Daily Lessons from Life 01 February 2011 - Transfer Madness Returned?

"Transfer 'madness' returns to Premier League - Tue, Feb 01, 2011 AFP

LONDON — England's Premier League clubs are splashing the cash again, defying austerity in a transfer window that has climaxed with Fernando Torres's record-breaking £50 million (S$102 million) move from Liverpool to Chelsea.

In a dramatic finale to the transfer window on Monday, reigning champions Chelsea smashed the British record with their purchase of the Spanish striker.

As the clock ticked towards the deadline, Liverpool agreed a deal to sign 22-year-old Newcastle forward Andy Carroll -- still in only his first Premier League season -- for a club record £35 million.

In the end, total spending by English Premier League clubs approached £200 million ($321 million) compared to £29 million last January, proving again that when it comes to football, prudence goes out of the window."

It is indeed madness to be paying so much for players who are NOT Lionel Messi at such prices. But then we need to look at the personalities behind these transfers. The Chelsea owner is a Russian who made his money from oils and gas and the origin of the wealth is questioned by some. Soccer does seems like one of his real obsessions.

Lessons for me are:

1. when you are rich, you can spend your money anyway you want it if you are not bothered about criticism, or envies disguised as such, that you are not very smart! If you are not smart, you could have gotten all the money right? :-);

2. when there is a bargain, you grabbed it with both hands and spend the gift on 2 players that can potential turnaround the fortune of Liverpool Football Club! 2 for the price of 1!! Good deal indeed;

3. at the end, the footballers have to produce the goods on the field and answer the question of: 'if they are worth the money?'. The strange thing is, delivered or not, their contracts probably had insulated them from losing their income as the buyers were so 'concerned' that they could not land the 'stars'. Reminding your of how the financial institutions used to 'pay for the Stars'?

As long as it is some rich folks footing the bill, it is ok. Unlike the financial world where the 'wrong moves' by the 'Stars' leave behind a trail of destruction strewn with innocent (mainly) and some not-so-innocent greedy consumers/customers!

All the best to Torres as I like this chap. And all the best to Liverpool as it is still a club I admired and Kenny Dalglish is such a gentleman footballer that deserved better!