15 Oct 2021 13:56:32
Ahh I love the talk of how we can get gazillions of dollars for players and then how e can undoubtedly spend it on replacements - its so easyany one can do it. Probably a bit different it is your own money though.
I am too old and set in ways to covet the millions needed to be competitive in this crazy world of the premier league - The barcodes can buy whatever they want, I don't give a damn - with enough money Bradford Park Avenue could be resurgent and with enough time and investment be who knows where. It kind of makes it all pointless and empty.
There needs to be a level of parity
( please don't mention the fair play rules in connection with that! ) otherwise its just clubs buying trophies.
I have been Leeds from the sixties, through it all - the excitement is still there whether its a good cup run, a Division 1 win or a promotion push from League 1.
I remember when the players walked out of the stadium to the waiting bus with us ( depending on the ground) , boy was it ever exciting strolling along with Billy, Norman, Big Jack etc - now we basically deal with prima donnas in hair bands getting paid millions to play ticky tacky - would rather have big Jack clattering into Astle any day!
Thats it, an old mans perspective on the beautiful game - would rather have the blood, guts and honesty of the lower leagues.
15 Oct 2021 14:18:29
1970 i concur being the same generation as you
yep indeed reminiscing and hankering for the beautiful game (it's been much, much less beautiful for decades now ) in the 1960s and 1970s with Leeds Revie era is understandable
but it was inevitable that the game/ sport/ business changed ( for the worse) ; it is what it is
I suppose you could choose a second team to support and follow in the lower leagues but for me only ever one team Leeds United have my passion, enthusiasm and support.
15 Oct 2021 14:21:05
Thats totally alien to current day football sadly .
Agents, ridiculously overpriced players, Sky tv, seen to it that money was to infest the game and ultimately ruin it .
As much as the 6 wanted to break away then the other 14 should also choose to strengthen links between each other and as 1 voice DEMAND FFP IS ENFORCED .
15 Oct 2021 15:01:18
Agree Chris.
Dreamworld.
16 Oct 2021 07:20:34
I think clubs have pretty much bought trophies since the 70s.
{Ed001's Note - before then, you can go back at least as far as Arsenal being the 'Bank of England' club in the 1920s.}
16 Oct 2021 07:50:30
Mor ing Ex - half expected input from you there but didn't realise it would go back as far as the 20s! Might be an interesting article to track the success of the highest spending teams through the last century and see which teams managed to buck that trend.
{Ed001's Note - the only reason it is difficult to trace back further is because they were amateurs before. Even then, their amateur status was often dubious and incentives were used to lure the best players, so money played a part all along.
I do like that idea for an article. I have added that to my to do list but I might shift that up to the top of it.}