Another new season is upon us and I’ve got a good feeling about this. After our massively unlikely title win, we now have the joy of playing Champions League football and trying to retain the league title. Furthermore, due to our Cup Winners Cup win we’ll get to play in the Super Cup in January, so there’s that to look forward to. This may be quite a narcissistic update – just a warning.
On that note, my reputation is fully restored
It’s been a long way back but like Alan Partridge, I’ve bounced back. I didn’t even need to drive to Dundee barefoot either. All we need now is for England’s gaffer to get the boot and then it’ll be my time to shine, and a 57 year old Peter Beardsley will receive his first cap in about 30 years. Some day…
Anyway, on to the here and now, as part of our new found fame we’re in the Charity Shield for the 2nd year in succession. 1st Division Charlton prove a tough nut to crack but we do it, just about.
It’s fair to say the game didn’t exactly attract a full house to Wembley. Oh well, we’ve got a big shiny shield to keep us happy. The first game of the season is a tough one
It probably bodes well that we can grind out a win like this against one of the better teams in the league, but as ever it’s a worry we couldn’t score more. We’ll check back in with my progress later.
As usual there’s some managerial stupidity. Ancelotti is given the sack
Milan appoint Hellas Verona’s manager, and Ancelotti goes there instead. The old switcheroo.
Blog favourite Neil Finn is also on the move
Gillingham haven’t long been relegated from the Premier League, so a nice move for the big former goalkeeper.
This is…odd
Colchester are 20th in Division 3. Bilbao are in La Liga. I don’t know why this has happened.
In the Premier League though it’s the sack for Kieron Dyer
Dyer hasn’t been in the management game that long but he’s moving rapidly through the clubs. He’ll need a new one now though. Who can Arsenal appoint?
Oh my. A controversial move, going from Liverpool to Arsenal, especially as he has been Liverpool manager for so long. Liverpool need somebody to bring back the glory days, it’s been very slim pickings for them recently.
Right. This is presumably an effort at re-producing Kenny Dalglish’s spell as player manager in the 80s, as Samuel is a Scottish right winger, though he has only ever played for Rangers
That’s a short career, especially to go on and manage Liverpool. Whatever, some things can’t be explained.
More about me now though, and Newcastle’s first Champions League campaign since the 97/98 season. The group we’ve got is a pure gift.
The early signs are that my confidence was not misplaced
Two goals from my right back, you don’t often get that. We’ve had more injuries than ever but we’ve coped, and despite a slip up in Zagreb we’re well placed to qualify.
Which brings us to the Premier League table, and whilst it hasn’t been a vintage title defence, we’re in the pack. As the old saying goes; you can’t win the title in November but you sure can lose it.
The league has levelled out somewhat over the years so I don’t expect it to get any less tight as the season goes on. The bottom of the table is grim reading for old Frazer Samuel
Chelsea are managed by Alvin Martin and I don’t remember mentioning them in any great detail for some seasons now, but they are in danger of being relegated here. Still a long way to go though.
So with this season bubbling up nicely I hope I’ll see you back here for the next update, as 2018 ticks into 2019 and the business end of the season approaches. Bye for now!
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