This is my reponse to the criticism on Robinho's move to Manchester City.
It is ok to argue that he went to City for the money, but to criticize him on the fact that the Sky Blues are too weak a club for him is, in my opinion, disrespectful. What is wrong with a club with ambition? Was not Chelsea in the same boat as City is? Chelsea was only in weak reckoning for a Champions League league finish till they spent 300mil on players. I certainly do not see why Manchester City would not be able to match the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal after spending 300mil.
What is wrong with a little ambition? Shame on those people who argued along those lines! Sour grapes meets ill-logic.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
More on the Sky Blues
There is a lot to be said about the potential new entrant into Champions League football, wresting the power base from the traditional big four we have been so used to for over a decade. There is serious cause for concern as far as Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal, even though City's chances may seem vague as of now. Here's why...
1. No Significant Debts
Arsenal has to pay for their new stadium; while Liverpool is looking to build a new one; the Glazers still got countless millions to settle in bank loans they took to buy United over, and maybe the only one without clearcut debts would be Chelsea. As such we saw, and will be seeing, the spending power of City in the years to come. However, to compete with them it would seem inevitable that City upgrade or even build a new stadium and they could possibly face the same problems.
2. Single Owner
The issues we have seen surfaced between Tom Hicks, George Gillett and Benitez is high profile, divisive and highly disruptive. Yes this is just one club of the big four, but the ultimate goal is to just sneak into the top four isn't it? They just need one of them to collaspe. Managerial patience from the Abu Dhabi group has yet been tested but if they can keep things peaceful, it could help the team's cause on the pitch.
3. Ambition
The capture of Robinho is as much a tactical coup as it is a symbolic one. His presence in the Sky Blues could attract other big name players to the club, signifying the ambitions of the club. Big moves are expected from them at the end of this current season. Besides, there is no league with a bigger audience worldwide than the Barclays Premier League.
1. No Significant Debts
Arsenal has to pay for their new stadium; while Liverpool is looking to build a new one; the Glazers still got countless millions to settle in bank loans they took to buy United over, and maybe the only one without clearcut debts would be Chelsea. As such we saw, and will be seeing, the spending power of City in the years to come. However, to compete with them it would seem inevitable that City upgrade or even build a new stadium and they could possibly face the same problems.
2. Single Owner
The issues we have seen surfaced between Tom Hicks, George Gillett and Benitez is high profile, divisive and highly disruptive. Yes this is just one club of the big four, but the ultimate goal is to just sneak into the top four isn't it? They just need one of them to collaspe. Managerial patience from the Abu Dhabi group has yet been tested but if they can keep things peaceful, it could help the team's cause on the pitch.
3. Ambition
The capture of Robinho is as much a tactical coup as it is a symbolic one. His presence in the Sky Blues could attract other big name players to the club, signifying the ambitions of the club. Big moves are expected from them at the end of this current season. Besides, there is no league with a bigger audience worldwide than the Barclays Premier League.
********
The dynamics have shifted as now there are potentially four new fixtures in a season which could determine Champions League football for five clubs instead of four. If Manchester City can put in a strong and consistent foundation, they will benefit from the technical stability and could move on to depose one of the big four. Liverpool and Arsenal are most precarious with the problems they have exhibited, cēterīs paribus. Let's not speak too soon and see whether the moves City makes and their performances on the pitch can bring them in two seasons.
The dynamics have shifted as now there are potentially four new fixtures in a season which could determine Champions League football for five clubs instead of four. If Manchester City can put in a strong and consistent foundation, they will benefit from the technical stability and could move on to depose one of the big four. Liverpool and Arsenal are most precarious with the problems they have exhibited, cēterīs paribus. Let's not speak too soon and see whether the moves City makes and their performances on the pitch can bring them in two seasons.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
The Window Closes; Clamped Shut and Stifling
What a crazy night of events for BPL fans. Here’s a recap of the most notable in my opinion.
1. Oil Money for Man C
With money dripping from their nostrils, it was about time the BPL was graced with some oil money from Arabia. What an introduction it was too –a hijacked £32.5m deal for Robinho, with an audacious £135m bid for Cristiano Ronaldo lined up (what a story that would be). This could very well mean another club making an appearance in the Champions League other than the Big Four. Definitely one to keep our eyes and ears out for.
2. Weird Spurs
They now have a decent goalie, a great defensive line-up, a decent midfield and a dismal front-line. This is a complete reversal from the kind of team they were last season. If you look up the word erratic on the dictionary you will see Tottenham Hotspurs beside it. I can’t really see Bent and Pavlyuchenko making big splashes in the league this season, and Ramos is essentially a “cup manager”. A UEFA league placing this season will be an excellent result for them, but they could get more if they can get some rhythm going forward.
3. Messiah Crucified (edited)
After just eight months, barely enough time to prove anything to anyone, Keegan has been sacked. A tad bit unfair to Silver-Hair, who has had his differences with the board over the post-season; and it was ultimately a clash of personalities that led to his dismissal. Perhaps he could take the job of Paul Ince when Blackburn is threatened by relegation twenty matches into the season, or even Ole-Bristles Rafa’s potentially vacant job (who himself has had his fair share of boardroom bust-ups).
Edit: Looks like he was not sacked after all. There is still some justice left in this world. Or so i thought...
* * * * * * * * * *
Money is the name of the game in this era of football and I see no slowing down of it. Titles are beginning to be bought as more and more Abramovic-es pop up. They may say it’s a hobby, but it’s actually big business, and a chance to write your name in popular history. Could this progress happen at the expense of the traditional values associated with sports like excellence, human development and the (mythical) level playing field? The pervasiveness of capitalism and its inherent consequence of stratification strangles sporting tradition. So just make sure you support the right team. If that team you support has billionaire funding (read Chelsea and now Man City), a Prime Minister’s backing (read AC Milan) or a whole city behind them (read Real Madrid) then you are on the right track as long as they got the moolah.
1. Oil Money for Man C
With money dripping from their nostrils, it was about time the BPL was graced with some oil money from Arabia. What an introduction it was too –a hijacked £32.5m deal for Robinho, with an audacious £135m bid for Cristiano Ronaldo lined up (what a story that would be). This could very well mean another club making an appearance in the Champions League other than the Big Four. Definitely one to keep our eyes and ears out for.
2. Weird Spurs
They now have a decent goalie, a great defensive line-up, a decent midfield and a dismal front-line. This is a complete reversal from the kind of team they were last season. If you look up the word erratic on the dictionary you will see Tottenham Hotspurs beside it. I can’t really see Bent and Pavlyuchenko making big splashes in the league this season, and Ramos is essentially a “cup manager”. A UEFA league placing this season will be an excellent result for them, but they could get more if they can get some rhythm going forward.
3. Messiah Crucified (edited)
After just eight months, barely enough time to prove anything to anyone, Keegan has been sacked. A tad bit unfair to Silver-Hair, who has had his differences with the board over the post-season; and it was ultimately a clash of personalities that led to his dismissal. Perhaps he could take the job of Paul Ince when Blackburn is threatened by relegation twenty matches into the season, or even Ole-Bristles Rafa’s potentially vacant job (who himself has had his fair share of boardroom bust-ups).
Edit: Looks like he was not sacked after all. There is still some justice left in this world. Or so i thought...
* * * * * * * * * *
Money is the name of the game in this era of football and I see no slowing down of it. Titles are beginning to be bought as more and more Abramovic-es pop up. They may say it’s a hobby, but it’s actually big business, and a chance to write your name in popular history. Could this progress happen at the expense of the traditional values associated with sports like excellence, human development and the (mythical) level playing field? The pervasiveness of capitalism and its inherent consequence of stratification strangles sporting tradition. So just make sure you support the right team. If that team you support has billionaire funding (read Chelsea and now Man City), a Prime Minister’s backing (read AC Milan) or a whole city behind them (read Real Madrid) then you are on the right track as long as they got the moolah.
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