From the Bernabeu to the Etihad

A hell of a lot has gone on in club football in the last week, that goes without saying as we are currently at the business end of the European football season. As much as I love watching football there's a certain level of satisfaction I get every year from the season's conclusion in May. It's like reading a long novel or sitting through a long film and finally getting to the end, you almost feel like you've achieved something as you've experienced the journey from beginning to end.

Contrary to what the title of my blog will have you believe I managed to miss what is being dubbed as the best conclusion to the Premiership title race since its inauguration in 1992. I even read a tweet from one football fan that even dared to suggest that this was the greatest climax ever, even more exciting finish than that of the 1988/89 season when Thomas went "charging through the midfield". I won't go into that because my 10 Things for this week is going to be based on that but what I'm trying to say is, is that I missed all of the kerfuffle. Despite consistently (avidly) following the Premiership, even with the absence of West Ham, from day one in August, I left the cinema before the epic film ended. This weekend I broke my own self-imposed rule of making sure that I watch all major and potentially dramatic goings on in the footballing world as I went on a trip to Madrid. Hey! It's not like England were playing!

I landed in Madrid on Friday morning to be advised that I'd missed Atletico Madrid's Europa League vitory parade by about 12 hours, gutted. Being the self-righteous football fan that I am I have a soft spot for Los Colchoneros as they're the poorer relation to the all conquering , world renowned beast that is their cross town rivals Real Madrid. I am well aware that Atletico are by no means minnows, for a start this was their second Europa League triumph in three seasons and in the past they've won league championships galore, I will however always favor them over Spain's more popular big boys. I watched the Europa League final last Wednesday hoping that Bilbao (my Spanish team) would do a job on them, especially upon hearing that there was a potential nautical celebration (god I love Bilbao and their quirks), but in the back of my mind I had a bad feeling what with Atletico's form under the stewardship of Diego Simeone (of David Beckham sending off fame), their destruction of Valencia in the semi finals and Radamel Falcao's ridiculous goalscoring record in the competition; the Europa League would, like me, be heading to Madrid. And i was right. Falcao was immense and pretty much ended up being the difference between the two sides. For anyone that missed the game (shame on you) the goals are here.

So as I was saying, I arrived in Madrid at a time when their two biggest clubs had been newly crown kings of Spain (I'm sure Ashley Giles may contest that title) and kings of the Also Rans in European football respectively. to make up for the fact that I was missing what could potentially be one the defining weekends in the future of English football I decided that I should visit one of the spiritual homes of football, the
Santiago Bernabeu Stadium; and my well connected girlfriend managed to sort it all out so that it ended up being totally free.

I think they get a few more than one man and his dog in each week...

First thing I'll say about the Bernabeu is that it is absolutely HUGE (see above) and this is coming from somebody who has been to the new and old Wembleys, The Millennium Stadium and other fair sized grounds. It's just so massive, especially for something that's basically been plonked in the middle of the streets of Madrid. What I like about it is that the stands are right on top of the pitch, I can imagine it being pretty intimidating for the opposition and as someone who's struggled at times when being jeered by a couple of guys at the side of the pitch on a Sunday I can see why many players and referees may crumble when faced by 80,000 Madridstas. The main thing I'll take away from the whole thing is how much of a commercial brand Real Madrid are. The tour pretty much consisted of screeching hyperactive Spanish kids, smelly old men and smiling staff who only seemed to be on hand to either offer you the chance of having your photo taken and superimposed onto images of Jose Mourinho or direct you to the club shop, which was bigger than most UK high street stores. I'd like to think that a tour of the San Mames would be a lot more about the football and history and less commercial... yeah right!

On Sunday my focus was away from the football. As I enjoyed the 30+ degree Madrid heat, back in England things were getting exciting. As I had no intention of paying extortionate fees for roaming abroad on my mobile phone I checked the scores as I left my hotel at around 16:15 English time and could see that United were ahead and City were drawing. Trying not to appear desperate for my football fix to my girlfriend (she really doesn't get football) I resisted checking the score again until we got back to our hotel about an hour later. At this point I could see that the situation was the same although City were now drawing after initially taking the lead. I had no idea that Joey Barton had lost his mind (again) and that QPR were down to 10 men and the next time I checked the scores was long after the final whistles. I can remember seeing Vincent, or "Van San" as Martin Tyler says, Kompany on the front of the BBC Sport website holding up the Premiership trophy with a massive grin on his face and thinking, "Thank god! Justice has prevailed and Man City naturally overpowered QPR." WRONG! What had actually happened was I'd missed the greatest, or 2nd greatest if you support Arsenal and are old enough to remember 1988/89, ending to the English top flight season. What's worse is back in 1989 I missed all the excitement too. My mum had forced me to go with her to a Tupperware party!! Add that to the 1996 FA Cup final fiasco and you can see why I have such a dislike for people wanting to distract me from major footballing moments. Once again Sunday, like May 1989, was another occasion where England weren't even playing but look at what happened...

PS I'd like to make it clear that Madrid was amazing and it was well worth missing Sunday's action.

England's Number 1!!

On a side note on Saturday West Ham have their biggest game of the season, the Championship Playoff Final versus Blackpool. Despite the fact that we comprehensively beat Blackpool twice this season I am not confident at all. I absolutely hate the concept of the Playoffs especially with West Ham finishing quite a few points clear of all of our fellow Playoff combatants. At least we get to go to Wembley, it's going to be an absolute boozefest. Please God, make Blackpool roll over like Cardiff did. And note to Big Sam, start with Lansbury in goal, it worked last time.