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SMITH ON SOCCER - Off to a flyer? Or shall we take the slower, steady route?
WHAT'S better at this time of year?
Two losses and a draw with feet - and chin - firmly on the ground or two wins and a draw and head in the clouds?
OK you'd rather be up near the top of the league and gloating than down below, moaning and worrying already.
But we know these things have a habit of turning round.
Especially for the teams who take an early season flyer, haring off in front with the rest panting to keep up.
There's always a sense of dread for fans of the teams that hit the top after four games, especially when they know their rightful place is just above relegation.
Fortunately none of our teams are frolicking foolishly in that false dawn, only Wednesday are close to it and they are probably punching their true weight.
Which isn't generally the case. Cardiff are being sponsored by Man City owner Sheik Mansoor who's paying the bulk of Premiership-quality winger Craig Bellamy's wages to allow him to be a big Welsh fish in a small pond at Cardiff.
That just distorts the whole landscape of the division.
It feels morally wrong despite what Cardiff manager Dave Jones says, decent enough bloke though he seems to be.
Increasingly the teams most likely to succeed are the teams who can borrow the better players from their Premiership friends and family.
United have Nyron Nosworthy and Kyle Young, Preston boss Darren Ferguson has a couple of his dad's lads on loan in Josh King and Matthew James and they'll be at Bramall Lane on Saturday for Gary Speed's first home game in charge.
The Blades need a win to get going but better the stumbling start than the flyer. Unless you ARE brilliant it's less traumatic to start low and aim high.
It hurts at first but it's for the best in the long run.
A colleague stopped me yesterday to talk about England's European qualifiers. I had to admit to having no interest in it whatsoever. What have they done to us?
Got a view? Leave a comment below.
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Weather for Sheffield
Friday 10 February 2012
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