If you have anything to say on any subject, mail us at theeditor@football365.com
Is This The End Of Football As A Sport?
Truly feel a little disenchanted this morning. The money and resulting mercenaries in world football have changed the game beyond recognition. A day yesterday where sulking multi-millionaires and investment groups rule the headlines. This is not the football that I grew up with and have loved for 25 years, this is back-stabbing, soap-opera, ego-driven filth. I for one will take very little notice of the pathetic, egotistical, deceitful downright, dare I say, evil 'men' running and diving around perfectly preened bowls lawns in the 'World's Bestest League In Any Sport Ever Ever Ever'.
In this world of 'credit-crunch', Zimbabwe, global warming, etc. this kind of 'sport' leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, perhaps a time for self reflection and perspective?
Anon
Perhaps
I hope this means that everyone treats Man City with the same contempt as they treat Chelsea.
Peter Anderson
Perhaps
Do I now support a massive club?
Mark Meadowcroft - MCFC
Perhaps
Anyone else think that SWP is just bemused/suffering from déjà vu?
Dominic Wilson
It'll All End In Tears
Into the nice cosy bubble that is English football a huge cylinder of oil-powered air has just been inserted.
Will Dr Al-Fahim out-Abramovich Abramovich? I like the fact that he puts his money where his mouth is after that ridiculous claim that a top-4 finish is the target. Of all the players you could sign to turn a hilarious joke like that into a possibility, Robinho has gotta be one of the better options. (The best option would of course be Ronaldo but Robinho's not far off)
So where does it leave the rest of us? A real battle for the top 4 places, the prospect of the best Premiership season ever, more of the world's superstars gracing our stadiums on saturday afternoons - and this lot even have an English manager!
But a second ultra-rich club means player power will escalate and wages will bankrupt many smaller clubs. With another club prepared to pay silly money, from now on everyone will have to shell out £100k+ a week for their half-decent players or the sulky transfer requests will start piling up. Not just Liverpool and Arsenal but even United will start to drop out as the uber-billionaires corner the whole league.
So I'll wait for the fateful day when the the bubble bursts and the sums stop adding up, the investors go back into oil and fine art, and we pick apart the ruined carcass of the Premier League.
Jon
Steady On Now
Yesterday was an epiphany in my life as a Football supporter.
Football used to be "the great escape", "the beautiful game" etc etc. Yesterday I finally saw what I think some people have not yet come to terms with. I was listening to BBC news and heard some quotes from the prospective new owners of Man City, much of it was corporate PR but when I heard the words "break the top 4" . I realized these are just another load of chancers in it for nothing but the money. Pete Gill talked about the importance of champion's league football outweighing everything at Liverpool on Podball 365, this is the same again. Another worrying sign was the plethora of City fans on S.S.N. singing about Robinho, do Man City fans not know what in Investment Company is? This is the end of their club as they know it, Roninho only wanted to sign for Chelsea 24 hours ago suddenly show him €6M a year after tax and I could almost hear the "I have dreamed since I was a small child of playing at Eastlands" ;) we all know where that is going.
For me Man City fans were a bastion of a bye gone age, I had a lot of respect for them and the huge numbers who used to turn up and watch them in the second division when they were going through there troubles. I realized we are about to see the birth of a new breed of plastic fan.
Paul (off to by a season ticket at Billericay Town) Davies
A Few Questions About Citeh
Well chuff me, I didn't see THAT coming...
I wrote in about 14 hours ago (oh, how young we all were....) wondering how legit/strange/great all the Abu Dhabi stuff was going to be for City. Now, with Robinho in the bank, Chelsea's noses seriously out of joint, visible sounds of quivering emanating from Liverpool and North London and with United finally managing to spunk daft money on by far the wrong player I think we have our answer - pretty bloody strange/good/weird indeed. (And yes, I'm well aware that I'm a one to talk about spunking huge cash on the wrong player but, again, remember that us Blues are new at this game, give us time)
So the Abu Dhabi group is wadded. Massively wadded and they are not afraid of saying so. The landscape of the Premier League has changed overnight and this raises a couple of points:
- Why did no-one see this coming AT ALL? Why have we been so peppered all summer with transfer stories and tales of Thaksin-woe, yet actually someone, somewhere, be it Thaksin, Garry Cook or both Siegfried and Roy combined has pulled off an astounding deal for City? And, seriously, ARE THEY legit?
- What does this mean for Sky etc? I nearly made this point pre-season when all the Ronaldinho nonsense was on the go. Had we signed Ronnie and, indeed, now that we have signed Robbie (?) surely it means that they have a new man to slot into all those nicely balanced idents? You know the ones - with a shot of one each of the big four racing along in front of some fireworks or other before any big game or show on SSN. Just one of the many ways in which the notion of a 'big four' has been casually and carefully created and passed off as the hegemony. We have been so ingrained with the idea of the big four, sold and delivered on each grand slam sunday to Asia, Africa, the world. But now Sky will almost certainly have to backtrack somewhere along the line (until it all goes to tits at City, anyway) and announce that there is now a 'Fab Five' or somesuch. In doing so they will effectively be admitting that their whole idea is a fabrication based on money and marketability and Joe Mercer, for one, will be shedding a tear somewhere. I'd be crying too, if I wasn't laughing so much at it all. With Robinho.
- How does Mark Hughes feel now? It was a good deal to manage City, then suddenly bad. Then after losing to Villa it was VERY bad indeed. Since then he's pulled an absolute rabbit out of the hat with Kompany and things have gone from bad, to great, to absolutely mental. Now he is playing fantasy football at the sharp end of a trigger finger that no-one knows a thing about yet. Good luck, mate.
- Where in the heck is Robinho going to play? Up top with Jo in a two? Just behind, with Petrov and SWP? In the middle with Elano? On the bench whilst Stephen Ireland and Darius Vassell start (hello Psycho!)? Or do I even care?
Its been a very odd few hours. It doesn't seem that long ago that football was getting quietly interesting for City fans. Suddenly it is very raucously, deafeningly interesting and I can't wait to see how it pans out. As I said before, the Chelsea game in a week or two just got VERY tasty... I don't like the idea of buying success any more than the next man but at least now there's more than one team at it, so nothing is guaranteed any more. It probably isn't healthy for the game, but I'm not sure ANYONE outside of a couple of clubs will be complaining right now.
Oh and, as a man who stood on the terrace at York City in the old Second Division as we lost to go 11th in the table and hit rock bottom, I think I speak for most Blues when I say that this feels, just for now at least, like a little bit of something we've earned. At least for now...
Chris (chris [Hi to Dan (MCFC) Toomey, the normal City correspondent on these pages, who I went to school with] sandford) Sandford
Bit Of A Ramble, But We Liked It Anyway
A recent phenomena, both inexplicably weird yet simultaneously somehow indicative of our times is of course the joyous sight of a sky sports reporter outside a premier league stadium delivering his "piece to camera" surrounded by a throng of jibbering incoherent chimps who at the appropriate moment deliver their raucous proletarian approval/disapproval of unfolding club specific events. This of course allows us all to sleep safely in the knowledge that football remains the preserve of the working man. Hurrah!
Rarely can I have been so comforted by an example of this than by the scenes outside Eastlands following Manchester City's signature of a Brazilian footballer named Robinho in the early hours of this morning. Can there ever have been a greater cause for the gentlemen of Moss Side to stand in the pouring rain for hours gurning over the shoulder of a regional minion of the national public service broadcaster, Sky Sports, than this? I doubt it.
Their club had after all aquired a player who could in no way be described as an "overrrated showpony" or a "32.5 million pound mercenary". Robinho will doubtless soon refute the baseless allegations that he knew nothing of whom he had signed, merely the 6 million euros he would receive for each year of his stay at his beloved new club. There is additionally no need to add that the deal was not done over the bemused new manager's head by long standing custodians of this proud club. Owners whose only avowed interest is the long term good of Manchester City and it's long suffering supporters, and certainly not in pursuing that most noble of aspirations, ie; to become the "new Chelsea", and/or provide a family plaything for the oil drenched royalty of a non democratic middle eastern principality.
Because that after all would be intolerably crass, more than slightly tragic, totally disenfranchising, and worthy of more than a few tears (for the benefit of the cameras of course).
Andy - Citeh since '74
A Mail Entitled 'Amazing What Failure Can Get You
Amazing what failure can get you. Manchester City, mismanaged both on the pitch and off the pitch since Noel Gallagher was a thief, wake up to find themselves one of the richest clubs on earth. A bit like Chelsea a few years back, whose mid-table mediocrity and 90 + million debts got erased simply because they're previous ineptitude made them a fun, viable purchase for a certain Russian Zillionaire who fancied playing Championship Manager for real. Is this the new formula for success? Fail and a sugar daddy will sort you out. It's certainly a better approach than being successful on and off the pitch, like United or Arsenal, whose genuinely entertaining football and off-field profitability has simply given their new owners something substantial against which to off-set their ghastly, cumbersome debts.
Ah, the beautiful game.
Richard. London
We Couldn't Possibly Comment On Any Of These
I heard 2 brilliant rumours this morning. First is that the City Berbatov, Gomez and Villa bids were smokescreens for the Robinho bid in the hope that by the time City's bid was revealed it would be too late for any other team to come in for the player. If true it looks like there are some very clever people at the club as it worked perfectly!
Second one is that part of the Corluka deal was that he signed for Spurs 3 weeks ago but would not move until Zabalaya returned from the Olympics. In return for this goodwill City would bid for Berbatov to 'bump up the price' and force United's hand. If true this looks like United have paid £6m more than they wanted to. Couple this with Hughes not knowing about the Berbatov bid and suddenly Ferguson's cloak and dagger operation on Berbatov looks a bit pointless!
Now I know that the second one sounds a bit like a 'never wanted him anyway' sour grapes but after yesterday nothing would surprise when City are involved anymore!
Gavin (today might not be boring after all!!) MCFC
What This Means For The Others In The Big Five
Blimey what a day. As 365 has correctly pointed out it looks as if the big four could soon be changing. With City's new Arab sugar daddy the map of football in England has been re-written yet again. The audacity of City's bid for Berbatov, and actually getting Robinho from under Kenyon's nose, left me with a big smile on my face this morning but I am not sure it's going to linger for very long. The purchase of City will have grave implications for all of the current big four:
Manchester United: The fact that City almost stole Berbatov (and have bought Robinho) will send shock waves through the red half of Manchester. City, always the Sid Little to United's Eddie Large (and yes I am aware that Eddie Large is a City fan) now have genuine financial muscle, more muscle than Chelsea in fact. United on the other hand have a huge debt to feed, a debt that could prove more difficult to manage should City start winning things.
Chelsea: Oh dear. There is a bigger kid in the playground. A kid with a larger conker that has been pickled in vinegar and baked in the airing cupboard. I fully expect Peter Kenyon to wend his way to Manchester City at the earliest opportunity. Chelsea can now be outspent by the team from Eastlands. That must hurt. Roman's roubles can no longer guarantee success and Manchester City, yes Manchester City, have just bought the player that Chelsea have been coveting all season.
Arsenal: How long can The Gunners carry on achieving without significant investment? Luckily, in Wenger they have one of the most astute managers in the world who is adept at discovering young talent and developing it. But how long can it last. If City achieve their new owner's aim to finish top four this year then one of the current big four is going to drop down a level; and let's face it it's Arsenal or Liverpool.
Liverpool: And so on to my beloved Reds. In my opinion Liverpool have the most to lose from City's new found wealth. Sure they are fourth of the top four and, therefore, the most vulnerable but in addition to this the club is in a mess. If City do crack the top four and Liverpool fail to qualify for the Champions League it could be the beginning of the end. The Champions League money has papered over the cracks for a long time and enabled the purchase of players like Mascherano and Torres, but with Hicks and Gillette credit crunched (no new stadium for the foreseeable future) the financial situation looks bleak. Add to that the buffoonery of Rick Parry (I mean how does this man remain in a job - he couldn't transfer himself out of a paper bag and is responsible in the main for the Hicks/Gillette debacle) and the fact that Rafael Benitez has to sell to buy and thinks could get very difficult at Anfield. Rumours abound on Merseyside that the new found love between Hicks and Gillette, coupled with the recent news about the stadium, points to the fact that they won't be in control of the club for much longer. With the Abu Dhabi version of DIC buying City isn't it only a matter of time before DIC follow suit and purchase another English club? If it's not Liverpool then this could leave the Reds even further behind. If DIC do come in, and surely this is more likely now its neighbour has brought its ball to the playground, then Benitez's position looks even more unstable as they are likely to want their own man in place. Personally, despite being joint top, I am in agony over Liverpool's recent performances and Rafa's refusal to explain some of the bizarre decisions against Villa gives him the air of a man who knows time is running out.
As for the other teams pushing for a Champions League place - Villa, Everton, Pompey, etc - the task just got a little bit harder. We do indeed live in interesting times as the Chinese proverb goes. And although I am sure that this edifice will all come crashing down at some point but it's going to be a wild and crazy ride.
Mark Nelson, Chester
A Few Words On Bridges
I remember once that a thick Yank with more money than sense bought Tower Bridge thinking it was London Bridge. History repeating itself?
Cut me here if you want but I have started matching clubs to bridges. Leeds must be the old London bridge with buildings on it that came crashing down. Liverpool has turned itself into the wobbly millennium foot bridge. Newcastle strangely is the tyne bridge with the Sydney harbour bridge, looking the same but always being bigger, better and in a much nicer position. (Utd and Arsenal can argue over who is the Sydney harbour bridge and who is the golden gate bridge). Everton is any old bridge where they can't decide whether to repair, replace or share a bridge just down the river. Chelsea isn't a bridge - its the channel tunnel, nobody wants it, cost billions, never will show a profit and will never invoke the feeling of seeing and then crossing the Clifton suspension bridge. (the Clifton suspension bridge is a transient club - the overachievers, the underdog, the little club going far in the cups etc.)
Julie ( I've had enough of bridges now)
Are United Above The Law?
As a Spurs fan, I am delighted to be finally rid of the sulkan from the Balkans, and for almost 200% clear profit also. £30.5m is a great return on a 28 year old and I'm sure we'll invest wisely in January once again.
However, my rant is based on how the hell Man Utd collected Berbatov from the airport, took him to Carrington, underwent a medical, and ended up signing a deal late last night without Spurs giving them permission to do so until very late in the day? I know that part of the deal was that Spurs would withdraw their complaint to the FA about Uniteds approach, but surely the "shits", sorry I meant "suits" at the EPL/FA have minds of their own and are keen to enforce regulations which have been set out under their bye-laws?
My simple scenario is this. Gary Glitter 'allegedly' had the permission of a young girls parent to spend time with her, but was still punished by the courts because it was against common law governing that country. In a different scenario, Spurs (the parent) are not permitted to make a complaint but surely the EPL can regulate the way you expect an organisation to?
Karl "Yes I am comparing Man Utd to Gary Glitter" Byrne, Dublin
...Can somebody please explain to me how what ManYoo did to get Berbatov isn't the most blatant example of tapping up ever, and as SkySports News (got the plug in...) provided the FA with all the proof they needed throughout the day, why do Spurs need to bring them a complaint? I think that the general footballing public should ask the FA to charge ManYoo - after a summer where ManYoo and Ol' Rednose spent pages and pages slagging off Madrid/Calderon for just talking about the little winker, they have the balls to take another team's player, spend all day with him at their training ground/stadium and force the sale by hook or by crook. Never saw Ronaldo handcuffed to a chair in the executive lounges at the Bernebeu. What would Utd have done had Levy said no? Kidnap Andy Garcia until January???
And well done incidentally to the Spurs board for being as spineless as their team and letting themselves be bullied into a sale. Regardless of the fact that the offer scraped over their asking price, they should have told Utd to sit and swivel just on a point of principle. And getting Campbell as a replacement...really???
It's a proud day for footballing morals
Rich (Trying to make it 2 in 2 mailboxes) Daniels, AFC
Confused
I can see it now.
Despising Citeh and growing to like Chelski 'cos of the Brazillian touch.
I hated Arsenal for centuries but admire them now for the way they play.
Who are the good guys these days and who are the baddies?
Peter Ferris
Surprised
On this day
After an entire summer that hinted to the contrary:
Real Madrid didn't 'get their man'; Citeh did buy world-class Brazilian; Gareth Barry was still playing his socks off for Villa; and, f**king hell, Louis Saha passed a medical.
In non-football related news:
Global warming turned out to be a mistake; the Kremlin apologised for the situation in South Ossetia, admitting it took a wrong turn at North Ossetia; and fears of a recession were alleviated as the nation woke to find that stashes of money had been hidden under their mattresses all along.
Steven Porter, Manchester
The Obligatory Unhappy Gooner
Having just watched the transfer window close with Arsene Wenger again refusing to spend the money he has to bring in new players to strengthen the squad and give the fans a desperately needed morale boost. Instead continuing to 'have faith' in sub-standard youths such as Denilson and showcase a level of unbridled stubbornness and arrogance which can only lead to spectacular failure, I feel it is only right to make a claim for this £30m Danny Fiszman was offering around- I'll consider it as payment for sitting through the Fulham match.
Tom Creasey
Joy
Really didn't see it coming!
Amazing for the club, amazing for us fans, amazing for the English game... Andriy Veronin to Hertha Berlin! I'm so happy!
Alex (tears of joy) Stokes
Collectors Items
Will there be a flood of Robinho Chelski shirts on eBay now.....?
Kevin Hinken
