Platini Proposals Suggest Parity....but maybe not Practicality

With the first group stage draw of the Champions League taking place in a few hours, we'd like to draw attention, as supporters of a fair and honest sport, to UEFA President Michel Platini's proposals for reforming the Champions League. He should be applauded for trying to even out the spoils across more European countries than at present, thereby creating better competition in the longer term. Since his election to the presidency, he has made several suggestions such as reducing the number of clubs entering from each country (reducing the number in England from four to three), and is now proposing the inclusion of the national cup winners at the expense of the last qualifying place (i.e. only first second and third would qualify in England).

In the short-term at least, the quality and financial attraction of the competition could be diminished. In addition, his proposals for allowing cup competition winners as the last qualifying berth would also potentially create more issues.

We believe there needs to be a concerted effort to increase the importance of national cup competitions especially for the lower leagues. Much depends upon the details of his plans, but we can only point to one example in the last five years, assuming the strict interpretation of "cup winners only", where this would have made a difference for English qualification. If, however, we use the same interpretation as for the former cup winners cup competition, we would have had, in 2001/2002, Tottenham playing off against Wycombe Wanderers for the last spot. And, in 2004, Millwall would have been one of our representatives in the Champions League purely on the strength of a good cup run involving easy draws and a bit of luck (Manchester United in the final was their only Premiership opposition). No disrespect to Millwall and Wycombe Wanderers but you get our point.

Our philosophy has always been that football should attempt to be a fair and level playing field as far as is possible and in that respect Platini is at least thinking in those terms rather than being led by the financial considerations. We wholeheartedly support this sentiment, with the reservations stated above, but doubt whether the big clubs will support his proposals (planned for implementation in 2009). Above all we finally have an administrator who is prepared to tackle the inequities in football and we believe he deserves the opportunity to debate these issues as a starting point; not just for football, but for sport in general.

Beckham Bullshit Leaves McClaren High and Dry

Following our previous post concerning the value of international friendlies, news emerges from a Galaxy far away that Beckham is injured and is unlikely to play any part in England's next two qualifiers. Steve McClaren, as we pointed out, had to pick him due to his travelling 6,000 miles and the media expectations that surrounded his first appearance under the new management. While we should have been looking at options available wide right from a more practical (and maybe longer term) perspective, we are now in the situation where McClaren must fill that position with somebody who has not played that role with England for some time. Once again, short-term accommodations have messed up long-term goals.

Beckham chose to spend his autumn years in LA - nobody else. So he, and his employers, should live with that decision even if it means not playing a part in the England team and Steve McClaren has to have the courage to make that clear to all. Note Beckham's LA Galaxy record since joining: played five, lost four.

Reclaim the Game - The Week's Events

• City of Grief Part III. Liverpool FC's minute silence etc for Rhys Jones (Everton fan) last Tuesday. OK, it's still not politic but enough's enough. If the effort expended in collective grief were actually put into catching the perpertrators of this awful crime they might now be behind bars. Over to you Everton (or Tranmere?).
• Future England Gaffer? John Terry, at the prospect of Ronaldhino joining the Chelsea cash cow, showed us his true insight and tactical awareness by identifying Ronnie's prime role as the world's most gifted and exciting footballer. He must be prepared to track back and develop the Chelsea "workaholic" ethic according to JT. Leave the creative stuff to our Frank and our Sean (if playing) we think he is trying to say. If JT can chew gum and punch the air with the best of them, we have a future England boss in the making.
• Martin Allen (as of yesterday ex-Leicester boss) commenting on the influx of 14 new squad members said that Leicester training sessions were sometimes like "scenes from Zulu". What does he mean? Loads of Welshmen in red jackets being put to the spear? I think we should know. We were going to suggest he invite us to a training session but that's sadly not now possible.
• Not that we want to start vicious rumours, or are in any position to judge, but Tony Adams commenting on ITV4's coverage of the Arsenal v Sparta Prague game last night: any bad habits returning?
  

Media Manipulation Massages the Weekends' Results

Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of last week's controversy concerning Rob Styles' refereeing performance was not how he seemed to crumble under the weight of knowing that he awaited slaughter by the media, but that Sky, in their usual vacuous summary of the match, suggested, no, more accurately presumed, that Mr Styles would be suspended for the following weekend of the premiership program. On cue, the head of referees, Keith Hackett, offered apologies and his sacrificial lamb in the form of Styles' suspension. However, the real consequence of this extraordinary pressure was to influence directly results the following week. Of the ten premiership matches only one penalty was given (and missed!). There were good shouts at several grounds most notably at Old Trafford, where two possibilities were not given, correctly, and one possiblity at Villa Park, which should have been awarded to Fulham. As Mark Lawrenson wisely observed on lunch time's Football Focus, it was going to take quite something for referees to give penalties this weekend given the hysterical media response to the previous weekend's events. And so it proved.

This week's "whipping up of a storm " occured at Old Trafford where, despite inconclusive video evidence, Sky's Andy Gray unequivocally stated that the referee had made a huge mistake. He would not hear, or see, any other conclusion. We mentioned last week that video evidence was not infallible and this was a classic example of its failings.

Now, it is the football supporters' lot that each and every one of them feels hard done by individuals in the media. We do not know where Mr Gray's empathies and sympathies lie, but his blatant myopia, ably assisted by his Sky studio pundits, has caused yet more refereeing controversy where none exists. The referee has to have no doubts when awarding a penalty. After many many viewings we are still in doubt, therefore the correct decision was made. End of story.

There is already too much of a financial stake in football and Sky's own interests only serve to rachet up those stakes. But hey: why the fuss? It was only ever going to be a matter of time before the game's paymaster exercised their grip on the game.

We are the paymaster of the game's paymaster. Isn't it about time we exercised our grip on that paymaster?

Reclaim the Game. The Weekend's Events

• City of Grief Part II. This week it was Everton's turn to to play host to mass grief following the very tragic death of 11 year old Rhys Jones. I know, I know..not politic etc but the appearance of hordes of professional, insincere, hand wringers only bring scorn when the geatest of sympathy should be felt.
• Well David Beckham made his flight and duly took up his LA Galaxy playing role. Played like a drain too in their second of two defeats in three appearances for the club. Not surprisingly, his new employers are now questionning the practicality of his travelling 6000 miles to appear in "friendly" internationals.

Hats Off, Take a Bow (or Not)!

Player of the Week: Micah Richards (again!). A rare plus in an evening of negatives both on and off the Wembley pitch. Honourable mention to Freddy Eastwood, formerly of Southend United, now of Wolves. Money well spent, we thinks.

Hero of the Week: Martin O'Neill. Having the good grace to admit bad behaviour and apologising to a referee! Reminiscent of an old Ealing comedy when a miscreant admits to a "fair cop".

Villain of the Week: Andy Gray. Inciting controversy where none exists (see above).

Cliche of the Week: anything to do with "mountains to climb"; "uphill struggle"; "got it all to do". Delivered by the same commmentators who now write off Manchester United's title defence after three games, having tipped them heavily to retain their title.

Shock of the Week: Claire Tomlinson (again!). Still in Rob McCaffrey's place! Only with slighter paler shirt - you see, let a woman start talking about football and immediately us boys are talking about fashion!

Objectives Destroyed Under the Fog of Friendly Ire

The boos of the Wembley crowd last night and the negative response from the media this morning served once again to force us to ask the question, ‘what is the point of friendly internationals?’ What objectives are we trying to achieve? After all, were England knocked out of a major competition? Did we lose further ground in our quest for Euro 2008 qualification? Of course not.

In an ideal world the objectives of a friendly international should encompass team-building and tactical awareness and options to ensure easy qualification to major tournaments, as well as successful performances in those tournaments. In an ideal world, the manager would be free to pick whoever he wants in whatever tactical formation he chooses from all available resources – genuine injuries notwithstanding. In an ideal world, the genuine supporters of that team and attendant media would have a positive attitude in which mistakes, both from players and in tactics, are tolerated, accepted and learned from.

However we do not live in that ideal world. We live in a world where the overriding objective of England friendlies is to procure as many customers to pay back the FA’s huge loans on Wembley Stadium. As part of the marketing effort, this necessitates the build up of anticipation and pressure among supporters and media. It also helps if the opposition is rated highly. Note, that the original Wembley opening opposition, Hungary, was picked for nostalgic reasons and then quietly dropped in favour of Brazil. Mistakes are pounced on by a voracious media where individual journalists look to score points in raising their personal media profiles. The same people who called for an Englishman, Steve McClaren, are the same people calling for his head 12 months on. In addition, we have an FA that has wrestled with the issue of foreign v English management for several years now, with no real conviction in their conclusions. Look no further than the farce in the search for Sven’s replacement, where his successor was seen as at least second best, and definitely second choice, but picked ultimately because he was English. This, even before we have solved the issues of players being available for clubs one day and not being available a few days later – and presumably being available once again the following weekend for their club. Or, indeed, having to pick a player because of his travel arrangements without reference to what is best for the team.

In summary, we have many forces pulling us in different directions, detracting us from what we are trying to achieve at international level. Are we surprised, therefore, that the results are disappointing?

Where could we go from here?

First and foremost, an enormous shift in attitudes and perception needs to be made by players, administrators, supporters and media alike. Most people will see this as unrealistic under present circumstances. However things could be done to improve these circumstances:

1) The FA and all clubs need to sit down and begin a dialogue to address the issues that affect them both e.g. match scheduling at European and World level, including addressing the issue of being sympathetic and fair in dealing with clubs who provide the most players to international duty. Rafa Benitez’s complaints this week echo those of Jose Mourhino last season and the usual supects in previous seasons. It seems ludicrous that African players are lost for up to two months every two years in the middle of the European season. And get rid of pointless mini-tournaments which are played in gap years when players need to be resting.
2) The FA needs to establish an all embracing plan from grass roots level for the intelligent development of talent. Are we surprised that the FA’s national academy “failed”, when seemingly every first world football nation has had spectacular successes? If unearthing a talent such as Michael Owen can be deemed to be a failure, then what was the FA trying to achieve in the first place? If the last fifteen years of the premiership are a trend for the future, there will be little or no English premiership resources available for an England manager.
3) A proper process and procedure needs to be in place for compensating clubs properly especially in the case of long term injuries. Yes, we know that little Senegal has a fraction of the financial muscle of an England, but these should be addressed by cash rich UEFA or FIFA. Pity the unfortunate club who loses their star striker, keeper etc in the first qualifying match in September. There can be no replacements for that loss until the following January.
4) Pick the right man (or woman!) for the job. Irrespective of Nationality. The last England manager who gave no quarter to both the FA and the media, Sir Alf Ramsay, won us the World Cup. Need we say more?
5) Develop a culture that allows for creative and tactical options to be explored without recriminations from media and employers.

We suspect that the final point will indeed be the hardest to achieve.

Reclaim the Game. A Week’s Events.

Good luck to David Beckham in his quest to play a part in LA Galaxy v Chivas this evening following the England friendly. Let’s just hope the old body stands up to the jet lag. But it asks a serious question as to Steve McClaren’s objectives in playing someone because they have flown 6,000 miles to be there in the twighlight of their career rather than giving players in need of matches a chance to get some hours on the field.

Heinze. Is he mad? Does he know that the friendly rivalry between Manchester Utd and Liverpool of the 50s and 60s has given way to the no go zone of the 90s and 00s.? As things stand now he could have expected as popular a welcome in Merseyside as the fondness of his farewell from Manchester. Can anyone out there enlighten us as to exactly why he was so keen to cross the great divide, especially given that Real Madrid were waiting in the wings? We can’t figure it out.

Martin Jol, our hero of last week, deserves more honesty than he is getting from his directors. First the Spurs’ board denied any contact. Then they admitted contact but denied offering Ramos a job. Then they implied they’d rejected him. While Ramos claimed he WAS offered a job but turned it down out of commitment to Sevilla. Which does beg the question why was he talking to them in the first place. Another example of how, in the modern football business, PR people, agents and lawyers seem to be running the show. Sounds like you’re better off out of it Martin!

All sensitivity aside, why is Liverpool so determined to earn the title ‘grief-stricken city of the world’. News emerges that Liverpool FC are considering keeping 96 seats permanently empty as a mark of respect to the Hilsborough victims. Perhaps a further 38 seats as a mark of respect to victims of Heysel might seem just as appropriate. Or maybe its better to stop the grieving process full stop and move on for everyone’s sake including Liverpool’s reputation.

Alan Hansen’s lip sores on Match of the Day last night and Saturday. Any explanation or ideas welcome.

Football turns on Styles

What do you think of video refs?

After a weekend when the subject of refereeing by TV raised its head again, news emerges that Rob Styles has been dropped from next weekend's match list. Former referee Jeff Winter, interviewed on Sky News, stated that seven of the ten Premiership matches had result-altering decisions. The interesting point is that, like most people, he didn't agree with Rob Styles' decision at Anfield, and contrasted that with West Ham's Craig Bellamy penalty decision at Birmingham; which he acknowledged that most referees he knew would have given , even though he considered that Bellamy had clearly "played" for it.

We can all look back with hindsight and allow TV to influence what we think about refereeing. These decisions could be worth millions to a club. Referees are human. They make mistakes. Are we basically saying Rob Styles gave Chelsea a penalty for any other reason than because he thought it was the right decision at the time? If so, that is a different issue altogether. For sporting reasons, we have to believe referees are doing their best in an ever more pressured financial environment. Whatever we think of them when we're in the ground or in front of the TV, we have to accept they are trying to do the right thing. We believe Rob Styles is generally a good referee and just had a bad day. Does that entitle TV pundits to call for his suspension live on air minutes after the event? If so, how long before TV (currently the game's paymaster) intervenes to correct the referees' decisions?

In the 70s and 80s there were numerous calls for professional referees as the answer to eradicating all the contentious refereeing decisions (watch Jimmy Hill from old Match of the Day/Big Match broadcasts). Now that we have professional referees - and this hasn't solved these issues - we're now calling for video evidence. When we get that, where will it stop? Specified camera locations; processing power of a computer? At all grounds, at every level?

In all the discussions about video evidence, why is nobody examining experiences from Rugby League, Rugby Union, Tennis and Cricket? At least three observations from these spring to mind:

1) It actually isn't as foolproof as people first thought e.g. ask Roger Federer about the Wimbledon tennis final;

2) Referees end up feeling obliged to consult the video on all contentious issues which then slows down play unnecessarily and in many cases provides inconclusive evidence;

3) In an environment where referees are already subjected to constant badgering by players, it totally undermines their authority.

If this happens the day will come when players will contest every corner and throw-in (in fact what a great time-wasting technique). Pundits and fans are looking for a foolproof answer. There is none! How can you video a player's intent? How can you video the force behind an action? There is much merit behind goal line technology but will it really work?

Reclaim the Game! The Weekend Events

• What did we say in our first post? When the monetary stakes become so high, issues off the field become more important than the sport played on it. Because, remember, football is a sport. So we now have the situation where Sheffield Untied are now suing West Ham for estimated loss of earnings (£50 million) as a result of their relegation leading from the Tevez affair.

• Congratulations to Mel Slade (Theo Walcott's girlfriend) for getting two Bs and a C in her A levels. Thereby increasing the collective educational achievements of WAGs infinitely. Apparently she intends to take a gap year. Let's hope this takes the form of back-packing around the globe to increase her worldly wisdom, rather than taking a year to increase her celebrity profile, burn a massive hole in Theo's credit card or spending endless hours watching one of his ten plasma screen TVs. Let's face it, if she's going to be following his limited first team appearances she's going to be pretty bored.

• As the custodians of our live football coverage, Sky, we can put up with Richard Keys' hairy arms (just) and even his banal and long-winded loaded questions to fill up time (only just) but to try and get on the side of the pub pundit, discredits his impartiality. He clearly could not hold back his delight at Manchester United's failure to win a game this season. We want to see informed comment and opinion on why United may or may not be struggling, not just schoolboy gloating. P.S., Richard, no amount of your mindless hype is going to change what most supporters still believe: namely that the same four teams as last year will occupy those positions at the end of this season.

• Oh to be English! Desperate commentators seeking a talented English player have hoisted both Jermaine Pennant and Sean Wright-Phillips into the reckoning based on what appeared to us at least to be very average performances. Shame that neither are really first choice for their respective clubs. Someone should mention this to David Beckham as he embarks on a 6,000 mile flight with the intention of playing in a friendly for his country.

• Congratulations to the much-maligned Sven Goran Eriksson. Top of the pile after three games and a 100% record. He must surely be a contender for the England job if Steve McClaren gets the push. If only he could punch the air and chew gum with the aplomb of Stuart Pearce, he'd be a shoe-in for the job!

• Charlton have denied reports that they have asked Keith Harris (not of the hand up the duck fame) to broker a deal to sell the club to a foreign buyer. Most football supporters would have looked upon Charlton as a well-run, well-supported example of a community football club. Is this move in the interest of supporters or of the directors? Surely not both.

Hats off. Take a bow! (or not).

Player of the week - Micah Richards. As centre back, single-handedly stopped Manchester United (Jamie Carragher: we won't miss you).

Hero of the week - Martin Jol. Coped with the bullshit and hopefully prevented further talk of new managers after only two losses (but we doubt it).

Villain of the week - Steven Gerrard. Asking for, and getting an apology from Rob Styles for a bad decision. Shame the same apology was not forthcoming for your undeserved free kick (which led to your winner) the week before Stevie G. Just remember you win some and you lose some.

Cliche of the week - Video evidence: Goalline technology is being trialled - so just shut it!

Shock of the week - Clare Tomlinson in Rob McCaffrey's seat on the 'Goals on Sunday' sofa; but dressed like Kris Kamara!

The Season Begins Again

15 August 2007

Firstly, I want to address the many of you out there who have used the term "Reclaim the Game". I promise you, myself and others who contribute to this blog, came up with that name completely independently but we think it appropriate to the current situation in the game of football. And we think it scams well. So I hope if your views are the same as ours, you will contact us with your comments and not see us as any sort of competition.


I should start by saying I know nothing about blogging. I've never written one before but myself and a fellow football lover who shall be known as Zed for the purposes of this blog (for he will be contributing much himself) feel that this will be a key season for the game of football. Our slant is chiefly from an England perspective but many of our observations and comments apply all over the world. If football and the powers that run the game fail to address some important issues that face the game today, we believe it will die as a sport. So, at the start of a brand new season I have started this blog which will help me focus my observations on a sport that I love, and have loved for nearly 40 years. It may contain humour and it may contain serious stuff but, most of all, it will focus on the game of football from the standpoint of the ordinary supporter and the way in which the game we helped to build is kicking us in the teeth. We intend to to do more than just writing about it through a number of initiatives that will be talked about in the coming months. But in the meantime, I want to spell out below why I think we are being led down a road that will definitely help make a few people rich, will not meet the needs of the ordinary supporter and that will lead to the death of the game.


So what's our beef?


Look at how much we are being asked to pay to watch the game both at the grounds and on TV. This is to satisfy enormous wage demands by players and to pay the numerous unnecessary middlemen and agents that are lining their pockets at our expense. The media have bigged this season up more than ever and yet I don't know why they think we should be so excited. We now have to subscribe to yet another TV channel, Setanta, to watch all the live games in addition to Sky. This has been sold to us in the name of competition. But this is not competition. This is holding fans to ransom. What's more, those of us who choose to pay the ludicrous price of tickets to watch matches live are being asked to travel at ever more ridiculous times; battling with replacement bus services and Sunday engineering works just to satisfy the kick off times imposed by TV companies. In case you hadn't realised, this is for their benefit not ours. I don't have any children to take to matches. God help you and your bank balance if you do.

Is there any reason why your club cannot show your game on a Saturday afternoon on TV on a pay-per-view basis? We don’t think so but it needs to be debated. There's no reason why the revenue shouldn't still be shared out among all the clubs. But if you think about it, that benefits us the supporters and not the viewing figures of a couple of TV companies.

The latest TV deal has meant there has never been so much money in the game; especially in England. The vast sums of money from TV that are flooding into the FA do not seem to be making their way into grass roots football to help lower league clubs or develop players. Players and their agents make ever increasing demands on clubs to pay ever increasing wage bills that we the fans must meet. Meanwhile, they become ever more removed from those fans and don't realise that we don't take them half as seriously as they seem to do.

Fewer English players are making the grade than ever. Why? Because too much is being pocketed by too few and money is not helping to develop the game in this country. Year after year, tournament after tournament, we have to put up with an under-achieving England team while the FA exhibits complete incompetence in their ability to spend this money properly. Meanwhile, more and more foreign players are flooding into the game for the huge wages on offer here. There's a good argument to say that if a home player is good enough, they'll come through. But without a positive action to develop more of those players and make that happen, it simply won't. The FA haven't even been able to start an academy successfully for young English players. And, as English players become considered a premium, so their wage demands outway the talent they contribute and their worth to the club.

Foreign billionaires are picking off clubs like vultures. Just because they manage to wear a scarf around their necks for the first game after they have bought your club, does not mean they have supporters’ or clubs’ interests at heart. They are big businessmen who see clubs as undervalued and a chance to make significant money. At whose expense? Well, you know the answer to that. Look at a club with the tradition and passion of Liverpool. Supporters appeared delighted to welcome in foreign owners who referred to the club as a "franchise" because they saw it as a chance to spend big and maybe compete with the Manchester Uniteds and Chelseas. Yes, Liverpool FC embracing American owners like they were long lost uncles. Manchester City have welcomed a man who is likely to be under arrest in his native Thailand for fraud very soon; for exactly the same reason. This big spending bonanza is not good for us no matter how much our club spends. Because come the day when the new owner has made his money and they choose to get out of football they will. And what will happen when it comes to the point where the money and stakes are so high that to lose a game means the loss of huge amounts of money? Cheating; Bribery; Drugs; Banning relegation or promotion? Who knows? This is the road we are being forced down and I for one believe it is the beginning of the end for football both at Premiership and lower league levels.

I could go on and on. You probably think I have already but I don't want my first post to be just a rant. But be sure, we are being exploited for our loyalty. When you become a football fan, you're in it for the long haul and the powers that run the game know it. Whether it is Fifa's ludicrous ticket allocation to England fans in the World Cup or clubs increasing prices year after year, they know that they can continue to push us to the limit.

I'm saying we should Reclaim the Game for our own. For it is our own. I believe we can do it too and I would welcome your views for or against. In due course I shall be working on ideas that I have to do exactly that.

My further observations on football in 2007 will continue here.