Things and Stuff

A week is a long time in politics, that's what they say.

Sitting down today to finally get round to updating my site after a ludicrously busy few days, I have just realised that 2 weeks is a bloody long time in the blogosphere.

Since my last update I have had a lot to write about in the ever changing world of football, but due to travelling halfway round the world, finding the time has not been easy. In order to get things back in business, I thought rather than let things slip, I'd get the ball rolling with a bit of a round up.

Classico-fest. Obviously Real Madrid will be delighted with the Copa Del Rey victory, but the truth is that Barca would probably have taken that. The likelihood of one team winning all four games was always slim; to draw the league game keeping the lead intact, and win the big one away in El Bernabeu to all but book a Wembley visit is a price worth paying at the expense of the domestic trophy. Messi continues to go from strength to superlative strength, the second goal in the Champions League game just seemed so effortless. Hmm, 2-0 would be a comfortable cushion, yep, I'll just toddle off and score another, why not. Ridiculous.

Sticking with the Champions League, I watched United put one foot in the final, and was impressed with the ever more convincing nature of their performance. Schalke must be devastated to have performed so woefully on their biggest of nights - there is surely no way back for them now - but United were dynamic, dangerous and looked every inch the finalists they are due to become.

As I wrote earlier however, United will finish second best in Europe. With the kind of space and time afforded them by Schalke they are great...against the greatest club team I've ever seen they will be over-run. You have to give them a chance, they are United and will therefore always have a chance in any match - but I fully expect Barca to claim No 4.

Another side that Barca vanquished this year on route to Wembley is Arsenal - who would never have won the game against United if it wasn't too little too late. Only they could lose a game having taken the lead in the 98th minute. Enough has been said about these losers, next season Wenger should just petition to reschedule any games in March. They've kept things interesting but lost it with all the pathetic home draws.

Now, onto The Super, Super Saints. Barring a collapse of surely unthinkable proportions, Southampton FC will finish as League One runners-up and will be playing in the Championship next season. The road to redemption began with Markus Liebherr saving us two years ago, sadly he is not there to see this but hopefully this is the beginning of better times ahead for the club. Norwich City have achieved back-to-back promotions giving hope to the Saints, but the reality is that we could do with a season or two of building in the Championship before making the step back up to where we want to be. Two games against Pompey next season will be nice though!

As we move now into the crucial closing stages of the season, things are looking fairly settled in many of that major leagues. With every game relegation and promotion issues are being confirmed, but there is still room for some grandstand stuff, in the Premier League in particular.

Coming up on here we'll have Champs League fall-out, Man U Chelsea preview, and the tale of my return after almost a year to proper real English live football - Southampton v Walsall on Saturday. Exciting times indeed...