The Never-Ending Roster: A Journalist's Desperate Quest for Football Sanity
Watching Match of the Day without knowing the scores is one of life's greatest thrills, but it's also a harbinger of doom for anyone with a mental Rolodex bursting at the seams. Take Max Rushden, for instance, who was blissfully unaware of Loum Tchaouna's stunning 68th-minute goal until he watched the highlights on MOTD.
As our writer delves into the world of football, he finds himself drowning in a sea of unfamiliar faces and names. Eli Kroupi, anyone? Or perhaps it's Chelsea players that have got him stumped? The sheer volume of footballers threatens to overwhelm even the most seasoned observer, leaving us wondering how anyone can keep track.
The problem is, with new talent emerging every year, the Rolodex continues to grow at an alarming rate. Fifteen-year-olds are now making a name for themselves in the Premier League, and our writer is struggling to keep up. It's as if the bouncer outside his cortex has taken a stand against mediocrity, yelling "One in, one out" to a never-ending queue of aspiring players.
As he navigates this sea of faces, Rushden finds himself fixated on the unspectacular, solid footballers of old. The likes of Kevin Drinkell, Dale Gordon, and Wayne Biggins are his heroes, but even they threaten to spill over into his mental space.
The proliferation of footballers is not just a problem for individual fans; it's also a symptom of a broader cultural phenomenon. Social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube are creating an environment where players can build their personal brands, often at the expense of more nuanced discussions about the game itself.
As our writer reflects on his own obsession with football, he realizes that he's not alone in this struggle. There are countless others out there, each with their own unique Rolodex, bursting at the seams with names and faces. It's a daunting task to keep track, but perhaps that's what makes it so alluring.
In a world where footballers come and go with dizzying rapidity, it's time for our writer to take drastic measures. He proposes saving every single player from the 1987 QPR squad to the cloud – no matter how obscure their names may be. It's a tongue-in-cheek solution, but one that speaks to the desperation of keeping up in this ever-changing landscape.
As we blink and another era emerges, our writer is left wondering if there's a higher plane of existence beyond our mental Rolodex. Can we truly recall the Crystal Palace starting XI from the 1990 FA Cup final? Only time will tell.
				
			Watching Match of the Day without knowing the scores is one of life's greatest thrills, but it's also a harbinger of doom for anyone with a mental Rolodex bursting at the seams. Take Max Rushden, for instance, who was blissfully unaware of Loum Tchaouna's stunning 68th-minute goal until he watched the highlights on MOTD.
As our writer delves into the world of football, he finds himself drowning in a sea of unfamiliar faces and names. Eli Kroupi, anyone? Or perhaps it's Chelsea players that have got him stumped? The sheer volume of footballers threatens to overwhelm even the most seasoned observer, leaving us wondering how anyone can keep track.
The problem is, with new talent emerging every year, the Rolodex continues to grow at an alarming rate. Fifteen-year-olds are now making a name for themselves in the Premier League, and our writer is struggling to keep up. It's as if the bouncer outside his cortex has taken a stand against mediocrity, yelling "One in, one out" to a never-ending queue of aspiring players.
As he navigates this sea of faces, Rushden finds himself fixated on the unspectacular, solid footballers of old. The likes of Kevin Drinkell, Dale Gordon, and Wayne Biggins are his heroes, but even they threaten to spill over into his mental space.
The proliferation of footballers is not just a problem for individual fans; it's also a symptom of a broader cultural phenomenon. Social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube are creating an environment where players can build their personal brands, often at the expense of more nuanced discussions about the game itself.
As our writer reflects on his own obsession with football, he realizes that he's not alone in this struggle. There are countless others out there, each with their own unique Rolodex, bursting at the seams with names and faces. It's a daunting task to keep track, but perhaps that's what makes it so alluring.
In a world where footballers come and go with dizzying rapidity, it's time for our writer to take drastic measures. He proposes saving every single player from the 1987 QPR squad to the cloud – no matter how obscure their names may be. It's a tongue-in-cheek solution, but one that speaks to the desperation of keeping up in this ever-changing landscape.
As we blink and another era emerges, our writer is left wondering if there's a higher plane of existence beyond our mental Rolodex. Can we truly recall the Crystal Palace starting XI from the 1990 FA Cup final? Only time will tell.
 come on mate, can't they just sort out a proper football database or something?!
 come on mate, can't they just sort out a proper football database or something?!  i mean, it's not like they're trying to confuse us on purpose... it's just too much info to handle! and yeah, social media isn't helping either... we need some decent commentary on those platforms rather than just a bunch of players showing off their skills
 i mean, it's not like they're trying to confuse us on purpose... it's just too much info to handle! and yeah, social media isn't helping either... we need some decent commentary on those platforms rather than just a bunch of players showing off their skills  . and ugh, 15-year-olds in the premier league?! that's just crazy talk
. and ugh, 15-year-olds in the premier league?! that's just crazy talk  .
. .
. Like, can we really recall every single player from every single team in history? Probably not, but wouldn't it be cool if we could try?
 Like, can we really recall every single player from every single team in history? Probably not, but wouldn't it be cool if we could try? 
 How's he s'posed to keep track of all them names?!
 How's he s'posed to keep track of all them names?!  i think max rushden should start using a mind map or something instead of just trying to memorize everyone's name lol
 i think max rushden should start using a mind map or something instead of just trying to memorize everyone's name lol . Like, who needs that kind of dedication in their life? It's already hard enough trying to keep track of the current crop of players, let alone some obscure dude from 1987
. Like, who needs that kind of dedication in their life? It's already hard enough trying to keep track of the current crop of players, let alone some obscure dude from 1987  The unspectacular guys might not be getting the love they deserve, but at least they're not completely lost on me
 The unspectacular guys might not be getting the love they deserve, but at least they're not completely lost on me  . Maybe our writer's just experiencing a midlife crisis or something...
. Maybe our writer's just experiencing a midlife crisis or something...