Monday, January 19, 2009

On Manchester City's Mega-Millions

If you've been following this year's transfer season, one overwhelming theme develops: Manchester City wants to buy the world. This isn't a new phenomenon. For years teams of every level have been complaining of bigger, richer clubs cherry-picking their best talent. But what do the British, and really the soccer world, truly expect? In a capitalist system, cash is king (particularly in a recession) and there will always be someone richer and more willing to spend money on their club. To be honest though, it doesn't really matter. Chelsea was comparatively rich when Roman felt like spending his millions (and not losing them) and last I checked, two Premier League titles and a couple Cups (and a notably absent champions league trophy) didn't destroy the balance of football. And that was with a club that would be highly desirable for a player: already storied and in west London (and not to mention rather slick uni's)


Last I checked, everyone is counting Chelsea out for dead, and chalked off Liverpool for a late-season collapse and then yet another Premier League title for the true monster of Manchester, good ole United. If Manchester City wants to spend ludicrous amounts of money on transfer fees, they're actually rejuvenating football. Let's say for instance, Milan was to sell Kaka for 107 million pounds. Well, who do you think is going shopping now? Just like Chelsea used to face inflated prices when they were swimming in cash, City will face this to an even greater degree. Milan can then turn that 100 million into basically a whole new squad to replace their ever-aging core. Other teams will not be as foolish as Manchester City to buy Nigel de Jong for 17 when they could have had him for 2.3 (well, except for maybe Tottenham). Manchester City will build a great team in time, but it will take time, and they will not dominate. Someone has to catch all the money they're throwing around, and that money will be smartly invested into enriching all teams they buy from, and in the end, all we've added is another G14 caliber club, and nothing more. G