New season brings hope for football fans
August 4th, 2008

The new football season is upon us and brings with it the promise of a fresh start and the hope of glory.

Weeks starved of real action – with only the Euro 2008 tournament and a few meaningless friendlies as an interlude – have finally come to an end.

There is always plenty to look forward to with new expectations, new signings and invariably a new strip to maybe bring a bit of luck.

Of course, most fans who have been following the game for many years will be wary of this point of the season with the false dawns and misplaced optimism it brings.

Turning up for one of your team’s friendlies and basking in the sunshine can soon make you forgot about those midweek away trips in November in the driving rain.

The sight of your new signings artfully helping taking apart a few amateur sides during the pre-season games allow thoughts of trophies and titles to creep in your thoughts.

When even last year’s ‘donkeys’ suddenly transform into seasoned pros after a few weeks hard training, it is easy to let your guard down and start to think this season could be your year.

Of course, deep down you know the opposite is just likely and reality starts to bite in.

You suspect that when the big match finally comes along, not only will your team play out a mind-numbing 0-0 draw, but your new playmaker will reveal he has the pace of a carthorse, the ‘donkeys’ will revert to type, your football coupon will end up in crumpled ball and the star signing for your fantasy football team will end up with a broken leg in three places.

Why do we do it to ourselves? That’s the beauty of the game I suppose and we fans wouldn’t have it any other way.