The Last Days of Football

It is the end of English football premiership today and two billionaire clubs are up for the championship. Barring shocks Chelsea will be the champions. This title run in has the look of the last days of the Wiemar republic. While the world economy is imploding footballers are demanding more money and driving round in more ludicrous cars. With Liverpool football club announcing debts of over 351 million pounds. What hope does the rest of the game have? Austerity measures are on the way and some grand old names of football will vanish. Feel for the fans but understand that their thirst for success has led them to this place.

 

French Finale

Work has kept me from the world of the blog for a while but I feel it proper to return with a posting regarding the Heineken cup. The French have two teams rightly through to the final. Why? The reason probably is due to one reason and one reason only. Cash. The French league has no salary cap. This has meant the French have never had to think about squad sizes. International prop injured no problem get another one. The great thing about this is that French team have never been handicapped by this. It also helps the finances that the French sides play in Stade municpales paid for by the cities. 

Can the French translate this club and international success into the greatest prize of them all and win the world cup? I think so, the reason why is probably due to the fact that the influx of foreigners into the game has given the French discipline. This is very exciting. The French have always played a great Gallic game of rugby. The problem is they have never had the Anglo Saxon discipline required to win a tournament. That certainly is not the case now. 

England could also learn from the French experience. Marc Lieveremont has experimented and been given time to experiment. Martin Johnson has certainly been given time. He has not experimented, perhaps this is why England have not moved on any further.