2014; My Point of View

Another year, another clink of champagne glasses and yet another wince towards those soppy summaries of the year which drain social media. It's probably ironic then that I'm writing this, but as I sit here with a stomach rattling like a tumble dryer watching the New Years Premier League fixtures, I thought maybe I should jot down a few memorable things from 2014, for me anyway.

So, where better place to start than football. It's something that follows you every year, for good or for bad. For myself, a Manchester United fan, last year was pretty hard to swallow. I've always been a fan of David Moyes and a firm believer that managers should be given time, but by April the United board had a hard decision to make and gave him the axe. Had he been given another season to settle who knows what could've happened but the fact is that the new man at the helm Van Gaal has boosted a similar squad to perform 7/10 performances and grind out results as opposed to the 3/10 efforts consistently on display last year. Champions League is priority this year, but with more of a grip on transfers hopefully the Dutchman can help the team challenge for the title next season. 

David Moyes; a rabbit in the Old Trafford floodlights.

Elsewhere the league itself last year was one of the best Premier League seasons yet. Unfortunately it was between Manchester City and Liverpool to win the title, with the Reds playing their best football in years. For me, it was hard to watch two teams I don't particularly have savoury comments for compete for the title. City ended up taking it but Liverpool played the best football that season which included fine performances from young Englishmen Sterling and Sturridge. Surely we'd have a chance at the summer's World Cup then? 

The moment it all went downhill for Steven Gerrard in 2014.

Well, it's never easy with England is it. Not that we ever thought we'd go to Brazil and win the most prestigious prize in football, but as the days drew closer and the media produced their usual hype about our team, the pressure got to them and for players of their immense standard they failed to produce the goods. Germany, the old enemy, on the other hand, were marvellous and rightfully won the tournament, thumping Brazil 7-1 in the semi-final on their own turf. As an avid lover of football as a whole, the tournament had it's highlights but was by no means the most entertaining and the Premier League so far this season has mirrored that. It's looking like City and Chelsea to take the title but my eyes are firmly glued on my team still and a 3rd place finish is ideal.

Away from football, there are other things that go on in my life. The passing of my grandmother last Christmas gave me a kick up the backside to become more proactive in everyday life. Anyone who has had a close family member pass away will feel this rather cliche sense to make the most of life as it were. So this year I've been doing stuff... more. It's All Indie has given me a platform to spout my views on music regularly and watch live music free, which is always nice. I've been lucky enough to go to both Live At Leeds Festival and Bestival as well as interviewing indie-giants of the moment, Peace and Catfish And The Bottlemen. Other highlights in music this year include Arctic Monkeys show at Finsbury Park who were supported by breakthrough act of the year, Royal Blood. Their brutal presence was even more noticeable a month later at Glastonbury which I also attended, and it's true what they say, there's no place like Glasto. Bestival also served up a treat of performances through the likes of Foals headline set and Major Lazer's unbeatable live experience. Towards the end of the year I moved up to Sheffield to pursue Journalism and have continued to do what I love best, watching and speaking to bands. A band called, 'Palace' have particularly grabbed my attention this year and one to definitely watch out for in 2015. I spoke to them at a small bar in Sheffield and they seem to be onto big things for anyone remotely into the 'indie' music scene.

The Bestival crowd gets steamy.

Uni has rewarded me with a platform for my nasally voice; my own radio show, 'The View From The Afternoon', again heavily influenced by the music I thrive on. The university's 'Forge TV' has also meant my childhood habits of running around the playground, mic in hand, commentating on football have gone a step further as I've sat in the commentary boxes at Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday. Before all of this though came the best three months of my life, hands down. Glastonbury, Bestival, trips to Italy and Barcelona all came about in summer, with a three week stint around Europe's cities with some chums being the cream of the crop. Unusual instances of breaking into hostels and crossing the Turkish border by foot made 2014 a notable year. 

Most people would end the year on a resolution. For me they're often forgotten about 48 hours later but for now I'm paying attention to the old term, 'to not view your glass as half empty'. It's something I am regularly guilty of, which can be hard to avoid when your teams not playing well or it's raining for the twelfth consecutive day up North, but something nonetheless most of us should bare in mind. So to all my family and friends and the strangers who will stumble across this year via my misleading 'search words', happy 2015!

Happy New 'Beer'...