This week has seen Michel Platini’s plans for ‘financial fair play’ accepted in principle by Uefa. Exactly how this will work is yet to be agreed and negotiations are set to continue for the rest of the season. Only then can any new rules be ratified.
Platini hasn’t denied that plans to stop clubs from spending more than they make from revenues is intended to prevent ‘sugar daddies’ like Sheikh Mansour and Roman Abramovich coming into the game and transforming clubs with cash injections.
Michel Platini:
“If you buy a house, you have a debt but that doesn’t mean someone is going to stop you from working.
“If you depend only on a rich benefactor however, then the financial model is too volatile.”
The Uefa boss claims to have been asked by members of the ‘football family’ like Silvio Berlusconi to do something about the current situation. Platini is using the financial woes of the credit crunch to justify his plans, but by the time they come to fruition the 2008 banking crisis will be long gone. In any case the new regulations being adopted by the Premier League seem far more practical.
Let’s not forget that Berlusconi has been under pressure from supporters at Milan after the clubs relative demise in recent seasons. Their financial woes would hardly have been lessened by City bumping up the fee (circa 20m Euros) and wages (circa 100k per week) they eventually had to pay for Ronaldinho. The failure of the Brazilian playboy to justify these sums is of little surprise to many, but probably irks the Italian leader.
Milan of course, still have very high revenues so would be a clear beneficiary of the possible new rules. They’d be able to out-muscle other Serie A clubs and not have to worry about upstarts like City when it comes to negotiating for the world’s top players.
Platini’s claim that Abramovich is in agreement looks to be exaggerated as the Russian will want to see more of the details before giving wholehearted support. As ever, self interest will reign as Abramovich looks to reduce his personal expenditure while still being able to make the marquee signing he missed out on this Summer.
Clubs failing to meet the criteria would not be able to play in the Uefa competitions, namely the Champions League and Europa League. This is Platini’s big stick, and while the carrots are there for the clubs currently with the biggest turnovers, it’s unclear what the benefits are to those who might want to challenge the elite.
Talk of smaller clubs growing by nurturing their own players is fantasy as we all know promising youngsters are snapped up by bigger clubs. The chances of a title challenging team coming through an Academy at the same time are also negligible in the extreme.
The Premier League’s Richard Scudamore recognises the dangers of tying expenditure on players to revenue. The lack of a level playing field in the Premier League has been bad enough. These plans threaten to lock-in the clubs with the biggest turnovers and remove the chance of other clubs challenging via a cash injection. This would make the Premier League even more predictable, less competitive, and fans would find it a turn-off. With less enthusiasm among supporters, future TV deals could be reduced, weakening the financial power of the League.
Would Platini mind? Or would he be quite happy to see this happen. How many European ties this week had the draw of City v Arsenal? Arguably, only Inter v Bareclona, and the appeal of this was reduced by being a group game with both teams happy to play out a draw.
Let’s remember, new chairmen arriving and putting cash into a club has been a part of football for years, particularly since the abolition of the maximum wage. Why else do fans welcome these people? There’s a thrill and excitement in the possibility of new players.
As Khaldoon al Mubarak said in his video interview at the start of the season, money is required.
Intriguingly, The Times Football Commentator, Patrick Barclay suggested a compromise between Platini and the Premier League may still be possible:
At length a compromise may be reached in which benefactors are allowed to give but not lend.
Platini hopes to have the plans in place by 2012, though there is talk of another three seasons grace for clubs to adjust before punishments are meted out. No doubt City will be looking closely at whatever is agreed to see how we can work with it, or round it, and continue ‘the project’. There could be a race for City to establish themselves in the Champions League and dramatically increase their revenues by this time. If matches at Eastlands continue to sell-out, then it may make sense to accelerate plans to expand the stadium. Increased crowds are the most obvious way to increase revenues.
Platini’s plans may pose another challenge to City, but I would bet against Garry Cook and Sheikh Mansour coming through once again.
From the media maelstrom following last Saturday’s match, you could be forgiven for thinking it was Emmanuel Adebayor alone who took on Arsenal in a bloody battle of wills and egos, rather than a whole City team that performed their gameplan to the letter.
What to make of it, and where does it leave us? Well let’s have a look at the two talking points.
Catching Van Persie
After the match Wenger said he didn’t see Adebayor kick Van Persie, and there’s an irony here in that the Frenchman was for once speaking for everyone as I think we all missed it at the time (with the exception of Van Persie who could hardly have had a closer view). On the way out of the game, nobody was even mentioning it, but once the TV replays came into their own it was another story.
For what it’s worth, I don’t think it was a ‘stamp’. It appeared more like a rake with the tip of the boot, though Van Persie’s face looked like it had been caught by studs. Obviously if Van Persie hadn’t have lunged at Adebayor, his head wouldn’t have been there.
It could be argued that Adebayor’s biggest mistake was in making contact. Van Persie said, “the contact was only centimetres from my eye”. Maybe, but likewise a couple of centimetres further away and there would have been no contact. The incident wouldn’t then have had so much as a TV replay and a national talking point / witchhunt would never have happened. There were plenty of other dubious challenges in the game, some of which were aimed at Adebayor, that could also have resulted in injury had they connected.
Only Adebayor will know the level of intent. His foot did appear to flick out slightly as it was coming down, and that looks to have been enough to get him a three match ban. It also appeared to be a heat of the moment reaction to Van Persie’s challenge rather than pre-meditated. This is something Hughes will want to look at with Adebayor. The player will now be targeted by opponents and fans in his next few games, and whenever he plays Arsenal. The ability to retain his composure and withstand any abuse is going to be essential.
The Thierry Henry goal celebration tribute
Thierry Henry, 16 Nov 2002
As you may guess from the heading, I wasn’t overwhelmed with outrage by Adebayor’s goal celebration. Like many City fans at the game I cheered the goal then saw him set off on his run. In our elated state, there was certainly an element of cheering him on to be discerned as he charged downfield. I recall having some concern at what he might he do when he reached the Arsenal fans, but he stopped short of leaving the pitch by utilising his trademark kneeslide. It was his moment, and he overdid it, but it felt like the theatre of football.
Maybe he shouldn’t have done it, but those giving him abuse, particularly racial abuse should know better as well. As intimated above, there was a certain irony in the celebration imitating one of Thierry Henry’s most famous efforts in a North London derby: after scoring at the Clock End of Highbury, the Frenchman ran the length of the pitch, before coming to a halt with a kneeslide in front of the Spurs fans.
As you can see the from the picture, the Spurs fans weren’t to enamoured either, although in comparison to the scenes on Saturday, it could be argued they took it on the chin rather well. Maybe that was why Henry heard nothing from the FA about his celebration.
What has subsequently upset a lot of City fans, is the singling out of Adebayor for condemnation when Van Persie left the field of play and swore at City supporters for his goal celebration. In his eagerly written statement, the Dutchman expressed a bit of a double standard in condemning Adebayor for showing “a real lack of class to … the fans”.
The FA appear mindful of keeping Van Persie’s celebration separate, by stating their charge of improper conduct for Adebayor is for “turning and running the full length of the pitch to celebrate”, rather than the actual celebration.
Reaction to the reaction
I’m not going to pretend to be particularly shocked or outraged by Van Persie’s injury. For as long as football has existed, players have been kicking lumps out of each other. Those who find it abhorrant would be best advised to find another sport to follow as similar incidents will doubtless happen again in the future. Likewise, expressing outrage is a long established media practice, only it’s something that has increased exponentially with the growing number of columnists, pundits, phone-ins, bloggers, forum posters and everybody else in our communication saturated world.
With regard to goal celebrations, I’ve always thought there’s a case for deliberately aiming a celebration at opposing fans to be made a bookable offence. It can incite fans, and is far worse than a player taking his shirt off. I’ve never really understood the need to book someone for that.
It remains to be seen whether City break into the ‘top four’ in the Premier League this season, but we’ve clearly made it in terms of media coverage. The effect can be bewildering to those who remember times, not so long ago, outside the top tier when we’d struggle to get so much as a column inch in the national press.
The role of Mark Hughes in all this
How Mark Hughes deals with this situation, and the big talent / big ego players of a top level club is already being flagged up. In terms of Saturday’s incidents, Hughes is straight out of the Fergie school of standing up for your players in public. This was evident in his time as Blackburn manager when the team were accused of being overly-physical. It can leave him open to criticism of myopic bias and failing to recognise the issue, but given the level of often hysterical reaction elsewhere to Adebayor, most City fans will be happy to see him defend our corner in his usual measured tones.
Like Ferguson, what he does in private is another matter. Cantona (after his kung-fu kick), Beckham (after his World Cup sending off), and Ronaldo (after Rooney’s World Cup sending off) all came back strongly, having doubtless been told by Fergie to focus on their game and not respond to baiting – all that stuff about seige mentalities, etc. Quite possibly Hughes will try and go down a similar path. He’ll need to be firm enough with Adebayor to make the player think twice before getting involved in further controversy, while also ensuring the Togolese remains committed to the cause.
We want more of the goalscoring Adebayor we’ve already seen and not a return to the lacklustre Adebayor of last season. Hughes will be crucial in this, and it will be a big plus for the manager’s credentials if he can pull it off.
The derby
City will almost certainly be going into the derby without Adebayor, which is likely to leave Craig Bellamy playing as a lone striker. Much as we’ve been impressed by Bellers, it’s hard to see him getting any change out of Vidic and Ferdinand on his own. This is now our biggest concern going into the weekend.
Moving Bellamy to centre-forward and playing Petrov on the wing weakens us defensively, but the Bulgarian has looked in good form recently, and should be bursting to show his quality going forward. He’s also capable of long raking passes that Bellamy can run onto and burst free of United’s defenders. This could be our best hope for goals.
Hughes may be tempted to take a chance on Tevez if the Argentinian thinks he can play, but he’s only likely to be half fit, and United won’t exactly be going easy on him. It could be a mistake to try and push him.
The absence of a target man makes our derby team look to similar to that of last season for comfort. Optimism will be dampened as we look to our midfield and defence to grind out a result.
Ever since it became clear that Richard Dunne wasn’t going to be an automatic choice this season, there has been intense speculation as to who the new captain might be. It may be a minor surprise to see Kolo Toure, but only due to the strength of the other candidates.
Here, we take a look at the captaincy qualities and leadership experience elsewhere in the current squad:
- Vincent Kompany – Last season Vincent impressed everyone with his maturity and composure off the pitch to go alongside some commanding performances on it. Everyone seemed to agree that he looked like a future captain.
- Pablo Zabaleta – Another who impressed last season, and who had previously captained Argentina to victory at the 2005 Under 20 World Cup in Holland.
- Shay Given – In January, City signed the then captain of Newcastle, who has also led the Republic of Ireland. At the age of 32, Shay also had the experience to go with a famed professionalism. Added to that was the advantage of being an automatic choice in the team.
- Craig Bellamy – The captain of Wales also joined in January. He may not be everybody’s idea of a role model, but his commitment on the pitch has won over the doubters. Hughes clearly trusts his fellow Welshman and has always been able to get the best out of him.
- Gareth Barry – The first of the Summer signings was the captain of Aston Villa, and the England midfielder looked to be the favourite for the armband in the new season. Hughes spoke effusively of Barry’s leadership qualities when announcing his signing.
- Stephen Ireland – Captained the side during pre-season following a storming 2008/09 season. Stevie’s found a new level of maturity and Hughes recently commented, “Stevie really enjoyed having the armband … and I am sure in future he will be a Manchester City captain”.
- Emmanuel Adebayor – Following their qualification for the 2006 World Cup, Togo made Adebayor captain of their national side. The way he’s started the new season with City, he looks like leading the goalscoring charts at the very least.
- Micah Richards – Let’s not forget that the former captain of the youth team became City’s youngest ever captain when leading the team against Aston Villa on 16 September 2007.
- Robinho – The Brazilian also had a turn with the armband when City played Hull last season.
It’s a hugely impressive list, and another sign of how far the club has come when we remember that not so long ago Joey Barton was being considered a possible captain!
Toure has clearly made a big impression in a short time with the club. Having been signed following the failure to land John Terry, the Ivorian now finds himself picking up the armband that the England captain was expected to wear. Arsene Wenger had given Toure the captain’s armband at Arsenal in January, but this was only ever going to be temporary while Fabregas was injured.
Toure was considered a good professional at Arsenal and known to be popular within the squad. Despite a dip in form during the past couple of years, he remained a fans favourite, and Wenger always spoke highly of him.
What has been noticeable in his first few games with City, is his willingness to take responsibility and the level of communication with other members of the back four. Micah Richards in particular has been on the receiving end of some advice during games, and this can only be a good thing for the England U-21 right-back as he looks to regain his form this season.
If Kolo maintains the impressive form with which he has started his City career, then hopefully he’ll be the first Manchester City captain to lift some major silverware since Mike Doyle in 1976.