By Ian Baird 1-0
January 7 2008

I watched the FA Cup with some interest yesterday and one game that stood out was the West London derby between cup holders Chelsea and local 'rivals' Queens Park Rangers. Today they are rivals only on location as there is a world difference in set up, Stylish Chelsea with their amazing village stadium,  Billionaire Chairman, 40k plus crowd every week and squad of multi-millionaire players, some the best in the world, who will once again be fighting Arsenal & Man Utd at the top of the Premier League and heading towards the last eight of the Champions League.
This versus modest Rangers, who have battled at the bottom of the Championship for most of the last 12 months sitting 18th as I write, small & scruffy stadium, hardcore 8-9k at every home game and squad of journeymen and young talent not picked up by the other London clubs.

A world apart!

So imagine the scene if Chelsea play Rangers at this stage of the FA Cup in two years time. The headlines will be West London local rivals, both top four in the PL, battling it out for a place in round 4 and both heading towards CL qualification. Rangers, in theiur new revamped Loftus Road home, backed by 25,000 fans, with their array of new signings and world superstars against Chelsea's established superstars. Quite a thought!

But could this be reality?

Why not? Why? Have Rangers got exciting plans in place to develop their stadium in their West London location near to Shepherds Bush? Do they have a young & vibrant management team? Do they have a team with potential to take on the best in the land? Do they have a youth policy and academy that will see them develop the best young talent in London?

Well, none of these actually. So what do they have that could possibly see them up against the best - the likes of Chelsea?

Simple - a Billionaire Chairman has come in with a reported fortune of £20billion and a hunger to see his team become the best in England. With money like that you can bet your bottom dollar that he will succeed and little QPR will be fighting the big boys in two years.
Imagine - CL semi-final QPR v Real Madrid.

OK, so I am jealous. If this man had found West Yorkshire rather than West London then I woudl probably have no problems. I don't see Chelsea fans moaning about their 'bought' success. At the end of the day a victory at Man Utd is just that regardless of how your squad was assembled. But I do have to say I find Football quite ridiculous these days.

Over Xmas I read a couple of books and one was about Wilko's champions on 1991/2 and how he assembled a team good enough to win the 2nd Division and added two other players who had played in the 2nd tier (Whyte and McAllister) and our former player, the Arsenal reserve 'keeper (Lukic). That team was good enough to finish fourth in the first year up before going better and winning the league in the 2nd year up. A side crafted with experience, youth and hard work and training.
Never again!

I also read how Alf Ramsey took 3rd Division Ipswich and made them league champions in three years winning three successive Division titles.
Never again!

Forget your academies, nurturing local talent, encouraging local people to support their local team, Football in the community, "Frank Lampard - working class hero!" - all gone and forgotten.
League titles and FA Cups will be decided by the men with the money in their pockets and nothing else matters. You just have to hope they pick your team to buy.

As a supporter of a club that lived the dream and nearly died as a result I know only too well the meaning of money in Football, but there is a way to maange success. For me the credible clubs in England are Arsenal & Man Utd who have built their clubs on a foundation of excellent support, global marketing and investing in youth and talent. OK, they still write substantial cheques for players (MUFC spent £51m in the summer before Teves) but they have at least a firm base beneath them.
Chelsea, on the other hand, have a temperamental Russian to keep happy. Quote the song sung by Arsenal fans:
"We hate Chelsea wa*kers,
They went and bought the league,
And when the Russian f**ks off,
They'll be another Leeds!"

Not far from the truth. And that cannot be healthy for the game.