It is hardly news to say football is too expensive.
If it was then Cheap 5 a side wouldn’t need to exist, but a couple of things happened last week that really brought it home.
First I got a ticket to watch Stoke play Fulham at Craven Cottage. Lets be honest, this is not a fixture that sets the pulse racing. But that doesn’t seem to bother the powers that be. The price they are charging for the game is £35, that’s £35 to see two teams that no one cares about really battle it out in a game that is fairly inconsequential in terms of…..well …anything really.
The weekend of the Fulham game is shaping up to be an expensive one. On the Friday night, I am going to a gig at Wembley Arena, when Prog Metal Legends Dream Theater play. The ticket for that was the same price as the football, which seems wrong doesn’t it? The concert will be an event in a way that we are told football is, but it really isn’t – not a game like Stoke v Fulham anyway.
As soon as the Fulham game finishes we will hotfoot it to another gig, this time in Brixton, where another metal band, Mastodon play. This was considerably cheaper than both, at £18.
The point I am making here is that, as much as I like these two bands, if these gigs weren’t priced in the way they are, we wouldn’t be going. That isn’t the case for the football. If sacrifices need to be made for football then they get made. Because we are Stoke fans we turn up. And it’s this loyalty that clubs play upon.
It is often said people pay what they think something is worth, but when it comes to football that just isn’t true. I KNOW that this game isn’t worth £35 but I still fork it out. Football fans aren’t your normal “consumer” – largely we don’t shop around.
Other sports are more, shall we say, customer friendly. On the night of the Fulham game the next instalment of the Prizefighter boxing series takes place in Wolverhampton. I would like to have gone to this and did look into the possibility of going. A good seat for this is £30. For this you are guaranteed seven fights and plenty of excitement, which does seem not a bad deal at all.
And a good deal is what we are interested in after all. It just doesn’t to apply when blind loyalty and 11 a side football mix. The same isnt true of 6 a side don't worry
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Friday, 20 January 2012
Youth Gone Wild
Aside from Chris Samba, perhaps the most talked about player in the transfer window has been Ravel Morrison.
Newcastle have had a bid turned down, he has been linked with Barcelona and now Manchester City are said to be trying to tempt him across town.
Quite astonishing really for a player who has made just three substitute appearances in the Manchester United first team (all of which in the Carling Cup) and who rarely appears in the newspaper articles without words like “wayward” or “troubled” being attached to his name.
Morrison, who is 19 two days after the window closes, has long been earmarked as a likely prospect to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Beckham, the Nevilles, Butt and Giggs – he was the star of the FA Youth Cup winning side of last season (along with Paul Pogba – who is also set to leave the club according to speculation).
If it were that simple, though, he’d already be in the squad, but with Morrison it isn’t like that.
The young midfielder has had a troubled past, and is currently subject to a police supervision order, which is due to expire. He has been convicted of offences such as witness intimidation and assault. Indeed it is often said that the only reason he is still there is because he is so good.
It is, though, about a little bit more than football ability, and it is, you suspect about something altogether less wholesome, it is about money, pure and simple.
As we have talked about previously on these blogs Youngsters are now big money (Liverpool have already signed a 15-year-old from Wycombe this window) and increasingly clubs want to protect their assets.
It was reported in one of the newspapers this week that it is not uncommon for some youngsters in Premier League youth teams to be on £200k a year, a frankly staggering amount for 17-year olds to be getting.
But it is a fraction of what the likes of Morrison can expect to earn if they fulfil that potential – and it that potential that the clubs are spending to try and keep, and that is exactly why Barcelona, Man City and the rest are being linked with Morrison, because getting him now for whatever compensation they end up having to pay is a darn sight cheaper than buying him if he is worth £30 million at some point in his career – and reports seem to indicate that he is that good.
Crucially, this desire to make sure that the best youngsters are in their control was the reason for the changes to Youth signings the other week – see blog here - , which means the situation will only get worse for the smaller clubs. Youngsters are now big business and football clubs want to cash in
Only time will tell what happens to Ravel Morrison – Alex Ferguson has said his wage demands are “unrealistic ” So his Old Trafford future remains in doubt – but you can bet that if he is as good as we are led to believe then he won’t be leaving Manchester without a fight, because pounds and pence dictate it.
Newcastle have had a bid turned down, he has been linked with Barcelona and now Manchester City are said to be trying to tempt him across town.
Quite astonishing really for a player who has made just three substitute appearances in the Manchester United first team (all of which in the Carling Cup) and who rarely appears in the newspaper articles without words like “wayward” or “troubled” being attached to his name.
Morrison, who is 19 two days after the window closes, has long been earmarked as a likely prospect to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Beckham, the Nevilles, Butt and Giggs – he was the star of the FA Youth Cup winning side of last season (along with Paul Pogba – who is also set to leave the club according to speculation).
If it were that simple, though, he’d already be in the squad, but with Morrison it isn’t like that.
The young midfielder has had a troubled past, and is currently subject to a police supervision order, which is due to expire. He has been convicted of offences such as witness intimidation and assault. Indeed it is often said that the only reason he is still there is because he is so good.
It is, though, about a little bit more than football ability, and it is, you suspect about something altogether less wholesome, it is about money, pure and simple.
As we have talked about previously on these blogs Youngsters are now big money (Liverpool have already signed a 15-year-old from Wycombe this window) and increasingly clubs want to protect their assets.
It was reported in one of the newspapers this week that it is not uncommon for some youngsters in Premier League youth teams to be on £200k a year, a frankly staggering amount for 17-year olds to be getting.
But it is a fraction of what the likes of Morrison can expect to earn if they fulfil that potential – and it that potential that the clubs are spending to try and keep, and that is exactly why Barcelona, Man City and the rest are being linked with Morrison, because getting him now for whatever compensation they end up having to pay is a darn sight cheaper than buying him if he is worth £30 million at some point in his career – and reports seem to indicate that he is that good.
Crucially, this desire to make sure that the best youngsters are in their control was the reason for the changes to Youth signings the other week – see blog here - , which means the situation will only get worse for the smaller clubs. Youngsters are now big business and football clubs want to cash in
Only time will tell what happens to Ravel Morrison – Alex Ferguson has said his wage demands are “unrealistic ” So his Old Trafford future remains in doubt – but you can bet that if he is as good as we are led to believe then he won’t be leaving Manchester without a fight, because pounds and pence dictate it.
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Cheap 5 a side Hopes For 2012
It’s that time of year again when people start making predictions, discussing what might happen throughout the year ahead. Sport is particularly useful for this as you will doubtless have seen if you have bought a paper in the last few days.
And 2012 has many, many sporting events with which to exercise the pundits, in addition to the Olympics, there is Euro 2012, there’s the Ryder Cup and there is the Premier League, of course.
The latter can be dealt with quickly – Manchester City will win that championship with Manchester United second. Simple. Spurs will be third and Chelsea will be fourth.
So instead of a boring list of predictions, I thought it might be interesting to discuss the Cheap 5 a side hopes for 2012.
Number one in that list is something that’s been bugging me for years.
Manager’s to stop talking about referees in Press Conferences:
If you have read these blogs since July you are bound to have read me moaning about this. It is the most annoying aspect of modern football. It happens without fail, every weekend, some manager or other says that the referee has cost his team the points. There is another variance of this, the Manager says “I never criticise referees, but….” Harry Redknapp is always saying this, and for a bloke who “never criticises” the officials he doesn’t half do it a lot.
There is a close cousin of the “never criticising” Manager, and it’s the manager who says “we never get any decisions go our way, so if we got one today, then good.” Mick McCarthy is particularly good at this and it too is extremely annoying.
People to Stop Buying Seating Tickets and then Standing Up For The Whole Game
This is a plea from someone who follows their team to away games in the Premier League.
Please, please sit down.
At nearly every game this season I have had to stand because the followers of my team have decided that they aren’t sitting down. It is annoying, and thoughtless. There are people out there who can’t stand very well for long periods but who don’t want to sit in the disabled section – I know because I am one of them and our viewing experience would be greatly improved if those in front would stick their bum on the seat that they have paid an extortionate amount for.
On the back of the ticket it always says “persistent standing is not allowed,” and yet it seems that if loads of people choose to stand this rule is not enforced (conversely if its just a couple of blokes the stewards can’t wait to wade in.)
The End To Roadwork’s On the M6
This a motorway I spend a lot of time on and there is very little that fills me with dread more than the overhead matrix sings telling you that whichever junction you want is closed and there are “long delays.” Then you sit behind lorries for hours in the middle of the night – for it is usually late when this happens getting upset.
What can they be doing on there? Why does it need to be done constantly? Please stop!
An End to Pointless Football Clichés
We have all seen them. “The lads worked hard,” “it’s a great bunch of lads,” “the fans are fantastic,” or my personal bête noir “110%” It is impossible to give 110%, so stop saying it. It must end in 2012. Oh and every player is not a legend, every game is not “amazing” and not every defeat is a “crisis.”
The Constant Misuse of the Word “Literally” To Be Outlawed
Jamie Redknapp, I am looking at you. Mr Redknapp famously said that “Paul Scholes is an unbelievable player. He has a picture of the match and he literally paints it in front of you.” No, Jamie he doesn’t.
Using “literally” in literally the wrong context is awful. Just yesterday someone said to me that “it was literally coming down cats and dogs,” errr no it wasn’t. Please either use this word correctly or don’t use it all.
And finally, just because I watched him commentate on the Norwich v Spurs game over Christmas….
Ray Wilkins to go Back to Management and leave Sky Forthwith
He spoilt that game with his “my word,” and “what a great player” “tremendous effort from the guys” and so on. It was extremely annoying and, if he commentates on the Newcastle v Man Utd game tonight Cheap 5 a side will be extremely displeased.
And 2012 has many, many sporting events with which to exercise the pundits, in addition to the Olympics, there is Euro 2012, there’s the Ryder Cup and there is the Premier League, of course.
The latter can be dealt with quickly – Manchester City will win that championship with Manchester United second. Simple. Spurs will be third and Chelsea will be fourth.
So instead of a boring list of predictions, I thought it might be interesting to discuss the Cheap 5 a side hopes for 2012.
Number one in that list is something that’s been bugging me for years.
Manager’s to stop talking about referees in Press Conferences:
If you have read these blogs since July you are bound to have read me moaning about this. It is the most annoying aspect of modern football. It happens without fail, every weekend, some manager or other says that the referee has cost his team the points. There is another variance of this, the Manager says “I never criticise referees, but….” Harry Redknapp is always saying this, and for a bloke who “never criticises” the officials he doesn’t half do it a lot.
There is a close cousin of the “never criticising” Manager, and it’s the manager who says “we never get any decisions go our way, so if we got one today, then good.” Mick McCarthy is particularly good at this and it too is extremely annoying.
People to Stop Buying Seating Tickets and then Standing Up For The Whole Game
This is a plea from someone who follows their team to away games in the Premier League.
Please, please sit down.
At nearly every game this season I have had to stand because the followers of my team have decided that they aren’t sitting down. It is annoying, and thoughtless. There are people out there who can’t stand very well for long periods but who don’t want to sit in the disabled section – I know because I am one of them and our viewing experience would be greatly improved if those in front would stick their bum on the seat that they have paid an extortionate amount for.
On the back of the ticket it always says “persistent standing is not allowed,” and yet it seems that if loads of people choose to stand this rule is not enforced (conversely if its just a couple of blokes the stewards can’t wait to wade in.)
The End To Roadwork’s On the M6
This a motorway I spend a lot of time on and there is very little that fills me with dread more than the overhead matrix sings telling you that whichever junction you want is closed and there are “long delays.” Then you sit behind lorries for hours in the middle of the night – for it is usually late when this happens getting upset.
What can they be doing on there? Why does it need to be done constantly? Please stop!
An End to Pointless Football Clichés
We have all seen them. “The lads worked hard,” “it’s a great bunch of lads,” “the fans are fantastic,” or my personal bête noir “110%” It is impossible to give 110%, so stop saying it. It must end in 2012. Oh and every player is not a legend, every game is not “amazing” and not every defeat is a “crisis.”
The Constant Misuse of the Word “Literally” To Be Outlawed
Jamie Redknapp, I am looking at you. Mr Redknapp famously said that “Paul Scholes is an unbelievable player. He has a picture of the match and he literally paints it in front of you.” No, Jamie he doesn’t.
Using “literally” in literally the wrong context is awful. Just yesterday someone said to me that “it was literally coming down cats and dogs,” errr no it wasn’t. Please either use this word correctly or don’t use it all.
And finally, just because I watched him commentate on the Norwich v Spurs game over Christmas….
Ray Wilkins to go Back to Management and leave Sky Forthwith
He spoilt that game with his “my word,” and “what a great player” “tremendous effort from the guys” and so on. It was extremely annoying and, if he commentates on the Newcastle v Man Utd game tonight Cheap 5 a side will be extremely displeased.
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