The Classic West End FA(rce)
After 8 months of waiting and much speculation over possible points deductions and relegations, the result of the FA’s investigations into QPR’s breaches in procedures finally arrived on Saturday. At 11.45. An hour before the R’s last home game of the season against Leeds .
The FA had initially said that the results of their deliberations would be published at 4pm on Friday but by Thursday they had issued a press release that their findings would not be available unit, well, they didn’t actually say.
The timing of the statement on Saturday morning was far from ideal for many but as the BBC were covering the game it gave ideal opportunities for lots of whooping and dancing in the streets of Shepherds Bush live and in HD where available.
In the end Rangers weren’t hit by a points deduction. There was no threat of relegation. Of the 7 charges levied on the club, only two were proven and these related to a breach of the 3rd party ownership rules and of using an unlicensed agent. The result was a combined fine of £875,000 which should matter little to billionaire owners and a club who will earn £50m from their season in the Premier League.
This whole affair demonstrates if nothing else that the processes employed by the league to investigate, charge and adjudicate on such matters is at best inefficient and at worst downright stupid. To charge a club with charges of such seriousness would, you would hope, be the result of detailed investigation and the authority should feel that there is a better than half chance of their findings backing up the charge. As it turned out QPR were cleared with only a fraction of the brouhaha that was shown in the initial charge reports. They are free to commence their Premier League campaign and the necessary rebuilding of the team to attempt to maintain that Premier League status come May next year.
Let’s be perfectly clear about this. QPR were the best team in the Championship this season. Their form, especially at the start of the season was scintillating. Considering where the club finished last season and the disjointed management of the club they were simply amazing. They deserve to be promoted. What they don’t deserve is to be left with the noose round their necks until the last game of the season when the authorities made their initial accusations 8 months before.
The FA and FL are often accused of shambolic administration processes and this sorry affair demonstrates why it’s hard to defend them. We still await the full details of why the charges were unproven. This would give all the clubs in the league the opportunity to know exactly what they can and can’t do and diminish these instances of reputation damaging accusations and the mud-slinging that goes with it.
Vettel makes the rest look like real Turkeys
The Formula One roadshow breezed back into Europe on Sunday for the Turkish Grand Prix. Sebastien Vettel fought his way to pole position for the 4th time this season but there were to be no heroics from Lewis Hamilton this time round and Vettel eased his way to a 3rd victory of the year. Such was his dominance from start to finish, repeating the pattern in his previous 2 victories its hard to see him not wrapping up the drivers championship long before the end of the season, saving him from the last day dramatics of last years finale.
Vettel is out-performing his Red Bull team mate, Mark Webber, with frightening ease and Webber himself is no slouch. We’re told that the two cars are identical which leaves the only and easiest solution as to the dominance as being that, quite simply, Vettel is a far superior driver.
To make this season anywhere near interesting the other teams, notably McClaren and Ferrari will need to be significant improvements to their cars to allow the likes of Hamilton , Button, Alonso and Massa
Reds far from Blue at Old Trafford
After being billed as a title decider Sundays match between the top two in the Premier League was effectively finalised, as was the destination of the Premier League title, after 36 seconds as Javier Hernandez scored a decisive goal against Chelsea. Chelsea Blackburn on Saturday. The title deservedly will reside at Old Trafford for a 19th season and extraordinary figure which Sir Alex Ferguson’s men will hope to add to next term. Neither United of Chelsea have been scintillating this season and Chelsea will rue a period mid season where they suffered poor result after poor result but will look to be stronger and more potent next season. Whether their wealthy owner will add to the purchases made in January and whether their current manager Ancellotti and most potent striker, Drogba, will be there is still to be seen.
Ups, Downs and Play-off shaking around
Congratulations to all those teams who have won promotion to the next league. QPR and Norwich are worthy Premier League new boys, Brighton and Southampton came out on top in a mighty tussle in League One, Chesterfield Crawley will appear in the Football League for the first time following their stroll through the Blue Square Premiership.
The playoffs start in earnest this week and will end over the late May Bank Holiday weekend with one of Swansea , Cardiff , Reading or Notts Forest Peterborough will be looking for an immediate return to the Championship but favourites Huddersfield , who ran both the Seagulls and Saints so close for the automatic spots, MK Dons and Boumemouth desperate to take their place. Shrewsbury , Stevenage and Torquay will compete for a space in League One with Accrington Stanley who will be keen to shake off that “Accrington Stanley? Who are they?” tag that they’ve had since the 1980’s milk advertising campaign. Meanwhile in the Blue Square Premier Luton will take on AFC Wimbledon for a place in the Football League through the play-offs. A tale of polar opposites here with Luton looking to regain league status after a huge fall from grace which saw them plummet from the old First division through the leagues until relegation, and huge points deductions left the in the conference. At the other end of the spectrum AFC Wimbledon, formed by fans of Wimbledon FC who refused to support their clubs move to Milton Keynes have had an equally rapid climb through the non-league ranks and their fairytale will be complete if they can overcome Luton. For any fans of Roy
For every team celebrating that this time of year there are inevitably those whose supporters have been left devastated by their teams disappointing seasons.
Stockport, relegated from the Football League, were joined on the last day by Lincoln City Plymouth , beset by financial problems and associated points reductions will be playing their football in League Two next year along with Swindon , Bristol Rovers and Dagenham & Redbridge. From the Championship the relegated teams were decided 2 games ago with Preston and Scunthorpe joined by Sheffield United whose supporters can look forward to two Steel City derbies next year and whose relegation follows that of Norwich, Leeds and Charlton as teams with the opportunity to become established Premier League teams who suffered 2 relegations in the space of a few seasons. The competition for promotion from all leagues is intense and teams that bounce back immediately are few and far between. United’s work starts now and their rebuilding will commence with the search for a new manager, having dispensed with the services of Micky Adams this week – the first of many managerial departures we can expect this summer??
The big money of course is in the Premier League where Manchester United’s victory at home to Chelsea Barcelona Chelsea and Arsenal are confirmed as fellow Champions League competitors for next season and Manchester City
At the other end of the top flight, six teams are still scrapping to avoid the relegation trap door and the financial struggles which inevitably follow. Birmingham and Blackburn would hope to be safe with 39 points each with 2 games remaining leaving West Ham, Wigan, Wolves and Blackpool in the proverbial mix. Wigans home game with West Ham at the weekend should be an intriguing affair. A win for Wigan , although not guaranteeing safety for the home side, will relegate the Hammers. A win for the visitors will probably seal Wigans fate also but it will be the results elsewhere for Blackpool and Wolves which will decide the running (or more like, falling) order.
FA Cup Final day with Elton Welsby et al
The FA Cup final takes place on Saturday but will probably be over shadowed by Manchester Untied winning their record 19th League title.
As one who fondly recalls the long FA Cup final days on TV which often started with breakfast in the team hotels, the teams leaving the hotels, on the coach with the team on their way to Wembley, interviews with the players wives and girlfriends (this was a by-gone age before the acronym WAG was invented), the teams arriving at Wembley, accompanying the teams on their walk around the Wembley pitch with Saint & Greavesy and associated retired players commenting on all of the aforementioned events. The TV would then mainly be turned over to BBC because the picture always seemed better than on ITV. The match was a huge event however poor the games were, and they were often poor. Millions around the World would be watching and because there were no other games on most UK
It didn’t matter who you supported through the football season, you had to have a team to support in the FA Cup Final. Mainly it was whoever the underdog was. The game itself almost transcended all normal rules. You hoped for a good game. You hoped for drama and often it came.
The FA Cup Final gave rise to some of the most memorable moments in football history whether it be the White Horse, Stanley Matthews, Dave Beasants penalty save, Kevin Moran being the first player red carded in the match or even Liverpool ’s Spice Boys white suits (nice lads, nice!).
Due to the Champions League final being held at Wembley on Saturday the 28th May and the UEFA requirement that no games should be played on the hosting pitch for 2 weeks prior to the game it has been necessary for the FA to play the FA Cup final this Saturday. The game will still kick-off at 3pm – so some tradition remains (for this year at least) – but because the Premier League season has not yet concluded there are 4 games in the top flight to be played at 12.45 kick off including the Red Devils match at Blackburn. Much attention will focus on these matches and the final will play second fiddle with TV spectators switching on as kick off approaches rather than enjoying/enduring* (*delete as appropriate) the traditional pre match fare. I miss the excitement of those 70’s and 80’s cup finals where for the players involved this was the highlight of their career. These weren’t players who earned tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds each week. These were players who wished desperately, from the time they first kicked a ball, to one day play at Wembley. There were no semi finals at Wembley, or play off finals. You played at Wembley either for your country or in a cup final. Of course, they were the days of bubble perms and short shorts so not everything was better but I hope you’ve got the drift.
Maybe I’m just overly cynical and for the likes of Mario Balatelli and Yaya Toure on £150k - £200k per week salaries this could be the long time desired pinnacle of their respective careers but I’d imagine that its fairly low on their list of priorities. Players like Rory Delap and Ryan Shawcross would seem more tuned towards a cup final ambition and I hope they’re successful tomorrow as Stoke will arrive at Wembley as that often admired and supported underdog.
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