Monday, July 02, 2007
Hope springs eternal
With the release of the football fixtures last week, fans here have something else to talk about beyond the endless will he won’t he transfer sagas that pass for news. For the next few weeks at least every team is equal and whether you’re Titus Bramble or John Terry the stats at least have them equal.
I was sat on the train yesterday heading north east and behind me were a couple of Middlebrough fans were previewing their own team’s chances come August with the optimism that comes around every August. Viduka, the barrel chested Aussie striker has moved from Teeside to Tyneside but they seemed none too worried. Either by his departure or the fact that he has gone to local rivals.
Instead they waxed lyrical about the arrival of Jeremie Aliadiere, Arsenal’s French forward. Indeed, the mere fact that he had come through the ranks at Arsenal and that Arsene Wenger had deemed him promising enough to take him under his wing was good enough. They conveniently overlooked the fact that that in his extended run out in the second half of the season he was crap. Lightweight, lacking creativity. Over the years he has proved himself to be a terroriser of weak defences in the Carling Cup or it’s other guises so at least they can console themselves with the fact they have a useful striker if they go down.
Meanwhile just up the road at Hartlepool United the club and its fans are truly buzzing after promotion to the first division. Newcastle are coming to town in a friendly soon while Leeds United hover slightly over the horizon. The club shop was doing a roaring trade when we popped in and while some may be concerned about whether the club are good enough to stick it out at the higher level at least they have bragging rights over near rivals Darlington who stay rooted in the bottom division.
I was sat on the train yesterday heading north east and behind me were a couple of Middlebrough fans were previewing their own team’s chances come August with the optimism that comes around every August. Viduka, the barrel chested Aussie striker has moved from Teeside to Tyneside but they seemed none too worried. Either by his departure or the fact that he has gone to local rivals.
Instead they waxed lyrical about the arrival of Jeremie Aliadiere, Arsenal’s French forward. Indeed, the mere fact that he had come through the ranks at Arsenal and that Arsene Wenger had deemed him promising enough to take him under his wing was good enough. They conveniently overlooked the fact that that in his extended run out in the second half of the season he was crap. Lightweight, lacking creativity. Over the years he has proved himself to be a terroriser of weak defences in the Carling Cup or it’s other guises so at least they can console themselves with the fact they have a useful striker if they go down.
Meanwhile just up the road at Hartlepool United the club and its fans are truly buzzing after promotion to the first division. Newcastle are coming to town in a friendly soon while Leeds United hover slightly over the horizon. The club shop was doing a roaring trade when we popped in and while some may be concerned about whether the club are good enough to stick it out at the higher level at least they have bragging rights over near rivals Darlington who stay rooted in the bottom division.
# posted by Me @ 10:25 AM 
