Quiet Sunday night was it? Bit of Line of Duty and an early night yeah? I thought the weekend was going to fizzle out with a few VAR decisions, but boy was I wrong.
I’ll get to the state of the union stuff later but for now, we’ll go back to Friday. A simpler time when Tottenham weren’t part of European elite, they were mere mortals who managed a 2-2 draw with now minnows Everton. Maybe the fact that they are now part of said European elite means they’ll keep their one asset in Harry Kane, who knows, but either way they are fucked without him. Two bang average teams on the cusp of getting into Europe this season at best, now one of them is forever enshrined into football royalty based on what exactly.
That led us to Saturday, and the majority of games happened early. There was a funeral on for a racist old man who’d lived off the state ever since coming here from Greece, due to start at 3pm, and the entire country had to be quiet to remember all he’d done for us.
In the Premier League, Newcastle hosted West Ham, a game really and truly a team who is at the forefront of the brave new Premier League should be winning against relegation threatened Newcastle. West Ham shot themselves in the foot in the first half, 2-0 down and down to ten against a Newcastle side that could barely believe it’s luck, then Newcastle did as Newcastle will do and took their turn to shout themselves in the foot, why not? West Ham did it, so why don’t we. And after 80 minutes it was 2-2.
Joe Willock came to the recuse and buried his header from a fabulous Matt Richie cross, maybe now he’ll get to start a game, and Voldemort with a caravan on his back will finally be dropped. But Newcastle won and that’s all that matters, even if it was much harder work than it should have been.
Norwich are back in the Premier League, without having kicked a ball on Saturday lunchtime, teams around them dropping points, meaning that they’ll get their customary one year in the top flight next season before ultimately playing lovely football but getting relegated.
Chelsea beat fellow European giants Manchester City in the FA Cup semi final, a game I had no interest in watching anyway to be quite frank, but Tuchel had done a top job since he’s come into the club.
And Sheffield United went down after losing to Wolves, hardly a shock to anybody, they’ve been down since about 6 games into the season, which makes the Chris Wilder sacking all the more strange. I don’t get why they didn’t do it when they still had a chance to get out of trouble. But maybe when you pin your goal scoring hopes on McGoldrick, McBurnie and Burke, with 74 year old Billy Sharp, maybe, just maybe you’re not going to stay up for long.
Liam Williams reminded us all that there is a huge difference between World and domestic level in boxing. Williams lost on a wide points decision as Demetrius Andrade defended his WBO middleweight title on Saturday night.Williams is tough as old boots and despite being down in the second and buzzed a number of times, did himself credit by getting through the 12 rounds, and had Andrade hurt in the 9th.
So finally, finally we made it to Sunday and in the early hours in the UK, Jake Paul defeated Ben Askrin with a first round knockout. He now is obviously a real boxer and threat to anybody at any weight. I’m sure the likes on Canelo are all wondering how they’re going to avoid this powerhouse. Or am I forgetting he beat a wrestler, a basketball player, and another YouTube cunt. Maybe some of them were his brother, who knows, who cares.
All I do know about it is that this shit has got to stop, it does nothing for the sport in a positive light, it makes it look easy, and that anybody can do it, the dedication in the gym for years learning your craft, none of it matters, you too can be a p4p star like Jake Paul just lace up the gloves and do it. Fuck off, stick to videos pal, don’t tarnish one of the oldest and most noble sports, fight a live opponent, a real boxer and see how fucking good you are you melt.
The football started and Arsenal were Arsenal, drawing 1-1 at home to Fulham, would have been nice to see Fulham win actually after the announcement that Arsenal are now a superstar in world football, but they managed a 97th minute equaliser to dent Fulham’s hopes of staying up.
And Manchester United beat Burnley 3-1 to get within 8 points of leaders City. Leicester reached the FA Cup final after beating Southampton 1-0, but all the talk from the midway point of Manchester United game was about the new Super League that I forgot the FA Cup semi final was on, but it was great to see a few fans inside Wembley though, sooner there are more in the better, fans who can voice their displeasure about this utter joke of a breakaway.
We all waited with bated breath, 9.30pm announcement came and went, 10.30pm announcement came and went, then around 11pm it was made official. Big clubs who moan about revenue sharing and money and don’t give a flying fuck about you as fans decided they’re better than their respective leagues so are fucking off to make a new one, with a shit load more money coming their way.
As a Newcastle fan it did make me wonder why their proposed take over by the Saudis was discussed with the “big 6” and shockingly enough was neither blocked nor passed, strange that one isn’t it.
First it was wanting more money from tv rights deals, then it was project big picture where they wanted their say on things that happen in the league, and they soon back-pedalled from that one. Now they’ve decided enough if enough and they’re going to get richer whether you like it or not.
Today had brought news of the clubs current fans being called “legacy fans” fucking legacy fans, what does that mean? Cheers for your support but you’re old and unimportant now, with less money than the new people we want to attract, we want corporate fans with deep pockets, not you Joe Everyman who has followed his club since he was a child.
When, and not if this happens, because it’ll happen, the Premier league will bend over backwards for the big boys because they are too scared to say no them. Chicken shits who themselves only care about money, the former Premier League chairman, that lying fuck Richard Masters is taking up a role with you guessed it, Arsenal, one of the now massive players at the top of tree in European football, it stinks from top to bottom.
My guess is, nothing will happen to the 6 English clubs, they’ll be given special privileges and they won’t have to compete in the League Cup or FA Cup, or possibly both, and kick off times will be set to suit those trips into Europe in the middle of the week. And my guess is also they’ll all still be allowed to play in the Champions League and Europa league too, mark my words, the FA and Premier League will fold like a cheap suit and bow down to the pressure, rather than having to worry about sponsorship being pulled, and tv rights deals being torn up. Watch this space.
So to conclude, the owners of “ the big 6” can all take a long walk off a short plank, I doubt they’ll care, but they should care, they should be disgusted by their actions, but they will all be too busy counting their millions, that’s what the game has become, a corporate game where money talks and your average fan isn’t required anymore.
Cheers, The Fat Man.
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