Saturday, June 23, 2007

So Who Wants to have a Foreign Billionaire?

Owning a Premiership club, these days, seems to be a must for the rich and notorious. The trend of foreign investors buying huge chunks of stock, in our top teams is almost becoming a fashion. But, who is out to benefit from these deals, the clubs or the owners?

Below is my analysis of the teams affected by the guys with all the bucks.

Chelsea – No need to say much about big Roman and Chelsea. An unending bank balance led to a spending frenzy when he first took over, destabilising the transfer market with vastly over inflated prices. Reports over the last year suggest a more business like approach will be taken from now on, to the possible frustration of Jose.
VERDICT – Unless Roman gets itchy feet – Chelsea will remain minted

Manchester United – The Glazer family entered the scene in 2005 to mass protest from United fans, even creating a revolt by season ticket holders and the creation of a fans alternative in FC United. The deal to buy Man U reportedly took the worlds richest club and ‘mortgaged’ it up to the hilt to finance the deal. At first the worry about tight purse strings seemed justified, but recent spending seems to suggest the owners realise money needs to be spent to compete at the top. There are rumours though, that the Glazers have only a short term business model for United and will be selling up in the near future.
VERDICT – Watch this space

Portsmouth – Although already owned by foreign money in the shape of Milan Mandaric, Alexandre Gaydamak stumped up the cash to take over Portsmouth in 2006. Maybe not quite up with ‘Roman’s of this world, but still worth a few bob. On the transfer market though, Portsmouth do have a shrewd investor in Harry Redknapp. We haven’t seen any massive signings, yet, but Harry does have a reputation to develop less expensive players into strong team players.
VERDICT – With Harry at the helm who knows – commitment of Owner, not yet known.

Aston Villa – Became the 2nd American buyer of a Premiership club, in 2006. Rumour and speculation abounded at the time of a massive warchest available to spend. Martin O’Neil was appointed manager, but the transfer window closed too soon for any real purchases. Since then, the expected gravy train must of got stuck in some other station up the line, no big signings (unless you consider Ashley Young a big signing) & nothing on the horizon.
VERDICT – Cost of owning a football club has obviously been under estimated by the Owner. I would be worried.

Liverpool – Next up for a buyout were Liverpool, earlier this year, by American businessman Gillett & Hicks. Again, a massive warchest seemed to be promised to push Liverpool’s chances of a sure title challenge. Rafa seemed to be convinced the money was going to be spent, I’m not sure the owners realise quite how much he meant! No signings as of yet and the pot is looking a lot smaller than expected.
VERDICT – Similar to Villa, early promises seem to be forgotten when it really comes down to it. I would be worried here too.

Arsenal – OK, you say, Arsenal aren’t in foreign ownership, yet. But, I include them because of the affect even the possibility, of foreign ownership can have on a club. In April this year American Stan Kroenke bought up shares to take his holding to just over 12%, sparking speculation of another foreign take over of an English club. Reports suggest that vice-chairman David Dein’s departure due to ‘irreconcilable differences’ with the board, was down to his backing of a rebuffed take over bid by Kroenke. Dein’s departure has without doubt unsettled the club from the top down, with the imminent transfer of club talisman Thierry Henry off to Barcelona & manager Arsene Wenger refusing to commit his services beyond next year.
VERDICT – Stormy times for Arsenal ahead unless they can stop others following Henry out the door and the club rotting from the inside.

West Ham – Eggert Magnusson led an Icelandic consortium to purchase the club in 2006. So far, West Ham do actually have financial backing that Magnusson promised. Whether they can attract the kind of players their budget allows them to bid for, is a different story. Multi-million pound offers for players & promises of big wages, ala Chelsea, have inflated the market somewhat – but with the Tevez/Mascherano still dragging on, they may need a successful season, or two, to prove their ambitions (Darren Bent may not be the last to turn the Hammers down).
VERDICT – Potential seems to be there for the kind of financial backing and commitment needed. In my opinion though, West Ham shouldn’t be a Premiership club next season.

Manchester City – Now this one is scary. Thaksin Shinawatra last week completed the take over of City. As former PM of Thailand, this guy come with baggage, including corruption allegations, dictatorship & treason, to name a few – all levelled at him from his own country. Exiled and with assets frozen, he has somehow managed to buy a Premiership club. Now, he may be the victim of a smear campaign by the military junta that deposed him, or it could be true – either way, the usual promises of cash have been promised, time will only tell whether this guy puts his money where his mouth is.
VERDICT – If I were a City fan, I would be terrified that after the club has sold a few shirts in Asia, that the club gets drawn into some of the owners financial/political turmoil.

And Finally,

Tottenham Hotspur – Well, we aren’t in foreign ownership – and I am sure I am not alone in being glad of that fact. From the days of near financial collapse under Irving Scholar, to the investment by Alan Sugar the club has been slowly making up ground.
In 2001, ENIC and Daniel Levy, bought the club and have accelerated our progress upwards. We now have a club not only doing better on the pitch, with a squad quietly admired by many a top club, but we are now posting profits. The management are scouting and buying both young British talent (which is the way to success in my book) and quality foreign players, none better than Dimitar Berbatov. Of course, all clubs buy a few duds along the way, but Spurs have been able to offload many of these for good money.
The result? An ever improving team, excellent sponsorship returns, healthy balance sheet and increasing share price.
VERDICT – Spurs seem to be proving, at the moment at least, prudent running of the club means that you don’t need to have a foreign billionaire, to have a stable, progressive and competitive Premiership team. Thankyou & well done Mr Levy.

What do you think??

COYS!!

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Calling Time On Cheats

Calling Time On Cheats

In reponse to the initiative taken by jester, I thought it was worth a shot to apply a bit of pressure to root this plaque out of our game.

Ronaldo, Zokora, Pires, Drogba.......the list is endless. How many times have we all seen the slow-mo and seen the premeditated actions of these players. These guys aren't the sort that have looked for a small touch to justify going down, these guys have all planned to go down whatever. There can be no doubt that this kind of play degrades these incredibly skillful players to a level of person most of us depise, stained in our memories.

The reason for my disgust isn't just for the players though. My disgust has an equal portion attributed to the footballing authorities themselves. No not necessarily refs and linesman, they don't at this time have the slow-mo replays we can sit, watch and judge. My gripe is with the governing bodies who, quite simply, are complicit of fail to act. This is something that is getting worse and now for me, enough is enough. Players and clubs need to be held accountable after the match, technology needs to be introduced to allow refs to act during the game, players need to be given the message.............this is not acceptable any more.


Whether you are a dyed in the wool Red, Blue, Lilywhite, or whatever, the amount of cheats in our game is on the rise. Cheating transcends our club or nations, because, they are cropping up in all teams. If its your team that is the victim, if you are a neutral, or even if its your team that benefits, what kind of feeling does it leave in your stomach when you know the ref's been conned? Any true fan will be either gutted and angry, or ashamed. Is it worth a few minutes by visiting the site below to see what you can do..........


Scotty

http://sportscheat.wordpress.com/

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Lineup For Slavia Prague?

Next up is our UEFA Cup prequalifier 2nd leg, at home to Slavia Prague. After taking a deserved 1-0 win, away from home in the first game, we can hopefully finish the job at the Lane without too much fuss.

This may give MJ a good chance to try something new. We desperately lack width, being far too one dimensional in our approach play, always through the middle. When we do use the wings, the crosses are poor. Should MJ give Ziegler a run out? Is it worth bringing Huddlestone into a back three and playing 3-5-2 ? (Chimbonda and Ekotto both like getting forward).

Hopefully a good result, but even more important, a good performance can mend some of the damage done so far in the Premiership.

Time for Jenas to be dropped?

After the disappointing start to the season so far, a trip to Anfield was never really going to be the game we needed, at this time. Confidence is low, but every game, wherever it is, starts with the hope that makes football sooo exciting, just maybe, this time.
Credit to the lads on the whole for the first hour we looked something like the team we had been billed as at the start of the season. Some slick passing, good movement and decent defending made for a good display. MJ had finally got the message through, it seemed, to keep the ball on the floor (granted we had the two shortest players on the pitch up front) and it was working. We started to keep possession, Zakora strong game again, Defoe looked sharp, Murphy started to spray the ball around, ala Carrick style......could we, could just?

There was one low point in our game and I was praying MJ could see it too. Jenas. Although JJ was playing out of position, he could not seem to do the simplest of tasks to help the team. Then there was the icing on the cake, the miss. Granted, we may all of been singing his praises right now if he had scored, but there are underlying problems with his game. OK, he got forward well, theres no doubting his pace, but did he use that possession even once? Whether he passed short, long, crossed or shot, there was no end product. Some would say its a lack of confidence, but this is happening week after week. How long can MJ give a player who puts in performances like that?

We have got some acute injury problems at the moment, but for a club that has spent as much as we have, there is no excuse. We should have a couple of players worth playing in EVERY position, or they should not be at the club. If Ziegler isn't worth playing when we have a winger problem, why is he at the club? Likewise Routledge, dont loan him, sell him. We have got more central midfielders than fans and seem to try to put them in every position. I just hope Robbo doesn't get injured, else we may see Davids between the sticks!

So in conclusion, MJ needs to play the best 'team', not necessarily the best players on paper. I rue the day Routledge fell out of favour, because he was a handful on the wing. Lets not get like England under Sven where certain players are on the team sheet because regardless of form. He dropped Davids to the bench (good sub), lets have the same with Jenas, just to give him a kick up the backside at least!

We will improve, key players will come back to fitness, a '1st eleven' will appear. I just hope its in time to save something of the season.

COYS!!!