Silly Money

Wednesday 18th December

At a time when the two biggest growth industries are food banks and pay-day loans, and benefit cuts are forcing millions into poverty we see even more stupidity at the other end of the spectrum.  We have long been amazed at the ridiculously high salaries commanded by footballers, but one argument has been that with possible injuries and, Ryan Giggs excepted, a fairly low upper age limit there was some justification, especially if they had extraordinary skills and could win matches almost on their own.  But what about the managers; why are they paid so much?  Okay, so they are sacked at the drop of a hat, or a few points lost in succession, but somehow most of them manage to pop back up managing another team after a short while.

Except for Arsene Wenger and Alex Ferguson almost all of the current managers of Premiership teams have not been there for long.  And yet, even though owners must know that they are unlikely to be long-term in situ, they manage to agree ridiculous salaries with huge pay-outs when (because if don’t come into it) they are eventually sacked.  Andre Villas Boas has earned thirty million pounds in less than two and a half years from London clubs.  And he had a break of a few months kicking his well-heeled heels.  And this was for failure !!!

Managers just aren’t given long enough to mould a side, especially when there are wholesale changes in the transfer market.  And who can really tell when a side has a successful run under a new manager how much of that success is down to the new guy in charge, or to long laid plans, clever buying and training by the man the owners have just sacked.  I sincerely hope that Spurs go back to winning ways, I always liked them, but heaven help us if they get Fabio the flat-footed lunatic who almost destroyed English football, and if by some chance they start playing well where will the credit fall.  And if they continue to fall apart how long will the successor last and what more silly money will be thrown down the drain again.