When cattle creep,
When I’m asleep,
To lands of hope I stray.
Then at daybreak,
When I awake,
My bluebird flutters away.
Happiness new seemed so near me,
Happiness come forth and heal me
The oft forgotten second verse of Bubbles
One of the most frustrating aspects of supporting a Premier League team is the simple lack of ambition 75% of clubs now have these days. Unfortunately, the league is so awash with money that real ambition has disappeared. Gone are the days when clubs would take domestic cups really seriously (there are a few exceptions such as Swansea City’s glorious season this year), deciding nowadays that the Premier League cash is more important. This leads to clubs simply being satisfied at reaching the “magical” 40 point mark, knowing that they will be on the gravy train for another season. The rich will continue to get richer, especially with the new TV deal kicking in next season. And what do we have to look forward to? A lame cup exit versus a lower division team, whilst the manager talks about “concentrating on the league”, when in reality all they care about is finishing in 17th place.
To demonstrate the massive gulf that exists within the same league, Manchester United came into this game with some fans suggesting this season hadn’t been as successful as it could have been. I’m sure the home defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League hurt, as too did the FA Cup defeat to Chelsea, but surely winning the Premier League at a canter from their nearest rivals was the number one objective of the season? Whilst West Ham’s fans would boo and jeer every touch United would have, who wouldn’t want even a small slice of the success they have had.
I’m sure many will have believed the rhetoric in the past few weeks from the owners of West Ham regarding what will happen when we move to the Olympic Stadium in terms of being able to compete with the best, but is it going to be a couple of years too late? There are simply already too many clubs with richer owners with deeper pockets in the Premier League today. There are at most 7 European spots up for grabs, including the two cups and its fair to say that five of those are now all but sewn up on a yearly basis. Add in a Liverpool team who have the cash but just keep spending it poorly and there isn’t a lot of room for anyone else. Continue reading
Does anyone really dislike Fulham? I’m sure I can see some hands at the back of the room belonging to some QPR fans, but gents you should really worry about what ‘Appy ‘Arry is doing rather than your rivals down the Fulham Palace Road. No, I didn’t think so. In a city where Premier League rivalries are so intense, it is always amazing that Fulham sit in the middle, completely unaffected by the missiles flying over their head. A bit like Switzerland really. Neutral, steady but with less chocolate. Even with a money bags chairman who essentially bought his way into the Premier League over a decade ago they still rarely offend anyone.
Just after their home defeat against Liverpool at the end of December, QPR manager Harry Redknapp made the bold prediction to the watching Sky Sports audience that Rangers could “get out of this”. Since then they have shown signs of life, including the coupon-busting win at Stamford Bridge versus Chelsea. But it was the trip across London to play West Ham that I’ve had my eye on this week. Despite his “loveable” image as a true Eastender, ‘Appy ‘Arry isn’t the most popular ex-Hammer in E13. Perhaps it was his “interesting” transfer dealings whilst at West Ham, brilliantly recounted by Tom Bower’s in his book 
For all the commercialisation of our beautiful game, there is still something magical about the FA Cup Third Round weekend. Whilst the FA have done all they can to milk the competition dry with selling off the competition naming rights, auctioning off the TV rights and moving the semi-finals to Wembley, it is one weekend in the footballing calendar that still belongs to the fans. Every lower league club starts the season with the hope that this will be their year when they make the Third Round and draw one of the big boys, setting themselves financially up for years to come. Never has the feeling of disappointment hit so hard when you get knocked out of the cup “too early”. In my official role at Lewes I felt that pain only too sharply when fellow Ryman Premier League Hendon knocked us out this year, then went on a run to the First Round. They managed to knock out two Blue Square Bet teams before losing away at Aldershot Town, playing three divisions higher, earning some decent money along the way.
Imagine the scene. You are in a bar close to your favourite team’s ground. but you cannot look out of the window because you will not be seen as a fanatical follower of your team. So what do you do? What about buying some small net curtains emblazoned with your club badge that both protects your privacy and shows your allegiance. Well look no further than these beauties being modelled by none other than 
We all know that David Sullivan and David Gold have a “bit of an ego” but even by their standards the appearance of these beauties in the West Ham United Christmas catalogue takes some beating. Why would anyone, outside of the SuGo families want these monstrosities on their desk? What value do they add to anyone’s life? Unless you want to take a sledgehammer to them, of course. And the real impressive part, they cost a “mere” £12.99.
The club toaster has been around for a few years now for those fans who cannot live without their cooked bread emblazoned with your club badge on. These are really old hat but imagine my surprise when browsing the Megastore in Lille when I came across this beauty. Not only a toaster that burns Lille LOSC on your breakfast but plays a little ditty when it’s ready..”Allez, Allez Lille OSC” goes the toaster until you flick the switch or smashed to smithereens by your partner.
