Revealing Recycling ....

Finally spent some time today sorting through an out of control stack of newspapers/magazines for recycling.

This was long overdue, but my procrastination over disposing of all this detritus had an interesting and diverting consequence.

During the process I came across The Times football supplement - 'the game extra' - dated 8th August 2015, in which their football correspondents previewed the forthcoming 2015/16 Premier League season. This includes a double page spread profiling each club, outlining significant signings and speculating over their fortunes and those of their respective managers. (words are attributed to Bill Edgar).

At the end of each team's profile, there is a predicted finishing position.

Here are the Times predictions (in brackets) for the current top four:

1st Leicester (19th)

2nd Tottenham (6th)

3rd Arsenal (4th)

4th Man City (2nd)

With 9 or 10 games to go, the final standings could well change but it puts Leicester's remarkable achievement into proper perspective and demonstrates what a uniquely remarkable season this has truly been.

Outside the top four, here's a few selected predictions:

10th Chelsea (1st)

7th Liverpool (5th)

5th West Ham (12th)

13th Watford (20th)

6th Manchester United (3rd)

20th Aston Villa (13th)

As illuminating as these league predictions are, the write ups they gave Ranieri, Mourinho and Pellegrini are equally fascinating:

On Ranieri: "The veteran Italian's appointment has not inspired confidence among fans. A failure to last the season would be no great surprise".

On Mourinho: "The Portuguese shows no sign of losing his magic touch or provocative nature".

On Pellegrini: "The Chilean has been allowed to stay despite poor domestic and European campaigns. He needs to revive his flagging troops to last the season."

Really hits home how leftfield this season has been but it's telling that there was a sense that Mourinho was liable to go postal. Even so, his rapid disintegration and, in turn, the fortunes of his team took everyone by surprise. And the Silver Fox has confounded his critics spectacularly.

As for LVG? Well, here's their assessment: "His fine reputation gave the Dutchman breathing space in the difficult early months of last season and his team's resurgence in the second half of the campaign indicates that he is settling in well". Oh well, I guess the jury's still just about out??

Oh yeah, and finally, as for good old BR, here's what he got: "Turned from genius to clown in many eyes last term but a misfiring front line was not entirely his fault." Ahem... Probably sums up his tenure quite succinctly, I suppose. Doesn't it?

All in all, a diverting read and a revealing exercise in hindsight...

...Oh well, back to the recycling.



And finally. Two words.

KLOPP. BOOM!!!