The Doc's Diagnosis: Euro 2008 and the absent Villans
Thursday, 05 June 08, 02:41 AM · Comments (16)
In a way I suppose it's a good thing: while all the costly European talent contracted to our Premier League rivals is strutting its stuff in the Alps this summer, Martin O'Neill's merry band of young Brits and ageing Scandinavians is having a break on the beach in Barbados.
As the "big" (yawn) kick-off approaches, though, I'm wondering who the hell we should support in the event that we even bother to switch on our TV's. Germany are going to win, because that's just what they do in tournaments. Spain and Holland will both play some delightful stuff in the opening rounds but go out with a whimper when it gets serious. Sweden, supported loudly by a barely coherent Damian, will exhibit all those wonderful Viking traits of team spirit, fight and tenacity but will go nowhere.
So despite the betting, and ignoring where the money goes, where does the bored Villan put his heart in these championships?
We could go for the Czech Republic, given our undoubtedly deep affection for Berger and Baros. Not.
We could pin our hopes on Germany, given the meteoric rise of Hitzlsperger and our vain hope that he might come back. Unlikely.
We might even go with Damian, and get behind Sweden - refusing to accept that Ollie the Wolfman is a Juve player until he finally pulls that Old Lady's shirt on.
The Danes and Bulgarians blew it just like we did, so Sorensen, Laursen and Petrov can all enjoy the feel of the sand between their toes, as can big JC - as Norway didn't make it either.
It's a tough one. As the Liverpool fans settle down in front of their nicked tellies to cheer on Spain and the United fans chew on their prawn sandwiches and champagne to roar Portugal on, what do we meek Villans do?
I'll tell you what. We get behind fat Freddie Bouma and the Dutch. Steady Freddie may not be Villa's most exciting player, but without any doubt at all he has been the most improved under Martin O'Neill. I know that in the past, especially under the reign of O'Dreary, I have referred to Bouma as a pie-munching oaf. And to be fair, he was.
But MON has transformed Freddie into a solid, mistake-free left back who - while rarely doing anything spectacular - is as reliable as they come. His first goal for Villa is one of my moments of the season. He has moved my opinion of a single player further than any other player over two seasons - and he's got his place back in the Dutch side to prove it.
My dream? Holland to beat Germany on penalties in the final. And Freddie scores the decisive penalty.
Chicken Bouma all round, and a Peshawari Nan to boot.
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16 Comments · Add yours
Looks like Freddie won't be first choice left-back and will spend most of the time on the bench
erm ive put a tenner on spain to win an torres to be top scorer. pls shoot me, im a disgrace :'(
Ive got 100/1 with William Hill for Holland to win outright and Klaas Jan Huntelaar
8 english lads, 8 poland shirts all with their names on the back ( "ski" on the end, ie im "atkinski") going down the local polish club to cheer them on
if im posting on here next week then it all went well, if im not...
Gareth Barry is in Liverpool today having talks.
Good luck to you Gareth, you have just made the biggest mistake of your career.
Up the Villa.
Greece anyone?!
i 2 was thinkin about holland so i will but its a shame the dutch are in the group of death :o
UTV
Chuff me Doc, your gunna have to start writing sh*te articles like Damian does, because he wrote his after you and he's got 84 replies to your palfry 7 replies, well 8 actually, if you count this one!
With regards your article.....I'm going for Lamb Boumas team. (even if he does just warm the bench)
come on the holland. I`ve brought my shirt 8)
but dere in da group of death
What about England? :D
lol.. hmm yeah Holland sounds fun. I enjoy watching RVP
gone with Turkey. They're terrible and their fans are even worse. But for some reason they make me laugh.
I want the dutch to do it as there my 2nd favourite nation there style of football is so good watch
Check out Freddie Boumas page on the Euro 2008 website. Does the characature look like that guy that played Batman..what's his name! Mmmmm, oh yeh Michael Keaton!
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Definately good news.
There's nothiong more frustrating than players getting injured when off on international duty.
(That said it would be nice if Barry got a little muscle strain and his sale fell through).
I'll still watch and appreciate the good football, and i won't be worrying every time one of my players goes in for a 50-50.
Happy days.
im going with holland, my second choice would be spain or sweden ;) ;)
anibody going for sweeden??
i am, ani one know if mellberg playing or not? ;D ;D