Published: 10 May, 2012
by RICHARD OSLEY

WHATEVER happens in the next seven days, let’s all be honest with ourselves. Take your hand right now, cup it onto your chest where you think your heart is – is it to the left a little bit? – Chin up, bold and honest, and repeat after me:

My.

Team.

Is.

Rubbish.

This.

Season.

Everybody who supports a club outside of Manchester should be taking that oath.

This thesis that nobody is actually any good took on a fresh new relevance over the weekend when third, fourth and fifth tried to stumble backside backwards into the Champions League.

Arsenal only needed to hold on for seven minutes against Norwich City and they were there. Spurs were just as jittery against the worst Aston Villa team ever.

Both teams have been in the position where they have only needed to win their last two matches to guarantee a third-place finish and have done, what they call in the trade, “a Jana Novotna”, “a Jimmy White”, “a choke”, “a Messi against Chelsea”.

Chelsea, who couldn’t even raise a crowd to go to Anfield this week, are just as guilty.

Sixth place is pathetic when you contrast it with the money they have spent and if they are European Champions League winners they will go down as the weakest side to win it since Liverpool or Red Star Belgrade.

The best thing would be for all of these posers to play in the Europa League.

Would do them good.       

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