Globalised Football

This will be a quick one. I don't have the time for anything else.

I've been reading "The World is Flat" by Thomas Friedman. Interesting read - I've never come across such a persuasive argument on the "globalise at all costs" issue. The guy makes high-speed broadband internet the modern equivalent of Mother Teresa.

Anyway, one thing I've learnt is that in a flat world, you've got to innovate, educate and communicate in order to succeed. Thanks to the internet, everyone has the same information and has access to the same funds. To survive in this flat world, you've got to be smarter, quicker and more ruthless than your competitors.

What does this mean to Arsenal?

Well, in the past, we've been the dog's bollocks when it comes to innovation. In England, Wenger started the scientific diet and training regime, the mass recruitment of cheap young foreign players, the paying of wages to offshore accounts (genius while it lasted), the stealing uncontracted youth players from big clubs, and "I didn't see it" for every controversial decision.

It kept us up the top on lower resources, but now the other clubs have caught up. Chelsea have more money and bulldoze their way to the best players. Man Utd have plucked the shit out of Portugal, and Liverpool are doing the same with Latin America. Milan bought Pato for 17 million. Barcelona have promoted awesome youth like Gio and Bojan, to avoid another Cesc.

We need to innovate again to gain another advantage.

Any ideas?