One thing is for sure, it’s a sentiment felt by millions of people all around the world, the gravity of which has been no stronger than recently, the dreaded off season.
This period varies from country to country, but basically it lasts about three months, and this is simply three months too many. While it provides players with a more than necessary rest, it results in certain side effects for fans.
These include: an unhealthy increase of time spent trawling the internet in the hope of discovering some football related revelation, an obsessive level of speculation as to how their team will be different in the coming season, even if the truth is hardly at all (Arsenal fans), and last but not least, reading, watching, pondering or doing something else.
Thankfully, this year, and this time next year, we only have to endure two months of this.
This year, we owe the extra month of top quality football to the concluded Confederations Cup, and next year it will be the big one, the World Cup in Brazil.
It has been called “top quality” football, because watching pre-season games really falls under the category of these aforementioned side effects. As we long for our football fix however, we realise that, taking in the broader picture, what is really less than three months, is not the end of the world… It starts again today!
The English Premier League that is, with the German Bundesliga having kicked off last weekend. And what a season it promises to be.
It is times of change in Manchester, where the great Sir Alex Ferguson has put an end to 17-years of misery (for supporters of any other club than Manchester United) – his unrivaled career in management with Manchester United, with whom he won 13 league titles.
This, in stark contrast to the other side of Manchester, where now, former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini finds himself jobless after one trophy-less season, after delivering the club their first league title in 44 years. But such is the madness of modern football.
Speaking of madness, or at least perceived madness, with Sir Alex’s watch having finally stopped ticking, Arsène Wenger is now the league’s longest serving manager. The Arsenal boss is still holding out on any big money move for the player or two or three, who, in my opinion, could make them genuine title contenders. The three rumoured options who could do this are Ashley Williams (Swansea), Luis Gustavo (Bayern Munich) and the most talked about, Luis Suarez (Liverpool).
This seems to be the case across the EPL though, apart from City, who appear determined to get straight back to winning ways, with the signings of midfielder Fernandinho (£35 million), winger Jesús Navas (£17 million), and forwards Álvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic (each £22 million).
As mentioned before though, the biggest EPL transfer stories have been the non-events. Suarez, who has looked certain to leave for a while, is still at Liverpool. And while Chelsea and Tottenham have perhaps taken the biggest steps to improve their squads, this has been in a less headline-grabbing fashion.
Wayne Rooney remains at United, despite the returning Chelsea manager José Mourinho blatantly outlining his intent to sign the 27-year-old, which could prove a masterstroke even if the deal does not go through.
As for Tottenham, the acquisitions of Brazil midfielder Paulinho and Spain striker Roberto Soldado are excellent additions. However, their best bit of business is keeping hold of Gareth Bale, who is hotly sought after by Real Madrid. He is the player most capable of single-handedly winning a match, currently playing in the EPL, and by holding on to him, Tottenham could well challenge for the title.
Following the return of José Mourinho to Chelsea, many consider them favourites, and one can see why. With Sir Alex retired, though no doubt still influential at United, and new City boss Manuel Pellegrini being entirely new to English football, despite their impressive squads, there is a question of stability.
This is something Arsenal have buckets of, but so much so that their squad is unlikely to improve to be considered as contenders.
Therefore, so the logic says Chelsea, with the squad and a man in charge who has been there and done that for his current employers and fans.
Everyone will just have to wait and see though, but not for long now, it’s football time!
HOMEWORK FOR FOOTBALL FANS –
A Timeline of the Madness of Modern Football:
http://talksport.com/magazine/features/130730/10-previous-world-record-football-transfers-gareth-bale-next-202692
Eli talks to the great Tim Vickery and uncovers why, for me, this issue of stability makes international football more special than modern club football:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qya3B4-7mgE
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
It's interesting looking at this article again in the context of the first round of matches. Basically the only club in the top 6 that didn't invest was Arsenal, they got beat and everyone else won. Now a single swallow doesn't make a summer but it's clear that Arsenal are again going to be playing catch up. The title will be decided between the two Manc clubs and Chelsea, everyone else is playing for 4th place at best. Spurs' spending is becoming interesting because if they also sign Willian then you have to suggest that it is being funded by an upcoming transfer of a certain G.Bale........
Sawyer
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the reply Darby. Interesting perspective in regards to international football and feelings of connection. Ultimately I think it comes down to who you are as a supporter. My love for the England national team has waned since the 2006 World Cup. It just feels like an ongoing soap opera of mediocrity and despair played out by the same players, with their same ego's year after year. No change in style. Players seemingly picked by club not form.. It just gets tiresome really. Don't get me wrong, I'll always support the three lions, it's just my loyalty now sits strongly with my club team and I think that's a consensus shared by many English fans. I know that my club, like many other teams throughout the 4 tiers, still have very strong ties to England. We have an English manager and owners. Our captain is English, more than half our starting line up are from the home countries and we have an academy that's renowned for producing English internationals. I can't imagine the same can be said for some of the other teams in the league that are increasingly more international than anything else. Perhaps it's for this reason that it's easier to lose interest in the national team - knowing that the club still has its roots in the English game.
AZ_RBB
Guest
I really enjoyed the first half of the article. could really relate to what you were talking about. but in the second you kinda listed a whole lot of things that people with even a passing interest in football would already know. in an age where information and news is so readily available it's hard to grab your audience with just facts and figures. you need to provide something different or even controversial. maybe if you went on to write about why the EPL keeps people up at all hours of the night or something about the ability of the competition to keep an global audience hooked 9 months a year...would've been a more compelling read. the appeal of the A League is very different to that of the EPL. A League is awesome because it's on your doorstep, they represent your community and you can actually see them week in week out. whereas the EPL as i mentioned before has a global presence despite only involving English/Welsh teams. when you watch a game between or even involving the biggest 6 or 7 teams you get a sense that you're sharing that experience with tens of millions around the world. every big match is a global event. competitions like the EPL really drive home the opinion so often brandied around this website that football truly is the world game with no parallel.
Towser
Guest
Perhaps Darby you could relate your article more to the crux of the article rather than the crux of the article being secondary to the EPL. IE the article comes across as EPL deprivation IMO rather than anything deeper. Lets face it football as Fussball often points out on here is 24/7 nowadays ,it just as others have pointed out it increasingly only gets upfront & personal when the A-League season kicks off domestically.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
I was looking forward to this EPL season (A league season too) but I like to watch Arsenal. It feels like the season is already over and time to start looking forward to 2014/2015. With all the managerial changes it seemed a great opportunity but Arsenal dropped the ball while Spurs have really gone for it.
Darby Laughren
Roar Rookie
I am also a Brisbane Roar season ticket from day dot, and will always support my local team. I suppose to be honest the content of this story is such because I really just want to get my writing out there, and sadly more people are only interested in the elite clubs. But having actually got responses from you guys, I will come back with something more balanced next time. Please don't boycott me on the basis of this one!
Darby Laughren
Roar Rookie
Also, watch the youtube link at the bottom of the article to see my mate chat to Tim Vickery about exactly my point above.
Darby Laughren
Roar Rookie
Also, watch the youtube link at the bottom of the article to see my mate chat to Tim Vickery about exactly my point above.
Midfielder
Guest
Have to agree with Tow and others above the A_league has taken over from the EPL for something the old NSL never did ...
Darby Laughren
Roar Rookie
I agree definitely, I couldn't fit so much into this article. But I chose to highlight the big "non-signings" because I wanted to make a broader point about exactly that; how ridiculous the flippancy of the modern club football is (especially with these top clubs that I refer to), and I admit that as a Chelsea fan. I really wanted to make the point about how International football is where one must turn to at the TOP level in order to be truly connected to their team these days. Unfortunately ROAR edits your articles. Anyway mate, appreciate the feedback, and I will be writing A-league stories as well, so I definitely won't limit myself to the big boys. Cheers, Darby.
Midfielder
Guest
Just on the international news thing... some breaking news ADP may get a call up into the WC squad ... from 442 http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/279795,prandelli-considers-del-piero-call-up.aspx
Darby Laughren
Roar Rookie
I agree definitely, I couldn't fit so much into this article. But I chose to highlight the big "non-signings" because I wanted to make a broader point about exactly that; how ridiculous the flippancy of the modern club football is (especially with these top clubs that I refer to), and I admit that as a Chelsea fan. I really wanted to make the point about how International football is where one must turn to at the TOP level in order to be truly connected to their team these days. Unfortunately ROAR edits your articles. Anyway mate, appreciate the feedback, and I will be writing A-league stories as well, so I definitely won't limit myself to the big boys. Cheers, Darby.
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
+1
Sawyer
Roar Rookie
I know it's hard for some to look below the clouds at the other 14 teams in the league, but it isn't half boring reading analysis on the same 6 teams over and over again. Without the rest of us you wouldn't have a PL to play in. Will Bale go or stay? Same for Rooney. Same for Suarez. I mean come on, they haven't even left their respective clubs yet it's all that some people can talk about. What about Southamptons record signing? Or the great game between Norwich and Everton? Why is all the focus on Wenger and not on an Aston Villa side that did a great job away from home. How about some analysis on Hull and Crystal Palace's commendable performances this weekend? As Towser says, there's also 3 highly competive, entertaining leagues below that barely get a look in.
fadida
Guest
Agree totally Towser. A child of British parents I grew up on English football. I have spent so many thousands of hours watching the EPL when I should have been sleeping. I chose to sleep over the weekend. I'm saving my energy for the A-league (and I'm a neutral)
mahonjt
Guest
I have been a Liverpool fan my entire life. As the son of British migrants, football and Liverpool have been one of the few constants in my life (as my three local teams who had NSL experience all went bust). The A-League has changed all of that. I have long suspected it - but it was confirmed when I and 95k of my closest friends went to the MCG the other night. I wore navy, sat quietly during the pre-game anthem and cheered for my team with gusto for 90’ as I had in so many domestic league or continental cup encounters. I watched Liverpool beat Stoke the other night and enjoyed it, but I now know where m heat lies. For this I and my son will always be grateful to Kemp, Crawford, Lowy and those who decided that our game was worth the investment in time energy and funding. There is no looking back now. It local, live and mine!
Towser
Guest
Personally as one born & bred on English football my interest nowadays is lukewarm compared to pre A-League days. Nothing compares to supporting & attending what's on your doorstep & in Australia that's the A-League. This article like many recently also assumes that the be all & end all of English football support is the EPL,the 3 professional divisions below dont get a mention. Whilst my main interest as mentioned nowadays is the A-League I'm still an Owls fan by birth & what happens with them far supasses my interest in the pampered elite at the top of the football pyramid. So I will add to the heading “Of all the unimportant things, Football is the most important” -"If you follow the EPL".