Wrong club?...Wrong move? ..Wrong job?

[david in sweden]

wrong club?, wrong move? wrong job?.......

During a long working career in two countries, I had several different employers, more than a dozen different workplaces and although most of it worked out in the end, there were more than a few teething troubles. It may be you've had similar experiences...even a bad holiday can remain in the memory for a long time.

 

Can it really be easier / better for footballers. Many players move for promotion and more money, only to find that after being a big fish in a small pool, they "drown in the Premier Ocean". (excuse the literary connotation). Reading many comments, on here and other sites - it strikes me that many people think that a big transfer fee and a massive salary increase is the answer to all football problems.... when in fact it often only creates newer problems.

 

Looking back on my move to Sweden, I found; a new home in a new country, new culture, new employment sector, new language ..and in my case - a new wife, were all factors that when coming together created psychological issues that you cannot imagine beforehand... especially after being born and raised in So'ton.

 

The next time we buy a player for a £ few million...or (if so) a new club transfer fee ...let's remember that even considering all the above........ ...the Premier League is one of the most uncompromsing workplaces in the footballing world, and adapting to it isn't just turning up for training on Mondays.

 

Uprooting yourself for new possibilities can take a longer time of adjustment, and even a fat bank balance isn't the answer to every problem.

Maybe we should be a more patient, and a bit less critical of some newcomers at times. Even our long-standing players aren't totally free of faults every week.

[sadoldgit]

Every club buys players that for one reason or another just don't settle at the club but go on to have decent careers elsewhere. You can do all the due diligence you want but until the player starts playing for you that is when you know it will work or not. There used to be a time when the furthest a player had uprooted himself to play for us was Scotland. We have players from all over the world now including Japan!

[Lallana's Left Peg]

One of the things the club does before it makes any signing is check the appetite of the player to play for the club and to move to England (if they are coming from abroad). There are also background checks undertaken on their character and personality which are in part done to mitigate any risk of them integrating into the group and acclimatising to England.

 

'Failing to settle' is usually shorthand for 'I'm not happy with my playing time' these days as money means players tend to settle easier than they use to.

 

The only other consideration is whether or nor a player is physically capable of playing in England. But you can tell that from scouting and video - and the risk of assuming they can get better over a period of time (Clasie, Juanmi etc.) is that they contribute very little for the period where they have to get up to speed.

[Leicestersaint]

wrong club?, wrong move? wrong job?.......

During a long working career in two countries, I had several different employers, more than a dozen different workplaces and although most of it worked out in the end, there were more than a few teething troubles. It may be you've had similar experiences...even a bad holiday can remain in the memory for a long time.

 

Can it really be easier / better for footballers. Many players move for promotion and more money, only to find that after being a big fish in a small pool, they "drown in the Premier Ocean". (excuse the literary connotation). Reading many comments, on here and other sites - it strikes me that many people think that a big transfer fee and a massive salary increase is the answer to all football problems.... when in fact it often only creates newer problems.

 

Looking back on my move to Sweden, I found; a new home in a new country, new culture, new employment sector, new language ..and in my case - a new wife, were all factors that when coming together created psychological issues that you cannot imagine beforehand... especially after being born and raised in So'ton.

 

The next time we buy a player for a £ few million...or (if so) a new club transfer fee ...let's remember that even considering all the above........ ...the Premier League is one of the most uncompromsing workplaces in the footballing world, and adapting to it isn't just turning up for training on Mondays.

 

Uprooting yourself for new possibilities can take a longer time of adjustment, and even a fat bank balance isn't the answer to every problem.

Maybe we should be a more patient, and a bit less critical of some newcomers at times. Even our long-standing players aren't totally free of faults every week.

 

Good points. Maybe we should follow Leicester's example of paying far less and getting players who turn out to be successful bargains - or bring through more of our own (e.g. where's Reed??).

[sadoldgit]

For contributing very little you can read learning and improving your craft. We talk about giving academy players more Premiership game time. Unless you are unusually gifted it takes most players a while to reach their full potential and to do that you need time on the pitch in the 1st team.

[sadoldgit]

Good points. Maybe we should follow Leicester's example of paying far less and getting players who turn out to be successful bargains - or bring through more of our own (e.g. where's Reed??).

 

The trouble is though that most clubs are looking for bargains. And how do you know if you have bought a successful bargain at the time? Many players you pick up on the cheap don't make it.

[david in sweden]

For contributing very little you can read learning and improving your craft.

 

We talk about giving academy players more Premiership game time.

 

Unless you are unusually gifted it takes most players a while to reach their full potential and to do that you need time on the pitch in the 1st team.

 

 

U21's have played only 10 games this season (what have the FA done to the fixture list?)...they have won only 4 of those 10, and lost 4 of the last 5.

 

McCarthy, Isgrove, Stephens, Turnbull and Gallagher are /have been out on loan.

 

Of the rest.. just who would you promote to the first team?...and who would you drop in order to bring them in. ?