Realignment Of The English Footballing Order
ByWatching last night’s game between Middle Eastlands and Liverpool, I had this conversation in my head about what was going on. Part of me was kind of pissed off that Liverpool rolled over and let the Mancunian Chavs tickle their bellies, pat them on the head before sending them back home with a reality check.
Another part of me was pissed off that Arsenal didn’t bury a 10 man Liverpool last weekend. Like many, I’m rationalizing that a point at Anfield is a precious point during any part of the season; or I’m rationalizing that it was the first game of the season, Li’l Jack Willy showed a bit of understandable and acceptable inexperience in the lead up to Liverpool’s goal, Arshavin was just about getting out of the dressing room, we didn’t have our first choice squad on the pitch – yada yada yada.
Maybe it’s just easier to get pissed off with Liverpool for rolling over last night and letting Moneybags City bitch slap them all over the park.
But it’s worth observing that even this early in the season, the new order in English football is realigning itself and its going to cement itself very quickly. They say the table doesn’t lie, and I’m making an early prediction that the current top 4 will finish in the Champions League places at the end of the season.
If you asked me, I’ll unashamedly proclaim that the final order in the top 4 will be alphabetical; but then again I’ll ask – what the hell did you expect me to say?
Clearly, a few people have been drinking that cool-ade stuff down the Tottenham Lodge in preparation for their tussle with the Young Boys of Bern. The 28 minutes of the first half of last Tuesday’s match between the Spuds and the Young Boys was the best 28 minutes of football that I’ve watched in a very long time.
Even then, ‘Appy ‘Arry and Big Bad Billy G seemed to have drank too much of that stuff to propel them to delusions of grandeur that leads them to suggest that the Spuds can win the title .
There’s a vicious rumour going around Seven Sisters road that revenge of the 1913 revolution of North London is nigh. Or maybe it was Henry Norris’s wheeling, dealing and politicking that relegated Spuds to the 2nd division in favour of Arsenal staying in the 1st division that pisses them more than a move from South East London. I forget why the Spuds have such an inferiority complex.
Manchester United on the other hand are going through a very interesting period. I suppose those with a more sunny disposition might call it a rebuilding time for them. If I was cynical, I’d suggest that they’re following the Arsenal development model to the tee – only they’re what, 5 or 6 years late?
To be honest, I don’t think the powers that be at United would have noticed the Berlin wall falling if it hit them on the way down. We get reminded that their predicament is justified because of their successful haul of trophies in the last 18 years. We get told that if it wasn’t for the Glazer family, they would be well run and debt free. Yeah – blame the Glazers alright, but the end result is that Manure is a financial basket case.
The bottom line is that Manure bought the title when they had the chance and it’s kind of ironic that their so called youth development policy is now being lauded as a virtue. I suppose that’s why they’re now paying main street prices for relatively unknown players just like an old sage of ours does.
Either way, United is not the club that they used to be and it will show this season. I get bemused when it’s suggested that Arsenal don’t have strength and depth in defence, yet Manure and even Chelsea are threadbare beyond their first choices. But I suppose they have youth.
If you haven’t been around for a while, you’ll notice that Chelsea are already being coronated as the 2010-2011 Premier league Champions. If you believe some media houses, they’re on track to scoring 228 goals this season while only conceding a few goals here and there for good measure.
Chelsea’s defence is suspect – they’ve only got away with it this far because they haven’t been properly tested by the teams they’ve played.
“But they can only beat the teams in front of them”, I hear the murmurs in the shadows.
Well, as long as selective amnesia is not applied as Arsenal is accused of being flat track bullies. The Gunners too, can only beat the teams that they play – it just doesn’t apply to the Chavs.
Nevertheless, Chelsea’s dominance as the Moneybag specialists is being overhauled by Middle Eastlands; in the same way as Manure’s dominance as the model club is being overhauled by Arsenal’s organic development. It’s the new order of the footballing establishment.
The question is whether the virtuous cycle of building wonderful things from the ground up like Arsenal is doing will overcome the vicious cycle of buying things like they’re running out of fashion the way Middle Eastlands are doing it.
Tue 13th September 2011; 19:45, Dortmund
Excellent musings again darius…
I was discussing the other day how interesting it would be if either chelsea or Manu were to fall out of the top four. Both would be in a serious financial predicament, not dissimilar to what we are witnessing with Liverpool.
If the virtues of the youth program dont rear their respective heads this year, they will over the next couple of years. Dont forget, two years down the track clubs will have to have balanced books if they want to compete in the Champions league/Europa league. Whether this will be enforced is another question, but where will Man City, for instance, stand? With their current wage structure, they wont be able to buy anyone, needing all revenue just to pay the wage bills. Ridiculous when you think about it.
Arsenal have a massive shot at the title this year, and I am seriously excited.
Never paid much attention to your blog until now. I still think it’s a little heavily dosed with optimism, but your writing style is infectious. Nicely done.
Well, i agree. Arsenal do have a great shot at the title but we will have see how our boys deal with the pressure of facing the Big teams such as Man Utd, Chelsea and Man City. Just dont want the same horror last season to happen again. Lost to Chelsea and Man Utd, home and away and losing to Man City. This is i think we have all we need to push forward. Gunners 4 Life !!!
Jammathon.
Thanks for the compliment. You’ll get used to the idea that optimism up in here is a far better disposition than the alternative. Even when we provide a balanced and critical analysis, we do it with a smile.
@JL13 – believe it or not, the Manure are already in that financial predicament. Their business model is based on success on the pitch as a vehicle for commercial revenue. That is a very dangerous assumption in this day and age – for success is not a guarantee in today’s football. Moreover, they can no longer buy the players to do that – and the geriatrics like Giggs and Neville can only go so far before they fall over.
A little bit premature Darius, not too many conclusions can be drawn after 2 games. Don’t even look at the tables until 10 games have been played, teams are more settled & true form starts to come through. Liverpool may be a case in question, so I am very wary about “rubbishing” the opposition.
Liverpool were very poor last night but City hardly opened them up at will. Kuyte & Torres were virtual passengers showing why AW has been careful with Cesc & RVP. I would suggest a majority of PL teams would have beaten them last night on their own patch. L’pool will always be a different animal at Anfield so our point there is what I would have taken before the game.
City are clearly going to be stronger than last season, MU will always be motivated & Chelsea are still obvious favorites. Spurs will have an interesting season, how will they cope with CL football? They are fortunate that most of their post CL games will be at home because all of ours are away, as usual.
Our season, to my mind, depends on having our key players fit for the run in and “mental strength” , the ability to concentrate at all times & overcome the setbacks, as they did at Stoke.
Should be a more open season, which would certainly be good for the game.
As a Liverpool fan, I think that this is a good piece albeit with one glaring sentence of nonsense.
“Another part of me was pissed off that Arsenal didn’t bury a 10 man Liverpool last weekend”
I mean, is this a joke? Bury us? I was at the game and in all honesty, none one of your players could have buried a hatchet. You were toothless, knocking the ball around in fornt of our back four while they enjoyed the odd cigar. In truth, in the second half, we should have buried you. We came out, scored and took the game to you. I dont mind people having a go at us because we are in a mess and your main point about the realignment of the English football order is 100% correct, however that statement was just plain nonsense. Our keeper threw the ball in the net to give you a lucky point. We could have played until Christmas and not one of your players would have the ball in the back of the net. You exerted a little bit of pressure towards the end but I never thought we were in any danger and we werent, not from your players anyway.
j13, your first point is also rubbish. Liverpool are not in a fincancial predicament due to not being in the Champions League, we are in it as we were victims of a leveraged buyout. United are in the same boat, yes. However, if Chelsea fell out of the top 4, they would spend their way back in.
As for the title, Id love to see Arsenal win it but I cant see past Chelsea.
Hmmm as a Liverpool fan I could tell we were going to be well and truly stuffed after about 10 mins. We just didn’t turn up.
Only saving grace is we have time to get better. The doom and gloom merchants always call the result if the season early. But I’m surprised you have called it after two games.
A 10 man draw with arsenal and a loss to man city is about right.
If liverpool win against either Chelsea or man u then draw it’s a good result.
It’s the rest of the league Liverpool have to beat to get in the top four.
The fulhams etc. So I’m not to worried .
Being underrated this season will mean teams will come out and go for a win rather then park a bus.
As long as we turn up and play. Liverpool has a good chance of getting in the top four.
Looking forward to watching you playan city. What a difference a billion makes lol
Good analysis. Whatever happens the spuds will still be complete shite. I do hope the Young Boys give them a rogering at the Toilet.
enjoyed the 28mins between arshavins penalty and theo.s 3rd more.
fuck tottenham
It’s interesting listening to the commentators deal with falures by manu and ‘pool. There is none of the derisive glee at their lack of a ‘cutting edge’ or propensity to make errors. There are no easy rides for Arsenal players but for others?
I heard, at the end of the game, the commmentator say, ‘some bright signs for Liverpool there’ or some such nonsense. A ‘pool or manc player does one piece of good footwork and is praised to the heavens, despite a lack of end product. Anybody see an arsenal player get similar treatment? Walcott anyone?
Oh, and I think the word is ‘crowned’, Darius. ‘Coronated’ might just, barely, be a word but it’s definitely a dodgy one!
Good job Darius. Bring in a little well meaning sentence and Liverpool fan will set off on a controversy crusade. Hell, they can’t even agree with each other. Cooool!
LRV, are you 6 years of age?