Champions League
Where will it all end?
Despite some scintillating football, two English teams in the Champions League Final and the closest run-in to a league title in 40 years, many English football puritans have been left with a bad taste in their mouths this season.
On the surface, the Premier League has never been more bullish, never so possessed of skillful footballers. Where once, players such as Torres, Ronaldo, Gerrard, Drogba et al would be compelled to move to Italy (or, latterly, Spain) to compete at the highest level, now the general preference is England. A dozen years ago the Premier League could only hope to attract top players in the twilight of their careers, but today, many of the world’s leading talents spend their best years in Blighty.
So great is the pull of the Premer League pound that even the inferior weather can’t keep them away. And because of its global attraction, English football has become seriously big business.
But what price, if any, are we paying for this cosmetic and commercial success? Is the Premier League at risk of becoming the plaything of a ‘scoreumvirate’ of business tycoons who might down tools and move on as abruptly as they entered the fray, leaving vast debt in their wake?
The sports pages have been dominated this season by the ‘business’ of football. Comment on the beautiful game has made way in part for boardroom battles that wouldn’t be out of place in the script of ‘Dynasty’.
In the ongoing saga on Merseyside, Tom Hicks and George Gillett continue in their clumsy attempts to wrest sole control of one of the crown jewels of English football, whilst concurrently claiming they are only interested in doing right by Liverpool FC . A more curious way of illustrating this good intent would be difficult to imagine.
Then there is the apparently imminent departure of Sven Goran-Eriksson from Manchester City. It’s hard to find a more poignant example of the way in which power has seemingly been taken out of the hands of supporters than to survey the scene at City. After years of relegation dogfights and demotions, Sven has finally brought (and admittedly bought) a sense of stability to a club which has finished the season in mid-table, with great promise of continued improvement. The City fans couldn’t be happier with the Swedish gent who has also delivered two victories against hated rivals United in one short season. But, ostensibly, this isn’t enough for City’s new owner and the odds are, Sven will be replaced forthwith.
And just last week Sir Alex Ferguson went as far as to suggest that certain nouveau club owners are now taking team selection out of managers’ hands. Whilst that certainly doesn’t happen at Old Trafford, United themselves have been the subject of a recent change of ownership. The ‘richest club in the world’ is currently way over half a billion pounds in debt due to the loans that funded the Glazer takeover – and despite United’s success, this debt is growing.
Last but not least, there is the contention that the massive influx of foreign players, brought about by this commercial boom, is harming the prospects of the England national team.
The Spanish and English leagues are the richest in the world but their national teams continue to underachieve to an almost laughable degree. Remember the one about the debutant goalie who dropped a clanger during a crucial England match? How could we forget.
But perhaps we are wrong to judge the book by the cover. Maybe all this new money will only cement the success of this regularly enthralling league. Maybe Mr Shinawatra sees something that I don’t and Scolari really is a far better manager than Eriksson – he has certainly provided the financial platform that has allowed City fans to dream again. Maybe Mr Hicks and co. just got off to a bad start and maybe the national team is simply having a ‘bit of a dip’. It’s not as if England were any good before the revolution so why blame the money and foreign imports?
There is no definitive evidence to suggest that this new investment is ruining the game because there is no obvious precedent. TV money has drenched major sports on a global level in the last ten or so years as viewers desire to see it grows ever greater.
And I suppose this is where we reach the heart of the issue. As long as football fans allow their wallets to be dominated by sport, big business will dominate the Premier League.
But the bottom line is that there has to be a point where fans are completely priced out of the market. A time when we collectively say ‘no more’. No more year on year ticket price rises, no more changed away strip with the Champions League stars on it for £80 (childs’ sizes). No more £50 a month to see televised games. No more £150k a week salaries to players who ‘don’t want to say’ where they will be playing next season. Because at the end of the day it is the fans who continue to fund these excesses and ,equally, the fans that collectively have the power to take it all away.
If these new club owners know anything about business, they should know the customer is always right. And I feel that if they continue to flout this rule they will find that, whilst football fans will go to great lengths to support their heroes, they are no mugs. The fans deserve the respect to at least be heard. So If the City fans want Eriksson then surely they should have him. If nothing else, I think our hard earned cash should buy a spot of democracy, don’t you?
Tags: Alex Ferguson, Avram Grant, Champions League, George Gillett, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Thaksin Shinawatra, Tom Hicks 
Related Articles
Discussion
One comment for “Where will it all end?”
Post a comment
Welcome to Footballing World
Categories
Sponsor
Every jackpot in casino games is like a goal in the Premier League. Enter the gambling world at 777.com, the leading gaming guide, where you can find all the best online casinos in the world, plus reviews, tutorials, articles and more.
I agree with the Liverpool situation and the fact that the League and clubs are drowning in cash while the average joe supporter doesn’t have enough to wet his kneecaps. However I think (with the Sven situation) we need to look at the source of all the ’sacking’ talk. Shinawatra has only mentioned ‘a review’ which all clubs, all companies do at least once a year. It was Svens agent who was quoted as saying Sven wouldn’t be there next season. Low and behold not a week later and Sven is in a hotel room with reps from Benfica.