For some, the game of football is just that, a game. For some others, me included, it is life. Being in that group makes me care about the game and think about it, sometimes a bit too much. Here are some of the things that are wrong with the game today, which if rectified, can to some extent make the game even more beautiful:

1) Agents – In modern day football, the role that agents have been playing is becoming more and more profound, and not all of it is good. A lot of money is been taken by agents, which is affecting many clubs. FIFA must do something to reduce their influence, though I am not sure what they can do, as I see them getting more and more influential.

2) Cheating/diving/simulation – You see lots of players cheating to gain an advantage over their fellow professionals nowadays. We see player feigning injuries to get others sent off, while diving to win penalties, sometimes in the most ridiculous of fashions. I am pretty sure that this never happened in the days gone by.

3) Money orientation – Football these days has become more of a business than a sport. Player wages in this tough economic environment are exorbitant, and all that money comes from the pockets of supporters, meaning that tickets and merchandising are getting more expensive as well. In order to be competitive, clubs are spending more than what they can afford. Portsmouth and Glasgow Rangers are prime examples of how badly things can go wrong.

4) Drugs – Players know that in order to make the grade they must perform to the best of their abilities. That pressure has brought about the use of drugs and steroids. There is no place for that in football; quite frankly it is embarrassing seeing mature professionals stooping to these levels.

5) Too much player power – The player power in club football has reached ridiculous levels, and there is very little loyalty left in the game these days. The Bosman ruling has made players all the more powerful. Clubs can do very little about the situation. It’s like the child has become stronger than the parent.

For me, football is the best game in the world and the pleasure of watching the game is immense. However, it is just these small things that take some of the pleasure away, and makes me think what would happen if these elements were not there.

Your thoughts !!

It true naman, the future of Football is changing...

Against modern football, ultras forever!

At the moment money and diving is the big problem. If i see any football match in the world i see divers. Back then nobody even dived and diving never excisted. And money is being burned like rain drops by rich Arabs and Russians.

sometimes i just wanna be that little kid again and play the game of our lifes <3

quikzyyy  i wish i could give you all my 10 thumbs up for this comment..
Only disagreement is that "not sometimes" for me ALWAYS!
No extravagant bids for players that other season would cost 12M.. Now they cost 50M..
I missed my childhood, watching Henry,Rivaldo,Ronaldinho,Zidane,Maldini,Roberto Carlos,Raul,Kluivert,Saviola,Beckahm,Riquelme without comparisons.. This Messi vs C.Ronaldo sometimes is disgusting..
Also i think Naman you should add one more wrong thing ( the fuc*ing Medias) they constrct different stories to get "clicks" for the websites  and to sell newspapers..

@Don that is absolutely true. The media are like vultures exagerrating every move and story (like Goal.com) of footballers. We forget that these guys are men like us and it's up to us to debunk them. Gone are loyalties. In fact the term loyalty doesn't mean undying allegiance to a club, its got something to do with business now. 

@koldimere : can you tell me a better football news site. because I visit Goal.com. :P lol !

@don : I dont like Florentino Perez for the same reason as you stated. Being the Club Of the Century, one expects some better player and financial management rather than just spending.

For the video, I had goosebumps watching that.

Offtopic : Recently ( about a month or two)  John Cryuff criticized Sandro Rosell, club President of Barca, for not sticking to the objectives of the club and spending money like anything. He mentioned the signings of Sanchez, Dani Alves, Henry, Ibrahimovich, Villa, Mascherano, Fabregas as high profile signings and stated that the club should stick to La Masia and stop spending like other clubs.

I dont want to react to this, but Barca fans , you all can throw some light on this and share your opinions

1. lack of loyalty
2. overpriced players
3. a sport being turned into a business 
4. constant cheating (diving etc.)
5. players are not as devoted to the sport as before, now most of them lack of passion for the game and just play for the money. There are very few honorable players this days...

@don : also the way Vincente Del Bosque, a legend Madridista, was treated by Perez, one of my neighbours (an uncle) was so disappointed that he didnt eat that day. (thats what his wife told me ,,, I was a kid that time).

How can you just dismiss a coach who won you La Liga after 2 days of lifting the trophy ??
And the reason Perez gave, Vincente style didnt suit the more aggressive team which he wanted.

this is so true naman,i missed the old days where there was true football..but it seems to be getting worse and worse as days go on by.and i think it will stay like this forever,realistic speaking.

@naman93 your absolutely right trust me in a few years time small teams will not even be recognized and it will only be madrid barca man u man city etc.. 
the money wages are becoming  way too high it's like money coming from out of the planet!

This is Football passion!

@DON : first two pics looks like India !!

id rather watch poor people from india and africa playing football.. then a match from P$G and Man City ;)

very gud post. i agree. we were lucky to have someone like redknap who made what spurs r 2day.

Sport in general has been one of the most succesful business in the last 15 years.

You guys haven't mentioned it, but the pre-dealed matches are also a big problem. For the clubs and for the country itself.

Crisis has never touched sport, and most of the players didn't have diplomas, yet they earn more than a million.

A banner by Ajax fans against Man City in yesterday's Champions League clash !!