OTW: The Ref's A Wanker, And Time For A Cap?

OTW: The Ref's A Wanker, And Time For A Cap?

Welcome back boys and ghouls to another blog off the woodwork. Each week I try to stick it into the back of the net, and each week I'm left gutted and heart broken as the post is rattling, but here I go again...

First, let's start with something that is getting coverage for all the wrong reasons, and why I think it should be getting bigger coverage. I won't name names or talk dirt on this particular subject because it is a bit below the belt IMHO, but as we all know there has been a ref scandal in Germany involving two of their own engaging in sexual relations. That's none of my business, and frankly it is none of yours either, but due to this relationship, a bomb was dropped. A ref who was climbing the ranks and was involved in many German top flight matches wrote an e-mail wanting to celebrate if Bayern Munich lost in the Champion's League.

This may not seem like a huge issue to many of you. You listen to the Chapper's podcast and hear Graham Poll tell you who he supports as well as who other refs support. We know refs have biases. But let's really consider this. A ref in the German top flight wanted one of the top clubs in that country to fail. He can't be alone in his feelings about one club or another in one country or another. The ref is human. Of course he hates certain clubs. He is a fan of the game. Of course he has player bias.

This German bombshell should awaken us and force us to take a better look at who we are seeing ref our top flight games. We should be told who they support before every match. We should be told the results of all their previous matches involving the two participants, and any decisions that were appealed. We as fans should get to see these things. And the FA should look into these things as well. You want fair and balanced matches? Make sure you know who is calling the game.

Sadly, it won't happen. No one will demand to know exactly who is officiating their games, and the FA's won't look into it any further than they have to. I knock it off the woodwork again. I have bad luck.

Next, let's take a look at something to save the game. Something so obvious, it can never happen. It is time for a salary cap in football. I know, we are too far gone to change things now. But the game may depend on it.

When the owner of Man City comes out himself and calls for a wage cap, you know how dire an issue it may be. What killed Pompey? Wages. What killed so many lower level clubs over the years and sent Leeds spiraling down the leagues? Wages. What was the first thing the Glazer's insisted upon when buying Manchester United? Wage cap.

There is only so much money available to most football clubs. To compete you need to spend. If you step up a level, your need to spend doesn't increase a small amount, it increases dramatically each step if you want to reach the top. The money doesn't exist. Wages suck the life out of football.

So what am I calling for? What will wage caps do? I suggest a wage cap of 75% of a clubs total pre-tax income. (Hardly a harsh cap. Eventually the cap should be down to 60%) So what would this mean? It would mean Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, etc can stock pile less young talent on their bench and in their reserves, or force them to carry a few less veteran contracts. It would mean fewer people would be able to make a full-time living off football at the lower league levels. It would mean clubs couldn't overspend purely on wages, their current #1 expenditure. It would mean that if a club didn't have the infrastructure and support, it wouldn't be able to just buy it's way up the leagues before crashing under their debt.

Combined with my regional league feelings, the wage cap could change the face of English football, European football, and save the sport from eating itself and the painful re-birth that will be sure to follow. Football can be saved. The owners are ready. The fans are ready. All we need now are the players... Ashley Cole? Sean Wright-Phillips? Adebayor? Wow. Looks like I'm left stunned as the cross bar shakes. Another one goes off the woodwork.

And finally, if I may, David Beckham. (I'll wait as the girly screaming dies down.)

If this is the end of David Beckham's playing career, we will miss you Becks. I do not believe it is though. I believe he will play again in a Galaxy strip, and possibly a Milan and England one as well. Let us not forget who David Beckham is. He shows up and leaves when the most paparazzi are there. This wasn't his moment. He got his back page with the green and gold scarf. He got his back page with the cut cheek and bad ankle. He got fear for his England career headlines before and after the injury. This guy has many more photo ops in him. Whether it is hobbling on for England, gimping around in LA, or crying and waving goodbye in Milan, Beckham is far from finished, no matter what playing skill remains. Old show ponies don't die, they just join a smaller circus. (Mr. Henry? MR. Raul?)

I know what the Beckham fans think... I didn't even hit the woodwork on that one. I just can't win.

Just one last thing before I go, I have mixed emotions about Jose's return to Stamford Bridge. I hate Chelsea, and I'm not a fan of Don Carlo or Roman, but I want them to win so they have an added distraction for the final run-in. I hurts to root against Jose or Inter when Chelsea is the opposition, but I think I have to.

Until next time, I will see you Off The Woodwork