OK so the Commish has stated that trade descriptions should now contain an expected value. I understand that and will comply if I ever put up another trade.

But for discussions sake - why the need to ban/discourage it?

What I dont understand is why its such an issue for some of the folk in the game?

If you dont like it when people dont put up an expected value then dont bid?

If I dont put a value and you dont like it - then honestly I really dont mind if you wont bid. I will still manage to wake myself in the morning and get on with my life. I wont be finding any difficulty in eating. My appetite will remain as hearty as it has always been? I wont be pining for the missed opportunities in life. I wont be searching for that certain something to fill the otherwise vacant place in my life. The void will go un-noticed.

So why the vociferous campaign to insist on values?

I like the exchange of mails as values are bartered. I like the idea of exchange of pleasantries and to and fro while a value is reached. If you dont know what the rough value is then have a look at the value guide? Or look at other trades made during the season as a more recent guide to current variations?



GMcD.

Its a fair point actually G McD, however no trade price wanted noted,
then normally means NO ONE BOTHERS TO BID!

And the result? The same 5/7 or 6/10 duffer is re-listed for trade week after week, clogging up trade list.

I think the younger SESL'ers have twigged to this fact.

I say 'fact' as I went thru every trade from last season, and there were a couple of dozen old players sold, yet a couple of hundred that clogged up trade list that were never going to sell.

Go ahead and list your unwanted players, but dont expect much "exchange of pleasantries and to and fro"

I think you'll find the 5/7 6/4 etc players will clog the lists anyway - I wouldnt normally buy them even if you gave them to me, unless I had some pressing need to fill a spot (emergency keeper backup notwithstanding). Extrapolating that to the causes of world hunger, the answer to world peace and the causes of global terrorism isnt really the point? They are an altogether different problem - you might find (and I'm prepared to be surprised) that even with their rock bottom prices at the moment very few will change hands - unless of course you (or your buddies) buy them all just to spite me.

The most they tend to do (from memory) is make up the "odd change" for much larger deals.

As for "the younger SESL'ers" twigging - you might find thats you substituting your own preferences onto everyone else. I didnt actually list many players last year (except the joke ones where I put a ludicrous value in parody of just this issue), the ones I did list seriously did get mail from people I'd never heard of before. I remember one nice mail from a quite nice chap called Calvin and this other chap with the same email address called Clyde - they claimed to be cats but I'm sure they were dogs, their email address had beagle in it. (Cant fool me). There were also (from my fast fading memory) exchanges with Doddery Dave, Oli, Peter, some guy called sparky, Mike, and a couple of others whose name escapes me... (I even have an unsolicited one from you with a deal for a 1/10). Not all for deals of mine, but then again I do sometimes look at the trade board prior to listing to see if I can swap my transfer-listed players first.

As for NOT GETTING ANY BIDS ( to use your curious emphasis) I assure you I got a few for deals last year and I put in bids on others with similar style listings. My levels of "exchange of pleasantries and to and fro" was quite, uhm, quite, uhm, pleasant and there was much to-ey and, indeed, fro-eyness going on.

Still, as for NOT GETTING ANY BIDS (to use your curious emphasis), I will repeat that my sleep patterns remain unmodified. My ability to wake in the morning refreshed and fancy free remains as before. My route to work is still the same up hill and down dale (though that did change for other reasons) and finally my anxiety levels have not really drifted from the mild state of panic and paranoia that it has always drifted around.

GMcD.

I agree with the bearded oke - and i have deals via email for my SW who i listed with no value. Supply and demand changes so much its hard to value a player so when you get 3 emails all within 5k of each other you have an idea of what the price is

Tend to agree with this, like a bit of to and fro and banter it is an important part of doing a deal.

Always give a low offer and then barter... its more fun that way.

ABSOBLOOMINGLUTELY MATE!

I tend to ignore players listed for trade as "offers invited".

If a manager cannot give a guide, then why should I bother to consider his unwanted player?

Trade just completed this minute prompted this forum post:

Monday March 3rd, 2008 - 10:33:13 GMT
HIB sends 1 TP to MOT for John MacAskill (6/14 DF)

Now I would have given MOT more than 1TP, but Dave never made clear where the bidding started, so Dave MOT losses out by trading for less than he could have got.

A clear message that preference may be to note a
'starting price' or "guide price" for trade list.

In my book you are the loser John. !
The player was a bystander on my team & I was happy with 1CP!
If you were considering a bid then you must have wanted the player,
He who hesitates is lost!
You know the saddest part of this is that I am wasting my time responding to this Half-assed Cock-a-Mamey Whinge!

On the other hand, my view is always if I really will take offers then thats what I'll put, if noone puts in an offer then thats fine by me.

If someone cant be bothered to .... blah blah blah.



For heavens sake people have different approaches to the game. This "My way or the highway" approach to the game saddens me. To balance things up I will now only bid on "offers invited"

As for the whole issue, I put up a mix of offers invited and actual price levels (when i was active trading) not so much these days so I tend to only trade when someone wants one of my players and has made an offer. The whole point of the system is to encourage people to actually interact......

Theres also the completely separate issue of people putting up their old duffers. If they dont get a bid then thats an entirely seperate issue and to lump the two together is a little naughty as a debating tactic. "I dont like apples and thats because these oranges are too orange!!!!!" (insert as many exclamation marks as you feel makes your point...)

GMcD.

Thinking about it this issue of people wanting the trade prices listed down to the last four decimal points and the guys who are happy with the laissez fair approach (big word for Easter Monday morning), is one of those issues where I imagine at some point in the future when MSWL takes over the world, there will be wars fought over it, brother against brother, family against family, beagles against cats.

Melodramatic maybe!? But thats how I view the whole issue, obstinacy versus pig-headedness. Its a non-issue, but for some reason people on both sides seem to think that the world will end if the other side doesnt immediately adopt their position and anyway the other side are all big poopy pants anyway.

I think I'll just continue to list when I have a player and put whatever I think and if noone bids I'll just cry myself to sleep at night (as usual)..

GMcD.

Makes sense to note what you expect (roughly) in return for your Trade List offering.

I like the 'offers over' system as saves time wasting low bids.

Yes, indeed. Couldnt agree less....

I've listed many a player with an expected value, no response.

Then tried the 'offers' route. Got offers and sometimes a deal ;-)

One player last season when inviting 'offers' had a response from 5 clubs who realised the potential of that player and submitted offers.

Brian Graham - FW 4/20 - I have requested 5CP for, 5SL for 20 SL? Surely not unreasonable, but then I'd accept less. He is after all sitting on the bench at best!

So suggesting prices when you know exactly or nearly what you want for a player, for me, has been counter-productive.
Brian is still playing for Morton and may make an excellent captain next season, or just just 'yelp' as his head hits the bin!

He's listed in the 'transfer list' so he is obviously available... but no one likes my price?

Can't do right for doing wrong sometimes I guess.