There’s a simple instinct among supporters — compare players and try to place a value on them. To be fair, that’s natural. But the truth is comparisons only work when you compare like for like. Throw age, role and contract expectations into the mix and it gets messy quickly.

Spend and expectations

Saying you wouldn’t pay £15-£20m for Moore is perfectly reasonable. Regardless, fans will always benchmark players by price, and that can create unfair pressure. A fee implies immediate impact; a development loan implies growth. The two aren’t the same thing, so don’t expect the same output from a teenager on loan as you would from an established first-team striker.

Position, role and context matter

Curtis is a more natural comparison for Moore because of age and position. If you’re judging an attacking midfielder or winger, look at involvement in build-up, creativity and defensive work as much as raw goals. Chermiti, by contrast, is a first-choice striker. You can’t fairly demand the same return from a development winger as you do from a striker who leads the line every week.

Numbers don’t tell the whole story

Stats are useful, but they need context. As noted, Chermiti has 11 goals/assists and has scored in five matches. Moore’s listed as having 10 goals/assists and scoring in six. Those figures are interesting, but they don’t reveal minutes played, team role, or quality of chances. A loan youngster often plays with different instructions and less consistency. That alters what you should reasonably expect.

So yeah, call out bad comparisons when you see them. Don’t throw around transfer figures or mix up positions and then act surprised at the conclusions. Be fair — compare like for like, factor in age and role, and remember development players are being shaped, not just judged by headline numbers.

Written by Kaisercaillaud: 24 May 2026

Tags: transfers tactics