The Magnificent Seven

Good things come in sevens.

Dwarfs, Samurai and Deadly Sins are prime examples.

Perhaps now we can add to this a top seven in the English Premier League?

Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea continue to battle for the title but with 16 games left 4 more teams are huddled together on 39 points.

While neither Liverpool, Everton, Aston Villa or Manchester City will win the league this year there is little between them in terms of progress and prowess at the moment.

While Liverpool have gone backwards the other three have come on this season, through solid management and wise investment in good players.

It has been expensive, especially in City's case, but in the hands of Moyes, O Neill and Eriksson a "Big Seven" is possible and a more exciting, varied and interesting Premier League could be on the way.

Bad things also come in sevens.

S Club, Secret and Seas Cod Liver Oil are all prime examples.

This putative "Big Seven" could be the final push to discard the rest of English football and set up a proper European League.

This would eliminate what shred of integrity is left in big time football and permanently exclude Irish teams from European competition.

The proposed All-Ireland football league would improve the standard and facilities here and give us a base on which to build a few teams capable of succeeding in Europe.

We watch the games, applaud the noble efforts of Villa and Everton ( I find it hard to feel much warmth for City and it's recent source of wealth) but if a group of seven get a chance, they will definitely get hitched to Euro League.

Like brides for brothers.