The Holy Trinity
Player Valuation: £10m
As the dust settles on another season and we frantically search for news about our club it got me wondering about what our ambitions our for the coming season. I was having a conversation about next season with some mates and we all agreed that basically its between Man U and Chelski for the title AGAIN. Then Arsenal, Shittee, Spurs, US, Red [Poor language removed] and Villa for the places 3rd to 8th. Nothing new in that you would be right to think, but is it really only TWO teams who can realistically win the league?? How can we be saying this before a ball has even been kicked in earnest ?? Past form dictates our opinions no doubt but can anyone argue against it with any conviction ?? This is where the piece splits in two i.e Now and Then !!
Then
When I began watching football (late 70's) and going regularly 1980/81 onwards football was so special to me. Here was a passionate and emotional sport watched by a voiciferous crowd and it was amazing. Me and my Dad used to sit in the Lower Bullens (probably to stop me getting squashed and learning to swear) and I'd make him take me there for 2pm to watch the players come out to warm up. I can still hear Zoom and Why Do You Have to be a Heartbraker , playing on the tannoy as the players would warm up. I still get goosebumps when I hear those songs !! Anyway, it was so exciting as a boy growing up being part of that. Yes we lost derbies (including the 5nil) we had some terrible teams but when it changed in 1983/4 and continued through to 1990 (yes I know our last silverware in that period was 1987, we were still boss though) it was the best time ever to watch football (obviously in my opinion).
The thing that made FOOTBALL so interesting and exciting when I began going the match was something that we all agreed on whilst having this discussion was that whether OUR teams were good or not FOOTBALL itself was great. In those days EVERY team had some real quality players. The likes of Ipswich had Muhren, Gates, Brazil, Thijssen, Mariner..... Southampton had Keegan, Channon, Armstrong,Wallace.... Forest had Ian Wallace, Birtles, Davenport, O'Neill, Bowyer, Shilton.... I could obviously go on but my point here is that even the 'Unfashionable' clubs had real quality and I would look foward to seeing those players in action at Goodison. The other thing is that even though there were favourites for the title it was certainly more open than it is now with teams like West Ham making a real run for the title with us , spurs and the [Poor language removed] in 1985 and 86. The difference was the MONEY and I know it has changed but in my opinion not for the better. Clubs just generally brought in a couple of players each summer and didn't hound players through the press continually (ala Man Shittee). Even when the [Poor language removed] were good they generally only brought in a couple each season and not always big name players..
Now
Back to the now ... For us I think we could have a really good run at the Top4 but a lot depends on if Pienaar stays or if not who we replace him with and whether or not we have any significant injuries !! When our players are fit we have a really strong squad with some real classy players in it. A good mix of bread and butter and some flair mixes well. 3 defeats in 26 Premier League matches tells us everything we need to know. Now everyone else may strengthen but that doesn't really matter becuase what we need to do this season is beat the teams we should be beating or would expext to beat and if we match this season's form we'll be the ones to watch. That's the Everton bit done.
Now the NOW in terms of Football..... As I stated at the start , for me only TWO teams can win the premier league next season and for me that's a poor state of affairs. Football has been destroyed by Greed, Agents, The Bosman Ruling and SKY TV. I personally, would not want to be run like Man Shittee but would welcome some sensible investement. I want teams to be able to have 4 or 5 classy players without the fear of the SKY4 courting them and the media almost demanding that these players be allowed to leave to further their careers. Yes I know transfers will go on but it should be between the players and the clubs. Every club in my opinion should have to finance themselves so if they only make 10 million then 10 million is all they can spend etc.. We need a wage cap in this country and even a transfer cap if it could be worked out sensibly. Bosman should be scrapped in way of the old tribunal system so clubs don't get shafted into agreeing new contracts with players who have two years left to run !!! Maybe some standing (Safely) should be re-introduced to drive the costs down for fans who are getting priced out !!
I'm going to stop now cause I'm running into all other areas which wasn't my intention... Anyway for me I definately think that Football was better THEN than it is now...
What do you think ??
Then
When I began watching football (late 70's) and going regularly 1980/81 onwards football was so special to me. Here was a passionate and emotional sport watched by a voiciferous crowd and it was amazing. Me and my Dad used to sit in the Lower Bullens (probably to stop me getting squashed and learning to swear) and I'd make him take me there for 2pm to watch the players come out to warm up. I can still hear Zoom and Why Do You Have to be a Heartbraker , playing on the tannoy as the players would warm up. I still get goosebumps when I hear those songs !! Anyway, it was so exciting as a boy growing up being part of that. Yes we lost derbies (including the 5nil) we had some terrible teams but when it changed in 1983/4 and continued through to 1990 (yes I know our last silverware in that period was 1987, we were still boss though) it was the best time ever to watch football (obviously in my opinion).
The thing that made FOOTBALL so interesting and exciting when I began going the match was something that we all agreed on whilst having this discussion was that whether OUR teams were good or not FOOTBALL itself was great. In those days EVERY team had some real quality players. The likes of Ipswich had Muhren, Gates, Brazil, Thijssen, Mariner..... Southampton had Keegan, Channon, Armstrong,Wallace.... Forest had Ian Wallace, Birtles, Davenport, O'Neill, Bowyer, Shilton.... I could obviously go on but my point here is that even the 'Unfashionable' clubs had real quality and I would look foward to seeing those players in action at Goodison. The other thing is that even though there were favourites for the title it was certainly more open than it is now with teams like West Ham making a real run for the title with us , spurs and the [Poor language removed] in 1985 and 86. The difference was the MONEY and I know it has changed but in my opinion not for the better. Clubs just generally brought in a couple of players each summer and didn't hound players through the press continually (ala Man Shittee). Even when the [Poor language removed] were good they generally only brought in a couple each season and not always big name players..
Now
Back to the now ... For us I think we could have a really good run at the Top4 but a lot depends on if Pienaar stays or if not who we replace him with and whether or not we have any significant injuries !! When our players are fit we have a really strong squad with some real classy players in it. A good mix of bread and butter and some flair mixes well. 3 defeats in 26 Premier League matches tells us everything we need to know. Now everyone else may strengthen but that doesn't really matter becuase what we need to do this season is beat the teams we should be beating or would expext to beat and if we match this season's form we'll be the ones to watch. That's the Everton bit done.
Now the NOW in terms of Football..... As I stated at the start , for me only TWO teams can win the premier league next season and for me that's a poor state of affairs. Football has been destroyed by Greed, Agents, The Bosman Ruling and SKY TV. I personally, would not want to be run like Man Shittee but would welcome some sensible investement. I want teams to be able to have 4 or 5 classy players without the fear of the SKY4 courting them and the media almost demanding that these players be allowed to leave to further their careers. Yes I know transfers will go on but it should be between the players and the clubs. Every club in my opinion should have to finance themselves so if they only make 10 million then 10 million is all they can spend etc.. We need a wage cap in this country and even a transfer cap if it could be worked out sensibly. Bosman should be scrapped in way of the old tribunal system so clubs don't get shafted into agreeing new contracts with players who have two years left to run !!! Maybe some standing (Safely) should be re-introduced to drive the costs down for fans who are getting priced out !!
I'm going to stop now cause I'm running into all other areas which wasn't my intention... Anyway for me I definately think that Football was better THEN than it is now...
What do you think ??
