Steady on, we’re about to cross into 2025. The penultimate season of this crazy story is reaching a typically exciting finale, as Darlington aim to survive in the deep end in their return season to top flight football. Elsewhere, England’s pointless array of friendlies continue and the season’s first final is set. Superstar DJ, here we go!

The Pointless Cup can be a good way to build confidence but as we’re going well in the league and the FA Cup yet to get underway, I’m even less bothered than usual that we exit on penalties

The semi-finals are a little bit unusual. Beardsley’s Man City have a first leg lead but Chelsea turn it round. Meanwhile first division Crewe stun Boro and it’s Chelsea vs Crewe in the first final of the season.

Speaking of Beardsley, the old fella has turned 64. He celebrates with a goal against Scotland a few months before his birthday

Then by saving my skin with a draw against the USA. Dooley indeed.

Here’s Beardsley at 64 for your viewing pleasure

In the real cup, my aim to use it as a passageway to Europe is still alive. Seeing off Leicester in the quarters gets us to the neutral venue stage

So I’m not exactly heartbroken to be drawn against Derby or Hull. Especially when Derby stun Hull in the replay – so First Division opposition in the semis for us.

With Crewe representing the football league in the Pointless cup final, and our step up to the Premier League being rather seamless, it does make me think that the gap between the Premier and First division is narrowing by the year. However it’s 2025 and I doubt anybody really cares.

Meanwhile, English interest in the Champions League is over after Leeds are beaten by Inter Milan.

Hercules are a very consistent Spanish side, they’re always in the latter stages. Milan have recovered from my loss and top the Italian league so they’ll be back next year, whereas Twente have made it this far without having Steve McClaren, so that fake Dutch accent is for nothing. The semi final draw could lead to an all Italian final

All that’s left for me to do is show you the League table. Leeds are looking a steady bet to retain their title, whilst we are flying high in 5th

The 2nd Champions League spot is probably out of reach, but we’re on for European qualification one way or another. At the bottom, it’s looking like 3 from 4 to go down, but at least Beardsley is relatively safe, even if the entertainment value at Maine Road hasn’t improved.

I’ve ditched the 3-1-3-3 and got back to my favoured 5-3-2, finally some bids came in for fringe players and it’s allowed me to buy some more centre backs. We’ve had a lot of annoying injurites, of which Domoraud and McNiven are the latest so I’ll have to patch them up

Just 4 updates to go now then, so make the most of my wittering. The finale to this season will hopefully see me in a cup final, plus Beardsley’s glamour friendlies against Yemen & The Cayman Islands. It might be better than it sounds. Bye for now.

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