Although I am absolutely delighted that Jags and Bainsey will both be starting for their country on Tuesday night, I am pissed off with the attitude of the FA regarding the total disrespect of us the fans.
Why are these England games planned, obviously for cash we know that. Our remaining eight games admittedly won't win or qualify us for anything, but every place we climb in the League is worth around £600k by what I have read. So these games are as vital to us as Chelsea's and Uniteds are to them, maybe more for us with our cash situation.
Now clubs like manure, Chelski and alike have already amassed serious amounts of cash due to their virtual season in season out monopoly of the Champions League places. Clubs like ours have to scrape by season in season out with no real cash, so it seems that Fat Frank, the womanising Captain and Shrek are more important than Bainsey, Jags and the rest.
What chance have we got of ever closing the gap, when attitudes like this still exist within the FA? Their main power brokers are not Bill Kenwright and chairmen of 'lesser clubs', but the David Gill's of this world?
That is my first rant, and secondly I read on your site yesterday about the FA Cup Final being played on the same day as the Premier League. I know we are out of the competition, but FA Cup Final Day is sacrosanct. Why are the FA meddling, as only the other week on Quarter Final day they decided to scrap the whole Premier League program, I really can't work that one out.
Cup Final day when we were growing up was one of the best days of the year. They were even better when you were heading to Wembley. Memories of Andy Gray and Sharpy netting, Rideout scoring the winner, even the defeats as hard at the time as they were to stomach were still great occasions.
Ricky Villa's goal, Dave Beasants penalty save, Charlie George's celebrations, Bobby Stokes winner, the list can go on and on, but thanks to the FA, theses days will not be remembered as we once used to.
Just carry on bowing down to the big boys, but remember you will reap what you sow. All you will serve to do is send more clubs out of business as you pander to the few.
Phil Jeffers Aylesbury Bucks
Email Bluekipper at mailbag@bluekipper.com
