Spring is here…

It’s that time of year where the flowers are blooming, the weather is getting warmer and everyone’s mood is filled with optimism. It’s also that time of year where the men are separated from the boys on planet football. That’s right folks. Spring is here. Do you know what else that means? It’s time for Arsenal to fall apart.

Over the last few years, spring has become more predictable than an episode of a daytime soap opera. Either Chelsea or Manchester United are leading at the top of the Premier League and winning the F.A. Cup, and Barcelona are dominating in Europe, destroying anything within 10 yards. It’s also the time of year where Arsenal dissolve as quickly and as easily as an Alka Seltzer.

At bloom’s first sight, the Gunners usually get knocked out of every trophy they are contending for. There’s talk of a quadruple from Christmas to about mid-March and then bam. Spring hits and it’s like Arsenal develop allergies against winning. Could this be the year where the script is written differently?

If Arsenal don’t win a trophy again this season, it’s almost a certainty Fabregas will leave. And after seeing Jack Wilshere play and bloom beautifully himself this season, the Gunners should finally cut the Fabregas umbilical chord. Time to let the Spaniard go. Let’s face it. During Arsenal’s Champions League battle with Barcelona, Fabregas looked like he was already gagging to play for the Catalan giants. In such a big game for the Gunners, Fabregas was doing too much hugging and kissing of the opponent if you ask me. It’s good to be friendly, but not that friendly before kick-off.

Can any Arsenal fan endure another spring full of tears? Or will this finally be the season of change. Hope springs eternal for many Gooners around the globe…

Newcastle are gone baby gone…

newcastle-shearer_1392814cNewcastle United have been relegated. After almost 20 years in the top flight of British football, the once impressive and glamorous Toon Army are toast. Their fall from grace was heard across the football universe today and Chairman Mike Ashley, his executive team and even the players can point the finger at themselves for this disaster. 

Were any of them aware that it’s a privilege and not a right to play in the Premier League? Their arrogance was intolerable to observe. They made some bad decisions. They screwed it up. They are to blame and now it’s the fans that will pay the price. Instead of relishing an encounter with Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea next season, they can look forward to playing teams like Preston North End, Doncaster Rovers and Plymouth Argyle. And to make it even more painful, Newcastle’s bitter rivals Sunderland survived being relegated which means they get to play Premier League football again next term. That’s rotten.

I’ve never felt the pain of my team being relegated and I can’t imagine there is anything worse to experience as a fan of football. To lose the elite status of being a Premier League team is not only gut-wrenching, but it also costs your team millions and can set them back for years to come. There is no guarantee of an immediate return. Just ask Leeds United, Charlton and Southampton fans. It’s got to hurt worse than a punch from Mike Tyson circa 1986. It’s got to hurt worse than a root canal. It’s got to be the worse pain in the world. 

The sad thing for Newcastle fans is not even their hero Alan Shearer could save them from the drop. He probably feels the same pain as they do today. Perhaps it’s a little easier for Shearer though. A nice family holiday in the Bahamas or Bermuda will help ease the pain of relegation. But what will the hard-up Newcastle supporters do to erase the memory of the 2008-09 season? My guess is they’ll dust themselves off, buy a new shirt and start talking about how they are going to return to the Premier League. Football is in their blood. Football is their life. Football is Newcastle United. But who will lead them? Shearer? Or will King Kev return? Let’s hope for the fans sake, the club makes the right decision…

How many fingers am I holding up…?

picimg_premier_league_arshavin_11c2What a night at Anfield! Liverpool 4 – 4 Arsenal. It was breathtaking to watch. We saw beautiful football and ugly mistakes too. The star of the show was undoubtedly Andrei Arshavin. The wee Russian is going to be a superstar at Arsenal. If all goes well for him at the club, he could become a legend.

Scoring 4 goals against Liverpool is ridiculous. And they weren’t just average goals. Shifting left, moving right, Arshavin was like a Ninja as he darted through the Liverpool midfield and defense all night long. He had them all quaking in their personally designed football boots! 

If you are an opponent, you need antibiotics to help you get over the sick talent he displays over 90 minutes. He leaves competitors with aches and pains as he runs them ragged during a game. They sweat and call for their mummy’s when they are in pain late at night. Arsene Wenger on the other hand can sleep like an angel knowing he spent well in the January transfer window. If only you had played him in the F.A. Cup Semi-Final against Chelski…

Beer or wine on Champions League nights…?

ab10828vintage-wine-i-postersWhen it comes to those fancy European nights filled with sexy Champions League football, do you guys stick with the ice cold brew or do you shift to wine? Is it even possible to make football and wine work together? Do wine and football only speak to chicks and metrosexuals? Wine wouldn’t really go with a dirty burger right? Absolutely wrong. If we’re able to drink wine with a rancid plane meal, then surely a glass or two of red or white could wash down a dirty burger or meat pie?

Perhaps it’s the evening kick-off schedule that makes us feel like consuming less carbs? Or is it the spirit of the competition taking place in cultural Europe that drives us to the Off License or Liquor Mart before the game starts? Does it make more sense to be drinking a Merlot or Cabernet if you are watching Bordeaux vs Marseille or Barcelona vs Sevilla?

It’s Champions League night. It’s time to order a drink. What’s your tipple?

How do you prepare for the new football season…

arsenal_tv_img-718798The anticipation of a new football season is intense. You’re just about over the previous season as the new one gets started. Emotions of lost games, sweet victories and heartbreaking decisions are still fresh in the mind. There comes a time however where you need to dust yourself off and move on and there’s nothing quite like the purchase of a new home or away shirt to get you into gear for the new season. I mean go ahead and wear last seasons look if your team won something. If not, burn it. I mean why look back? Why wear a jinxed shirt? Why start the season off on the wrong foot? Why put your own team’s destiny in jeopardy? Why wear a losing season kit?

Another great way to prepare for the new season is to keep yourself informed of the summer transfer market. You need to know who’s moving where, especially when it comes to your own team. News of transfers break so fast on the Internet these days. The cool thing about new media is how you are able to communicate with fellow supporters, columnists, bloggers and mankind in general. Years ago we suffered in silence and couldn’t be heard. Getting through to your favourite radio station to complain about the referee or those missed chances was tough going. Now, you can feel part of the whole experience by blogging and posting comments on any given subject. Like me, it could be that nobody on earth hears you. However, there is a comfort in knowing your thoughts are in ink for the InterUniverse to read.

Anyway, I need to run as I’ve got much to do to prepare for the new season. I need to catch-up with the transfer gossip on eyefootball.com, bbc.co.uk, and newsnow.co.uk. I have to read Four Four Two for the inside scoop on which teams and players to watch for next season. I’ve got to look at the schedule to ensure I have no plans or conflicts when the biggest teams in Europe are playing. I need to call Fox Soccer Channel and Setanta Sports to ensure my subscription is all up-to-date. I need to be prepared for all the international World Cup qualifiers coming up. And I will listen to World Soccer Daily on Sirius whenever I can.

How do you prepare for the new season? Do you have any rituals? Any anecdotes from old seasons past? Are you new to this? Help me, help you…

What to do on a Saturday morning…

tivo_logo_lg_rgbThere’s nothing quite like preparing for a Premiership football game on Saturday. The only difference now is that I don’t go to the games, I watch them all on TV. Even though I have TIVO, I still get up to watch the 4.30am games live. You feel more involved when you watch it live. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe I ever got out of bed at that hour for Bolton vs Reading! That’s the kind of fixture where TIVO comes in very handy. Which teams would drag you out of bed at 4.30am? Who is deserving of your attention at that ridiculous hour? How much of a soccer tart are you?

For me it would be Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool. There are other teams flirting on the threshold of the early bird rise, but I’ll need to see them play in this coming season to think differently. For now though, I would place these teams in a second category for the games that start around 7am. Tottenham, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Everton and Manchester City would entice me with one eye open. Portsmouth have snuck in there too, since Harry Redknapp has made them an attractive team to watch. The rest of the league fall into the 9am time slot.

The one thing all these teams have in common is that no matter what time they are playing, I will TIVO every game. I’m just choosy about who gets me as a punter when they are playing live at an early hour. Does this still make me a soccer tart? I hope so…