Forever Blue With Ian Cheeseman: Should We Sacrifice Morals For Success?

As we count down to the start of the new season, I thought I’d wander away from just musing about the Blues this week and write about the state of our national sport in general. 

It wasn’t that long ago that Manchester City, arguably led by United, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, signed up, with a few others, for the restructuring of the beautiful game. It was going to be called Superleague. 

It would have put a protective ring around the wealthiest clubs to guarantee their incomes and status but would also have led to a level of infamy and isolationism. 

It seems we’re living in an ever more tribal World, where once you’ve made a decision to attach yourself to something, it’s hard to admit fault by that organisation or individual. Thankfully football fans stuck together to protest against that vile idea.

It’s always been like that with football, I guess. When Paul Pogba signed for Manchester United, for a fee of around £90 million, I tweeted out asking what made him so special. I was bombarded by Reds telling me I knew nothing for just for asking that question. I did it again a year later. By then Pogba wasn’t making any impact even the most tribal of United fans had expected, but I still received some abuse. 

By the time I tweeted out my question a third time I hardly received a reply. My point is that when I was talking about Pogba to non-Man United fans they generally agreed with my question, but then they had no tribal connection to the player.

When the prospect of Superleague first reared its ugly head, it seemed like the football world, for once, thought as one. It was great to see. I reckon a new version of Superleague might be being planned right now, but whatever happens there is a new version of the Champions League coming in two years. It feels like a version of Superleague, wearing different clothes.

It’s UEFA’s attempt to prevent a takeover by the big clubs. More games in the competition and more guarantee that those with power and money will progress to the latter stages.

There will be ten group games before Christmas, instead of six and instead of groups of four with the top two progressing there will be a far more complicated league system which sees the top 16 either progressing directly or going into a playoff stage. It’s so complicated that I admit I don’t fully understand it, but that won’t matter to the big clubs as long as all the games are televised and they make more money.

The players and coaches will complain about the number of fixtures but won’t complain if the extra resources mean clubs can pay higher and higher wages for their services. Top Champions League players earn as much as £350,000 A WEEK. 

As long as your club is part of the cartel and has the best players, you’ll probably be in favour of whatever comes, just as you will back your players as long as they win every week. 

I don’t know which direction football is going and I’m always open to change but I can’t help feeling like the soul is going out of football at the very top. I hope fans can see things as they are and don’t let tribalism and loyalty to their clubs mist their view of what’s going on. 

Professional football is built on tribalism, or loyalty if you prefer that word. Once that loyalty is broken it will take a long time to rebuild.

I look forward to the coming season with great excitement, but I do worry about the direction our great game is going. The fans should be central to everything, it’s not just about profit and brand. One thing that never changes though, it’s great to be a Blue!