Following four days of too many hills and not enough football, I am forced to analyse the bank holiday games today as Sky return to their raison d'être of fleecing the armchair leisure punter. For today's televised Premiership games, the PGMOB present us with Poll, Webb and Mason (see: http://footballisfixed.blogspot.com/2007/03/bum-ref-index-march-update.html) - each of these events are intriguing but tradeable and we already have a significant market presence in Asia. But we're not going to blog you with manipulated matches today - let's focus on some proper sport.
Currently, being a Prisoner of Mother England due to too many work commitments, at least I'm situated in god's-own-city, Manchester. Today sees the first mini-derby at Gigg Lane between FC United of Manchester and Maine Road (with their links to the Blues). FCUM are thirteen points clear with six games remaining and the title may be virtually wrapped up this afternoon - two years and two titles with a real atmosphere and no sign of Rio Ferdinand. Crowds of 2500 are the norm although up to 7000 may be expected today. Kick off is at 15:00 with prices ranging from £2-£7. And, as the FCUM website states (http://www.fc-utd.co.uk), "even get your blue mates along, if you know any" - if you are in the area, go and celebrate.
I cannot decide whether to jump on the tram to Bury or on the train to Huddersfield to cheer on Blackpool's relentless surge towards the Championship. This is despite the "disappointment" of failing to get the first super-casino and having their shirt sponsor, Pointbet, scamper underground with the police in close pursuit. After winning only one of their first eleven games, the Tangerines have won 18 and lost only six of their subsequent matches and second place is still feasible although a Play-Off Final victory at the new Wembley would be a bigger grin.
AO Kerkyra return to action at the weekend against Ionikos followed by a trip to Olympiakos the reward for patiently waiting while Greek society digested the latest bout of Athenian hooliganism (see: http://footballisfixed.blogspot.com/2007/03/vourligan-on-volleyball-violence.html). Three points clear of the relegation zone, the Corfiots could do with a little institutional retributionary punishment but they might as well dream on...
With Celtic needing a victory at Killie to stutter over the Scottish Premiership finishing line and Korona Kielce and Rapid Bucureşti challenging for European places in Poland and România, success is relative. AO Kerkyra managing to maintain a place in the Hellenic Super League is as equally rewarding as Celtic's title. My portfolio of football clubs maintains my interest in real sport despite having to spend so much of my work life focusing on corruption in the game. Let's hear it for proper footie as, without it, life would be markedly grimmer...
And all of this is infinitely more interesting than the interminable Sky focus on David James and his eventual achievement of the record number of Premiership clean sheets. The cheeky chappy has decided not to shave until he beats the record. Who, exactly, cares?
