Source: Daily_Mail
DES KELLY: All the cash in the world, no Real change
The theory has taken hold that the Premier League clubs dominate inEurope only because they have the most money. Two words make a mockeryof that argument. Real Madrid. [LNB]If it were all about cash, the Spanishclub would have the Champions League trophy on permanent display at the Bernabeu. They would have Europe sewn up just as theyhad in their Fifties heyday.[LNB] Madrid-bound? Kaka takes on Mascherano[LNB]Last season, accountants Deloitte ranked Madrid the richest club in theworld for the third year running. And how has this incredible wealthmanifested itself?[LNB] More from Des Kelly... Des Kelly: The hidden horror of Glazers' United10/04/09 Des Kelly: Just a spoonful of Shearer helps the medicine go down03/04/09 Des Kelly: Put the dummy back in, Wayne27/03/09 DES KELLY: For Middlesbrough's sake it's time to go, Gareth Southgate20/03/09 The great England rip-off: 45 shirts in 43 years16/03/09 Des Kelly: Why UEFA must move the Champions League final from Stab City13/03/09 Des Kelly: It's time to tackle the real thugs and put them before a proper jury06/03/09 Des Kelly: This is just no way to represent our country on the continent27/02/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE Well it couldn't halt three English clubs marching to the semi-finals of the Champions League for the third season in a row. It did not interrupt the sequence where at least one club from England will have appeared in five successive European Cup finals when the teams step out in Rome on May 27.[LNB]Nor could that money spare Madrid from being utterly humiliated by Liverpool last month, although there was no reason for any great expectation as their previous three European campaigns have been distinguished by a miserable collapse in the first knockout round. Madrid are the worst offenders, but they are not alone. [LNB]If it was all about cash, why aren't others challenging the dominance of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal? Inter, for instance, have the highest-paid player in the world on their books in the shape of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. [LNB]Bayern can afford to recruit a strikeforce of Luca Toni, Franck Ribery and Lukas Podolski worth almost £50million. And yet only Barcelona have been able to break into the English clique. Of course, the Premier League has immense financial clout - be it borrowed or earned. But it's far too simplistic to say that is the only reason they thrive. I[LNB]t is, however, anything but overly simplistic to argue that Madrid are a perfect example of how not to do it, with players bought on reputation and managers hired and fired on a whim. [LNB]Florentino Perez, the man who originally ushered in the era of the Galacticos, is now throwing promises around like confetti with plans to spend his way back into the trophy hunt as the club's prospective new president. [LNB]It is customary to make outlandish manifesto claims in the chase for popular votes and, even though the transfer window has yet to open, Perez has stuck posters on the glass of the stars he says he will recruit. He has 'told friends' that Kaka will be brought in from Milan at a price approaching £75million. [LNB]Real deal: David Beckham stands with former president Florentino Perez, left and the club's honorary president Alfredo di Stefano[LNB] Cristiano Ronaldo is apparently due to follow, courtesy of another cheque for £75m, ensuring that one of the most tedious transfer sagas in modern times chunters on.[LNB] Inevitably there will be more tales in the coming weeks predicting that Jose Mourinho or Arsene Wenger will be manager and countless star names are on their way. Like political party pledges to cure the NHS, rid the world of child poverty and provide 'sport for all', these election vows are best taken with a large dose of salt. [LNB]The bombast is meant to enforce the idea that Madrid remain a relevant power. In truth, it demonstrates how ineffectual and hollow their strategy is. [LNB]Money is not enough. The Premier League is dominating Europe because the top teams are run in a more thoughtful and professional manner than the likes of Madrid. Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger control who comes in and who goes out and their ideals are woven into the fabric of their clubs. [LNB]Rafa Benitez is intent on building a similar dynasty at Anfield. Chelsea's Guus Hiddink is the only exception with his temporary London assignment, but nobody would doubt his experience or disagree that his job was to shepherd an accomplished squad back on to the right path.[LNB] By contrast, Madrid have had 10 managers in 10 years, and the current incumbent, Juande Ramos, is only on a six-month contract. The squad is selected by the president and the signings are crowd-pleasing flourishes rather than considered and strategic buys. [LNB]Entertaining though it may be, the more Sir AlexFerguson and Rafa Benitez set about one another with their endlessPunch and Judy routine, the greater the neutrals' desire to seeChelsea's Guus Hiddink somehow overhaul them both in the race for thetitle. [LNB]Over at Inter, they sacked Roberto Mancini, the manager who had won them three successive league titles in the hope that Mourinho would take them to even greater heights. He hasn't and is now expected to be on his way too. Add that the Premier League is also the fastest and most physically challenging competition in the world and the gap with the Continent is only going to grow. [LNB]You would have thought someone at Madrid would have spotted the need for a solution more substantial than money and hot air. Stability has to go along with any investment and they need a manager who is respected, not treated as disposable by a meddling boardroom pandering to fans. [LNB]But all of that takes time. Unfortunately, presidents are too busy playing politics. And you know what they say about politicians: Like nappies, they need to be changed regularly, and for the same reason.[LNB] Come on, David... show a little RespectThere is onepiece of nonsense the FA should have stamped out long ago, and that isthe shameless efforts of top managers to influence and pressure thereferee before a game.[LNB] Everton's David Moyes has been at it inthe run-up to tomorrow's FA Cup semifinal, suggesting in a mealymouthedfashion that the official Mike Riley could be unfit for the job becauseof rumours that he is a Manchester United fan. [LNB] Concerns: David Moyes[LNB]Moyes said: 'A member of the press asked me if Mike Riley is a Manchester United supporter. I think that is something you would have to bring up with the FA. [LNB]One newspaper report claimed this week that Dimitar Berbatov did not appear to be fully fit against Porto'. Really? How could they tell? Was he running less than usual? And is that even possible? [LNB]'If you, the press, are saying Riley is a United supporter, you hope the FA would look at that.' [LNB]Did you see what he did there? It's an old trick that TV reporters use when they ask a manager: 'How do you react to the newspaper headlines calling for you to quit?' rather than fire the question straight out themselves. But it's obvious what Moyes is trying to do. Any decision Riley gives against Everton will now be howled down in unsubstantiated and undeserved accusations of bias. [LNB]This is a trick Arsene Wenger has complained about in the past, but nothing is ever done. [LNB]Yes, referees cock things up on occasion, just like managers. Yet to suggest they are compromised is not worthy of a boss who consistently manages to punch above his weight in the Premier League and the FA should act accordingly if their tattered Respect campaign is to mean anything. [LNB]'Referees try to get decisions right,' added Moyes. 'But they can be influenced.' Which is presumably why he mentioned all of this in the first place. [LNB]Meanwhile, Manchester United's Wayne Rooney tells the world he is still an Everton fan at heart. Presumably, that won't prevent him from doing his job either.[LNB] We should be thankful for Motty and CoOne of the genuine perils of a foreign holiday is not a cavity search at Customs, or an aeroplane crash, but the prospect of watching football overseas.[LNB]For two weeks, I have had to endure the unremitting horror of the crazed Irish blockhead Tommy Smyth shouting 'It's in the ol' onion bag' over and over again on ESPN. [LNB]The Guardian asks if he is 'the most hated commentator in history'. With offerings including 'He lampooned that into the net', I'd suggest they might be underplaying the hostility a little.[LNB]Flick over to America's Gol TV in search of a respite and the airwaves are mangled by the voice of Ray Hudson, a demented Geordie shouter. Take the great Sid Waddell, give him a lobotomy, dose him up on LSD and Newkie Brown and then hand him a microphone and you'll have a general idea of what Hudson is like.[LNB]We're living deja-vu all over again,' he says. 'I'll put it in one word - bloody magic.' And 'I cannot express this because you're going to have to invent a new language in English.'[LNB]Hudson does that himself, yelling constantly about goals from the gods, heavenly this and that, and gladiators and knights. But with these two exiles hamming it up Stateside, is it any wonder America is reluctant to take 'soccerball' seriously.[LNB]Can I just say to Martyn, Andy, Richard, Clive, Jim, Peter, Gary, Motty, Jonathan and Lawro, it's good to be back.[LNB] Hamilton will miss Ron now that he's goneAND so Lewis Hamilton and his father Anthony are said to be quietly rejoicing that Ron Dennis has severed all his links with the McLaren Formula One team. I suspect it won't be long before they have cause to regret Dennis's exit. [LNB]There is no doubt the McLaren boss has upset a few people over the years, but that was usually because he put his team first and refused to kowtow to pitlane dictators like Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley. Not only did Dennis hand Lewis his first opportunity as a youngster, but he also scrapped for the team.[LNB] In doing so, he received plenty of flak and he'll admit there were times when he deserved it. But Dennis was a big character with bags of experience, having dealt with an array of champions including Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Mika Hakkinen. [LNB]Now that he is gone, the Hamiltons might be surprised to find that they are just that little bit more exposed in Formula One's notorious coconut shy.[LNB] I do enjoy the trials and tribulations of Samit Patel, the bowler chopped from England's one-day squad in the West Indies because he was too fat. He explains: 'It was a combination of bad eating habits and not enough exercise.' Not enough exercise? That's what happens when you play cricket, I suppose. [LNB] [LNB]
