How Man City Might Save Football (sort of)
By: Daryl | September 8th, 2008(Yep, we’re still banging on about the Man City takeover. So sue us. It’s interesting stuff.)
So Man City now have all the money in the world. Or at least most of it. The club can outbid any other club for any player, and then pay that player however much it takes. So after January’s transfer window they’ll be the greatest team in the history of the world, right?
Well, no. Because no matter how much money you have, the very best players will always treat you like a leper unless you’re in the Champions League. So first you need to get to the Champions League, and then you need to sign Champions League quality players. I believe that’s what they call a Catch 22 situation.
Yes, Robinho has signed. And you could argue that he’s the first superstar Citeh signing and others will now follow his example. But it’s more realistic to argue that Robinho was a footballer absolutely desperate to get out of Madrid on September 1st, and the bus to Man City was the only one leaving before midnight.
Signing more high profile players - Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal, Fernando Torres from Liverpool and Cristiano Ronaldo from Man Utd were mentioned - will be more or less impossible in the near future.
None of those players will willingly join a non-Champions League club - Fabregas has even said signing for City would be suicide.
Little dramatic maybe there Cesc. But if nothing else, this is important for the reputation of high profile players - and football in general.
Players are constantly accused of being only interested in money (Cashley Cole etc) but it’s also been historically true that the richest clubs were also the most successful clubs. So while bigger clubs could offer players more money, they could also offer a higher level of football and a better chance of winning trophies.
I’ve always hoped that accusation of players being only in interested in money were untrue. That players were really more interested in medals. And now - thanks to Man City - the world’s finest footballers have a chance to prove me right. All they have to do is say no.
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Category: English Premier League
Tags: Arsenal, Cesc Fabregas, Cristiano Ronaldo, English Premier League, EPL, Fernando Torres, Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd, Premiership, RobinhoSubscribe
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Comments | Add your comment
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I can always tell which way any article will be biased when I see “Citeh”
That aside, read what Mark Hughes has to say about the future;
quote from mcfc site “it takes time to build a team and as I have said before we have to make sure that the balance of the squad is right. That’s my job, but we’ll get there as quickly as we can.
“What’s important is that we will try to get value, if we can, if the right player is attainable. We’ll still look for good, young players who will gain value because that is what I always think is the right thing to do.
“We’ll make sure that we get the right players for the right positions, that’s building a football team and a club. We will go for players that I think will enhance our expectations for success. My role does not really change, maybe the sums of money and the means to get a different level of player changes. But the same mindset is here, and that’s bringing players that will help build a team.”
I hope that settles your mind Daryl, it is interesting though, innit?
Posted from
United States
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Looks like there is another Utd fan here who doesn’t like the prospect of CITY competing with them on any level. I am afraid Daryl that maybe, just maybe, the door to the closed shop you have snuggly sat inside for the last few years along with Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal may well have been blown open and a bit of extra competition isn’t what you are wanting. For too long Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool have been creaming of the bucketloads of cash offered by the Champions League with no prospect of that ever changing and just when it looks like that may change even a little, you all of a sudden become up in arms about it. If this puts another nail in the coffin of real football, then don’t forget who got there first. Citeh(?) may finish the whole thing off but united haven’t exactly been competing on a level playing field recently. Luckily for you Daryl, this is City and we are bound to make a mess of it somehow so don’t you go losing sleep.
Posted from
United States -
I’m a City supporter and I hope they prove you right as well. Robinho may have moved up the champion’s league qualification by a year or two but to think we’ll get top 4 this year is crazy. Unless footballers really do care about ridiculous sums of money that’s really just gravy for them anyway.
Posted from
United States -
I dunno. Isn’t there an argument that you’d be joining a growing team, with the chance to be the centrepoint of the team? The money is a nice bonus, but when you are paid as much as these fella’s are, a few extra grand a week is not going to be noticed really.
Posted from
United States -
This drivel is across every websiteand across the media.Never mind Daryl,keep filling your car up,we can never be rich enough.
Posted from
United Kingdom -
I honestly think the press is having a field day on this and how much is fueled by Man City’s front office chit-chat is guess-work. I think one element that is rarely discussed is the talk is of a total different style player than Mark Hughes worked with. I’m in a wait and see mode with how the new-found Man City player responds to a disciplinarian.
Rob - while I agree with you, that is a by-product of maturity. Players jump around now far too much and never seem to stop and realize they are making enough money to fuel a legacy. I’ll save my commentary for private discussions but I wish most top flight players truly understand the pride of wearing the teams crest and investing in their community. Of course thats one of the differences in modern club Footy with the past.
Posted from
Germany -
Just to be clear, I’m very much not a Man Utd fan. So none of the above is written from some sort of knee-jerk anti-Man City bias.
Man City fans seem to be angry because I’m arguing that top top players probably won’t be joining the club just yet. That’s not to say these players won’t join in the future. I’m just hoping that this whole thing will prove that some footballers care more about medals than money.
It’s likely that one day soon City (or Citeh) will be able to offer both, and good luck to all concerned because City fans deserve some success. But I’m hoping that top players won’t go there in the short term just for a heavy paycheck.
Posted from
United States -
I got your point Daryl. This will be a test for players to see if their go for the paycheck or for success in footbal. The succes of ManSheikCity is a long term issue (100 year term) if they don’t sell their souls to the devil to achieved in a record time (this season) And of course they will get all those players that they want IN THEIR FANTASY FOOTBALL TEAM there is.
Posted from
United States -
so how many teams have you been accused of supporting now, Daryl? you should keep a tally.
Posted from
United States -
The only way this Man City situation “saves” football is if it ultimately speeds up the process and timeline for UEFA to finally implement the inevitable salary/transfer cap.
Posted from
United States -
elle,
I think today makes it all of the Big Four plus Spurs. I must spend a fortune on season tickets.
Posted from
United States -
There’s no big teams in the midlands for you to support though*
*My Birmingham supporting Grandad would kill me if he knew I wrote that.
Posted from
United States -
Ouch. That hurt even more than being called a Man Utd fan!
True enough though. Manchester now has two big teams, London two and a half, and the whole Midlands still hasn’t even had a team in the modern era Champions League.
Posted from
United States -
Bayern Munich had no trouble signing top players (Franck Ribery, Luca Toni, Zé Roberto) when they were outside of Champions League. It’s harder to break the Top 4 in EPL but there will be plenty of top players happy to try their luck at Man City. The club already is building a solid reputation in some solid talent pools.
Croatia - Vedran Corluka
Brazil - Elano, Robinho, Jo
Bulgaria - Martin Petrov, BerbatovIf Man City gets known as THE place to play for Croatians and Brazilians in EPL that’s not half bad. Add in young English internationals Joe Hart and Micah Richards and you have an appealing destination for any player.
Posted from
United States -
Newsflash Joe, Corluka doesn’t play for us anymore and Berbatov never has and probable never will.
maybe some players will go to City because it will be a different kind of challenge. It is easy enough to go to a club where silverware is pretty much guaranteed but maybe some would like to be part of something new, and rise to the challenge of getting one of Europe’s biggest underachieving clubs (and laughing stocks) to their rightful place among the elite. Wads of cash will help though.
Posted from
United States -
if manCity want to get big they need to do it like chelsea did. Get players that are very good but not names, players that are willing to leave for a pay increase. AC Milan, manU, arsenal, liverpool etc are all very big brands, manC isnt so they need to build that up first. Next start winning and becoming regular CL placers. Once your regular in CL you will get bigger names.
ManCity should buy players like toulalan, diego(who will come cause he best friends with robinho), aim for some upcoming players and suddenly they PL contenders.Posted from
Australia -
Southern Blue - Oops. I guess following transfer rumors have finally rotted my brain to the core. Thanks for the corrections.
Posted from
United States
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