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!.......
I agree with many of your points and I am sad Joe is leaving but I think that this is another brilliant shrewd move by Huw Jenkins, get Joe to sign a long term contract and put a 15 Million buy out clause in it. Who benefits from that? Both Joe and Swansea. Why shouldn't Joe move on? I did in my professional career, why shouldn't he. You take a chance, maybe it will work out for Joe, Liverpool and more importantly Rodgers, maybe not, but the Swans get 15 Million plus the money from Rogers, thank you Liverpool! As to the comment Allen is irreplaceable at the price, Allen cost us nothing, he came through the ranks and this is another reason this money will help us setting up the academy and producing more Joe's and lets face it, you, I, George Best and Pele are replaceable. The graveyards are full if irreplaceable people. I say good luck Joe at Liverpool. Lets move on with a lot of money. What do we have? A Premiership Team, a great stadium, a fantastic crowd support, YOU GUYS, big time money in the bank, new signings, MICHAEL LAUDRUP yes MICHAEL LAUDRUP as Manager, Huw Jenkins as Chairman are you freaking kidding me? How good can Swansea city get compared to 9 years ago and people are complaining because a player left, like players have never left before? We get 15 million for him whhooo, did we ever get 15 million for anyone else? 15 Million for Joe Allen? That's a deal! Who's up next to sell for another 15 million?
He's gone & life moves on so why can't we ?, if he had been injured long term we would have had to then so why not now.
Allen wanted to go,end of story,and no point in harping on about it. His wages were apparently tripled,plus a huge signing-on bonus,so come on,what's he going to do? What have we learned from this long saga? 1) Long term contracts don't mean an awful lot at the end of the day,other than enhance any transfer fee in it's early years. 2) If a player wants to leave,then he leaves,since there is no point in keeping him. 3) Loyalty in football is vested SOLELY in it's supporters. We already knew that. 4) Tapping up of players is alive and kicking. We already knew that,as well. 5) Supporters are kept in the dark on transfer dealings/negotiations,and left to deal with their own sense of disappointment,betrayal,etc. It can be a very sad,lonely place when one of your heroes moves on. I've felt those emotions,but not for a long time. 6) The most telling thing,to me anyway,in the Joe Allen saga,is how low the once great Liverpool F.C. have sunk. Last season they threw money around as if it were going out of fashion. They became a laughing stock and will now be the butt of people's humour for many years to come. They have lost my respect,not that they will care,or even notice that. They have lost their way somewhat,and their pride has taken a big hit. So they decided to do something about it,and they looked Southwest,and cast envious eyes at the goings on at little Swansea City. They saw something good,something they were failing at,and they decided they wanted the same. So they took the manager,and his team. But that wasn't enough. They need the players,as well,otherwise the master plan of becoming the "New Swansea City",simply won't materialise. Don't be surprised if they come again. So,supporters of Swansea City F.C.,let us take the positives out of this. Let us take pride in the fact that our Club has risen to the level it has. Let us enjoy the plaudits that come our way. I think it's safe to say that our Club has become a firm favourite in the eyes of a large number of neutral fans,and that they are all fully aware of the new shabbiness that has taken over at Anfield. That's some achievement,you know.
I'll say it again (at the risk of sounding like a broken record)... JOE ALLEN WAS ALWAYS GOING TO MOVE UP THE LADDER!!! HE IS AMAZING! Just because we don't like it, it doesn't make it wrong. Am I hurting a bit from losing a great player? Yes. Is this a devastating, crushing blow to Swansea City FC and our hope of surviving a second Premiership Season? No. Scotland scored nearly 50 goals in two seasons. Following season se finished higher than ever. Season after that... Let's just try and remain grounded over this. De Guzman and Michu could turn out to be a perfect fit for the hole that losing Joe has left.
True, Shaper...except Joe isn't that amazing. £15M? We're having a laugh, surely? Yes I know I'm in the minority but I've always seen him as a tidy player who is comfortable on the ball and who can pass the ball with aplomb. But he's not great when pressed, isn't a great finisher and passes the ball far too frequently sideways or, more usually back. He was guilty of slowing our play down and it looks like that will change with his departure. I for one am glad of that. I don't wish him ill and hope he goes on to even bigger things but you're right - he's not irreplaceable, far from it.
It was written on Jul 25, 12 04:57 PM! Hope that helps. As for the rest of you, you never now what you've got, till it's gone, if anyone here thinks De Guzman is the answer, they are sadly mistaken, our whole operation as a team is based on a strong fluid midfield, without that the passing and possession game breaks down, going into this season with De Guzman is very worrying, his first impressions are of a below average player, that might make it in the Championship, and I'm not particularly bothered with those of you that think I'm making this observation far too early, no good having 15 Million in the bank, and we cannot win games, and all this nonsense about we are better off, is just that, bloody nonsense. If Joe Allen has been rated by the top scouting and coaching networks as worth £15 Million, then what have we spent replacing him? how much did De Guzman cost as a loan signing? If Laudrup & Jenkins don't get in a serious play maker and general like Allen or Bodde, we will struggle to survive this season, and then those of you that are trumpeting this Joe Allen deal as the best thing since sliced bread, will soon be changing your tune once the negative results start flowing, so I hope that Laudrup & Jenkins put their collective brains together and sort a decent replacement for Joe Allen, and it should be no problem if you listen to some on here, as Allen is not worth the £15 Million, and is easily replaced, so that being the case, then lets have some names from you clever clogs, as to who is going to replace Joe! So put your money where your mouths are and lets have some names please, because up till this point no one has suggested a replacement name, I'm all ears, and please don't come out with De Guzman, my sides won't stand it! ..............
That's not really true, is it. I'm sure Joe Allen would have been quite happy to carry on at Swansea. It's only the fact that something 'bigger' & 'better' came along. It's not as if he did a Tevez.
"I'm sure Joe Allen would have been quite happy to carry on at Swansea" The evidence suggests otherwise, AD. He had a choice, and he chose.
Dragon i have no doubt that Allen, his agent and Brendan Rodgers have been engineering this move since the ink on rodgers contract with liverpool dried. if it could be proved it would be a classic case of a player being tapped up by another club namely liverpool.someone should have told craig bellamy and saved him the bother of trying to persuade Allen to join liverpool because he already had decided. Lets not kid ourselves and think that its only rodgers that is to blame here. So i say lets "take the £15 million that liverpool have kindly bunged at us" and move on. Onward and Upward fellow Swans
I'm perturbed, Mabon. I found myself always agreeing with your posts, then always disagreeing now I'm agreeing again. "Lets not kid ourselves and think that its only rodgers that is to blame here. So i say lets "take the £15 million that liverpool have kindly bunged at us" and move on. Onward and Upward fellow Swans"
Should we have sold Joe........yes because its what he wanted and thats the most important thing. We got a fantastic price for him and he is relishing the challenge. He would still have gone if BR was still our manager (i wish he still was) as it was Kenny who wanted him in the first place......Is he leaving a sinking ship is the question because the players are not 100% happy with ML.....Its looking like the old saying that great players don't always make good managers and its beginning to feel like that....I think we may have a tough season ahead especially if the players are not happy....
Selling him for £15 million is a great bit of business for our club. Is he good?...yes, is he amazing?..hell no!!! if he was, a bigger and better club than Liverpool would have come in for him. As for wondering if he is replaceable...he is easily replaceable, especially with £15 million to play with! Personally I think we are lucky to get £15 million for him, if it wasnt Liverpool who were interested in him, who have a history of overspending or British players, we would never have got that amount of money. I trust Laudrup to bring in a player in the next week who will do just a good a job as Joe but will cost us a damn sight less!!
I am in agreeement with this i think. Drawing comparisons ... Allen is not the playmaker that Ramsay is, I think this was evident in the Olympics. Ramsay gets the ball and seems to say to himself what can I do with it, Allen gets the ball and seems to say how can we retain it. Last season in the Fulham game away, Allen was firing on all cylinders as was everybody else and he showed what he might have on reserve that he's not prepared to risk doing regularly. Ramsay doesn't think about risk he instinctively wants to turn forward when receiving ball not pass back, take command and be creative. There is room for both types of players in the team, but you really need a Ramsay type to make things happen. Siggy served that purpose last season. These are rarer types I think, what value Ramsay. At this point .... I look at it this way ... What if Allen hadn't left, what if he was instead injured next Sat and out for three months .... What would we do. How would we adjust. Who would pick up the slack. We wouldn't have any choice. So now Allen is no longer available for selection .... And we're a ton of money to the better. There's plenty of anguish in all of this for a variety of unsavory reasons .... But we're professional supporters - we need to suck it up and get back into the game!
The only problem we ever had was my stance on the team gb football team, if it could be proved many of the deals being done in pre season are engineered by the player and ex managers, its proving it that is the problem. One phone call from brendan rodgers and an offer of a contract that will set him up for life and also for good measure an interview in the evening post and a few national dailies and the players head is turned, huw jenkins is an intelligent man he knows whats happened here with Allen , but how does he prove it, its the way in football now and sadly even for Joe Allen its his own interests he cares about not his loyalty to Swansea City and the fans. The first thing a new manager and player will do when joining a new club is say "how they were always a big fan of the new club and the new club is massive , you will never hear joe tell liverpool fans i only joined you because you gave me a contract that set me up for life, but i have been at swansea since i was 9 and i really wanted to stay there because of my love of swansea city football club. All players want the fans on their side and as rodgers has taught us "tell the fans what they want to hear" it will work in my favour for the time he is here, liverpool fans are lapping it up now like we did. i have not heard rodgers mention the gower once in interviews since he left strange but true To summarise any players loyalty is to himself and his family, and when asked whatever club they happen to be playing for at the time.
