PUT your hand up if you're sick of the English Premier League.

Good, I'm not the only one. It just seems to be so incredibly ME to go off the Premier League as it's at its most ‘exciting' point.

I know as well as you know that Man United are going to win. It probably won't even be that exciting. There will be no last minute drama, it won't go down to the final round and the actual games will probably be rather predictable.

Maybe I should stop there.

To be perfectly honest with you, I find the Championship a heck of a lot more interesting. Charlton are going down for all money, but there are 7 or 8 other teams who could still realistically go with them.

On the other end of the table, Wolves have already guaranteed their spot in the top flight for next season. Birmingham, Sheffield U and Cardiff are all still within a good chance of getting the second automatic spot and there are then six teams vying for just four spots in the playoffs.

As a neutral observer, It warmed my heart to see Wolves and their fans celebrating their promotion and probable Championship title. Certainly more so than it will when I see Man U (or any other big EPL club for that matter) win yet another title.

Is there something wrong with me? Perhaps this is why I have formed such an attachment to supposed underdog and/or second rate teams and leagues...

Firstly, the Mariners. I will admit that I was a neutral observer of the A-League in its inaugural season. I watched the grand final thinking Sydney was going to win it and I was right. I remember my mother, a Mariners fan from the start, saying to me "It's easy to support the favourites". So, in season 2, we began to make the trip up the F3 for CCM matches. I became a Mariners supporter and I haven't looked back.

Sure, they might not play beautiful attacking football and they have had a bad run of form recently. But that's why I love them. Because they grind out results where other teams couldn't and they let off this welcoming and laid-back atmosphere, not a ‘look at our marquee striker in shampoo commercials' one.

Then, there's the Hammers. I could've supported Arsenal, like everyone else in my family but no. I had to support West Ham. And now I find it impossible to drag myself away from it. Having been to both Upton Park and the Emirates Stadium, it's safe to say I preferred the more working class atmosphere at Upton Park (although I must say, at Emirates I sat in a cushioned seat. A cushioned seat, I tell you! And I didn't exactly fork out for tickets). I was at the first game of which Gianfranco Zola was in charge (against Newcastle last September), so in some ways, it feels like I'm part of a new era of West Ham.

So now, I get a little pang of disappointment when I read that West Ham have lost. I found myself sending silent pleas to Gianfranco Zola saying "SELL CRAIG BELLAMY". And I plan to forever blow bubbles with them.

Last, but not last, is my love of the National Youth League. There were times last season where it seemed that the NYL was more appealing than the A-League. Yes, I know I'm insane for saying that.

If I hadn't been assigned to the NYL blog for last season, chances are, I wouldn't have cared much for it but after several rounds of watching it, I found myself following it with genuine interest. The NYL and I share an unrequited love (I can see all my friends sighing and tutting at this point).

I watch it, follow it passionately and give it (free) publicity but then, it ignores me and serves up another heavy loss to my team. I guess that, in the football village, I am the village idiot.

Do I enjoy watching supposed ‘second rate' football? Yes, I do. Would I prefer to watch and support bigger clubs? No way.

If you'll excuse me now, I'm off to watch some NSW Super League and later, I might tune into the Australian Premier Leagues' highlights show. Man, I can't wait until the National Youth League starts again!