AS the footballing world whipped itself into a frenzy last week over the financial shenanigans at Liverpool and Wayne Rooney’s dramatic loss of form at Manchester United, two managers offered rare words of wisdom amidst all the media hysteria:  Everton boss David Moyes, speaking to the Independent newspaper before his side’s home game against neighbours Liverpool on Sunday, made some telling remarks about his rivals.

THERE is a well known footballing phrase – ‘it’s a game of two halves.’

Well, my footballing experiences recently fell into the category of ‘it’s a game of second halves.’

FORGET about tactically constipated football matches in the top leagues or the never-ending stream of European fixtures where substitutes have to study a spread-sheet with the coach before coming on.  No, if it’s good, old-fashioned entertainment you’re after, you can’t beat the lower leagues in the Football League.

FOOTBALL managers, bless ‘em, they don’t half come out with some twaddle.   Take Manchester City’s Roberto Mancini for example. Speaking before Saturday’s home game against Chelsea he said: “They will probably win the Premier League easily”.

Football Diary
by Patrick O’Connor

WATCHING Liverpool’s Europa League win over Steaua Bucharest on television on Thursday night, it was sad to see gaping holes in the crowd.  Anfield, one of the most famous stadiums in the world, has a capacity of over 45,000, but was only just over half full.

FOOTBALL is a wonderful game, capable of providing breathtaking entertainment and excitement but there is a dark side where greed and financial madness run rampant, and that has never been more apparent than during this last week.