Sunday 19 May 2013
When I left the DW Stadium this day last week -- how vain is it to lead 'your' team out at Wembley and name the stadium after yourself? -- I really didn't give Dave Whelan (pictured) and his Wigan side the remotest chance of winning the FA Cup. They'd been shocking against Swansea. Just goes to show what I know ...
There is no need to put on dark glasses. I’m going to disappoint any readers of the column expecting a tirade of abuse from me about Sir Alex Ferguson.
Sometimes, I really don't get Chelsea fans. Last Thursday night, as their team reached the Europa League Final, the popular song around Stamford Bridge was 'Jose's Coming Home', a cute variation of that 1996 hit 'Football's Coming Home' ... to England for the European Championship of that year.
I hope that many of you caught Sky Sports' wonderful coverage of the climax to the Championship season on Saturday.
I've had to write this before Sunderland's game last night – clearly that result could be pivotal as to whether or not Paolo Di Canio guides them to survival – but I go to Wigan this evening as convinced as ever that they themselves can pull off yet another act of escapology.
Sir Alex Ferguson may have woken up with a bit of a headache this day last week; there was hardly a photograph published after the title-clinching victory against Aston Villa that didn't see him clutching a bottle of champagne or 'swigging' from it!
Don't get me wrong. I 'saw' that Suarez punishment coming. I wrote last week how I felt any suspension would carry over until next season.
I put Luis Suarez in the same bracket as Lionel Messi and Ronaldo as the players I truly savour watching.
Before making my own travel arrangements for the FA Cup final I went through the motions of checking the Football Association and BBC websites to confirm the kick-off time: "TBC".
If Cardiff City contribute even half as much to the Premier League as Swansea have done then I'll stand to applaud ... but I have a few reservations.
I chatted to several perfectly sensible football-loving people over the weekend who are utterly convinced that Uefa rigged' the Champions League draw so that we might have the dream' final of Barcelona against Real Madrid.
Brendan Rodgers is an intelligent man but I do wish he would occasionally pause and think before speaking – particularly after games.
If you asked any football fan which team in the Premier League they least liked watching I'd almost guarantee Stoke City would be top of the list. You can never be 'sure' while Sam Allardyce manages in the top division ...
There was more David Beckham nonsense last week than I could stand.
I think we can now assume that, after being easily beaten by Southampton on Saturday, Reading will go back whence they came: to the Championship.
There was I thinking that you might think it unfair of me to judge Sunderland's chances of surviving in the Premier League on a defeat by the Champions-elect – then they sacked Martin O'Neill. The timing, if not the act, is absolutely bonkers.
By the very high standards he sets, Steven Gerrard's performance in Montenegro was no better than ordinary. Especially in the second-half, too many of his passes were wayward.
It would be grotesquely hypocritical for us and Fifa to ignore the charges that have emerged about the 'racist' behaviour of a proportion of England fans that went to the match in San Marino.
I’m sure there are more than a few of you who don’t like that I continually have a pop at referees. Allow me to let you into a little secret: neither do I.
I see the Italian General Secretary of UEFA Gianni Infantino hopes that the concluding stages of the European club competitions will find opposing fans showing respect and friendship towards each other. Some hope. Last time I looked Lazio are still involved.
It hasn't always been a bed of roses
Gael Clichy has signed a new four-year deal at Manchester City.
Substitute Craig Doyle came off the bench to fire in a spectacular hat-trick as Carlow powered to a 4-17 to 2-13 victory over London in the Leinster SHC at Dr Cullen Park.
Stoke striker Kenwyne Jones has apologised to team-mate Glenn Whelan after smashing his car windscreen in a mistaken act of retribution for a training-ground prank which went wrong.
There could be better to come from Tuscan Light judged on her manner of victory in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Median Auction Fillies Maiden at Wexford.
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