Wigan Chairman Salary Caps

I doubt it. If this was a decision taken only by the English clubs there is a danger that it will dilute the standard of the Prem. The influx of foreign players, which was so highly criticized over the years, has been at the root of the creation of the highest quality football I have seen in watching the games in the top division since the 60's.

Right now, despite all these panic based comments, we still have a Prem which, because of its support, excitement and high standards, still attracts good overseas players. The last thing the Prem needs is to be turned into a European football backwater,

Apart from this objection, how would a capping scheme work in order to 'level a playing field' which has never been flat as far as I can remember? At what stage would the limits start to apply? It could not happen while current contracts are in place. How would clubs handle the sums they are allowed to spend? Continue to pay their top stars the amounts needed to keep them and then make up the side with lesser players receiving just a small percentage of the top men? Not ideal for team spirit.

How soon before we lost the Lampards, Rooney, Gerrard and Terry talents to European clubs willing to pay higher wages?

Capping of annual salary would have no effect the ability of rich sides to pay the highest transfer fees and no doubt we would see mbuttive bonuses being offered to players of teams reaching certain levels of the major competitions. They would still outbid teams like Wigan for whatever talent was available to our wage hamstrung sides because of their major city location and the quality of the facilities they would be able to offer ,plus all sorts of 'perks'.

This idea seems to be caused by Chelsea's spending power. No doubt they are good and we might not have seen the best of them yet, but they are not as superior as this type of panic proposal suggests. No doubt we can all remember the mocking when they started on their high spending? The general view that success cannot be bought is now replaced by claims that it seems it can, and it isn't fair so lets stop them!

I think the first idea was correct. Money alone will never ensure success. Obviously a pool of high talent helps, but every time I see Chelsea on TV I am impressed by the organisation of their defence (which is not all 'star') and how familiar all the players are with the style and system they play, something Benitez seems to find impossible to implement here. Their biggest buttet is Mourinho and his staff and what they are doing on the training ground.

After the Charlton win Curbishley commented that what impressed him most about Chelsea was their organisation, all round physical strength and fitness and their will to win. Maybe it is time some other Prem sides tried to match this and rise to that level ,rather than considering artificial ways to bring Chelsea down to theirs?

LC