“If the pioneers of the game are looking at the clubs now, will they be happy? Is this how the game was intended to be played?”“Manchester City’s £930 million spending spree to turn club into Premier League title contenders”
This was the headline that could summarize the year when ManCity went on a shopping spree. A team that had not won the league in 44years and was not even considered to be a threat to the top 4, won the EPL. I personally do not have a problem with a new team being crowned champions, but what I wonder is “If the pioneers of the game are looking at the clubs now, will they be happy? Is this how the game was intended to be played?”The clubs were founded literally by the sweat and blood of industry workers who saw this as a harbor in times of hardship. When the team lost, a part of their souls wept. When the team won, their hearts leaped with joy. Do you know why? It was because the 11 players on the pitch were part of the club, the town and their hearts. They had seen them grow up, break away from the shackles and develop into players; and the whole city shared that journey with them. How would they react if they had 11 players bought from around the world and it was a guarantee that silverware was on its way? The importance of youth academies were realized then, and therefore investments were directed towards the same. Spot talent, develop talent, invest in talent and wait for the returns. There was a time when hard work and planning meant something. If the Arenals and Barcelonas of the 1900s were given access to unlimited money, would they have spent them on buying players or would they have still concentrate their efforts on establishing a structure and ensures players are developed and not just bought off shelves? I think we all know the answer to that one.
The clubs were founded literally by the sweat and blood of industry workers who saw this as a harbor in times of hardship. When the team lost, a part of their souls wept. When the team won, their hearts leaped with joy. Do you know why? It was because the 11 players on the pitch were part of the club, the town and their hearts. They had seen them grow up, break away from the shackles and develop into players; and the whole city shared that journey with them. How would they react if they had 11 players bought from around the world and it was a guarantee that silverware was on its way? The importance of youth academies were realized then, and therefore investments were directed towards the same. Spot talent, develop talent, invest in talent and wait for the returns. There was a time when hard work and planning meant something. If the Arenals and Barcelonas of the 1900s were given access to unlimited money, would they have spent them on buying players or would they have still concentrate their efforts on establishing a structure and ensures players are developed and not just bought off shelves? I think we all know the answer to that one.
It is a very interesting question, and I am nobody to judge. However, being a believer in the importance of the way the game is played, Arsenal gives me hope. The new Chief Commercial officer says “Winning is not everything to Arsenal”. Sounds very familar? Well, he means it differently this time.
The man says that Arsenal does not pride itself on not just winning silverware, but how it is actually won.
“When we win, we will win on the back of our own effort, on the back of our own hard work and revenue that we as a club generate based on our power as a global brand. We won’t win on the back of a wealthy benefactor reaching into his pocket and solving the problem that way. “We believe, and I think our fans believe, that success earned in the way that we’re going about it, in a very difficult landscape and a very challenging business, is the sweeter victory,”
Question for every Arsenal fan: will you be happy if all 11players are bought overnight, and silverware is guaranteed? Or would you rather be attached to your current 11, who have been part of the Arsenal culture and have defined the team? I guess your answer will define you as a true fan or….and don’t tell me Ozil is enough! Looking back, I think Arene Wenger was right all this while. Arsene and Fergie are truly in a league of their own. They know the fans support the club not just for silverware but for the club itself.
I am a loyal Manchester United supporter but it gives me great joy that there are teams and management like Arsenal that still exist. Like I have always believed, nothing can be a better microcosm of the world we live in rather than Football. People look for success overnight, ways to be successful without hardwork. It might work, but it is always short term. Like Bruce Lee said, “I don’t believe in getting something for nothing.” Hardwork will always have its day my friends.
It is important that we understand that it is not your victory, as much as your legacy that is important. Arsenal, Manchester United and a hundred other lower division teams. Silverware is never the ultimate target, the legacy is.
Football is the goal!
–Abhiram Kramadhati (Editor, Footie Talks)
