The summer break is not that long!
April 30, 2009
For many football supporters up and down the country, this weekend will be a sad one. Win lose or draw, nobody can escape the fact that the last game of the season always has a tinge of sadness to it.
The traditional Saturday routines all go out of the window and you will find that your are compelled to do the housework or go shopping during your weekends rather than spend it with your mates watching your team.
No matter how your team have done this season, there is no doubt that come five o clock on Saturday, you will be feeling a litle bit of sadness.
Well the good news is that the summer break is getting shorter and shorter. Most teams begin their pre season campaigns in the second week of July and this is just ten weeks away!
Also of course, the Premier League still has three weeks to run with the FA Cup Final being played on the last Saturday in May. Throw in some World Cup Qualifiers at the start of June and the picture starts to look a little brighter.
Use the summer to recharge your batteries and when the 2009/10 season begins, you will be ready to cheer your team on for another nine months!
Giggs takes Player of the Year Award
April 29, 2009
Manchester United’s legendary midfielder Ryan Giggs has been awarded the PFA Player of the Year at the awards ceremony held in London last night.
Giggs fought off competition from team mates Nemanja Vidic, Christiano Ronaldo and goalkeeper Edwin van der Saar as well as from Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard.
It is just reward for the Manchester United man after he rolled back the years to produce some inspirational performances. These have already secured the Carling Cup and with the Premier League championship and the Champions League within reach, the season may well have a successful ending for the Welshman.
Surprisingly, this is the first time which Giggs has picked up the accolade and he has moved quickly to dilute suggestions that he is set to retire at the end of the season. Speaking straight after the awards, Giggs sated that as long as he is still enjoying the game and feels as though he is offering something to the team then he will carry on playing.
Aston Villa’s Ashley Young capped a great season by securing the PFA Young Player of the Year award whilst one of the biggest surprises of the night came when the PFA Premier League Team of the Year was introduced yet did not include striker Wayne Rooney
WIE plays tribute to the Hillsborough 96
April 22, 2009
Twenty years ago, ninety six Liverpool fans died as a result of the Hillsborough tragedy.
They had travelled to the home of Sheffield Wednesday for the FA Cup Semi Final against Nottingham Forest not knowing of the carnage which would unfold.
A hold up on the motorway meant that many Liverpool fans were late arriving at the ground and as they approached the Leppings Lane End, they would have seen a frantic rush for the turnstiles developing.
This led to the exit gates being opened and people entering the ground through this method.
What then followed will live in the memory of everyone who was present for the rest of their lives.
The crowd became crushed to the point that they could not breath and this was particularly the case with those stood at the front of the terrace.
In the struggle to get out and save themselves many people saw scenes which will never be forgotten. Advertising boards where used as make shift stretchers and people tried to save the lives of those around them as well as their own.
It was truly the blackest day in English football and must never be forgotten or repeated.
WIE plays tribute to the Hillsborough 96 – may you rest in peace.
United dumped out of FA Cup
April 21, 2009
The quintuple is officially off. Manchester United were knocked out of the FA Cup yesterday by an Everton side who have reached their first final since 1995.
Ironically, it was United who Everton beat 14 years ago where a Paul Rideout goal ensured that the FA Cup made its way to the blue side of Liverpool.
Although yesterday’s match was by no means a classic, Everton fans will simply not care less – they are in the final and that is all that matters.
However, I for one was slightly concerned with Ferguson’s team selection which perhaps did not respect the competition. The United Manager opted to play an array of second string players and therefore can not argue with being dumped out.
Ultimately they were to fail during a penalty shoot out with Berbatov’s miss one of the most pathetic spot kicks which you will ever hope to see.
Any one of the vast crowd within the stadium could have made a better attempt at the spot kick which Tim Howard saved with ease.
United deserved to go out, if nothing more for the relaxed attitude which they seemed to have from start to finish.
Everton will meet Chelsea in the final after they overcame London rivals Arsenal in Saturday’s other semi final.
