Written by Lance Armstrong of USA Postal Services
  
  Hey there OCM, welcome to another episode of the most financial show of the game; Transfer Market Analysis. Our show is known for not being like those boring Wall Street interviews or Bloomberg, we merge the world of businessmen and humor in a perfect balance, without including the drama of a crash in the market, leading to people discovering their unknown abilities to fly from a high building (suicide). Today we will meet some of the transfers that didn’t make the cut last program, and the newest transfers in our (violent, heartless and post-apocalyptic) market. Here some smart words from my master, whom wrote Economy for Dummies, Jintseng; to kick off the review, ‘’Close your eyes, breathe and offer more than the other guy,’’ definitely wise words from Jintseng.
  
  *Cobbler or Hiller?
  
  You know Belgians are worldwide famous in Cycling for their cobbled roads and steep hills. Johnny Galagan had an amazing future but that’s part of the past (2020). After betraying his manager’s trust, he was available in the market for just 120k, and what a better place to launch his career again like Apollo 12 than Team Belfius? Of course, he won’t be the star of this homeland squad, but he will be at home again after his failed attempt in Italy.
  
  A decent helper for the hill captain of the team, young and a good price. From a team that normally doesn’t engage into auctions, a nice move.
  
  *Out of the grave and ready to play?
  
  After a small break, PegasusFlights is back to the OCMHood. And it’s looking fresh cash to invest in a new cycling project, so that meant some of the (out of shape) riders were available. Ignace Van de Goor, an all-rounder guy with preference for certain tours, and climbing races. Vagabundos, led by Didi; agreed a private deal for this rider with low RS (Race Shape) and 26 years old, and will pay 550k for him…
  
  ‘’Houston, we have a (serious) problem…’’ is a classical phrase in space movies based on true facts. Ok, he had a good season 51, but this transfer is out of market and I will detail some aspects. First, he has a good age and still can perform well, BUT missing a whole season affected his Experience Level, low for a rider of his age and profile. Second, Ignace can be a good support for a top climber-tour captain, but not a captain himself. Why? What we looked in a captain is maxing high his main skills and have nice stats, with his Climbing skill at 84 and others really low, this guy can’t be called a top tour captain, neither a top climber for classics. He can perform well as team mate or captain in low-mid division races, and all-round races due to his speed and flat road skills. To close the case, to every new climbing team joining the game looking a captain profile to invest/train/buy, don’t try this kind of move at home.
  
  *Have you heard about the Dropbear?
  
  Aussies are familiar with the myth of the Dropbear. A fancy creature with sharp teeth, looking alike a Koala, who strikes tourists while defending his brown branch. This guy might not be a Dropbear but has an interesting profile. Stefan Cox is just 20 years old and his name sounds like the next superstar, is chic you must admit it, property of Romanian team Fighting; the manager is licking his lips with him, he is a good source of fresh cash to reach the land of Good Sells. Team Jayco sold recently Tuncay Tayfan and still building an all-aussie team, with the fresh money offered 401k and hired the new down under promise.
  
  If Lachlan is lucky, he will have the replacement of Tuncay. Of course, he will need to invest some important money to find out, taking this transfer-training up to 630-650k; a great price for a hill sprinter. His youth and starting stats are perfect, so all what he needs is luck.
  
  Stats:
  CL: None (26)
  DH: None (25)
  HL: None (27)
  SP: None (41)
  FR: None (33)
  CB: None (27)
  TT: None (27)
  TQ: None (32)
  
  Potential:
  CL: Small
  DH: None
  HL: Average
  SP: Incredible
  FR: Average
  CB: Small
  TT: None
  TQ: Average
  
  Stats

and potentials.
  
  *Gimme a second chance…
  
  He just turned 25 a couple weeks ago, but this guy is asking for a second chance. Boris Bitao belongs to new Israelite team Sweelinck Schumann and from the inexperience and lack of funds, they think the best way for Boris is to go out of the team and find his lucky star. Sicco offered 70k in a private deal for this nice talent but Latvian powerhouse AGCap stood in the middle and said, ‘’I disagree, I’ll pay more, now give me that (referring to Boris, aka piece of meat),’’ and offered 120k. Then more curious people joined the party (of course I did, just to see the final price); at the end Canadian Nippon decided to destabilize his (money) balance and won the final auction with 145k.
  
  This rider had trained some points in sprint, but honestly the best choice for him is to become a hill sprinter. 220+ HLSP, despite the insane 220+DH. That will require a real miracle to be true (and lots of money). I hope his new manager can consider it. Honestly, he joined the wrong team and I really appreciate Robert, but with several untrained and unfinished guys, around 24 years old, is not the best place for Boris, who will be 26 the next season. Another point to consider is the fact that the team will invest funds from sponsors and the remaining will not cover a single skill. Anyways, good luck Boris I from Israel.
  
  Stats:
  CL: None(28)
  DH: None (33)
  HL: None (32)
  SP: None(49)
  FR: None (34)
  CB: None (25)
  TT: None (25)
  TQ: None (29)
  
  Potentials:
  CL: Small
  DH: Very good
  HL: Good
  SP: Incredible
  FR: Average
  CB: None
  TT: Average
  TQ: None
  
  Stats and potential, isn’t he cute and old?
  
  *A perfect wish
  
  Normally I don’t sell riders in the forum, but since I had to complete a transfer, I really need money. I wasn’t thinking to include myself here as seller of buyer but Need is mother of inventions. You guys know eastern managers don’t like delays (Nooky Lair) and my bank refused to approve another loan. I had two choices, dropping another rider to HL (Hire List) and crossing fingers that Rustgold or Llotyhy wouldn’t find out, or selling in the forum. However I didn’t want to sell any of the remaining talents so I had only one rider available. Denis Hama wasn’t a top talent, but you never know when you can have a lucky star; between his hiring cost (37,8k, 5k scouting and training 8,1k) and training, the starting bid at 40k was nice. 91k from Castelli was enough to sell and have a (decent) surplus. A good gain of 41k for a rider of his profile.
  
  He can be a decent lead out if he maxes high, so good luck my African friend.
  
  Potential:
  CL: Average
  DH: None
  HL: Small
  SP: Very good
  FR: Small
  CB: None
  TT: Average
  TQ: None
  
  His potential.
  
  *God save him
  
  Here we have another (better) talent. Lloyd Horan a born climber from an ex-Viking land, quitted Fighting to find better lands to raid. 200+CL potential and decent average and flat road, and as most British he’s guilty of his new attitude. Horan will join Cycling Cows, the team with the best milk of south Zealand, offering 140k; half price will be sponsored by the most beautiful cows of south Zealand in the Highlands (Netherlands).
  
  Well, to be honest, the definition of tour rider and a climber is very, very, very, so, so, so thin. But, we can say with certainty that Horan can be a climber, or not. Training and money will tell.
  
  Stats:
  CL: None (43)
  DH: None (25)
  HL: None (26)
  SP: None (27)
  FR: None (26)
  CB: None (25)
  TT: None (26)
  TQ: None (33)
  
  Potential:
  CL: Very good
  DH: Good
  HL: Small
  SP: Average
  FR: Average
  CB:

None
  TT: None
  TQ: Average
  
  *The 40ish trainee?
  
  There are different managers in the game, but one thing Thomas Anderson from Matrix team and me we have in common is we love to train our riders. Wannes Hermans is a climber talent from pollyjean. And believe it or not, he will join his new french team for just 42k, and some people say sponsors made the market worse, you just need to be smart and quick.
  
  Another low cost project, will Thomas found another rider to support his climbing squad? Either if he does or not, he cost almost nothing. Good job, Mr. Anderson (not words from Agent Smith).
  
  Potential:
  CL: Very good
  DH: Average
  HL: None
  SP: Small
  FR: Average
  CB: None
  TT: Small
  TQ: Average
  
  *All flat, please
  
  I’m a fan of pure sprinters with a little ability to climb small hills. The rider I will introduce you now is an (almost perfect) example of it, but he has no hill :’( Lewis Thomas from the mythical land of Mull Under the World, AUS, is the newest victim of the horrible labor conditions of Australian Warlord and his infamous manager Rustgold, the aussie brother of Manager Armstrong from USA Postal Services, specialized in the kidney industry. Thomas has a 200+ SP potential and an offer of partial training, the auction had the perfect trap. Team Jayco put 152k on the table and no training.
  
  A great rider for pure sprints with many turns, you know the downtown corners are sharp and nice for them. A safe bet, since he has no other big skill in the potential soup, like the old man says in Bavaria, Aloha… or was Kenya?
  
  CL: (25)
  DH: (26)
  HL: (28)
  SP: (43)
  FR: (27)
  CB: (25)
  TT: (25)
  TQ: (30)
  
  Potential:
  CL: None
  DH: None
  HL: None
  SP: Very good
  FR: Very good
  CB: None
  TT: Average
  TQ: None
  
  Stats and potentials.
  
  *Live the (Canadian) dream (Mutant Rider)
  
  I like a song with that title, and here we have a peak show of the (Canadian) dream; plus this is a double section, merging Live the dream and Mutant Rider. Beautiful forests, with some nice and polite people with saws, cutting down the trees, or large areas with fancy machines draining the black gold, so thank you Justin *thumbs up*. Iver Springstead is the first mutant I scan from Canada, 230+HLSP and great starting stats; and of course if a mutant shows up, he will attract more dangerous people than Magneto, OCM Top Division Managers. Rumors said that hunting guns (money) are really advanced, to catch the next top mutant and find the supreme heir of the First Mutant (Kenny Haakon). Ludolfina Lublin is not one of those elite hunters and got him down for just a modest bid of 440k.
  
  Young and beautiful guy, his voice is like… oh, this is not the rider profile, sorry. Speaking of Springstead, he has a great talent to become another successful rider in OCM, one of many. Perfect age to train and starting skills in the right number, he will need a smart training program and luck to reach his full potential. To hire him the Polish team will sell one of its captains to afford the transfer, not the training, and then, crossing fingers of course.
  
  Stats:
  CL: None (25)
  DH: None (25)
  HL: None (32)
  SP: None (43)
  FR: None (33)
  CB: None (26)
  TT: None (28)
  TQ: None (27)
  Potential:
  CL: Average
  DH: None
  HL: Good
  SP: Incredible
  FR: Good
  CB: Average
  TT: Small
  TQ: Small
  
  Stats and potential.
  
  With Iver, who invited me a beer, we will end this edition of Transfer Market Analysis. Another great analysis with several surprises around and nice kickboxing lessons from our Economy teacher, Jintseng. And one thing my friends, the auction is not over until the fat lady sings ;)