The "Beautiful Game"

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/simon-english-if-man-united-shares-get-any-lower-expect-glazers-to-grab-first-chance-of-an-exit-8038685.html


 No one thinks the Glazers have any interest in football or the desires of the fans. They want to make cash, and have done so.

Football in this country died when money became more important than talent. At one time, players would have pulled on a club, or country shirt and played for £20.00 per week, or in the case of country shirt probably for the price of getting to the stadium, but Jimmy Hill changed all that in 1961. The first question that a player asks today seems to be "Will my match fee cover a new Ferrari and I also need a new WAG?". However, I think that even Jimmy Hill would be appalled at the obscene amount of money sloshing around in the game today. Television rights running into £ billions, franchises in the same amounts, transfer fees,"floating clubs on the stock exchanges of the world, clubs changing hands sometimes within months for huge prices, the list is almost endless. At the end of the line of course and as usual, are the fans. Paying huge amounts for their season tickets, and or ground entry fees, club shop item and "refreshments" at half time. The "Product" as the games are now called, seem to be declining in value either in terms of entertainment or even displays of skill, despite the attempts of the media to hype up the players in the eyes of the public. At the International level, the team is elevated in the media into a world beating machine that will win all forms of trophies, titles and other plaudits. Sadly. all too often the euphoria is swiftly replaced by a witch hunt to find a scapegoat for poor performance.
The fact is, that at International level we are not that good a side. At club level, success of teams in European competition, is all too often based around teams built on the strength of very talented players originating from countries outside the UK.