A wish list of good fortune and success for teams, friends, and even match officials

Happy Friday Everyone!

We’re into the season of greetings, tidings, good will, gifts and well wishes. In today’s Football Friday column (the last until the New Year), I’m taking the opportunity to outline a few wishes for the clubs I support, as well as those of my friends.

AS Roma – Men

My Christmas wish for Roma is to obviously win every competition they’re in – the Europa League, Coppa Italia and of course Serie A. I also wish for The Special One Jose Mourinho to get a two to three year contract extension. However, the realist in me is hoping for at least semi-final appearances in both the European and domestic cups, as well as a top four Serie A finish to bring back Champions League football to the Stadio Olimpico next fall.

AS Roma – Women

Other than what would be a very improbable Champions League title, I wish more of the same. The AS Roma Femminile have won all 10 matches so far in Serie A as they attempt to go back-to-back as champions and only have one competitive loss on the year, 2-1 away in a group stage match to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. So, yeah, keep up the good work and improve where possible.

Toronto FC

My festive tidings for the Reds is a quick revamp and return to being an entertaining and competitive team in all competitions. I’m wishing success for new gaffer John Herdman, as well as a triumphant return to quality Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernadeschi to make right what went wrong last year.

Canadian Men’s National Team

Wishing Les Rouges a much better 2024 than 2023, complete with qualifying for the Copa America and then putting up a good fight against some of the world’s best when they get there.

Canadian Women’s National Team

Another medal at the Olympics as they move on from the GOAT’s retirement and move into the future with a quality result in France next summer.

Italia – Men

Defend your European title in Germany with passion and pride. Go deep in the tournament (maybe win it again?) and show the world that the Azzurri are still a force on the world stage.

Italia – Women

After just missing out on the Nations League semi-finals, which will determine the two UEFA representatives at the Olympic Women’s Football tournament, the Italian women’s game continues to grow year after year. I’m wishing them continued growth and cementing the foundation that will lead to future success.

Dortmund

As promised to JF Kuehnen, here is the mention and acknowledgement . . . For Christmas, I hope Borussia Dortmund gets a deep run in the Champions League as well as continuing to climb up the Bundesliga ladder (they’re tied for fifth at the time of this writing).

After Dortmund impressed us all by finishing atop the Champions League Group of Death, ahead of Paris Saint Germain, AC Milan, and Newcastle, the team and their fans deserve a lot more success.

Liverpool

For the late Graham Pollington, the consummate Liverpool supporter, I’m wishing an EPL-League Cup double this season as he cheers on from above.

Arsenal

For David Caplan and Roman Hul, I’m wishing a top four EPL finish and an FA Cup this year for the Gunners.

Chelsea

For Danny Jackson and Steve Fairhall, I’m wishing the Blues find their way and have good results in all competitions the rest of the way. We have to be realistic and understand this side isn’t built to win anything, but maybe they can at least bring some excitement to the pitch and climb back to the top half of the EPL table.

Spurs

For Graham Thompson and Haydn Kirby, I hope Tottenham can do un-Spurs like things the rest of this season by putting on great performances challenge for every single trophy they possible can.

Udinese

For Manny Buttus and his dad Loris, I wish for Udine to right the ship the rest of the way and put together a run of positive results that brings them back into the top half of the Serie A table.

Luton Town

It’s been a rough return to the top flight for Luton Town, and Jez Bell has been through a roller coaster of emotions in recent weeks. So, for Luton and Jez, I wish for a miracle second half that sees the club somehow survive and remain in the Premier League for another year.

Leeds United

For Glen Duffield, I wish the right results the rest of the way to see Leeds return to the EPL next season.

Huntsville, Muskoka, and Bracebridge too

For all three Muskoka clubs, I wish a 2024 that improves upon 2023 in every way, shape and form. Wishing both Honor Fiorini and Stephanie Nasturzio great 2024s as they are stepping away from the Huntsville Soccer Club board – you were wonderful to work with year after year!

On that note, I’m wishing that for all three Muskoka clubs, we have new volunteer board members and sponsors coming aboard to help us keep soccer in the region growing to new heights in the years to come.

Shameless plug time! If you’re interested in helping out or sponsoring, please contact administrator@huntsvillesoccer.ca or muskokaunitedfc@gmail.com (for both MUFC and BSC).

Match Officials

For all the referees and assistant referees in our own community, throughout our province, our nation and the world, my Christmas wish for you is more respect and less aggression from players, coaches, spectators, and anyone else. As the saying goes, “No Ref, No Game.”

However, I’m also wishing that a small percentage of those refs get more training and learn to be better at the job (really, most refs are pretty darn good though).

On that note, the holiday season is full of football fixtures from around the globe that can be found on FuboTV (Serie A, Coppa Italia, EPL, Ligue 1 and more) and DAZN (Bundesliga, EFL, League Cup and more).

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! And Season’s Greetings to All!