I have spent countless hours becoming a student of the game, preparing for barstool debates with passionate locals. I am proactively working to fight the stigma of an American football fan. Youtube, ESPN's Soccernet, and fifa.com have become second nature to me. I watch gamecasts and less than legal transmissions of games, not to mention Fox Soccer Channel at home (FSC to those in the know).
With a trip to England not yet secured I planned on following the English leagues as much as possible for that extra motivation to get overseas. This past season had started off with a bang, both my Chelsea Home Kit and my Liverpool scarf arrived on the same day. Seems like a bit of a contradiction I know, but you cant go wrong with a scarf that says "You'll never walk alone". I wore my new Drogba jersey almost everyday eagerly anticipating the new season and finally felt like a true fan. Then the games actually started. Chelsea lost its first (albeit quite meaningless) match when it played Liverpool in the Community Shield. Looking back on it, that was a taste of what was to come, as Chelsea lost to Liverpool twice and more importantly, ruined a chance at a Champions League final (AGAIN). A season full of promise left Chelsea with just the Carling Cup at one point, but the season was salvaged by an extra time goal from Didier this past weekend to win the FA Cup over Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. Being the eternal optomist that the Red Sox have taught me to become, there is always next year to see the Blues lift the Champions League Trophy. Perhaps my planned visit to Stamford Bridge will ignite a dormant fire in the players and spur them on to long-awaited European glory. Hey, it could happen (McWORRRRRRRLD!!)
Other disappointments from this season:
- Cristiano Ronaldo becoming FA player of the year over the Ref's favorite, Didier Drogba. He's basically the A-Rod of the EPL; theres no doubting his talents and he's more clutch than A-Rod will ever be, but he is flamboyant, whiny, plays for the wealthiest team and oftentimes his sexuality is called into question just like his American counterpart. Brothers from a different mother, you heard it here first.
- Seeing Michael Carrick sell his soul and sign with Man Utd. He was a likeable favorite at Spurs (another favorite of the Ref), now hes just left with no dignity and more money than I will ever see in my life.
- Man Utd winning Premiership Title, this is probably the last team that I would want to see win, with Arsenal being a close second.
- Most importantly it was unfortunate to see Southend United unable to avoid the drop. I was looking forward to the chance of seeing them in the Championship, but alas it was not meant to be. League One here we come.
All was not lost. As much as I make it seem that way. During that span Bloc Party came out with a new album 'A Weekend in the City' and also tore the lid off the Orpheum in Boston. Clive Tyldesley and Andy Gray burst onto the scene and tirelessly provided hours and hours of commentary in the tightest of matches and the biggest of blowouts in FIFA 07. The two guided my friends Chris, Tebo, and I through heartache and ectasy and I probably would not have made it through a school year without them. Turning 21 also had its benefits and as a result The Harp became a great place to watch a Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon kickoff for the knockout stages of the Champions League. If you are ever in the Amherst, MA area I highly recommend (don't be fooled into thinking The Pub is actually a pub).
Last but not least I will finally be venturing out of the North American continent. It's something I've always wanted to do but I never actually thought it would happen. The chance to work for Southend United and the thought seeing a football match in person gives me chills, I wish I could describe it better than that. May 30th is sandbagging worse than me.
Now if you'll excuse me I have to go watch the FA Cup highlight show on FSC for the umpteenth time.
