Day -346 WorldCup2018
Aston Villa have to be mentioned once in a while to remind you all of the hapless kind of football supporter I am, that of a middle of the pack second division team in England. Calling it the "Championship" is way too glamorous for this team. With them and my never ending support of Malta's national team and it's domestic league I can't be blamed for the smallest excuse for a little bit of chest beating and cheering. Chest beating? Where'd I come up with that? My daughter (probably about 8 at the time) did laugh at me once for some floor beating in front of the TV when Aston Villa were very close to scoring a second goal towards the end of a memorable win against Chelsea.
Aston Villa announced the signing of former Chelsea player, and former England captain, John Terry. A good reason to cheer? A sign that the club is serious about putting a strong team together to win promotion this year. Not really, is what I think. Not only is he 36 (but let me not be ageist, he could have one good year left in him) he is also at the end of his career. After all he won with Chelsea and England (ok, scrap that second bit) is he up for a fight in the second division on a cold Tuesday night in Millwall? And I mean that literally. Those Millwall fans are going to have a good old time with him. But really, does he have enough motivation for a promotion battle?
Does signing a player of his age on a free transfer mean this is all who Dr. Tony, Villa's owner, can now afford? He tried to buy promotion last year and it didn't work and now with reports that Villa may have fallen foul of the English Football League's financial rules, is this the Plan B? Will the fanfare of Terry's signing be intentional to hide the lack of any other transfer activity? I hope not.
And then there is the human side of John Terry. I don't like the guy and not only because of his affair with his England team mate's wife a few years ago. That happens all the time, right? Hey, I taked about love yesterday. Let's give the guy a humongous benefit of the doubt. No, I am just not a fan of his at all. This may be unfair because my judgment of him when I hear him talk may be clouded by the stories I have read about him. But he reeks of arrogance, self importance and smugness. He's football's Andy Murray as opposed to Roger Federer. But is it important? As a football fan who am I to be forming opinions on the morals of the players who I hope will give my team something to cheer about? I'm a football supporter. My 600, or so, days of daily postings are based on the World Cup. Organised by Fifa. And I still carry on and look forward to next year.
Even if I look at Terry the footballer, and nothing else, when he plays for Villa I still don't think I will be able to enjoy watch him play. Will I be happy if he made a difference? Yes, I thought earlier, but now....no. I'd actually be happier if he wasn't there. It would have been easier if he joined Birmingham, as he was rumoured to. Then I could have made fun of him all season.
Aston Villa have to be mentioned once in a while to remind you all of the hapless kind of football supporter I am, that of a middle of the pack second division team in England. Calling it the "Championship" is way too glamorous for this team. With them and my never ending support of Malta's national team and it's domestic league I can't be blamed for the smallest excuse for a little bit of chest beating and cheering. Chest beating? Where'd I come up with that? My daughter (probably about 8 at the time) did laugh at me once for some floor beating in front of the TV when Aston Villa were very close to scoring a second goal towards the end of a memorable win against Chelsea.
Aston Villa announced the signing of former Chelsea player, and former England captain, John Terry. A good reason to cheer? A sign that the club is serious about putting a strong team together to win promotion this year. Not really, is what I think. Not only is he 36 (but let me not be ageist, he could have one good year left in him) he is also at the end of his career. After all he won with Chelsea and England (ok, scrap that second bit) is he up for a fight in the second division on a cold Tuesday night in Millwall? And I mean that literally. Those Millwall fans are going to have a good old time with him. But really, does he have enough motivation for a promotion battle?
Does signing a player of his age on a free transfer mean this is all who Dr. Tony, Villa's owner, can now afford? He tried to buy promotion last year and it didn't work and now with reports that Villa may have fallen foul of the English Football League's financial rules, is this the Plan B? Will the fanfare of Terry's signing be intentional to hide the lack of any other transfer activity? I hope not.
And then there is the human side of John Terry. I don't like the guy and not only because of his affair with his England team mate's wife a few years ago. That happens all the time, right? Hey, I taked about love yesterday. Let's give the guy a humongous benefit of the doubt. No, I am just not a fan of his at all. This may be unfair because my judgment of him when I hear him talk may be clouded by the stories I have read about him. But he reeks of arrogance, self importance and smugness. He's football's Andy Murray as opposed to Roger Federer. But is it important? As a football fan who am I to be forming opinions on the morals of the players who I hope will give my team something to cheer about? I'm a football supporter. My 600, or so, days of daily postings are based on the World Cup. Organised by Fifa. And I still carry on and look forward to next year.
Even if I look at Terry the footballer, and nothing else, when he plays for Villa I still don't think I will be able to enjoy watch him play. Will I be happy if he made a difference? Yes, I thought earlier, but now....no. I'd actually be happier if he wasn't there. It would have been easier if he joined Birmingham, as he was rumoured to. Then I could have made fun of him all season.
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