Big choice you’re stuck with for life
AH, THE innocence and joys of youth. All you have to do is toe the line to some sort of degree and you’ll get fed, watered, clothed and a roof over your head.
No stresses of work to turn your hair greyer than a badger’s behind, no gargantuan bills to worry about, and you’ve yet to feel the pain of being a long-suffering fan of a team that gives you hours of heartache for every fleeting second of joy.
The young fella hasn’t completely firmed up on what soccer franchise he has chosen to follow yet. Gaelic games was easy, as obviously you’re interwined with your own club and county so there’s no choice to make, but selecting some batch of multi-millionaires from across the water or on the continent to admire is a completely different kettle of fish.
If asked to name his favourite side at the moment he would definitely answer Real Madrid, because of his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, but he certainly hasn’t adopted the one team mantra yet as he would also gaze with eyes full of wonder at the mesmeric Lionel Messi as he struts his stuff for Barcelona.
During last week’s Champions League action the young lad was shouting for Liverpool on Tuesday night, even going so far as letting out a little whoop of delight as the goals went in, and then he got firmly behind Manchester United the following evening, despite their less than inspiring performance against Benfica.
I tried explaining to him that it’s not the done thing to support both of the arch-rivals, but in the usual happy-go-lucky way of a five-yearold he just smiled, shrugged his shoulders and asked ‘why not?’
Some fathers encourage the chislers to follow in their footsteps, but I’m keen to let them make up their own minds, although given that Swindon Town are tied to me like a giant weight around my ankle I could hardly drag him in that direction as you wouldn’t lumber your worst enemy with that lot.
There’s a fair chance he’ll end up pledging allegiance to the team which plays the most attractive and ultimately successful football, like beer-bellied forty-somethings in their replica kit that were wowed by Liverpool in the ’80s, or those in their thirties that worshipped at the altar of Manchester United after they took a stranglehold on the English game in the ’90s.
After settling down to watch the re-run of Match of the Day early on Sunday mornings with yours truly in recent weeks, it wouldn’t surprise me if he opted for the blue side of Manchester given the eye-catching football they’re playing at present.
With the exciting yet often un- convincing displays by Liverpool he could possibly go for the rollercoaster thrills of the Anfield crew, as like most kids of his age he is partial to a bit of white-knuckle excitement at a theme park.
The main problem with Liverpool is the steep climbs, followed by the exhilarating downhill bursts, will last a hell of a lot longer than the few minutes at the fairground.
Speaking of ups and downs, Arsenal are another that will certainly put any supporter through the wringer, looking like world beaters one week, and capitulating against Stoke or Swansea the next.
Spurs could be a decent shout for a stable personality as they continue to build steadily and morph into realistic challengers, although as a long-term bet they could be a bit iffy as their big guns could easily be swayed by the promise of filthy lucre on greener hills, while fellow Londoners Chelsea should continue to be there or thereabouts as long as their Russian oligarch retains his interest.
Unless Jose Mourinho changes his mindset I can’t imagine him throwing his lot behind the Red Devils as, given the football they’ve played in the past few weeks, it’s hard to see them holding the attention of an aficionado of tactical football, never mind a wide-eyed child. That said, he’s already been to a few local Junior games and the one League of Ireland match he came along to happened to be about as dire a 0-0 draw as you could ever imagine and amazingly he’s still interested in going back for more.
Maybe he’s a sucker for punishment like his auld lad, and Burton Albion, Wycombe Wanderers or Luton Town might be just about to gain a new fan.