The soul of modern football

[Craig_H]

I remember people moaning about Chelsea splurging the cash when Roman came on the scene, did they forget about Jack Walker at Blackburn? He did exactly the same thing.

There's a difference though. Firstly, Jack Walker was a football man, a die-hard long term fan, who spent years loving and supporting his club.

Roman Abramovich never knew what Chelsea FC even was, a decade ago. Jack Walker didnt look at various clubs, as if he was window shopping.
His actions came through passion and love of his club - if he couldnt have owned Blackburn, he wouldnt have gone elsewhere and done it with the first club he was able to buy.

Secondly, as much as Blackburn were outspending everyone, the proportions were much different. Blackburn werent spending three or four times the amount of the next two or three highest spenders, like Chelsea did and Man City surely will.

There's always been a 'richest' or highest spending club but in previous times, the highest spender would spend maybe £20m in a summer, and the next highest would be maybe £15m or so. It wasnt a gap that's simply un-bridgable. Nowadays, it's a chasm.

Chelsea were spending £50m+ in one summer, while the next highest spenders were just about reaching a net spend of £20m or so.

It became completely out of proportion and made it impossible to compete.

You can moan about teams buying the title, but that has been the case for a long time. Remember that when we used to win on a yearly basis it was us who were breaking the transfer record. In fact, I still remember when we smashed it by buying Stan Collymore for £8.5m.

I go back to the point about proportion. Previously, the highest spender would indeed be spending more than anyone else, but not double or treble it's nearest (richest) rival. It was very achievable and realistic to not be the highest spender, but still outdo them. It's become nigh-on impossible now and will only get harder.

[Rigadon]

Makes me laugh this talk. Football lost its soul as soon as people realised they could make money out of it, because that's when it moved into the entertainment business.

I remember people moaning about Chelsea splurging the cash when Roman came on the scene, did they forget about Jack Walker at Blackburn? He did exactly the same thing.

The only difference that these billionaires have made is that a club previously seen as small time can make massive strides towards the top of the football ladder.

You can moan about teams buying the title, but that has been the case for a long time. Remember that when we used to win on a yearly basis it was us who were breaking the transfer record. In fact, I still remember when we smashed it by buying Stan Collymore for £8.5m.

I can bet you now, that the only people who complain about the soul of football are the ones whose clubs have suffered the most. Such as liverpool who are being left behind and teh likes of Everton who whilst once could be considered title challengers are now only ever able to dream of scraping 4th if they're lucky.

Long gone are the days of a second division team winning the league after a couple of seasons in the top flight. But it still remains the same, the teams who blow the most cash, are the ones likely to challenge for honours.

Did we really break transfer records when we were the top side? We bought Stan in 95.

[Chrono]

Also, our hard earnt success put us in a position to make that purchase.

[Dalglish]

Did we really break transfer records when we were the top side? We bought Stan in 95.

Rush - most expensive teenager
Beardsley - record transfer between two British clubs

[ukfootballfan101]

The first ever Liverpool team to play was entirely Scottish so we've always brought players in!

[Neil Young]

I thought there was one Irishman actually but my memory could be playing tricks.

[Chrono]

I thought there was one Irishman actually but my memory could be playing tricks.

[red g]

Rush - most expensive teenager
Beardsley - record transfer between two British clubs

Paul Stewart - biggest waste of 2m