The winner gets Ronaldo - Photo Futureshape CCA
Regularly throughout the year clubs take a break from the taxing business of playing football, grab a rope, and pull with all their might in order to secure a signing. The tug of war certainly sounds exciting, and potentially a great way of resolving disputes over players if performed literally. But how is the term used in the media, and is it all helpful in understanding the transfer tales? Here are ten classic examples of the term:
1. Philipp Lahm is in a tug of war between England and Spain and if Jurgen Klinsmann becomes Bayern boss the right back may well stay in Munich - 21 February 2008, Sportingo
A three-way tug-of-war then? That sounds complicated. Would it work? Or should we infer that the tug-of-war itself will be between England and Spain only? Lahm stayed at Bayern, rendering said tug-of-war completely devoid of purpose.
2. Sheringham at the centre of a tug-of-war - 16 May 2007 - The Daily Mail
Teddy Sheringham will be involved in a summer tug-of-war between Charlton and Millwall - if he doesn’t join the rush to riches in the United States.
Perhaps we should reconfirm that the maximum number of teams in a tug-of-war should be two. Teddy Sheringham transferred to Colchester during this summer window, which raises the question of who Colchester were tugging.
3. Fresh twist in Beckham tug-of-war - 14 February 2009 - BBC
The seemingly interminable struggle for David Beckham between AC Milan and LA Galaxy. This deal actually had many of the hallmarks of a tug-of-war, given both sides had dug their heels in, and both had a chance of succeeding - AC Milan because Beckham said he wanted to go, and LA Galaxy because of that legally-binding contract Beckham signed. The player managed to win.
4. Riise tug-of-war - Summer 2001 - The Daily Mail
Fulham are resigned to a second summer snub from a top target as Norwegian John Arne Riise changes tracks for Liverpool.
Last week, Riise’s mother and agent Berit said she was ‘100 per cent certain’ he would join promoted Fulham to team up again with Jean Tigana - the manager who gave him his big chance at Monaco.
But Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry confirmed a meeting today between the club and 20-year-old Riise and said: ‘We have been given permission to talk to him.’
Not exactly what one might term a tug-of-war. Fulham did the deal, and then Liverpool called, and the deal was off. Minimal tugging required.
5. Tug of war over Waddle - 14 March 1997 - Independent
Chris Waddle walked out of Bradford City with the intention of joining Nottingham Forest yesterday - and straight into a row between the two clubs.
The veteran winger hopes to sign for Forest today as a player in time to make his debut against Liverpool tomorrow, but Bradford are seething about the approach.
Waddle mistakenly thought he had an escape clause in his contract, but Bradford are demanding a fee for him - or the striker Jason Lee - as compensation.
The angry First Division club are also considering reporting Forest to the Premier League for an illegal approach to Waddle, who is under contract for the rest of the season.
Three days later, Waddle was at Sunderland, presumably thrashing out the details while Bradford and Forest tugged furiously but futilely.
6. Monaco striker Jeremy Menez is tipped to be at the centre of a transfer tug-of-war between United and Liverpool - 21 October 2007 - Manchester United official site
Menez went to Roma in the summer of 2008 - which shows the risk of tipping participants in a tug-of-war. Surely the player has to be available before the tugging can start between two teams who don’t yet have the player but want him?
7. Carlos Tevez tug-of-war between Manchester United and Real Madrid - 13 November 2008 - Daily Telegraph
This sounds like a plausible tug-of-war, but Tevez has not gone anywhere and the ball is firmly in Manchester United’s court if they want to secure his services with a fresh contract. Real Madrid are just tugging aimlessly, and if this was the January deal that the Telegraph implies, it didn’t happen.
8. Beattie’s tug-of-war - 19 June 2007 - Daily Express
CELTIC star Craig Beattie is about to land in the middle of a transfer tug-of-war between English Championship rivals West Brom and Sheffield United.
And it was West Brom who won that particular battle, not that Beattie would count as a huge success, having been loaned out to three other clubs since his arrival. At least this story makes sense.
9. Norwich and Derby have joined Coventry and Crystal Palace in a four-way tug-of-war for Wolves striker Freddy Eastwood - 15 May 2008 - BBC
Four-way? There wouldn’t be enough rope. Plus, even if there were, and Freddy were in the middle, he’d be quartered medieval-style. Bad analogy - but at least Coventry were one of the four clubs linked to his signature.
10. And the Glazers, whom Ferguson lauds, face the ultimate test: a tug-of-war with Real over a true match-winner - 8 June 2008 - Daily Telegraph
If you were going to draw a football dictionary, Cristiano Ronaldo, Real and United would be the entry for tug-of-war. As they would for ’saga’, most likely. The story makes the Beckham case (3) three seem like a flash of light instantly resolved, despite statements of finality, ever-increasing sums of money and a desperate desire to read something else. And with elections looming over Real Madrid, you can rest assured that you’ll be reading more tug-of-war stories throughout those long summer days…
— — — -
Tug-of-war - in football speak, it seems to mean that more than one club (but evidently not limited to two) are fighting for a certain player. It can involve a current club or prospective club, or two prospective clubs, and it can be as mismatched or one-way as you like. The term is occasionally apt but often just a bit lazy. And on several occasions the ultimate outcome features a non-participant of the tug-of-war. Reader beware…
