Slaughterhouse 2023

In Kurt Vonnegut’s classic novel, ‘Slaughterhouse Five’, Billy Pilgrim, attempts to make sense of ‘Life the Universe and everything’ (apologies to Douglas Adams), during a series of ’jaunts’ through space and time. The past and the future, a seemingly random collection of events, unfolding and unstoppable.

A bit like football really.

It started as an amateur game, way back in the mists of time. Progressed to a stage where players were paid, a pittance admittedly, and had to get jobs out of season to keep the wolf (no pun intended) from the door. Most clubs were owned by rich local businessmen who smoked fat cigars and ruled with a rod of iron.

The playing field seemed to be pretty level. (Apart from Yeovil Town’s, but that’s another story).

Then came the first £100 a week man. The maximum wage was abolished so the smaller clubs could not afford the best players. Then the rules were changed so that gate receipts were no longer shared and the ‘bigger’ clubs became richer. 

Then foreign players were allowed to sign for British clubs. Players started to have a say in contracts and transfers. Then came the Bosman Ruling. Then came foreign owners. Then came the first million pound player (Steve Daley, not Trevor Francis by the way).

The Premiership was born and turned the elite English league into the biggest earning football competition in The World.

The all conquering Spanish and Italian clubs were no longer top dogs.

Big Six? Super League? FFP? VAR? “You’re ‘avin a larf!”.

Now it seems, countries are buying up players – and clubs – like they are going out of fashion and it looks inevitable that Saudi Arabia and Qatar will be the next big Movers and Sheikhers.

Well, they’ve picked up one of the best in the last few days.

Our captain and the backbone and inspiration of our team for six years. Ruben Neves.

Brilliantly talented, loyal and always giving 100% for the good of the club, on and off the pitch. His family are settled in Wolverhampton and his children have been raised here. He loves the Club, the City and the supporters.

His ambition, no secret, has always been to play Champions’ League football and, in spite of Jeff Shi’s original statements when Fosun bought Wolves, it didn’t look like he’d be doing that with us in the foreseeable future.

Nobody could blame him for seeking a move to a club that could fulfill those needs.

Why then, has he chosen to go to Saudi Arabia?

Money is the obvious reason. A couple of years over there and he will be set for life… but Champions’ League?We all read social media. Rumours abound. Is it the thin edge of a Saudi wedge that intends to eventually usurp the European Leagues and become the Mecca of World Football? Or something simpler but more devious. A move to Saudi club Al-Hilal. Then a loan to Saudi owned Newcastle. Financial Fair Play ceases to be an issue and he can play Champions’ League Football next season.

I would be disappointed in Ruben if this turns out to be the case but questionable deals, and full blown corruption, have littered the history of the game. Always have… always will. 

Could we blame him? Not really.

Football. Ever changing. Never standing still. Continually causing controversy and argument.

And depressingly, just as has always been the case, we the punters, along with the unfortunate Billy Pilgrim, can do nothing to alter the past, present or future of the game that we love.

We can all discuss it, but we can’t stop it. We just have to accept it.

“So it goes”.