I must kick off this week by saying, what an indictment on the modern game that so many of us dislike Leicester sacking the man responsible for making us fall in love with football again.
It’s such irony, such a shame.
Of course we’re not privy to what created the rot at the King Power Stadium, but either way, just for PR sake, it would have been a lot better had Claudio “the Gent” Ranieri announced his resignation rather than getting fired.
The likelihood is that the players have simply been unable to replicate the effort required to create the
biggest story in English football history.
Adrenalin, motivation and effort falling away like a drug comedown, from the highest of highs to a state of depression.
Of course the loss of a player like N’golo Kante can be highlighted, leaving the pivotal holding midfield space wide open, but it appears that the cataclysmic downfall has far deeper roots.
Perhaps Claudio isn’t quite the man he appears to be?
I feel sorry for him though, from Hollywood movie hero to football obscurity.
Well, I’m sure he’ll get a ton of offers, and probably - just for fame sake - a bumper proposition from China.
But let’s not dwell on the negatives, let’s look at an amazing turnaround for Manchester United.
Celebrating
Yes it’s just the s*** cup and yes, United fans were celebrating like it was 1999 again, but lifting a trophy will do ‘em loads of good.
You just had to see the way the players celebrated as they handled the cup, or how Jose half-heartedly raised it before quickly passing it over to understand that this was far from a holy grail, more like a refashioned toilet that has zero significance in the world of “honours”.
But let me not play it down. It was a good moment for the club and an immediate delivery from the Portuguese coach to help genuinely start settling the nerves.
It actually turned out to be a really good game to watch barring the Southampton goal which the twat linesman made a schoolboy error on and disallowed it for what was, a metre onside?
It was nearly as bad as the penalty that wasn’t given to Swansea at the Bridge on Saturday for an obvious hand-ball.
Two decisions that changed games, two decisions to add to the disastrous officiating catalogue that grows thicker every week.
It was a game that could have gone either way and Jose will be wondering how, from 2-0 up, the Saints came back and should have won it after a sustained period of pressure that bore no fruit.
God help the Mancs if they come to the Bridge with concentration levels and defensive confusion like that, they’ll get slaughtered again, this time in a cup that counts.
But anyway, well done chaps, enjoy the moment!
Talking about enjoyable moments, huge one coming up on Saturday.
It’s Liverpool v Arsenal at Anfield, not to be missed, so much at stake.