"Soccer's" new disease

Quack Handle

It isn't racist fans, it isn't players diving, it isn't El Hadji Diouf, it's Chelsea! While it has taken them 2 years and around £300,000,000 they have finally purchased the Premiership trophy.

I can't wait till Abramovich leaves them in debt and facing relegation like dirty Leeds!

Acid_Drop

Amen

And I thought I was the only person to call Leeds 'Dirty Leeds' lol

but I totally agree with your Chelsea thread.

Tyler Durden

I've nowt against Chelsea yet though I can see why fans of the Arse and Manc U would. I know Chelsea fans who were there in the early 80's in what's now the Championship so I don't begrudge those guys some decent success. As to whether it continues? Well they've got a terrific manager and almost limitless funds allied to large crowds. Hard to see it not lasting.

Invictus

Yes they buy the title. Man Utd and Arsenal have never tried to buy a title have they. Ooops. Ranieri won the title too for Chelsea oh wait a minute no he didn't.

Crocker

Genius has got a point up untill Roman came in Man Utd were the biggest spenders in the Premiership, £30,000,000 on Rio, £20,000,000 on Vaan Horseface etc... but nobody ever said they bought the title.

By the way I was in the pub for the 1st leg of the Champions League semi final and I have never seen as many Utd fans cheering on Liverpool

thirty7

Those "Dirty Leeds" are my team I'm have a knack for picking underacheiving sports teams.

Seriosuly though, that's what bugs me about Soccer around the world. We've seen it with Chelsea, Arsenal, Man U and how they can buy championships. I'm not too sure cause I don't know a lot about the sport, but this is the way the baseball works as well, doesn't it?

The only way to have a fair competition in my mind, is the introduction of salary caps and national drafts (i.e Aussie Football, Rugby League) where teams can be evenly balanced and a more interesting season can unfold.

I wish my sex life was like ECW, first you get a One Night Stand followed by 2 months of nostalgic orgasms and then 6 months of constant sucking.

Tyler Durden

That's kind of been looked into (salary caps etc) however European law being what it is, and footballers being so keen to explore any and every loophole, it just doesn't happen. The Premiership was formed in the first place to fund the greediest clubs who in turn feed the greediest players, why should any of us think that it should become fair??

Quack Handle

Arsenal never bought the title. Man U have earned their money through football so aren't as bad.

Tyler Durden

It's all comparative though isn't it? Arsenal and Man U don't seem to have bought as much as Chelsea over the last couple of years, however Arsenal still dropped about £20M to get Reyes, Man U untold for Ferdinand and others. For years us (little guys) have been getting told by Arsenal/ManU fans that it's just the way it is, the best players gravitate toward the wealthier clubs so just live with it. Now the boot is on the other foot there seems to be a lot of moaning from supporters of those two clubs in particular about "buying the title".

When players that we used to have (e.g Ian Wright) were getting tapped up by Arsenal, their fans would just tell us "he wants success, he wants to win trophies, he wants to earn more money". Well the same is now exactly true of Ashley Cole for example. He's thinking of moving because he wants the chance of more trophies (Chelsea have gotten further in Europe both the last two seasons than Arsenal), more money and to win bigger trophies (current champions compared to possible fa cup winners?).

Players will ALWAYS follow the money, in particular if it's combined with success.

Quack Handle

There's no reason lesser teams such as Spurs, Middlesborough, West Brom even can't have as great success as Arsenal. People forget Arsenal were in the same position as Spurs basically, it wasn't money that lifted us out, just good management and smart tactics concerning transfers.