Various QPR-related matters have given me cause to wonder whether it's ever a good idea to take at face value anything said by anyone connected with football. Cue a long piece that will doubtless be considered a rant. So, that's fair warning, right? You may well not like this damn piece: http://thisismyengland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/football-trust-no-one.html
Bit harsh on Redknapp imo. With Harry what you see is what you get, he hardly tries to hide his failings. You can trust dear old Tony, right? No, personally I have zero trust in Fernandes and have never hid the fact. Too tired of it all to list the many reasons yet again but believe me he's bad news for QPR. Don't say I didn't warn you, it will all end in tears with fat boy.
Not like it, it's brilliant! Up there with your piece on the Terry / Ferdinand affair. Anger and passion, who could want more?
At QPR it always all ends in tears, that's why I still support them after some 47 years, this season is just another one of those we are well used to. As for taking ANYTHING at face value in football, I'm probably so ultra-cynical nothings surprises me anymore. As I've often said, the stereotypical footballer these days is usually something worth despising...
That's a really bitter article imo. Not sure he much loves the game any more, or much about QPR. Still, that's 10 minutes of my life that I'll never get back!
We rarely seem to see eye to eye, old boy. Perhaps you'd be better off heeding my warnings and not reading anything of mine. I'm uneasy about your having nudged 10 minutes closer to the grave with nothing gained in that time.
I love the style and prose of it. I do think that most non glory hunting fans actually like bemoaning their lot - the players not caring, the mass comercialisation, the spin from all quarters. I know I love unpicking every word of an article I disagree with. A good read even if I can only agree with it in part. Cheers TIME.
You're right, we don't seem to agree too often and I was maybe a tad harsh, for which I apologies. TBH I'm sure that a fair amount of what you have written here is true, especially the Dubai trip. Thing is, QPR is my escape from real life in a way. It's the club I support and it's also like a kind of soap opera for me. I could let myself get just as cynical and depressed about the game and what is happening to it, but I simply choose to go with the flow and not get too hung up on whether Harry is honest or our owners are here to stay. I'll debate these things and feel quite strongly about them at times, but I always try to treat it as my escape from reality at the end of the day. Now, I know that it's all very real and involves real people and lives, but I'm just trying to put things from my perspective (not very clearly I suspect). IMO football is the new religion and people tend to follow their teams with blind faith in much the same way as a decreasing number of people have faith in a God. You are entitled to your opinions on things and I appreciate the time you take to write your articles.
Absolute quality post there Col - there's a truth in there which applies to a lot of people (me included). The only thing I can add to the blog is that managers have been feeding people what they want to hear for a long time (eg Shankley). I think that today is more obvious because the managers know that the press are looking to find the next sensational scoop (whether there's one or not).
Oddly enough, so do I. As is probably the case for you, real life stuff is way more important. Every now and then, however, I find I have the time to think about things a bit more and, by writing, then let off the steam which seems to be generated by the thought process. It's done mainly to indulge my own enjoyment of writing. Any positive reaction from anyone else is a bonus. A strongly negative reaction can sometimes be a laugh too. It's a hobby really.
Thanks TIME, plenty in there and beautifully constructed. Of course it's a **** industry which routinely abuses its fans, who routinely abuse each other in a rather more direct way. No longer makes me angry because, as you say, the 90 minutes (or 95, or 99 if you are Utd) is enough. But leave us a little naivety and innocence. Makes me feel better to believe the Fernandes is the real deal. It may be foolish, but I also like to trust people until that trust is proved misplaced (much rarer than you may think) and TF has done more than enough for him to deserve a little faith. Sports journos are obviously a pretty low bunch, but the breed has also produced some wonderful writing (though I'm struggling to think of recent examples, and the older ones tend to be on cricket and boxing), and, on the (odd) occasion, they unearth some serious scandal or corruption which is worth dealing with. One thing your articles have convinced me of is to stay away from Twitter for ever. You clearly occupy the misty peaks of the moral high ground, I think the air would be too thin for me up there. Plus, as a representative of the corporate world you so clearly despise, I doubt I would be welcome anyway. But your perspective always makes me think, which is great. Cheers.
This really made me laugh. Literally out loud. We move in quite similar worlds, I think. I play the game to pay the bills and all that. But I'll never believe completely in the rightness of it all. But on most days I successfully suspend my disbelief and just get on with the job that pays for the house, car, holidays etc.
I think the majority of us play the game, and a firm understanding of the fundamental absurdity of it all is of course a gift. Truly the age of doublethink.
There is a lot of truth in your article TIME. It's a very well written piece. In fact it is so well written that you could replace the noun 'Football' and replace it with any other that you choose. Try it...it's fun.... Parliament, The Police, Newspaper Corp, Tories, Labour, The London Mayor's office. Even in my line of work it works. . . The London Fire Brigade Management: Chock full of liars? Yes it is. And all at Joe Bloggs expense. Great stuff mate.
Im a bit torn over this one TIME. I've read it and it does seem very cynical. For what its worth ( and thats not much) I read a blog posted by you some months ago. It didnt sit right with me but i thought that maybe it was a one off and not all your blogs could be in the same vein. I read maybe 5 or 6 more and I was wrong. They al seem to have some sort of anger or cynicism running through them. Now, I openly acknowledge that this blog is very well put together and written, & I could not even get close to writing something so proffesionally. So I commend you on that. Just personally it doesnt suit my taste (i dont know why) and i find it hard to stay focussed. i think it all seems so negative and cynical, although its mostly all probably true. So while you do have many deserved rreaders of your bloggs, for me personally its a "thanks but no thanks". Like i said, many others enjoy your blogs and I know you do it as a hobby, so keep on the good work. Maybe when I become a bit "more smarterer" I may look back and re-read them. nothing personal mate, just a bit of honest feedback. Good luck <OK>
Guilty as charged. I am a corporate guy. I approve anodyne and disingenuous press releases, reports and presentations. I disguise bad news and spin numbers to manipulate people. I smile, shake hands and laugh with people I can't stand. So the blog is a chance to release feelings that would get me fired if articulated in the context of work. I think some people see something of a kindred spirit when reading this stuff. But many more people just find it a bit bitter/negative/cynical etc. It's very unlikely to change unless I have some sort of personality-altering experience. Like finding God out of nowhere, perhaps. Or having a brain injury.
...or QPR staying up, winning something next season playing beautiful football, all of Tony's promises coming true, free season tickets for long term fans in the new stadium etc etc?? Damn this medication is good.
