The Badger

Ipswich Town sign up to Operation Survival

josh.warwick@eveningstar.co.uk — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:42:00 GMT

HOW did it come to this?

Ipswich Town, propped up by a multi-millionaire tycoon, with Premier League ambitions and an expensively assembled squad are today staring bleakly into the abyss.

If anyone was in any doubt, they shouldn’t be now - last night’s defeat rubber-stamped the Blues’ involvement in Operation Survival 2010.

The next four fixtures are crucial – Sheffield Wednesday away, Scunthorpe away, Bristol City at home and a tough trip to Blackpool. Six points is a minimum – but don't hold your breath.

I’m baffled as to how Town are in such a predicament.

Norwich City dropped out of the Championship last year but the Canaries’ squad had been ravaged by a financial cloud which hovered over Carrow Road since relegation in 2005.

Ipswich don’t have that excuse for the club’s dismal showing this term. Roy Keane has been generously supported by Marcus Evans, splashing out several million on the likes of Tamas Priskin, Carlos Edwards and Lee Martin.

How high-achieving Ian Holloway at Blackpool or Dave Jones at Cardiff (clubs which sit eighth and fifth respectively) would love to have the Blues boss’ spending power.

Clearly, a squad comprising Grant Leadbitter, David Norris and Jonathan Walters should not be languishing near the foot of the Championship.

Ipswich’s fans have been incredibly supportive to Keane and co. but I wonder if last night’s debacle may prove a turning point in the relationship.

The murmurings of terrace discontent are getting louder and will soon echo around the boardroom if results do not improve - and quickly.

Owner Evans would then have a very big decision to make.

Keane avoids referee blame game

josh.warwick@eveningstar.co.uk — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:01:00 GMT

ONE of the most enduring images of the beautiful game’s recent history is that of a huddle of snarling Manchester United players chasing a seemingly petrified Andy D’Urso across the Old Trafford turf.

The referee’s crime was daring to do the unthinkable - award a penalty to the visiting team.

Leading the angry pack is a shaven-headed Roy Keane, the Irishman apoplectic with rage. The blood vessels in his neck look ready to burst.

While Keane won countless admirers for his unflinching determination and dedication to the cause, he also earnt contempt for his apparent disrespect for the officials.

When Town’s boss made his first foray into management at Sunderland, observers could have been forgiven for assuming he would become a touchline version of the player who terrorised opponents, team-mates and referees in equal measure.

And while he may rule the dressing room with the same ferocity with which he ruled Manchester United’s midfield, Keane is an outspoken advocate of revering the authority of the men in black.

His post-match thoughts rarely, if ever, turn the spotlight of accusation on the referee or linesmen – instead he seems only willing to discuss his own team’s shortcomings.

Keane’s approach is refreshing.

Supporters have long since grown tired of listening to their club’s manager blaming others for their own failings.

What’s more, a generation of impressionable youngsters have grown up thinking such behaviour is acceptable - the vitriol spewed at referees on park pitches across the country is a by-product of Match of the Day’s post-match video nasty catalogue.

Town’s manager has taken a different approach, even going so far as to urge his peers to respect the officials.

During his stint as Sunderland boss, Keane said: “I know it might sound crazy, but I do believe a lot of people are putting too much pressure on the referees.

"The referees are full-time now and they are aware of the pressures involved. It is the same for managers, for players, for chairmen.

"I do not really speak about referees after the game. You need a cooling off period.”

West Ham’s Gianfranco Zola is another to adopt the referee-friendly angle, despite his club’s perilous position in the Premier League.

Compare the Italian to the perpetually grumpy Sam Allardyce, who greets nearly every defeat with complaints over “key decisions”.

It’s may be a pipe dream, but I hope others follow the lead of Keane and Zola.

It would certainly make Match of the Day a more enjoyable experience.

Summertime - and the winning is easy

josh.warwick@eveningstar.co.uk — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:50:00 GMT

What a draw!

I don’t think Fabio Capello could have dreamed of such a straightforward South African stroll.

I reckon he may even have mustered the slightest of smiles. Or maybe not.

The USA? No probs. Algeria? Where? Slovenia? I bet Rooney is polishing his boots in anticipation.

If England fail to qualify from this group, I think we should give up international football altogether.

“They’re all hard games,” said a particularly uncomfortable looking David Beckham after the draw was complete.

Err, actually Dave, they’re not.

The draw itself was a muddled affair – and the presentation was as ghastly as I expected.

As for Charlize Theron, she was more wooden than Sherwood Forest.

So what do we know about our 2010 group rivals?

Well, not much.

America have one or two better known players – Clint Dempsey operates in the Premiership for Fulham, while West Ham boast the mammoth name of Jonathan Spector.

Algeria, the gateway between Africa and Europe, are nicknamed the Desert Foxes. Hardly compares to the Three Lions, does it?

The only players you are likely to have heard of are Nadir Belhadj of Portsmouth and Rangers’ Madjid Bougherra.

Slovenia, meanwhile, boast Robert Koren, of West Brom, and…err, well, that’s about it.

What of the other groups? Spain should cruise through - and I think they could emulate their European Championship success in South Africa.

Brazil and Portugal face each other in a tough group which also contains Ivory Coast and North Korea. A shock of some sort could be on the cards here.

Italy and Holland should qualify without too much fuss, as should Argentina, but Germany look to have a tough task on their hands with Australia, Serbia and Ghana.

Spare a thought for the hosts, South Africa, who face Mexico, Uruguay and France - a group I can't see them making it out of.

But back to England - and today's draw is sure to bring a wave of patriotic optimism...followed by a quarter final penalty shoot out disappointment come June and July.

I can’t wait.

Good luck, Stern - you'll need it

josh.warwick@eveningstar.co.uk — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:57:00 GMT

STERN John’s arrival at Portman Road is about as attractive as a two-week vacation to Basra.

Who would have imagined the saviour of our season would turn out to be a 33-year-old journeyman who hasn’t scored in months.

I wasn’t expecting Karim Benzema, Fernando Torres or Wayne Rooney but I had harboured ambitions of an up-and-coming Premier League star or an experienced Kevin Phillips-style poacher.

I don’t want to pre-judge Stern John’s Portman Road career but I can’t help feeling more than a little under-whelmed by Town’s new signing.

Hopefully – and I genuinely mean this – the Trinidad and Tobago striker will bang in 20 goals, hauling Roy Keane’s men from the bottom three to the fringes of the play-offs and beyond.

But I won’t be risking any money on it.

How long ago those optimistic days of summer seem – when Keane talked of promotion within a year and a return to the club’s glory years.

Today, a chilly winter of discontent is beginning to send a shiver across Portman Road as the manager realigns his ambitions for 2009/10.

The season can be salvaged – and there are the slightest signs of improvement. But the clock is ticking.

But back to Stern John – I have more than a little sympathy for him.

Because, from what I have seen of the Blues this year, messrs Benzema, Torres and Rooney wouldn’t have managed a goal between them.

Even the very best attackers require service and Town have developed an unenviable inability to create chances.

While the boo boys have turned their vitriol on Tamas Priskin (quite what they hope to achieve, I don’t know), the Hungarian has hardly been furnished with a plethora of scoring opportunities.

Perhaps that’s why Keane was unable to attract a quality goal-getter – playing for the Blues could seriously damage your reputation.

I wish Stern all the best – but I won’t be holding my breath.

Only a change in philosophy can save the Blues

josh.warwick@eveningstar.co.uk — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:33:00 GMT

THERE is something intrinsically wrong at Portman Road.

Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday was one of the worst football matches I can remember watching – bereft of quality on a monumental scale.

If Ipswich Town don’t have the nous to beat a truly woeful Wednesday side, there is a very, very real threat of the Blues slipping out of the Championship.

Something must change. We are rapidly approaching the halfway stage of the season and there is little to suggest Roy Keane’s squad has the potential to scramble clear of the bottom three.

The standard of the football has been, by and large, dreadfully poor. Town lack ingenuity, creativity, a spark of inspiration. While the back four looks secure, the apparent inability to make and convert chances has made goal scoring a challenge akin to mission impossible.

Keane deserves time – and I have no doubt a patient Marcus Evans will avoid reaching for the panic button. But something must change – and fast.

Keane needs an experienced coach in his backroom staff. Peter Taylor would have been an excellent acquisition, a man with the authority to tell the manager when he was wrong.

I wonder how often Tony Loughlan, Town’s current No 2, has taken his boss aside and told him some home truths. It’s a tough job, of course – notwithstanding Keane’s explosive temperament, questioning a man who used to confidently spar with Sir Alex Ferguson must be a daunting challenge.

But has Loughlan ever queried Keane’s treatment of Owen Garvan? Has he raised doubts over the manager’s perpetual chopping and changing of the first team? Did he question the decision to sell Jordan Rhodes? I doubt it.

A criticism often levelled at Keane during his tenure as Sunderland manager concerned his activity in the transfer market (£80m on 39 players).

Spending £9m on a goalkeeper certainly raised a few eyebrows on Wearside.

But for Craig Gordon, read Tamas Priskin and for Anton Ferdinand (a mere £8m acquisition) read Lee Martin.

A decent chunk of the owner’s bank account has already been splurged yet the squad is no stronger than it was during Jim Magilton’s time in charge.

Keane should have the opportunity to right the wrongs at Portman Road.

But in order to pull the club out of the mess it finds itself in, the Irishman must change his methods, approach and philosophy...and fast.

Come on Mauricio - and come on the Albion!

josh.warwick@eveningstar.co.uk — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:28:00 GMT

AS a 28-year-old Town fan, I was born a decade too late to enjoy Ipswich’s glory years.

So if I had to choose my favourite Blue, I couldn’t pick one of Sir Bobby’s culture club - instead, the crop of players at my disposal ranges from the gloomy days under John Duncan to the current regime.

And there is one man who stands head and shoulders above all others.

Step forward Mauricio Taricco.

For me, the little Argentine had the lot. He was a class act - comfortable on the ball, a solid defender and a raiding full back.

He was tenacious, fully committed and, perhaps most importantly, he genuinely cared about my club despite having no geographical or emotional connection to the town.

And so with that in mind, I shall be closely monitoring the fortunes of Brighton and Hove Albion from now on. For those who don’t know, Taricco has been made assistant manager under new boss Gus Poyet.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Taricco earlier this year and he talked at length of his great friendship with Poyet, which began when the pair were at Spurs.

He said the former Uruguay international and he would team up as a managerial partnership when the opportunity arose.

A part of me hoped that would be at Portman Road (Jim Magilton was on the verge of being sacked at the time).

But it wasn’t to be and now Taricco has the chance to make his mark on the south coast.

I have always had a soft spot for Brighton and his appointment has cemented that fondness.

Taricco and Poyet have a big job on their hands with the Seagulls hovering perilously above the relegation zone in League One.

Here’s hoping they bring the good times back to the Withdean.

Ipswich Town's boo boys should shut up

josh.warwick@eveningstar.co.uk — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:56:00 GMT

GOOD on you if you were among the majority of those inside Portman Road who applauded Roy Keane’s men from the field last night.

Shame on you if you were among the moaning minority who decided to vent your disappointment at the injustice of Watford’s late equaliser by booing.

It would take a truly awful performance for me to barrack my own team – in fact, I don’t think I could ever bring myself to do it – but I accept, sort of, the old cliché about fans having the right to voice their fury if they pay their money.

But seriously – come on Portman Road, let’s get some perspective.

Yes, we’re bottom of the league. Yes, pre-season expectation has made our current plight harder to digest. And yes, mistakes have been made.

But things are improving – slowly, but surely.

Town should have won last night – Watford created (and converted) one chance. When your luck is down, that one chance flies into the back of the net rather than into the grateful arms of your goalkeeper.

But to boo after such an ill-deserved outcome lacks intelligence and a proper knowledge of the game.

And what does it actually achieve?

Sadly, there are plenty of ‘fans’ who watch Ipswich that don’t really understand football.

Some of the ill-informed comments which spew from the terraces make me want to scream.

Of course, it’s not a problem which only blights Portman Road – I have come to believe that a good proportion of the game’s spectators haven’t got a clue.

But then football has never been synonymous with rocket science, has it?

Fortunately, most of those who filter through the turnstiles at Ipswich aren’t stupid – as the positive reaction to last night’s torment proved.

Let’s just hope the thinking men and women continue to shout louder than the morons.

It's time for Roy to bring David Wright in from the cold

josh.warwick@eveningstar.co.uk — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 10:34:00 GMT

I BUMPED into David Wright last night – remember him?

He was the full back who was a regular fixture in Town’s back four until Roy Keane rode into Suffolk, one of the most consistent performers in a perpetually inconsistent team.

He was in a popular Ipswich bar, enjoying a beer with a few pals…which seemed strange on the eve of a big match.

But Wright, of course, won’t be involved today.

For reasons unknown to Blues supporters, the former Wigan man has been booted out of the first team picture.

When I asked him why, Wright told me Keane hadn’t rated him from day one.

How, I asked, could Damien Delaney make the starting XI, but an experienced, former Premiership player could not?

Wright shrugged his shoulders.

In many ways, his case exemplifies the change in attitude at Portman Road since Evans and co assumed power.

In the board room, out has gone the old Etonian, Corinthian feel, and in its place has come business strategies and fly by night executives, keeping watch for Marcus.

Keane seems determined to stamp his mark on the club, too.

Fair enough, you may say. But there appears little time for sentiment and understanding under Roy’s Revolution.

Wright, Owen Garvan and Pablo Counago could testify to that.

The ultimate yard stick is performance on the pitch – and while it is still too early to judge the current regime, an extension of Town’s winless run could fuel the growing disquiet on the terraces.

Portman Road’s power brokers – Evans and Simon Clegg – would do well to remember the proud traditions of the club – traditions which served the Blues well under the stewardship of Sir Bobby Robson.

As for Keane, no one can deny he has a steely determination to succeed – but every great leader requires an ability to acknowledge their own mistakes.

Ostracising David Wright was surely an error of judgement.

Now is the time to bring him in from the cold – and for Keane to show supporters he can admit when he gets it wrong.

Saturday is perfect chance to break Town's duck - and honour a hero

josh.warwick@eveningstar.co.uk — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:02:00 GMT

SATURDAY’S match between Ipswich Town and Newcastle United is as perfectly timed as a John Wark run (circa 1981).

The fixture between Sir Bobby Robson’s two great footballing loves follows the service of thanks giving in Durham earlier this week and offers the chance to rechristen the North Stand in his honour.

There have been so many Town tributes to Sir Bobby over the years, including the unveiling of a statue in Portman Road and the renaming of the Galleria restaurant in the Greene King Stand.

But this latest honour is a fitting accolade to one of the great architects of Ipswich’s fine history.

Sir Bobby will join the ranks of a chosen few who have had stands named after them – including Sir Bobby Moore at West Ham, Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest and Billy Wright at Wolves.

Football’s favourite knight is a very worthy addition to that esteemed list.

And so to Saturday.

Aside from the emotion of the day, Ipswich Town desperately require a victory.

After eight games and no wins, three points are imperative.

Newcastle, of course, are riding high in the Championship – but the quality of their performances thus far are not as convincing as the league table suggests.

And they visit Suffolk on the back of a miserable Carling Cup defeat at lowly Peterborough in the week.

The match is followed by a tricky visit to Sheffield United, where Town will be every inch the underdog.

But imagine the difference a win on Saturday would make.

The confidence, which went AWOL several weeks ago, would come flooding back – and suddenly that trip to South Yorkshire won’t seem quite so daunting after all.

Personally, I can’t help feeling Roy Keane’s men, spurred on by a packed and partisan Portman Road, will break their duck against the Magpies.

And if they do, it will be a fitting farewell for a Portman Road hero.

In honour of Sir Bobby

josh.warwick@eveningstar.co.uk — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:35:00 GMT

There has been a buzz in beautiful Durham today. An adopted son of Suffolk and football's favourite knight, the incredible life of one Sir Robert Robson will be celebrated here later.

The tiny north east city, popultion just 42,000, is awash with dozens of famous faces from the beautiful game as more than 1,000 people flock to a thanks giving service in his honour.

Sir Alex Ferguson, fresh from Manchester United's thrilling derby victory yesterday, is expected to address the invited guests at Durham Cathedral, where he will remember a great rival as a great friend.

Gary Lineker, Harry Redknapp, Joe Royle, Graham Taylor, Terry Butcher, David Davis, Alan Shearer and Sir Bobby Charlton are also expected to pay their respects to the 76-year-old, who died in July after a long and brave battle with cancer.

Today is not sad and sombre. It is a celebration of a great man. It has provided a final opportunity to remember one of the most warm, proud, determined and gracious characters football has ever produced.

The respect for Sir Bobby should make every Blues fan very proud. Because it was his 13-year love affair with Ipswich Town which helped a very special man blossom into a hero to millions.

I hope the shame of Upton Park was only an anomaly

josh.warwick@eveningstar.co.uk — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:52:00 GMT

WHAT struck me the most about the truly grim images broadcast from Upton Park last night was the age of those involved in the disturbances.

As well as being overweight and sporting shaved heads and tattoos, most of the yobs appeared to be in their 40s, 50s or older.

I wonder if the violence was partly fuelled by a hankering for the old days of the 70s and 80s, when terrace warfare was the ugly reality of the beautiful game.

Or perhaps the pressure cooker of a cup tie between teams who have traditionally been plagued by hooligan elements was too much to resist for the morons who rioted before, during and after the game?

Watching the unnervingly large collection of idiots stumbling across Upton Park’s pristine turf was like opening a window on a bygone era – one the majority of supporters thought had been condemned to the history books.

But before we all hang our heads in our hands, remember that the strides we have made in this country over the last 30 years in tackling hooliganism have been monumental.

These days, our ultra-modern stadiums are as jam-packed with women and children as they are with alpha males.

Tickets may be more expensive and the atmosphere more subdued, but football is, once again, a family sport.

While once we were reviled, today the football authorities in Italy and Holland – where violence still casts a shadow over the game – see the English model as a genuine way of easing their own problems.

As an eight-year-old in the late 80s, I can remember having my rucksack searched by an overzealous police officer as I pushed through the turnstiles with my dad at Portman Road, such was the fear of trouble in our stadiums.

I can remember the metal fencing which imprisoned fans on crumbling terraces, the violent scenes from Kenilworth Road when Millwall fans rioted and the general gloominess which hung over our national sport.

Thankfully, things got better.

Let’s hope last night’s east London disgrace was just an ugly blip.

Sir Bobby, thank you and goodbye

josh.warwick@eveningstar.co.uk — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:54:00 GMT

YOU can bet that in the coming days and weeks, the tributes paid to Sir Bobby Robson will flow in abundance.

And quite rightly so.

The word legend is thrown around too often. But in Sir Bobby’s case, the sentiment matches the man perfectly.

Perhaps now is the time to rename the North Stand in his memory, a fitting tribute to a great man.

I am too young to remember the Portman Road glory days under his stewardship. But I am as aware of the Robson legacy as my dad, who was fortunate enough to take his place on the terraces to admire the all-conquering Blues side of the 70s and early 80s.

The FA Cup, European glory, Thijssen, Muhren, Beattie...I know the history as if I had seen it with my own eyes. The magical victories, the style of football and, most importantly, the manner in which success was achieved are all familiar to me.

Ask any neutral for their verdict on Ipswich Town and they will tell you the club has a certain dignity, a respect for the proud traditions carefully nurtured through time.

Sir Bobby was one of the principal architects of that reputation.

When Roy Keane was appointed as manager in April, he described Town as a "proper club with a fine history". There can be no doubt that he had the 76-year-old firmly in mind when he made those comments.

One of my favourite of Sir Bobby's quotes encapsulates the Ipswich ethos which he helped to father – “Love the game more than the prize”.

It’s a maxim many of football's current protagonists could do well to remember.

As the volume of tributes and obituaries continue to spiral, you can be sure that the bond between Sir Bobby Robson and Ipswich Town will remain unbreakable.

I am proud that the gentle Geordie’s history will be forever linked to my club.

Thanks for the memories, Sir Bobby.

David Norris crucial to success of the Blues

josh.warwick@eveningstar.co.uk — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:37:00 GMT

DAVID Norris will be the first to admit Ipswich Town fans have not seen the best of him yet.

The expectation of a big money transfer has appeared to weigh around his neck at times.

But I think he will be one of the key members of Roy Keane’s squad this season.

He is a player in the Keane mould – maybe not as aggressive as the former Manchester United man but the kind of box-to-box, tireless midfield general capable of making a team tick.

Too often, Norris was played out of position by Jim Magilton, regularly being employed as a left winger. But his talents are wasted on the flanks – Norris must operate through the centre of the park, breaking up possession and driving Town forward.

One of the biggest criticisms of the Blues during the Magilton era was the lack of fight in crucial matches...Southampton at home and Norwich away were prime examples of a core weakness in mentality and muscle.

But if Norris is given the confidence and freedom to establish himself as the midfield lynchpin, the problem can be remedied.

Never shy from the tackle and with the engine of a loco, his £2m price tag could turn into a bargain.

His tenacity should also act as the perfect foil for the creative talents of Owen Garvin, another midfielder preparing for a career-defining season.

I hope Keane can see something of his former self in the ex-Plymouth man.

Let me know your verdict on Norris - and the prospects for Ipswich Town.

A dodgy ITFC pre-season? Promotion awaits!

josh.warwick@eveningstar.co.uk — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:34:00 GMT

A GRIM pre-season for Ipswich Town can mean only one thing - promotion.

Roy Keane was a little unhappy after the Blues' dismal 2-0 defeat to Cork City (which followed a 2-1 reverse to Finn Harps earlier this month) - but he needn't worry.

Scientific fact states that if Town struggle during their schedule of summer friendlies, glory awaits.

But should they sail through their warm-up matches, a season of misery and despair lurks around the corner.

If you don't believe me, cast your minds way back to the summer of 1991.

The Gulf War is in full swing, the Birmingham Six have been freed...and John Lyall is preparing for his second season in the Portman Road hotseat after a very ordinary first campaign as boss.

The first murmurs of discontent were already echoing around the increasingly empty Portman Road terraces as Town embarked on an uninspiring tour of Finland.

But if Lyall had predicted a trio of gentle, confidence-boosting fixtures, he was sadly mistaken. Two defeats followed (against Rips Riihimaki and Kemin Palloseura - household names, I'm sure you'll agree) before the Blues returned to Suffolk with their tails wedged firmly between their legs.

It was to get worse for our heroes, however. Disappointing draws with Lincoln City and Peterborough preceded a 2-0 loss to Scunthorpe and a humiliating 3-0 hammering at the hands of Norwich.

Hardly the sort of form required to fuel the faithful with optimism.

Yet 1991/92 turned out to be a magnificent season for Town. Lyall's unfancied squad defied the odds and won the Second Division title at a stroll, finishing ahead of Kenny Dalglish's free-spending Blackburn and a resurgent Middlesbrough.

But fast forward to the truly miserable 1994/95 relegation season.

Despite narrowly avoiding the drop the previous May, a dazzling pre-season campaign had supporters believing that the necessary squad improvements would be enough to secure another season of Premier League football.

Thumping victories over Diss, Stowmarket and Lowestoft were followed by a hat-trick of wins on a tour of Finland. And just when fans thought things couldn't get any better, Town, now led by Mick McGiven, beat Euro giants Porto.

Sadly, a team boasting Stuart Slater, Geraint Williams and Phil Whelan should never have been allowed to compete in the top flight, a point underlined by the humiliating 9-0 drubbing at Old Trafford.

And so it was, that the hope and expectation borne out of a promising beginning turned to the sour reality of relegation and heartache.

Of course, Town's promotion back to the Premier League would come in 2000 - after a pre-season which included thrilling 0-0 draws with Gefle and Giffarna and a home defeat to FC Twente.

And two years later, immediately prior to George Burley's side's demotion, the curse struck again. The Blues shone, winning seven of their eight warm-up matches - the only defeat coming against an impressive PSV Eindhoven. But an unbalanced squad, disharmony in the dressing room and a slice of misfortune left Town languishing in the bottom three come May.

So Roy, down be too down-hearted - the hand of history suggests your team's iffy form is the perfect recipe for success.

Real Madrid critics told: You're ignorant

josh.warwick@eveningstar.co.uk — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:46:00 GMT

APPARENTLY, anyone who is a tad concerned over the ethics of Real Madrid spending £136m on two players during a global recession is “ignorant and misguided”.

So says outspoken Bernebau president Florentino Perez, who has engineered the unlikely capture of Kaka and, probably, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Personally, I beg to differ.

Aside from the plethora of moral issues involved, there are also the sporting implications to consider.

Firstly, there is something distinctly unimaginative about plundering clubs for their best players at whatever the cost.

What’s more, the reintroduction of the controversial Galactico programme seems to me to be an unsustainable method in achieving long-term success.

As was the case when Madrid splashed out on Zidane, Ronaldo (the fat Brazilian one), Figo and co a decade ago, the value of superstars at the top of their game will only go one way - down.

It is difficult to imagine that Kaka and Ronaldo will ever be worth more than the fees Real have paid, despite the duo being relatively young.

Their probable depreciation is compounded by news that Real’s buy, buy, buy policy appears to have been built upon shaky foundations. It emerged this week that Perez’s spending spree has been funded through mammoth bank loans.

The revelation comes at a time when Spain is entrenched in a bitter recession, with unemployment rising towards a frightening 20 per cent and when thousands of businesses are struggling to negotiate favourable loans when they need them most.

Even Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has condemned Madrid’s £80m bid for Ronaldo.

“These amounts seem excessive to me. In principle, I don't like it," he said.

Perez, though, is unrepentant.

When asked in an interview with newspaper Publico whether he thought the concerned masses had reason to worry, he said : "No. I simply believe that it is a result of ignorance.

"This is a corporate project and those who see it differently are misguided.

"But time will prove us right and that's why I am relaxed ."

How I hope that last sentence comes back to haunt him.