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Opinion

More money for less quality?

6 years ago
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It is hardly headline news that there is more money in football than there has ever been in the past.

Nowhere is this more so than in the Premier League – ever increasing revenue for clubs and ever increasing transfer fees and wages going out on new signings.

Well, at least that is the case at most Premier League clubs…

The World Cup is the showcase for everything that is best in global football, well apart from certain individuals who didn’t make it due to their national team not up to the job.

Gareth Bale scoring THAT goal in the Champions League and yet destined to never kick a ball at a World Cup finals.

Speaking of top talents and top moments, this 2018 World Cup might be delivering some shocks such as Argentina falling apart, but as for special players with star quality…are we really seeing that delivered?

As years go by we are now more and more used to teams tending to have wide midfielders rather than wingers.

However, it is also now increasingly difficult to spot many/any playmakers or number 10s.

If you can name 10 players with star quality at this 2018 World Cup then you will be doing very well.

It very much tends to be perspiration rather than inspiration in the games we are watching.

Keeping a good shape, working hard, discipline…all of these are the basics for teams rather than accentuating trying to create those special moments to take the other team apart.

I was really pleased to see Columbia get their deserved win on Sunday night, they have been the one team to really impress me in terms of their willingness to attack and take chances, I would say they have at least three of that small group of players who have shown star quality so far.

They conceded and had a man sent off after a few minutes of their opening game against Japan and yet were still the better team and the ones willing to try and attack, though they predictably tired and eventually lost. Last night though, they totally took Poland apart 3-0 and it could and should have been more.

Looking at Newcastle and what they need to add this summer, it is the players who can do something a little bit different.

The ones with a knack for creating chances and finishing them.

If you can’t see many of them at this 2018 World Cup then it will be some challenge for Rafa Benitez, even if Mike Ashley allows him to splash some cash.

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