The Beautiful Game

We all know that there is previous between England and France. It started a long time ago and still seems to rumble on. With Michel Platini's surge to power at UEFA it seems as though each season there is something new to talk about that demonstrates his passion against the success of the Barclays Premier League.

Right now it is the amazing decision against Chelsea that will stop them buying any new players till 2011. The punishment was dealt out by FIFA after the club was found guilty of getting a young winger, Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens in 2007.

Since achieving UEFA Presidency in 2007 Platini has tried to launch, and shared an official opinion on a number of new ideas and innovations to the game. However, to me it seems that often these are born out of Platini trying to fight the dominance of the English game in Europe.

The vast TV Rights money, huge transfer fees, foreign ownership and clubs mounting debts has created an aura of negativity across Europe against the Barclays Premier League, and the Chelsea ruling seems to be the latest battle. I am sure that this kind of thing has gone on in football for decades and all the top teams from all the top leagues must be guilty of it. I am not saying that I agree with it, and think it is very harsh to punish the young player as well as the club, it is just that it always seems that English teams suffer most.

I grew up watching Italian, Spanish and English football and Eduardo's 8.0 against Celtic looked like a cruncher compared to other examples I have seen throughout European football. Yet it is Arsenal who suffer the ban. It would not surprise me if the paper talk is proved right and Manchester United are the next team to suffer the same kind of ruling as Chelsea, then probably Manchester City. With these two incidents the authorities have set the precedent, and they now have to enforce them each time - I can't wait to see what happens the next time there is a dodgy penalty award against Arsenal.

Platini has recently backed the 6+5 idea (six home international players and five foreign players) to be introduced in top flight team in Europe. Platini has also backed caps on wages and transfer spending - and all foreign ownership of clubs. He has stated that he wants to cut the number of Italian, Spanish and English teams in the UEFA Champions League to a maximum of three instead of four and has also talked about banning clubs from European competition based on the debts of the clubs. All are valid ideas, but it seems that English clubs will get hit the hardest.

Too much money, not enough home-grown talent, clubs built on debt and foreign ownership, money taking over the game, players running clubs. These are Platini's view of the English game and he seems set to try and disrupt it.

I love the Barclay's Premier League, and it is so great because of the big business it has become and I have enjoyed English clubs having success in Europe (and the benefits this seems to be having on the national side) and hope that an English team can lift the UEFA Champions League trophy in Madrid in May and see Platini grit his teeth and applaud.

Sod it, I even wouldn't mind if it's Chelsea.

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So Liverpool are out of the title race. Spurs are going to win the league and Everton are going to get relegated.

Well that is the story of the Barclays Premier League table if you look at it today. The first three matches have been played and there have been more than a few shocks. Manchester City look a tight unit, Burnley are world beaters and Michael Owen has forgotten where the goal is.

However, that is the classic knee-jerk reaction that some Fantasy Football managers would adopt when they pick Abou Diaby from Arsenal because he scored two against Portsmouth at the weekend (he only scored 4 goals in 36 matches in 2008/2009). The football season throws up numerous shocks at the start, players gaining fitness and learning to play new systems and with new team-mates. Just think about Hull last season in the Barclays Premier League.

What I think is the interesting thing this year is that the difference between the top teams and the rest of the division is becoming less, and the competitiveness of the 'mid-table' Barclays Premier League teams is growing each season. The TV cash and sponsorship is still growing the game at the elite level and will continue to do so as brands invest more in players and passions (of which football is one of the greatest) and broadcasters pin more and more of their strategy on top tier live rights.

But for me the big change has come with the power shift to Spain's La Liga as Manchester United and Liverpool have lost two key players to that league and although Chelsea are still strong (and I believe will be Champions) they have not been able to strengthen as more and more players choose La Liga over the Barclays Premier League. Meanwhile, Manchester City have eaten away at the Arsenal Squad with the signings of Adebayor and Toure.

With the Big Four not being able to strengthen as much as they would like, and emerging teams like Spurs, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Manchester City all spending big I expect more of the Big Four to lose games.

I still believe that the usual suspects will be there or thereabouts come May, with maybe Manchester City crashing the party, but I can see the required points total for the champions being lower than recent seasons and more teams taking points off the Big Four, I think the United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool will each lose 4-5 games. I might even be so bold as to say within a couple of seasons it will be more a Super Seven...  

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For the last few weeks there has been endless speculation about the coming season. Will Manchester United suffer without Tevez and Ronaldo? Can Burnley continue to beat Barclays Premier League opponents as they did in last seasons Carling Cup? Will Carlo Ancelotti unite the Chelsea millionaires?!

Almost daily there have been predictions on what the final outcome will be come May, and following the flurry of interest that surrounds Fantasy Football League selections it felt that I should also host my own prediction. So here goes..

Champions: Chelsea. Without losing any key squad members and the momentum from the back end of last season when all seemed lost I can see Chelsea winning back the title. In Terry, Lampard and Anelka they have a strong core and additions of Zhirkov and Sturridge will add an extra dimension to their attack. Solid, consistent and a winner at the helm. Think United will push them close but it's Chelsea for me.

Champions League: Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City. The City prediction is a bold one, and fully dependant on their start. They have lots of goals in them, Barry and Toure are great signings and if Hughes can sign one transfer window central defender they have a strong squad. A lot depends on the first few games. If they get a good start and get confident and the pressure eases then its game on and think they can break the top four.

Surprise Package: Sunderland. I think Steve Bruce has bought well and Kenwyne Jones, Fraizer Campbell and Darren Bent will score goals - Lee Catermole is also one step and learning to control his agression away from a senior England place. Bruce has a great knowledge of South American football and da Silva could prove the difference to his defence. I see them causing a few upsets and going close in both the domestic cups.

Relegation: Hull City, Portsmouth and Birmingham. Poor old Pompy, too many good players have left and unless they get loads of cash in January they are going to be in trouble. Think even by then it could be too much for them. Hull showed great spirit last season but by the turn teams had found them out, and sadly for Phil Brown that will continue and the new boys in town will push on and survive. Well, that said apart from Birmingham. I just dont see them having the firepower to stay up. It will be close but think they will always be there or thereabouts and get sucked in towards the end of the season.

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Notts County, one of the former giants of the English game are plotting a dramatic revival and charge towards the Premier League - thanks to yet more foreign investment in English football. Okay, this is not quite on the scale of Man City but in a week when UEA investment saved Portsmouth from becoming the first Barclays Premier League club to go into administration, Notts County are also finding a new lease of life under foreign ownership. Indeed, when was the last time Notts County were finding the back pages?!

The reason for all the excitement and media coverage?

The link to former England Manager Sven Goran Eriksson to become either Manager or Director of Football at the club (the latter being more likely).

Quite a journey for a man who has managed at club sides Benfica, Lazio, Sampdoria and Manchester City, led England to two World Cups and recently had a spell with Mexico. Next stop: Coca-Cola League Two.

It is quite a phenomenon for English football, that so many clubs are rapidly finding new hope and optimism. It seems that right through the game big money foreign investment is shaping the future of the English Football League. It is no longer just about Chelsea, this is happening at clubs from QPR to Southampton and now Notts County. I would imagine a number of club chairman are hoping and praying that they are somehow in the shop window..

Not long ago the news was only ever about struggling clubs, knackered by lack of TV money from the collapse of ITV Digital (did Setanta learn nothing?!) and struggling to survive. Now headlines are dominated by the big money that is flowing through the game from Ronaldo to Rodgers as the lucky clubs get a new credit card to use.

I wonder if Brighton & Hove Albion have had any calls?

Actually I’m happy with Tony Bloom as I think the foreign bubble could well burst leaving a lot of clubs struggling and knackered once again

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Manchester United are on the verge of signing Michael Owen on a free transfer from  Newcastle United.

Only time will tell if Fergie has lost his marbles, but I have a feeling he likes the odds of this bet..

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