England Expects (46 years and counting)

England Expects

So here we are... again.

Another summer of build-up, build-up and more build-up, with vastly over-the-top expectations thrown in, and for what? For the inevitable disappointment that has become synonymous with the England Football team. We all know the story so well, we've experienced it so many times and we've come to learn that expecting more from our 'great footballing nation' is just needless fretting and finger-nail biting that helps no-one. I used to find fishing the England flag out from behind several large and cobweb-clad boxes in the loft and hanging it from window frame to window frame a momentous occasion, as though I was helping the cause. But when the obvious happened and we crashed out of whatever tournament we were participating in, the flag would be left, drooping slightly in the middle, symbolic of England's woeful performance. Why would I leave it hanging in the window I hear you ask? Well, curtains are expensive nowadays (I'm guessing here, I have no idea if there has been a sharp incline in curtain retail prices), so why pay when an England flag does a slap-dash job of blocking the sun from my eyes in the morning? It's simple thinking, but it's effective thinking. 

Before you start thinking that this entry is all stating the obvious about English national football, I am merely leading on to better things. In Burton on Trent, things are happening. There is a new excitement in the air for all those who don the English war-paint at every international tournament. As you read it's name, try to imagine an angelic chorus and a cacophony of noise, as the sun peaks over the distant hills to reveal a new dawn, a new day, a new excitement. Here it is.

St. George's Park

Firstly, notice the amazing graphics on the car at 1:31. Whilst the movement of the people could be improved vastly (For one, why do the sportsmen who run onto the indoor pitch at 2:52 just run to the other side of the hall?), the video itself instilled a belief in English football within me, something that has been hard to come by with the likes of Capello, Eriksson and McLaren in the fray. I don't really need to say anything more about the video, only that in my view, English football will significantly improve. 
But for this summer at least, we will have to be patient, and hold back our anger and tears, with the promise that things are changing.


From way up here in Row Z, thanks for reading.

Mancs Monday

Mancs Monday

In local news... Well, reasonably local, I know a guy from Manchester. Next Monday, usually the symbol of gloom for us working types who forget that it's just a day like any other, will provide excitement and exhilaration as much as a new single from Rihanna or whoever is poisoning the music charts at the moment. Its the Manchester derby, and not just any derby. Its the derby to rule them all, the chosen derby, the one derby. They can take our lives, but they can never take our derby! Okay, that one went too far in terms of movie quotes, but I think it served to elevate the magnitude of Monday's game. Manchester City face Manchester United, who are three points ahead at the top of the league, at City's Etihad stadium. With just three games to go for both sides, the victor of this gargantuan clash will be in the driving seat for the remainder of the season. But you know all this...

There is vast indecision amongst my University mates about which way this tie will go. The Manchester based guy that I mentioned earlier is a strong Christian, and so believes that the Red Devils of United will succumb to defeat against the angelic Blues of Manchester City. That isn't true, he is just a City fan. Another believes that United's will have a ferocious blood lust after City's 6-2 hammering at Old Trafford earlier this season, and that the score could be somewhere in that region. That may be slightly sensationalist, but I am in a pragmatic mood. I can also see the future, and my crystal ball says that the score will be 3-2 to United. Prove that I'm wrong. Well, we'll see who can't tell the future on Monday.
Although I just had an argument with an imaginary reader, I want to think about this game logically. Manchester United's strength is that they have been there, done that and have a wardrobe full of the t-shirts. I'm sure Alex Ferguson has sold you one at one of his legendary boot sales. But whilst they have the undeniable experience, their squad is still a problem. I'm not going to talk about the same old central midfield position because I think Paul Scholes has rolled back the years recently. I'm not going to mention the goalkeeper, because despite early season critics, David De Gea has become the brick wall every team needs between the sticks. However, his defence may as well be the dynamite which brings down that barracade. In short, Rafael is promising but has more lapses in concentration than a twelve year old in maths class, Ferdinand would be more mobile with a zimmer-frame, and Evra is often in the opposition's penalty box when danger occurs. All three were displayed against Everton at the weekend, hence why 4 goals were conceded. Against City, I can see a struggle for the defence.
City, on the other hand, have too many ticking time-bombs in their squad. Whilst this is more of a long-term issue as Balotelli won't play for the rest of the season, and the Tevez saga has come to a conclusion, the squad never seems to be completely at ease or at peace with each other. But they do have six key players, who, if selected for the match, will be too much for United: Joe Hart, Yaya Toure, Vincent Kompany, Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero and David Silva. It's the rest of the team that could let them down. I've never been impressed with Pablo Zabaleta, Nigel De Jong is essentially Mike Tyson with football boots on, and Gareth Barry represents the best of British, which is, in all honesty, rather unfortunate for us here in Albion.

Now I know what the score will be because I'm psychic and all that (I would display an squiggly-mouthed face, but I can't bring myself to insert an emoticon). 3-2 United and the title will stay with the red half of Manchester.

Sorry for such a long post. I will try and condense them down in future.

From way up here in Row Z, thanks for reading.

Greetings (As we mean to carry on)

As above, greetings. If you hadn't guessed from the title of the blog, it is entirely, exclusively, 100% (all of which mean the same thing) football. I'm a football lover, I have been since I can remember and I'm guessing I was before that because as a student, my memory, which has been frittered away by alcohol, has a space of exactly a week before vital things like people's names and even my home address (Yes, it has happened) are forgotten forever. So, to sum up, football is essentially all I know.

Before I delve into the frantic mish mash that is the footballing world, I'd like to say a belated Hello, and just tell you, the reader who is looking very good today (I'm a people person, can you tell?) what to expect from these blogs.

I am entirely, exclusively, 100% (Yes, I went there again) impartial. The only team that I support is Ipswich Town, and there is never anything to talk about at Portman Road, so they will not appear in these blogs unless something unthinkable like a promotion occurs in East Anglia. Although Colchester United or Southend are the more likely candidates. 

I will try and cover as much as I can from around the world. Without wanting to toot my own trumpet, I feel I am pretty knowledgeable about football's current affairs. A friend of mine actually once challenged me to a contest in which he named an obscure country, and I recited a club from that nation. It was going well until he got out the globe and the Panamas, the Philippines and the Pakistans started coming out, although I still maintain there is probably a Panama FC out there.

Without sounding too optimistic, I should get a new post out every week. Although I have promised this in the past, and reverted to once every 2-3 months after about 2 weeks. 

And finally, my apologies if I ever submit a drunk post thinking that the blog is Facebook. I can't promise anything in that regard.

Thats all for now. I hope these blogs provide an intellectual stimulation for your preying minds.