AMWAT: The Losing

Well, this is just getting silly now isn't it. And sad, of course.

Latest from my former team is that they've been deducted 42 points for fielding ineligible players. The punishment also includes a transfer ban til 2020. The club, or at least SVJ, says they're going to appeal against the 'humiliation'. Excuse me whilst I do a chinny reckon on that one. They've got form, baby.

One of the hilarious arguments seems to be that 'everyone does it'. That's a strong position legally isn't it.

Well, the 42-points isn't even the biggest deduction the Welsh FA/Cymru Alliance have made. Welshpool once won the CA and subsequently got relegated with a 66-point deduction. Check out that funky league table! It's mad.

Anyway that means on paper City are relegated again, or, rather, demoted. Relegation is dependent on what you do on the pitch. And, to be honest, on the pitch has rarely been a problem. SVJ is a very very good director of football in terms of sourcing players (and managers). The team of two seasons ago was bloody brilliant and ought to have had the chance to play in Europe, Scotland, and so on. That they've scattered far and wide instead is really a huge shame. Another season with Bangor - putting all financial nonsense aside - might well have made the careers of some of those great young players.

But instead this happened. And just to reiterate, for the sake of clarity:

ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS PASS THE FUCKING LICENSE.

I really cannot stress that enough. But hey ho, the jalopy staggers onward toward the inevitable. I suspect City might even appeal and perhaps get a suspended deduction - which will in due course be breached too and, well, yadda yadda yadda.

Daft. And depressing.

Three songs for today:

This week a hero passed to the other side to bless the departed with his sweet, sweet love. One of Alabama 3's greatest songs is from the wonderful La Peste. It seems apt here:

As ever with Alabama 3, there is a message of hope in there. Even in our darkest days, there will always be a light. Always one of my favourite Bible quotes, that. Some parts of that book of short stories are wonderfully-written. The Song of Solomon is so full of love it's incredible. Rather racy, too. The gifted and sublime Rumi echoed it hundreds of years later. Love, maybe, is not all you need. But fuck me it's a good start.

Talking of which, Elbow also hit the nail on the head. 

RIP Jake, and long live comradeship.

And, lest we get too maudlin, let us always remember the sage words of Sham 69:

Peace and unity to all, folks. 

The smoke from the burning will soon clear - and the phoenix will rise.