player thinks "Well he nearly got me in at Chelsea, he's doing a good job". It doen't work with the older players, but they are either loyal to a club by then, or tarts. That is why smaller clubs get their actual signings in the closing weeks of the transfer window when all the dreams and fantasies have fallen away and players have to choose between the smaller clubs that are actually putting real money on the table for them, as opposed to the big names they would like to go to. Laudrup knows this. He has managed small clubs before, so what is he playing at?
