RTG has called for the unilateral imposition (i.e. outside of UEFA’s useless new rules) of controls by the Premier League to improve the quality of the competition. This week, RTG is calling for a reduction in the size of the League to further improve not only the competitive element, but also aid the England team by imposing less games on players.
Many would think that RTG would be against an even smaller elite Premier League – and in some senses that is true. However, if RTG’s ideas on club finances were adopted, coupled with fewer games for English players, football would benefit twofold. Firstly, less meaningless games against ‘canon fodder’ teams – thus allowing the much vaunted mid season break, and, secondly the competitiveness would be further improved.
For several decades now, newly promoted clubs have struggled to find their feet in the top division. The recent history of failure by the newly promoted to maintain their status is not new. What is new is that, the vastly increased wages and transfer fees that are needed to field a team at the top level, have caused financial ruin, that no amount of ‘parachute payments can arrest – should relegation occur. And it usually does.
The sensible financial policy would be for the ‘newbies’ not to compete by spending alone. This is what Blackpool have just done: bolstering their thin Championship squad with loans, free transfers and a solitary one million pound player transfer. In effect, they have already metaphorically thrown themselves into the wind with little expectation of success. They’re going to be in the top level for the first time in 40-odd years and they’ll enjoy it come what may. Who can blame them?
What would happen though if, as so nearly happened this season, that the English Champions are decided by whoever scores the most goals against the ‘canon fodder’ teams? Or for that matter, if Manchester United had won it because of the weakened team fielded against them by Wolves, who were resting key players before a crucial so-called ‘six-pointer’ game against fellow relegation rivals the following match? Again, what does this do for the Premier League competition?
The fact that there has been a plethora of six nil victories, not to mention eights and nines since the inception of the Premier League and a rarity of these scorelines prior to its birth is a huge pointer to the less competitive nature at the top level. The fact that there has only been four winners – and some would say two of those were “bought” – is another clear indicator. This despite Sky’s increasingly irritating assertion that it is a league “where anything can happen”. Anything that is, as long as two or three of the promoted clubs get relegated again!
RTG emphasizes that we don’t claim to have the right answers. But if as football supporters we can get a better competition with numerous clubs challenging for honours and Champions League spots AND help the England set up, surely this is worth campaigning for?
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The Keeper
…still trying to keep a clean sheet
Last week saw the Keeper confined to his sick bed for a few days. Don’t worry, there’s nothing seriously wrong with him. It just happened to be that time of year when mobile phones are on permanent alert just in case a big money opportunity presents itself before the transfer window closes. The Keeper was minding his own business over a game of golf on Monday afternoon when an anonymous text comes through linking yours truly with none other than Big Sam. Sniffing a lucrative Premier League move and, in order not to cup tie himself, the Keeper feigned sickness and did a Mascherano to rule himself out of any midweek activity. While his hardworking teammates took to the field, the Keeper waited eagerly for the call which duly came that evening. It was indeed a moneymaking opportunity with Big Sam. Sadly Big Sam turned out to be none other than ex-page three stunner and now famous cockney lesbian, Sam Fox, and the opportunity was an invitation to take part in celebrity Big Brother. Sam Fox indeed. Certainly not the Big Sam he was expecting and definitely not the ‘six yard box’ he was used to.
Speaking of transfers, there was a somewhat unique feel to the last window as the likes of Manchester City try desperately tried to offload some of their expensively assembled squad in order to comply with the Premier League’s new rules on squad size. Consequently, Craig Bellamy was welcomed with open arms on loan at his native Cardiff City. The move prompted Gwyn Davies, co-founder of Valley Rams, to state categorically that Cardiff City would much prefer to have Welshman Bellamy on their books than Wayne Rooney or Didier Drogba; a statement that goes to prove what we’ve always thought about the Welsh. As Alan Partridge would say, “you…you like your own, don’t you?” Enough said!
To other parts of the UK now and last week’s Champions League draw saw Rangers drawn in the same group as Manchester United. The Sun was very quick to refer to this as the ‘Battle of Britain’. Many, including the Keeper, were led to believe this was based purely on the fact that it was a Scottish team playing an English team. However, it seems on closer inspection that it may be more down to the fact that last time Rangers fans visited Manchester for the 2008 UEFA Cup final, they left it looking like an entire Squadron of Heinkels had unloaded it’s payload on the city during said battle. In fact, in a recent poll, where the residents of Manchester were asked which they’d prefer, Rangers or Heinkels, the Heinkels narrowly shaded it.
Speaking of being in the wars, Jerome Boateng has become the first injury worry of the new season for Manchester City. Rather than picking up a knock in training or on the pitch, Boateng became the next in a long line of unusual football injuries joining such fine examples as Robbie Keane, who ruptured his knee cartilage reaching for the TV remote control, and Steve Morrow, who broke his collar bone after being dropped on the ground by teammate Tony Adams after the Carling Cup Final in 1993. Our Jerome was harmlessly sat in his airplane seat when the stewardess bashed his knee with her trolley and tore his ligaments. It just goes to show how important it is for foreign players to learn English. She asked him if he wanted chicken or beef and his German/Ghanaian accent made it sound more like ‘biff’ when he replied. Sounds like she duly obliged.
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