Football Filtered # 3
Football filtered #3
Welcome to our latest look at what’s been passing through the football filter this week.
The Champions league returned and some intriguing ties involving English clubs filled up most of the back pages. Jose was back and as vocal as ever despite being held to a 0-0 draw with Man United at the San Siro. THE MIRROR reported that Mourinho is confident his side can go through and repeat his heroics of 2004 when his Porto side knocked United out of the Champions League en route to lifting the trophy.
There was chaos at the bookies on Wednesday as the odds on Rafa Benitez walking out on Liverpool shortened dramatically, with bookmakers William Hill suspending betting on the Spaniard’s departure after a flurry of high bets. The timing, with Benitez and Liverpool in Madrid about to play his boyhood team Real, seemed all too convenient and THE MIRROR suspected there is more to this story than just hot air.
FIFA’s controversial 6+5 rule reared it’s head again as a Independent study by the Institute for European Affairs ruled that the 6+5 idea – which would mean at least six starting players in a team would have to be eligible for that team’s home nation – was not illegal and doesn’t restrict the free movement of workers. This could have as great an impact on the game as the Bosman ruling did 1995. THE INDEPENDENT runs the rule over the possible ramifications.
THE SPOILER reports Arsenal have defied the credit crunch by recording an operating profit of £24.5 million before tax. But the article also reveals the Gunners’ apparent reliance Champions League money to support their business structure. With Arsene Wenger’s side currently in fifth place it would be interesting to see what impact failure to qualify for next season’s competition would have on their finances.
Harry Redknapp was on the defensive this week after he came in for some criticism for fielding a weakened team in the UEFA Cup. The former Pompey boss, as reported in THE STAR, insisted he wants to win the competition but the Premier League – and staying in the Premier League, is his priority. Martin O’Neill, whose Villa side is chasing fourth place, will rest nine first-teamers for their visit to CSKA Moscow while last season Bolton’s Gary Megson sent a reserve team out to Sporting Lisbon in order to focus on staying in the Premier League.
It does seem a shame that clubs battle so hard to get into Europe only to play weakened sides when they get to the knock-out stages. Perhaps money is more important than glory nowadays.
And finally…
Just a year after being bought by a group of fans via a website, Ebbsfleet United have revealed they are struggling to hit their yearly subscriptions target for next year. THE BBC reports the club hoped to have 12,000 subscriptions to help towards running costs but are still short of their target. I hope the novelty of the take-over hasn’t worn off for some fans and the club doesn’t suffer in the long term.