It isn’t Chelsea failing to make ‘big’ signings, but English football

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post here that took issue with Paul Parker questioning Chelsea’s ability to sign the world’s best players.

Last Sunday, Rod Liddle published another of his weekly anti-Chelsea diatribes on the Times' website which skirted along a similar argument. To save you having to read the whole thing (and it is rather tedious), key extracts include:

“Carlo Ancelotti will be anxious to secure the services of a marquee striker, a superstar. But he is not likely to get one, because…the very top players do not wish to play for Chelsea. That small band of galacticos who can genuinely turn a game, while at the same time ensuring a rapid turnover in replica shirts…always seem to spurn the chance of playing at Stamford Bridge”

“The list of players who have decided against a move to west London is long and a little humiliating. No Kaka, no David Villa, no Ronaldinho, no Andrea Pirlo, no Steven Gerrard. Even Robinho preferred the dubious, perennially underachieving madhouse of Middle Eastlands”

“Those gilded moppets from the south of Europe and America complain about the weather in Britain, but it does not stop them signing for Man United and Liverpool”

Now, clearly Rod has an anti-Chelsea agenda, and we'll ignore the fact that he doesn’t seem to know that both Robinho and Gerrard weren’t allowed to join Chelsea, the first by Real and the second by his own death-threat-making fans. But it is hard to see how he fails to look beyond the most superficial arguments (if pushed I might guess it’s because such journalistic approach might stand in the way of his - self proclaimed - position of the ‘most controversial commentator on sport in the British media’).

His point that Chelsea have failed to sign the greatest players in the world at their peak is true enough. But he narrowly associates that failing with Chelsea and, through his insinuation that the (to borrow a Redknappism) top, top players might choose Liverpool or Utd, has completely missed the point. In reality, there are less than a handful of clubs that have made these kind of signings – perhaps Real, Barcelona, Milan, Juventus….and no English clubs. It isn’t Chelsea that is failing, but English football as a whole. I decided pick up what Liddle started and take a proper look.

Firstly I looked at the profile of the best players to have played for those two rival clubs. In the history of the European player of the year awards, Man Utd players have won the top prize four times (Charlton, Law, Best and Ronaldo). Charlton, Beckham, Best, Cantona, Edwards and Ronaldo all also experienced finishing second or third. None of these players were signed by Utd as ‘galaticos’ in high-profile transfers and while at the peak of their abilities. Liverpool have had but one winner of the award – Michael Owen – and Dalglish and Gerrard came second and third respectively. Again, none of those three were galatico-style signings.

It’s a similar story with the world player of the year awards, with Man Utd players placed in the top three including only Ronaldo and Beckham, and for Liverpool only Torres. High-profile transfer Torres was, but certainly not seen as a world beater when he arrived (though subsequently proved since).

After looking at the best players to have played for our greatest rivals, I took a look at the top transfers in footballing history. Of the current top ten list of football transfers (by value), three involve English clubs – Ferdinand and Veron to Utd, and Shevchenko to Chelsea. The latter deal would have by far the greatest claim to ‘galatico’ status, regardless of age or eventual success.

There’s a similar picture when you look at a list of the progress of British transfer fee records over the last 50 years (take a look at one here). A lot of the deals include players moving abroad. Significantly very few – or none – could be described as being among the world’s very best at the time of their signing for an English club. And Chelsea aren’t the only club to have tried to lure those kinds of players – we know Ferguson tried and failed to lure Ronaldinho, for example.

It was interesting to read Ray Wilkins’ comments last week that perhaps some European footballers are turning down the chance to play in the Premier League because of the challenges the game here presents. I think there is probably some truth in that: it is renowned for big tackles, low-space high-pace play and there’s no winter break. There’s also only one ‘glamorous’ city. Perhaps our historic reputation for hooliganism and our default admiration for graft over skill haunts us too.

So, Rod – if you’re reading this – I appreciate you’ve got your ‘controversial’ reputation to uphold, but perhaps you could think your arguments through a little further next time? Besides which, you wrote your article on June 21. There’s ten long weeks to go before the transfer window closes, and who knows what could happen before then…

What do you think? Post a comment.

Comments

[Michael Hepp]

I think you have left out a few quality players in this discussion. Ballack being one. Personally I think he was either at his peak or very close when coming to Chelsea. I also think Makalele was another great player to come to Chelsea, maybe towards the end, but I think he may be the reason Madrid has been unable to return to playing great again. While at Chelsea he was a good contributor.

Personally I don't want Ribery, just don't see what is so special about him. Pirlo is closer the end of his career than the beginning. I know he is a great player but too old for my liking. Pato would be nice, but at the end of the day he is going to have to share space with Drogba and if Drogba is on his game Pato is going to be on the bench or playing wide like Anelka. He must know that, sure in another year he might be the main guy, but Chelsea could still get him next year.

I would like to see us get Maicon and a winger. I know you are happy with how Malouda has played but if he takes another mental vacation or gets injured I would like a back up.

[Anthony Calleja]

Another brilliant article Russell with which I fully agree. I really enjoy reading your articles about Chelsea and nearly always we agree my Chelsea friend. In this article you mentioned Paul Parker and Rod Liddle. Rod Liddle, I had never heared about but while looking for Chelsea articles to post on my Chelsea website, I cam across his article which you commented excellently on and I was shocked how rabid anti-Chelsea he was and how the article was not worth posting on my Chelsea website. Paul Parker I remember playing with Queens Park Rangers and Man.Utd but I used to think he was a quiet, respectful guy but he writes on the Yahoo/Eurosport website and I started noticing how rabidly anti Chelsea he is too, never missing an opportunity to attack and put down our Chelsea. Keep up the good work for our Chelsea Russell. We are with you all the way my Chelsea friend.

[Russell Saunders]

Michael - thanks for your comment. You make a good point...both Makalele and Ballack have been of unquestionable world class quality (the latter not always at Chelsea though).

Check out that article I wrote a couple of weeks ago on Paul Parker's piece where I make a similar point to you and actually argue that, of all the PL teams, Chelsea have made the most high profile signings.

Think i'm with you on Ribery. Not sure where the evidence is that he's THAT good? He's only played in France and Germany...

I am happy with Malouda but you're right. Above all else we need some more creativity on the wings. Who would you have your eye on?

[Param Dhillon]

All of you raise valid points and although im from Australia, ive read a lot about how the high income tax in England is possibly deterring those sorts of players...