The Lotw Diary-Tuesday

Listening to phone in talk based Radio stations, reading weblogs, websites and message boards confirms one thing aboot the modern day fitbaw fan. We are all really a bunch of malcontents, greeting faced loons whom are never happy.

In this day and age of mass media coverage the forum of grief is rife as success disnny sell papers or get hits but gloating at someone’s misfortune or moaning aboot yer team does. As Ocean Colour Scene said “there’s no profit in peace” and this reflects the fitbaw, reporting environment.

Maybe, it is because of the money involved in today’s game. The fact that yer club can spend shed loads of money on a right back who will be terrible then leave for sod all after a couple of years gets on peoples wick. Maybe, the fact that yer teams financial results are just as widely reported as a defeats or victories. Maybe it’s the fact that we are all nerds and Champ Manager has us believing we can do the job.

Money has dressed up the game to be this all singing all dancing shebang that you get yer kicks for free. Fact of the matter is money has developed a fear factor in teams, managers and chairmen. Greed is good said Gordon Greco but not in fitbaw terms. Greed in fitbaw can mean nae entertainment.

Last night, I listened to pundit’s lamblast a touted England manager for playing basically rough round the edges fitbaw, typical British hoof and rush game. When it was put out to the greater public for debate not one Bolton fan phoned up to back there manager, in fact their silence lead me to make the assumption that they were quite glad their successful manager had left as the fair on show was poor.

What happened was that you had Everton, Newcastle, Fulham fans coming on lambasting their clubs for not being entertaining. One Man Citee fan who last won something around the same time as r*ngers one the phone ranting he widnae go back to Eastland’s in Allyerdice became the manager.

Now the vast majority want Man Utd to win the EPL due to the fact that they are bloody entertaining and while us hoops want to see Jose smug grin wiped off his coupon. I would watch Arsenal everyday of the week, as there is always the chance they will come up wie the fabled perfect game. Yes, they have won sod all but I don’t hear many of their fans complaining. Well you do but I for one widnae be complaining.

Tonight you have a CL semi Final contested by two of the richest clubs in the world and the chances of it being entertaining are slim to none. Last weeks game between the two was as guid as a bottom six-spl game except some bottom six spl teams try to play fitbaw. In contrast to the other semi final that was brilliant due to both teams attacking flair players.

While not being the most attractive fitbaw the end of the 1st division in Scotland was entertaining. Two evenly matched teams going for it hammer and tongs until the 93rd minute. Now questions maybe asked what Gretna will bring to the party, bar another visit to Carfin, but no one can deny that both teams who where vying for that title didnae play attractive attacking fitbaw in the most high pressure of situations.

For 90 mins last night listening that phone in, I was for once in tune wie kindred spirits. I was pleased to hear that some middle of the road EPL clubs were sick to death wie win at a costs or the don’t get beat mentality.

The program made me believe that eventually the dwindling crowds, revenue and interest will force chairmen to revaluate their business plans. That being entertaining will put bums on seats. Maybe the greed is good mantra will change the game for the good for once.

But it has a hell of a long way to go.

Forza The Champions.