Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Considering there has not been an international tournament it feels like it has been a remarkably long football season in England.
The matches against Brazil and the European qualifier with Estonia really have dragged this year out for even the most avid football fan.
Ironically, if you log onto www.premierleague.com, the official site of the Premiership, tomorrow at 10am the 2007/2008 fixtures will be available.
Added to this the transfer rumour mill surrounding players and clubs then there really is not a season any more, it’s a year long sport with a bit of business attached – although sometimes it feels the other way around.
Managers and fans alike will have a lot to do and ponder on during this period, not least the England coach Steve McClaren.
The draw with Brazil offered the beleaguered manager some breathing space before the crucial qualifier but make no mistake, on a very poor pitch his team were completely outplayed.
However, the performance in Tallin was more encouraging not just because of the 3-0 victory but more about the composure and quality of the play than anything else.
Far too often an England side has made very hard work of such matches but from very early on the result was never really in doubt and the three goal margin was fully justified.
It is pointless now expecting this particular England side to create dozens of chances in a fluid and aesthetic way, its just not the way they play and we have witnessed this too many times to think this will change. But at least this time they kept possession well and were less desperate and more patient than many times before.
Whether this has anything to do with the return of David Beckam is unclear but what he does bring is that free kick and crossing threat so the team at least know he will create a chance at some point in the game. Without him it is possible the side can go a whole 90 minutes and create nothing, a sad indictment but nonetheless true.
England lie in a precarious fourth in their group but they do have four games at home to come with the only away fixture being in Russia and it is this game which will probably decide whether they qualify.
Croatia are firm favourites to make it through and Israel have some tricky games so the home and away fixtures with the Russians will decide the second place spot.
How England have ended up in this situation is a reflection on McClaren’s inability to move the team on from the Eriksson era and he must think himself lucky he is not in the France, Italy and Ukraine group.
Instead, we will have to endure the prolonged tenure of his appointment and wait for his inevitable sacking. At some point he will have another poor run of games and that will be enough for all involved and he will be gone.
Meanwhile, domestically the rumour mill is rife. Manchester United have already spent plenty of money on two Portuguese stars and the worst kept secret in football, Owen Hargreaves move from Munich.
Chelsea and Liverpool are yet to make big moves and Arsenal as ever are dealing with Thierry Henry’s ‘will he stay, will he go’ scenario.
This time it is Barcelona who are the likely destination for the French star but, as ever, it is impossible to know if it will happen.
Even if he stays or the money is spent on a quality replacement it makes no difference, this is a pivotal season for Arsene Wenger and the Gunners.
Two poor fourth place finishes in a row is disappointing and only by the end of the next campaign will we know whether Wenger has a team of real worth or another building programme will have to take place.
Liverpool will have to make quality signings on the left side of the team and also up front to make a real challenge for the title while Chelsea need something more to win in Europe. If Moriniho gets a full season out of Joe Cole and has Essien available in midfield all year they will be stronger but whether Ballack and Shevchenko will prove their worth is a more difficult question to answer. If they do find their ‘second season feet’ then this could make the difference, otherwise it will be the transfer dealings that could be the deciding factor.
It’s exhausting just going through the options and with the European Championships in June 2008 it’s going to be another long season … and I only have a few weeks to prepare.
Some cricket and Wimbledon should keep me sane and along with plenty of rest I should be in perfect shape to tackle the monolith that masquerades as the football season.
By Patrick Cummings
patrick.cummings@blueyonder.co.uk
