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Post by grumpyolde on Jan 18, 2009 22:25:59 GMT
One of the most important features of the british culture and society has been stolen from right under our noses. I refer of course to the beautiful game, the game we introduced to the world, the game of football.
Remember not so long ago when most clubs were owned by local business people. People who had a real love of the team they probably supported as young lads. Teams had players who were developed by the team they lived close to and whose fortunes they had followed most of their lives. Clubs who also lived within their means.Of course we had some transfers but these were paid out of our own gate revenue.
What have we got now. Owners from all corners of the world, most of them looking to take as much away from the sport as they possibly can, and usually at the expense of the supporters. Coaches who can't even speak English.
Players from so many countries you need a university degree in geography to know where they are all from Local players can't get a chance. Just like the owners the mercenaries are only here for as much money as they can screw out of the game. Like you I see them kissing the badge when a goal is scored but at the slightest hint of bit more money from another club a transfer is requested and off they to kiss a new badge they had never heard of.
The game is sick. How can any group of businesses be generating so much money - gates, tv revenue sponsorship - and yet so many of it's members are in danger of going bust. The answer is the greed of the people inside the sport.
Now we have the farce of the proposed Kaka transfer for £100m. Don't think it will not affect your own club because transfer fees and wages will rise as clubs try to remain competitive.O.K. Manchester City may be subsidised at this time but guess where the other clubs will be looking for extra money.From all the usual mugs.
It seems to me the only people who really care about the individual clubs are the ones who are continually being shafted. That's right the supporters.
Please can we have our game back.
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Post by grumpyolde on Jan 20, 2009 11:16:08 GMT
I'm very surprised nobody has responded to this blog. Does this mean you are all happy with the way things are - and the way they are going.
How will you feel if they start playing the games abroad as well. The premier league have tried to bring this in already.
Don't think it can't happen. Who would heve beleived just a few years ago that now we have clubs putting out teams with no English players at all.
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Post by QPR Report on Jan 20, 2009 11:23:36 GMT
Ok, starting off:
Three parts:
- Is it a shame/Crime?
- Do most fans care/or only care about results/style of play, etc.
- Can anything be done about it?
I'm not so sure the nationality of the owners is the crucial point. It's more their motivation (domestic or foreign) for being involved;
I think we all like "home grown" players. On the other hand when you think how much more cosmopolitan we've become; and the enhanced talents theoretically coming to the clubs.
And finally, for better or worse, I don't think anything can be done about it.
[And maybe more to come later]
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Post by cpr on Jan 20, 2009 12:27:45 GMT
Unfortunately grumpyolde it's the way of the world. Globalisation, big business and all that bollox.
My company, British since it's founding about a hundred years ago was taken over by a Japanese global company whilst in the throes of attempting to become one itself.
(Company I work for, not my company by the way)
Every fan is selfish and just wants success, look at chelscum for the classic example.
We'll never get our game back, at least at the highest level, unless all the financial madness goes into meltdown.
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Post by Zamoraaaah on Jan 20, 2009 13:15:22 GMT
I don't have a problem with foreign investment/managers/players but I do have a major problem with the lack of investment in our youngsters at 'grass root' and 'club youth level.
Where are the home grown players?
We have a huge problem when a team like Chels*** have spent millions on their youth system and yet haven't produced a first teamer for over 10 years, the last being John Terry.
As the so called best league in the world and the inventors of the game we have failed to export more than a handful of players at any one time to foreign shores and probably just a handful of managers abroad in the last decade. The young talent is here but the failure to re-invest the millions taken from our game by the English FA and Premier League is IMO a far worse crime than any foreign investment/ownership.
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Post by grumpyolde on Jan 20, 2009 16:45:18 GMT
I am not niave enough not to recognise the effect that globalisation in business has had on our game and that some change is inevitable - even welcome in some cases. I enjoy watching genuine world class players as much as anyone. I do not advocate a total ban on foreign players, yet somehow I hope we can retain the identity of our clubs. A limit on the numbers of overseas players eligable in a squad is a start.
More than that we need a level playing field for the young "home grown" lads coming through. At QPR (a club with an abysmal recent record for producing talent ) we are blessed, only by good fortune, with two outstanding young pro's - Balanta and Maguire - yet they don't appear to be getting a look in even on the bench.Like nearly all the other teams in the league the quick fix is usually the order of the day.Just give them a chance.
In my original rant I was trying to point out that slowly but surely all the local content of our clubs is being eroded, and when it has all disappeared the reason for new supporters to join the cause will have gone with it.
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Post by tonydavies44 on Jan 21, 2009 10:31:45 GMT
There has been a lot of posts on this messageboard lately about the remarkable achievements of the 1966/67 QPR squad. When I look at the photos, the one thing that stands out for me is that ALL of that squad were English players. In fact, most of them came from London and Buckinghamshire. QPR was truly a club that represented the local community. Sadly that is not the case anymore.
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Post by grumpyolde on Jan 21, 2009 12:54:35 GMT
tonydavies44,it's alway nice to hear comments that are in tune with your own. I assume from your post that QPR is your team because it is local to you and gives a sense of belonging.If you came from Glasgow you would probably support Celtic or the "other" Rangers
My fear is that if there comes a time when absolutely nothing of the club remains local the motivation of the up and coming generation of young supporters to support QPR no longer exists.
In my recent posts I have been pleading the case for a couple of our young pro's that I believe have the ability to play at first team level. As for being part of the QPR family, one them, Danny Maguire, has been at the club since he was eight years old and captained all of the age groups, including the two seasons when our youth team won the Puma Youth League. A total of eleven years at QPR, he is now nineteen. I think that must make him one of ours - and that he deserves his chance to show what he can do.
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Post by QPR Report on Jan 21, 2009 13:00:29 GMT
I also think that it's a blow for football the way it's been allowed to develop so that only a handful of the same clubs compete for the Championship. When QPR and Ipswich and Derby and Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa were genuine title chasers (or winners) that was good for football.
Ditto the way they've made the chasm between the Premiership and the lower divisions.
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Post by grumpyolde on Jan 21, 2009 13:21:53 GMT
Mr. Report, First may I thank you for all the effort and time you put into running this board, it gives me a great deal of pleasure, as I am sure it must do many others. A true labour of love.
To answer some of the points you raised earlier.
It is always a shame if somebody spoils something you care about.
Do most fans care? Only when it's too late.
Can anything be done? Probably would require some form of legislation.
Motivation of foreign owners. If the game was all they cared about why don't they buy one of their local teams
And to reply to a point from CPR.
If supporters only want success only Manchester United would have any supporters
Keep up the good work
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Post by tonydavies44 on Jan 21, 2009 14:28:52 GMT
QPR was my Father's local team, he grew up in Notting Hill, I have lived all my life in Milton Keynes but have always supported QPR because of my Father's influence. He took me to my first game at Loftus Road in 1967 (after the double winning season) and I have been going regularly ever since. It would have been easier and cheaper for me to have gone and watched Northampton or Luton but I was drawn to QPR. What I find strange is the "supporters" of Milton Keynes Dons. Many of them followed other clubs in the south of England until this new club appeared on their doorstep, how can you change your club just like that - we had a similar situation locally when Rushden and Diamonds achieved League status. I wonder if those Rushden fans are now watching MK Dons?
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Post by grumpyolde on Jan 21, 2009 14:38:38 GMT
TD44 If your parents were in the army serving abroad the offspring were always given British citizenship automatically. You have inherited your love of QPR as a divine right so just enjoy it and says thanks to your dad.
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Post by grumpyolde on Jan 22, 2009 10:14:15 GMT
well at least the England selectors recognise the quality of Angelo Balanta
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Post by cpr on Jan 22, 2009 12:09:43 GMT
That's because he's playing regularly and under a good youth developer with FA contacts.
Better there than warming the bench, if he's lucky, at Rangers.
Still think he should go to the youth tournament though.
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Post by Zamoraaaah on Jan 26, 2009 15:21:33 GMT
That's because he's playing regularly and under a good youth developer with FA contacts. Better there than warming the bench, if he's lucky, at Rangers. Still think he should go to the youth tournament though. SPOT ON. Oh and maybe not The Crime Of The Century but should be noted as a very bad deed was the treatment of Sheila Marsden, regardless of what has since been agreed in regards of compensation.
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