02.23.08
Language barrier could hinder evil media
A genius masterstroke by Juande Ramos and Fabio Capello is to not speak English to the media.
I am of the confidence that Capello and Ramos speak perfect English – they are not stupid coaches. Spanish and Italian players who have played in England could also speak fluent English so there is no reason Ramos and Capello could not.
And it is not an unknown fact that the English media, specifically the infamous tabloids, are the most vile, manipulative rumour engines around. If they have already misquoted and misinterpreted interviews of foreigners – even in different publications – already as often the case, it would be so simple for a big-time coach to be given that sort of treatment in the media’s mother tongue.
Time will tell if Ramos and Capello will finally break the barrier and talk – but the wise will prevail, I think you will never see them conduct press conferences in English for at least 2 years.
02.21.08
My apologies
I was an ignorant fool to be saying that the FA and the Premier League were one and the same entity – I should have known better.
Well, if the FA has already rejected the 39th game then it goes without saying anything else.
02.15.08
Overseas games will not work
So the Premier League wants to play games abroad. You’d think as an Asian, I’d be smiling of this bit of news but lemme tell you a few things that will not make this happen or why I don’t think it’s wise:
1. Most, if not all of the English fans, oppose of such a plan. From what I read, nobody likes their club being a money-making machine, because of all the countries in this world, British clubs are the oldest ones and the fans believe more in team values than money. Unless you’re Chelsea of course.
2. Sepp Blatter, a.k.a. Mr. Anti-England, has already voiced his disgust at this plan. The head of FIFA has always hated the English, even to claim that football started in China, and to me as long as he is in power English football will never be shown in a good light at least. Oh, and he’ll never want England to host a World Cup. And now that he got Michel Platini under UEFA who has also negative views on the English game, the Premier League will have a steel wall to scale if they’re ever gonna push this radical deal through.
3. The idea of a 39th game in a 20-team league is absurd. The logistics are flawed. A team can play another three times in a season? And forget about neutral venue or sorts – for a Man U or Liverpool game played in Asia it’s as good as a home game for those popular teams.
4. The FA are already rich as they are now. If I had read correctly, their turnover for all those England games earn them quite handsomely. So why make more money if they’re already richer than, say, the Italians with all its recent troubles? They should really improve the national team’s game more than their bank accounts. Again, I’m quoting Italy as an example… oh! The British have already put Italian bosses at their helm, good job. Cap and Trap, you know what you doing!
I applaud the FA for allowing seven subs from next season though. That’s a real breather for everyone involved – the manager and players of all levels. But let’s just say, they can flush the 39th game down the toilet, and stick with a bi-annual Premier League Asia Cup-Trophy-Challenge-whatever in the summer.
