An Educated Right Foot

As far as football news goes, I tend to read the Guardian. The other day they quoted Noel Gallagher saying something to the effect that, before the billionaires rolled it to Eastlands, Man City were everybody's favourite team. No more, though. Now, City are just another potential scalp.

Today, after a chasing the England defender tirelessly and, it seems, illegally, City have signed Joleon Lescott, adding yet more fuel to the fire. Fantasy Football should be left to the supporters, say many. Keep it off the pitch.

What irks me, as a City fan, is when these sort of reactions come from Chelsea, Man United, Blackburn, Liverpool or even Aston Villa fans. "Oh, you're buying your way to glory," some refrain. Sure we are, but isn't that exactly what their teams have done, if only in a (sometimes) slightly less brazen, and possibly less successful, manner.

Chelsea built their team from scratch when Abramovich took over in 2003. United have consistently splashed out on £30 million players over the last 5 or 10 years. Blackburn bought their way to Premiership success in 1995, when Alan Walker flooded the club with cash. Liverpool have spent overall £200 million since Rafa Benitez took over. And even Aston Villa have used relative clout in the transfer market to have the team pushing for a top four spot.

Some might say it's disgraceful that money can buy success in the best football league in the world, but it's a sad fact that, by buying into the whole spectacle, by watching Sky Sports and eagerly reading about the latest big money signings, by partipating in football betting, we are all responsible for the corporatisation of football. I personally think money has made football enormously entertaining. It's the reason the Premier League is the best in the world. Let's just be thankful, I think, that the money is attracted the league we all follow closest.