Are we human or are we circus?

It’s not me that’s crap, it’s the owners

What do Celtic, Manchester United, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, and Tottenham have in common? Probably there are lots of answers but the one I am looking for is that the manager publicly criticised their bosses and were removed shortly afterwards, some after bringing trophies, or, in Ruben Amorim’s case, with the team in a position that Champions League football could be possible.

Amorim winning titles in Portugal doesn't matter 

Now, one characteristic that football managers have is that they are old compared to industry. Managers/coaches at top clubs, or even any club, who are under forty are rare. If you, dear reader, were to publicly criticise your boss, you would expect to be fired. So why do these managers do it? Logically, they do it deliberately to get paid the rest of their contract. They may have 2 more years at a great salary for free. However, surely that would put off potential employers if a manager runs to the media to rubbish them? It doesn’t seem so. Nuno Espirito Santo still seems in demand, as will Amorim, Postecoglou, Marseca, Rodgers and various managers before them who have said the problem is the board not them.

Football is not the real world

I think it is fair to say that the world of football is vastly different from the real world. It is a circus and there are no shortage of clowns ready to tumble across our screens for our amusement. If I was to say that the reason why this blog is crap every week is that ASCB are the problem, they don’t give me a fancy laptop, a team of researchers, fancy apps to create fancy photos, and hell, they don’t even pay me the million euros a year I was promised, readers would laugh and say, Gus, the reason that the blog is crap is that you are a crap writer. And they would be right.

Trophy? not good enough for Maresca at Chelsea

The reality of professional football is totally different. Football is a loser’s game. There are four major trophies in English football in which the Arsenal compete, 3 domestic and one European. As doubles and even trebles have happened, it can mean only 2 teams have won anything. The rest are all losers. And as Tottenham, Chelsea and Celtic can testify, winning can still mean losing your job. West Ham also got rid of David Moyes after completing the miracle of them winning a trophy. However, I don’t remember Moyes publicly criticising the owners and I am sure he would be welcomed back now.

It’s nearly impossible to be a winner

But what is my point in all this? It is that perceived levels of success in football is extremely low. Supposing you run a business. You started it around 30 years ago. It does pretty well, you have staff, you make money, you have a nice house, a nice car, go to expensive places and are respected in your community. You are seen as someone who does well. But it is still a modest business and never really grows much. That doesn’t matter. You are still seen as someone who has done well. People don’t say you are a big failure because you are not Jeff Bezos who also started his business around 30 years ago. People give you respect.

We don't care about your trophy, Nuno

In football, no matter what you do, you get abuse. How many fans like their club’s owners? Or their managers? There is a sizeable enough percentage of Arsenal fans who want Arteta out despite the fact that the club have seriously challenged for the Premier League and Champions League in recent seasons and is close to the highs of the Wenger days. Most English clubs can only dream of such success.

Slot and his staff and players should be sent out on a boat?

I read a forum recently where many Liverpool fans were calling for Arne Slot and his whole staff, plus many notable players to be bundled out of town because they are useless. What planet are these people living on and why do these standards not apply to the communities we all live in? As I have said, as little as 2 teams may win a trophy and all the others are losers, whereas, in the real world, anyone who runs a successful business, even as the sole worker, and even if it is moderately successful, is given respect.

No, mate, your trophy doesn't matter

I believe that it is the circus that matters, and the actual football is secondary. For some Arsenal fans, Ange Postecoglou getting turfed out on his arse while the Spuds are parading their trophy around was probably the highlight of many fan’s year. Man Utd shooting out managers in succession matters more than what happens on the pitch. Forest and Chelsea the same.

The circus rarely comes to small clubs

There are many clubs out there doing pretty well, getting reasonable attendances, generating money in the community, and a place to socialise, giving local employment and chances to young players, but they will never come near Arsenal and they know it. A juicy tie in the cup maybe gives them a chance to see the big circus players but that is it. The circus rarely comes to such towns, and the media circus that encircles football also passes them by. But they deserve as much respect and credit as any of the other local businesses that have been around for years. A promotion or staying up is their victory and that is true of virtually every club in the English leagues and indeed worldwide.

A treble, Brendan? It doesn't matter at all

So if I can mangle a line from The Killers, “Are we Footballer or are we Circus?”. Is it actually the football or the circus that surrounds it that matters? If you took out the circus would football survive? Answers on a postcard, please.