Money in Football

Premier League squads can now potentially play in excess of sixty games across a number of competitions in one season. This applies to those who have been previously successful and find themselves in a European competition such as the Champions League and the Europa League, but even those who are not ‘going on a European tour' can find their schedule packed with fixtures. Progression in the early rounds of the Carling Cup and then after Christmas further success in the FA Cup, possibly via a replay match, means that in domestic cup games alone a team could face up to the task of having to playing an extra seventeen games on top of their thirty eight Premier League matches should they reach both domestic finals by the longest routes. The likelihood of these events unfolding is low, but the point is that it could happen. For those who, as previously said, are also committed to playing in Europe the number of fixtures can reach a point where they appear to be endless and with success in those Europe competitions a high priority the need for strength and quality in depth to deal with the mass of fixtures is vital.

There is only one way to acquire such a squad of class – money. Money is becoming more and more important season after season. If you do not have it, you simply cannot compete for trophies and for the European places in the league. If you do then it is nothing short of a miracle. But obviously not every team has a bottomless pit of money to fund a shopping spree on the best talent the world has to offer, so whatever money teams can gather they must spend it wisely to ensure success. Take Manchester United, they have money but it is not a case of ‘money is no object’ for Sir Alex Ferguson when the transfer windows are open. He must carefully pick who he needs to succeed. This year his major signings were Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea, England under 21 defender Phil Jones and Aston Villa’s Ashley Young. Each of those additions have settled quickly, putting in some excellent displays in the seasons early fixtures, helping United to reach the top of the table and once again become the team to beat.

For those with no money at all, they must do their best to contain wealthier opponents when they meet. Last weekend, the Premier League’s richest club hosted the poorest when Manchester City welcomed paupers Everton to the Etihad Stadium. Everton were the only team in the entire Football League not to buy a player this summer and were forced to sell star midfielder Mikel Arteta to ease the money worries at Goodison Park. The gulf in class on the pitch was huge, with Everton parking the bus with the aim of securing a draw. Man-marking City’s most creative player David Silva and playing what was essentially a 4-6-0 formation in an attempt to hold off City was not enough. They lost 2-0. Amazingly, it was City’s first home win over Everton since 2007 with the Blues winning the last four fixtures away to City, becoming somewhat of a bogey side for them in the process. However, team spirit and a willingness to battle to the death, which has seen Everton through in recent years, no longer appears to be enough with the wealthier clubs like United and City pulling further and further away from those clubs without two pennies to rub together as they find themselves being left behind.

Success in football is now a case of ‘it’s all about the money’.