Editor
23 October 2009 - 12:00
by Nigel Brown
In an exclusive interview with Sport.co.uk former Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur manager George Graham said that Arsene Wenger won't buy big because "he likes to buy a rough diamond – obviously costing money, but not at the top end of the market – and polish them up into beautiful diamonds. That’s just the way he works and that’s his managerial style." This pearl of wisdom from the veteran Scot triggered a little voice that ear-splittingly screamed in my head – "but isn't that coaching."
I suddenly realised that there is a huge void in our beautful game if we are beginning to think that Wenger's mantra of wanting to coach and improve players is an antique curiosity, and the new norm is the perpetual purchasing of so-called finished articles – the old quick fix. Do not get me wrong, there are top coaches that also adopt these admirable coaching philosophies, thanks to boards who give them time, but there are negative far reaching consequences of the new modern football axiom that needs urgent repair.
The modern football philosopy must be evaluated
The new principal doctrine of money automatically bringing success has had far reaching effects on the coaching standards around the world, particularly in England, as the rest of Europe were already ahead in terms of coaching ides and development. The modern football rationale of spending big, buying finished products, perpetuated by the need for instant success is harming the development of the England side and in the long run, the player quality and coaching standards in the English game. Have some Premier League manager's forgotten that they can improve players with innovative modern coaching? Or more so, that they have a duty to coach and improve players? On the first weekend of the Premier League back in 1992, only eleven foreign players played, and since then 1,367 foreigners have appeared in the league's 17 year history. And strangely, we hear constant cries from the FA of the poor standards of coaching, and the ever wafer thin pool of young English talent emerging in the our domestic game. When will they take responsibility for the future of our game? It is down to the authorities to dig deep , do some soul searching, and find a solution. It is after all what they are being paid for.
If chairmen are not to blame – then who is? The cash must be controlled!
The trigger happy finger's of chairmen is partly to blame for the lack of forward thinking coaching as managers are not given enough time, but the financial rewards of the game have panicked chairmen into quick fixes – so we cannot just blame the suits. But when will the owners and heirachy at clubs up and down the country realise that trust and time has beneficial implications, even there are short term losses financially. Arsene Wenger, David Moyes and Sir Alex Ferguson have been trusted and given time to develop players, as well as managing the club within their own financial restraints, and just look at the long term benefits. In recent years the work Sir Alex has achieved with Darren Fletcher have seen him emerge as one of the world's top all-round midfielders, Wenger's persistence with Alex Song and Emmanuel Eboue when fans called for new blood deserve applause, and likewise, Moyes with Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott, both defenders receiving England honours.
A call for a new rationale
The role of a football manager is in danger of being undermined and undervauled, and the game will suffer as a result if an emphasis is not taken away from billionaire takeovers, instant success, and directed to clubs living within their means, coaching and player development. We must remember that there are only three trophies up for grabs each year, and not every side can guarantee success through investment, therefore a sustianable long term financial and on-field blueprint is a necessity. I will leave you with some wise words from the one man in the FA striving to make a difference - Sir Trevor Brooking: “What we're all after is a bit of quality in this country and you have to give a bit of time and commitment to get there.” Well said Sir Trev...