Little more than two months into the new season and I’m going to declare this season already the best ever. Bold maybe...but look at the facts.
Overnight we’ve seen a team who were in the third tier in Russia just a decade ago head to the Camp Nou and beat the reigning, at-full-strength European Champions....the team, if you listen to some people, that every team should play like, all the time. Well not last night eh? Thankyou Rubin Kazan for giving hope to all $46 outsiders in the football world everywhere.
In the EPL I watched with glee last Saturday as my boys Villa reduced John Terry to the role of petulant, spoilt brat stamping his feet on the goal line as the second goal went in – actually reduced probably isn’t the right word as that suggests he was ever anything more than a spoilt brat.
Staying with the EPL, is anyone else loving seeing the wheels come off at Anfield in such spectacular fashion proving what anyone who doesn’t view the world through redscouse glasses knew all along - without Torres and Stevie Gee they really are pretty ordinary. Rafa once more showing his dubious prowess in the transfer market with a late swoop for Aquilani who, if he stays true to form, will go on to play around 45 games in three seasons for Liverpool before being sold back to Italy at a massive loss. This fella couldn’t fill Xavi Alonso’s pool let alone his shoes in Liverpool’s midfield.
In Manchester we’ve seen Fergie step things up a notch in the Pantomime Villain stakes with rival managers and officials alike in what is the surest sign yet he’s about to step back from the hot seat but is determined to do it with a bang. His sideline antics with the fourth official under Mark Hughes’ nose at the Manchester Derby was the best bit of theatre I’ve seen since Olivier was treading the boards.
Noise seems to be finally making a comeback in the Best League In The WorldTM with honourable mentions to Stoke City, Burnley and Sunderland for leading the charge off the pitch.
Closer to home we’ve seen our U20s lauded for not winning a game and our Socceroos lambasted for not losing one. Public opinion continues to yo-yo on whether we should be looking forward to the World Cup or running for the hills and can anyone seriously believe we are still talking about Mark Viduka and football in the same sentence anymore....let it go people.
The A-League is shaping up to be the most exciting season yet although you’d never guess it when the league leaders can’t pull more than 5,000 at home. The first managerial casualty of the season for being over the limit on the way TO training is ironic given the undoubted improvement in playing standards recently...makes you wonder how Paul Nevin ever made it out of the house to get to training in season two.
And if that wasn’t all it’s World Cup year with the greatest show on earth still to come at the end of all this. Can anyone seriously believe England is $6.50 to win the tournament when first choice centre forward Emile Heskey is currently being outscored in the EPL by a beach ball?
Was there ever a better time to be a football fan?
Overnight we’ve seen a team who were in the third tier in Russia just a decade ago head to the Camp Nou and beat the reigning, at-full-strength European Champions....the team, if you listen to some people, that every team should play like, all the time. Well not last night eh? Thankyou Rubin Kazan for giving hope to all $46 outsiders in the football world everywhere.
In the EPL I watched with glee last Saturday as my boys Villa reduced John Terry to the role of petulant, spoilt brat stamping his feet on the goal line as the second goal went in – actually reduced probably isn’t the right word as that suggests he was ever anything more than a spoilt brat.
Staying with the EPL, is anyone else loving seeing the wheels come off at Anfield in such spectacular fashion proving what anyone who doesn’t view the world through redscouse glasses knew all along - without Torres and Stevie Gee they really are pretty ordinary. Rafa once more showing his dubious prowess in the transfer market with a late swoop for Aquilani who, if he stays true to form, will go on to play around 45 games in three seasons for Liverpool before being sold back to Italy at a massive loss. This fella couldn’t fill Xavi Alonso’s pool let alone his shoes in Liverpool’s midfield.
In Manchester we’ve seen Fergie step things up a notch in the Pantomime Villain stakes with rival managers and officials alike in what is the surest sign yet he’s about to step back from the hot seat but is determined to do it with a bang. His sideline antics with the fourth official under Mark Hughes’ nose at the Manchester Derby was the best bit of theatre I’ve seen since Olivier was treading the boards.
Noise seems to be finally making a comeback in the Best League In The WorldTM with honourable mentions to Stoke City, Burnley and Sunderland for leading the charge off the pitch.
Closer to home we’ve seen our U20s lauded for not winning a game and our Socceroos lambasted for not losing one. Public opinion continues to yo-yo on whether we should be looking forward to the World Cup or running for the hills and can anyone seriously believe we are still talking about Mark Viduka and football in the same sentence anymore....let it go people.
The A-League is shaping up to be the most exciting season yet although you’d never guess it when the league leaders can’t pull more than 5,000 at home. The first managerial casualty of the season for being over the limit on the way TO training is ironic given the undoubted improvement in playing standards recently...makes you wonder how Paul Nevin ever made it out of the house to get to training in season two.
And if that wasn’t all it’s World Cup year with the greatest show on earth still to come at the end of all this. Can anyone seriously believe England is $6.50 to win the tournament when first choice centre forward Emile Heskey is currently being outscored in the EPL by a beach ball?
Was there ever a better time to be a football fan?
