Stumbled across quite an interesting interview with one of the top football agents, Jon Smith. It's on an Arsenal YouTube channel so understandably most of the chat is about them. However, he makes a few comments about the Albion. He basically says we can't currently compete with other top clubs in the transfer market as we don't have direct lines to senior agents and hints we will struggle in that department until we make the Prem for 2/3 years. For those interested his comments are around 19 minutes in this video...
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Top football agent Jon Smith says our scouting system can't compete with most in the Prem
- Thread starter stss30
- Start date
CAN'T COMPETE?
Stockdale for 1 million (at a time when our recruitment department was having a nightmare), Knockaert under the radar for less than 2 million, Kayal for less than a million. That's not competing. That's beating the system hands down.
I think what Jon probably means (though there's no way I'm wading through a load of tosh from an agent on a Prem video channel) is that we don't directly deal with him. Which strongly leads me to suspect he's a c***.
Sussex Nomad
Well-known member
He is talking Prem, not the lower leagues. I can understand that statement. But it is no different from most other clubs getting promoted and I can easily see us holding our own against the bottom half of the Prem.
crookie
Well-known member
F**king parasites
- Thread starter
- #6
Perhaps I phrased his thoughts poorly. I think what he is getting at is we won't be in a position to sign players from top European clubs until our scouting system and range of contacts improve. It's well worth a listen imo but I'm not forcing you! He's also very complimentary about us and says he hopes we go up this year so don't think he's got an axe to grind with us!
He says he loves the town (Brighton) and the club (The Albion), so why are people being precious about his comments?
I also probably phrased my reply poorly. I have very little regard for agents and their role in inflating the cost of football. If we're not dealing with them it's because we don't need to. CH will always buy players that fit the squad rather than chucking gazillions at an Arsenal or PSG starlet or an old has been with an ego. Long may that continue
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Lurchy
Well-known member
- Jul 2, 2014
- 2,422
If anything finding the players from "top European" clubs should be easier than unearthing a gem at a lower level / lesser known club. If there are any problems attracting a high profile player than it's either because we'll be unable to compete on a financial level or that there's other more established clubs that are also in the mix. No one thought that a club like Stoke could attract players like Shaqiri, Bojan or Arnautović a few years ago or Swansea would sign players like Llorente but things do change.
Prince Monolulu
Everything in Moderation
portlock seagull
Well-known member
- Jul 28, 2003
- 17,788
What he states is bleeding obvious. Next....!
I'm pretty sure we'll have tons of agents sniffing around us the minute we arrive in the Prem. After all, it's their job.
Billy the Fish
Technocrat
Because he's been paraphrased by the OP. I'll reserve judgement until I watch the video.
Bob'n'weave
Well-known member
Agree. Any club making it up to the PL will have to adjust to compete, and dealing with the high end transfer market is all part of that. I don't think for one moment the Albion set up don't already have good contacts with premier blood sucking agents, they're just of no use to us now.
Is it? To be honest I'm a bit surprised we are disadvantaged in that way. Obviously financially we can't compete with Prem clubs when it comes to players with high wage demands but would like to think we could get a loan or two from some top clubs if available.
Buzzer
Languidly Clinical
- Oct 1, 2006
- 26,121
No great shocks here. I watched it and he doesn't do anything but state the obvious:
Brighton are disadvantaged because we don't have the extensive contacts...We obviously don't have the ability yet to do that...if we go up then we would need 3 or 4 years to get up to speed.
Bloody hell, insightful stuff eh?
Brighton are disadvantaged because we don't have the extensive contacts...We obviously don't have the ability yet to do that...if we go up then we would need 3 or 4 years to get up to speed.
Bloody hell, insightful stuff eh?
- Apr 5, 2014
- 25,966
Outrage failure here. He singles us out in a most positive and affectionate way and says he hopes we come up. Adds that we don't have the connections of others and that will take time to change.
I think he's wrong concerning the connections. We just cannot compete with some others financially.
I think he's wrong concerning the connections. We just cannot compete with some others financially.
SeagullofMalaysia
Well-known member
Good grief, some of the people moaning about the 3% negative statement out of a 97% positive statement....
portlock seagull
Well-known member
- Jul 28, 2003
- 17,788
I would have said anyone will talk to us if we have the money. We won't though. So they won't.
Cheeky Monkey
Well-known member
- Jul 17, 2003
- 23,884
Utter bulshit, Palace have been there 2/3 years and signed sone right turkeys. Schweinsteiger worked out well for United and on and on. We're doing just fine thank you Jon.