Managers of premier league clubs generally have a very intricate and all encompassing scouting network that is constantly in operation with the sole purpose of finding and recruiting the best talent in world football. They also have the whole of July and August during which time they can approach the aforementioned talent through the correct and proper channels and try and get them to their clubs. I would imagine that they have done a full and ongoing assessment of their squads strengths and weaknesses before prioritising their targets accordingly, so that any potential concerns are eliminated. That’s what I always imagined took place anyway, until the January transfer window opens and at least half of the managers completely disprove this theory. Instead these lunatics sit in press conferences and interviews denying they are after any new players and saying they are happy with what they have got, even when we all know that what they have got is actually cack and they definitely do need new players and investment. Then, having had the entire month of January to do any of the necessary strengthening, they suddenly spring into life thickened and engorged with the desperate need to make a fantastically overpriced and badly judged purchase. Its a bit like people that bought a 3D telly, Blu-ray player or even beta-max video when they first hit the shops. Had they waited a few months they would have got a much better model at a far lower price.
The best example of this is good old ‘Arry Redknapp. Despite having a squad filled with very good midfielders, and even though he has had the whole of January to recruit another one if he felt the need, he had left the transfer market alone. Until the absolute dying embers of the window, as the SKY team were going into near self abuse, good old ‘Arry could wait no longer. He HAD to try and spend something, so despite his well documented attempts to buy every striker in Spain, he went for a midfielder in Blackpool’s Charlie Adam. Had ‘Arry been able to put down his copy of readers wives 3 minutes earlier he might have got him, but sadly on this occasion, no sale.
That didnt stop the spending in january topping £200 million pounds on purchases that really could have waited until the summer. Liverpool shelled out £35m on Andy Carroll. That sentence in isolation should paint a picture of unnecessary spending. Liverpool, despite their alleged renaissance under King Kenny are not going to get into the Champions league, they are also not going to be relegated, so why make ‘Assault’ Carroll the most expensive british player ever? Andy has been arrested more times than he has won England caps and despite a promosing start to life in the premiership with the Geordie’s, he hasnt had the impact of a young Wayne Rooney or Michael Owen. Hopefully the price tag and the expectations wont prove too heavy a burden to carry, but rest assured if they do Mr Carroll will surely find a way to let off some steam.
This week two ex Man United youth players announced their retirement. One was played all his career with passion and tenacity, making the most of the skills he has been blessed with and giving absolutely everything in every single game he has taken part in. The other is Robbie Savage. Gary Neville will not be missed by anyone but Man United fans but he should be admired for a career that has won him countless club honours and 85 England caps. Many football analysts would say that Neville has been the best right back of the premiership era by a great margin and few would argue that his right hand side partnership with Beckham was one of a kind for both club and country. Robbie Savage on the other hand was an annoying, provocative, moaning, talentless clown with the first touch of a sperm whale.
The other item in the news that is troubling me is the Olympic stadium debate. After the joyous London Olympics in 2012, which has so far cost £17 trillion pounds, the plan is to hand over (sell) the main stadium to a football club. Thereby ensuring that the Olympic legacy is lost and all those youngsters that watched Great Britain clinch their bronze medal in hopscotch will have no inspirational stadia to aim for. To me it is akin to hosting the FIFA World Cup (unlikely as we cant afford the bribes) and then as soon as the event is over giving the stadium that hosted the final to the English Lawn Bowls society. it does not make sense. Keep the stadium for athletics and try and get some interest back into a sport that was once of huge interest to the nation. Well before all the athletes were ripped to the tits on steroids and growth hormones anyway.
The question is why do any of the clubs going for the stadium really want it? Do Spurs want to move away from Tottenham just to get a new stadium? One that they are going to have knock down and rebuild before they can move to it? Then risk losing serious sections of their hardcore support a la Wimbledon. Do West Ham really need it when they cant fill their current stadium, then when they have moved and kept the running track they would lose the atmosphere that has been a key feature of the “chicken run” at the Boleyn ground. How many of their current fan base will be watching their championship games next season anyway?
So we have trigger happy managers willing to mortgage their clubs future while they touch themselves at the thought of the incredibly overpriced player that did nothing at his last club(s). Some long haired ugg boot wearing loudmouth retiring and a club steeped in tradition wanting to move stadiums just so their fans can have 3 seats each and shout twice as loud to make half the noise. Football is getting madder by the day
Welcome to the waffling. A great read. Soapgirl