| I saw the other day a club chief executive moaning | | | | Lets be honest how many Manchester United fans |
| about the wages the club pays to the players at the | | | | begrudge Roy Keane a single penny he made from |
| club, I can't remember who he was but it just | | | | the club? But that didn't stop the newspapers whining |
| annoyed me. There he was smoking a big cigar, | | | | about the massive sums he was making, well so |
| driving a brand new Bentley, doing nothing for the | | | | what? It is nothing compared to the sums that the |
| club, bar taking a big fat pay packet of his own while | | | | likes of Martin Edwards made from Manchester |
| not actually getting out on the pitch and making a | | | | United yet Edwards was not the one out on the |
| difference for the club. | | | | pitch knowing that his career could be over |
| Now don't get me wrong I think he had a point. | | | | tomorrow if he receives a bad challenge. |
| There are players at every club that just because | | | | Sometimes I think its just jealousy that creates |
| they are being paid at all means they are receiving | | | | these headlines about overpaid players, or maybe its |
| too much. But it's the fact that the people that are | | | | just a complete lack of anything interesting to write |
| telling us players get too much are the ones that are | | | | that leads to it? Either way I would rather they gave |
| taking money away from the game that makes me | | | | both sides of the story before whinging about it. I |
| think that maybe players are not getting paid too | | | | mean how about a list of the directors and |
| much. | | | | shareholders of a club and how much they took in |
| Though having said that a lot do get riches beyond | | | | wages, bonuses and dividends? So that we can have |
| the amount their ability deserves. A few examples | | | | a reference point to compare player's wages to. I |
| spring to mind immediately: Robbie Savage, Ok a | | | | would especially like to know how much the likes of |
| good player but is he really that good, that he is able | | | | Peter Ridsdale made from Leeds. |
| to afford to drive a Ferrari? Not in my eyes he's not. | | | | To my mind the only way forward is to take clubs |
| He is far too busy play acting for my liking. Then | | | | back into the hands of the fans, like Wimbledon AFC |
| there is Tim Sherwood, Ok he may of won a League | | | | and FC United. Let's have all their finances completely |
| Championship medal while at Blackburn but was he | | | | transparent, and get rid of agent's involvement in |
| really anything other than a good player? | | | | transfers. Surely the PFA could offer that as one of |
| Again I would say no, he was just lucky to be playing | | | | their services to their union members, after all they |
| in the EPL before the big star influx raised the level | | | | certainly have the money. Surely all clubs need to do |
| of ability needed to make it. but at a time when the | | | | transfers between themselves is a solicitor, a |
| big money had entered the game. But in my view | | | | representative and an FA, UEFA or FIFA or whoever |
| the biggest example of an overpaid footballer is Ian | | | | representative to make sure it is all legal and above |
| Walker, surely the worst 'keeper the EPL has seen, | | | | board. |
| even when he dropped down a flight with Leicester | | | | I know this will never happen as too many people |
| he was no better than average. | | | | are busy creaming off money from the game to line |
| However, when you see the likes of Gianfranco Zola, | | | | their own pockets. But at the end of the day it |
| Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho and Pavel Nedved. These | | | | should be about the fans - the players should all be |
| are players that make a match worth watching just | | | | on performance based contracts so they can earn |
| to see them, it doesn't matter what team they play | | | | massive amounts but only if the club does well and |
| for it's all about them and their ability to produce | | | | the ticket prices should be as low as possible so that |
| magical skills that make your jaw drop in admiration. | | | | as many fans as possible can afford to go. |
| Maybe a better answer to the question would be | | | | Still this will never happen because too many people |
| yes some are, but no others are not. Though of | | | | would lose out and at the end of the day football is |
| course that doesn't make for good headlines when a | | | | no longer a sport it is a business and that will |
| player signs a new contract. | | | | unfortunately never change. |