Play the Game Will Ya?!

Howdy!

Here's someone who understands the fans

I was interested to read that the Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jasim al-Thani doesn't know the rules of football. Qatar, as you will know, recently won the right to stage the 2022 World Cup. We hire the next King ( an avid football fan ) and the ex England captain to try to get the bid  . . . something wrong with this picture . . . it's not what you know but who you know and how much they have in their bank account that really matters . . .

Talking of the Al Thani family, I read with interest that they are planning ( allegedly ) another bid for Manchester United, according to today's Daily Mail. A piece of advice gentlemen . . . if it IS true, please read up on the game AND our beloved club.

I remember well when Rupert Murdoch tried to buy United back in the 1990's. His people at Sky were selling this bid like it was going out of fashion. His spokeperson was talking about "the brand" etc., when a journo asked "Who's the left back for the team?" Could he say Dennis Irwin? Nope.

All fans ask is that whoever owns the team CARES about the team and the fans. They want people who feel just as sick when they lose and are as ecstatic when they win. Look at Barry Hearn when Leyton Orient scored that last minute equalizer against the Gooners in the F.A. Cup last weekend.

Changing topics with a body swerve George Best and Ryan Giggs would be proud of, it has been Black History month here in the States. I was interested to read that Viv Anderson, the man whose long legs reminded my dad of the old movie star "Steppenfetchit" has donated his England shirt he wore on his debut to the People's History Museum, situated on Bridge Street in Manchester - a museum I would heartily recommend a visit should you ever be fortunate to visit that wonderful city.

Who's Viv Anderson? Here's a picture . . .

Viv Anderson - the first black player to represent England at full level back in 1978

He was the first player to represent England. Viv was a talented right back for Nottingham Forest during their rapid ascent to the top of the English league under the legendary Brian Clough - must relate a story I heard about him when I attended a "Sportsman's Evening" at The Bulls' Head Hotel in Congleton many years ago sometime soon - he later went on to play for Aresnal, United andSheffield Wednesday. He played for England 30 times.

He was around at a time when the prescence of black footballers was growing rapidly in England. I remember well the players at West Bromwich  -  Laurie Cunningham ( who sadly died in a car crash in Spain ) Cyrille Regis and Brendan Batson. They were known as "The Three Degrees" after the celebrated group of the day ( Prince Charles' favourite if I'm not mistaken! ) They were all fine players - Brendan Batson later went on to play a prominent role within the Players' Union. These players suffered a lot from crowds back then. Racism was rife. It wasn't uncommon for players to have bananas at them and have monkey noises. Thankfully we have moved on in England.

As Bob Dylan famously sang, the times are certainly changing. We've seen things change  dramatically in Egypt and Tunisia and here in the States there's a worrying scenario being acted out in Wisconsin, with their despot/governor Scott Walker.

Then there's Libya. Their leader, Gadaffi, has being issuing all kinds of threats. You have all read about them. I don't need to talk about them on here. Did you know Libya under Gadaffi was once connected with the Grand Old Lady of Italian football, and I'm not talking about one of Berlusconi's rejects . . . 

  

Here's Gadaffi's son with Juventus ( Alessandro Del Piero is on the left as we look - the picture was taken in Tripoli in 2002 )

Gadaffi once had shares in Juventus, the famous old club from Turin once owned by the Agnelli family, the family that owned Fiat. His son actually played for two teams in Serie A. Saadi Al-Gaddafi was signed by the Serie A team Perugia in the beginning of the 2003-2004 season in Italy. Apparently, Gaddafi lasted for a short period of time in Perugia since he was suspended for steroid use. He denied abusing steroids, allegedly having a dodgy "Fleetwood Mac" - that's cockney rhyming slang for back by the way! He signed with Udinese and made one appearance at a preseason friendly against AC Milan.

Anyhow, enjoy your football wherever you see it, we're getting to squeaky bum time!

See you next time,

Eddie

 



It Must Be Funny . . . In A Rich Club's World!

Hello folks and thanks for tuning in!

Some band who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 - what happened to them?!

I believe it was this band who famously sang about it being rather funny "in a rich man's world" ( it was a number 3 in the charts back home when I was nothing but a little lad in Back Lane Congleton in 1976!)

The same can be said of the life of a modern day football club. Recently, the British transfer record was broken by Chelsea when they paid 50 million pounds for Liverpool's Fernando Torres. A staggering amount you'll agree.

I'm moved to write about this because yesterday ( 9th February ) was the 32nd anniversary of England's first 1 million pound transfer - Trevor Francis ( see below picture ) joined Nottingham Forest from Birmingham City



Here's Trevor scoring the winning goal for Forest in the 1979 European Cup Final against Sweden's Malmo - a worthy investment methinks?

Trevor Francis's transfer was a big deal back then. People were shaking their heads in disbelief. Alf Common crept into football's conversation.



Alf Common : the first 1,000 pound man - not quite Steve Austin, but close enough back in 1905!



Who's he you might ask? Well, he was the first 1,000 pound transfer back in 1905. I remember people getting giddy when the record fee was 300,000 pounds back in 1974 when Bob Latchford went from Birmingham to Everton. Enough of the history and let's whizz forward to the present day situation.

Is anyone worth 50 million pounds? That really is the question. Football is, in my mind, a unique profession. Unless you are truly gifted talent wise and look after yourself ( Good Morning Ryan Giggs! ) your career is relatively short. The game today appears to be awash with money. Players are paid staggering amounts of money. Bonuses for winning trophies are colossal.

Now, I've always defended players. If you work in an industry that wants to pay you more in a week than what your average match going fan ( like I was ) earn in 5 years  you aren't going to turn your nose up at it, are you?

However, I really feel the game I love can learn something from the NFL. I'm talking of a salary cap. Something like this will have to happen sooner rather than later because UEFA last year passed into existence their "Financial Fair Play" rules. They come into effect in the next couple of years.

These new rules basically say ". . .  clubs may not spend more than the income they generate. Clubs will also be assessed on a risk basis, in which debt and salary levels are taken into consideration. They will have to ensure that liabilities are paid in a punctual manner. The regulations and criteria laid down are also designed to help stimulate long-term planning for areas such as youth development and improving/upgrading sports installations. "

Michel Platini, once a gifted French midfielder in his day and now UEFA's President, says that the idea is to put stability back into the game and to stop excessive spending. Yet the Premier League just spent something like 215 million pounds on players in the January transfer window! Chelsea spent 70 million on two players yet at the same time announced losses of 70 million pounds. My beloved Reds are up to their eyeballs in debt courtesy of the high debt saddled to the club by Malcolm Glazer when he bought the club in 2005. As the Americans might say - Helllllloooo???!!!!

Clubs need supporters to make the game an entertaining spectacle. Atmosphere is a primary ingredient in the mix of football. Players, Managers and fans have an equal responsibility to make the product worth watching for those of us who can't get to games for whatever reason. I paid 1 pound when I first went to United back in 1983 - last time, when I took Linda, it was 40 pounds - each! Fans need to be have affordable football, otherwise more teams like AFC Wimbledon and FC United of Manchester will appear.

Clubs need to remember their roots. They are an integral part of a community. Yes, the "community" is bigger now as globalization makes the world a smaller place, but, the fan who lives in Stretford or Congleton is just as important as the fan in Beijing or Los Angeles if you catch my drift.

TV Companies pay a lot of money to televise games. Over the years we've become used to games being "skyjacked" - kick off times manipulated by Sky TV to suit their needs - this doesn't happen over here in the States. Never. Yet here's the real worry - sometimes TV companies over here "black out" games that haven't sold out. That would be a crying shame if it ever happened in England.

Maybe the solution in England is for free to air Commercial TV ( ITV ) and the BBC to work together and fight satellite TV. Live football should be able to be seen by everyone. They work together when it comes to the World Cup and the European Championships. Come on ITV and BBC - work together for the common good! There's a bit of socialism for you and no mistake!

Oh well, rant over for today - enjoy your football wherever you see it.

Eddie

Possibly the worst refereeing decision . . . ever!

Hello folks,

There's been calls for referees to have more help when making decisons for quite sometime now. The governing bodies seem reluctant to embrace modern technology. Extra referees have been used, first in the Europa League and this season in the Champions League.

After watching this clip from a cup tie back home in England, you'll understand why it is important we have them now!

Have a look for yourself    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaDci33GGzE

It truly is amazing. I saw a game at Old Trafford a few years ago . . . we were playing Spurs, always a well fought, highly contested fixture. There was a refereeing decision that to this day baffles me . . . have a look; after watching it you will see United were very lucky to finish the game with one point - we should have had none.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-8dOjeVC80

Then of course there was the now legendary incident involving New York Red Bulls' Thierry Henry when he was playing in the World Cup Play-Off against the Republic of Ireland. . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxw1-Id91lQ


Maybe a concerted effort from fans around the world will make the game's governing bodies change their minds . . .

See you next time,

Eddie

"We'll Never Die" Hanky Park

Have a look at this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6wgOEkFwwo

I used to play this song on "The Late English Breakfast" back in the day - great tune! Come on You Reds!

Eddie

Munich 1958 - Never Forgotten

Hello All,

Tomorrow is the 6th February. It is the 53rd anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster. Twenty one people died, including eight first team players. Not one player was over 30 years of age.

1958 is a long time ago. No United fan should ever forget them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meILJSQuH3g

 This video is a fitting tribute in my opinion. Here are the lyrics to the song.

The Flowers Of Manchester

One cold and bitter Thursday in Munich, Germany,

Eight great football stalwarts conceded victory.

Eight men will never play again, who met disaster there,

The flowers of English football, the flowers of Manchester.

 

The Busby Babes were flying home, returning from Belgrade,

This great United family all masters of their trade.

The pilot of the aircraft, the skipper Captain Thain,

Three times tried to take off and twice turned back again.

The third time down the runway disaster followed close,

There was slush upon that runway and the aircraft never rose.

It ploughed into the marshy ground, it broke, it overturned.

And eight of that team were killed when the blazing wreckage burned.

Roger Byrne and Tommy Taylor, who were capped for England's side,

And Ireland's Liam Whelan and England's Geoff Bent died.

Mark Jones and Eddie Coleman and David Pegg also,

They all lost their lives as it ploughed on through the snow.

Big Duncan he went too, with an injury to his brain,

And Ireland's brave Jack Blanchflower will never play again.

The great Matt Busby lay there, the father of this team,

Three long months passed by before he saw his team again.

The trainer, coach and secretary and three members of the crew,

Also eight sporting journalists who with United flew,

And one of them was Big Swifty who we will ne'er forget,

The finest English 'keeper that ever graced a net.

England's finest football team it's record truly great,

It's proud success mocked by this cruel turn of fate.

Eight men will never play again who met disaster there,

The flowers of English football, the flowers of Manchester.

Best wishes
 
Eddie

Start Spreading The News . . .

Morning All!

Hiya - hope you're all well. You all know the tune . . . "Start spreading the news  . . . I want to be a part of it, New York, New York!" Well the feller pictured below now is on his way!

King Eric - in a very regal pose!



I was surprised - yet not surprised - to read recently that Eric Cantona is returning to football as the director of football for the returning New York Cosmos.

A very principled man in many ways, this chance appeals to him. It's a chance to create something out of nothing. He himself said it was like combining his two passions - football and art.

The Cosmos have entrusted Eric wit the job of recruiting the right players so the Cosmos will have a chance of getting the 2013 franchise in the MLS. Right now, there's not even a stadium.

This will be a great move for the MLS. It's a chance to create inter-team rivalry, something which is sadly lacking at the moment. As any fan knows, a "derby" is a great game to attend. I've been fortunate to see one or two Manchester derbies in my time and trust me - there's nothing like it! 

On a more general level, the name New York Cosmos is in itself quite magical. The list of people who've played for them is quite outstanding. You may have heard of one of them - some feller called Pele!

 I remember it well when I used to get my SHOOT! magazine when I was a boy. During the season, they'd feature the NASL. There'd be artcles from players who'd play there to keep fit before the season started back home.

Also, get this movie out if you have the opportunity - "Once In A Lifetime" It's the story of the Cosmos. It's fascinating for anyone who likes football passionately - like me! It sums up the excesses of the 70's very very well. I look forwards to following the Cosmos very much.

The People's Game - for men AND women!

The recent firing of Andy Gray and Richard Keys from Sky Sports for their comments about the woman who was the Assistant Referee at the recent Wolves v Liverpool game highlight the still unfortunate ignorance lingering in certain quarters of the game.

Their patronizing, sexist comments about Sian Massey were terible. Women have been involved in the game for more years than people realize. I was fortunate to go to the inauguaral Football Hall of Fame induction dinner in 2002. One of the inductees was a woman called Lily Parr who played in the 1920's! We need to be more enlightened. Messrs Keys and Gray have forgotten what happened to Ron Atkinson a few years ago.

Anyhow, enjoy your football and see you next time!

Eddie

How cool!

Hello!

Been away from England for over 4 years now . . . planning my return . . . makes me want to see this programme again!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0mHlDJHfdU

It's the opening titles for Match of The Day -  very clever!

Eddie