Is Money the Most foremost Motivational Factor in Football?

Now, we know that players would truly pay from their own pockets, as Fabregas did, in order to move to big name clubs such as Man Utd, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern (I won't be along with any Italian clubs here as they have been quite horrible as of late). It's quite understandable as players feel like they have achieved their well-awaited dream, if they move to these clubs. Do they comprehend that the same move could whether tarnish their image or reduce their minutes on the pitch? Real Madrid as a club can be taken as a very good example, because of the high profile players it has attracted in the past years. After the traditional Galacticos, very talented players like Michael Owen, Robinho, Arjen Robben, Van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder have represented the clubs unsuccessfully. All the players mentioned here truly under-performed since their time at former clubs.

Except for Anelka, Robben and Sneijder, haven't truly seen these players get their pre-Madrid form back yet. Isn't football about trying to play and achieve consistently? Yes, playing in a team like Madrid will enhance your performance, that is if you are on the pitch but what are the chances of production it into the midfield line up of current Madrid or the Manchester City team? Madrid is loaded with superstars like Ozil, Khedira, Xabi Alonso, Kaka, Altintop, Lassana, Di Maria and the latest increasing Nuri Sahin (from Borussia). These according to me are all class players especially Nuri Sahin. His performance for Dortmund last year played a huge role in them winning the Bundesliga. What are the chances of him playing consistently with the proximity of others around? The same goes for Man City as well. I withhold the team with all that I have but man will be disappointed. Milner, De Jong, Nasri, Johnson, Barry, Silva, Toure and Hargreaves. Great for the eye but in terms of sustainability - not so good.

But in the end, who are we to judge or truly understand the motives behind the switch. Maybe it was for the money or maybe it was for the coach they were playing under or may be it was basically for the credibility of the club. Whatever the reason, every year we have the occasion to see the actual worth of the transfers by the end of the season. At least my man Eto'o came out saying clearly that he was sharp to Anzi for the money. Come-on 20 Million Euros per year. 20 Million? I obviously don't blame Eto'o for accepting the money. For 20 M, I would move to Dagestan and eat a Siberian Yak's frozen testicles for breakfast, lunch and dinner. His family, grandkids and great grandkids could be well off with that sort of money. However, I blame the prevailing bodies for tolerating that whole to be paid.

Is Money the Most foremost Motivational Factor in Football?

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Chelsea Set to Dominate European Football

There is a new heavyweight force in European football, they are being bankrolled seemingly by the Russian economy, they mean business, and their name is Chelsea F.C. Chelsea Football Club have all the time been a decent club in the second strata of English clubs. In London alone Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have invariably been ahead of the Chelsea Blues, even West Ham have often put Chelsea in the shade. But no longer, for in the season 2004-2005, Chelsea won the English Premier League title for the first time in fifty years, their only previous winning season.

But they haven't stopped there, in the new season 2005-2006 they are already well clear in the title race leaving all their rivals gasping, and now they have set their sights on the pinnacle of all the club trophys, the European Champions League. Chelsea have never won the Champions League, legitimately no London club ever has. And it is clear that their charismatic owner Jose Mourinho is intent on winning the Champions League again, he did so with his previous club Porto, of Portugal.

So what of the traditional English giants? Manchester United, often described as the world's richest football club, have fallen into the hands of the Glazer house of Tampa Bay fame, but they reportedly needed to borrow half a billion pounds to buy United, a debt the club now shoulders. Spending on new players has so far been thin on the ground and United's brusque Glaswegian manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, has admitted that United, for so long England's most prosperous club, cannot compete with Chelsea when it comes to buying players. The hordes of United fans are not amused, the natives are growing restless.

Arsenal, London's biggest and most prosperous club, lost their skipper and driving force Patrick Vieira last summer, he moved to Juventus in Italy for £12 million pounds and with their star striker Thierry Henry suffering fitness problems, they picked up some uncharacteristic defeats at unfashionable clubs like West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough. This is their last season at their predominant old Highbury Stadium before they move to their new purpose built Emirates stadium approximately next door. The increased capacity of 60,000 will legitimately give their French owner Arsene Wenger more money to spend next year, but of policy they have to pay for that new ground too. Far from appealing Chelsea again, it would seem that Arsenal are more likely to fall supplementary behind.

That leaves Liverpool and Newcastle. News comes straight through just today that the American Kraft company and house are curious in investing in Liverpool F.C., possibly even buying the club outright just like Manchester United fifty miles up the road, but that is some way down the line. And they too are seeking to build a brand new stadium on Stanley Park and of policy that all costs big money. Despite last year's freakish win in the Champion's League, Liverpool's league form this season has again been patchy, and that included a 4-1 walloping by Chelsea on their own Anfield pitch. The idea that Liverpool might challenge Chelsea for the title remains a far-fetched one. Newcastle, England's second best supported club are gently improving, and they have signed England's centre forward Michael Owen, but they still remain unconvincing at the top level. They haven't won the title since Noah was seen building his ark, or so it seems, and they aren't going to do so this season either.

So though it is very favorite for foreign investors to snap up the prominent English (and Scottish) football clubs, it appears that only Roman Abramovich at Chelsea has the financial muscle to buy the best players around. He is the only one to put unlimited funds on the table. Top class players now command a replacement fee of £40 million each and whereas Manchester United might afford one of them a season, Chelsea's purse seems bottomless. They have already spent £220+ million and are still in the shop to buy again when the replacement window re-opens in January.

They have already achieved success by winning at home, now the European Champion's League is the Holy Grail for them, a trophy they are now the outright favourites to win with the odds layers. And astonishingly they have achieved their success to date with an array of strikers who haven't legitimately cut the mustard. Mutu the Romanian, was right away sacked for drug taking, Crespo the Argentinian, was sent out to Milan on loan last season, and though he is back now he is hardly setting the world afire,or even playing that often, Gudjohnson an Icelander, plays more often than not, the muscular Drogba from the Ivory Coast, seems to have finally claimed the estimate nine shirt as his own, yet many blues followers still remain unconvinced about him, so it would seem likely that Chelsea may yet be looking for an additional one proven goal scorer come January, especially after a modern rare defeat at Manchester United.

It would take a brave man to back against Chelsea in any competition at the moment. But if you'd like to, you can still have a free dollar bet at Betfair.com by entering the code 6Che3Vpwj when prompted. But one thing is for sure; no one would be surprised if this time next year the Premier League trophy And the Champions League trophy were both on display in the Chelsea boardroom. It seems that only the Italian giants Milan and Juventus, and the Spanish top two, Real Madrid, and most especially Barcelona with their Brazilian superstar, legitimately soon to be the world player of the year, Ronaldinho, might stop the London blues. It legitimately does seem as if we have entered a new era in European and world football, or if you prefer the ridiculous name that no one ever uses, Soccer. Chelsea fans have never had it so good while everyone else is left gasping in their wake, for it is a fact that Chelsea Football Club have raised the bar for everyone else to follow. Time will tell if anyone can.

Chelsea Set to Dominate European Football

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English Premiership Football Prospects for 2007-08

Can Manchester United repeat their success this year after their unexpected win last time? Many habitancy think they can and they start favourites. They have boosted their squad by signing Owen Hargreaves from Bayern Munich plus Nani and Anderson and have now picked up Carlos Tevez as well from West Ham. They have looked good in pre-season and will be there or thereabouts.

Their biggest challenger will probably again be Chelsea, though Liverpool Arsenal and Spurs will all have a say in that. Chelsea would dearly love to recover the title they lost last season, but then again they seem more interested in the Champions league. No London club has ever won the Champions league and Chelsea would dearly love to smash that unwanted record.

Arsenal on paper don't look as strong, with Henri gone to Barcelona, and continuing rumours that the boss himself Arsene Wenger could be on his way out of the club. Leagues are not won on paper. I have a feeling Arsenal will confound the critics and put in a strong doing this year. Their younger players will be one year older and wiser and anything who writes them off could be standing on risky ground.

Liverpool have not won the league for an expected 18 years. Before that they were commonly winning it more than all the others put together. Despite two Champions league finals in the last three seasons it is the English Premier league their fans are so desperate to win. They have spent big money this time too under their new American owners, a reported 22 million pounds on Torres alone from Athletico Madrid. Either he genuinely is the final piece in the jigsaw, or even an foremost piece, remains to be seen. Some of the manager's Spanish signings have been moderate successes at best, like Morientes, now back in La Liga, and the pressure will be on Torres to perform. He will too, but Either it will be adequate only time will tell. The tempestuous Bellamy has gone to West Ham, and Cisse to Marseilles. Last year I tipped Liverpool to win the league and I was wrong. They could do it this time, but will have to get past Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United to do so.

As in the past two seasons Spurs remain the most likely to break into the top four. They have spent big on Southampton's young Welsh full back Gareth Bale, and maybe more importantly 16.5 million pounds on relegated Charlton's striker Darren Bent. Darren has scored goals wherever he has been and now in a better team like Spurs he will be expected to score even more, though Either he will get adequate starts is someone else matter. Spurs have four other top strikers, and Martin Jol has shown he likes to rotate his players. Spurs insistence on signing and promoting home grown talent, a direct opposite of Arsenal's policy across the road, is to be applauded. They could improve, and break into the top four, but for that to happen, one of the top clubs would need to suffer a poor season.

And what of the rest? Newcastle have a new owner, new chairman, and new boss in Sam Allardyce, and some tasty new players too. They have signed former Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka, they should have the fit again Michael Owen available at last, plus the signing of the tempestuous Barton from Manchester City and Alan Smith from Manchester United. The boss has been quick in attempting to sort out the leaky defence too; something that has plagued the Toon for practically as long as most of us can remember. Expectations on Tyneside are huge. A vitally foremost season for the manager, and many of the players who are at a crossroads. I expect them to succeed.

Manchester City is someone else club under new possession and managership. former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson has taken over and with lots of Thai money to invest he will now be looking for some top players to build a decent side. He has quickly bought scattergun style on relatively unknown players, but the boss has a proven track description at club level. He will need them too as the City squad still looks lightweight and weak. It will all depend on Sven's buys. If he can get good habitancy in, City will genuinely stay up, and may well do better than that. If he cannot, City could struggle, and Sven may turn out to be a one-season wonder in English football. I speculate not, because Sven is a good manager.

Aston Villa have begun to spend some cash under their new American owners too. England Under 21 skipper Reo-Coker has just been signed from West Ham for £8 million though they will need more than him if they are to worry the top teams. Martin O'Neill's side started last season on fire but drifted away alarmingly. The Villa fans will be hoping for better, but I cannot see beyond mid table for them.

Everton had a good season last time and fine for this years Uefa cup but the last time they were in Europe it seemed to distract them, and they had a terrible year. I don't see David Moyes allowing that to happen again. They have signed Jagielka from relegated Sheffield United though that is hardly going to set the world on fire, plus the promising Baines from Wigan. Johnson should be fit again to furnish some goals but they will need more than that if they are to worry the top clubs. Top eight could be their best hope.

Reading, who enjoyed a super season last year in their first ever year in the top flight, have picked up a terrible beginning pair of fixtures. Unsurprisingly they are favourites to be bottom of the premiership by the end of August, but under their quietly spoken astute boss Steve Coppell, they might surprise a few people. The loss of Sidwell to Chelsea is a big blow, though they have signed some of the club's more promising players on long-term contracts. This will be their difficult second season, something that so nearly sank Wigan last time. Reading only just missed a European place last year, anything above the dreaded bottom three this time will be thought about someone else success by all but the most enthusiastic of Royals' fans.

Middlesbrough have lost talisman striker Viduka, and stories abound that Yakubu could supervene him out the door. If that happened I would worry who is going to score the goals to keep them up. Fulham are someone else club who went into freefall last time and only stayed up through a last slight convert of managers. The newly installed former Northern Ireland boss Lawrie Sanchez has already been busy in the markets signing Davis from Aston Villa and Healey from Leeds. A good start could be crucial for them as well.

The fact that West Ham stayed up at all last year was due to their new boss Alan Curbishley, and the courts choosing not to dock them points over the decidedly odd Carlos Tevez affair. The boss has strengthened by signing Parker from Newcastle and Bellamy from Liverpool and should have the talented and much missed Ashton back from injury. He missed the whole of the last campaign after injuring himself in the warm up for an England match. The Icelandic owners seem thought about to take West Ham on to someone else level. Many fans will be watching their improve this time round, some no doubt hoping they trip up due to that protracted court case, but I cannot see West Ham struggling. Mind you no one imagined they would last time out, and they did. Mid table I speculate for the Irons and a good cup run too.

Of the three promoted clubs, maybe the most spirited one will be to see Roy Keane's Sunderland back as Championship champions, especially when he confronts his old boss Sir Alex Ferguson back at Old Trafford where the legions of fans still chant his name. Sunderland have been busy building up a big squad backed by Irish money and they would seem to have the financial clout to keep out of trouble. A good start might be foremost for them too. One feels Mister Keane's measurement and charisma all by itself will be adequate to see them safely into mid table.

Birmingham look vulnerable. They did not have a great season last year despite finishing second, and took a long time to convince their own stay at home fans to turn out. They have bought players but Either they are good adequate to keep the blues up remains to be seen. Currently they are second favourites to discontinue last, and though that might be a tad pessimistic, it does seem likely they will flirt with relegation again. anything else would be major achievement for their yo-yo boss Steven Bruce. By the way you can still land a free bet at betfair.com by inputting the code 6Che3Vpwj when prompted.

The third newcomers are Derby Country. slight Scottish boss, known as mini-Fergie wasted no time in signing former Norwich striker Robert Earnshaw who has scored goals wherever he has been and in partnership with Steve Howard, they could trouble some defences. Either they have adequate class and firepower would be a worry for Rams' fans. They are expected to be relegated, and I think so too, and anything else would be a huge achievement for the board, manager, players and most of all, for the supporters who have bought season tickets in their thousands. They will be looking to emulate Reading last year and Wigan the year before that, but it will be a tall order to do so.

The Lancashire twins of Blackburn and Bolton both had good seasons again last term and with small crowds and slight money to spend, that is a huge testament to their managers. But with Allardyce gone from the Reebok, Bolton under new manager, former Liverpool player, the slight Sammy Lee, could be in for a hard year. A good start would be most foremost for the Trotters and they do have players like Anelka, if they can hold on to him, who can score goals. Bolton will rely on him, but if he doesn't do the business, they could be in trouble. Blackburn still have their super boss in Mark Hughes and with players of the growing stature of the likes of Bentley, Derbyshire and Pederson they should be fine again.

They only just missed out on Europe last time and made the semi finals of the Fa Cup. On their day they are quite capable of beating anyone, and that is a huge achievement for this likeable Lancashire town club. The third Lancashire town club Wigan stayed up last time by a singular point and have since lost their talismanic manager. That is not a great start and though they have signed a handful of new players, their new boss Chris Hutchings is unproven in this league. They are many people's pick to go down this time and they could well go close to that, but something tells me they might just survive again. It will be close.

Portsmouth only just missed a Uefa Cup place by a whisker last season and they have been busy again in the market buying Nugent, the England under 21 striker from Preston, plus signing Kanu for someone else year. There is a much-needed new stadium on the horizon, and they should have someone else good season, but they are a yo-yo club, and sometimes when expected to do well, they don't, and vice versa. Mid table again for me.

Last year two of my four predictions came up, so what about this season? Could this genuinely be Liverpool's year? They will go a lot closer, I am sure of that, but I speculate that Chelsea will still have something in hand to regain the crown and they can all the time spend more cash if they need to. Manchester United would dearly love to do better in Europe and I speculate they will put all into trying to win the Champions league again, something that the boss and fans would dearly like to see.

As for relegation, sorry Birmingham and Derby, but I just don't think Either have the firepower or class to stay up, though I would be happy to eat my words in both cases. The third downer place is a much harder one to call with City, Fulham, Reading, Wigan, Bolton, Pompey, Boro, and Sunderland, all flirting with a bottom three place during the year. For these teams, their future will be decided on the results in the middle of these clubs, where points will take on added significance. I have to pick one though, and somewhat surprisingly I feel that Boro might the ones to go, though Fulham and Wigan could also be in for someone else hair-raising time.

My predictions then: Champions: Chelsea. European Champions: Manchester United. Relegated: Derby, Birmingham, and Middlesbrough. Sorry chaps! Whoever you support, I wish you and your team well. Let's have someone else cracking year with all issues going down to the last week. That would be the ideal for everyone. As Stuart Pearce was fond of saying: Come On!

English Premiership Football Prospects for 2007-08

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