It's widely accepted (outside of NUFC) that if a player fails to live up to their potential in the Premiership, and the owning club can't afford to hang onto him, another club comes in and takes a risk on that player getting over their crisis, but in view of the risk involved, the fee is less than that paid originally by the owning club.

For example: Kevin Davies joined Sotton for £300k from Chesterfield and had 2 very good seasons with them. Blackburn decided to start investing some of the trillions they had claimed for Shearer, Batty, Le Saux etc to save their dwindling Premiership survival hopes and forked out a massive £7.5mil for this proven goalscoring talent. When he proved to be utterly pants (1 goal in the 14 appearances he managed) and Blackburn suffered the inevitable, Sotton actually took Davies back for a swap deal with Ostenstad going the other way. Even the most wildly optimistic valuation placed him no higher than £5mil, and Sotton knew he could perform well for them.

Chris Sutton went to Chelsea for a staggering £10mil. Was this much of a risk? He had formed part of the famous Blackburn triangle and had finished top scorer in the premiership when Shearer was injured. An utterly feeble showing at Chelsea later, and this proven Premiership player was off to Celtic for a measley £6mil.

So WHY are we carrying the cost of Coventry's gamble? Bellamy is angry about being refused the chance to play for Wales, wants out of the club, is loathed by the fans and will doubtless end up costing Strachan his job if he doesn't try to offload him. No other club has registered even a flicker of interest in the player and yet here we are offering Coventry every penny back whilst we have the risk of getting him over his crisis of confidence. Unlike the previous two examples of proven premiership players going at a discount, Bellamy has never delivered at this level which makes the price so incomprehensible.

The mind boggles. We announce that we refuse to get drawn into a player auction (i.e. we don't want anyone who anyone else is interested in - try that one at a disco some night and you'll be scarred for life!) and then clamly hold one against ourselves, inflating a player's value single-handedly.

Bellamy may turn out to be the dog's danglys, but we have gone about this transfer like the proverbial fool with his money.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2001

Answers

Two examples Softie, agreed. But let me add two other examples. Didn't Robbie Keane go to Leeds for the same fee that Inter paid? And just looking at the valuation of 'failed' strikers - Bellamy is on a par with the price of a Sutton and a bit more than Kevin Phillips. Seems about right.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2001

I think the Soft one is spot on here and I was thinking much the same thing when we made the signing. £4 Million would have been about right. Despite all the smug remarks from the Coventry fans (sincerely hope they stay down) I do think he will turn out to be an asset for us; we badly need a link between midfield and attack and, although he ain't a Beardo, I can see him fitting in nicely.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2001

Sutton scored 21 goals in the Premiership in 1997-98, Bellamy scored 6. Keane was trying to get in the side ahead of Vieri, Hakkan Sukkur, Recoba and Ventola, all of whom were considerably more expensive and high profile than he was. Consider it more like Huckerby costing us 500k and being sold for 1mil without starting a match.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2001

It's apples and oranges really.... We were in for Bellamy last year prior to him signing with Coventry, and he had no prior Premiership experience prior to signing with them. So it is not unrealistic to believe that he was still high on YBR's wish list. Comparing him with established players the like of Keane is not really fair. Sure the expectations were high when he went there, but with so many writing him off I hopE he does extremely well!!!!

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2001

I an auction, it's sometimes better to put in a highish bid to stop others from entering the race and jacking up the price.

In other words if Newcastle had started the bidding at £4 m , perhaps another club would have gone to £4.5, then another £5.m ... befeore you know it you could end up paying well over the starting price.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2001

Didn't Feyenoord give us back the full 2.5M that we we wasted on JDT? We also recouped our initial investment on Guivarch, Domi and Dumas, none of which could be regarded as roaring successes.

There are number of important differences in the circumstances of Bellamy, Davies and Sutton. Bellamy managed 39 appearances last season so obviously must have played in the majority of Coventry fixtures he was eligible for. In contrast Davies and Sutton had spent long periods away from the first team by the time of their sale. Bellamy's return of 8 goals last season, scored whilst playing for a poor team, is also far more impressive than the output of Sutton and Davies. Finally the comments atributed to Strachan indicate that he would have been happy to retain Bellamy; Vialli and Blackburn (Hodgson,Parkes or Kidd???) were by that time desperate to sell.

In scale of failure the Blackburn/Chelsea versions Davies and Sutton as a Maric or Marcelino whilst Bellamy's efforts last season would rate aa a more respectable Charvet or Domi.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2001

Davies and Sutton had proved that they were capable of playing well in the EPL and simply didn't fit in to their new clubs but even so they were both sold on at a much reduced rate. JDT was top scorer in Holland when we bought him and so Feyenoord were more than happy to pay the very resonable 2.5mil to take him away from English football.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2001

Davies and Sutton were hot property big money signings that became acute embarassments to Blackburn and Chelsea. Yes, they'd proved thesmelves in the premiership, so a lot more was expected of them. Bellamy was and is in a different bracket. Rik's point about starting bids low is a good one. Bottom line is it's about the manager's judgement and he's obviously rated the guy for a while and on that basis hasn't pissed around but put in a serious bid. As opposed to dipping his toe in looking for a bargain. The confidence we have shown in his ability and the fact that we are standing by previous judgements about him and disregarding recent form and popular comment on his abilities is probably the main reason he wanted to join us. Hopefully we can now reap the rewards of that show of confidence. If he does have the ability and drive, then giving someone a second chance can be excellent motivation.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2001

Softie is absolutely spot on - we have paid way over the odds for a player who unquestionably failed to make the grade at PL level, and we are taking a huge gamble on BR's instincts that under his guidance the guy can prove his ability at this level second time around. Irrespective of how successful he proves, we have still paid "above market" for the guy.

Funnily enough, and everyone knows my level of respect for FS, I suspect we are victims here of Shepherd's desire to play from the top of the deck. It appears he has formed close working relationships with several Club Chairman, including Wimbledon, Everton, and it appears Coventry.

Richardson, the Coventry Chairman, has persuaded Fred that they didn't want to lose Bellamy, but for the sake of the lad's career he will allow him to come to the Toon provided only that he gets his money back - but absolutely no profit (!).

Several other Clubs I could mention would first have tapped Bellamy via his Agent, and told him to tell Strachan that he wanted out and wouldn't play again for them if they didn't transfer him. We would have sat tight until Coventry accepted the inevitable and agreed to letting him go. By this point Coventry would be in no negotiating position whatsoever, and the Toon would offer them £2.5mm to take a disaffected player off their hands.
Sunderland or Birmingham, or similar, might then sniff around and offer Coventry £3mm. The Toon might ultimately have to go to £3.5mm, or possibly even as much as £4mm, to get him signed up.

This is the underhanded way to go about it - and also the process that has become the norm. But not it seems for us - however, are we right or are we wrong?

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2001

From the point of view of the board, who have really laid into agents in the past few months, the underhanded method would seem a tad hypocritical of them.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2001

If proven players can lose 20-40% of their value then why not those with just potential, especially when they didn't manage it the first time? Did Brady, Serrant, Gudjonsson et al keep their market value after failing to make the grade at NUFC? Damn right they didn't. I think clarky is right and this is a foolish attempt at leading by example in the vain hope that someone will give us 50p for Marcelino.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2001

SOCCER U.K. 30th June 2001

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. MARK VIDUKA

2. NO MOVE

3. ROBBIE ELLIOT

4. VILLA SWOP

5. ROBSON RETURN

6. COMPETITION WINNER

7. THIS WEEKS COMPETITION

8. FREDERIC KANOUTE

9. CORINTHIAN MICROSTARS

10. GROUND SHARE

11. NEW LEEDS AWAY

12. SPECIAL OFFER

13. WALES LEISUREWEAR

14. FULL TIME REFS

15. LATAPY MOVING

16. SPECIAL OFFER

17. LEGENDS OF THE 60s

********************************************************************** * 1. Mark Viduka Inter Milan are determined to ruin Leeds United's attempts to keep Mark Viduka and have warned them to expect a bid for the £20million-rated striker in the next two weeks. After hearing that Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale had flown to Croatia to open talks about a new contract for Viduka, Inter president Massimo Moratti said he was 'confident' the 25-year-old would be at the San Siro in time for the start of next season. ********************************************************************** * 2. No Move FC Barcelona's move to sign Fiorentina goalkeeper Francesco Toldo is close to collapse as the Italian club back away from their agreement to sell their star. Barcelona executive Gabriel Masfurroll says the £16 million Fiorentina deal is not going to happen and Fiorentina are now dead set against selling Toldo. ********************************************************************** * 3. Robbie Elliot Robbie Elliott has quit Bolton Wanderers and snubbed local rivals Blackburn Rovers for a return to his hometown club Newcastle United. The 27-year-old midfielder left the Reebok Stadium on a Bosman free transfer and has signed a four-year contract at St James' Park. ********************************************************************** * 4. Villa Swop Aston Villa striker Julian Joachim has been given permission to open talks with Coventry City about making a player-plus-cash move to Highfield Road. Villa are ready to allow the former England Under-21 international to leave as part of the deal which could see Morocco international midfielder Moustapha Hadji move the other way. ********************************************************************** * 5. Robson Return FC Copenhagen are ready to offer axed Middlesbrough boss Bryan Robson a quick return to football Robson is the top target to replace former manager Roy Hodgson. The Danish champions want the former Teesside boss Robbo to succeed Hodgson, who is heading for Udinese this summer. ********************************************************************** * 6. Competition Winner The correct answer was Answer E , thank you to all of you who got it right, the winner is Angela Copley of Virginia, USA well done Angela your Prize is on the way to you. ********************************************************************** * 7. This Weeks Competition

Which Premiership Team Play their home games at Craven Cottage?

A Fulham B Bolton Wanderers C Ipswich Town D Blackburn Rovers E Leicester City

Put your answer in the subject line and e-mail it to me at mailto:competition@soccerbox.com ,I have a new program now which sorts out the right answers from the wrong answers so it is important that the answer is in the subject line, so if you think it is Answer B put "Answer B" in the subject line and nothing else, do not put just B any thing else will be rejected.

all answers sent to john@soccerbox.com will be rejected.

The winner will receive a Glasgow Rangers Shoebag. All answers must be in by Friday 6th July 2001 09.00 BST.

Please only one entry per member.

If you have been lucky enough to win a prize please try again your chances will be just as good. ********************************************************************** * 8. Frederic Kanoute West Ham Ynited striker Frederic Kanoute has revealed he wants to play for Premiership new boys Fulham. Kanoute aims to follow Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard out of Upton Park and is eager to link up with Jean Tigana again. ********************************************************************** * 9. Corinthian Microstars Following a large number of telephone calls requesting specific Microstars we have decided to break open some eggs and reveal what is inside them, besides the postage being cheaper all members will still receive 11% discount off all orders, the minimum order is two pods, you can see them at: http://www.soccerbox.com/microstarsloose.html if this is a success we will break open two boxes of eggs per week. ********************************************************************** * 10. Ground Share Dundee and city rivals Dundee United have agreed to meet for historic talks that could lead to a shared 30,000-seater stadium on Tayside. The clubs will sit down with council and enterprise chiefs this week in a bid to reach agreement to allow the city to be part of Scotland's Euro 2008 bid. ********************************************************************** * 11. New Leeds Away We have the new Leeds United away shirt now in stock, you can see it at: http://www.soccerbox.com/leedsunitedshop.html ********************************************************************** * 12. Special Offer All items football shirts on the Brazil page are now half price, if you would like a shirt order one in the normal way and put in the additional information box on the order form " this shirt is half price" http://www.soccerbox.com/brazilshop.html ********************************************************************** * 13. Wales leisurewear We have had in Kappa's new range of Wales leisurewear, you can see it at: http://www.soccerbox.com/walesshop.html ********************************************************************** * 14. Full Time Refs The first professional referees in the English game have been named, with 24 refs set to start the new season earning £33,000 per year. The Professional Game Match Officials Board short listed the referees from those officiating Premier League match last season. Under the new scheme the 24 will receive an annual salary plus match fees of around £900 per game. ********************************************************************** * 15. Latapy Moving Russell Latapy claims he will become a Rangers player before the start of the new season. The 32-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international was thought to be joining Celtic on a free transfer but now says he expects to complete a move to their Old Firm rivals. ********************************************************************** * 16. Special Offer All items football shirts on the Holland page are now half price, if you would like a shirt order one in the normal way and put in the additional information box on the order form " this shirt is half price" http://www.soccerbox.com/hollandshop.html ********************************************************************** * 17 Legends of The Sixties Corinthian are bringing out a new range of Legend figures at the end of July, these figures according to Corinthian are very limited, I have put up a page where you can pre-order these figures, if you do order now please note that no money will be taken from your card until the day of dispatch, you can place your order at: http://www.soccerbox.com/legends.html The orders are arriving at a steady pace, I will send out e-mails at the beginning of July confirming your orders and an approximate delivery date. ********************************************************************** * Compiled by John and Jamie

Regards John and Jamie http://www.soccerbox.com

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2001