Pointless England friendlies

Ok i have to admit it, I’m missing my footy already. The play offs last weekend, and 2 weeks since the FA cup final and an eternity since Stoke got promoted, and even longer since Brid got relegated. All we have to look forward to over the coming months is Euro 2008, bah and no British involvement – so its not worth bothering with.

Oh hang on a minute, those lovely chaps at the FA (organisation not a euphemism) decided to oragnise a couple of friendlies for us to salivate over during the early part of the close season. I couldn’t wait to watch them, damn I missed the first one against that giant footballing nation that is the USA. A 2-0 win with goals from Mssrs Terry and Gerrard. Tomorrow sees up against another footballing giant, Trinidad & Tobago – and Dwight Yorke’s not even playing.

Whats the point ? Is it so the new manager can gel with his players ? Or is it for the FA to bag some cash?

Heres the thing I really don’t get, our star players have had one of the most successful domestic seasons ever, some have played 50+ games this season, some with very little time for rest with 2 games a week. These guys will be expected to play another 50+ games next season AND help England kick off their World Cup campaign – but how when every one is knackered. Give the lads a break. Perhaps re-introduce a B team, made up with Championship players, and give them a flavour of footy at that level.

F.A. cup final day

This used to be thee most exciting day in the footballing calendar. Somehow in todays 24/7 exposure of the game, it doesn’t have the same spine tingling feeling that it used to generate when I was a kid.

There was always a massive decision to be made back in them days….do I watch it on ITV or on BBC ?

Who had the best build up ?

Coverage seemed to start at 9am, reviews of the previous rounds not necessarily with any coverage (not like today where every goal from every round is shown). Outside Wembley chatting with the fans, even encouraging ticketless fans to go along as “someone would get given 2 free tickets,” in the coaches with the teams on the way to the ground, chatting with the players on the pitch (in what seemed like glorious sunshine year after year). A bit of Saint & Greavsie. John Motson with every stat you could ever dream of. A never ending stream of pundits, who like todays pundits talked utter shite (except Andy Gray).

Then who provided the best commentary ? Gubba / Davies / Motson for the BBC or the late great Brian Moore for ITV.

Then there was the game itself, the atmosphere, 100,000 people packed in and all singing, waving flags, happy and normally well behaved. And more often than not, a good game.

And then me and all my mates would talk about the game for a few days, knowing that we would have to wait at least 3 1/2 months for the new season to start (unless of course Liverpool had reached a European cup final the following week).

Today reminds of the 1980 game between Fulham and West Ham, a team from the top flight and one from the next tier down – a chance for the non-glamorous clubs fans to have a great day out. Rather than the usual Liverpool / Chelsea / Man U / Arsenal blah blah.

Good luck to todays gladiators of Portsmouth and err to Cardiff as well.

Ahh a bright light at the end of a dim season…

And thats down to the one, the mighty STOKE CITY FC who this afternoon won their rightful place back in amongst the countries elite.

Ladies and gentleman, for the 2008-2009 season at the very least, we will be playing in the Premiership.

It wasn’t a great spectacle today, but the result also had an affect on our visitors, Leicester, who got relegated into the third tier of football for the first time in their history. Same fate we suffered in the last 15-20 years.

To each and everyone of you, and the many others – THANK YOU !!!