Myself and my football ramblings.

Hiya all!

Apologies for not having posted in a little while - for the last month or so, I've pretty much been full speed ahead with a lot of things!
First off, I have finally finished my second year of University! As much as this year went quickly for me, the work seemed to drag on and on, so it's more of a relief than anything that I've finished for the summer. Four months of summer holiday await for me, and I cannot wait.

However, I have actually been fairly busy recently since I left University to come home! The last week, I have been completing work experience at the Independent newspaper, based in Central London. I have found the experience different to my time spent at magazines earlier in the year, but I have found it an enjoyable one! It's given me vital experience and guidance on where I possibly will want to go after University next year - and I'm looking forward to coming back in July for another week. At this moment in time, the big dream is to go to New York and work there - if not full-time then I'd like to do an internship first and go from there. I also have been job-hunting for a summer job, to keep me busy! I successfully got a job working at the South of England show for a few days, as well as a interview on Saturday for working at Gatwick Airport; keep your fingers crossed for me please people!

I've been to a few football matches - one of them seeing my beloved Brighton and Hove Albion losing in the play-offs to our arch rivals Crystal Palace. That was a horrible match - I think most of us Brighton fans were fairly confident going into the play-offs, and how that came back to bite us. It's all gone downhill since, with our management all suspended, players leaving and whatnot... It's not been the toughest time being a Brighton fan to say the least, but it has been very testing. I have full faith in Tony Bloom and the club however - as much as it is frustrating not knowing anything, it's better this way than things being leaked all the time. It's being handled internally for a reason - and it's very professionally done by the club.
If he was to stay, would Gus be welcomed back? Half and half I reckon; on one hand, he's done fantastically with us and taken us to the play-offs within two seasons of being back in the Championship. On the other, he's fast becoming a little unpopular with the fans - has his ego gotten to big for the club? Most likely. It'd be hard to see him stay after all this, but it's not impossible. I hope it is sorted sooner rather than later, so the club can focus on next season and rebuilding to challenge for the play-offs once more - I hope!

I've seen a couple of women's football matches recently - both at Premier League grounds. One was Arsenal Ladies v Liverpool Ladies at the Emirates; although the result was very disappointing from a Arsenal perspective, I found the Emirates very impressive. What would have been better, is a bigger crowd. I believe there was only a crowd of around 2,000 for the game, which me and my football team found rather disappointing. It probably felt a lot less too, due to the size of the Emirates.
The second game me and my football team-mates went to was the women's Champions League at Chelsea's stadium, Stamford Bridge. That was impressive, and the crowd was a staggering 19,258 - impressive for a women's football game in the UK outside of the Olympics. I really hope that the Olympic legacy will help women's football continue to grow - with the women's FA Cup Final shown on the TV and the Euro's due to be shown in the summer, the coverage of the sport is beginning to grow. I'm so pleased - I know women's football may never be as 'big' as the men's game, but it is growing, slowly but steadily.

I believe that is all for now, so I shall end my little ramblings. Any comments on the issues above, just drop one below! Always be glad to hear from you lovely lot.

Adios, and happy reading x

Gone... But not goodbye

The footballing world was undoubtedly beyond shocked, as Manchester United gave confirmation that long-serving manager Sir Alex Ferguson was to retire at the end of the season; just two weeks after leading the Red Devils to their record 20th title.

No-one saw this coming. At all. It's a major shock - personally, I thought he could have gone a couple more seasons at least, maybe even longer until his health physically wouldn't let him manage anymore. That's one thing we have to remember; no-one is invincible. The man is 71, he cannot go on forever - as much as we may all want him to.

Regardless of whoever you support, you cannot deny the man is a legend. The greatest manager possibly ever, definitely the best manager in the English league. And quite frankly if you don't agree with that, you do not understand football.

In his 26 years at United, Fergie has won 38 trophies - that impressive haul includes 13 league titles, two Champions League crowns, five FA Cups and four League Cups. That record is undisputed - and yet we remember his first two seasons in charge of United were unsuccessful. In fact, United were going to sack him! But they stuck with him, and now, they have knocked Liverpool off their perch to be the most successful club in England.

He may be hypocritical, he may be arrogant but my goodness, he is utterly brilliant. I don't think any manager will eclipse quite what Fergie has done in his wonderful United career, and the respect he has gained throughout the World for this, is enormous. This is clearly evident from the amount of people who today, have said publicly spoke about how brilliant the man is. He's the man who could get his team to turn a game around and do the impossible. He puts his faith in the youth of today, and can make little known teenagers turn into some of the best footballers on the planet. There's just something about Fergie which makes him just pure brilliance.

Whoever his successor may be (I think David Moyes would be perfect for the job), they have certainly massive boots to follow. But I stand up and applaud a brilliant manager, one that has done a lot for the game. He may be going, but this is not goodbye.

So I say,
Farewell Fergie. And thanks for everything.