Of the 90 or so live Premiership games that Murdoch offers each season (without having to pay out for the extra PremPlus offerings), the powers-that-be have decided that two of these games should be the matches between Charlton and Fulham. Thanks.
At least tonight's match has been spiced up by the spectacular society nonsense surrounding Charlton and West Ham and the selection of bookies pal Graham Poll to officiate.
The media has been putting out fallacious reasoning for the goings-on in East London. On the advice of our solicitors, we are prevented from delving into some of the murkier areas in the affair within this post.
But we will address some of the "issues".
Curbishley did not just choose to leave Charlton towards the end of last season. Machinations over the summer have established some very different control structures in the hierarchy of the English game and, after having to leave Charlton, Curbishley was quickly pencilled in to front the money that was about to be dumped on West Ham.
West Ham (like Portsmouth) are becoming significantly more powerful operators in the Premiership. The Dodgy Icelandic Businessman and the Arms Dealer's son have serious intentions for their investments.
Promotion, an FA Cup final, Brooking gaining omnipotence at the FA and incredibly favourable refereeing - last season, the officials only favoured Liverpool and Arsenal more than West Ham and, in the first half of this season, the Hammers have had most support from the referees - have made the the Londoners a valued commodity.
Charlton and West Ham have been closely linked operations since the time Redknapp was around Upton Park. The Icelandic team wanted a professional management structure with greater experience of both global football and it's associated industry sectors. So, the swap was engineered with Les Reed taking the bridging fall-guy position.
Whatever happens at Charlton regarding relegation, Pardew's time will come.
It is becoming a key factor in the power structures of the English game to have proper money behind you. It is now generally accepted that much of this money comes from "interesting" sources. Sectors like arms, beer, oil, tobacco and gambling tend to produce businessmen with a psychopathic edge. This is because these sectors are mature and encourage monopolistic, oligarchical and cartelisation structures that promote anti-social behaviour. The same personality disorders that lead to success in business are now being foisted onto the English game.
Underhand tactics are increasingly the norm as the game continues it's slippery slide into the casino.
© Football Is Fixed/Dietrological
