Back to football

Paul Hayward writes a very interesting article in the Observer this morning. Worth reading as it sheds more light on my fears about poverty vs extravagance (from previous blog).

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/jun/13/world-cup-south-africa-paul-hayward

Having watched all the games so far, (thanks to an understanding if bemused wife), I am coming to terms with the systems being dominant in this tournament. A star player will be hard to come by. A couple of flashes might ensue, even a good game, but there is no Maradona, Zidane circa 98, Pele, Cruyff, etc.

So does this mean that the teams are improving? Certainly. They are better prepared than ever and fitter and more accustomed to the pressures of football. Does it also mean that so called star players are not quite what they are cracked up to be? Definitely. It is shocking and an abuse of our intelligence to suggest the figures thrown around by the teams and media who want to see some movement in the transfer market.

Here is an example:

James Milner £30 million demanded - £24 million offered. 2 passes, 2 fouls, yellow card, sent off, won nothing in his career.

Frank Ribery £50 million demanded, no one offered, signs a new contract with Bayern. A pile of weak and sightly soft shite.

Angel Di Maria - Benfica want £30 million and several teams are keen. Ineffective and lightweight.

Kaka - £60 million and couldn't get a game for Real Madrid.

Cesc Fabregas - aged 23, goals: many £29 million offered. No wonder Arsenal fans cannot stomach the name of Barcelona when each season they attempt to abuse us with their devaluations.

Yaya Toure - Aged 26, goals none, price demanded £30 million.

Yoann Gourcuff - just go away - let's not even bother with him.

Luis Suarez - As above. Pathetic and limp.

I could go on, but you probably get the point. And this is what Wenger sees when he looks at the market and watches prices inflate, just because he likes the look of a player, the price can inflate by 5-10 million.

The transfer system has always been about double standards and inflated prices, but now it also has the players demanding moves and not caring about what that can do to the club and the length of their contract. So in Fabregas' case, I am sad but I want him to piss off so I can get on with forgetting him. He is a wonderful player but he wants out of his contract 5 years early. Barcelona insist they will only pay what they think is reasonable. In my book that means he doesn't get his way and they don't get their player.

But an unhappy footballer is apparently a disease no club wants so Wenger is working very hard to broker a deal.

I am largely unimpressed. But Joe Cole will play like Fab without the constant rumours. We can build a team with a better keeper and defence that would challenge, even without Fabregas.

All of this is not dependent on the plight of our captain. If Wenger really is going to buy a whole new spine to the team, then he admits we fell short, he spends what is needed and we come back stronger. At least I hope that is the case.

As for England, where was Wayne Rooney? Why did Gerrard and Lampard start making errors at the same time? How can Ledley King be justified? Is Milner any good? Wright Phillips? Heskey?

When Joe Cole recovers from his bug, he will play. Hart should be in goal but Green will continue I think. England will still qualify and could even still do well.

But systems win out and we haven't quite got ours yet. We have a squad picked for a system but don't know our best starting XI. It will come I think.

Still, at least we aren't France.