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Firstly, apologies for not providing an update of the blog in recent times, I was a little carried away on some other projects, anyway I'm back now. With the Transfer Window closed I'm going to broaden the scope of the site to discuss more general footballing stuff - but as ever from an Arsenal slant... Again feel free to join in the debate.
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Since my last post, it's been all guns blazing for the Gooners. The football coming out of arsenal's first (and perhaps even more scarily B-team) is something truly special to behold. Given the doom-and-gloom predicted by most of the media and football 'experts', we should host some kind of live-TV hat eating competition, featuring Jaime Redknapp et al.
On a more annoying note, the noises being made by Michele Platini and Stepp Blatter will naturally come as little surprise to those of you who follow all things football related. The degree of their recent vociferous attack on Arsene Wenger and his worldwide youth recruitment policy would have surprised many (see Platini and Blatters comments). Here they whine about Arsenal signing all the good young players before Barca and Madrid get the chance to slap a £40M price tags on them. To this I would say if it weren't for the brilliant coaching facilities and the football star factory constructed by Wenger, most of the players he has brought in from the back of beyond would probably have faded into obscurity due to a lack of opportunity.
The actions of Barcelona who recently took legal action over the departure of Fran Merida..while trying to nick John Bostock from Crystal Palace, smack of hypocrisy. Interestingly, all this huffing and puffing from Platini comes mearly days before news of Arsenal tracking 16 year old Real Madrid striker Pablo Sarabia breaks...coincidence, I think not. In my personal belief given the 6 or so billion people on the planet, I'm sure there are enough quality youth players to fill the training grounds of all the top clubs several times over. The question is what you do with and how well you train these young players, that will ultimately make the difference.
Platini (and much of the national media) give no credit to Wenger for setting up what is now the world standard in coaching technique and method (read this pathetic attempt in 2001 where he attempts to get Arsene for the French youth coach setup). Arsenal are also taking a big hand in Grooming the next generation of English (yes...you read that correctly) stars. Unbeknownst to most tabloid sporting journalists, there is a really strong English core of talent in the Arsenal youth sides. The reason there are few English players in the current first team is because the raw material just wasn't there before the FA's academy drive, which sought to emulate France's world cup success (based on the Australian model). To say that Wenger is having a negative impact of football (or even international football) is myopic to say the least.
Blatter and Platini are faced with two major problems, firstly they unofficially answer to the seedy directors of Madrid, Barcelona and Milan, from the centres of footballing power over the last 15 years. The last few years have however seen a marked shift of footballing economic power to the shores of England. The Premiership is now the most wealthy league by some considerable distance, with Arsenal recently posting record profits (in a year the won noting and were laden with stadium debt) . Now Spanish and Italian sides are under serious threat (the last 3 champions league finals were contested by Premiership teams), they are seeking to use the FIFA and UEFA presidents as their political mouthpieces.
Comments by Platini in 2004 were hardly inline with promoting the global game.
"Is it okay that some sides don't even field two players from their own country?" Platini asked.
"What about those clubs that buy their players abroad. Is it okay that there are a dozen Africans playing for Beveren in Belgium?
"I mean, why do they still call themselves "Beveren"? Why do they still play in Belgium?
The acid truth is football has never been in such rude health and demand, however, precisely because of it's recent economic value that uglier aspects are beginning to emerge.
5 comments:
First of all, nice view..
Wenger have done a terrific job since the first day he be with Arsenal...What he did is saving the money of our beloved club so we don't need any outsider investor that buy club just for the sake of money.
Buy a cheap and talented youngsters is a big gamble actually. Not every youngsters will be groom in the way we expected. But when you buy them in the young age, you can teach them with your style of coaching, attitude.
Even Platini Jr play with Millwall, he will be tempted if Man United come to him. I doubt the Sr will do the same too...
So, Shut up all the authorities that think football is about money because Wenger show us his passion towards the noble sport.
Well said mate. Luckily most people can see through the thinly veiled media, whose purposes are clearly politically motivated..
My personal opinion is we wouldn't have half as much negative press if Wenger wasn't so colourblind (and I'm thankful he is). A large section of the media and football commentators I think object to such a successful team dominated by black players... I noticed their glee when Henry finally left for Barca.
Labour MP Tom Watson seems to have got wind of this story.... Seems like Usamnov/Schillings have inadvertently made waves in Westminister.... Though I suspect this may have more to do with Boris Johnsons site going down along with Craig Murray's as much as anything else...
see:
http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/?p=1467
Seems like Pele backs Wenger on the Foreign Stars Issue.
Pele Backs Wenger On Foreign Stars
Re. Quotas
I've watched my fair share of crap football over the years, having unwaveringly support the Arse since 1970 and I will support the club, whatever happens until I finally get carted off to the great North Bank in the sky.
In saying that, I feel so honoured to watch the team these days, although I find it difficult watching other matches now, because I've been spoilt watching the boys and other games bore me. (Chavski being a prime example!!)
Other teams and so-called experts are just jealous and are trying to even the balance with this quota malarkey.
Any sane person can see that, far from improving the national team, it will destroy English football for good.
The dickheads in the pro-quota corner however, are extremely delusional. I'm confident that even if it did come in, and I really hope it doesn't, Arsene would pluck some unknown kids from his magic hat and before you know it, we'd be head and shoulders above the rest again.
They should realise that the main ingredient for success is a great manager. It speaks for itself that every other team has raided the continent for players and paid ridiculous fees, yet Arsene always seems to get the cream for the price of milk.
Even Avram Grunt is piping up now because his team currently contain a lot of English players. Does he think that will be the case forever - how short-sighted are this knob jockeys.
Anyway - Rant Over
Up The Arse
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