The calm before the storm

Ajax man, originally uploaded by CharlesFred.

The day before Queen's Day. The day of our local Queen's Dinner and Opera op Straat. It is quiet and sunny outside, not many people out and about yet, although this will change as the day goes on, whereby by 5.30 thre will be 350 people sitting down to eat around the fountain.

The temperature keeps falling day by day, despite the clear blue skies. Hot out of the wind in the sun, pleasantly cool in the breeze.

In the meantime, it is the last day of the Dutch football season. There are three teams at the top with the same number of points: AZ Alkmaar, Ajax Amsterdam and PSV Eindhoven. PSV have been in the lead all season long, but this lead has been reduced almost on a weekly basis since their return from their winter break. Drawing last week meant surrendering the lead to AZ who have the best goal difference. All AZ have to do today is win and the championship is theirs for the forst time in over 15 years.

If they slip up and Ajax win, Ajax will be champions and the big headache will be how to keep the supporters OUT of the city, as they have a tendency to go on the rampage and do lots of damage when celebrating winning a championship.

Back n England, well done to Manchester United for coming back from 2-0 down to win 2-4. At half time they had the same number of points as Chelsea who were winning their game. By the end there was 5 points difference as Chelsea only managed to draw. I have decided to support Man U for the title as they have indeed played better, more attractive and attacking football than Chelsea, and deserve to be rewarded.

I have not been too keen on the fact that Man U have been owned by some Americans for the past couple of seasons, but Chelsea are owned by a Russian oligarch, who may or may not have blood on his hands. And anyway, it seems that my team, Southampton may soon be owned by a very rich American (a co-founder of Microsoft), so I might as well accept the inevitable and go with the flow... Whereas back in Holland, good luck to small town, small team, AZ this afternoon.