The financial benefits of operating in the American market for football has already been highlighted by Barcelona: in 2005, former Barcelona vice-president Soriano, held talks with MLS officials, including Arsenal’s CEO, Ivan Gazidis about the possibility of franchising Barcelona in the MLS for brand and marketing purposes. Despite a deal being signed that ensured Barcelona would tour the MLS for commercial benefit, the proposal to have a Barcelona franchise in the MLS didn’t gather weight. However, Soriano believes that one day European teams will be operating in foreign leagues: “Nowadays we have no idea whether within 20 years there will be a Manchester United vs Arsenal match played in the Chinese junior league.”
3. Continue to harvest the Football League
In Tim Cahill, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka, Everton have three staple players that learned their trade in the Championship and then were bought by David Moyes to improve as players at Goodison Park. Tim Cahill was snapped up for a nominal – considering his talents would see him on the 50-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or just two years later – fee of £1.5m.
Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka both enjoyed a season of top-flight football, following promotions with their respective clubs – Wigan and Sheffield United – before David Moyes signed them for £4m and £5m each. Since signing for Everton, both players have represented England at full international level. With the Football League still providing players that earn it the title bargain basement, continuing to plunder the lower-leagued clubs for their best talent, is one way Everton can invest, but invest cheaply.
It doesn’t even have to be the Championship though: Chris Smalling made the jump from the 7th tier of the English footballing pyramid to the top in one leap when he signed for Fulham in 2008 and Paul Lambert has proved players in League One can play for a team in the top 10 of the Premier League, with back to back promotions from the third tier of English football. Grant Holt, who has now played in League One, the Championship and the Premier League in three consecutive seasons, has scored 7 Premier League goals this season and Anthony Pilkington, who was playing in League One last season, has scored 5.
Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/
For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit
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