Spurs Supporters Need to Let Go, Homecoming for McClaren, Why You Should Support Southend, and more

I’m sitting here wondering where the weekend went so quickly, but as we embark on a new week, I feel hopeful of what the new week holds after reading today’s horoscope, which stands to be a big one in my quest for self-improvement in 2009.

Self-improvement often starts with letting things go, and that’s something that the White Hart Lane faithful finally need to do with Hossam Ghaly, who was about to come on as a sub late on in Spurs’ FA Cup win over Wigan on Friday night before he was booed right back onto the bench.

Some of those people might be some of the same people who still harbor hatred for Steve McClaren. Remember him? Former England manager, wannabe Dutchman, former assistant manager to Sir Alex Ferguson, who doesn’t need to make a fake accent to relate to his players.

Before McClaren’s forgettable tenure as England manager, he was at Middlesbrough. One bright young talent that emerged in his time there was Stewart Downing, who hopefully won’t stomp his feet and throw a tantrum because his transfer request has been turned down.

If he does, Gareth Southgate should threaten to stick him into the reserves. Or better yet, he could tell him that he’s going to send him on loan to Derby, where he could be reunited with his former manager. Hey, he’d still be going from one fight for survival to another, but it wouldn’t be the one he wants to go to.

Whatever happens Stewart, keep in mind that everything happens for a reason, and there was certainly a good reason why Chelsea bumbled and stumbled their way into an FA Cup replay at Southend. There are many directions that one can go here (including the obvious), but it’s safe to say that Cheryl might be a little opposed to Ashley making this particular trip, unless he has a chaperone. (Editor: Southend make an excellent case for football cheerleaders.)

While I look up Southend’s attendance statistics to see how many matches they’ve sold out this season, I must remind you that neither I nor Soccerlens will be held responsible for any time you may spend at work not working, but if you’re looking to waste time on the company’s dime without risking termination or looking like a pervert, then I recommend enriching your football knowledge.

And if you took the opportunity to do that in the year-in-review quiz from Saturday’s roundup, you can now see how you did. And if you didn’t take it, I don’t think I can trust you not to look at the answers before/as you take the quiz, but at least I have another 360 days in the year to work on that part of my self-improvement.

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