SOMETHING is not right - I can feel it.
I've been keeping an eye on the events down at Hindmarsh for a while now and I have an uneasy sense. It's as though the calendar in Viddie's office is permanently set to Friday 13th. Not that I'm superstitious at all.
Apparently Manchester City and Irish goalkeeper Shay Given always takes a vial of holy water on to the pitch with him and places it at the back of his goal before every game. If I was an opposing striker, it would give me something to aim at. Anyway, I digress.
My suspicions were first raised when two of the Reds' players, Lloyd Owusu and Robbie Cornthwaite, both came down with the swine flu. One might not think this is all that unusual but at the time it was still quite novel to hear of someone local actually catching it. It was certainly long before it became trendy.
Things went quiet for a while (the black cats were herded away from Hindmarsh) until the Cassio incident. Rumour has it he innocuously walked under a ladder. Whatever the cause, he deemed himself 'mentally unfit' to play for the Reds a few weeks back. Strange, very strange.
Next it was the bovine saga. Taking up residence in place of the cats was a herd of cows, or calves to be exact. Four players were grounded with calf injuries at the same time - Dodd, Cassio, Barbiero and Sarkies. Surely this must have a hidden, sinister meaning. Either that or the fitness staff need to be sacked.
That brings us to this week and the claims that Robbie Cornthwaite was allegedly embroiled in a late night tango with a night club bouncer. It was a case of wrong place, wrong time. His penalty sanctions are pretty severe, including having to spend three hours per week performing community service at a men's shelter. Perhaps he could run dance classes?
The final piece of this unlucky puzzle is the news that Eugene Galekovic may not play this weekend against Phoenix due to personal reasons. (He's cleared to play now, official - KA)
Taken in isolation, each of these incidents could easily be dismissed but consider them as a collective and it raises a more concerning possibility - that at the moment the football gods are not smiling on the Reds. Perhaps someone has upset them?
Are these thoughts merely the rantings of someone who is filled, at present, with ridiculously high levels of paranoia? All things considered - well, yes. But after three dodgy performances in a row I need some straws to clutch at. I'll go and have a lay down now.
Anyway, fingers crossed for the trip to Wellington this weekend. Touch wood, we might just get up.
