Well, I might as well combine Ryan Giggs’ alleged indiscretion with a few things to say about the conclusion of this season’s Premier League. I knew that Giggs was the player at the heart of the storm about a super-injunction a week before his cover was finally blown in the House of Commons and virtually everyone I knew was in the same camp. I am not on Twitter and not many I know subscribe to that service either. So all this flak this Liberal Democrat MP, John Hemming is receiving is as much a joke as the semantic hoops jumped by English-based newspapers before today. Ironically, Max Clifford (who else?), publicist to Imogen Thomas (the woman alleged to have had the affair with Giggs), said that if Giggs had not taken out the super-injunction (thereby naming Ms Thomas as the party that this was primarily aimed at), it may never have come to light.
Anyway, fighting fire with ice is only a temporary tactic, as once the steam clears away (as it inevitably will), you’re still going to be revealed in an unflattering way. Fight fire with fire and you may get burnt but so will the journalists who target you. Such hacks claim that no-one wants to know about them, but a rich celebrity could hire a platoon of private detectives to harass them in their private arena, even ruin their lives and families by posting anonymous fake information or doctored photos to their houses. They would never know who was doing it because I imagine they would have built up a list of quite a few celebrities they had ticked off, but subsequently they may treat others as they expect to be treated themselves.
At least two people yesterday said Giggs should not have been named as, unlike Tiger Woods, he had not cultivated an image of himself to sell things. Admittedly, Giggs was not a commercial whore, but he often boasted of how boring he was, tucked up in bed early, not going out to night clubs and such. He projected this wholesome portrait and then you get these idiots who just want to attack John Hemming flaunting their ignorance on media platforms by saying Giggs was not a hypocrite and should not have been exposed. Giggs doesn’t need to, but these studio guests are wankers.
As for the end of the season, the FA needs to be yanked by politicians, have all its vested interests shaken out of it and put on a stable footing that can so ‘no’ to the Premier League before FIFA and UEFA kick up a stink about political interference. Taking a laissez-faire attitude to the FA is no sustainable. League games should never have been staged on the same day as the FA Cup Final and now the Final is being moved to 5.15 pm from next season to accommodate more league games. It is a disgrace because the FA is in the pocket of the Premier League. That’s why it is the FA who fines clubs for playing ‘below-par’ sides - the vassal is protecting the product being sold around the world. It therefore looks foolish by bringing in a 25 player squad rule.
As for Richard Scudamore, let Birmingham City’s relegation stick in his craw. This sleazy schmoozer said there was no chance of a winter break because the League Cup was valued by clubs – this same League Cup that so exhausted Birmingham with injuries and extra games. For the bigger clubs it is just a trinket – nothing more. It needs to be abolished so a winter break can be introduced. Of course, the League Cup is just a smokescreen because the Premier League get more money for league games when all other major European leagues are on their winter breaks. Scudamore argues against all that is right and decent in football, while taking the credit for glories that would have occurred irrespective of his actions.
Newcastle United had an average season and were just several minutes away from a top half finish and non-negative goal difference. In the end, 12th place is the bare minimum of acceptability in a very weak top flight. Despite selling the main striker, NUFC have not struggled for goals, scoring the most in more than a decade at this level (even more than during seasons where qualification for the Champions League was secured). NUFC even ended up outscoring fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur. A decent striker is needed but the story has to be counter-balanced by the goals conceded and the defence has to be beefed up as well. Mike Williamson is just a lump who we got on the cheap from Portsmouth. He’s tall and large and as a defender in the Championship is quite effective but it is not enough in the Premier League. Danny Simpson and James Perch alternating at right-back seem weak links at right back and there is no cover for Jose Enrique at left back (who might be sold anyway). The midfield of Cheik Tiote, Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton and Jonas Gutierrez, with Hatem ben Arfa to come back from injury next season seems to be the least in need of improvement, yet the first signings in the close season are midfielders (on frees of course). The manager, Alan Pardew, doesn’t exactly fill with me with enthusiasm – I don’t see him as top-drawer but it sums up a board who seem to lack ambition and sell players to those they can squeeze the most money from, no matter the impact on team shape or spirit. They claim it is the Arsenal strategy to take young talents and sell them on for a higher price after a few years. Saying this just proves they know nothing about football. Arsenal take young talents and nurture them to become high achievers, only selling them on once they are past their sell by date or have no further use. The Newcastle board are actually following the Wigan strategy, which is no surprise considering the business empires of the owners of each club. Hardly inspiring, is it – only seeking to avoid relegation. Most football fans can dream in the summer season – if only Newcastle United fans had that luxury.