Football's appeal has always been largely based in it's sincerity. Being a 'true' supporter who stuck by a club regardless of who played for it, how they did, who managed it and any number of reasons that cause fans of other sports to lose interest. We demand that players conduct themselves with honour, and our clubs build natural success through the strength of its fanbase and chairmen and boardmembers who look out for the best interests of the club.

But with Liverpool joining Aston Villa, Portsmouth, West Ham, Manchester United and of course Chelsea as being placed firmly in the hands of foreign businessmen (operative word being "business") the Premiership is changing quickly. Before long, even those clubs who have carved out a niche for themselves on limited budgets (Bolton, Curbishley's Charlton) will be firmly swept aside as the more popular clubs are bought out and given cash injections. Even the likes of Tottenham, traditionally a big spender beyond its success on the pitch, are in serious danger of falling behind as clubs below them start matching their spend levels.

This time next season, we could well see as many as half of the Premiership clubs enjoying foreign money and suddenly a massive part of the natural appeal of football will be dead. If your club isn't part of that "lucky" group, you may as well pack it in.

I like a bit of spice with my football. Some controversey, a shock result or incident and especially a spectacular transfer story.

But this window was one big let down. Aston Villa spent almost as much on Ashley Young as Tottenham did on Dimitar Berbatov, while Tottenham tried to outdo that by spending 10 million on an unproven 17 year old left back.

Other than that, there was nothing. West Ham signed a bunch of average players for silly money, and tried to sign a decent player in Bent for simply outrageous money. The big four stayed clear, with only Manchester United throwing out their bi-annual 20 million bid for Owen Hargreaves to no avail. Admittedly, this is exactly what the window system was introduced for. To allow smaller clubs the chance to hold onto their star players while still strengthening mid-season. The fact that only Liverpool made any signings of significance (Mascherano) suggests that things are working.

Working, for the clubs that is, because as a fan the January window is fast becoming as disappointing as watching my club each week.

When Southampton announced an “unnamed” Premiership club was willing to meet their nearly 10 million asking price for 17 year old left back Gareth Bale, I’ll admit I thought it had to be Manchester United throwing their excessive weight around once again.

But apparently, the bid - seemingly accepted now - was from Tottenham, who had a wad of cash burning a hole in their pocket after being beaten to Ashley Young by Aston Villa. If the money paid for a relatively unproven Young seemed silly, then the fee for Bale is downright criminal.

After a terrible performance against Newcastle, leading twice only to lose 3-2, and a terrible performance against a 10 man Fulham, needing a late goal to draw, and a terrible (and now typical) second half performance against Arsenal’s U-12s at home, it seemed like there may have been better ways for Martin Jol to spend. Bale may be an immense player in a few years, but if Spurs keep playing like they have been then it’s hardly going to matter.

With apparently at least 10 million to throw around this window, the money should have gone towards another option at left midfield to support Malbranque or - if we're being Football Managers - a new central midfielder who is willing to battle and fight and tackle. An ACTUAL defensive midfielder, not the porous bits of wet paper that Huddlestone and Zokora seem to be when we're trying to get the ball back.

Hype is a tough thing to manage when writing about a player, if you indugle in it - no matter how deserved - legions of people will come out crying about how you've been brainwashed by the press. That 17 year old Pato is far from the level of Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

Yes, I think we get that. He's had now about a match and a half of professional football under his belt, most of which was in a tournament that arguably meant more to Internacional than any in their history (the Club World Cup is big in South America, you see). And if you compare him to other 17 year olds with similar match experience, he looks quite good. So forgive me if I'm not dragging his name through the dirt for misplacing a couple of passes, or saying his career is over just because he fell over the ball once or twice.

He's 17, and playing in his 3rd professional match ever and its the final of a major tournament against Barcelona. I think we can cut him some slack.

When talking about potential, you have to focus on the positives and assume the rest can be coached. And Pato again demonstrated his physical ability, strength and pace in abundance although his tendency to cramp up was worrying. Hopefully it's not indicative of career-stalling growing pains. He got on the ball infrequently, but on one occasion danced easily around the Barcelona defense, and another picked up the ball and turned so swiftly and acutely that it left Carlos Puyol on the floor. If Gio hadn't brought him down from behind the lad would have been away on goal, possibly about to write his name into history.

He was eventually subbed off, his impact on the game matched his current status - filled with potential but not yet the end product.

It deafens me, but it sends a chill down my spine. If you've ever played the Japanese language version of Winning Eleven/Pro Evolution Soccer on the Playstation, this is pretty much a real life version of that complete with random, techno background music at inappropriate times.

With only a few minutes until kick off, here's a run down of the pre-match entertainment for this glorious final:

- Bewildering pre-match entertainment featuring giant inflatable globes and some kind of Japanese samba band who try but fail to get the crowd excited
- Announcer screaming excited Japanese at the top of his lungs, I have no idea what he is saying but it works. I'm both deaf and incredibly excited.
- For some reason we're asked to stand for the FIFA national anthem, which no one knew existed, which is then cut short awkwardly halfway through leaving everyone confused.

The pain is over, time to watch Barcelona thump someone.

The final is just half an hour away, and most a predicting a relatively easy task for Barcelona. Internacional will have to improve greatly on their previous performance and Barcelona will have to decline greatly from theirs if this is to be anything but a walk in the park.

But as usual I'm far more interested in how wunderkind Pato Alexandre is going to fair. He showed glimpses of his talent against Al Ahly but he failed to get on the ball as much as he really should have to do real damage. He showed intelligence in his running but was rarely picked up, and it'll be pretty important that this changes if the Brazilians have a hope. It's unlikely that Pato will find much joy against Marquez and Puyol, as it means that Inter have found their way through the centre of the park, so he's got to exploit the full backs. Both Gio and Zambrotta push up frequently and Pato has to slide into the gap and hope for a counter attack opportunity.

If Inter can defend well enough and get the ball to him quickly on the wings in the first 15-20 minutes, they've got a hope. If not, then Barca will adjust and probably thump them.

With just over 90 minutes of professional football under his belt, Alexandre is now expected to turn on the magic against the best team in Europe - you couldn't write a better story.

I love the sport of football, and I certainly love the atmosphere and emotion that comes with the sport. Having only gone to Premiership matches, the amusing songs and good natured (generally) insults are part and parcel of what makes the experience enjoyable.

But if the noises coming out of the small hordes of Internacional supporters here in Japan is anything to go by, I would like fear for my life and safety should I ever enjoy a match in South America. You see the Argentinian and Brazilian supporters going nuts on the telly all the time, setting fires, throwing chairs, climbing fences designed specifically to stop them from killing each other. It seems worrying, but at the same time kind of fun.

Maybe it's because I have no idea what they're saying, but the chants seem more akin to some kind of warcry of death than "Stand Up If You Hate Arsenal".

A quick revelation while watching the first half of the match, but Jeonbuk seem to be winning virtually every header. Indulging my inherent stereotypes I assumed that if Auckland had one thing going for them it would be the ability to win the physical side of this match, including the most macho of all battles - in the air. Of course there are many things at play to win a header besides simply a physical advantage - timing and bravery come to mind. It's the latter which seems to be most significant here, as the Jeonbuk players are flying in with 'he's going to die!' levels of commitment while the Auckland lot seem somewhat less ready to put their heads on the line.

It's 2-0 right now, and if it stays that way it will be a shame if Auckland feel afterwards that perhaps they did not give their all.

Tonight is the all-important 5th/6th place playoff match at the FIFA World Club Cup, and I actually say that without the slightest bit of sarcasm.

Auckland FC from New Zealand take on Jeonbuk from Korea to determine last and second last place, but it'd be rather silly to see this as a meaningless fixture. Jeonbuk may be a little disappointed not to have progressed past Club America and will be playing for pride, but Auckland FC will be playing this one like a cup final. The New Zealanders are technically an amateur side and field anyone from ex-pros to, I assume, lorry drivers and what not. This is undoubtedly the biggest competition any of these players have or may ever be a part of and I'm expecting them to play as such.

That said, an upset is probably not on the cards. The bane of the amateur football club is a well-organised opponent and Jeonbuk fits the bill perfectly, any weaknesses or lapses in the Auckland side will be exposed quickly and frequently and it will take a minor footballing miracle for them to pull this one out. But I'll be rooting for them against the Koreans, and I'm guessing the stadium full of Japanese spectators might be as well - not the least because they signed Teruo Iwamoto specifically for this competition.

For a tournament featuring clubs with such a vast spectrum of footballing pedigree the results have been understandably predictable, if Auckland can shake things up a bit tonight then it'll be the second best thing to happen to New Zealand in a long time.

Watching Aaron Lennon, Shaun Wright Philips, or Theo Walcott on the ball is one of the more exciting things in the Premiership. Speedy players who leave defenders in their wake is always good entertainment. But as I'm watching Barcelona midget Ludovic Giuly take on Club America in the FIFA WCC, it's clear that the English youngsters have some way to go to match the Frenchmans effectiveness. While they look to get on the ball as often as possible to do their damage, Giuly's runs off the ball are perfectly timed and perfectly angled, allowing for midfielders to play the 'Arsenal ball' between the full back and centre back time and time again.

Barcelona look for him in this way time and time again and it's just another example of the simple things in football that help win matches, Giuly's little buddies in the Premiership would do well to learn to do the same.