Hello to you and welcome to 2018. It’s been a mighty old save and as we pass the halfway stage in season 21, it looks like one of England’s most decorated footballers could be finally about to reach his managerial peak. What am I rambling about? Let me talk you through it.

Firstly though, in the last update we saw Parma’s relatively unknown manager take the England job. I’m delighted for him. I also hope he loses every game in Brazil. Here’s his group:

There’s also a rather strange occurance as the game seems to forget where to put the word “and”

So unless Trinidad have actually separated from Tobago, I’m sure this is a mistake. Then again, nothing surprises me any more in this game. Even Peter Beardsley’s got his pace back

Crikey, he’s quicker than me now. Not to mention 30 years older.

Back on topic though and Parma have appointed Francesco Guidolin as their new manager. He’s recently pitched up at Swansea in real life, so I think he will prefer this version of his life.

Juve poach Roma’s manager

You may also remember Louis van Gaal was dismissed by Italy – he’s rocked up at Valencia

Then to complete the old foes act, Gordon Milne is back in the Premier League

He’s not taken long to get under my skin, knocking us out of the FA Cup in the quarter finals meaning we won’t retain our trophy.. Looking at the draw, anything other than Darlington winning would be a shock.

Steve Haslam has his fingers in many pies, including the league cup final, where they’ll face moneybags Derby.

Just the £109m in the bank for Derby, but they didn’t make it through to the Champions League quarter finals.

Indeed it’s Darlington flying the flag for England again, taking down the current holders Ajax on away goals. It’s a weird Semi Final lineup

Verona are top of Serie A, having won it last season. Hercules are 8th in La Liga following their runners up spot last season. The French league isn’t loaded but Marseille won the Champions League in 2016, so they’re a handy side.

350 words in and I haven’t mentioned my own fortunes too much, except for our FA Cup exit. We’re ticking over, in the top 6 and the last 4 of the Cup Winners Cup. We knocked out Salernitana in the quarters which is apparently a big deal

Scenes. We’ll face Malmo in the last 4

But now back to the hero of the piece, Bryan Robson. He’s had some managerial career, starting at Middlesbrough in Division 1 and enjoying his second spell at Sheff Wed. He’s got 3 FA Cups to his name and a pointless cup, but the league has escaped him…

He’s been close on a number of occasions, with Chelsea, Sheff Wed & Darlo.

But now, is this his year!?

They’re not exactly runaway leaders but you’d love to be in his position with 8 games to go. We’re not a million miles away ourselves, and Haslam has a game in hand as he chases a quadruple. We’ve struggled for goals, somehow, despite having the re-gens of Ronaldo, Weah, Owen, Zidane and the Icelandic guy everybody loves. It’s mad.

The bottom of the table is grim reading for Palace, and not much better for Boro. I think it’s one from 6, including Man Utd and Everton who are floundering.

So that’s it, another update has come and gone. The final update of the 2017/18 season promises to be massive – and will of course culminate with World Cup 2018 in Brazil. So Bryan Robson achieve his dream? Or will Haslam win it all? See you next time!

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