Inglis Effect Won’t Be A Premiership

Sorry Rabbitohs fans, I’m making the call nice and early. If Greg Inglis’ proposed move to Souths is ratified by the NRL it won’t bring you the premiership you so deserve. I’m sure you’ll compete well all season, play some amazing football and bob around in the top 8 all season but alas it won’t end with the “South Sydney Rabbitohs 2011 Premiers” shirts being printed. Look as a player purchase, Inglis will be brilliant but he’s not the solution to all your problems. Oww and let’s keep in mind he’s going to be returning from a serious injury, so don’t expect instant brilliance.

Before I go on, I’ll declare that I cannot stand Greg Inglis. Every time he opens his mouth I think he’s underhanded, unscrupulous, arrogant and selfish. But I can’t deny that he has produced some of the finest Rugby League moments of this decade.

As a Knights fan, I start every year with the genuine optimism and belief that we can win the title. Every week I will them over the line but as a realist, I’m not looking to 2011 as the year of the Knight and nor should the Rabbitohs faithful. Oww and if you’re wondering why I haven’t written about why Knights won’t win the Premiership, my fingers would fall off before I finished that essay.

The bookies have slotted you in at #2 in the early betting but I’ll tell you why West Tigers, Dragons or Storm all have better chances of holding up that trophy. The reason is the lack of true match winning quality in the spine of your team. By spine I refer to the Captain, 1, 6, 7, 9 or for the uneducated Fullback, Five-Eight, Halfback and Hooker.

Wenger I Love You, But Your Bringing Me Down

Undoubtedly Arsenal have played some of the most entertaining attacking football of the last decade. There ability to combine sublime passing, pace across the park and exceptional one touch sequences have made Arsenal appealing to the eyes, even in defeat. Somehow Mr Wenger has managed to convince Arsenal fans to buy into his long term projections and the affectionate patience they afford him is something seen at very few clubs.

For all the tap in goals, 4-0 thrashings and attacking dominance in almost every match they play, Arsenal have been without a top flight title since 03-04. I'm not hear to question Wenger's football brain but of late history is repeating itself all a little too often at the Emirates.

In recent times, every season has been more or less the same story. Exceptional promise, appealing football and pleasing early results gradually give way to excessive injuries and inconsistencies against Premier League minnows. It's a question I cannot answer myself but I do wonder whether Arsenal fans might want to trade some of the flare for the unflattering grit and to some degree bus parking that Chelsea and Manchester United engage in and subsequently win major titles.

Where The Ocean Meets The Sky, I'll Be Sailing

SAIL OUT FOR GOOD, EIDÓLON YACHT!

HEAVE the anchor short!

Raise main-sail and jib—steer forth,

O little white-hull'd sloop, now speed on really deep waters,

(I will not call it our concluding voyage,

But outset and sure entrance to the truest, best, maturest;)

Depart, depart from solid earth—no more returning to these          shores,

Now on for aye our infinite free venture wending,

Spurning all yet tried ports, seas, hawsers, densities, gravitation,

Sail out for good, eidólon yacht of me!