Transfer systems. Who should be in charge of Arsenal’s transfers? by Galen
Every football club have got a transfer system and a process. Loads of Arsenal fans have complained about our system. So I took this opportunity to look at our transfer system and that of other top football clubs.
The Presidential System. (Madrid, Barca)
This is a very latin American and Spanish systems. Clubs like Boca, River Plate Madrid and Barcelona have used this systems for ages. Its a very socialist system and there are elections for presidents. There is usually a manifesto and a campaign where the president promises that if he is elected as president he would go out there and sign Ronaldo or Bale or Neymar or Suarez. The down side of this system is that the club never takes into account what the manager wants. Like selling Robben or Ozil or Sneijder, etc.
Pellegrini had some words of wisdom about his time at Madrid. he said “I didn’t have a voice or a vote at Madrid. They sign the best players, but not the best players needed in a certain position. It’s no good having an orchestra with the 10 best guitarists if I don’t have a pianist.” Just brilliant Pellegrini!
The Managerial System (Arsenal)
In this system the manager is involved in all stages of the transfer. lets put it this way- he has the final say on any player that comes. He has the final say on transfer and wages. He keeps the budget under control. He is the BOSS. Mr Wenger and Sir Alex are probably going to be the last group of people to ever be under this transfer system. Wenger has total control of all transfer activities both incoming and outgoing. The problem with this system is that it is more like a one man band. If the manager makes the poor decisions in the window then the club is in trouble. Wenger once said in a conference. “The Manager is the most important person at a Club. That is why whenever there is a problem the manager gets sacked.”
The Director of football. (Man City, Spurs, Bayern, Dortmund, Milan, Inter, Juventus, Roma)
Loads of clubs are on this system at the moment. Most of the clubs in England prefer this system. The manager focuses on matters on the pitch -“Head Coach”- while the Director of football is in charge of transfers and off the pitch matters. Like every transfer system there are criticism. At Man City Txiki Begiristain and Franco Baldini (Tottenham) have been heavily criticised for burning transfer budgets. Most often there is always conflicts with the manager. The players are not usually what the manager wants and the leads to conflicts. Tim Sherwood was a big critic of this system at Spurs. Rafa Benitez had the famous Inter Milan rant. “You either back me and bring 3 players that I want or you speak to my agent and reach an agreement if there is no support”. A few days later Benitez was sacked.
The Transfer Committee. (Liverpool and Newcastle)
Instead of a Director of football there could be a committee made up of scouts or coaches who watch tapes and videos then they decide what the club need. This could be fantastic because you have got about 4 people making a decision. But this could also be a disaster if the members of the committee are not football men. At Liverpool for example the committee have been criticised because the members are business men. James Milner and Danny Ings for example are free goods.
The Balanced System. (Chelsea and Man United)
Like I said before, Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex will be the last guys on the managerial system where the manager had total control. In the balanced System the manager works with a director of football and chief executive. But they don’t dictate on the manager. The opinion of the manager is very important. Mourinho said the Shevchenko saga won’t happen again. Where a player was bought for a club record even though the manager didn’t approve. This is what Louis VG had to say about the transfer policy. “I don’t spend the money. I have explained how it works. I look for the players who fit in our profile and then I say to Ed Woodward, ‘okay, I want this player in the first position and the second option is that player and then we go to third when they are not available.’ “But he is negotiating, I am not negotiating. I’m not buying.”
Many fans have been critical of the Arsenal transfer policy. Which of the above policies would be best for Arsenal?
BY Galen Sona.