The Beautiful Game or A Billionaires Playground?

Football as we thought we knew it has changed. No more is it simply Saturday afternoons, half time pies and regular reiteration of Sky Sports News facts to mates in the pub. It has seemed to dissolve into an economic lesson; mergers, takeovers, £100,000,000 bids and wage negotiations.

The super-rich capitalist billionaires renowned more for initiating coup d’état’s for oil control are turning their attention in increasingly heavy numbers to the lucrative world of football and are making the game more than it needs to be.

Now, when I say lucrative, I don’t mean anyone is actually making any money, with one of the supposed richest clubs in the world, Manchester United being nearly £750 million in the red, rather, the ‘investors’ are gorging vast amounts into keeping want-away players sweet and throwing cash at short term managers.

The essence of being a club owner is being lost. In few major Premier League clubs will you find a home grown owner who has the majority shareholding. Arsenal bragged just last year of being a traditional English owned club, until they sold majority assets to the American billionaire Stan Kroenke that is. So is there hope of native football remaining predominantly indigenous?

The simple answer is no, without intervention. Therefore, whether or not every football fan would want to face up to it or not, the game is in serious danger of being a game for the few, not the many.

The most prominent example of football’s downfall has to be Chelsea. The mid-table west London club of old turned title winners and Champions League challenger’s year in year out, fielding world class internationals and swapping the world’s best managers at will, have been at the forefront of the football renovation. There is as much written on Roman Abramovich as there is on the Chelsea first team, if not more. His rise, which is arguably the vision behind Manchester City’s takeover by Abu Dhabi Group, has resulted in glory and success.

But on the other hand, it has stripped the first team places from young British talent in favour of foreign stars eager to take a healthy wage packet for their services.

Having said that the Premier League would have been far less interesting in the last few years without the money of Roman Abramovich, there would have been no José Mourinho, for a start. No back-to-back titles, no record run unbeaten at home, and none of the excitement of taking Manchester United all the way to penalties in Moscow last year.

This period of football nirvana for the owner and fans alike seems to be the dream for all would-be owners looking to emulate their business success in a new amusing pastime. However, with everyone trying to do it, the likelihood of it crashing down is even greater.

The once fortified gates of Stanford Bridge were seen to be impenetrable as a result of investment before Liverpool crushed the 86-game unbeaten home league record and took the Chelsea stronghold by force. The once side feared at home have been forced into a serious situation. The owner, struck down by losses of up to 50% of his £12 billion fortune, has been swept aside by a rampaging Man United, has sacked a World Cup winning manager and couldn’t beat Hull. Not what the agenda had on it at the start of the season.

Chelsea’s demise, or temporary setback if you prefer, has left United out on their own. Not just at the top of the league but in other significant areas. All the prospective footballers of the year, from Ryan Giggs to Nemanja Vidic to Michael Carrick, are at Old Trafford, and while Arsenal’s reserve team may have phenomenal potential, no one can match the blend of youth and experience not only available to Ferguson but already playing for him.

The short term investment of unimaginable amounts has no basis or meaning in the short term football market. Manchester City has money at their disposal that is merely being used to flood the transfer market in the attempt to prize players away from their clubs. But in doing so the billionaire owners are making a mockery of player’s personal loyalty to clubs and supporters loyalty to players. They may be able to afford any player in the world but have no sense of honour in doing so. Yes everyone wants the best player at their club, not because they are being paid a fortune, but because they want to be there.

We all remember the abuse Ashley Cole brought upon himself for taking the riches of Chelsea over Arsenal. If the billionaires continue in the manner they are, more players will be noted down in history as legendary sellouts rather than legendary players and more fans will forget the love of the game to be replaced with bitter hatred.

The Derby; Not Just A Game

Football rivalry is rarely one dimensional or straightforward. There are religious, social and geographical threads woven around historic fixtures that create a spectacle relished by all. The case of Hearts and Hibs’ is classic.

This is no Old Firm derby, bleeding at the edges with bitterness and bigotry, even though there are tinges of it. The Edinburgh derby is different, in the main, a better natured occasion. The football is often thunderous and even course but the outcome is not steeped in hatred.

It is the fans, with their one-upmanships, who come from distinctive parts of the city that light up the capital on match day. The geographical split sees Hibs’ heartland being clearly defined in the east and Leith; and Hearts base being in the western areas of Gorgie, Dalry and Corstorphine.

The split, although not strictly defined, creates the impression that Hibs’ and Hearts represent social tribes that congregate in green or maroon respective armies and march as one to the sound of their treasured song.

More than 132 years after the sides first met, the double clash seen in the last couple of weeks empathises why the game is loved by so many.

Gone are the days where 60,000 fans packed Easter Road and Tynecastle, but the atmosphere is not lost with a mere 17,000. The first of the two derbies was a stalemate affair of missed chances, heavy tackling and mischievous fans.

Both Mixu Paatelainen and Czaba Lazlo commented on the lack of respect Hibs’ fans had when the minutes silence was ignore and indeed the Hearts fans jovial chants revolving around Hibs’ player Dean Sheils lack of conventional vision.

Although a nil – nil draw, the second of the two derbies in a week, and perhaps the more aggressive of the two as it was for the Scottish Cup, was not devoid of goals.

Hearts Christian Nade and youngster Gary Glen scored to lead the away team to a convincing victory that saw Hibs’ star striker, Steven Fletcher sent off for a challenge on Hearts captain Christophe Berra.

The frustration of the home fans was evident as the original vocal support had being extinguished by the travelling support that out sang and out cheered the home side. Derek Riordan’s expletive gesture towards the Hearts fans as he was substituted, after being heckled all game only egged on the chanting and brought more glum to the misery stricken faces of the Easter Road faithful.

The post match interviews had the Hib’s captain Rob Jones complaining of a dodgy pitch and the manager Mixu Paatelainen claiming that the sending off was a result of Berra leaping like a ‘brown trout’. All that could be deciphered from Czaba Lazlo was that he wasn’t pleased his team only scored twice and that he didn’t think journalists liked him as it was kindly suggested he came to a conclusion after a ten minute rant by one of the soon to be dozing member of the press.

The Edinburgh derby will continue to be a pinnacle part of Scottish football heritage. And as football has a peculiar habit of exhibiting class prejudice and social snobbery, the outcome of the derby’s shifting in Hearts favour, Czaba Lazlo’s Hearts fans can be reinforced that they are higher up the pecking order and look forward to the next encounter with an expectant joy.

Well battle back for point

Hibs and Motherwell claimed a point apiece as David Clarkson’s second half penalty cancelled out Derek Riordan’s first half goal.

The Easter Road faithful were not impressed with the display and made their feelings known with a chorus of boos at full time.

The early stages gave no indication of the reaction that was to follow at full time as Riordan continued his recent form with a seventh minute strike that put the home team ahead after a good spell of possession football that saw Ross Chislhom pick out Riordan’s left peg after a surging run into the box.

Well’s response was swift and it took fine saving blocks from Rob Jones and Darren McCormack to keep them out.

After the frantic opening ten minutes, the game settled into a midfield battle that saw each team play route one football as they struggled to find a way through on goal.

Motherwell had the better of the chances towards the end of the half as The Steelmen began to use the width of the pitch and pass the ball effectively around Mixu Paatelainen’s revamped midfield combination of Chislhom, Stevenson, Rankin and Rosa.

The half ended with a Riordan free-kick being blasted over the bar after Colin Nish took a dubious tumble in a collision with Motherwell defender Mark Reynolds.

Chisholm was replaced by Steven Thicot at half time and he made his first touch count as he made a confident challenge on Jim O’Brien to keep him from being through on goal.

Looking to get back into the game, Stevie Hammell forced a save from Hibs keeper Grzegorz Szmaotulski with his 25-yard free kick.

Referee Michael McCurry was kept busy as the half progressed as frustrations mounted and both teams began recklessly challenging for possession.

Hibs’ flamboyant new signing Rosa made his Easter Road debut and was instrumental in the opening half and started the second in much the same way. A breakaway attack from a Motherwell corner unleashed Riordan up the left flank. He put Rosa through on goal, only for his chipped shot to be drift agonisingly wide.

Riordan continued his fine performance throughout the second half by linking up with Rosa and Keenan, who took up opposing winger roles as Paatelainen changed to a four-five-one formation to keep Mark McGhee’s Motherwell at bay.

Hibs’ hopes of keeping the lead were dashed as Thicot took down Clarkson in the area and gave away a penalty. Clarkson stepped up and hammered the ball straight into the back of the net.

With momentum in favour of the visitors in the closing stages, Hibs’ defence had to be alert to keep Motherwell out as they conceded four corners in the last five minutes.

Captain Rob Jones put in yet another man of the match performance to quell everything the men in claret and amber threw at them and see out the match at one all.

We lacked killer touch – Mixu

As the race for European football hots up with defeats for Hearts, Dundee and Aberdeen this weekend, both Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen and his Motherwell counterpart Mark McGhee were disappointed at letting the opportunity to close the gap slide.

This 1-1 draw looked to be heading for a high scoring affair following the opening goal after just seven minutes but the game then failed to live up to expectations.

“We were 1-0 up for a long time and had a couple really good chances to increase our lead but we didn’t put them away and we couldn’t hold on,” Paatelainen said.

“Unfortunately, we conceded a penalty and I thought it was a needless foul. We should have judged the flight of the ball better and been more on our toes.

 ”It was always going to be tight against Motherwell. They are a form team and made life difficult for us.”

McGhee had similar views on his side’s inability to capitalise on the amount of goalscoring opportunities that came their way.

“We conceded a poor goal early in the game which gave us plenty of time to get back into the game but it took us a long time to get that goal,” the Motherwell boss said.

“Once we got it, it looked like only one team would win the game but we couldn’t get that second goal.

“I feel that it is two points dropped but, after the other results, we’re a point closer to Aberdeen, Hearts and Dundee United.”

After the sale of arguably Motherwell’s best striker Chris Porter, McGhee is looking to find either a replacement or back-up for the goalscorer David Clarkson who is in contention for main striker. 

“We are talking to people and trying to strengthen before the window closes on Monday,” concluded McGhee. $

Obua wins it for Hearts

David Obua scored twice to seal victory at Tynecastle for Hearts in a five-goal thriller that saw Inverness come close to stopping their now eight-game losing streak.

In the proverbial game of two halves, Hearts can look to their wingers for impressive displays that gained them the three points.

This being the first game that saw Inverness without a manager or assistant manager in place and under the control of coach John Docherty, the visitors were out to prove their terrible run of form could be overcome at Tynecastle.

However, an on song Hearts team stood firmly in the way of this hope as the home side started the match at a high pace, with Andy Driver and Obua feading Christian Nade dangerous balls into Inverness keeper, Ryan Esson’s area.

Nade used his bulk to out-muscle and out-class a flat Caley defence throughout the opening half hour, although he couldn’t get any efforts on target.

The visitors’ first chance came from a Don Cowie free-kick that Dougie Imrie headed into the side netting, an effort that should have been converted after finding himself unmarked.

The first half continued to be a quiet affair for both keepers as neither team managed to fire off any attempts on goal that needed to be saved. Caley even managed to block their own shots as Garry Wood got in the way of a half-hearted side-footed shot from Iain Vigurs.

Obua broke the deadlock in the 38th minute as he half headed, half bundled an Andy Driver corner over Esson’s failing hands and just about into the net to take Hearts ahead into the break.

The second half opened in much the same way as the first finished. Driver had a shot looking to be flying past the Inverness keeper only for Esson to pull of a rather flamboyant save.

Inverness stepped up their game minutes later as a swinging free-kick from Don Cowie was expertly sent goalbound off the head of new signing Pavels Mihadjuks.

The newly spirited away team nearly put another past Laszlo’s men as they were caught sleeping when Cowie and Vigurs took a short corner and played the ball across to Ross Tokelywho who drilled his effort inches over the bar.

The response came in form of Hearts Manager Laszlo substituting Bruno Aguiar, contender for Man of the Match, for youngster Gary Glen with half an hour to go.

A 69th minute penalty, given against Roy McBain for a harsh challenge on Driver was brilliantly saved by Esson.

McBain, who was given a yellow card for the challenge, proceeded in getting into some sort of mix up with referee Steve Conroy and was given a straight red in the ensuing disruption.

When play resumed and frustration set in, the ten-men Highlanders defence allowed Driver to assist in Hearts regaining the lead as his cross met Obua’s head to add another goal to his tally for the day.

The celebrations were short-lived though as Imrie fired in a 35-yard rocket that went in off the undrside of the bar in a fine display of marksmanship.

In what was another twist in a stuuning game the visitors will be kicking themselves at letting slip.

Andy Driver collected the ball from kick-off and played in his hat-trick of assists to substitute Laryea Kingston who knocked the winning shot into the net.

With Michael Stewart being linked with a move to Italy, Dynamo Kiev reportedly weighing up a move for Driver and captain Christophe Berra being linked with Premier League clubs, todays game shows the form of Laszlo’s men is unmatched outside the Old Firm.

Jones sends Hibs on way to victory

Hibernian captain Rob Jones and Derek Riordan hit the back of the net to secure a comfortable 2-0 over a lacklustre St Mirren team.

Injury stricken Hibs looked to silence the critics of their recent form by taking the game to the visitors in the opening stages.

Efforts from Riordan and Colin Nish were sailed wide, to the dismay of the ever vocal manager Mixu Paatelainen, after moves that deserved better conclusions.

A 35-yard-strike from midfielder Steven Thicot was tipped just over the bar by keeper Mark Howard in an audacious effort that led to the opening goal.

The resulting 11th minute corner led to Hibs defender Jones heading the ball into the back of the net and giving the Easter Road club the lead.

Moments later Lewis Stevenson shot inches wide after a tantalising run that ripped apart the St Mirren defence. The left back’s attempt seemed to cause a stir that revved up the home support and tempo of the game alike.

The home team’s defence were on high alert as they had to react to sustained pressure from Gus MacPherson’s men throughout the first half as the attacking partnership of Dennis Wyness and Andy Dorman looked to upset the result.

Five minutes before the whistle for half time, Saints keeper Mark Howard had his fingers left stinging after Bamba struck a shot from 30 yards that looked to be heading in.

Frustration at his lack of goals led to the defensive midfielder putting in a bad challenge on Wyness seconds later. Referee Iain Brines issued a yellow card after Bamba’s reaction of picking up the ball and aggressively slamming it to the ground. Jones had to intervene to calm the mood and allow play to resume.

The second half kicked off with a flourish of missed chances for Hibs front-man Riordan, with balls being expertly fed through from John Rankin and new signing Jonatan Johansson. Riordan, the ex-Celtic striker, who was involved in controversy after being subbed in last week’s Edinburgh derby, is another of Paatelainen’s fitness worries as the performance was although improved, was still lacking the cutting edge.

The visitors torment at not finishing chances continued throughout the second half as new goalkeeper Grzegorz Szamotulski put on a fine display and kept out a header form Scott Cuthbert and a ferocious shot from Craig Dargo.

A one-on-one chance for Andy Dorman, which he hit over the bar, and a Wyness shot headed off the line by Jones summed up the Saints day.

MacPherson brought on Billy Mehmet and Steven Robb in an attempt to bolster the attack but each were unable to change matters.

The substitution of Johansson is sure to be a talking point in the coming days as the crowd cheered as he left the field to be replaced by Joe Keenan. After a poor performance the Hibs faithful were obviously unhappy as they booed the 31-year-old.

Riordan’s game picked up towards the end of the second half as he expertly doubled the home team’s lead with a fine strike from just outside the area that rocketed in. The goal, which is sure to boost the player’s confidence, was met by rapturous applause and sealed what was a solid performance form Paatelainen’s men.

Mixu hails Riordan display

Mixu Paatelainen heaped praise on Derek Riordan after the striker silenced his critics with a goal in Hibernian’s victory over St Mirren.

Hibs came out on top at Easter Road with Rob Jones handing them the lead after 14 minutes before Riordan curled in a second with six minutes left to play.

The Edinburgh outfit were without main striker Steven Fletcher due to suspension, but the out-of-form Riordan’s performance delighted his manager.

He said: “Riordan looked back to his normal self because he scored a goal. He is a natural goal-scorer and needed to be given a chance to get back to winning ways. Riordan and Colin Nish worked very hard up front and made chances for each other, both impressed.”

Both sides were forced to come to terms with the terrible condition of the pitch which made attractive football impossible.

Captain Jones said: “The pitch is embarrassing. I don’t know how any team or any player can play good attractive football on a surface like that.

“It’s probably the worst I’ve seen since I’ve been here. You don’t expect to play on a pitch like that at the weekend, especially in the SPL. I’ve played on better Sunday league pitches than that.

“We try to play how we normally play and deal with the problems. Today we dealt with it very well and got the result.”

St Mirren boss Gus MacPherson echoed Jones’ sentiments, deriding the Easter Road playing surface as not up to standard.

He said: “We deserved something from the game, we put a lot into it but it was a shocking pitch. In this day and age that’s not the surface top level football should be played on.

“I think we coped with it but you can see the problems it caused for both teams. We tried to pass the ball about, and tried to get our shots away but couldn’t in time, the players have a perfect excuse.”

Witnesses wanted after Edinburgh assault

Police are appealing for witnesses after a 22-year-old woman was assaulted in Edinburgh yesterday morning.

The attack took place between 1am and 1.30am as the victim was making her way home along Lothian Road.

The woman, believed to be a student was confronted entering the stairwell of her flat. A man grabbed hold of her waist from behind and assaulted her before making a run for it.

The man is described as white, 5ft 9in tall, 30 to 40-years-old with a bald or shaven head. He was wearing a black shiny bomber-type hip-length jacket and dark clothing.

A police spokesperson said: “This was a very serious incident which left the victim extremely distressed.

“Anyone who was in the Lothian Road area at the time and saw a person matching the description of the suspect should contact police immediately.

“It is believed that the woman screamed during the attack, and similarly anyone who heard a disturbance should also come forward.”

With the capital’s crime rates expected to increase over the holiday period as students and young professionals alike are celebrating late into the night, Lothian and Borders Police are encouraging party goers to think about their safety and report any incidents.

Assistant Chief Constable Mike McCormick said: “These [assaults] are some of the worst crimes we see in our society, and it is vital that we do everything we can to ensure that when victims come forward they are dealt with sensitively, and evidence is gathered quickly and professionally.

“Everyone likes to have a good time over the Christmas period but we all must make sure that we get ourselves and our friend’s home safely. He added: “It is unfortunate such assaults occur, but if we are vigilant and sensible we can limit the possibility of further incidents happening.”

Anyone with any information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

Tram nightmare continues for Edinburgh shops

Leith traders have hit out at a tram works embargo brought in to help small businesses in the run-up to Christmas after barriers were left in the road by contractors.

Tram firm TIE agreed to stop work across the city earlier this month to allow for businesses to have a festive period without disruption.

But shopkeepers in Leith Walk, who have been hit by relentless disruption from the trams fiasco have complained that barriers have been left, which prevent members of the public from crossing the road.

TIE said the barriers on the Walk between Annandale Street and Brunswick Road, had to stay in place for health and safety reasons.

Gordon Burgess, chairman of the Leith Business Association, said: “We feel angry that the road has not been put back to the way it was before.

“The embargo is welcome – anything that helps bring business to the area is welcome.

“But this is just another incident in a long line of communication breakdowns between TIE and the traders, because we thought we were getting the road back to the way it was before the tram work started.

“We just have to put up with their way of doing things – it’s the law according to TIE.”

He added: “We have had positive meetings with TIE in the past and they have people in senior positions working hard, but the enormity of the job is something they have found difficult to manage. I would like to have seen them use traffic cones like they have done in Princes Street. I don’t see why they could not have done that in Leith Walk.”

A spokeswoman for TIE said: “The Edinburgh tram project meets weekly with Lothian and Borders Police, along with other key stakeholders, and the arrangements for pedestrian safety on Leith Walk have been approved and signed off by this group.

“These discussions take into consideration the number of historical pedestrian accidents in the area. In this instance, it was decided that the barrier should remain in place as an essential pedestrian health and safety measure, whilst allowing access to local shops.”

Amicus Apple – What’s behind the name?

The first project in the competitive market of opening bars has always been a daunting task for entrepreneurs. The competition is vast, diverse and already established. So for younger wannabe industrialists who are more used to pulling the pints and indeed consuming them, the idea of taking on the stranglehold that large corporations have tends to be on the overwhelming side.

With the risk of failure and finance needed to start being so high, many young investors don’t see opening a bar as being a viable option to catapult themselves into financial gain. But Edinburgh based company CCK Bars Limited run by three university graduates took on the critics and odds to open a thriving business with promising prospects.

Kenneth Graham 25 and fellow directors Calum Mackinnon, 24, and Colin Hart, 26, set up the £500,000 renovation of the New Town style-bar and restaurant Amicus Apple, on Frederick Street last year and are looking to open new premises in the coming years.

Initial hopes for the new bar to pave the way in developing their company into a major force in Edinburgh’s hospitality industry were hit by financial difficulties.

 Mr Graham said: “We had originally hoped that we could be approved a loan by a bank and head into the project without the financial worry that hinders so many young entrepreneurs. Unfortunately this ideal situation wasn’t available as because of our ages and the fact that we didn’t have any previous experience or hold full time jobs of significant income.

“At this stage it felt like we had hit the wall. Hopes had pretty much been shattered and our determination to continue was teetering on non existent. However, after speaking to our respective supporting families and obtaining business backing from friends we went ahead with the project at a considerable expense.”                                                              

The first part of their investment was leasing the former Victoria & Albert bar, latterly known as the Frederick Street Cafe Bar and Restaurant, which had previously lain empty.

As well as the initial cost of transforming the interior of the building, they signed up to a 25-year lease that costs them an annual sum of £125,000 in rent, a large amount of money for three youthful entrepreneurs, especially for a first project.

The three young directors intended to bring in a range of design innovations. One part of the development was that the appearance of the bar will change depending on the weather outside. When it is dull outside, for example, blue lighting will be used to try to liven up the mood inside.

As well as Mr Graham’s experience in the industry as a previous bar manager, the other two partners will bring additional skills to the company.

Mr Hart, a hospitality management graduate at Napier University originally from Aberdeen, has been working as a restaurant manager in one of celebrity chef Rick Stein’s Cornwall restaurant, while Mr Mackinnon set up his own city property development company, Kinabalu, which has an office in Hanover Street.

Mr Mackinnon, of Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, said: “It’s not a big corporation – there are three of us at around 24 or 25 years old. We know what our age group want and we know how to appeal to them.”

Amongst the scepticism from banks and the majority of business backers that denied the trio, CCK Bars Limited have succeeded in establishing themselves and now profits will allow them to push ahead with plans for their own bar premises at the Quartermile development within two to three years.