The Good Ol' Days

For 7 long years English clubs have always made it to the last four in the biggest football tournament in Europe. Not this year though. This year's final four are all European mainland giants representing 4 different countries with a rich history in the game. Inter Milan showcasing their Italian defense-to-counter attack, Olympique Lyonnais with their beautified French version of the English game, Bayern Munich strong in their never-say-die German beasts they call footballers and defending champions Barcelona well garbed in there Spanish flair and immaculate passing. It an interesting mix of things. Needless to say the final couple of rounds of the Champion's league is going to be worth every second.

However, having spent my adolescence consuming the English game, it feels as though there is a vacuum out their in the tournament without any of the fast, aggressive and often violent football presented by the English. Nostalgia taketh over and the mind wanders to two of the legendary warhorses of the English game from my teenage years. Ironically neither were English. But they'd die on the pitch for their respective clubs and for glory. They were heroes.

In the sudden abundance of wealth, or the need to acquire the same, that is plaguing the English game here's to the players in the game who bring more to it than they get. Who inspire more than just lust for victory. Those who inspire reverence. Here's hoping for the return of Heroes.