This season’s squabble has been somewhat of a non-entity. Primarily this has been due to the fact that I have to sit and “admire” the sporting scene across the pond, however the secondary reasons were the real deciding facts.
As we all knew, Chelsea had won the Premier League in early October, demolishing teams with scorelines that the Australian cricket team would be content with. England had the World Cup coming home to them in 2018 with an immaculate bid that no one could compete against. And Roy Hodgson would be seeing silverware next season – if Liverpool could win the Championship that is.
Oh how I love the unpredictability of football. Manchester United now find themselves sitting pretty with an Arsenal team, who look finally able to make the jump up to title contenders, hot on their heels. Manchester City’s money has given them hope, especially since Chelsea have collapsed.
Chelsea’s 1-0 win against 5th place Bolton – unbelievable in itself – was of vital importance in keeping them within a Champions League place. A loss could have been devastating for an aging side with few new signings coming in. Whether this victory will revive them is yet to be seen, but if it does not, could a collapse equal and above the likes of Leeds United be on the cards? Ibrahimovic is not a real fan, do not expect him to hang around for Europa League glory.
The current top three are doing everything they can to help their London rivals however, with each team slipping up against supposedly weaker opposition. None seem willing to embrace the role of being top-dog setting a neutral fan up for one of the most topsy-turvy seasons since the Premiership began in 1991.
However, the unpredictability on the pitch has been equalled by events, nationally and internationally, off the pitch. Roy Hodgson’s Merseyside disaster continues. An Anfield loss of 1-0 to bottom club Wolves does nothing to help his cause.
Aston Villa without Martin O’Neill look like a fish out of water. Everton keep showing signs of improvement but remain lower down the table than expected. Whereas Fulham fans are starting to add up the reasons to panic.
Yet, with these teams being in demise, restoring the table to equilibrium, others are on the way up. Bolton and Sunderland are two of the main winners so far. However, no one could complain about Blackburn’s or Newcastle’s positions either. Except the owners that is.
Sacking Chris Houghten and Sam Allardyce is nothing short of madness, not to mention rude and disrespectful. The only saving grace is that both these men will have no problem getting further employment. It just goes to show how unrealistic owners have become.
Still though at least the owners can bribe their way into fans hearts with promises of investment, record signings and cup glory! Unlike the England World Cup bid team who lambasted every other nation for open bribery, whilst continually giving underhand gifts for prospective votes, only to fail to take into account the Eurovision song contest and realise that the rest of the World hates us.
The home of football had the infrastructure, the most economically agreeable bid and fans that would embrace the world’s biggest tournament with an infectiousness that would mean that nobody would be worried about coming to watch their players represent their country on the national stage.
Instead we go to Russia in 2018 where even black players in Russia’s major league say the fans are far to racist to even consider bringing such an international event to the country. Good luck Africa that year.
This choice almost seems normal when compared to 2022 though – Qatar. Fair enough, they are going to air-condition the stadiums with state-of-the-art technology providing the cool climate needed for football. But what about the fans outside? The ones enjoying a beer? Soaking up the atmosphere with their friends and family? Well, not if you’re a woman of course. Or a homosexual. Oh, and no alcohol either.
Do not fear though, combat this we shall. Let’s just laugh about the situation and play the tournament in winter so it is not so hot. Just in the middle of ever other nation’s winter break or busiest schedule. At least Qatar are a world renowned footballing side.
Logically it is mad. When you think about it seriously we have just handed over a “football tournament” to a country which is no good at “football”. It would be like the nation putting someone in the first round of X-factor – who is in everyway terrible, but is still “singing” – through to the final and then voting for them just because we could do! It would be like saying to the unpopular kid at school, “go organise a party and we will all come” and actually meaning it! Only this is the world’s biggest party and other people wanted to host it! It would be like saying “let’s open up the world’s largest sport to everybody” and then giving it to a nation that excludes blacks, gays and women!
But hey-ho, that’s the way the cookie crumbles. The only way the world cup is coming home in the next few years is if England win the thing, or steal it. Thank goodness though for our domestic football. The energy, style and vibrancy creates an atmosphere so intense that even the best players fall to a well organised Blackpool side.
If my club began with a “W” I would be slightly worried, but not too much. West Ham look like they may become only the second side ever to be bottom at Christmas and stay up – West Brom being the other. The league is just that tight. More outlandish results remain ahead leaving only one thing that is for certain, next season the Premiership will see the return of the mighty, dirty-dirty, Leeds United.
Thursday 30 December 2010
The Certainty of Football
This season’s squabble has been somewhat of a non-entity. Primarily this has been due to the fact that I have to sit and “admire” the sporting scene across the pond, however the secondary reasons were the real deciding facts.
As we all knew, Chelsea had won the Premier League in early October, demolishing teams with scorelines that the Australian cricket team would be content with. England had the World Cup coming home to them in 2018 with an immaculate bid that no one could compete against. And Roy Hodgson would be seeing silverware next season – if Liverpool could win the Championship that is.
Oh how I love the unpredictability of football. Manchester United now find themselves sitting pretty with an Arsenal team, who look finally able to make the jump up to title contenders, hot on their heels. Manchester City’s money has given them hope, especially since Chelsea have collapsed.
Chelsea’s 1-0 win against 5th place Bolton – unbelievable in itself – was of vital importance in keeping them within a Champions League place. A loss could have been devastating for an aging side with few new signings coming in. Whether this victory will revive them is yet to be seen, but if it does not, could a collapse equal and above the likes of Leeds United be on the cards? Ibrahimovic is not a real fan, do not expect him to hang around for Europa League glory.
The current top three are doing everything they can to help their London rivals however, with each team slipping up against supposedly weaker opposition. None seem willing to embrace the role of being top-dog setting a neutral fan up for one of the most topsy-turvy seasons since the Premiership began in 1991.
However, the unpredictability on the pitch has been equalled by events, nationally and internationally, off the pitch. Roy Hodgson’s Merseyside disaster continues. An Anfield loss of 1-0 to bottom club Wolves does nothing to help his cause.
Aston Villa without Martin O’Neill look like a fish out of water. Everton keep showing signs of improvement but remain lower down the table than expected. Whereas Fulham fans are starting to add up the reasons to panic.
Yet, with these teams being in demise, restoring the table to equilibrium, others are on the way up. Bolton and Sunderland are two of the main winners so far. However, no one could complain about Blackburn’s or Newcastle’s positions either. Except the owners that is.
Sacking Chris Houghton and Sam Allardyce is nothing short of madness, not to mention rude and disrespectful. The only saving grace is that both these men will have no problem getting further employment. It just goes to show how unrealistic owners have become.
Still though at least the owners can bribe their way into fans hearts with promises of investment, record signings and cup glory! Unlike the England World Cup bid team who lambasted every other nation for open bribery, whilst continually giving underhand gifts for prospective votes, only to fail to take into account the Eurovision song contest and realise that the rest of the World hates us.
The home of football had the infrastructure, the most economically agreeable bid and fans that would embrace the world’s biggest tournament with an infectiousness that would mean that nobody would be worried about coming to watch their players represent their country on the national stage.
Instead we go to Russia in 2018 where even black players in Russia’s major league say the fans are far to racist to even consider bringing such an international event to the country. Good luck Africa that year.
This choice almost seems normal when compared to 2022 though – Qatar. Fair enough, they are going to air-condition the stadiums with state-of-the-art technology providing the cool climate needed for football. But what about the fans outside? The ones enjoying a beer? Soaking up the atmosphere with their friends and family? Well, not if you’re a woman of course. Or a homosexual. Oh, and no alcohol either.
Do not fear though, combat this we shall. Let’s just laugh about the situation and play the tournament in winter so it is not so hot. Just in the middle of ever other nation’s winter break or busiest schedule. At least Qatar are a world renowned footballing side.
Logically it is mad. When you think about it seriously we have just handed over a “football tournament” to a country which is no good at “football”. It would be like the nation putting someone in the first round of X-factor – who is in everyway terrible, but is still “singing” – through to the final and then voting for them just because we could do! It would be like saying to the unpopular kid at school, “go organise a party and we will all come” and actually meaning it! Only this is the world’s biggest party and other people wanted to host it! It would be like saying “let’s open up the world’s largest sport to everybody” and then giving it to a nation that excludes blacks, gays and women!
But hey-ho, that’s the way the cookie crumbles. The only way the world cup is coming home in the next few years is if England win the thing, or steal it. Thank goodness though for our domestic football. The energy, style and vibrancy creates an atmosphere so intense that even the best players fall to a well organised Blackpool side.
If my club began with a “W” I would be slightly worried, but not too much. West Ham look like they may become only the second side ever to be bottom at Christmas and stay up – West Brom being the other. The league is just that tight. More outlandish results remain ahead leaving only one thing that is for certain, next season the Premiership will see the return of the mighty, dirty-dirty, Leeds United.
As we all knew, Chelsea had won the Premier League in early October, demolishing teams with scorelines that the Australian cricket team would be content with. England had the World Cup coming home to them in 2018 with an immaculate bid that no one could compete against. And Roy Hodgson would be seeing silverware next season – if Liverpool could win the Championship that is.
Oh how I love the unpredictability of football. Manchester United now find themselves sitting pretty with an Arsenal team, who look finally able to make the jump up to title contenders, hot on their heels. Manchester City’s money has given them hope, especially since Chelsea have collapsed.
Chelsea’s 1-0 win against 5th place Bolton – unbelievable in itself – was of vital importance in keeping them within a Champions League place. A loss could have been devastating for an aging side with few new signings coming in. Whether this victory will revive them is yet to be seen, but if it does not, could a collapse equal and above the likes of Leeds United be on the cards? Ibrahimovic is not a real fan, do not expect him to hang around for Europa League glory.
The current top three are doing everything they can to help their London rivals however, with each team slipping up against supposedly weaker opposition. None seem willing to embrace the role of being top-dog setting a neutral fan up for one of the most topsy-turvy seasons since the Premiership began in 1991.
However, the unpredictability on the pitch has been equalled by events, nationally and internationally, off the pitch. Roy Hodgson’s Merseyside disaster continues. An Anfield loss of 1-0 to bottom club Wolves does nothing to help his cause.
Aston Villa without Martin O’Neill look like a fish out of water. Everton keep showing signs of improvement but remain lower down the table than expected. Whereas Fulham fans are starting to add up the reasons to panic.
Yet, with these teams being in demise, restoring the table to equilibrium, others are on the way up. Bolton and Sunderland are two of the main winners so far. However, no one could complain about Blackburn’s or Newcastle’s positions either. Except the owners that is.
Sacking Chris Houghton and Sam Allardyce is nothing short of madness, not to mention rude and disrespectful. The only saving grace is that both these men will have no problem getting further employment. It just goes to show how unrealistic owners have become.
Still though at least the owners can bribe their way into fans hearts with promises of investment, record signings and cup glory! Unlike the England World Cup bid team who lambasted every other nation for open bribery, whilst continually giving underhand gifts for prospective votes, only to fail to take into account the Eurovision song contest and realise that the rest of the World hates us.
The home of football had the infrastructure, the most economically agreeable bid and fans that would embrace the world’s biggest tournament with an infectiousness that would mean that nobody would be worried about coming to watch their players represent their country on the national stage.
Instead we go to Russia in 2018 where even black players in Russia’s major league say the fans are far to racist to even consider bringing such an international event to the country. Good luck Africa that year.
This choice almost seems normal when compared to 2022 though – Qatar. Fair enough, they are going to air-condition the stadiums with state-of-the-art technology providing the cool climate needed for football. But what about the fans outside? The ones enjoying a beer? Soaking up the atmosphere with their friends and family? Well, not if you’re a woman of course. Or a homosexual. Oh, and no alcohol either.
Do not fear though, combat this we shall. Let’s just laugh about the situation and play the tournament in winter so it is not so hot. Just in the middle of ever other nation’s winter break or busiest schedule. At least Qatar are a world renowned footballing side.
Logically it is mad. When you think about it seriously we have just handed over a “football tournament” to a country which is no good at “football”. It would be like the nation putting someone in the first round of X-factor – who is in everyway terrible, but is still “singing” – through to the final and then voting for them just because we could do! It would be like saying to the unpopular kid at school, “go organise a party and we will all come” and actually meaning it! Only this is the world’s biggest party and other people wanted to host it! It would be like saying “let’s open up the world’s largest sport to everybody” and then giving it to a nation that excludes blacks, gays and women!
But hey-ho, that’s the way the cookie crumbles. The only way the world cup is coming home in the next few years is if England win the thing, or steal it. Thank goodness though for our domestic football. The energy, style and vibrancy creates an atmosphere so intense that even the best players fall to a well organised Blackpool side.
If my club began with a “W” I would be slightly worried, but not too much. West Ham look like they may become only the second side ever to be bottom at Christmas and stay up – West Brom being the other. The league is just that tight. More outlandish results remain ahead leaving only one thing that is for certain, next season the Premiership will see the return of the mighty, dirty-dirty, Leeds United.
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