'You don't realise what you have until it's gone'. This is just one version of a saying that you've most likely heard before. There's no definitive source for where it came from as it has been retold over time, but it does seem to be a piece of advice that could help some football managers.
Anyone who is a Manchester United fan, or who has watched the Old Trafford club either in person or on TV this season, will be all too familiar with one chant that erupts from the United end seemingly each and every week.
Managers and fans alike have gone from scratching their heads to firmly planting their faces in their palms. The reason for this is the increasing involvement of uninformed owners who don’t really know a thing about the game that they are lending their millions. One of the many examples of this, certainly the most talked about in recent weeks, is Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan.
For most football fans in Europe, Christmas and the New Year offers a chance half-way through the season to reflect upon the progress, or decline, of their team. The Premier League however is very unusual in that it has no mid-season break, instead the fixture list becomes more punishing. So, for the other major leagues within UEFA, let's have a look at who is enjoying their festive break and who is fretting over their performances thus far.
Just a few short weeks ago, after Spurs 6-0 battering away at Manchester City, I published an article on this website stating that I hoped Spurs kept faith with manager Andre Villas-Boas. When this sort of thing happens in real time they call it the ‘curse of the commentator’. What better way was there for me to give him the kiss of death?