Liverpool, Chelsea, Portsmouth, Guilty or Just Realistic?
Almost as a side line, last night’s Panorama tried to infer that Chelsea, Liverpool and Portsmouth were guilty of “Tapping Up”.
I’ll get the Harry tape out of the way first. It was embarrassing to hear the BBC suggest that this was tapping up. Harry was sat down, in an open canteen and he basically said he’d always liked Todd and if he became available he’d be interested. The BBC said that this was tapping up, despite the fact that it was the Todd’s agent who was trying to push him, not Harry who was trying to recruit him. He wished them good day and that was it.
Is this any different from Sir Alex Ferguson in this morning’s daily papers saying, the players he’d most like to sign are Makelele and Hargreaves? In fact SAF is probably worse as he’s making the players aware of his admiration without waiting for an approach.
From the reactions that the agent got from Chelsea and Liverpool when he was trying to sell Boro’s youngster, it would appear that agents regularly tout their players around to see if anyone is interested. What are Liverpool and Chelsea going to say if told about a possible transfer target – we’re not interested? Or are they going to discuss what is available to the youngster at the club in terms of facilities, potential packages, etc?
I know that Liverpool and Chelsea went a lot further than Harry, with both discussing packages for the youngster, but in reality, the agent has a client that wants him to do his best for him, and the agent needs to know what the potential market is like before making any potential recommendations to his client.
If Chelsea get docked points, should Liverpool also get docked points? They could say it was a first offence, but its clear from the video that they’ve done it before, the only difference is that they’ve never been caught before. And if Liverpool get docked points then who else is guilty of the same practices?
Is it feasible for clubs to ban agents from their grounds unless they have already approached another club about a target? Would any business get done if they followed the rules? I suspect that this level of “tapping up” happens every day, and its more of an information gathering exercise for both sides than a true tapping up.
If the clubs are guilty then they are only guilty of working around rules that don’t work.
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8 opinions for Liverpool, Chelsea, Portsmouth, Guilty or Just Realistic?
Jas
Sep 20, 2006 at 1:35 pm
mate what are u on, what program were u watching at what point did liverpool discuss a package with the player Chelski offered £150000 what did liverpool offer? i might have fallen asleep can u remind me if u cant then stop writing such bullshit!!!
Sack the Juggler
Sep 20, 2006 at 2:04 pm
Guess you must have fallen asleep if you think that Liverpool weren’t discussing what they could offer Porritt. I know that Arsnen bandied about that specific number but if you think that was a formal offer (rather than a number he’d plucked fromt he air) then maybe its not sleep you need but to stop being so niave
john
Sep 20, 2006 at 9:05 pm
hey mate, what is wrong with you? did you really watch panorama`? I have not seen the same thing as you and please that liverpool was involved in the transaction for the player? please avoid writing such a nonsense comment, thanks
Sack the Juggler
Sep 21, 2006 at 8:10 am
hey mate, you know most of the liverpool fans I know are ok, but it only takes a few to the impression that they are all dilusional no-class bigots - read the original post again and then read the BBC about who is accused of what…
Andy
Sep 21, 2006 at 8:45 am
The redkanpp thing is rediculose… *poor spelling* it was only hypothetical from harry’s point of view. The Liverpool thing as well has highly hypothetical as they were saying that they would “consider” a move for the kid. The chelsea one is far more serious i think as they are the ones who openly discussed a monetary value. i hope this is right, sorry if i’ve got the wrong end of the stick
Sack the Juggler
Sep 21, 2006 at 9:22 am
Hi Andy, I know that Arsnen discussed figures, but these were in no way a formal offer, he was just picking numbers out of the air at an informal meeting, and Liverpool, although not discussing numbers were talking about what they could do for the kid, so its just semantics, in truth (as I pointed out in my original thread) I don’t think either club did wrong, and if they did then I suspect all clubs (not just Chelsea and Liverpool) are equally as guilty as I suspect this goes on all the time.
What I was saying is that rather than saying the clubs are guilty for doing what comes naturally, it may be that the rules are wrong.
it doesn’t really matter, the FA will do FA about it all anyway.
Andy
Sep 21, 2006 at 9:35 am
yeah too tru. this is another chelsea tapping up allegation. I tink the FA should start deducting points after a formal warning has been issued. Especially if leeds prove that chelsea stole *and i use that word losely* three of their acadamy players.
Sack the Juggler
Sep 21, 2006 at 9:47 am
the thing I found funny about the Leeds allegation is that a non-league side has accused Leeds of tapping up one if those academy players from them! Like I said it goes on everywhere.
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