I’m currently having a bit of a huff with “Top 5 League” Football.

As a verified armchair Spurs fan, I’ve endured the last few years - Nuno (didn’t do us proud), Mourinho (if I speak) and then Conte (the situation cannot change). Now Big Ange is in and Spurs are playing football that I actually enjoy watching.

Sadly, though, no amount of cool dad vibes from everyone’s Aussie MATE can take away from the fact that modern top level football is an absolute horror show. VAR, the system brought in to reduce clear and obvious errors, reduces us all to watching a referee watching a part of a match that we’ve just watched - and they still don’t always get it right. State-owned clubs getting away with murder (some say literally). Financial doping (115 guesses who…) Roy Keane and Big Meeks. UEFA looking after their own. World Cup hosting going to the countries with the biggest backhanders. Twitter reduced to being dominated by absolute weirdos paying for a free app, throwing outrageous hot takes just to drive their own engagement. Football is well and truly fucked.

So, my own catharsis for now is to bin off this level of football in FM24. I’m going back to where I started and managing in Northern Ireland. It might last a season, it might last ten. All I know is there won’t be a video review in sight (unless I somehow make it to the big time in Europe…)

AUDACES FORTUNA JUVAT

I’ve done my stint with Glentoran (many times) and this year I’ve done the unthinkable and crossed the Big Two divide to start a save with Linfield. Why? Well for genuinely good reasons, I’ve gone against a lifelong rule and been to a lot of Linfield games this season in the home end. They’ve got a number of really promising young players and I want to give things a go with them and see how they can develop.

Northern Ireland offers so many opportunities for trophy success.

First and foremost, there’s the league (NIFL Premiership) which consists of 12 teams. They play each other 3 times before the league splits in two and the top half play each other once more as does the bottom half to account for a sum total of 38 league games.

The Irish Cup is the next most prestigious competition, offering an additional route to European football (that we shouldn’t really need). ~128 teams are whittled down in a standard knockout format that culminates in a glorious day out in the May sunshine.

The NIFL League Cup and County Antrim Shield (whose participants extend beyond the county’s boundaries) are a good opportunity to blood in some of the youngsters.

Northern now has a few entries in the Scottish Challenge Cup and NI has it’s own Charity Shield - though the importance of both should be considered way down the list.

At Reserve and Youth Level there are the Steel and Sons Cup and Harry Cavan Youth Cup amongst other competitions - though I won’t be going as far as managing those squads.

Linfield are the most successful team in the League, Irish Cup, League Cup, County Antrim Shield and Charity Shield. No big pressure.

THE STATE OF NORTHERN IRISH FOOTBALL

I could go into another rant here about how badly things are run by the Irish FA but I don’t think we have the webspace for that much complaining.

Northern Irish football is generally in a promising position. Linfield will always be a force to be reckoned with. Larne have had significant investment through Kenny Bruce who made his millions from Purple Bricks. Glentoran have had significant investment (though paltry returns) from Welsh-Iranian businessman Ali Pour. Carrick Rangers have now been acquired by an American Tech Leader who aims to raise the club’s profile significantly. Coleraine have now approved a takeover which will see them benefit from £2m into the club by two natives of the town.

More clubs are moving toward a full time model of football which has been both praised and lambasted as it widens the gap between top and bottom of the table as the smaller sides will struggle to keep apace.

The Irish League has provided a number of quality players in cross-channel moves. Gareth McAuley, Stuart Dallas, Liam Boyce, Paul Smyth, Trai Hume and more all made their names initially at Irish League clubs. With post-Brexit work permit issues, interest in Irish League players continues to grow with Patrick Kelly (Coleraine to West Ham), Calum Marshall (Linfield to West Ham), Liam McStravick (Linfield to Airdrieonians) having made the move recently and others like Braiden Graham (Linfield) and George Feeney (Glentoran) drawing scouts from further Premier League clubs.

THE YOUNG BLUES

As I’ve already mentioned, Linfield are no strangers to the development of young talent. The current squad is packed with potential with players like Daniel Finlayson and Chris McKee as established first team members. Further to that, the Blues have so much more on the fringes of the first team with a mix of their own academy graduates and players they have brought in: Aodhan Doherty and Josh Archer are highly thought of at the club while Ryan McKay and Rhys Annett (previously NIFL Championship side Dundela) were signed in January 2023 after much interest from NIFL Premiership Clubs and others further afield.

MY PLANS FOR FM24

I haven’t set my sights further than just enjoying a start with Linfield. I’ll be looking to make use of the new Inverted Full Back role and the tweaked Libero that complements it. Where this save goes, if anywhere, is anybody’s guess.