End of the 2009 Challenge

1. The 2009 Title Challenge

From not wanting to believe we could mount a title challenge, to ruing the fact that this could have been our year but for the unfortunate home draws against the lesser clubs. To me, it was a simple question of belief, which in the beginning was emerging but did not have the fullest conviction. Yet after the destruction of RM and MU, we could see the measured performances against all-comers, the ability to raise our game to not just win, but destroy the opposition. By then, of course, MU had the advantage – four, and then six points ahead, leaving the challenge to die after MU’s Arsenal draw.

What was most encouraging was the whole team structure – the formation, the performances, the substitutes, and embedded successfully throughout the whole core and exuding from its pores the mentality, the character and the confidence of winning regardless of who they face. It’s a most scary proposition now that the team in on the brink of domination if they can continue on this trajectory. The only concern would be that the additions to the squad this summer may have the unintended disruptive effects it had when trying to bed in Keane into the side early on in the season. The solution to that was his ejection though perhaps other considerations played their part too, as in his dropping value relative to his meager attacking contributions. Other additions this summer may not have similar outcomes.

I remember writing about Alonso and his impact in the Sunderland game after replacing Plessis (what happened to him?!), and I’m pleased that he had sustained that level of performance throughout the season. He stood out as the engine room of the team enabling all the other mechanisms to move and work in synchronicity. I believe without Alonso, and he has been a mainstay throughout the season, the challenge wouldn’t have been on at all. He would be my man of the season, and if he does leave to be replaced by Barry, I would be truly disappointed.

2. Building a future

I am in the process of finding my hedgehog, the overlap between what makes me the best, what can drive my economic engine and what drives my passion. It’s an important quest, and who knows if I do find it or not? But it should make for an interesting quest.