NICK FEINBERG: PEP’S CITY MUST STOP GUNS NOW

HELLO my good football people... I trust you are doing well! I’m glad to be back “home” after a couple of weeks away.

I found myself at “Castle Corner” (or “Pensioners’ Corner” as I call it) on the side of the field at Royal Road on Saturday. It was great to see the old FN Rangers lads!

Football is still very much alive and kicking in Cape Town, as it is nationwide. And there is interest building again as Bafana Bafana start preparing for the World Cup! Just a shame they haven’t nailed the administrators yet… but it’s coming!

Spending 10 days in London didn’t feel quite the same as it “normally” does for me from a football perspective.

Okay, I have to admit that I had tickets for Spurs v Chelsea and didn’t go (my son, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, was playing for the Springboks against Japan at Wembley at the same time).

But the thing is that buzz, the build-up, the general football chatter that used to permeate all corners of the city seems to have dampened off. Look, it’s winter, I wasn’t around pubs (many have closed down) and I had a lot of other stuff distracting me, but it definitely isn’t the same.

It’s been going that way gradually for the last 10-15 years in my experience.

I’d probably put it down to the increasing difficulty there is in attending games (ticket availability and cost) and that the average man (woman or child) who used to go has been replaced by plastics, corporates and football tourists.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m talking about the Premier League. The lower leagues are still very much community/ neighbourhood based, with “real” fans.

It will sound slightly contradictory, but the football-related conversations I did find myself in had a common thread. Nearly everyone I chatted to supports Arsenal. Okay, I’m from and was mainly hanging around north London, but it’s just become a “thing”. People who wouldn’t ordinarily (in my day) support football have all latched onto this Arsenal thing. I guess it’s because it looks like success is close. It’s really annoying.

They talk surface stuff, the type of comments you find on social media, and all (now) deny being #ArtetaOut. What a bunch of absolute plonkers.

I did meet a couple of my old school “Gooner” mates and like myself they’ve become a bit cynical about the game and are no longer season-ticket holders. But hey, the new breed are in and we’re all on the outside now as it continues to grow in popularity (and revenue). What the f**k do I know right? I mean who gives a damn about our stories of dangerous stadiums, dodgy pitches, punch ups and full blooded 50/50s?

Today’s fans talk XGs, inverted full-backs and low blocks, thinking they’ve got the game down! It’s basically all the types who’d never venture to a Stamford Bridge, White Hart Land or Upton Park in fear…

Now parading around pubs near the Emirates Stadium in their cloth caps calling each other “Fella”.

More importantly, switching back to the last fixtures. I don’t agree with the critics about Arsenal, following their 2-2 draw at Sunderland. Currently, the Black Cats are one of the best teams in the league. They beat Chelsea away a few weeks ago and deserved it. A point at the Stadium of Light isn’t a bad result.

Meanwhile, Manchester City really are starting to get themselves together and suddenly, from looking like running away with it, the Gunners’ six-point lead doesn’t look that impressive.

It continues to baffle me how badly it’s going for Liverpool. Even when manager Arne Slot switches back to an almost “original” starting XI (he did it a few weeks ago) they still aren’t performing both from a team or individual perspective.

Florian Wirtz looked better in the Champions League, but it feels like the damage has been done and we now have Pep Guardiola’s City to save us from what would be a devastating north London title.

And again, for those out there who look at Chelsea’s league position and consider us contenders… You clearly don’t watch football. They’re way off where they need to be.

They are extremely inconsistent and still lack real leadership. They are not ready! Interestingly, last week, the Blues signed another five youngsters. It’s a project that doesn’t support immediate success.

Ladies and gents, there are couple of cracking fixtures this weekend now that we’re back from another international break. Newcastle v City, Arsenal v Tottenham and what has turned into a must win for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest!

Chat next week, bye bye.