Transfer Madness
Originally this thread was going to be only the complaint I am about to write about, but then I decided it could be dual purpose, so post transfers here as you hear them, preferably with links. On to my complaint!
I truly think that cycling needs to change it's transfer rules and have a set date around or after the last ProTour race as the official date people can sign. It's silly to have riders signing for another team while they are racing the Tour and while nearly half the season is left. The only other sport that I can think of that does this is F1 and it's not as bad. Have a signing date and a talking date and give penalties to teams who violate it. Yes I know proving violations can be difficult, but the current system is awful.
I truly think that cycling needs to change it's transfer rules and have a set date around or after the last ProTour race as the official date people can sign. It's silly to have riders signing for another team while they are racing the Tour and while nearly half the season is left. The only other sport that I can think of that does this is F1 and it's not as bad. Have a signing date and a talking date and give penalties to teams who violate it. Yes I know proving violations can be difficult, but the current system is awful.
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Rule74Please wrote:THEY DO AUGUST 1
Also towards the end of the year at early 2013 training camps (Nov/Dec), you will see riders say of Radioshack- Nissan- Trek (am thinking Fuglsang here) riding in their RNT Kit at say a Saxo Bank training camp. Normally riders are contracted from 1st Jan so prior to this date they will be wearing their previous team Kit."If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."
PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills0 -
Rule74Please wrote:THEY DO AUGUST 1
1) No need to shout.
2) Why do we have lists of riders who are already committed to another team the next season start coming out late in the Tour? Because the August 1 date means nothing.0 -
Rundfahrt wrote:Rule74Please wrote:THEY DO AUGUST 1
1) No need to shout.
2) Why do we have lists of riders who are already committed to another team the next season start coming out late in the Tour? Because the August 1 date means nothing.
Well what makes you think a new date or a new bunch of unenforceable rules would mean anything?0 -
The implication of them signing or talking about before that being what? That they somehow don't ride for that team anymore?
If it has got to a point a rider has thought about signing for someone else before the tour then making them go through it unresolved is even worse for performance I would have thought? But then again each rider maybe different some might naturally want to wait until afterwards for any number of reasons.
Still professionals, still have everything to gain for performing no matter what their team might be the next year or when they do a deal, I don't see the big issue with it really.0 -
afx237vi- The point is that you actually try and enforce it. They seem to be able to do it in most other sports.
Thamacdaddy- Look at the Hushovd situation last year. That was terrible and could have been prevented if signings and talks were not allowed (except to re-up) until say October 1. The other part is how crappy it looks to the fans. Imagine if in the middle of the season a starter for Chelsea or Arsenal or Wigan or Bournemouth or anyone let it leak that he had already signed for another club in the same league. Fans would go nuts.
I guess my thing is that while I can see a ton of negatives to the current system I have yet to see one positive.0 -
Rundfahrt wrote:. The other part is how crappy it looks to the fans. Imagine if in the middle of the season a starter for Chelsea or Arsenal or Wigan or Bournemouth or anyone let it leak that he had already signed for another club in the same league. Fans would go nuts.Rundfahrt wrote:I guess my thing is that while I can see a ton of negatives to the current system I have yet to see one positive.
At the Tour, 95% of people who matter are there. It's a convenient time for everyone have to chats and make deals.
And you'll never be able to stop a group of 200 riders talking to each other - try enforcing that.Twitter: @RichN950 -
RichN95 wrote:Rundfahrt wrote:. The other part is how crappy it looks to the fans. Imagine if in the middle of the season a starter for Chelsea or Arsenal or Wigan or Bournemouth or anyone let it leak that he had already signed for another club in the same league. Fans would go nuts.
I understand the "I don't plan on resigning" and the rumors, but actually coming to an agreement and making it public is asinine.Rundfahrt wrote:I guess my thing is that while I can see a ton of negatives to the current system I have yet to see one positive.
At the Tour, 95% of people who matter are there. It's a convenient time for everyone have to chats and make deals.
And you'll never be able to stop a group of 200 riders talking to each other - try enforcing that.
1) Huge difference between riders talking to each other and DS having meetings with riders on other teams to discuss signing for next year.
2) Why does every other sport work with signings only happening in the off season? I don's see Barcelona struggling to sign players? The players they want are playing in international tournaments, going on holidays, etc.
3) When it comes to ProTour license, the way that is done is asinine in itself. Imagine any other sport being run like that. "Sorry Arsenal, you lost your top two scorers so you don't have enough points to be in the Premier League. Enjoy the Championship.
Sorry, I still have not seen one good reason.0 -
Rundfahrt wrote:1) Huge difference between riders talking to each other and DS having meetings with riders on other teams to discuss signing for next year.
And the DSs talk to agents first not riders. And those agents may represent current riders on the team as well as the wanted riders. How do you prevent that meeting?Rundfahrt wrote:2) Why does every other sport work with signings only happening in the off season? I don's see Barcelona struggling to sign players? The players they want are playing in international tournaments, going on holidays, etc.Rundfahrt wrote:3) When it comes to ProTour license, the way that is done is asinine in itself. Imagine any other sport being run like that. "Sorry Arsenal, you lost your top two scorers so you don't have enough points to be in the Premier League. Enjoy the Championship.
Apart from giving everyone plenty of time to do their business and not causing a ridiculous mad scramble you want to see, it's probably also illegal to deny a worker negotiating a new contract sufficient time from the expiry of his old one.
And completely unenforcable rules are a waste of everyone's time.Twitter: @RichN950 -
RichN95 wrote:Rundfahrt wrote:1) Huge difference between riders talking to each other and DS having meetings with riders on other teams to discuss signing for next year.
And the DSs talk to agents first not riders. And those agents may represent current riders on the team as well as the wanted riders. How do you prevent that meeting?
Riders don't negotiate on behalf of the DS, they simply talk up the team. How do they prevent agents from talking contracts in other sports? I am sorry but cycling is not some sport that is so beyond every other sport.Rundfahrt wrote:2) Why does every other sport work with signings only happening in the off season? I don's see Barcelona struggling to sign players? The players they want are playing in international tournaments, going on holidays, etc.
Pretty much every pro sport has rules about when talks can occur and it is not year round.Rundfahrt wrote:3) When it comes to ProTour license, the way that is done is asinine in itself. Imagine any other sport being run like that. "Sorry Arsenal, you lost your top two scorers so you don't have enough points to be in the Premier League. Enjoy the Championship.
Apart from giving everyone plenty of time to do their business and not causing a ridiculous mad scramble you want to see, it's probably also illegal to deny a worker negotiating a new contract sufficient time from the expiry of his old one.
If it is illegal then why does it occur in every other sport.
And completely unenforcable rules are a waste of everyone's time.
Tough to enforce but not completely unenforceable, especially in this day of 24 hour media and social media. If we can hear that a rider is thinking of leaving a team in May, do you really think the UCI can't hear that as well or that someone came to an agreement during the Tour?!?!?!
Honestly, this reminds me of the people who argue against the use of golden goal, all about tradition so they come up with illogical reasoning (i.e. both teams deserve a chance to score), claim that it can't work and argue negatively, never giving an actual positive reason why the current system is good.
I am still waiting for one positive reason why the current system is goof0 -
Rundfahrt wrote:Riders don't negotiate on behalf of the DS, they simply talk up the team. How do they prevent agents from talking contracts in other sports? I am sorry but cycling is not some sport that is so beyond every other sport.Rundfahrt wrote:Pretty much every pro sport has rules about when talks can occur and it is not year round.Rundfahrt wrote:If it is illegal then why does it occur in every other sport.
For example, footballers with six months left on their contract can sign pre-contract agreements with other clubs
Show me an example of a sport which doesn't allow a sportsmen to talk about a deal until the last 3 months of his current contract.Rundfahrt wrote:Tough to enforce but not completely unenforceable, especially in this day of 24 hour media and social media. If we can hear that a rider is thinking of leaving a team in May, do you really think the UCI can't hear that as well or that someone came to an agreement during the Tour?!?!?!
Without illegal phone taps, e-mail hacking and bugging, how do you propose conversation are investigated by the UCI?Rundfahrt wrote:I am still waiting for one positive reason why the current system is goof
1. It's most convenient for the teams and riders alike
2. It adheres to probable employment law
3. Any other system is unenforcable.
Now what is so great about your system. Why cause panic and uncertainty for people for whom this is their living due to some idealistic impractical idea which appears to have no benefits for anyone?Twitter: @RichN950 -
RichN95 wrote:Rundfahrt wrote:Riders don't negotiate on behalf of the DS, they simply talk up the team. How do they prevent agents from talking contracts in other sports? I am sorry but cycling is not some sport that is so beyond every other sport.
Naive? Because I am smart enough to know that riders don't talk contracts? Heck, you even talked about the agents doing that work. Agents are prevented from contract talks with other teams in most sports. I would say that you need to stop ignoring the sports that don't suit your argument (most of the pro sports in the world) but then you start comparing pro sport to your little amateur hockey club and I know that you can't do that.Rundfahrt wrote:Pretty much every pro sport has rules about when talks can occur and it is not year round.
Key phrase: "if all parties consent." That phrase shows that what happens in cycling does not happen elsewhere, namely a rider negotiating with a new team without anyone else knowing about it.Rundfahrt wrote:If it is illegal then why does it occur in every other sport.
For example, footballers with six months left on their contract can sign pre-contract agreements with other clubs
Show me an example of a sport which doesn't allow a sportsmen to talk about a deal until the last 3 months of his current contract.
Show you an example? MLB, NHL, NBA, NFL, KHL all have specific dates IRB, like FIFA requires consent by all parties. IN other words, I just named four that don't allow any talks and two that allow it but only if the current team gives consent. None allow people to talk behind their teams back at any time.Rundfahrt wrote:Tough to enforce but not completely unenforceable, especially in this day of 24 hour media and social media. If we can hear that a rider is thinking of leaving a team in May, do you really think the UCI can't hear that as well or that someone came to an agreement during the Tour?!?!?!
Without illegal phone taps, e-mail hacking and bugging, how do you propose conversation are investigated by the UCI?
1) Where did I say penalize someone for thinking of leaving? I was very obviously talking about someone entering talks. That was pretty disingenuous on your part.
2) The rumors get out all the time, do you really think they would just suddenly stop? If you do then you are the naive one here.
3) Once again: How does almost every other pro sport do it?Rundfahrt wrote:I am still waiting for one positive reason why the current system is goof
1. It's most convenient for the teams and riders alike
2. It adheres to probable employment law
3. Any other system is unenforcable.
1) Why is it so convenient? Because they have extra time? That's great but, especially with the UCI points moving with the rider, it's very inconvenient to have a rider earning points for a rival team while riding with you. It's inconvenient to have a rider in a race with your team, especially near the end of the season, and be in a position where he could help his new teammate win a race.
2) Yet, what I am talking about happens all the time and even you admit the only way it is allowed is if everyone gives consent.
3) Yet, as you conveniently keep ignoring, it is enforced in most of the pro sports.
Now what is so great about your system. Why cause panic and uncertainty for people for whom this is their living due to some idealistic impractical idea which appears to have no benefits for anyone?[/quote]
It doesn't cause any panic. Show me one example of panic in the leagues that do things the way I think it should be done. Show me examples in any of the leagues I mentioned above. If anything it causes less panic, because teams have time to prepare for the possibility of signings and losing people and it cause teams to sign their own people earlier instead of waiting.
I am sorry, but in this issue, you (someone who I think is a pretty level-headed person) are being irrational and trying to cling to tradition any way possible. Like I already said, you remind me of the people who argue against the golden goal.0 -
Rundfahrt wrote:3) Yet, as you conveniently keep ignoring, it is enforced in most of the pro sports.
This is your problem. You are clearly a little wet behind the ears and think they are enforced in other sports. They aren't. Not even a little bit. There's even a phrase for it - 'tapping up'.
Put yourself in one of these two scenarios:
1. A rider with a wife, two kids, a third on the way, a mortgage, no qualifications and an uncertain future at your current team.
2. A team looking for a new sponsor, but your Pro Tour licence is in doubt as you don't have the points.
In either of those situations would you sit around not making phone calls to agents because it's 'not allowed'. The idea that you can prevent people talking to each other is absurd. This isn't PCM here - it's people's actual careers at stake.
You have provided no benefits for your idea beyond assuaging your faux indignation.
The points system is horribly flawed - on that we both agree - and that is the source at the root of your indignation. But the transfer system is fine. It's no different than any other job. And never forget that this is their job.Twitter: @RichN950 -
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Rundfahrt, you're incorrect when referencing other sports. As a first example of this, a footballer can sign for another team whenever he wants. Any rules forbidding this would clearly be a restraint of trade.
As Rich says, these are people's jobs and careers you're trying to control, they don't do it just for our pleasure!0 -
Rundfahrt wrote:Show you an example? MLB, NHL, NBA, NFL, KHL all have specific dates0
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RichN95 wrote:Rundfahrt wrote:3) Yet, as you conveniently keep ignoring, it is enforced in most of the pro sports.
This is your problem. You are clearly a little wet behind the ears and think they are enforced in other sports. They aren't. Not even a little bit. There's even a phrase for it - 'tapping up'.
You just tried to use "tapping up" as poof that you are correct when teams get in trouble all the time for doing this. Now should I be like you and insult you?
Put yourself in one of these two scenarios:
1. A rider with a wife, two kids, a third on the way, a mortgage, no qualifications and an uncertain future at your current team.
2. A team looking for a new sponsor, but your Pro Tour licence is in doubt as you don't have the points.
In either of those situations would you sit around not making phone calls to agents because it's 'not allowed'. The idea that you can prevent people talking to each other is absurd. This isn't PCM here - it's people's actual careers at stake.
Yes, I would not be making calls to agents. You see I have the morals and ethics to do something called obeying the rules. Apparently that is where we differ. Using your absurd version of reality Wiggins should dope, would it be absurd to tell someone what they can put in their body. How about take a car for part of the course, it's absurd to tell someone they can't drive. I am starting to think you are just taking the piss, in other threads you don't come off as being this unintelligent (wow, I can toss insults just like you!)
You have provided no benefits for your idea beyond assuaging your faux indignation.
No, I have, you just keep holding your ears and closing your eyes like a child who doesn't want to hear anything they don't like.
The points system is horribly flawed - on that we both agree - and that is the source at the root of your indignation. But the transfer system is fine. It's no different than any other job. And never forget that this is their job.
No, the points system is not the root of my "indignation."Perhaps if you tried to actually have a two way discussion instead of just saying what you want and ignoring what you don't like you might have figured that out.
Yes, it's their job and just like every other job in the sports industry it has rules that are different then the average joe. That's a pretty simply concept, even you should be able to grasp it.0 -
FlipFlopper wrote:Rundfahrt, you're incorrect when referencing other sports. As a first example of this, a footballer can sign for another team whenever he wants. Any rules forbidding this would clearly be a restraint of trade.
As Rich says, these are people's jobs and careers you're trying to control, they don't do it just for our pleasure!
If that is the case then why do FIFA rules only allow a player to sign with another team during the time they are contracted to another team only when everyone gives consent?0 -
DeadCalm wrote:Rundfahrt wrote:Show you an example? MLB, NHL, NBA, NFL, KHL all have specific dates
I was going to respond, but then I got through your whole post and realized it was just childish excrement.0 -
Rundfahrt wrote:If that is the case then why do FIFA rules only allow a player to sign with another team during the time they are contracted to another team only when everyone gives consent?0
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Rundfahrt wrote:I was going to respond, but then I got through your whole post and realized it was just childish excrement.0
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DeadCalm wrote:Rundfahrt wrote:If that is the case then why do FIFA rules only allow a player to sign with another team during the time they are contracted to another team only when everyone gives consent?
Perhaps you should do some research since you clearly don't know the FIFA rules. Or, you could have paid attention to the fact that Rich was the one who pointed it when he tried to use it against my stance.0 -
DeadCalm wrote:Rundfahrt wrote:I was going to respond, but then I got through your whole post and realized it was just childish excrement.
We are talking about the business of sport, you know like the ProTour and the Premier League and those leagues I mentioned. Since they and the world governing bodies are the ones that make the rules.0 -
What a non issue, can you tell me one race that has been effected from some rider that hasn't chased someone done for a win and then ended up on that team? I can't think of any? The real issue with the end of year is the ridiculous timing of the WT license, how some teams manage to convince Sponsors and Riders to actually commit when everything is already so undecided is a miracle, at least at this stage they can say to the sponsors "Look we have signed this Rider". You would have it so that by November at the earliest they could say to a sponsor "We have a WT license and we have just signed this rider " , and if that sponsor pulls out they have a month to find another one at Christmas time which im guessing isn't the best month for chasing done company's about Sponsorship. The process is already stupidly difficult the UCI should be clearing the road blocks not putting more up.Take care of the luxuries and the necessites will take care of themselves.0
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In theory, they could let teams 'own' a rider, so if a rider breaks 4 year contract two years in, say, the new team would have to not just buy out the contract but agree a transfer fee.
Problem is, in practice, a rider can help another team ride without having to necessarily be on their team...
And, unlike football clubs, cycling teams are a lot more transient, since they're owned by a sponsor, rather than a club.0 -
OK, read INRNG again yesterday
http://inrng.com/2012/06/riders-blocked-from-racing/
Fuglsang is intending to leave RSNT and move to Saxo-Tinkoff next year.
RSNT thus have dropped him from the Tour squad and are going to 'rest' him for the rest of the year.
Because any ProTour points he wins this year will go across with him to Saxo, perhaps meaning that if it comes to it next year Saxo might get a ProTour licence at the expense of RNT (personally can't see RNT existing at the end of the year, but anyway)
So they have a rider sitting idle, still on the payroll, and the sponsors aren't exactly getting vfm from that are they ?0 -
richard wants a baum wrote:What a non issue, can you tell me one race that has been effected from some rider that hasn't chased someone done for a win and then ended up on that team? I can't think of any? The real issue with the end of year is the ridiculous timing of the WT license, how some teams manage to convince Sponsors and Riders to actually commit when everything is already so undecided is a miracle, at least at this stage they can say to the sponsors "Look we have signed this Rider". You would have it so that by November at the earliest they could say to a sponsor "We have a WT license and we have just signed this rider " , and if that sponsor pulls out they have a month to find another one at Christmas time which im guessing isn't the best month for chasing done company's about Sponsorship. The process is already stupidly difficult the UCI should be clearing the road blocks not putting more up.
1) It appears Fuglsang will be resting most, if not all, of the year due to his making it public he will leave RNT.
2) Hushovd being kept out of the 2011 Vuelta after signing for BMC
3) The issue with sponsors is not about when you can sign people, it's about the way the ProTour is run. If it was run correctly this would not be an issue.
4) The process is difficult? How is it difficult? How would this make it any more difficult. Honestly you guys are stuck on tradition that you refuse to see the positives of doing what almost every other sport does.0 -
ddraver wrote:Wow, between Rundfahrt and Cycling2580, US reputation is really taking a pasting here!! If there are any US Lurkers here you need to come out of the woodwork and stand up for your countries brain power!
It sure takes a lot of brainpower to post xenophobic insults now doesn't it. :roll:0