I am no economist but this is my take on the world financial crisis. Super confident bankers financed projects with money which doesn’t exist. More money than we have on the planet. It collapsed and now the average man and dog has to knuckle down for a few years to keep the world afloat. Great.
Apart from middle-management the world over whooping with glee at the increase in power this gives them over their more vulnerable employees, I expected another reaction to this. Namely, I expected a bit of common sense to prevail across the board in large industry.
Not so top level football it seems. Real Madrid and Manchester City have made this year’s transfer market look like a drug-crazed lottery winner in Vegas. Has anybody taken the time to look at Newcastle United recently? Dear Lord there is a warning there.
Manchester United the ‘business’ is not something I am a huge fan of. In fact, it is up there with tinea, air quotes and the phrase ‘knowhatamean’. I have not bought a match day program since the Glazer takeover, nor do I intend to.
Gill, on the other hand, I hold a begrudging respect for. He emerges favourably with comparisons to Peter Kenyon and Martin Edwards, although it must be noted Edwards was at least a true fan.
United’s movement so far in the transfer window has been described as frugal. If we had spent £17million pounds on a Wigan player five years ago people would have suspected the manager of eating those special mushrooms you get in Amsterdam before checking the documents. Nowadays it is called frugal. Deary me, reality checks all round.
Despite the losses of Ronaldo and Tevez United must still have the strongest youth set up in world football. And it is making money too. Ronaldo represents £67.5million profit on a six-year investement which has seen us win every major trophy going. I’ll take that. In addition to this, we have made money on the sales of Frazier Campbell and Phil Bardsley among others. The future of the club looks fairly sound.
The pursuit of glory is of course important, but I still want to turn up on a Saturday and watch a team, not a shadow of former glories headed for the fires of oblivion. That is what the Geordies have to look forward to this season.
We may not win the league this coming year, no team has ever won four in a row and I have my doubts. But the club will still be here tomorrow. As I walk around the supermarket looking for the discount margarine I realise I will not be buying that Ferrari this year, or trampling through Vegas with a suitcase full of lottery cash either. But I’ll still be here tomorrow too.
A bit of credit for common sense please. Football is escapism yes, but how far can you escape from reality without it coming crashing back down on top of you? Good luck City.
Follow Mark www.thedevilinme.co.uk
Photography from:captainsticky at Flickr