I am eager, I swear.

Apparently the League of Ireland doesn't start till March. Bleedin ages away. Although pre-season starts in early February. Eh, I can't wait?

Irish League...I'm Eager

Once upon a time, I was a Bohs fan. Another once upon a time I became a St. Pat's fan, between the years of 1999 and 2007 I have been completely oblivious to everything involving Irish and football in the same sentence. But now, I will be renewing my interest, perhaps frequent a ground or two. I think I'll stick with St.Pat's, because I still have two of their jerseys that fit me, it was a toss up between them and an old Bohs scarf from under the stairs. There was only going to be one winner, but I might still wear the Bohs scarf to confuse people, and myself probably.

I have no idea when the league starts, so I suppose that's a good place to start.

I can see clearly now....

Well, that's that then eh? Liverpool are shite. They're 12 points behind Arsenal now.

But look on the bright side Liverpool fans, next year they'll definitely be challenging for the league title won't they? Won't they?

Eh, probably not.

On being a Liverpool fan.

Having witnessed Man United surrender the lead in the race for the league title at West Ham last week it left me feeling quite frustrated. Having built up such momentum over the last couple of months and then to lose in the way that we did (missing a penalty at 1-0), really leaves a sick feeling in the stomach. I do however, thank the footballing Gods that I do not support Liverpool. Every year it's "we can definitely challenge for the title this time", then the next year after another 3rd or 4th place finish, it's "ah, this year now, definitely". Maybe Liverpool fans should resign themselves to the fact that they may never win the league again.

They're playing Wigan at home as a type this, 0-0 after 36 minutes. If they can't win that game, I really don't see what hope they have of winning a league title.

Thank God I'm a United fan!

English Managers Whinging again.

After reading this interview with Alan Curbishley, it really had me annoyed. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm sick of English managers moaning about an English manager not being given a chance with the national team. Did the F.A. not just do that? Steve McClaren is English the last time I checked, and he made a laughing stock out of the national team. What about, Graham Taylor, Glenn Hoddle, Terry Venables? They didn't exactly perform miracles when they had there stints in charge. In fact, the only decent manager that England have had recently is, wait for it, of course, a foreigner.

• Sven qualified for 3 major tournaments as top of each qualification group and in those tournaments he got to the quarter finals each time. They were quite unlucky in all of them too, only going out to Brazil in 2002 via a freak/genius goal (you decide) from Ronaldinho, and in 2004 and 2006 they were knocked out on penalties by Portugal.

• Sven achieved the highest point percentage in Major Tournament Matches of all time for an England manager

• He managed to reach the quarter final in three consecutive tournaments, no other European country achieved this during this period
  

• He improved England's FIFA World ranking from 17th place (Jan 2001) to 5th place (July 2006).

And all that from a foreign manager? Why on earth, with precedents like that, are people moaning about a foreign appointment? Alan Curbishley is worried that there will never be another English manager, maybe that's because he's worried that Capello is actually going to win a trophy as English manager and make the public realise that the English managers of the national team in recent times have been below standard. Why should the F.A. give a job that requires a world class manager to a manager with only domestic credentials? Redknapp, Curbishley, Allardyce, has anybody from Spain or Italy or Brazil heard of these people?

Curbs will argue that the reason they can't appoint an Englishman is because there's no Englishman managing a really top team in England? Well, that's not the F.A's fault Alan. I think he needs to realise that there's a reason the top teams don't appoint English managers, and it's the same reason that the F.A. has decided to do likewise.

Grand Slam Sunday

So, the top two teams in the Premiership have opened up a slight gap in the table. Wins for Man United and Arsenal yesterday result in a reality check for Liverpool and Chelsea, that it will probably be a two-horse race for the title this season. Fergie always says that the Christmas period is so crucial for a team with title-winning aspirations.


So, here's the fixtures for the top 4 teams (well, I include Liverpool here, even though Man City actually make up the final team in the top 4 at the moment, amazingly, they are the only team in Scotland or England to have maintained a 100% home record this far in to the season. I'm still waiting for the day that the implode and start free-falling down the table. Manchester City in the Champion's league is surely inconceiveable).

Arsenal

Saturday 22nd December, Tottenham (H)

Wednesday 26th December, Portsmouth (A)

Saturday 29th December, Everton (A)

Tuesday 1st January, West Ham (H)

Chelsea

Sunday 23rd December, Blackburn (A)

Wednesday 26th December, Aston Villa (H)

Saturday 29th December, Newcastle (H)

Tuesday 1st January, Fulham (A)

Manchester United

Sunday 23rd December, Everton (H)

Wednesday 26th December, Sunderland (A)

Saturday 29th December, West Ham (A)

Tuesday 1st January, Birmingham (H)

Liverpool

Saturday 22nd December, Portsmouth (H)

Wednesday 26th December, Derby (A)

Sunday 30th December, Man City (A)

Wednesday 2nd January, Wigan (H)

The only fixture amongst all of them is Arsenal v Tottenham, and to lesser extent, Sunderland v Man United, but that's for Roy Keane -related reasons, not footballing ones. I can't wait for the Christmas football, 'tis a glorious time of the year.

Sky spinning headlines

Right, so scratch Rangers from the list below and replace them with Lyon. Still really wouldn't fancy being a second seed!!

Was reading an article this morning on Harry Redknapp's opinion of the new England boss Fabio Capello. It was very interesting reading with Redknapp saying that England don't need a top coach, amongst other things. But the headline read "Pompey boss unhappy with foreign appointment", and in the same interview, there's a quote from Harry which reads "I'm not unhappy with this appointment". Go figure!