All posts by h79snht.top

An eclectic and eccentric view of football, business and management by media entrepreneur Chris Ingram.

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A couple of weeks ago I wrote about how vitally important the FA Cup is to smaller football clubs.

And blow me down, Crawley get drawn away to Man United in the 5th Round!

Just look at the economics:

Man United’s matchday revenue is £3.4m per game

In the FA Cup the home team has to share the revenue 50% = 1.7m

Crawley’s estimated annual turnover = 850k

So, this is going to deliver Crawley FC two year’s revenue from just one game at Old Trafford!

Rival clubs in the Conference Premier will see this as ironic: the new owners of Crawley have been accused of `splashing the cash’ in a dash for promotion. The cost of the assembled squad is at a level that most other clubs at this level can only dream of. However, such is the ability of football to scramble our brains, that most owners of clubs talk about the importance of balancing their books and running a club like a conventional business but if given a chance, would spend big money chasing the dream. Wage bill limits may be far from perfect but they are certainly a help in encouraging chairmen and directors to act sensibly (and I speak as one of the guilty parties!).

Even supposing my figures are not exactly right (and tell me if you know better), they’re broadly right and they need to be seen in the context of what’s happening at this level of football. One club handily-placed for promotion into our League may go out of business because they lost 3 games (and therefore all their revenue for a month) because of the snow. Windsor and Eton, 118 years old, went into administration last week. Kidderminster in the Conference Premier, are one point off the play-off places, but haven’t paid their players this year and the Inland Revenue are threatening to pull the plug on them because of money owed to them. Football clubs tend to be incredibly fragile businesses at this level.

Meantime, the biggest clubs are rumoured to be asking the FA to ban replays in the FA Cup, with everything decided on the one game. This is due to their worries about the wear and tear on their squad. With players at my club’s level earning up to £600 a week while Premier players earn up to £200,000 a week, the sympathy at grass roots level only goes so far.

There is a vital, symbiotic relationship between big clubs and small ones in this country.

We need help from the big clubs BUT each level of football relies on much of its talent being developed by the divisions below them. Eliminating replays in the FA Cup will without doubt, result in even more clubs folding at the grass roots level. The FA would be well advised to remind the top clubs of this.

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Chris Ingram is as passionate about football as he is about business. Owner of Woking Football Club, and a majority shareholder in the fast growing sports media business Sports Revolution, Chris is one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs.

Recently celebrating 50 years in the media industry and still actively involved with Woking, Chris is ideally placed to comment on the business side of football.

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READ more of Chris Ingram’s work at our Football Business Section

‘It’s just a natural reaction from a demanding public. It’s nothing new. It’s the same everywhere.’

These were the words of Chelsea’s new manager after only his first home game in charge when addressing the issue that his team was subjected to booing by the home support. Villas-Boas then appealed to the Chelsea fans to get behind their team, claiming a negative atmosphere off the pitch effects players on it: ‘What I would say is empathy can be decisive because you have to put your opponents under pressure. You put opponents under pressure by raising your voices and supporting your team. In our game we need support and tranquillity. We suffered a goal in the fourth minute and people need to be behind us all the time.’

So is Villas-Boas right? Do supporters have a greater responsibility to lift their team when things are not going to plan on the pitch? Or should the ultimate responsibility lie with the players, whose job it is to lift the crowd and inspire their support?

In the context of what was only their first home game of the season, and, when the boos rang out, during half-time at a goal-down, it seems absurd that any supporter would be booing their team. Indeed, many fans would never dream of publicly booing their team, no matter what stage of the season, no matter how low things had gotten –I’m sure there are many of you out there. But how many, hand on heart, could say the same? Maybe supporting a ‘top four’ club spoils a supporter a little. How dare their team not perform, and be second-best at any stage on the pitch to a team that is seen as more inferior. But I suppose that’s where a paradox lies; ‘top four’ clubs contain world class players, who, particularly in Chelsea’s case have been bought in for massive amounts of money. If a loyal supporter who is lucky enough to only earn in a year, what one of these players earns in a week, see’s that player not pulling his weight or performing, isn’t that supporter well within their rights to let their feelings be known?

Booing for many is a step too far however. Many can get frustrated, shout ‘constructive’ abuse (often the source of much amusement between fans and helps lighten the mood!), moan and groan, but booing the team is a no-no. Like it or not, when you are a fan, it is your duty to support your team through thick and thin. And when crowds famously unite in support and passion, as many English crowds do, it can motivate your team. Pick the players up off the floor and inspire them to great things, even when all hope seems lost. It is a sentiment not lost on Villas-Boas: ‘There are a couple of stadiums in the league where there are good examples of pressing the opponent by the crowd behaviour’ the Chelsea manager said on the subject. But still keen to emphasise his point and scrutinise those fans who were awfully quick to let their feelings known to the new manager, he simply stated: ‘Last year I was whistled at Porto and the season ended with four trophies and no more boos’.

He was right, and one tends to agree with his sentiments that those quick to judge, should wait to see what happens during the course of a whole season, not, the course of a whole half – especially in the opening home game of a new season, with a new manager at the helm and new tactics being deployed. But then again, patience is a virtue that seems to have no place in modern football.

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If you want to read more from myself including news, thoughts and views you can follow me on Twitter @fantasista1077 thanks!

Tottenham are reportedly set to test Everton's resolve over midfielder Steven Pienaar and use Niko Kranjcar as bait in a part-exchange deal.

The future of South Africa international Pienaar remains up in the air as he is out of contract at the end of the season, and is widely expected to leave in the new year with a host of clubs keen on the South African international.

Harry Redknapp is a known admirer and Spurs are thought to be heading the race for his signature with former Portsmouth man Kranjcar reportedly a potential player to be used in a part-exchange deal.

Kranjcar has only managed to start one Premier League game this season and has struggled to win a regular first-team place at White Hart Lane this season.

When asked about his future, Pienaar said: "I am still focused on staying at Everton. The season is not over yet, anything can happen."

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Wolves defender Richard Stearman hopes his new deal at Molineux will help his international aspirations.

Stearman, 23, recently signed a new three-and-a-half deal with the Premier League strugglers after being rewarded for his consistency under manager Mick McCarthy.

The former England under-21 representative was delighted with the deal and hopes that his international career can kick on now that his future is secured.

“I’m delighted to have got something signed,” Stearman told the club’s official website.

“It’s been in the back of my mind for a while now that my contract was running down and it’s great to have got something agreed with the club. Now I can just concentrate on my football.”

“I want to continue playing for Wolves in the Premier League and I’ve got international aspirations as well. But the main thing for all of us at the moment is making sure we are still in the Premier League at the end of the season.”

Stearman believes regular games in the heart of defence has helped him develop and says he is pleased with the side’s form, despite the fact Wolves sit second last on the Premier League table.

“This is the first time I’ve had a sustained run in the Premier League in my natural position of centre half,” he said.

“It’s great to be back in there and I hope I’m rewarding the gaffer for keeping faith in me. Personally I’m delighted with the way things have gone in recent weeks and as a team I think our form has been good despite losing at Liverpool.”

“We’re just looking now to trying to get through to the next round of the cup on Sunday and kick on in the league.”

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Stearman praised the playing squad’s ‘spirit’ and is hopeful that the club can progress in the FA Cup – where they meet Stoke in the fourth round on Sunday – despite the potential distraction a cup run could pose to a relegation battle.

“It’s about getting in a winning habit. We haven’t won too many this season so any win is good for boosting confidence,” Stearman said.

“We did well in the last round by winning the replay 5-0 which gives us good confidence going into Stoke.”

“We know it’s going to be a tough game but we want to make progress if we can.”

Frank Lampard has stated that Chelsea’s slump in form is down to the players, and not under-fire manager Andre Villas Boas.

The Stamford Bridge club dropped out of the top four with a 2-0 defeat to Everton on Saturday, with talks of crisis heightened by Roman Abramovich’s presence at the club’s Cobham training ground.

Despite rumblings that the Portuguese coach’s job may be under threat, Lampard feels the players are just as much to blame as their boss.

“Of course we do, it’s a group thing,” the England international told Chelsea TV when asked if the players need to look at themselves after the defeat.

“It was a bad performance from start to finish.

“When you come to Everton, the one thing you know they’re going to do is fight you, press you and make things tough and we didn’t react to that.

“We created two or three chances and that’s not up to standard. We can only take that on the chin and apologise to the people who came up and watched it because that’s not good enough for Chelsea.

“We have been fighting to win leagues. Now, we are fighting for fourth and that hurts, so we have to react.

“We know we are in a bad way and we have to dig ourselves out of it.

“Different players do come in but whoever plays has to live up to the standards we have set.

“If we play like we did at Everton against Napoli, we will give ourselves a mountain to climb,” he concluded.

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Meanwhile, the club have also confirmed that John Terry is back in training after a knee injury, and will look to make a return to action in coming weeks.

By Gareth McKnight

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The FA have granted Liverpool an extension in their deadline to respond to allegations of improper conduct, relating to their clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage last week.

The Anfield outfit were handed down two charges after an ill-tempered game; the first to Luis Suarez for a derogatory gesture to the home fans and the second relating to the behaviour of the Liverpool players following Jay Spearing’s red card.

The initial timeline for Kenny Dalglish’s men to respond to the charges was 4pm on Monday, but the Merseysiders have been given an extension to organise their defence.

Meanwhile, Reds attacker Dirk Kuyt has stated that his goal drought is not worrying him, and that he is sure that the goals will start to flow in the near future.

The Netherlands international has not hit the back of the net in the Premier League since May, with only one Carling Cup strike to his name this season; Kuyt feels this will change soon.

“I haven’t scored for a while but we all feel like we are close to it and we have the confidence to keep going and soon we will score more of our chances,” he told reporters.

“The last six months of last season we were all scoring goals. Sometimes in football it is like this, you have to keep working hard and it will come.

“Last season I was scoring five or six games in a row and everything I touched was going in. Now sometimes you are a little bit unlucky to be just in the wrong position or you just miss a chance – that is football.

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“I will work hard and wait until the time comes. I am sure with the way this team plays everyone up front will score loads of goals,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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Decisions. We all make them on a minute to minute basis, whether it be what to drink or what to do that day. Football is no different. Players can be accused of making bad decisions – Theo Walcott is a prime example of this, managers too – Wenger subbing the Ox springs to mind, and owners make the biggest decisions of all – who  to hire and who to fire.

Much like the decision of the British public to elect the peanut butter KitKat chunky as their winner of choice, I felt the same amount of despair and dismay at the decision of Abramovich to fire AVB. Not because I was an AVB fan; in fact as past articles will show, that is far from the case, no simply because this meant yet another manager bit the dust with Chelsea who seem to go through them at the rate Towie cast members go through fake tan.

Now that the dust has settled somewhat on the events at the Circus – sorry Stamford Bridge, certain things have transpired, well that is if they were not clear enough already. AVB was ill equipped to handle the mammoth task at a club, which despite the owner saying he was willing to give time, the case still remains anything but.

Not only that, but player power is at arguably a greater and more unacceptable height than ever before, with the kissing of the badge and proclamations of love for the club from certain players – yes Frank I am talking about you – seeming hollow and somewhat meaningless given the so called ‘old guard’ made it perfectly clear that they would rather see Chelsea finish outside of the top four than keep AVB in a job and help him do well.

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Yes you may not like the manager or his philosophy, but at the end of the day players owe something to the club and the fans that idolise them, and when you are putting more effort in to destabilise the dressing room and let the press know exactly what you think instead of giving it your all on the field, there is a serious problem.

I, more than anyone, would be the first to say that the way AVB went about certain things was totally wrong, such as the treatment of Alex and Anelka and the dropping of certain players, but that is no reason for the players to behave in the way they did towards the end of his tenure.

Media outlets have reported that it was with a heavy heart that Abramovich finally wield the axe on the young Portuguese manager’s head, and is fully aware of the players’ involvement in forcing his hand, and if this is the case, Abramovich needs to take this issue in hand right now and put an end to the most powerful dressing room in football, otherwise Chelsea could well find themselves being the club no one wants to manage in the summer – a job described as ‘hell’ by yet another failed manager or the blues, Scolari.

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Mourinho and Guardiola have both been linked with the job, and despite some very expected flirting on the part of the Special One, both are set to sign extended contracts at their current clubs, and who can blame them? Chelsea fans have made it perfectly clear that Benitez or indeed the ‘Spanish Waiter’ is not wanted at the Bridge, yet they may find themselves short of any willing candidates come June.

Should the club fail to get into the top four and face the ramifications from that it will become even more of an unattractive proposition to any manager. The decision to take the Chelsea job seems to be turning into somewhat of a career suicide mission these days, and it seems clear that the Old Guard felt that they could do a better job than AVB at managing the club, and the way Chelsea are going that may well be one of the only options left to the Russian owner in the summer – either that or finally have a go himself!

Valencia left back Jordi Alba is the latest addition to Manchester United’s transfer list, with Sir Alex Ferguson looking to strengthen his squad at Old Trafford. The Manchester club are considering Alba as a long term replacement for Patrice Evra, with the 22 year old currently the stand out candidate.

Alba has been a stand out performer for Valencia thus far this season, with his displays catching the attention of Europe’s top clubs and the Spaniard made his international debut in last month’s 3-1 victory against Scotland.

The fact that Alba has Champions League experience, as well as a blossoming international career ahead of him has reportedly convinced United that he is their man.

United may also shop in Spain for a central midfielder, as they look to find a player who can assert dominance in the heart of midfield, a quality that has been questioned in recent weeks.

One of the player’s currently linked is Atletico Bilbao and Spain international Javi Martinez, although Bilbao’s apparent £30 million pound valuation may prove a stumbling block.

Perhaps more likely is a move for Villareal’s Bruno Soriano, with any offer around the £10 million mark likely to test the financially insecure club.

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Newly appointed Feyenoord boss Ronald Koeman believes he has a team capable of taking the Eredivisie by surprise this season.The former Dutch international signed a one-year deal to replace Mario Been at the Rotterdam club and end his two year absence from coaching.

Koeman, 48, said he had the players to cause a surprise in the league after Feyenoord finished 10th last campaign, their worst result since 1989-90.

“Feyenoord is a great club for me to resume my career as a coach,” he told the club’s official website.

“With Jean-Paul van Gastel and Giovanni van Bronckhorst I have two great assistants next to me who I also already know well.”

“I am strongly convinced that we could be very surprising this season. There is indeed plenty of quality and talent in this young squad.”

“Just like the players and the entire club, I share a burning ambition to show that we are much more able than the recent past has shown.”

Koeman managed AZ Alkmaar in 2009 after stints at Ajax, Benfica, PSV and Valencia and is returning to the club where he ended his days as a professional player.

As a midfielder and defender, Koeman won two European Cups, five Dutch titles, three Dutch Cups, four Spanish titles, the Spanish Cup and was part of the Netherlands squad that won the 1988 European Championships.

After moving into management, he led Ajax to two Eredivisie titles and PSV to the Dutch league crown in 2006-07.

West Ham United defender James Collins says he is delighted with the start the Hammer’s defence has made to the season, according to the club’s official website.

Collins rejoined West Ham for an undisclosed fee from Aston Villa and has been part of a Hammers defence that has only conceded in one Premier League game so far this season.

The Welshman is pleased with his side’s start to the campaign, “The manager has said to us about the importance of keeping clean sheets, because it always gives you a chance of winning any game. We have been working on that and apart from the match at Swansea, we have been on target.”

West Ham kept their third clean sheet of the season in a goalless draw at Norwich on Saturday, and the 29-year-old admits it is a game that could have gone either way, “Against Norwich we had chances, so did they and people watching will probably wonder how it stayed 0-0. There were lots of opportunities for us both, but no one could stick the ball in the back of the net, so I suppose you could say a draw was a fair result. For us it was another clean sheet and a point to take home.”

One of the talking points of the game was referee Chris Foy’s decision to award Norwich a free-kick right on the edge of the box instead of a penalty. Collins believes that a lot of credit must be given to Foy, “I was pretty confident it was outside the area but fair play to the referee, he made a great decision. We saw it again and the ref said before making a decision he looked at where the marks were on the pitch, from me sliding in to make the tackle. They were outside the box, so he made the right decision.”

West Ham’s return to the Premier League began with a 1-0 victory at home to Aston Villa. However, the Hammers were brought back down to earth in their first away game of the campaign losing 3-0 at Swansea. Collins admits that he and Winston Reid have learned a lot since that game, “We were bitterly disappointed that day in Swansea, me personally as well. Individual mistakes cost us but since then we have been spot on and long may it continue.”

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Collins was also full of praise for West Ham’s newly acquired goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, “Jussi has made some great saves. He is right up there with the best keepers I have played with, he talks well on the pitch and in the dressing room. He has played longer in the Premier League for longer than I can remember now. His experience meant that for some of the shots, he already knew which way they were going to go and that is great for helping us boys in front of him.”

Collins will be hoping that he and Reid can keep another clean sheet when they entertain a Sunderland side who also have one of the best defensive records in the Premier League this season. West Ham will continue to be without Andy Carroll as the striker picked up a hamstring injury in the victory over Fulham at the beginning of the month.