Post by QPR Report on Jun 20, 2009 7:22:30 GMT
There are certain football writers such as Brian Glanville, David Conn who, in my opinion at least, are always worth reading - even when non QPR!
Brian Glanville/World Soccer - VALUE FOR MONEY?
17/06/09
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The question has been raised in Spain itself: how does Real Madrid, supposed £500 million in debt, afford £80 million for Cristiano Ronaldo and another £56 million for Kaka? Search me, guv, as they say.
We hear a good deal about the huge sums of money Real Madrid make from television rights, which unlike our own clubs they can negotiate unilaterally, and the money they get from sponsorship. All well and good, but if so much money continues to flood in, how can their debt be so colossal?
At least Michel Platini, having so often castigated English clubs for their vast level of debt, has been properly appalled by such profligacy. But when he says he means to do something about it, just what and just how? However desirable, it would not be easy.
Whether or not Ronaldo is “worth” such a vast amount of money is pudding which will be proved only in the eating. Zinedine Zidane certainly was, when he went so expensively from Juventus to Real, and since Ronaldo is surely the best and most exciting player in the world, he could well prove worth the money too.
My own feeling is that, whatever the colossal price, Real have got the better of the bargain, since Ronaldo is surely irreplaceable. Manchester United may or may not acquire Franck Ribery – Bayern’s asking price seems ludicrous – but gifted though eh is, he will never be a Ronaldo, never possess the immense dazzling versatility of Cristiano. The superb ball control, the marvellous free kicks and drives from distance, the power and pace.
It is suggested that the deal was virtually done, if not at this price, a year ago. But in the year which has ensured Ronaldo, even if to some extent he failed in the European Cup Final, has had another glorious season for United. Yes, Cristiano is at heart a simple soul, a poor boy from Madeira who has become very rich indeed, buying and crashing cars. Naïve enough to become involved with that vapid bird brain, Paris Hilton.
But who cares? It is what he so supremely well does on the field that matters and, if he can, as one hope avoid injury, he should surely for it for Real; as his United and Real predecessor, Beckham, no matter how many Spanish shirts he sold, never could.
***************
Thinking of Ronald’s enormous transfer, I find my mind going back to the greatest Real Madrid player of them all: Alfredo Di Stefano, who cost the club little or nothing when he came to it in 1953 after his years as a highly paid player in Colombia with the Millonarios club. This because Colombia were for some years out of FIFA which enabled them to pay players as much as they wished.
One who alas succumbed to the lure of much more money was that elegant England centre half, the late Neil Franklin who as the 1950 World Cup finals approached lied to the FA, telling them that since his wide was due to have a baby he didn’t wish to play in the tournament.
What he did instead, together with his Stoke City team mate the right winger George Mountford – who at one point in 1946 had sensationally kept Stanley Mattews out of them – was to fly to Bogota and play for the Santa Fe club at the then substantial sum of £50 a week. It didn’t work out and both came back with their tails between their legs, Franklin to play obscurely for the then unfashionable Hull City and never to regain his England place. Which was also a major loss to England.
Di Stefano was already a star young centre forward for River Plate and Argentina when he skipped off to Bogota. In 1953 he arrived in Spain with the two major clubs, Real and Barcelona, both claiming him. A judgement of Solomon decreed that he would play one season for each, beginning with Real. This he duly did after which Barcelona, no doubt to their eternal regret, waived their claim on him.
So it was Real he inspired, with his astonishing stamina and ubiquitousness, whom he inspired to win no fewer than all five of the first European Cups. Though he took Spanish nationality, he never played for Spain. In the 1962 World Cup they chose him, but he and Helenio Herrera, then the manager, had massive, irreconcilable egos.
Down at Vina del Mar, in a hotel overlooking the rocks and the pelicans, Di Stefano – despite the urging of his old father, (as he told me at the time) insisted he was injured and could play no part. Whatever Ronaldo does for Real, he can never achieve what Di Stefano did for them.
***************
What a torrent of spire, chauvinism and envy has been prompted by the transfer of Ronaldo to Real! We have even had it hinted that the Premiership, like Ronaldo himself had somehow become “un-British.” Well, you could hardly be more British, or at least English, than the repugnant Joey Barton, ruthless recidivist, guilty, not least in criminal court, of all kinds of brutal thuggery; for which of course he has done time.
So what does that tell you about those who have been running Newcastle United who have been paying this tug a reported £80,000 a week and, wait for it, £675,000 for “image rights.” Image rights! For Heaven’s sake, what kind of an image does he portray, if it is not appalling violence?
Newcastle knew all about his dire record when they signed him. Yet this was the “image” that he presented upon his reklease from pirson and which he all too viciously displayed, after that horrible foul against Liverpool.
***************
Tony Mowbray to manage Celtic. A decent chap with a commitment to attacking football, yet the man whose West Bromwich team gave away goals with reckless abandon and duly dropped down into the so-called Championship. Still, as we all know, nothing succeeds like failure. He seems to have been appointed not least on the back of his doughty service for Celtic as a centre back. Is that enough?
***************
www.worldsoccer.com/glanville/
Brian Glanville/World Soccer - VALUE FOR MONEY?
17/06/09
Visit our ever-improving Football Centre, where we've got line-ups, text feeds, previews, offers and over 5,000 markets. Click here!
The question has been raised in Spain itself: how does Real Madrid, supposed £500 million in debt, afford £80 million for Cristiano Ronaldo and another £56 million for Kaka? Search me, guv, as they say.
We hear a good deal about the huge sums of money Real Madrid make from television rights, which unlike our own clubs they can negotiate unilaterally, and the money they get from sponsorship. All well and good, but if so much money continues to flood in, how can their debt be so colossal?
At least Michel Platini, having so often castigated English clubs for their vast level of debt, has been properly appalled by such profligacy. But when he says he means to do something about it, just what and just how? However desirable, it would not be easy.
Whether or not Ronaldo is “worth” such a vast amount of money is pudding which will be proved only in the eating. Zinedine Zidane certainly was, when he went so expensively from Juventus to Real, and since Ronaldo is surely the best and most exciting player in the world, he could well prove worth the money too.
My own feeling is that, whatever the colossal price, Real have got the better of the bargain, since Ronaldo is surely irreplaceable. Manchester United may or may not acquire Franck Ribery – Bayern’s asking price seems ludicrous – but gifted though eh is, he will never be a Ronaldo, never possess the immense dazzling versatility of Cristiano. The superb ball control, the marvellous free kicks and drives from distance, the power and pace.
It is suggested that the deal was virtually done, if not at this price, a year ago. But in the year which has ensured Ronaldo, even if to some extent he failed in the European Cup Final, has had another glorious season for United. Yes, Cristiano is at heart a simple soul, a poor boy from Madeira who has become very rich indeed, buying and crashing cars. Naïve enough to become involved with that vapid bird brain, Paris Hilton.
But who cares? It is what he so supremely well does on the field that matters and, if he can, as one hope avoid injury, he should surely for it for Real; as his United and Real predecessor, Beckham, no matter how many Spanish shirts he sold, never could.
***************
Thinking of Ronald’s enormous transfer, I find my mind going back to the greatest Real Madrid player of them all: Alfredo Di Stefano, who cost the club little or nothing when he came to it in 1953 after his years as a highly paid player in Colombia with the Millonarios club. This because Colombia were for some years out of FIFA which enabled them to pay players as much as they wished.
One who alas succumbed to the lure of much more money was that elegant England centre half, the late Neil Franklin who as the 1950 World Cup finals approached lied to the FA, telling them that since his wide was due to have a baby he didn’t wish to play in the tournament.
What he did instead, together with his Stoke City team mate the right winger George Mountford – who at one point in 1946 had sensationally kept Stanley Mattews out of them – was to fly to Bogota and play for the Santa Fe club at the then substantial sum of £50 a week. It didn’t work out and both came back with their tails between their legs, Franklin to play obscurely for the then unfashionable Hull City and never to regain his England place. Which was also a major loss to England.
Di Stefano was already a star young centre forward for River Plate and Argentina when he skipped off to Bogota. In 1953 he arrived in Spain with the two major clubs, Real and Barcelona, both claiming him. A judgement of Solomon decreed that he would play one season for each, beginning with Real. This he duly did after which Barcelona, no doubt to their eternal regret, waived their claim on him.
So it was Real he inspired, with his astonishing stamina and ubiquitousness, whom he inspired to win no fewer than all five of the first European Cups. Though he took Spanish nationality, he never played for Spain. In the 1962 World Cup they chose him, but he and Helenio Herrera, then the manager, had massive, irreconcilable egos.
Down at Vina del Mar, in a hotel overlooking the rocks and the pelicans, Di Stefano – despite the urging of his old father, (as he told me at the time) insisted he was injured and could play no part. Whatever Ronaldo does for Real, he can never achieve what Di Stefano did for them.
***************
What a torrent of spire, chauvinism and envy has been prompted by the transfer of Ronaldo to Real! We have even had it hinted that the Premiership, like Ronaldo himself had somehow become “un-British.” Well, you could hardly be more British, or at least English, than the repugnant Joey Barton, ruthless recidivist, guilty, not least in criminal court, of all kinds of brutal thuggery; for which of course he has done time.
So what does that tell you about those who have been running Newcastle United who have been paying this tug a reported £80,000 a week and, wait for it, £675,000 for “image rights.” Image rights! For Heaven’s sake, what kind of an image does he portray, if it is not appalling violence?
Newcastle knew all about his dire record when they signed him. Yet this was the “image” that he presented upon his reklease from pirson and which he all too viciously displayed, after that horrible foul against Liverpool.
***************
Tony Mowbray to manage Celtic. A decent chap with a commitment to attacking football, yet the man whose West Bromwich team gave away goals with reckless abandon and duly dropped down into the so-called Championship. Still, as we all know, nothing succeeds like failure. He seems to have been appointed not least on the back of his doughty service for Celtic as a centre back. Is that enough?
***************
www.worldsoccer.com/glanville/