Column

The Outsider

Reading the Seasonal Comparisons by Steve Flanaghan, I was thinking "Interesting... but could do with a lot more information to give us a better understanding of how well the team and the club is doing in comparison with previous seasons."

After football my next favorite sport is horse racing, and I love a bet. I will burn the midnight oil studying the form, going through the horse's life, its age,breeding, each race it ran, the tracks it raced at and won and lost, the jockey, trainer, opponents and the going, before I bet on the horse with a name that reminds me of someone who use to stand in the Boys' Pen in the 60s or drank in the Bluehouse, or my granny's budgie and watch my money fall at the first fence.

So how do the teams line up compared to last season when you take into cosideration all the variables? Have our opponents improved or struggled this season compared with last season? A point could be made that, of the six teams we have beaten in the Premier League this season, four no longer have the same manager, three sacked, one's jumped before he's pushed. Being a betting man, I would have the Derby and Boro manager in my Yankee to be the next two Premier League managers to be sacked this season.

What this means to me is that the only teams we have beaten so far are the donkeys, whose jockey's have fallen at Beechers on the first circuit, except for Spurs who were left at the starting gate at the off, the rest are going to fight over the positions they are already in. Which brings us to the rest of the field; we are in 9th position makeing up ground, but will not and are not expected to get near the thouroghbreds leading the field.

However, a case can be made for getting 4th place; with the loss of the African-born players, signings in January (at least two will be necessary to keep up the gallop on the second circuit). The other teams around us will no doubt be thinking they also can get in the prize money.

It's no coincidence we have not beaten any Premier League teams in Cup games since the times I was picking Lester Piggot to win the Derby... or it feels that long anyway. You have to attack, go on the offensive, this our jockey has failed to do in past. But, apart from a few lead weights in the saddle, who should be dropped to pick up momentum (no names but the right hind leg is a bit lame... )

There's a good chance he can ride up the inside rail if he lets the reins out, picking them off one by one. This team plus one imaginitive midfielder could get that 4th spot. Play each game as a cup game going for the win instead of a result. Take the game to the opponent home and away; those at the back of the field won't get near us again. We have nothing to lose by being more adventurous...

Jeez ? what the hell am I rambling on about? I just thought I would mention how to make the seasonal comparison more interesting... next I've got us in the Breeders Cup, oops, sorry ? Champions League. I've lost the plot. I'm outta here! ? from the lad that Ladbrokes broke, and always Paddy Power to the People's Club.

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