As often at this time of year, I’m seeking comfort in the arms of other lovers in order to kill time during the NRL season, and inevitably I’m eating from the forbidden fruit of the English Premier League.
One of my greatest admirations from the current crop of players is you never seem to get players harping on about how “they have achieved everything in the game” in the same way as you do in rugby league.
Even from the blokes who have.
The drive of someone like Ryan Giggs (okay pedants, he hasn’t played at a World Cup) who has lifted nine Premier League titles to constantly be yearning yet another title is something to behold. Willie Mason take note.
Like Lance Armstrong, that sort of achievement and professionalism can transcend a sport.
Of course, not everything is roses in the Premier League.
The mortgage the “big four” have on the top echelon can be rather tiresome. But having said that, the idea of a gatecrasher always adds a bit of spice.
For a little while at the start of the season, Hull City seemed to be everyone’s second team as they looked to match it with the big guns.
But their Cinderella story certainly looks like it has gone past midnight, at this stage.
The two next likely characters were Aston Villa and Manchester City, although both in very different ways.
Villa have been driven by the shrewd purchases of Martin O’Neill, his vision funded by the largesse of the American Randy Lerner. But it has been done with dignity and class and Villa now look like really pushing the boundaries.
If they can hold off a resurgent Arsenal, only the biggest kill joy could deny them a place at the top table.
And then there is City.
Bold and brash, they made no mystery of their riches and claimed they were ready to buy, buy, buy their way to the top.
Well, the big boys already had, so why not was most people’s reaction.
But their reaction to the refusal of Kaka has been similar to the spoiled school boy sulking in the corner.
After labelling AC Milan “unprofessional” (a quick comparison of trophy cabinets might serve as a reality check), they have been keen to blame everyone and anyone for the deal not happening.
It wasn’t a good look.
For me it won’t be long before Manchester City‘s reputation joins Tottenham’s as a delusional club, whose only friends are those looking to sell overpriced lemons.
All the talk of a dream team appearing in January now looks to be replaced by Wayne Bridge and Craig Bellamy (and a freshly fined and perhaps unmotivated Robinho).
Suddenly they proclaim they won’t be paying over the odds for anyone (a few days after spending £14 million on Craig Bellamy). It’s a bit late when for all intensive purposes that is what you have been saying for the last six months.
Who said money doesn’t buy happiness?
But did Kaka find football’s soul? It isn’t like he opted to continue working down the mines.
Of course, it all inevitably leads to someone calling for a salary cap. This time it was Harrods’ owner Mohammed Al-Fayed.
Of course, he conveniently forgot that it wasn’t long ago that he bought his way out of the Championship to enjoy a yearly battle with relegation.
Say what you want about the EPL, but it is certainly compulsive viewing.
It should even, along with the help of Deal or No Deal, get me through the off season.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
The past 18-24 months have been an enjoyable ride for Arsenal and their fan-base after almost a decade of turbulence. Mikel Arteta has been…
Kai Havertz has scored twice against his former team and Ben White also got a brace as Arsenal brushed aside a dismal Chelsea side…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has slammed the FA Cup scheduling after watching his side beat Chelsea 1-0 to reach the final, three days…
With a certain inevitability, Manchester City are suddenly in charge of the Premier League title race. Arsenal and Liverpool both produced lethargic performances under…
Ten goals flew in across the opening two quarterfinals of the Champions League as honours ended all square in Madrid and London. An incredible…
Match 7 2017. Ask any Arsenal fan what their memories were of that day and you'd get anything but a positive response. Leading 1-0…
