Spoons 1997©Well here we are again. As we approach the crucial Christmas games the First Division has a familiar look to it:- two recently relegated Premiership sides are at loggerheads , fighting for that top spot while the Premiership wannabes, e.g. Swindon and West Brom, slide away looking to gain entrance to the top flight via the, unjust and nonsensical, play-offs.
This situation simply highlights the fact that businessmen are completely ruining the game we all love. Once in the Premiership, it is of paramount importance to remain there. Not because of the sheer desire to involved at the top level (supporters exempt), but because of the financial risks involved in being relegated. It is becoming obvious that success is not now being achieved through hard graft but through the size of the chairman's wallet (and indeed the value of the club's shares!!).
To me, it is becoming apparrent that once success has been achieved by a few big clubs, and the financial rewards acrued, it is almost impossible for other clubs to compete against them. For example, Newcastle were involved in the Champions League (But they weren't even champions) and experienced a pretty torrid time, but their victory against an apathetic Dynamo Kiev earned them £2m. Why? It is no wonder why newly promoted sides struggle so. And what is to become of the lower league sides? Are they simply to become an inexpensive breeding ground of future stars for the 'giants' of the Premiership?
Frankly, I can see football taking a similar path to that of American Football. Obviously, American Football experienced the 'money grabbing businessmen' phenomenon over a decade ago. As a result, to combat what is technically a monopoly, they decided that all the top 'up and coming'' players were to go into a pool and the weakest team would have 'first pick'!!
Are we going to witness something similar in the future? What are your opinions?