7 Comments
Jan 31, 2022Liked by Grace Robertson

Hi, what is the Bundersliga Tax? I’ve not heard of it before. Thanks.

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Jan 31, 2022Liked by Grace Robertson

I think what especially damning about Havertz, Werner, Pulisic and Sancho that leads to extra criticism is, bar possibly Werner, they’re all in the age range where you expect them to improve. So I think the comparison isn’t just with what they did in the Bundesliga, but where people “think” they should be at now following some sort of natural average career progression, even though player performance levels based on age have incredible variance on a case by case basis.

I also wonder if these players who reach such high levels very early in life don’t have much more capacity to improve, because the bar is already so high? Signings on the list like Joao Felix, de Jong and de Ligt feel like they’re all about as good as they were when they got bought, and are still very good players, but that they were so expensive because it was thought they would get even better.

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looking at that full list is a nice reminder that *most* transfers are hit or miss. but I'd be curious to find a way to measure, like, how clubs themselves tend to contribute a positive or a negative impact on their signings (other than just being a bad team). looking at Liverpool and Man City, they seem to usually get the most out of their transfers last couple years, and I'm sure that's a) yes, money and competitiveness but also b) a set up conducive to it, with long term stability and trusted managers ... maybe it's just all down to the managers and a front office smart enough to buy them players that fit their plans?

Atalanta is another good case study from recent years ... just musing aloud!

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