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Football is the one-sport that every man and women loves - most of all - over anything else. Interest may have grown in Rugby after Jonny Wilkinson and England triumphed victoriously over in Austraila, but to many, there is still nothing better than a good, solid 90-minutes of 11-men against 11-men in classic kick-about.
But, as much as we love the beautiful game, it must be said that things have certainly changed, in the years gone by. The way I see it - and I'm others might agree with me here - `Money´ is what makes the Football World go-around. We no longer have teams of XI-men, giving it their all and fighting for the victory; instead, the majority of them (especially the bigger names, like Beckham) are far more interested in `looking good for the camera's´; attracting multi-million-pound sponshorship deals; and becoming somewhat of an "Idol" to every adoring fan.
Rather than an expression of an Art-form? with a very competitive nature, Football as we know has become much more of a "Business", in my eyes.
And sadly, I don't see the game ever going back towards its roots of `pureity´, like the good old days, anytime soon. If Money is enough to make the entire world go-around in-motion, then I don't see how something so-"small" (in comparison) yet so-popular is going to be able to avoid it. And with its growing-popularity, Rugby will soon be next-on-the-list with "Wilko" as its David Beckham and Clive Woodward as the new Sven-Goran Eriksson-slash-Sir Alex Ferguson.
Things are only going to get worse from here-on.
With sky-high wage-demands from some of the game's biggest stars - and not just in the Premier League; in Europe, in general - we have already seen Football take a hefty slide towards a very Business-like future. Clubs are almost willing to say "Yes" to whatever fees a player will request, based on his reputation - just so they can secure his signature and "guarentee" their status with a challenge for some major honours. And with Agents wheeling-and-dealing behind-the-scenes - while claiming a large stake in a player's earnings, also - it has become very hard for many clubs to say "No", because of `Money´?. And with crippling-debts and the possibillities of Administration and a financial-struggle lurking, it can be very hard for certain clubs, indeed - especially if the right-amount of money is on offer (eg. Rio Ferdinand's move from Leeds to Man United, 2-years-ago).
But, you already knew all that, right?
Perhaps what you haven't noted, though, is quite the effect a man of Roman Abramovich's calibre and vast-wealth could have on the game...
Since he took-over at the helms and began investing in his ``Chelski´´?? Empire, the Russian oil-tycoon billionaire has seen over £110m spent on "re-structuring" the existing Stamford Bridge first-team - and that includes transfer fee's-payed only! Just think of how much more he will lose, within the space of 12-months, on each star-players' £60,000-a-week-plus basic-wages, and the average day-to-day expenditure of a modern-day football club....
If he can afford to lose that amount of money, then surely Chelsea FC are, basically, set for the rest of their lives! Nothing can stop them, now.
But, while fans of `The Blues´ may be more the happy to see the likes of Hernan Crespo, Adrian Mutu and Damien Duff in their team's starting-line-up (with Joe Cole, Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Jesper Gronkjaer still on the sub's bench!), setting them up "nicely" for an end-of-season "onslaught" of silverware; one-man `splashing-his-cash´ like this is only going to influence others to come in and do the same -- and that is how this "Virus" will start to spread.
With more clubs (like Leeds United, yes) starting to suffer financially (just like Chelsea were - before), the search for easy-money will lead them abroad, and to the Eastern countries where money (so it seems...), literally, grows on trees.
And with all these `investors? and so-many green-notes flying-around, other clubs will feel as if they `HAVE´ to keep spending-big, just so they can keep-up.
Whatever happened to the Footballer who was happy to play; week-in, week-out; because of his love for the club and desire for the game itself?
Why do all the Wayne Rooney's, Joe Cole's, Wayne Bridge's and other promising talents have to get so "influenced" by the lure of a fortune that could last you several lifetimes? Why England's future?
Why Football?!
While all the hard-working individuals who know what Football is REALLY all-about may appear to be fading from our game fast, there is at least one-team in the Premiership that still knows the true value of eleven-men.... And that is, Leeds United.
And they've had a torrid time of it within the last few years, too!
So-nearly there at one-point; and now they lie only 5-weeks-away from entering Administration; staring the possibility of extinction, right in the face.
But do they give-up? No! With Eddie Gray - a man who `defines´ Leeds United - sitting in control, the other 19-teams in England's top-flight must prepare themselves, each, for a sharp and simple reminder of what the game is really all about.
Hard-work and co-operation forms a great `team´ that will play together, work together and fight together for as much as they can gain; never giving-up!
In-come the true footballers like Michael Dubbery and Lucas Radebe to join Alan Smith and co. Out-go the Lamine Sakho's, Zoumana Camara's and Roque Junior's of this team - foreign players - who were only really bought-in for show.
And, after a dreadful start to the season under former-manager Peter Reid, what happens? They go out against Charlton Athletic - another honest side that gives it their all - and finishing the game with all-three well-earnt points, in the bag.
And then comes Chelsea; the top-of-the-league "super-dream-team" who've just beaten Manchester United and look set to go-on like this all-season... And yet, Leeds give them a real lesson in what it's all about, with an early-goal and one-point earned against a team with a total-value of over £150m!
You see, what Eddie Gray has vitally reminded us all of is that although the game may be changing quite rapidly, it's not about how much money you have, Brazillian World Cup-winners, or David Beckham's; a team with knowledge and experience of each-other, and a real desire-to-win, can accomplish anything.
It's about how much effort and hard-graft you put in.
Money can buy you a lot of things -- But you cannot buy the price of true Football!
And that is why I believe - and hope - that Leeds United will not only escape from their £78m-worth of problems, but also see an end-of-season finish where First Division Football next-season is no longer in question.
Yes, they need money in order to survive as a Football Club (as do they all), but what Eddie Gray has taught us all is that there is far-more to Football than the pricey individuals from around the world who can seemingly make a significant difference. Even if he cannot, by law, be around for the entire remainder of the season, at least every Leeds United player and fan will have learned a valuable lesson in modern-day football they can now teach to others, in the fight against all that is slowly crippling the game.
If there's one team you've got to watch out for this season, it's Leeds United.
Forget about Chelsea, United and Arsenal; the boys down at Elland Road know what it's really all about - and let us hope they can spread the message, for the good of the game!
With the way this United is working (with a strong influence of younger, home-grown players) it reminds me a lot of another "United" of the early-'90's, who went on to achieve so-much.
Come the end of the season, who knows...
Maybe Mr.Abramovich won't be such a Hero, after all -- perhaps a team like VfB Stuttgart can show Europe's elite that money cannot buy you everything, in the Champions' League; in true Leeds-style....
Leeds United AFC: True Football defined!
But, as much as we love the beautiful game, it must be said that things have certainly changed, in the years gone by. The way I see it - and I'm others might agree with me here - `Money´ is what makes the Football World go-around. We no longer have teams of XI-men, giving it their all and fighting for the victory; instead, the majority of them (especially the bigger names, like Beckham) are far more interested in `looking good for the camera's´; attracting multi-million-pound sponshorship deals; and becoming somewhat of an "Idol" to every adoring fan.
Rather than an expression of an Art-form? with a very competitive nature, Football as we know has become much more of a "Business", in my eyes.
And sadly, I don't see the game ever going back towards its roots of `pureity´, like the good old days, anytime soon. If Money is enough to make the entire world go-around in-motion, then I don't see how something so-"small" (in comparison) yet so-popular is going to be able to avoid it. And with its growing-popularity, Rugby will soon be next-on-the-list with "Wilko" as its David Beckham and Clive Woodward as the new Sven-Goran Eriksson-slash-Sir Alex Ferguson.
Things are only going to get worse from here-on.
With sky-high wage-demands from some of the game's biggest stars - and not just in the Premier League; in Europe, in general - we have already seen Football take a hefty slide towards a very Business-like future. Clubs are almost willing to say "Yes" to whatever fees a player will request, based on his reputation - just so they can secure his signature and "guarentee" their status with a challenge for some major honours. And with Agents wheeling-and-dealing behind-the-scenes - while claiming a large stake in a player's earnings, also - it has become very hard for many clubs to say "No", because of `Money´?. And with crippling-debts and the possibillities of Administration and a financial-struggle lurking, it can be very hard for certain clubs, indeed - especially if the right-amount of money is on offer (eg. Rio Ferdinand's move from Leeds to Man United, 2-years-ago).
But, you already knew all that, right?
Perhaps what you haven't noted, though, is quite the effect a man of Roman Abramovich's calibre and vast-wealth could have on the game...
Since he took-over at the helms and began investing in his ``Chelski´´?? Empire, the Russian oil-tycoon billionaire has seen over £110m spent on "re-structuring" the existing Stamford Bridge first-team - and that includes transfer fee's-payed only! Just think of how much more he will lose, within the space of 12-months, on each star-players' £60,000-a-week-plus basic-wages, and the average day-to-day expenditure of a modern-day football club....
If he can afford to lose that amount of money, then surely Chelsea FC are, basically, set for the rest of their lives! Nothing can stop them, now.
But, while fans of `The Blues´ may be more the happy to see the likes of Hernan Crespo, Adrian Mutu and Damien Duff in their team's starting-line-up (with Joe Cole, Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Jesper Gronkjaer still on the sub's bench!), setting them up "nicely" for an end-of-season "onslaught" of silverware; one-man `splashing-his-cash´ like this is only going to influence others to come in and do the same -- and that is how this "Virus" will start to spread.
With more clubs (like Leeds United, yes) starting to suffer financially (just like Chelsea were - before), the search for easy-money will lead them abroad, and to the Eastern countries where money (so it seems...), literally, grows on trees.
And with all these `investors? and so-many green-notes flying-around, other clubs will feel as if they `HAVE´ to keep spending-big, just so they can keep-up.
Whatever happened to the Footballer who was happy to play; week-in, week-out; because of his love for the club and desire for the game itself?
Why do all the Wayne Rooney's, Joe Cole's, Wayne Bridge's and other promising talents have to get so "influenced" by the lure of a fortune that could last you several lifetimes? Why England's future?
Why Football?!
While all the hard-working individuals who know what Football is REALLY all-about may appear to be fading from our game fast, there is at least one-team in the Premiership that still knows the true value of eleven-men.... And that is, Leeds United.
And they've had a torrid time of it within the last few years, too!
So-nearly there at one-point; and now they lie only 5-weeks-away from entering Administration; staring the possibility of extinction, right in the face.
But do they give-up? No! With Eddie Gray - a man who `defines´ Leeds United - sitting in control, the other 19-teams in England's top-flight must prepare themselves, each, for a sharp and simple reminder of what the game is really all about.
Hard-work and co-operation forms a great `team´ that will play together, work together and fight together for as much as they can gain; never giving-up!
In-come the true footballers like Michael Dubbery and Lucas Radebe to join Alan Smith and co. Out-go the Lamine Sakho's, Zoumana Camara's and Roque Junior's of this team - foreign players - who were only really bought-in for show.
And, after a dreadful start to the season under former-manager Peter Reid, what happens? They go out against Charlton Athletic - another honest side that gives it their all - and finishing the game with all-three well-earnt points, in the bag.
And then comes Chelsea; the top-of-the-league "super-dream-team" who've just beaten Manchester United and look set to go-on like this all-season... And yet, Leeds give them a real lesson in what it's all about, with an early-goal and one-point earned against a team with a total-value of over £150m!
You see, what Eddie Gray has vitally reminded us all of is that although the game may be changing quite rapidly, it's not about how much money you have, Brazillian World Cup-winners, or David Beckham's; a team with knowledge and experience of each-other, and a real desire-to-win, can accomplish anything.
It's about how much effort and hard-graft you put in.
Money can buy you a lot of things -- But you cannot buy the price of true Football!
And that is why I believe - and hope - that Leeds United will not only escape from their £78m-worth of problems, but also see an end-of-season finish where First Division Football next-season is no longer in question.
Yes, they need money in order to survive as a Football Club (as do they all), but what Eddie Gray has taught us all is that there is far-more to Football than the pricey individuals from around the world who can seemingly make a significant difference. Even if he cannot, by law, be around for the entire remainder of the season, at least every Leeds United player and fan will have learned a valuable lesson in modern-day football they can now teach to others, in the fight against all that is slowly crippling the game.
If there's one team you've got to watch out for this season, it's Leeds United.
Forget about Chelsea, United and Arsenal; the boys down at Elland Road know what it's really all about - and let us hope they can spread the message, for the good of the game!
With the way this United is working (with a strong influence of younger, home-grown players) it reminds me a lot of another "United" of the early-'90's, who went on to achieve so-much.
Come the end of the season, who knows...
Maybe Mr.Abramovich won't be such a Hero, after all -- perhaps a team like VfB Stuttgart can show Europe's elite that money cannot buy you everything, in the Champions' League; in true Leeds-style....
Leeds United AFC: True Football defined!
I believe that talk of Rivaldo IS, infact, true, yes!
I'm not sure as to whether £1m was the `exact´ amount that was offered to him (although, it was certainly a ludicrous amount of money!), but he was indeed offered an unbelievable deal to play in Qatar; along with Gabriel Batistuta and several other `world-stars´ who have moved there, with that `end-of-career´ feeling starting to creep-in...
The thing is, though; while there are now a "lot" of players in European Football who do seem to plainly be after money (and nothing more), their Job is still to play Football - and even with all the money in the world, no £100,000-a-week player would really be happy to sit in the reserves, picking up his un-deserved wages, without any taste of that football he once loved more than anything else.
So, to some, playing football in Qatar does not appear quite as `glamorous´ as week-in, week-out football in the top-flight of Italy, Spain or England, for example.
But what is it with these little place or people and rediculous amounts of money.... First we have a Russian Billionaire oil-tycoon who, strangely, no-one's ever heard of; and now, even places like Qatar are finding those same sums of money, just `lying-around´!
It's Crazy!! Next thing you know, it'll be some rich `nobody´ to emerge from some third-world country or something...!
I'm not sure as to whether £1m was the `exact´ amount that was offered to him (although, it was certainly a ludicrous amount of money!), but he was indeed offered an unbelievable deal to play in Qatar; along with Gabriel Batistuta and several other `world-stars´ who have moved there, with that `end-of-career´ feeling starting to creep-in...
The thing is, though; while there are now a "lot" of players in European Football who do seem to plainly be after money (and nothing more), their Job is still to play Football - and even with all the money in the world, no £100,000-a-week player would really be happy to sit in the reserves, picking up his un-deserved wages, without any taste of that football he once loved more than anything else.
So, to some, playing football in Qatar does not appear quite as `glamorous´ as week-in, week-out football in the top-flight of Italy, Spain or England, for example.
But what is it with these little place or people and rediculous amounts of money.... First we have a Russian Billionaire oil-tycoon who, strangely, no-one's ever heard of; and now, even places like Qatar are finding those same sums of money, just `lying-around´!
It's Crazy!! Next thing you know, it'll be some rich `nobody´ to emerge from some third-world country or something...!
Foreman wrote:
> It's people like Rivaldo asking for hundred grand, and it's good to
> see clubs interested in him to refuse.
>
> Yes, Beckham may be earning millions, but it still doesn't mean he
> loves football. Would you refuse a wage like that handed to you on a
> plate.
>
> Beckham showed he was not like Rivaldo and took a sacrifice in wages
> and sponsors to join Real Madrid. He could of easily demanded more or
> justed rotted in Uniteds reserves earning the same amount of money.
Is this the same Rivaldo we're talking about who supposedly (according to Ortega and he's right most of the time) turned down $1,000,000 a MONTH to go play in Qatar? Yes he's a right selfish money hungry player he is.
And i doubt Becks could have just rotted in the reserves because Fergie wanted rid of him and you aren't going to pay someone £100,000 a week to play reserve football
> It's people like Rivaldo asking for hundred grand, and it's good to
> see clubs interested in him to refuse.
>
> Yes, Beckham may be earning millions, but it still doesn't mean he
> loves football. Would you refuse a wage like that handed to you on a
> plate.
>
> Beckham showed he was not like Rivaldo and took a sacrifice in wages
> and sponsors to join Real Madrid. He could of easily demanded more or
> justed rotted in Uniteds reserves earning the same amount of money.
Is this the same Rivaldo we're talking about who supposedly (according to Ortega and he's right most of the time) turned down $1,000,000 a MONTH to go play in Qatar? Yes he's a right selfish money hungry player he is.
And i doubt Becks could have just rotted in the reserves because Fergie wanted rid of him and you aren't going to pay someone £100,000 a week to play reserve football
no star can get the glory without some ability (as one of my fave carling ads shows)
as for becks, hes true blue, he did all that dedicated practice as tribute to the sport, practising on and on. he works really hard on the pitch too.
as for becks, hes true blue, he did all that dedicated practice as tribute to the sport, practising on and on. he works really hard on the pitch too.
Heh. Even good old, "troubled-times" Aston Villa showed them you cannot buy everything with money!
It may be "worthless" to many, but it seems like a place in the Carling-sponsored League Cup semi-finals - even against Middlesbrough - is worth more than several-hundred-millions in English-pounds!
Nice one, Villa! I hope they can go all-the-way, now.
;D
It may be "worthless" to many, but it seems like a place in the Carling-sponsored League Cup semi-finals - even against Middlesbrough - is worth more than several-hundred-millions in English-pounds!
Nice one, Villa! I hope they can go all-the-way, now.
;D
It's people like Rivaldo asking for hundred grand, and it's good to see clubs interested in him to refuse.
Yes, Beckham may be earning millions, but it still doesn't mean he loves football. Would you refuse a wage like that handed to you on a plate.
Beckham showed he was not like Rivaldo and took a sacrifice in wages and sponsors to join Real Madrid. He could of easily demanded more or justed rotted in Uniteds reserves earning the same amount of money.
Okay he may have already earned millions, but he's still playing football.
The wages are ridiculous, and clubs like Leicester shouldn't be allowed to get away with it. It was them that was buying players while in debt and then offering them thousands of pounds a week. It wasn't as if the player had them at gun point.
Yes, Beckham may be earning millions, but it still doesn't mean he loves football. Would you refuse a wage like that handed to you on a plate.
Beckham showed he was not like Rivaldo and took a sacrifice in wages and sponsors to join Real Madrid. He could of easily demanded more or justed rotted in Uniteds reserves earning the same amount of money.
Okay he may have already earned millions, but he's still playing football.
The wages are ridiculous, and clubs like Leicester shouldn't be allowed to get away with it. It was them that was buying players while in debt and then offering them thousands of pounds a week. It wasn't as if the player had them at gun point.
Football is the one-sport that every man and women loves - most of all - over anything else. Interest may have grown in Rugby after Jonny Wilkinson and England triumphed victoriously over in Austraila, but to many, there is still nothing better than a good, solid 90-minutes of 11-men against 11-men in classic kick-about.
But, as much as we love the beautiful game, it must be said that things have certainly changed, in the years gone by. The way I see it - and I'm others might agree with me here - `Money´ is what makes the Football World go-around. We no longer have teams of XI-men, giving it their all and fighting for the victory; instead, the majority of them (especially the bigger names, like Beckham) are far more interested in `looking good for the camera's´; attracting multi-million-pound sponshorship deals; and becoming somewhat of an "Idol" to every adoring fan.
Rather than an expression of an Art-form? with a very competitive nature, Football as we know has become much more of a "Business", in my eyes.
And sadly, I don't see the game ever going back towards its roots of `pureity´, like the good old days, anytime soon. If Money is enough to make the entire world go-around in-motion, then I don't see how something so-"small" (in comparison) yet so-popular is going to be able to avoid it. And with its growing-popularity, Rugby will soon be next-on-the-list with "Wilko" as its David Beckham and Clive Woodward as the new Sven-Goran Eriksson-slash-Sir Alex Ferguson.
Things are only going to get worse from here-on.
With sky-high wage-demands from some of the game's biggest stars - and not just in the Premier League; in Europe, in general - we have already seen Football take a hefty slide towards a very Business-like future. Clubs are almost willing to say "Yes" to whatever fees a player will request, based on his reputation - just so they can secure his signature and "guarentee" their status with a challenge for some major honours. And with Agents wheeling-and-dealing behind-the-scenes - while claiming a large stake in a player's earnings, also - it has become very hard for many clubs to say "No", because of `Money´?. And with crippling-debts and the possibillities of Administration and a financial-struggle lurking, it can be very hard for certain clubs, indeed - especially if the right-amount of money is on offer (eg. Rio Ferdinand's move from Leeds to Man United, 2-years-ago).
But, you already knew all that, right?
Perhaps what you haven't noted, though, is quite the effect a man of Roman Abramovich's calibre and vast-wealth could have on the game...
Since he took-over at the helms and began investing in his ``Chelski´´?? Empire, the Russian oil-tycoon billionaire has seen over £110m spent on "re-structuring" the existing Stamford Bridge first-team - and that includes transfer fee's-payed only! Just think of how much more he will lose, within the space of 12-months, on each star-players' £60,000-a-week-plus basic-wages, and the average day-to-day expenditure of a modern-day football club....
If he can afford to lose that amount of money, then surely Chelsea FC are, basically, set for the rest of their lives! Nothing can stop them, now.
But, while fans of `The Blues´ may be more the happy to see the likes of Hernan Crespo, Adrian Mutu and Damien Duff in their team's starting-line-up (with Joe Cole, Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Jesper Gronkjaer still on the sub's bench!), setting them up "nicely" for an end-of-season "onslaught" of silverware; one-man `splashing-his-cash´ like this is only going to influence others to come in and do the same -- and that is how this "Virus" will start to spread.
With more clubs (like Leeds United, yes) starting to suffer financially (just like Chelsea were - before), the search for easy-money will lead them abroad, and to the Eastern countries where money (so it seems...), literally, grows on trees.
And with all these `investors? and so-many green-notes flying-around, other clubs will feel as if they `HAVE´ to keep spending-big, just so they can keep-up.
Whatever happened to the Footballer who was happy to play; week-in, week-out; because of his love for the club and desire for the game itself?
Why do all the Wayne Rooney's, Joe Cole's, Wayne Bridge's and other promising talents have to get so "influenced" by the lure of a fortune that could last you several lifetimes? Why England's future?
Why Football?!
While all the hard-working individuals who know what Football is REALLY all-about may appear to be fading from our game fast, there is at least one-team in the Premiership that still knows the true value of eleven-men.... And that is, Leeds United.
And they've had a torrid time of it within the last few years, too!
So-nearly there at one-point; and now they lie only 5-weeks-away from entering Administration; staring the possibility of extinction, right in the face.
But do they give-up? No! With Eddie Gray - a man who `defines´ Leeds United - sitting in control, the other 19-teams in England's top-flight must prepare themselves, each, for a sharp and simple reminder of what the game is really all about.
Hard-work and co-operation forms a great `team´ that will play together, work together and fight together for as much as they can gain; never giving-up!
In-come the true footballers like Michael Dubbery and Lucas Radebe to join Alan Smith and co. Out-go the Lamine Sakho's, Zoumana Camara's and Roque Junior's of this team - foreign players - who were only really bought-in for show.
And, after a dreadful start to the season under former-manager Peter Reid, what happens? They go out against Charlton Athletic - another honest side that gives it their all - and finishing the game with all-three well-earnt points, in the bag.
And then comes Chelsea; the top-of-the-league "super-dream-team" who've just beaten Manchester United and look set to go-on like this all-season... And yet, Leeds give them a real lesson in what it's all about, with an early-goal and one-point earned against a team with a total-value of over £150m!
You see, what Eddie Gray has vitally reminded us all of is that although the game may be changing quite rapidly, it's not about how much money you have, Brazillian World Cup-winners, or David Beckham's; a team with knowledge and experience of each-other, and a real desire-to-win, can accomplish anything.
It's about how much effort and hard-graft you put in.
Money can buy you a lot of things -- But you cannot buy the price of true Football!
And that is why I believe - and hope - that Leeds United will not only escape from their £78m-worth of problems, but also see an end-of-season finish where First Division Football next-season is no longer in question.
Yes, they need money in order to survive as a Football Club (as do they all), but what Eddie Gray has taught us all is that there is far-more to Football than the pricey individuals from around the world who can seemingly make a significant difference. Even if he cannot, by law, be around for the entire remainder of the season, at least every Leeds United player and fan will have learned a valuable lesson in modern-day football they can now teach to others, in the fight against all that is slowly crippling the game.
If there's one team you've got to watch out for this season, it's Leeds United.
Forget about Chelsea, United and Arsenal; the boys down at Elland Road know what it's really all about - and let us hope they can spread the message, for the good of the game!
With the way this United is working (with a strong influence of younger, home-grown players) it reminds me a lot of another "United" of the early-'90's, who went on to achieve so-much.
Come the end of the season, who knows...
Maybe Mr.Abramovich won't be such a Hero, after all -- perhaps a team like VfB Stuttgart can show Europe's elite that money cannot buy you everything, in the Champions' League; in true Leeds-style....
Leeds United AFC: True Football defined!
But, as much as we love the beautiful game, it must be said that things have certainly changed, in the years gone by. The way I see it - and I'm others might agree with me here - `Money´ is what makes the Football World go-around. We no longer have teams of XI-men, giving it their all and fighting for the victory; instead, the majority of them (especially the bigger names, like Beckham) are far more interested in `looking good for the camera's´; attracting multi-million-pound sponshorship deals; and becoming somewhat of an "Idol" to every adoring fan.
Rather than an expression of an Art-form? with a very competitive nature, Football as we know has become much more of a "Business", in my eyes.
And sadly, I don't see the game ever going back towards its roots of `pureity´, like the good old days, anytime soon. If Money is enough to make the entire world go-around in-motion, then I don't see how something so-"small" (in comparison) yet so-popular is going to be able to avoid it. And with its growing-popularity, Rugby will soon be next-on-the-list with "Wilko" as its David Beckham and Clive Woodward as the new Sven-Goran Eriksson-slash-Sir Alex Ferguson.
Things are only going to get worse from here-on.
With sky-high wage-demands from some of the game's biggest stars - and not just in the Premier League; in Europe, in general - we have already seen Football take a hefty slide towards a very Business-like future. Clubs are almost willing to say "Yes" to whatever fees a player will request, based on his reputation - just so they can secure his signature and "guarentee" their status with a challenge for some major honours. And with Agents wheeling-and-dealing behind-the-scenes - while claiming a large stake in a player's earnings, also - it has become very hard for many clubs to say "No", because of `Money´?. And with crippling-debts and the possibillities of Administration and a financial-struggle lurking, it can be very hard for certain clubs, indeed - especially if the right-amount of money is on offer (eg. Rio Ferdinand's move from Leeds to Man United, 2-years-ago).
But, you already knew all that, right?
Perhaps what you haven't noted, though, is quite the effect a man of Roman Abramovich's calibre and vast-wealth could have on the game...
Since he took-over at the helms and began investing in his ``Chelski´´?? Empire, the Russian oil-tycoon billionaire has seen over £110m spent on "re-structuring" the existing Stamford Bridge first-team - and that includes transfer fee's-payed only! Just think of how much more he will lose, within the space of 12-months, on each star-players' £60,000-a-week-plus basic-wages, and the average day-to-day expenditure of a modern-day football club....
If he can afford to lose that amount of money, then surely Chelsea FC are, basically, set for the rest of their lives! Nothing can stop them, now.
But, while fans of `The Blues´ may be more the happy to see the likes of Hernan Crespo, Adrian Mutu and Damien Duff in their team's starting-line-up (with Joe Cole, Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Jesper Gronkjaer still on the sub's bench!), setting them up "nicely" for an end-of-season "onslaught" of silverware; one-man `splashing-his-cash´ like this is only going to influence others to come in and do the same -- and that is how this "Virus" will start to spread.
With more clubs (like Leeds United, yes) starting to suffer financially (just like Chelsea were - before), the search for easy-money will lead them abroad, and to the Eastern countries where money (so it seems...), literally, grows on trees.
And with all these `investors? and so-many green-notes flying-around, other clubs will feel as if they `HAVE´ to keep spending-big, just so they can keep-up.
Whatever happened to the Footballer who was happy to play; week-in, week-out; because of his love for the club and desire for the game itself?
Why do all the Wayne Rooney's, Joe Cole's, Wayne Bridge's and other promising talents have to get so "influenced" by the lure of a fortune that could last you several lifetimes? Why England's future?
Why Football?!
While all the hard-working individuals who know what Football is REALLY all-about may appear to be fading from our game fast, there is at least one-team in the Premiership that still knows the true value of eleven-men.... And that is, Leeds United.
And they've had a torrid time of it within the last few years, too!
So-nearly there at one-point; and now they lie only 5-weeks-away from entering Administration; staring the possibility of extinction, right in the face.
But do they give-up? No! With Eddie Gray - a man who `defines´ Leeds United - sitting in control, the other 19-teams in England's top-flight must prepare themselves, each, for a sharp and simple reminder of what the game is really all about.
Hard-work and co-operation forms a great `team´ that will play together, work together and fight together for as much as they can gain; never giving-up!
In-come the true footballers like Michael Dubbery and Lucas Radebe to join Alan Smith and co. Out-go the Lamine Sakho's, Zoumana Camara's and Roque Junior's of this team - foreign players - who were only really bought-in for show.
And, after a dreadful start to the season under former-manager Peter Reid, what happens? They go out against Charlton Athletic - another honest side that gives it their all - and finishing the game with all-three well-earnt points, in the bag.
And then comes Chelsea; the top-of-the-league "super-dream-team" who've just beaten Manchester United and look set to go-on like this all-season... And yet, Leeds give them a real lesson in what it's all about, with an early-goal and one-point earned against a team with a total-value of over £150m!
You see, what Eddie Gray has vitally reminded us all of is that although the game may be changing quite rapidly, it's not about how much money you have, Brazillian World Cup-winners, or David Beckham's; a team with knowledge and experience of each-other, and a real desire-to-win, can accomplish anything.
It's about how much effort and hard-graft you put in.
Money can buy you a lot of things -- But you cannot buy the price of true Football!
And that is why I believe - and hope - that Leeds United will not only escape from their £78m-worth of problems, but also see an end-of-season finish where First Division Football next-season is no longer in question.
Yes, they need money in order to survive as a Football Club (as do they all), but what Eddie Gray has taught us all is that there is far-more to Football than the pricey individuals from around the world who can seemingly make a significant difference. Even if he cannot, by law, be around for the entire remainder of the season, at least every Leeds United player and fan will have learned a valuable lesson in modern-day football they can now teach to others, in the fight against all that is slowly crippling the game.
If there's one team you've got to watch out for this season, it's Leeds United.
Forget about Chelsea, United and Arsenal; the boys down at Elland Road know what it's really all about - and let us hope they can spread the message, for the good of the game!
With the way this United is working (with a strong influence of younger, home-grown players) it reminds me a lot of another "United" of the early-'90's, who went on to achieve so-much.
Come the end of the season, who knows...
Maybe Mr.Abramovich won't be such a Hero, after all -- perhaps a team like VfB Stuttgart can show Europe's elite that money cannot buy you everything, in the Champions' League; in true Leeds-style....
Leeds United AFC: True Football defined!