World Football Postulant

By now, we should all know:  The ratio of a.) attention given to Gareth Barry’s transfer saga to b.) the positive effect on final scores either Aston Villa or Liverpool can expect to receive from his services is way out of control.  To illustrate this, I not only linked all the articles on Gareth Barry that I have access to (below, but I do this with almost every post, so it’s not that big of a deal), but I created this uber-scientific chart to illustrate the relation between contribution and attention:

As you can see, red line higher than blue line.  But don’t quote me on that.  Throughout my highly funded study, Barry remained a versatile midfielder who doesn’t score goals, is approaching the point in his career when his skill set should start dwindling - a valuable contributor to any club, for sure, but not somebody who is going to dominate any matches.

If you asked Martin O’Neill who he would most readily do without when given the choice of Barry, Ashley Young, or Gabriel Abondelyour, it will be a very short conversation.  Barry goes.  The midfielder has more in common with Nigel Reo-Coker in terms of role, scope, and contribution than either Young or Abondelyour.

I don’t think he’s an £18 million player, but Martin O’Neill only needs to find one club to agree with that evaluation to make my view wrong.  If some thought £19-£20 million was overpaying for Robbie Keane, what will they think when/if the Barry deal happens?

Speaking of the newest Red, let’s look at the same analysis done on possible-future-Barry-teammate Keane:

Keane’s overall contribution is higher than Barry’s (the guy did score 23 goals last year), but it’s still pretty far below 1 (whatever “1″ is supposed to mean here).  The attention he’s received - otherwise known as red line - is dwarfed by Barry’s.

OK - I’m getting bogged down by this high-level, academic conversation Let’s leave all this science-talk for the journals and get back to the paper talk.

The drama behind the will-he, won’t-he entailed in the Gareth Barry saga has gotten out-of-control.  He is clearly a good player, as evidenced by his increasing profile within Fabio Capello’s England men’s national team.  In May’s international friendlies, he showed the potential to form a great partnership with Steven Gerrard, sitting deeper in midfield and jumping into the attack as opportunity dictates.  He would fit in well playing behind a line of attackers featuring Gerrard, Ryan Babel, and Dirk Kuyt, working with Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso to bring the ball out of Liverpool’s end and into the attack.

While those were a lot of words dedicate to how Barry could help Liverpool, they are not words which apply exclusively to Barry.  Somebody so inclined could make the argument that the aformentioned Reo-Coker, three years younger than Barry who Aston Villa last season for £8.5 million, casts a similar shadow.  Is Gareth Bary worth upwards of £10 million more than Reo-Coker?  Middlebrough’s Stewart Downing is a different kind of midfielder but is also three years younger, would be a very interesting addition given Fernando Torres, Keane and Gerrard to target, and would probably be cheaper than Barry.  Sulley Muntari just moved to Inter for much less than £18 million.  How nice would Muntari have looked in a midfield with Gerrard and Mascherano?

As the reports continue to come in about how Martin O’Neill does not want to sell, Barry wants to move, Liverpool’s tabled another offer, et cetera, remember the evidence:  the charts in addition to the comparable players.  If Liverpool were able to get this player they have sought all summer, where would have rank amongst their players?  You’ve got Gerrard and Torres and Mascherano, the true heart of this team.  Keane’s just been added, and Babel’s a young and promising starlet.  Jamie Carragher’s got a special and important role on this team at the back.  Barry, if he came, would blend in, not stand out.  He would be the midfield Dirk Kuyt.  It’s not like this is Frank Lampard we’re talking about here.

Step back and think about how absurd this Gareth Barry-thing has gotten.  It will give you something comical (and positive) to associate with all those stories clogging up your RSS feed.

And now having written about this, I can delete all those items from my feeds.

Quotes

“Aston Villa can announce that Gareth Barry will be staying with the club following the interest from Liverpool over recent months. During discussions in the past few days, a final deadline to conclude this episode was set that all parties were aware of and agreed to. This deadline has now passed and so Gareth will remain with Villa.” - Aston Villa
“Naturally we’re all absolutely delighted that Gareth will be staying at Villa Park and relieved to find a resolution and closure to the saga.” - O’Neill
“We are still trying to sign the players that we need and if we need to sell someone now, OK, we will do so. If we can do it (the Barry deal) before the end of the transfer window, we will continue to try.” - Rafa Benitez, manager, Liverpool

Links

Barry refuses to give up on move
Barry the hatcher:  A true Villain is born
Reds urge Barry to hand in request
Villa adamant Barry is staying
O’Neill tries to close door on Barry transfer
Barry’s Liverpool move still on
Barry staying at Villa after Liverpool run out of time
Villa declare Barry move to Anfield dead
O’Neill’s relief at Barry stay
Barry stays at Villa
Reds miss deadline to sign Barry
Villa call off Barry move to Liverpool
Barry staying at Villa
Villa claim Barry is staying
Villa claim Barry stays, despite Reds interest
Liverpool hold fresh Barry talks
Reds and Villa ‘agree Barry fee’
Villa end negotiations with Liverpool over Barry

A refined version of the Tottenham, David Bentley, Diego Capel argument I posted here earlier today has made its way to American Soccer Reader. The post can be found here, and all my American Soccer Reader stuff can be found here.

Last week I wrote about Sebastein Squillaci making the move from Lyon of Ligue 1 to Sevilla in the Spanish Liga.  Perhaps it’s because I have a spot in my heart for the marque clubs outside the big three leagues, but I questioned why Squillaci would want to move.  Little did I know what Lyon already had a plan in place and was more than willing to let their star center back move.

To replace him, Lyon swooped for Ghanaian international John Mensah, who moves to the league champions from Stade Rennais for €8.4 million.  Whether he can adjust to the demands of Lyon will be seen, as there is a difference between the schedule you keep at a club like Rennes (who finished a fine sixth in Le Championnat last season) and what you will be asked to do at Lyon.  With the Champions League and the expectation that you will play deep into both all domestic competitions, the sure number of games will increase, particularly as World Cup qualifying demands the Ghana star.

Aside from that, only differences in style (not so much effect) distinguish Mensah from Squillaci.  Squillaci is the more experienced, skilled, and steady of the two, but Mensah brings and athleticism and strength to the middle of the defense that Squillaci could not.  As with any acquisition, there are risks associated with bringing in a new player - one with a different style of game - to replace a well-established piece.

Squillaci is also the more experienced of the two, having a decade’s worth of football in France on his resumé.  That experience, though, brings with it age.  Lyon is trying to transition from the core which has dominated this decade for French football into a squad which can rule the next.  With Claude Puel, who had loaned out Squillaci from Monaco early in the defender’s career, replacing Alain Perrin, bringing in Mensah and letting Jean-Alain Boumsong help the assimilation made sense.

Mensah is 25 years old.  With Mensah, striker Karim Benzema, newly confirmed Milan Baros, midfielders Jérémy Toulalan, Mathieu Bodmer, and Kim Källström, along with new starting goaltender Hugo Lloris, most of Lyon’s prospective starting XI is 26 years old or younger.  They will be able to transition the remaining veterans - Boumsong, Cris, Anthony Réveillère, Sidney Govou and most notably Juninho - over the next couple of seasons, potentially using Lyon’s every-increasing financial profile, while trying to maintain their run atop Le Championnat.

Quotes

“I had a few offers, mostly from English clubs but I opted for Lyon on the insistence of my agent.” - Mensah
“It’s not going to be easy for me but I’ll do my best.” - Mensah
“I’m looking forward to linking up with (manager) Claude Puel, who is one of the best managers in France and has a great future in the game.” - Mensah

Links

Lyon sign Mensah
Wigan target to join Lyon
Ghana captain Mensah signs for Lyon

Juande Ramos came to White Hart Lane representing a complete change in attitude, one that would emphasize a more free-flowing but technical brand of football. He would bring the best parts of his La Liga background (the skilled and technical play) and merge them with what the Premiership is known for (speed, pace, and athleticism). In bringing in Luka Modric and Giovani Dos Santos, Ramos seemed to underscore that message. If nothing else, Spurs would be quicker and more skilled in attack.

To a certain extent, this justified the sale of Robbie Keane. Yes, Keane wanted to leave, but part of what lessened the blow was knowing the money Liverpool would give for him could be put towards Ramos’s renovation. Keane is a great player who could fit in anywhere, but would he play as well off of Modric and Dos Santos as a David Villa or an Andrei Arshavin? Keane is not quite as good a fit for this new approach as Dimitar Berbatov, who may still be able to be convinced to stay on at North London should sufficient talent be brought in and he was the key in pushing the back line.

That plan, in the moments after Keane was sold, seemed to be coming into place. Rumors of Valencia’s willingness to talk David Villa surfaced. Diego Capel from Sevilla had indicated a willingness to soften his stance on not leaving this season. Thiago Neves as still out there, and Andrei Arshavin’s agent had confirmed contact between Tottenham and Zenit.

With so many possibilities out there that would continue the revitalization of Juande Ramos’s team, it was disappointing to see such a conventional move to capture David Bentley. I think Bentley is a fine player, but Spurs must value him much higher than I do, because the reports of £15 to £17 million to capture the right midfielder almost completely exhausts their Keane money. They are still lacking a striker unless they want to move Dos Santos into that role, something which does not seem their Plan A as they continue their Arshavin pursuit today.

There are some that would trade Keane for Bentley plus three to five million pounds. I would not. Even if you grant Bentley the better player of the two, it’s unclear he is the better player for Tottenham. Many of the traits listed in the first paragraph that Ramos has explicitly or implicitly sought throughout the summer are absent from Bentley’s game. He is not the fastest or most athletic player, nor does he play at a great pace. As the featured player in Blackburn’s attack he was able to score five goals and direct pass onto eleven others, but with Modric slated to be the maestro for Spurs, Bentley becomes a role player - a specialist. He will play on the right, cross to Berbatov (should the Bulgarian be kept), take set pieces and corners. Tottenham has just paid over £15 million for a player who will struggle to keep up with the rest of the team and be relegated into a secondary contributor’s role.

That paragraph may be a bit harsh on Bentley. He may come into his own for Tottenham, but I just don’t see it. Even if Ramos thinks Bentley will shine, when you spend £15 to £18 million you should not have to wish improvement. For that money, you should not be banking on a player whose value to your team is unclear to a random, football-crazy blogger. At that price, some things should be clear.

Ramos should have pushed harder for Diego Capel.  He’s cheaper.  He’s younger.  He’s better.  He will improve more.  He fits in better with what Ramos has said he wants to do.  There is a dynamism to Capel’s game which Bentley will never have.  He is not as good on crosses and set-pieces as Bentley, but if Berbatov moves, Tottenham will not have anybody to target.

Whereas Bentley is a star player for mid-table clubs, Capel will eventually be able to play and star for the best clubs in the world.

Perhaps Sevilla was being too demanding (if they were willing to move him at all), but if reports over the last week were any indication, there was room between player and club for Tottenham to step in.

If they couldn’t get Capel, they should have left the money available to acquire the supporting striker they need. The worst outcome in paying top-dollar for Bentley is not acquiring a less-than-ideal player. Bentley will be fine, but if the fee sent to Blackburn forces a compromise on the striker they need, the one positive from last year about Spurs (their attack) will have been compromised to get the England international.

Spurs fans wait with a cautious optimism, electing to look more at the striker they’re rumored to get than at Bentley, who all the supporters can live with. But instead of looking at that striker, Spurs followers should take a moment to look towards Sevilla and Diego Capel. Even though he plays the opposite side of midfield, he was still a better fit.

This article will be revised for publication on American Soccer Reader later tonight.

Quotes

“Tottenham Hotspur plc is pleased to announce that agreement has been reached with Blackburn Rovers for the transfer of the registration of the England international midfielder, David Bentley, age 23 years, to Tottenham Hotspur FC for a total consideration of 15 million pounds and up to an additional two million payable upon future performances. The player’s contract is for a period of up to six years.” - Tottenham
“I am calm and I am only thinking about succeeding here (Sevilla) at the moment.” - Capel
“The only way that things could change would be if another club and Sevilla came to an agreement.” - Capel
“For sure everybody wants to grow as a footballer, I’m at a great club, but you always have better objectives.” - Capel
“I know there’s something, but Sevilla trust me and I owe them for this confidence.” - Capel
“I had my heart set on Tottenham and I didn’t think about going to any other club.” - Bentley
“I’ve come here with a big price tag and I have to repay Tottenham with all of my heart.” - Bentley
“There are a lot of good players here, you look at (Luka) Modric, Giovani dos Santos and I’m looking forward to fitting in the side somewhere.” - Bentley
“I’m sure he will bring the best ability to our team and we can help him maximise his potential.” - Ramos
“Working under someone like Ramos is great. He’s going to get the best out of me.” - Bentley
“I’ve got a lot of respect for him for what he’s achieved. I’ve talked a lot to the other players about him and I’m sure he’ll push me on to the next level. He’s really good.” - Bentley
“Gazza was my favourite player, all my mates are Tottenham fans and there’s a piece of my heart at this club.” - Bentley
“We can do anything we want and anything we put our minds to. We’ve got a great manager and you can see what he did last season.” - Bentley

Links

Capel not seeking sale
Capel Leaves Next Move In Sevilla’s Hands
Clubs will decide my fate - Capel
£12.5m winger wants to join Spurs
Diego Capel coudl still move to Tottenham
Capel considering Sevilla exit as Spurs hover
Capel confirms Tottenham interest
Sevilla winger reveals Spurs contact
Spurs complete Bentley signing
Spurs unveil Bentley
Bentley says his heart is at Tottenham
Bentley eyes top four spot
Bentley transfer details announced
Spurs splash out on brand new Bentley
Tottenham complete Bentley signing
Tottenham confirm £15m six-year deal for Bentley
Spurs unveil Bentley

Yesterday, Andrei Arshavin’s agent said that Zenit St. Petersburg was in negotiations with Tottenham regarding the transfer for his client to the North London club. Today, the club confirmed the negotiations, adding that the Russian Prince could be making his way to England within five days.

The price Zenit is reported to be seeking is £20 million with at least one report saying it’s £24 million, the highest figure reported since the Arshavin frenzy started six weeks ago.  The main difference between then any now:  Tottenham has already started to play their hand in regards to their strikers, having sold Robbie Keane to Liverpool.  Zenit will be negotiating from a position of strength - able to afford Arshavin, willing to keep him, having a buyer with a need.  Still, you don’t quote a number like £24 million for a 27-year-old unless you’re willing to come down.  If Zenit is willing to let their number fall below £20 million so Spurs don’t take a loss on the Keane sale, a deal should be done.

Between player and new club, negotiations may also be farther along then yesterday’s initial reports hinted.  Arshavin’s agent says that personal terms have been agreed to between the Russian Prince and Spurs, helping to explain why reports have surfaced of Tottenham’s withdrawal from David Villa and Diego Milito talks.  Arshavin now seems destined for White Hart Lane, as it is unlikely Spurs would have gotten to this point in Zenit talks, forsaking other options, if they were not eventually prepared to meet Zenit’s asking price.  Perhaps Zenit should hold out for the full £24 million?

Zenit’s preparations for an Arshavin move are said to have begun, with the St. Petersburg club having made a play for Marseille’s Mathieu Valbuena.  Their did was reported to be €18 million, a good amount for a 23-year-old midfielder who has only one year’s experience at a top level.  With Arshavin gone, Zenit will need another scoring threat to compliment and compensate for Pavel Progrebnyak.  Valbuena is unlikely to be that kind of player.

Quotes

“We have certain contacts with Tottenham, but when they will conclude, I still do not know.” - Konstantin Sarsaniya, spokeman, Zenit
“Tottenham have an interest in the player, and I understand that the player has an interest in the club too.” - Sarsaniya
“Tottenham Hotpsur is the club to agree personal terms with the player but unfortunately we are too far making an agreement with Zenit St Petersburg.” - Dennis Lachter, agent, Arshavin
“The promises given to the player have gone and, day to day, there are new updates regarding the transfer.” - Lachter
“Several inside the club couldn’t agree the concept of the deal and this is the main problem.” - Lachter
“Andrei likes the way Juande Ramos is going to play at Tottenham and this is the main point of our decision - not only the money but the desire of the manager to have the player.” - Lachter
“I have already taken a final decision. It only remains to finalise it with the club management.” - Arshavin

Links

Zenit ready for Arshavin exit
Zenit:  Arshavin talks continuing
Zenit hint Arshavin agreement is close
Zenit bid for Valbuena
Arshavin could join Tottenham Hotspur soon
Record fee for Bentley stretches Tottenham in pursuit of Arshavin
Spurs told to dig deeper for Arshavin after securing Bentley
Milito off Spurs’ radar
Arshavin agrees Spurs terms but deal stalls
Arshavin set to join Bentley at Spurs
Spurs in talks with Arshavin
Spurs in Arshavin talks

France international Frank Ribery returned to the news this week when it was reported he will undergo a second surgery tomorrow on the left ankle injury he suffered in Euro 2008. His recovery has kept him from training with Bayern Munich as they prepare for their Bundesliga defense. After the minor operation on Friday, Ribery will be slated for a mid-September return to the lineup, with the attacking midfielder hoping to return in time to start Champions League play.

The story of the second surgery was the main impetus to make Ribery news this week, though there was nothing remarkable or new about it. It is not uncommon with injuries like Ribery’s to leave a metal pin or screw at the point of injury after surgery in order to hold the repair together. Once the injury has healed sufficiently, a second, minor surgery occurs to go back in and remove the piece. This second surgery is neither a positive nor a negative as it concerns Ribery’s recovery. It was probably planned all along.

None of the articles on Ribery’s surgery are in conflict with this, but the headlines you will see below certainly given the impression that tomorrow’s procedure was either unplanned or is in response to some kind of change in his condition. In actuality, it’s probably just part of the process.

Here’s hoping the French star has a full recovery and returns to action as good as ever.

Quotes

“It’s without doubt the most serious injury I suffered in my career.” - Ribery
“Frankly, it’s impossible to say when I’ll return. I’m simply hoping to start running again in September. I hope everything is going to go well.” - Ribery
“I am very pleased to be back in Munich again and I am hoping to be back in the team in September.” - Ribery

Links

Ribery to undego (sic) another ankle operation
Ribery set for second ankle op
Ribery Set For Second Operation
Bayern’s Ribery set for second ankle operation
Ribery rues ‘most serious injury’
Bayern’s Ribery targets Champions League return
Ribery targets Champions League return

Lukas Podolski tallied a hat-trick for Bayern Munich, currently touring Japan, as the Bundesliga champions defeated the Urawa Reds 4-2. Podolski played up top with Miroslav Klöse as he filled in for the injured Luca Toni. Bayern coach Jurgen Klinsmann went with a 4-4-2.

It’s difficult to tell, at this point, what Klinsmann’s plans for Podolski are. Football fans who want to see the talented German get more playing time than he did last season might be encouraged by his performance yesterday, but note that he did it while in a striker’s position. Perhaps he was only deployed there because Toni was out, but the preseason would be a great time to let Podolski continue to get experience on the left wing, where he played in Euro 2008, a deployment that would allow all of Podolski, Toni and Klöse to play together.

In addition to Toni being out, Frank Ribery has a long term injury which will keep him out until mid-September. Having injured his ankle in Euro 2008, Ribery’s role in the midfield could be seen as one of the issues in Podolski moving to left wing. But with Ribery out of the lineup, that conflict is temporarily eliminated, making this a good time to use Podolski on the wing. That didn’t happen, either because of Toni’s injury or Klinsmann’s preference, or both.

One big reason that Klinsmann may have deployed Podolski as he did is the club’s lack of depth at striker.  With Toni injured, one could argue that the club had no choice but to use Podolski up top.  It’s not something I can argue too strenuously against, since Podolski will be used as a striker at times this season (in case of injury or resting Toni or Klose), he is a natural striker, and there were no other real strikers available.  But this preseason is one of the few opportunities for Podolski to continue developing as a winger without that development potentially costing Bayern on the pitch.  He may not need that much more development, and he might be able to continue his maturation when the real matches start, against the Colognes and Hoffenheims of the Bundesliga.  Again, I can’t argue too viahmently against such claims.  Were I Klinsmann, I would rather get Podolski as much time on the left as possible, even if it means playing somebody like José Sosa or Bastian Schweinsteiger as a second striker.

If Klinsmann is not going play Podolski on the wing, with Ribery out, it might be a hint that he sees the Germany star as a striker and plans to apportion time amongst him, Toni, and Klose while sticking to Bayern’s 4-4-2. Not only is this an inefficient use of the club’s player resources, it practically guarantees this will be Podolski’s last year with the club. He stayed at Bayern with the hopes of getting regular football. A rotation arrangement he is likely to see the short-end of will only push him away from the club. By October, Podolski will be wishing he jumped to the Premiership.

I have to think that over the course of the season, Klinsmann will come around, but with Bayern being the clear favorites in Germany, they could go the whole season with an inefficient lineup and still win the league. Champions League, however, is another issue. Bayern has a good chance to get out of the group stages with Podolski as their third striker, depending on the group draw. With his on the left wing, the club would look a better bet to advance out into the knockout stages.

Links

Podolski leads Bayern against Japan’s Reds
Podolski Bags Hat-Trick As Bayer Beat Urawa
Podolski leads Bayern against Japan’s Reds

It was only a friendly, but yesterday Barcelona and Fiorentina stepped up their preparations for Champions League qualifying by facing each other. Both clubs sent out strong starting lineups.

For Barcelona, Lionel Messi started (before leaving today to join Argentina), as did Andreas Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol and Daniel Alves. Bojan Krkic came on at half-time. Alexander Hleb was subbed in half-way through the second. Iniesta had to be subbed-out with an injury in the first half.

Fiorentina started both Adrian Mutu and Alberto Gilardino up front, subbing them out along with four others in the 56th minute. By that time, Barcelona had gone up 2-0.

La Viola has to be a little disappointed at not putting up a better fight. True, it was only a friendly, but it’s only two weeks until they’re playing these matches for real, and they were reported out-classed by Barça. Their defense, which lost Tomás Ujfalusi to Atlético Madrid this summer, was unable to match-up with Barcelona (though few defenses are).

Every time I see somebody predicting Fiorentina to improve on last year’s finish, I want to ask them how the club replaced Ujfalusi.  In my mind, they haven’t.  I’m withholding judgement on how well Juan Manuel Vargas will work.

Fiorentina is seeded for tomorrow’s Champions League draw, which means they’ll miss other seeded powers like Arsenal, Liverpool, and Barcelona, but there are dangerous teams that could get (like Atlético Madrid). They’ll need to use the next two weeks to prepare for such a match-up.

Barcelona continues looking good. They rolled out a 4-4-2 for this match, a slight diversion from their typical tactic, but still continued their string of convincing performances that started with the tour of Scotland, where they demolished Dundee United and Hibernian. This may be an instance of drawing too much from friendlies, but even though Barcelona is in the same situation as Fiorentina for tomorrows Champions League draw, they will have little to fear if they continue executing as they have.

Quotes

“We’re still not in our best physical condition but we will be ready for the preliminaries, matches which we’re really looking forward to.” - Cesare Prandelli, coach, Fiorentina

Links

Barcelona Teach Fiorentina A Lesson
Prandelli:  We’ll be ready
Prandelli pained by defeat

Earlier today I posted to American Soccer Reader the news that David Bentley had completed his move from Blackburn to Tottenham Hotspur.  It can be found here, and it’s pretty much a stright-up report.

It was a move that had been widely rumored for most of the summer, so I don’t have any keen thoughts on the transaction.  My gut thinks Tottenham’s probably overpaid, but we won’t know that until the transfer fee gets released.  I’m also not sure how much this helps Spurs, as they still have yet to address their defensive deficiencies.  Given the style of player they acquired, there decision regarding Dimitar Berbatov and his  replacement becomes a little more complicated.  Players like Andrei Arshavin, David Villa and Thiago Neves aren’t the best type of scorers to fit with Bentley.  In fact, Berbatov is a much better compliment for him.  Does this mean Berbatov is now likely to stay?

I will post more refined thoughts on this tomorrow, but while you may before than read how Spurs are ready for an assault on the Premiership’s Champions League spots, I am unconvinced.

Links

Tottenham Completes Bentley Acquisition

After FIFA ruled today that clubs must release their U23 eligible players, Barcelona striker Lionel Messi will leave his club to join the Argentina Olympic team. In the interim, Barcelona will join in Schalke and Werder Bremen’s appeal of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, hoping FIFA’s ruling will be overturned. If that happens, Barça expects Messi to return. The striker has indicated he would, if such a ruling came down.

What the clubs are seeking is a ruling from the CAS that the players are in breach of their contracts by not reporting to the clubs.  Say the ruling goes their way.  Then what?  The ball goes into the player’s court, and while Messi seems willing to return to Barcelona should their claim be upheld, Schalke’s Rafinha and Bremen’s Diego have been willing to defy their clubs throughout the month.  Having gone absent without their release when the Brazil Olympic team went to Asia, what’s to say they will just return if the CAS says so in light of FIFA’s decision?

The clubs could cancel their contracts, but what good would that do?  Players as young as Diego and Rafinha are undoubtedly slightly underpaid in their deals.  Having proved themselves capable players in the Bundesliga, a small, profitable bidding war will start should the players hit the market.  Neither Schalke nor Bremen should want to let them go.

They could fine the players for being in breach of contract, but will that affect any kind  of remedy or change?

The clubs should be less concerned with the individual players and more with FIFA and the remedies at their disposal.  To their knowledge, they are only obligated to release players during the international match calendar’s release periods.  The Olympics fall outside one of those periods, yet clubs are still having players taken from them.  Instead of seeking to punish the players, let them play in the Olympics and instead start acting to limit the power of FIFA to unilaterally change these rules.

There is a  fine line between fighting the ruling, changing the system and aggravating your players.  The clubs have done a precarious  job of walking that line throughout this ordeal.  As this fight reaches its climax, clubs much be careful not to reach too far.  In the end, they need to let the players go and never let FIFA forget that they did.  In the four year between now and London, start pushing back against FIFA’s  ability to capriciously make similar decisions.

Quotes

“I hope [Diego] comes back to Bremen immediately because he has an agreement with Werder.  If he does not stick to it, then there will be consequences from the club.” - Torsten Frings, midfielder, Werder Bremen

Links

Messi heads to China after FIFA ruling
Barcelona may appeal Messi Olympic ruling
Frings Urges Diego To Return
CAS called in to settle Olympic dispute
Bremen and Schalke in new Olympics appeal
Bremen,  Schalke to fight FIFA’s Olympics ruling