United v. Madrid

November 4, 2008

If you, like me, find yourself sitting at your desk on the eve of 4PM and don’t feel the need to do any more work today, then take some much needed personal time and head over to soccernet.com and read Phil Ball’s excellent article on the war of words between Fergie and Madrid.

Is Calderon fighting a losing battle in the war of words? Yes, yes he is.

Ball does an excellent job demonstrating the undeniable links between King Franco’s Fascist Spain and that club that keeps trying to sign Slave. However, in doing so, he makes a secondary point that seems more important than his understanding of Spanish culture. Now this is, admittedly, coming from a United fan, so there is a certain amount of bias but the question is (and has always been) why would anyone really want to sign with Madrid? On the surface this seems an incredibly stupid question. It’s a historic club in a beautiful city with beautiful weather and to play there means you are undeniably a member of the world footballer elite.

But if you delve a bit deeper, certain questions begin to arise (the most notable being the disparity in stability between United and Madrid). As pointed out previously, on the surface Madrid seems a far better option. However, despite the rain, temperature, food, and questionable women, a Fergie/Gill United seems a more stable family than one run by Bill Cosby. It’s one of (if not the) most high profile clubs in the world, and yet there is never a sense of panic/chaos at the club. Fergie rules with an iron hand, and so the ship always seems to be on even keel. Despite the club’s underlying problems (highlighted by a fair amount of debt), the future at United never truly looks in doubt.

Madrid, however, seem a club in perpetual chaos and disorder. Whether it be their policy of frequently changing managers, throwing money at whatever flash-in-the-pan talent hits the highlight reels, gregarious statements regarding the transfer windows, and recent failures on the pitch, Real Madrid never seems to be a team with a clear future in mind. Every transfer window, they link themselves with Slave/Fabregas/Kaka, and then attempt to victimize themselves when the players don’t (or aren’t allowed to) come running. In truth, they seem a club confident to function on name alone.

I am a New York Yankees fan, and I know all too well what happens to teams who rely on 1) high bankrolls, 2) name recognition, and 3) a seemingly insane clubhouse leader…. they rapidly implode. Granted, Madrid have won the league two years running. But this recent war of words between Fergie and Madrid must beg the question: is the glorious vessel of Real Madrid sailing without a rudder? I suppose only time will tell.

And so, when Slave eventually signs for Madrid (most likely next summer as Madrid want him for the Champions League) it won’t be to transfer from a big club to the biggest club. It will be for the only reasons players seem to do anything anymore: money. Ignore his statements about being near his family and country. In the end, Slave is out for Slave.