With the impending strike/lockout in the NHL and the prospect of many Canadian men having a very lost look on the weekend unless they find a way to watch the Swiss leagues, I would strongly urge some sort of decision in jumping of the soccer band wagon. Withe at least four games a week plus mid-week coverage, we get better live game coverage of the English Premier League (as well as European championships, and the Dutch, German, Argentine, Brazil and French leagues) than is available in Britain due to some weird restrictions on coverage there.   This year, the emotionally unaffiliated would do well by picking Middlesborough. Their coach is the assistant manager of the England team and they have made the following moves this week during one of the two annual trading windows:

• First, they snab Dutch national player and ex-Barcelona defender Reiziger;
• Then, they pick up Aussie striker Mark Viduka who has scored some crushing goals in big games, though he has yet to turn into the workman like goal every two games kinda guy;
• Today, it looks like they are going to announce that they have picked up another striker, my favoritely named player, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, another Dutchman, who has been recently released by Chelsea on mutual consent - I think I am the only person I know who has not been released by Chelsea in the last few seasons.

They may also pick up another son of Holland, Patrick Kluivert, who inexplicably warmed the bench during Euro 2004. They also get to play in Europe in the UEFA Cup thanks to winning the Carling Cup, named after the most successful Canadian export into the UK. Being a Morton (genetically) and Arsenal (since 1980 when I went to Highbury) fan, I cannot and would not jump ship. If you are unalligned, however, weigh your options carefully. It will be a long winter on the weekends if the skates only flash in Switzerland.