The 07/08 season has reached boiling point and with a clutch of clubs in the running for honours, not to mention a European Championships on the horizon, it promises to be quite the end to the season

The only interesting signing of transfer deadline day sees cash strapped Leeds flog their star man to Boro

League Cup

The first domestic silverware is Man Utd’s, beating Keegan’s brave first division Blackburn. Blackburn do however rack up 108 points to gain promotion

But can Fergie make it a double with the Premier League?

Premier League

It was a three horse race and with a game to go, we’re hanging in there but are very much outsiders

In truth we’ve struggled for form recently as Marco got a 4 month injury and then, unfortunately, so did new man Austin Blades

Sigh. At the bottom, there’s a few teams who could go down still

Here’s the last day fixtures:

Ideally I will take at least 2nd, but that will require a good result at Villa Park coupled with bad results for Man Utd or Bolton. Man Utd, at home to mid table Leeds, are red hot favourites. Newcastle could still go down so maybe they’ll have a go against Bolton

Bloody Clarky. My point at Villa Park in isolation is a good result but it needed Bolton to lose for it to be enough. They win handsomely, but not as handsomely as Man Utd, who stroll their way to the title. Cheers Leeds. Burnley, meanwhile, are relegated.

So a big failure for me, maybe I can put it right in the UEFA Cup?

UEFA Cup

Nope. Bremen go on to win the trophy, which is of little consolation

Leicester, however, do England proud and retain the Cup Winners Cup

That’s some result for Roy Evans.

FA Cup

It’s an all claret & blue final

Chelsea’s woes continue. Is Brian Little’s wonderful career going to glitter yet again?

Crafty Brian.

Champions League

Juventus stun Real Madrid, who just have to make do with La Liga (for the first time in 5 years) and Copa del Rey, whilst Barcelona will fancy their chances.

Juventus win on home soil, albeit in Rome, which is a bit of an upset. Maybe van Gaal’s reign of dominance is coming to a close.

Euro 2008

So after the disappointment of this season, I’m hoping Laurent Blanc fails msierably so I can have his job. Here’s the groups:

It’s a terrible group for Blanc, but hosts Spain have a decent group.  My old buddies France, reigning World Champions, should fancy their chances in Group B. Firstly though, England. Here’s the squad

Good grief. Let’s see if the hosts get us off to a good start

Oh dear. England’s first game goes well

I’m amazed the introduction of Shaun Newton didn’t change the game. Game 2 is a lot better

But game 3 is game over

Here’s some headline results:

All of means Spain, France, England & Ireland are all out in the groups. Scotland are the only hope

Denmark’s constant run is ended by Belgium whilst Italy beat the Germans. The big shock though sees Scotland put out Portugal.

But can they beat Holland?

Poor Scotland. A good final awaits though

Italy take it, despite Patrick Ax and Fabien Ho-a-Hing winning world’s greatest name. Also, Kiki Musampa of Man City game. What a team. All aboard for Norway 2012

Awards time!

Quite sensible for once, although Andreas Andersson must be tearing up division 2. Neil Finn is a very irritating goalkeeper, if you are wondering. Two huge losses to the game though

Means Roy will never get the chance to lead England to underwhelming Euro and World Cup campaigns. A great shame. Anyway, thanks for reading, we’ll be back with the first update of the 08/09 season very soon.

As the 07/08 season reaches boiling point, English football seems to be reflecting real life as the national team struggles for results and for the first time since this game began, there are no English sides in the Champions League Quarter final. Fortunately, the league is still very entertaining, so let’s focus on the positives.

Last time out we saw the usual jostling for position in the opening months of the season, whilst England appointed Laurent Blanc and things were terrible. Blanc’s career as the national manager seems to be reflecting that of Mike Bassett, as he has scraped through to Euro 2008 despite not winning a game in his tenure.

Grim. Rough draw for the finals too. I will get that job yet.

Anyway enough of our failing national team – another manager under fire is Gordon Milne, who has failed again

“What we need is a Geordie hero”
“Alan Shearer is busy”

I was tempted by the job but I’ve got a good thing going with Liverpool, not only because I’ve signed the best named striker in the game

But things are going well in general. I’ve also nicked my old mate (shocker) from Leeds, we won a World Cup and a Premier League together, we’re like brothers. Also he was out of contract in 3 months so, you know

I’m one of two English clubs still in Europe, as Leicester are trying to retain their Cup Winners Cup trophy, I’m battling away in the UEFA.

Werder Bremen beating their fellow countrymen so handsomely is a bit of a strange one, but I have them in the semis so I guess I’ll find out just how good they are

Meanwhile in the Champions League, Juventus are trying to throw it all away again

It would take a brave man to bet against Barcelona retaining their title, though Real Madrid are always a threat

They could yet meet in a repeat of the 2001 final, whilst Juventus won it in 2003.

In the much less glamorous setting of the League cup, Division 1 Blackburn (still managed by Keegan despite relegation) have made it to Wembley

Brian Little is denied yet another League Cup final appearance by Man Utd, as Fergie surely nears retirement. Blackburn are in decent form it’s fair to say

One loss all season is incredible, with just 8 games to go. A people’s champion is on the way back to the Premier League at the age of 36

Whilst I’ve said yet another emotional goodbye to Erik Nevland, who I just don’t have a purpose for now

The league itself has been a topsy turvy affair, as is the norm nowadays. Bolton continue to lead but both ourselves and Man Utd have topped the table at various times over the winter months

Fairly tight, though my next game is at Bolton which could really make or break the run-in. You’d like to think there are only 3 teams in it, though you can never discount Leeds. Meanwhile at the bottom, Chelsea continue to struggle without Tony Adams

Perhaps Dalglish will be saved by their FA Cup run, incredibly 15th, 16th and 18th join 5th placed Villa in the semi finals.

All of this means that the final 2 months of the season should be very exciting – I am aiming to win at least one trophy, but why not have both? Until next time…

The 07/08 season is here, and despite England being well on their way to Euro 2008, the powers that be have decided that Glenn Hoddle is more like Glen Shoddle. Has that been used? Probably not. Anyway, terrible puns aside, here’s how the opening months of the 07/08 season have panned out. Poor Glenn, all he did was fail miserably in England’s home tournament 40 years on from the scene of their greatest triumph. Why they’ve strung it out for a year, I’m not sure. Anyway, I apply for the job as I fancy my chances of taking these idiots to World Cup 2010. However, I’ve been overlooked for Laurent Blanc. So we’ve got Tony Adams in charge of France and Laurent Blanc in charge of England. Modern football. Hilariously, Blanc’s blown it! What a disgusting result. The old Cadamarteri/Gallen partnership is just not up to it. Still, things will surely get better? Disaster. And a cap for Sam Aiston…obviously. Here’s Blanc’s squad – but qualification is in the balance That’s quite enough of that. On the domestic front, I need a goalscorer to partner Bochenski so I’ve raided Leeds for Victor Marco Good times. Few will have predicted this Charity Shield back in fictional 1997 when I started this game Todd remains one of the few “original managers” – another one though has been given the boot He’s not the only one though But as usual, transfers have gone crackers The managers are in on it too, Roy Evans is crawling his way back up the ladder There’s some other changes afoot too Peter Reid’s tour of his old clubs is back underway. Anyway, the actual football hasn’t been bad either. We start away to the champions – nice and easy With the UEFA Cup to compete for too, I’m hopeful of this being a big season. Things are decent and my annual win at old club Leeds is very handy. It does help well the opposition’s World Cup winning keeper is sent off after 2 minutes. As we creep into November, here’s the tables: Tight table again but Bolton lead the way – they’ve just beaten me 3-1 at Anfield. It’s definitely a league where anybody can beat anybody, unless you’re Bradford. Chelsea are in the bottom 3, remarkably – whilst Burnley is the place to be for entertainment. Bradford, probably wisely, give their manager the sack And to round this update off in a neat little package, Glenn Hoddle finds work at 1st division Watford. Bouncing back. It’s going to be a ridiculous few months – join us next time to see if England scrape into Euro 08 as a best runner up or whether Blanc will be under immediate pressure