The late fall sees European football in full swing, with every league several weeks old, along with both the continental tournaments - Champions’ and Europa League. In some countries, defending champions show prolonged hangovers, falling off the pace dramatically in the early rounds (see France). In other leagues, winners continue on from previous season like an imperious machine, well oiled and warmed up (Chelsea). Still other nations witness returning winners awakening slowly from their summer slumber, to the tune of Edward Grieg’s morning flute, playing gently in the background (Spain). Then, of course you have the refreshing surprises. Everyone gives in to the mad hope, that the plucky underdog might just prolong their early season promise, so as to break the monotony of bigger, richer clubs. So, as the leaves fall and winter sets in, neutral European football fans cling desperately to this iota of potential and celebrate this madness universally.
Mainz, in the Bundesliga, is decidedly the latter. And it has well and truly announced itself as the surprise package of the fall season in Europe. At time of writing, the Rhineland club, known fully as FSV Mainz 05, sits proudly on top of the German League table, with seven wins out of seven. If it weren’t for Borussia Dortmund themselves having a stellar start (six wins from seven), Mainz would be comfortably out of sight. They have already equalled the record for the best ever start in the Bundesliga and have done so in some style, dispatching, among others, Stuttgart, Bayern Munich, Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen, the latter three all away from home. For a team that is mostly home grown with a smattering of foreign talent, with a home capacity of just over 20,000 and who only made it into the top flight in 2005, this achievement is indeed, spectacular.
Nothing is guaranteed of course and the O-Fivers could go on to have a terrible season; think Norwich City in the ’93 Premiership, or more recently, Hoffenheim in 2008-09; but for now, their play and results are a massive fillip to German football and underdogs everywhere.
Their Gallic neighbours are enjoying something of an autumnal carnival as well. The top of the table is made up of a mixture of minnows and middleweights, as amongst the big clubs, PSG is the highest placed, in seventh spot. Toulouse made the early running, before a resurgent St. Etienne secured top spot, only for Stade Rennes to now occupy the summit. Lille, having made the Champions’ League twice in recent memory, are in third spot while promoted club Brest, better known for giant squid sightings, and Sochaux round out the top six. At the start of the season, one worried that the poaching of any promising talent by Marseille and Lyon would cause an imbalance at the top, as the French league veered towards a duopoly like Scotland or at best a closed shop like England. However, on second look, it appears, for the time being, that parity and competitiveness are alive and well in France.
Further south, Chievo, Verona’s other club, briefly occupied the top of Serie A before settling in fifth currently. Although normal service has since resumed, with Lazio, Inter and Milan all in the top four, Serie A should make interesting viewing this year. Napoli is continually impressive as the Southern club builds on strong recent seasons, retains its core of young talent, while punching above its weight. Further afield Sampdoria are still at large and should move up the table as the season continues. Bereft of Jose Mourinho, Inter lack the arrogant swagger but retain the morbid defensiveness of Rafa Benitez. The odds are interesting on Rafa’s ability to repeat the Portuguese managers Champions’ League win. Retaining Serie A, on the other hand, is considered the basic remit of the Spaniard’s appointment. So far, the evidence is not flattering as Inter are not playing like treble winners of the season before, but cautious hopefuls, a bit like Rafa himself. Perhaps Benitez has successfully imposed his mentality on the team after all.
Money matters, however, continue to rear their ugly head. First Liverpool’s American owners were left out in the cold as the chairman of the board, Martin Broughton, accepted a bid from another American’s sports conglomerate. Having flogged themselves to several businessmen around the world, Liverpool are seemingly days away from being acquired by Boston Red Sox owner John Henry. Compatriots George Gillette and David Hicks walk away with nothing, having run the club almost into the ground, not met any promises and laden it with debt. Although this gives both former manager Benitez and present incumbent Roy Hodgson, a readymade excuse for a failing performances, the truth is that Liverpool’s players are unmotivated and lack a system that creates good chances on a consistent basis. Their current position in the bottom three is obviously an anomaly, but more concerning is their complete inability to challenge better teams, both in England and abroad. A long season awaits, with or without Fernando Torres, rumoured to be unhappy and on his way out in January.
Meanwhile, Manchester United announced profits of 100 million and losses of 83 million on the same day (all figures in pounds), apparently losing money in operations while making money in merchandising. As the team seems to slowly age and lose its hold locally, one wonders if the most notorious chequebook cowboy of all, manager Alex Ferguson, can fund another overhaul of one of Europe’s most storied and successful clubs.
Football used to be a sport, but is increasingly a business. Fans are slowly being left out and only time will tell if a complete generation and an entire social class miss out on the beautiful game because they cannot afford to be a part of it. So for now, let’s appreciate Mainz and Rennes, St Etienne and Napoli, as they seek to show that smaller fish can remain competitive.
Datewatch: Upcoming Football Events
November 29 – Russian Premier League ends
December 4 – Brazilian Serie A ends
December 7 - Champions’ League Matchday 6
December 8 – 18 – 2010 FIFA World Club Championship
December 11 – Argentine Apertura Championship ends
December 16 - Europa League Matchday 6
December 17 – Champions’ League Round of 16 draw
December 17 – Europa League Round of 32 draw
December 22 - German DFP Pokal Round of 16
January 8 – English FA Cup 3rd Round
January 16 - Coppa Italia Round of 16
January 12 -19 – Spanish Copa Del Rey Quarter Finals
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