Reclaim the Game

Wednesday, 8th September 2010

A Phoney Phase to a Phoney Competition – Part Three

In the previous two parts of the ‘Phoney Competition’ series, RTG highlighted how the unrestricted spending of billionaire owners was ruining the Premier League competition. Also highlighted, were the hyper-inflationary pressures resulting directly from the mega-millions thrown in by these wealthy owners which has led to a huge financial chasm to cross for ambitious Championship clubs to get into the Premier League. A chasm that has meant financial ruin and further losses of league status for those clubs who fail to stay in the League beyond a single season.

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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Wednesday, 11th August 2010

A Phoney Phase to a Phoney Competition – Part Two

Last week RTG highlighted the total distortion of competition within the Premier League caused by the unrestricted spending of Manchester City and Chelsea. RTG also highlighted how this distortion is putting additional financial demands on the rest of the Premiership. So much so, that promotion can now be viewed increasingly as a poisoned chalice, with financial implosion and further relegation becoming the norm for those clubs failing to maintain their premiership status beyond a season or two. As RTG writes, recently relegated Hull City is believed to be on the brink of administration following a host of other clubs whose recent history has included a period in the top flight.

RTG believes the time has come to impose financial controls on this unbridled distortion. Yes, UEFA has announced rules that impose some limited constraints, but as RTG has previously pointed out before, these are very limited and will allow the continual subsidy of clubs living beyond their means until at least the 2019/2020 season! Also, they will continue to allow the purchase of clubs via leveraged buyouts, thus waving in more Glazers, Hicks and Gillettes into the English game.

"Spending a lot of money on new signings doesn't guarantee anything. City have to remember there are still teams like Chelsea, (Manchester) United, Liverpool and Arsenal who will always be at the top”.

Salomon Kalou, July 2010

Read more of this article here...