Bring on the new rivalry

So, now the dust has settled on those Champions’ League semi-finals – it seems like yesterday that the draw was made and we were all excited about the prospect of four stunning matches; the impression that time is passing too fast is too vivid to ignore – and it is time to comment on the most intriguing aspect of the games.

Which referee?

I was referring to the comments made by Ferguson and Wenger before the first leg of their tie. Here’s a quote from Arsène: “I believe we have a better relationship now.” Here’s one from Sir Alex: “Arsène has always kept his principles the same and I think that’s great credit to him.”

What?

This is starting to sound like one of those American films where two curmudgeonly auld wans find themselves stuck in the same room at the home and spend two hours of celluloid trying to out-grump each other before finally, touchingly, begrudgingly breaking into a smile because they’ve finally cottoned on to the fact that nobody gives a flying twat anyway. Say, Clint and Morgan and some young thing who’s the granddaughter of one of them. And lots of pithy one-liners leading up to the anticlimactic climax where one of them dies and the other admits that we’re all only human anyway.

Have Ferguson and Wenger finally learned to grudgingly respect each other? Have they finally reached their dotage? If so, it takes half the fun out of the Premier League. Nothing interesting happens in the world of football on a Thursday or a Friday – no, the UEFA Cup is not interesting – so what better way to spice up the weekend than the latest back and forth of poisoned darts between two managers who apparently hate each other?

Bring on the new rivalries. But which ones? Wolves have made it back up at last, just in time for The Dour One to glimpse Keano running down the back stairs and into the Championship at Ipswich. Alex McLeish and Martin O’Neill have the chance to renew their former Old Firm rivalry, but there’s no evidence they hate each other. If Burnley make it up Owen Coyle will have the chance to take on David Moyes, but again there’s no evidence that they have anything but the utmost respect for each other.

Neil Warnock is still in the Championship with Palace; Alan Pardew is nowhere to be seen. Jose Mourinho probably won’t come back until there is a big enough vacancy. Of course, Arsenal haven’t won anything for four years, they were humiliated by United in the CL semi-final and the pressure is on Wenger. Is Arsenal big enough for Mourinho? If so, that might bring a bit of much-needed spice back to the Premier League.