Martin Samuel makes a good point

[Danners9]

http://notw.typepad.com/samuel/2007/05/berber_must_sta.html


I don't generally like the fat hairy hammer but here he makes a good point, even broken clocks are right twice a day ;)

The first paragraph is very much the media's outlook on the game by the way, some people got confused. The irony is that the fat one here works for the very news group most guilty of reporting bullshit - NOTW, The Sun, SSN. Guilty as charged.

However he is right. The 16 other clubs are not feeder clubs for the Champions League cartel. Some of the reader comments have valid points too, "I'm glad someone outside the ordinary fans has realised there is more to life than the self-appointed big 4." Perhaps the best one. It's the sort of thing we've discussed here.. people all too happy to believe the paper speculation because it's in the papers, the writers and editors abuse their position to perpetuate myths and foundationless gossip they have probably made up during their pub lunch :)

Still, this article aside, he is a fat hairy Spammer and i don't like him :)

[pookspur]

i am, emotionally speaking, inclined to agree with his sentiments.

but the reality is - and has always been - that a player is going to find his level. it's why we, and not forest, have michael dawson. it's why we lost teddy, and why we got him back. and the very best players are always going to be at the best clubs. they're either there, they're going to be sold there, or they're going to take their current club there.

but the last one has essentially become a thing of the past, hasn't it? in the modern (post-bosman) age, players control so much more of their career (or should i say, clubs control them so much less), that clubs have far, far less time to rise to the levels of their best talent. what're the odds of a tom finney taking PNE to the top of english football in this day and age? the agonizingly long process of upward vertical social mobility among football clubs is one that can no long be sped up by a bit of individual talent - at least not as easily as in the past (though it can by alot of cash). they just don't have the time. if the club can't keep up with the virtuoso, off he goes.

berbatov will be recognized (if he isn't already) as among the best in english football, and he's going to end up playing on one of the best teams in english football (assuming he stays in england). our only hope of keeping him is that spurs can become one of those teams. the odds are long. we'll get another year from him. and if we show marked improvement next year, maybe we'll get another. but as soon as he perceives that he is among the best, and that we are not going to be, he's gone.

i'm not saying there can't be exceptions, but they're rare. and there's damn good reason that shearer is so beloved on tyneside - and it's not just the quality of play.

i'll applaud the article, and i'll surely acknowledge that there's more to life than the so-called big 4. but players (as ever) want money, and they want to win. and they'll always maximize what they can get of each in exchange for their talent.

the difference between now and in the past isn't just the champions' league money - it's the CL money combined with the bosman.

[KHowe]

I'm pretty tired, too tired to give any real opinion, but that was a good find Danners. Couldn't agree with him more on his points.