In Round 5 of The Champions League, UEFA applied significant pressure to ensure that teams with nothing to play for (eg Levski Sofia, Hamburg, Milan) would put out a credible 11 players. Similarly with Chelsea due to Mourinho's grudge with all things Catalunyan.
Although I monitor all concurrent games, I was paying extra attention to the Chelsea game due to the forthcoming Man Utd encounter. Andy Gray's assertion late in the game which was roughly along the lines of 'nobody can doubt that Chelsea really want to win this game' was total drivel (his exact words were drowned out by the hysterical laughter resonating around the trading room). Which game were you watching, Mr Gray? Chelsea made no attempt to win the game. It is quite evident to insiders when teams are merely going through the motions. And it's not only Chelsea. Although personally I was ecstatic with Nakamura's stunner, United were not exactly up for it were they?
When I visit my home city of Manchester (Mancs feel football on a different level than the rest of the planet), I chat with the people about footie and there is a shared perception in the city among lifelong supporters that the broadcasters (and Sky in particular) underestimate the degree of cynicism that has permeated the grass roots of the fanbase. For Mancunians, the issue is not whether the game has been corrupted but how it has been corrupted and who is doing the corrupting.
This is one of the critical foundations to the astonishing success of FC United of Manchester(www.fc-utd.co.uk). Formed in the aftermath of the Glazer takeover, United are top of the North West Counties League Division One (no less!). After promotion last season, mini-United attract crowds of 2500+ (there were 3200 for the mini-derby against Maine Road). Rhodri Giggs (brother of Ryan)is a star of the team and goals are celebrated effervescently rather than the staged theatrical drama-queening that we get in the Premiership. Yet another case of that rare creature - Proper Football.
Tangentially, why are there virtually no television commentators, summarisers, experts, co-commentators etc from Manchester? Everybody who has ever played for Liverpool is constantly on tv and there are an increasing number of ex-Gunners sneaking in too. Mancunians? Lee Sharpe phases in and out of reality and, every so often when the BBC wish to entirely confuse its audience, they wheel out Schmeichel. Otherwise, nowt. It's probably just another Liverpool, Masonic, WASP sort of thing...
© Football Is Fixed/Dietrological
