8 half time subs . No not Brock's snacking regime, the Chelsea bench. It's a friendly mate, that is point of friendlies, you can't read anything into them. The manager tries out a squad of players, many of whom may not even end up seeing much first team action, and/or are knackered from ramping up the fitness training preseason after the summer break, and then tries out different formations, strategies etc. Often teams with a crap pre-season form, go on and win promotion, because the manager knows his stuff and the season is a marathon not a sprint. So now, preseason, is the time to iron out inconsistencies, and losses are more instructive than 10 nil wins. Enjoy your crowing though, I could not give a toss about the Premiership anyway, full of glory hunting plastic fans, most of whom have no connection with the team they are supporting, at least you are from New York.
The football league is where it is at, not the corporate circus that the Premiership has become. Drizzly rain, battered stands, dodgy pies and thousands of locals who for generations have made the walk to their local ground to watch their team whether they get hammered, scrape a draw or win. It's about the songs, mocking and baiting your rivals, giving the officials shit and scouring the program, fanzines and local gossip to see what ex postman is coming in a highly secretive £250 loan deal fresh from scoring 42 times in the local Sunday league. In the league it really is true that on any given Saturday afternoon or tuesday evening anyone can beat anyone. In the Premiership it's about money and prima donnas and the same old top 5 clubs dominating the rest. Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea, Man City are full of corporate seats for business men and people from miles away, with a lot of local fans who may have supported the team for generations, priced out of seats. The prawn sandwich brigade.
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