Apart from middle-management the world over whooping with glee at the increase in power this gives them over their more vulnerable employees, I expected another reaction to this. Namely, I expected a bit of common sense to prevail across the board in large industry.
Not so top level football it seems. Real Madrid and Manchester City have made this year’s transfer market look like a drug-crazed lottery winner in Vegas. Has anybody taken the time to look at Newcastle United recently? Dear Lord there is a warning there.
Manchester United the ‘business’ is not something I am a huge fan of. In fact, it is up there with tinea, air quotes and the phrase ‘knowhatamean’. I have not bought a match day program since the Glazer takeover, nor do I intend to.
Gill, on the other hand, I hold a begrudging respect for. He emerges favourably with comparisons to Peter Kenyon and Martin Edwards, although it must be noted Edwards was at least a true fan.
United’s movement so far in the transfer window has been described as frugal. If we had spent £17million pounds on a Wigan player five years ago people would have suspected the manager of eating those special mushrooms you get in Amsterdam before checking the documents. Nowadays it is called frugal. Deary me, reality checks all round.
Despite the losses of Ronaldo and Tevez United must still have the strongest youth set up in world football. And it is making money too. Ronaldo represents £67.5million profit on a six-year investement which has seen us win every major trophy going. I’ll take that. In addition to this, we have made money on the sales of Frazier Campbell and Phil Bardsley among others. The future of the club looks fairly sound.
The pursuit of glory is of course important, but I still want to turn up on a Saturday and watch a team, not a shadow of former glories headed for the fires of oblivion. That is what the Geordies have to look forward to this season.
We may not win the league this coming year, no team has ever won four in a row and I have my doubts. But the club will still be here tomorrow. As I walk around the supermarket looking for the discount margarine I realise I will not be buying that Ferrari this year, or trampling through Vegas with a suitcase full of lottery cash either. But I’ll still be here tomorrow too.
A bit of credit for common sense please. Football is escapism yes, but how far can you escape from reality without it coming crashing back down on top of you? Good luck City.
Follow Mark www.thedevilinme.co.uk
Photography from:captainsticky at Flickr
Posted by mann on 07/14/2009
Yes.. its getting out of hand. In fact it has for a long time. Check out soccernet's article (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=657433&sec=europe&&cc=4716) very nice read. I quote "Of course there will always be some with more money than others, but it should at least be legitimately earned - the profits of success, rather than the cost of failure" - this is very true.
p/s: Marky I think you need to reduce your margarine intake. Check out the net for the difference between margarine and planta.
stay healthy, stay red.. cheers everyone.
counting the days i'll see my beloved reds this week. on friday for the training session & saturday for the game. Can't wait!
 |
Posted by John Rooney on 07/14/2009
This years transfer saga has all gone a bit Football Manager - even making Roman Abramavich's initial spending at Chelsea seem paultry.
There are lessons to be learnt in Newcastle as well of course Leeds, but Man City and Real have a different sort of security. Spending huge sums of money on new signings in one summer would be a massive gamble, but Real are funded by the state, while City's owners have an amount of money which will not run out. The only issue they'd have is if they sell - which they will never NEED to do.
These are crazy times indeed.
|
Posted by ken pluskota on 07/15/2009
Is Owen Hargeaves still injured? Did not play at all last season?
|
Posted by The Mc on 07/15/2009
Great post, Mark... I always enjoy your blog.
|
Posted by Eddie G. on 07/17/2009
The quote provided by mann cannot be further from the truth. A lot of those who hated United accuse us of being just as guilty of "buying" our success. But I beg to differ.
Yes we do buy talented players, but Sir Alex and his management team have also put in their blood, sweat and tears to hone these talents further, blending these talents to form a formidable team rather than a collection of talented individuals.
Did anyone hear of Nemanja Vidic or Cristiano Ronaldo before they came to United? And which manager single-handedly transformed Wayne Rooney from a yob into one of the club's most self-controlled player? All these just go to prove that true greatness cannot be bought.
And this is why, I am sad to say, that I hold no respect for a club like Real Madrid. Or Man City
|
Posted by VeryRed on 07/20/2009
Hope Real MoneyBags Madrid buy Xabi Alonso, that way Liverpool get weaker and Lassana Diarra becomes available. Would love to see him sitting in front of Vida and Rio... in a red shirt!
Posted by CHRISTIAN on 07/25/2009
IS THAT TRUE THAT MICHAEL OWEN IS GOING BACK TO THE LIVERPOOL... HE DOESNT PLAY GOOD ENYMORE THOUGH
Posted by chris on 08/13/2009
Fergie hasn't sign enough players yet they need 1 more goalkeeper and a striker like the schalke keeper because Edwin is out for a while, sell Ben Foster to Bolton or Hull on a 1 year loan, also sign Aguero he's amazing or David Villa.
| |
Post your comment |
|
|
Mark Payne writes about football for a variety of media outlets. He reported on the 2010 World Cup for Australia’s ABC network and worked at one of the FIFA fan sites. He has been ESPN’s Manchester United correspondent for four years. His writing attracts a worldwide following and in 2011 this blog was nominated for an award. To contact Mark for football discussion e-mail him on markpayne.editor@hotmail.com at any time. He wears lucky socks on match days.
RSS feed