The Future of English Football

570 Views 25 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Drummer, Sep 2, 2008

JD

Discussion Starter · Sep 2, 2008

I really don't want to put a dampener on what is undoubtedly a great day, what with the signing of Berbatov and all, but I think the issue needs to be raised. I really am becoming quite fearful for the future of English football with all these takeovers and Billionaire owners. Not only am I fearful, frankly I am pissed off.

Here you get an Arab billionaire who takes over a club and says that the plan is to become the best team in the world. To this end, money is no object, there is simply no limit to how much can be spent to achieve the goal of becoming number 1. This is all pretty much what verbatim what the intentions of the Abu Dhabi United Group were said to be.

This has really gone to far. Football is threatening to be reduced from a sport to a rich men's hobby. History and tradition count for nothing anymore. Sulaiman Al Fahim obviously decided that he wanted to own a football club and luckily enough, Man City happened to be the first club that presented itself. Now City could go on to achieve lots of success and win trophies, all because they were lucky enough to be up for sale at that time. I know I'm getting ahead of myself but it is a possibility. I really have no issue with the fact that this is Man City, it could have been Hull City for all I care. The point is that the essence of what football is, is slowly being lost. How do smaller, less financially-assured clubs survive in the face of all this? The answer is that they can't. What will happen is that the gulf between the top clubs and the smaller clubs will widen and the spirit of competition and rivalry will be lost.

A club should spend money that has been earned through success, not through a takeover. It just demeans the whole concept of sport. The real competition will not be between the players but rather between the owners. I hate Platini and think that he is an utter **** but if he is thinking about doing something about this then he has my support.

I know this sounds all a but melodramatic and doom-mongerish but I really am becoming quite disillusioned with it all. Clubs should be clubs, not the playthings of the rich and powerful.

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PatrickBateman

· #2 · Sep 2, 2008

When you float a business on the stockmarket you open yourself up to being taken over like that. That's business in a capitalist society. GOOD STUFF.

numerodix

· #3 · Sep 2, 2008

PatrickBateman said:
When you float a business on the stockmarket you open yourself up to being taken over like that. That's business in a capitalist society. GOOD STUFF.

Does that mean you've made peace with the Glazerboys?

Quetzalcoatl

· #4 · Sep 2, 2008

Italian clubs have been doing it for years, Juve owned by FIAT, Milan owned by Berlusconi. Except in that league they not only outspent but cheated.

manc4ever

· #5 · Sep 2, 2008

tell you the truth Im really scared of what Al Fahim could do with citeh, ppl from this part of the world (especially billionaires) love to show off and blow money away in a ridicules way mostly cuz they didnt put much effort in earning it, i remember AL bluwi (saudi billionaire) seriously told barca that he was willing to pay the bills for signing C.ronaldo if they wanted him, its just ridicules i tell ya another 13 YEARS OLD prince just keeps giving a local club here a ton of money every now and then...

A club should spend money that has been earned through success, not through a takeover. It just demeans the whole concept of sport. The real competition will not be between the players but rather between the owners. I hate Platini and think that he is an utter **** but if he is thinking about doing something about this then he has my support.

couldn't have said it better myself.

JD

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 2, 2008

Quetzalcoatl said:
Italian clubs have been doing it for years, Juve owned by FIAT, Milan owned by Berlusconi. Except in that league they not only outspent but cheated.

Agreed, and I know the problems of Serie A all too well, that's why I'm fearful that the English game will degenerate just like the Italian game has.

PatrickBateman

· #7 · Sep 2, 2008

numerodix said:
Does that mean you've made peace with the Glazerboys?

I've never been pissed off at them for buying the club itself, just what they've done after buying it, ticket prices for example.

DougCoglan

· #8 · Sep 2, 2008

Oh I thought this was going to be about what hope is there when a club takes a player that's under contract elsewhere and puts them through a medical when they haven't even got permission to speak to them?

bono

· #9 · Sep 2, 2008

when you speak about "English football" you have to define it - what do you mean by it. Cause if you speak of EPL, then IMO the future is as bright as the Sun. Worlds riches will not disappear and obviously by now EPL and football in general; is one of the most desirable and mercantile product (or toy, whatever you prefer). ManCity is actually a great example. First some allegedly corrupt Thai billionaire invest some crazy money, then when his going gets tough, he sells it to even richer (who will never be alleged in corruption most likely

) guys. In EPL you have money (owners) from US, Russia, Thai, Arabs, you name it.

If you speak of Eng football as English players and the NT, then the story is probably a bit different. That is a much longer discussion though. If you just look at the last few great buys - Robnho (an attacking midfielder or support striker0, Berba (forward), Pavlyuchenko (another forward), etc. This is exactly what Eng NT is missing - great attackers and creative midfielders (with all due respect to Stevie G and Lapms).

PS AC Milan has never cheated to win any of its silverware.

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Pretty Boy

· #10 · Sep 2, 2008

DougCoglan said:
Oh I thought this was going to be about what hope is there when a club takes a player that's under contract elsewhere and puts them through a medical when they haven't even got permission to speak to them?

Take that bitterness outta here

bono

· #11 · Sep 2, 2008

DougCoglan said:
Oh I thought this was going to be about what hope is there when a club takes a player that's under contract elsewhere and puts them through a medical when they haven't even got permission to speak to them?

now swear in all things holy to you, Wenger has never ever done or attepmted to do that!

manc4ever

· #12 · Sep 2, 2008

DougCoglan said:
Oh I thought this was going to be about what hope is there when a club takes a player that's under contract elsewhere and puts them through a medical when they haven't even got permission to speak to them?

why dont you go back to youre forum and continue moaning about the Silvestre deal.

Newton Gold

· #13 · Sep 2, 2008

PatrickBateman said:
I've never been pissed off at them for buying the club itself, just what they've done after buying it, ticket prices for example.

Are you for real or do you just feel like a good wum this week?

DougCoglan

· #14 · Sep 2, 2008

I didn't moan about the Silvestre deal, I was happy that it probably meant the shipping of Hoyte and then Senderos.

Bitterness? Well I'm annoyed at how yet again your vile behaviour will be swept under the carpet by the media, sure.

DougCoglan

· #15 · Sep 2, 2008

bono said:
now swear in all things holy to you, Wenger has never ever done or attepmted to do that!

Arsenal never speak to the player until they have permission to by the club or the laws of the game.

This is typical United fan logic. Oh everybody else does it so it's okay - even if as in this instance not everybody else does it.

It's a flagrant abuse of the rules and as usual you aren't ashamed at all. Glory hunting tw*ts.

bono

· #16 · Sep 2, 2008 (Edited)

DougCoglan said:
Arsenal never speak to the player until they have permission to by the club or the laws of the game.

This is typical United fan logic. Oh everybody else does it so it's okay - even if as in this instance not everybody else does it.

It's a flagrant abuse of the rules and as usual you aren't ashamed at all. Glory hunting tw*ts.

for the record - i aint ManU fan to begin with.

I don’t buy what you have just said. There is no way Wenger follows all the rules by the book when signing players and dealing with other clubs in every single instance.

Plus, all i can answer you then is - show me the evidence. There is no evidence, and most importantly, no decision finding United guilty of breaking the rules. Now, if you based your statement on what you have read in the papers, then I am sorry but you are talking to the wrong person.

Finally - I blame it all on Spurs. The guy said he wants to leave ages ago. The guy gave them 2 great years, it was time to go. And how do they pay it all back? Spurs broke his 1st dream - he could have played, scored and won the Euro Super Cup for his new team had they reacted faster, with morals.

DougCoglan

· #17 · Sep 2, 2008

Oh you are going on your own gut instincts about the way we conduct our transfers? Oh well that's good enough for me.

bono

· #18 · Sep 2, 2008

DougCoglan said:
Oh you are going on your own gut instincts about the way we conduct our transfers? Oh well that's good enough for me.

Ohh you are going on your gut instincts the way ManU conduct their transfers? Oh well that's good enough for me.

repLica

· #19 · Sep 2, 2008

bono said:
Ohh you are going on your gut instincts the way ManU conduct their transfers? Oh well that's good enough for me.

What are you? A monkey copying?

bono

· #20 · Sep 2, 2008

repLica said:
What are you? A monkey copying?

show me the facts

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