The performance of any particular team in the World Cup shouldn’t really be any kind of guide to the value of an individual player – but it always seems to be so.
The fact is that football is a team game and any number of Spanish players, for example, didn’t suddenly become lesser players simply because of their early exit. The same works the other way; when a good coach has a nation team working hard as an outfit – certain players are singled out for their individual performances in that team and their valuations soar. This makes little sense once those players are signed for a club that has overpaid.
What’s more; there’s a very different mentality about playing with passion for your country versus playing with professionalism for your club. Manchester United fans may well be able to attest to this if they remember the fortunes of Karel Poborský after Euro 96. The Czech excelled for his club, but after Man United signed him, we saw a shadow of the person that had stepped out for his country.
The wiser heads, then, may do better to look elsewhere or to look for players playing with excellence and professionalism in under-performing teams. But that’s not what seems to be happening so far. Chelsea paid £30m to Barcelona for former Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas, but the Spanish midfielder has played just 12 minutes of World Cup finals football so far. Would Chelsea have been able to get him at a cheaper price now?
Meanwhile, according to Italian sports paper Tuttosport, Manchester United are lining up a bid for 29 year-old Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong – currently with AC Milan. Holland are enjoying a great World Cup so far and new United boss Louis van Gaal (currently Netherlands coach) obviously likes the player. But will this see United pay too much for a “hot” player? “Probably” is the answer.
Nevertheless, van Gaal’s appointment and hinted moves in the market have seen Man United’s odds of winning the title next year slashed to just 5/1 with Betfair exchange punters. Premier League holders Man City, meanwhile, remain favourites to repeat their success of last season, along with Chelsea – both around 2/1 with Betfair.
But how about Liverpool at 7/1 fourth favourites? England’s Liverpool contingent have underperformed in Brazil and the club’s odds have lengthened – so maybe it’s the ideal time to back them?
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