Upping the anti-climax
As ever, hype and hope have rhymed in the run-up to tomorrow’s final curtain but everyone knows there’s a real danger that the ‘D’ in D-Day could end up standing for dull.
Wigan have had their moments this season but they tended to come at home, so you’d have to think that Chelsea shouldn’t have too many problems in wrapping up the title at the Bridge. And should the Blues be in cruise control by half-time, then even those endlessly excitable folk on Sky will have trouble getting it up for yet another Rory Delap howitzer above in Manchester as the final 45 minutes of the season dawdle to a close.
Indeed, even if there was to be a calamitous Devon Loch-style collapse by Chelsea, you wouldn’t entirely rule out United being unable to take advantage.
It would be an oddly fitting end to a season in which the main title contenders have stuttered as much as swaggered, if the Londoners were left celebrating a title triumph after unedifying defeats for both sides.
But probably not, and so we’ll all still tune in hoping against hope for fireworks, upping the anti-climax as it were, even if, in our heart of hearts, we feel the outcome is preordained to be a damp squib.
That’s already definitively the case at the bottom end of the table, the relegation of Hull, Burnley and Portsmouth with games to spare ensuring that we won’t get to see those traditional last-day images of gaffers on the verge of a nervous breakdown and heartbroken little ‘uns with tears streaking their painted faces.
There’s also an ‘after the ball’ feel to the minor jostling for third and fourth, with Arsenal favourites to retain third place against a second-string Fulham side who will have bigger things on their mind. In clinching their place at the top table, Spurs have already done the hard work against Manchester City, meaning that their final game away to Burnley is really only of interest as a dramatic contrast in two clubs going in opposite directions.
That mid-week cracker at Eastlands was a D-day ahead of the D-day although, come to think of it, its billing as a kind of ‘cup final’ was a tad misleading. A quarter-final would have been a more accurate description.
For, short of the unlikely event of their leap-frogging the Gunners tomorrow, Spurs are really only at the semi-final stage in qualifying for the Champions League and, from their own bitter experience at this point five years ago, Everton can tell them all about the dangers of prematurely counting your European chickens.
Still, there’s no gainsaying the extent of Harry Redknapp’s achievement in transforming Spurs from a club with relegation worries to continental contenders.
With Liverpool’s trip to Hull shaping up to be a depressing wake for both, Spurs’ replacement of the hapless Merseysiders in the top four also adds to the sense of the south rising again.
Three of the top four clubs now hail from London and, lest we forget, England’s last remaining representatives in Europe make their home close by the Thames.
Fulham’s Europa League adventure has been the most heartwarming story of the season. In his own quiet way, Roy Hodgson has made a convincing case to be named Manager of the Year. Knocking out Shaktar Donetsk, Wolfsburg and Juventus was only the half of it.
Arguably even more astonishing was the transformation of Bobby Zamora from being the butt of his own supporters’ jokes into a fringe England striker. And with our own Damien Duff, current injury notwithstanding, a vital part of their glorious season – really, what’s not to love about Fulham?
While one can only hope that the Duffer recovers in time for Wednesday’s final against Atletico Madrid in Hamburg, it’s clear that a young Irish player for whom this season should also have been memorable is now facing into the toughest fight of his fledgling career.
While others are contemplating a World Cup, a big money move or just lazy days on the beach, David Meyler is facing into a months of recuperation from the shattering knee injury he picked up against Manchester United. One minute, the 20-year-old was on the verge of an Ireland debut, the next he was having to get his head around the prospect of being out of action until next Christmas.
Pipped at the post for the title? Removed from the top table? Dropped through the relegation trapdoor? Painful stuff, sure, but as we watch the final act unfold tomorrow, Meyler will probably be watching too, a reminder of just how genuinely cruel professional sport can really be. We can only wish him the speediest possible recovery.
- Contact: liammackey@hotmail.com
