Our lives may be lived out at opposite ends of the financial scale but, surprisingly, it would appear that Jose Mourinho and I have something in common, apart from our love of Chelsea.
After having participated in probably the busiest festive fixture programme in many a year, it would seem that we are now both at the mercy of our adorable wives.
Tonight, Arsenal entertain Manchester United in a fixture that, despite us not being directly involved in, promises to have a direct outcome on the destiny of the Premiership trophy. Anything other than a Manchester United win will see Chelsea remain atop of the table with a fantastic fourteen point lead.
Arsenal, even if they take the three points will still be so far behind it?s incomprehensible that they could possibly trouble Chelsea. Indeed, with Liverpool dropping two points at Bolton on Monday, it would appear that our rivals are doing their best to settle for competing for the runners-up spot, a spot that previously would have been seen as an admission of failure.
Therefore, you?d think that with the fixture being televised by SKY television it would be a must see event. Unfortunately, it would appear that viewing this clash, for both myself and Jose, depends on permission being granted from our illustrious wives.
Normally, I?d monopolise the remote and take my chances, I?d cope with the awkward glances, the stony silence and the general ill-feeling that?ll surface over the next few days. However, like Jose, I feel that after a gluttonous amount of football over the festive period, perhaps I?d be pushing my luck that little bit to far. Perhaps it might be wiser to ask first before settling down in front of the television.
Indeed, I can imagine Mrs Mourinho being of the same mould as my own better half. Last night I inadvertently tuned into the darts only to be met with a barrage of ?If it?s not football its darts? and to be perfectly fair she had a point.
Looking at it from her pint of view, her Boxing Day was disrupted severely thanks to the Fulham game, her Wednesday evening resembled a Saturday evening as a full fixture programme was played out, Saturday was just your normal football dominated Saturday and even her bank holiday yesterday was, thanks to the early kick-off, completely decimated.
Now some of those who know me may be thinking I?ve gone soft, that I?ve given in to the simplistic nonsense of New Years resolutions, well I haven?t. Tonight, whilst Arsenal and Manchester United may well be helping to define our destiny, in this our centenary season, I may well be otherwise engaged.
Not for me the delights of Wayne Rooney and Thierry Henry, tonight I?ll probably be watching Johnny Allen fighting for his life in Eastenders and Ray Winstone portraying Sweeney Todd (nice result yesterday Ray) in a Fleet Street drama filmed in Romania. However, there is method in my madness.
It?s a long season and I know that for forsaking the clash tonight, I?ll be viewed in a good light by the wife, I?ll be putting points in the? you owe me? bag, a bag that will no doubt have to be delved into very shortly when yet another historic moment in our own season looms on the horizon.
I wonder if Jose is doing it for similar reasons?
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