It was so cute the other day when Bruno Fernandes signed for Manchester United.
I saw posts by fans and the club itself exclaiming “Here we go!”.
Wasn’t 100 percent sure what they meant by that? Did they mean like, here we go, we’re back? Or here we go, it’s the start of the rebuild?
It was even more unclear with the bizarre signing of Odion Ighalo from some club in China which was met with an uncomfortable wall of fan silence?
Either way, despite Fernandes probably being the highlight of January window business, he was hardly the type of player the Old Trafford faithful would be hoping Ole would sanction to help transform his ailing side?
I guess all you muppets will be saying “Frank Lampard wanted players but you got f*** all” and you’d be right.
But, as Frank knows, it’s pointless panic buying in January - especially when you’re in the middle of a project that is more than on track.
I’ve been arguing with lots of Chelsea fans who have already given up on a top-four finish. They’re saying stuff like “all of our competition have strengthened”. Did I miss something?
If we’re looking at the top six or seven, Wolves and
Sheffield United have bulked up their playing staff and Spurs have brought in three new faces, but amongst all of them, very little proper quality.
Ok, that might be unfair, as the astute scouting staff at Molineux and Bramall Lane have proved, you don’t have to sign big-name, big-money players to piece together a solid squad.
But let’s face it moving into the winter break, the status quo remains pretty much the same, despite Spurs edging closer to the Blues after that crazy result they somehow managed against Manchester City on Sunday.
So into the inaugural winter break we go, but what does it mean? Most people thought we’d be having two weeks without Premier League football. But, it’s not that at all.
Most clubs, barring those involved in FA Cup replays will get 13 days’ rest, but the break is staggered over two weeks, so there will be games over the next couple of
weekends.
Some will play next week then take a break and vice versa.
The big controversy of course is the rescheduling of cup replays in-between.
Jurgen Klopp has been the most vocal of the four coaches (Liverpool, Spurs, Southampton, Newcastle) and has decided to take action.
I’m a big fan of Klopp, as a football man and the man himself.
He’s built an incredible team and his sharp wit, genuine smile and healthy comments on issues outside of football have endeared him to me.
But what he’s doing is unacceptable.
It’s a shame because he’s tainted his impeccable
reputation.
United were the first to "disrespect" the competition, withdrawing from the 1999-2000 edition due to their participation in the 2000 Fifa Club World Championship.
The FA Cup is the world’s oldest and most famous club competition and deserves full participation from all who qualify to play in it.
Klopp has decided not to field any senior players and has refused to manage them on the night. What a farce.
What makes it worse is that a night at Anfield promised to be a dream fulfilled for their lower-league opponents, Shrewsbury. It’s a real slap in the face.
The winners play Chelsea in the next round. Anyway, back to the league and a couple of big fixtures to look forward to.
On Valentine's Day, you better tell your partner you’re not
feeling well as Wolves play Leicester, should be a fantastic game, two of the league’s best looking footballing sides.
Then on the following
Monday, it’s me against most of you as United travel to Stamford Bridge. Good luck to the Red Devils, you’re gonna need it!