Hello my good football people, hope all’s good with you. I was saying to someone the other day, people who don’t support a team or follow a sport with any real interest are really missing out.
Such a hard one to debate with the “22 men kicking a ball around on a field” brigade. They view us as real Neanderthals, easily entertained, knuckle dragging, numb heads.
But as Madiba said: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does”.
Spoils shared in SW6.#CheArs pic.twitter.com/TW2BYF6UME
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 21, 2023
You either get it or you don’t. This weekend reiterated my personal, deep connection…
On Saturday, I found myself across a spectrum of emotions. Depression, anger, hope, joy, elation… What else can create such varied sentiment?
It must be said that after witnessing video and pictures of countless Palestinian children, bleeding, burnt and maimed, screaming for their parents, it also reminded me of the great ‘escape’ sport can provide.
I’m not suggesting sport has meaning of any real depth, however, even if temporary, the feeling of unity in South Africa, leading up to and during the Boks’ 80 minutes against England was undeniable. Maybe an unrealistic window on how this beautiful country could have been post ’94.
Defeat in Paris.#ENGvRSA | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/Obi64MCkt5
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) October 21, 2023
But I’m getting away with myself here. One of the great connections I had when coming to live in Cape Town was the genuine passion for football and this weekend threw up a good feeling around the City!
Liverpool didn’t look great at Anfield for the first part of the Merseyside Derby until Ashley Young made a second stupid challenge to get sent off… it was pretty much one-way traffic after that, while United, knowing that three points these days aren’t guaranteed even against the likes of Sheffield United, escaped from Bramall Lane with a late Diogo Dalot banger.
Erling Haaland was back on the scoresheet as City overcame a decent Brighton performance, but all the real talking points came at Stamford Bridge!
A month ago I would have hoped to nick a point against the Gunners. On Saturday, I was pissed off we didn’t beat them 3-0.
As it turned out, it was a result decided by goalkeeping errors. What a spectacular knobend Robert Sanchez can be.
On the one hand, makes world-class stops and effortlessly plucks the ball out of the air like Lebron James, on the other, like on Saturday, simply passes the ball to the opposition for a free shot… this time Declan Rice taking advantage and turning the game around.
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta is causing all kinds of issues as he switches keepers mid-season for no apparent reason? He reckons keepers are no different to outfield players with regards to being subbed?
Bend it like Declan 🤩 pic.twitter.com/2AHDOpqDS3
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 22, 2023
I mean I’m no expert, but I don’t think this “I’m so clever, even cleverer than Pep Guardiola” approach is gonna end well.
The Blues were all over Arsenal prior to that. Moses Casiedo and Enzo Fernandez bossing the packed midfield with Gabrielle Martinelli and Bukayo Saka cut off on the flanks by the high energy Malo Gusto and Marc Cucurella.
It was a Mauricio Pochettino masterclass.
Arteta completely devoid of answers, his side unable to operate… Martin Odegaard stranded for the best part of 90 minutes, struggled to touch the ball.
But with respect, they didn’t give up, caught Gusto napping for a second and bang… 2-2. Oh well, such is life!
We go again this weekend with an interesting Manchester derby on Sunday. On paper, United should lose this about 4-0, but historically form doesn’t always indicate result in this one.
Happy with how the table is looking Spurs fans? 😉 pic.twitter.com/NEXpec8OHu
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 23, 2023
Will Erik ten Hag’s very average team lift themselves and save potential embarrassment? Life would be boring without all this right? Chat next week… Bye byeee.