Left feeling blue after a mediocre season to forget
Honestly, I struggle to remember other than a handful of games I’ve commentated on that had me on the edge of my seat.
Further, look at how many matches champions Chelsea have lost. Does that make you think the other sides have got better or that there’s been a levelling down in standards? I’m in the latter camp. And that’s why many of the ‘issues’ went down to the final week of the season.
Why were Portsmouth, Burnley and Hull relegated? Because they were even worse than the ordinary sides above them that managed to escape. It used to be thought that you needed 40 points to be safe: no longer; look at Bolton, Wigan, Wolves and West Ham.
But, I hear you say, wasn’t the race for fourth exciting? Well, that was only due to the perverse riches of Manchester City – hardly a cause for celebration outside of Eastlands – and the appalling decline of Liverpool.
No, roll on the World Cup and then what remains of the summer away from the game. It’ll help me push memories of the past 10 months out of mind and make me fresh for August.
GOOD SEASON
Honourable mentions can be made for Birmingham and Fulham, especially the latter, but Tottenham ‘win’ hands down.
It seems a very long time ago now but, when Harry Redknapp took charge, barely 18 months ago, Spurs were bottom of the table. It was a massive achievement of his to keep them in the division.
Yet, here we are, nearly 50 years since Tottenham made their sole appearance in the old European Cup (1961-62, Blanchflower et al), and they have qualified for the Champions League. That’s greater still and, as Redknapp says, a good deal better for him than winning the FA Cup with Portsmouth.
They’re a really good side, Tottenham, brilliantly coached, beautifully balanced and with a ‘bench’ line up that’s the envy of most – only Chelsea come close.
Who knows how they’ll do next season but I expect the manager will bring in other good players in the summer – Spurs are always rather shy to admit they spend big in the transfer market – and English football need have no fear of this particular club gate-crashing the Top Four.
BAD SEASON
You can’t look beyond Liverpool. In the 20 years since they last won the league title, I doubt they’ve had a worse campaign, particularly given the optimism that preceded it.
The trouble at Anfield is that, outside of the incredible loyalty of the supporters, there’s hardly an area that doesn’t need urgent attention.
There are current owners whose best decision would be never to darken the doorstep of Merseyside again. And to reduce the ridiculous price they’re asking to sell the club.
There’s a manager whose time, arguably, is up though there was a huge ‘email campaign’ to media outlets on Friday by Liverpool fans swearing support for him. But, to me, Benitez’s tactics are too negative: the odd player aside (Reina, Mascherano, Torres), he signs stinkers; and he’s been living off the back of Istanbul for too long – I still remain unconvinced of what influence he had in that extraordinary triumph.
And there are the players that need clearing out. Where do you start?
BEST PLAYER
Wherever the trophies and Golden Boot ended up, Wayne Rooney beats Didier Drogba for me. I am not sure I could ever cast aside my dislike of the Ivory Coast striker anyway. You really have to be a Chelsea fanatic to excuse his antics, which were, again, on display for all to see at Stamford Bridge yesterday.
But Rooney’s been brilliant and it’s not just his goals. The departure of Ronaldo actually helped Rooney. He never shirks a challenge anyway but it’s clear he’d taken the decision, perhaps subconsciously, to assume the major responsibility (outside of Fergie of course) for how Manchester United got on.
He has the occasional ‘moment’, a bad tackle or a rant at the referee, but his importance for club AND country is undeniable. And he’s still only 24!
MAGIC MOMENT
Let’s accept it: there weren’t many. However, the ‘magic’ of Danny Rose’s magnificent strike for Spurs against Arsenal at White Hart Lane was all the greater because it was so unexpected.
I’d seen Tottenham at Wembley three days before offer the most abject display against Portsmouth in the FA Cup semi-final. And there I was beforehand imagining that was a game Spurs couldn’t possible lose…
The Lane, as a consequence, was distinctly nervous. Wouldn’t it be just like Tottenham to implode, lose to their bitter rivals and admit defeat in their remaining target, a Champions League place?
The 19-year-old was making his Tottenham league debut and didn’t know it much before kick-off. Within 10 minutes, the ball was cleared out of the Arsenal box only to be brilliantly volleyed into the net by the youngster: one of the best goals I saw all season.
GOOD WEEK
That’s what Fulham deserve in the days to come. Back in August – actually the Cottagers began their campaign in July – did England have a more unlikely European finalist than them? Now a club that, remember, once played in the fourth tier of English football, is poised for its greatest ever triumph in Hamburg on Wednesday.
* Alan Green is chief football commentator with BBC Radio 5 Live.
