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Soccer logic gone awry - both in SA and internationally

"Logic," reflected Samuel Butler, the renowned author of 'The Way of all Flesh', "is like the sword. Those who appeal to it shall perish by it."

And, who would dare dispute this assesment in going by what is happening in soccer right now, both in the South African context and internationally as well.

Logic has certainly gone awry in the case of such vaunted clubs as Chelsea, foremost perhaps, Orlando Pirates, Manchester United and even Premier League defending champions Kaizer Chiefs, who are struggling in fourth place to stay among the frontrunners as the PSL season goes into holiday recess.

English champions Chelsea just above the relegation zone going into Christmas? Anyone suggesting this at the start of the current would have been deemed a certifiable case if not worse?

And what about The Buccaneers? Holding their own with some of the best clubs in Africa to reach CAF's Confederation Cup final, yet struggling to beat teams of average standing in the Absa Premiership and suffering a similar fate to Chelsea while hovering close to the dreaded relegation zone.

Chiefs too have been less than convincing, with only a controversial 2-1 win over log leaders Bidvest Wits in their last game of the year enabling them to gain a fourth place in the log and remain entrenched behind a sprightly, but unexpected Black Aces.

And what about the high priest of all that is logical, Manchester United's Louis van Gaal, who through his varied career of success and controversy, has maintained that if you put matters down on paper and plan accordingly, they will turn out exactly with the same measure of success on the pitch.

Not so at Old Trafford, it would seem, with United's methodical "on the paper" soccer making more enemies by the day among frustrated and disillusioned supporters and the manager who was hailed as a saviour of the club when he arrived now being described as "a silly ass" and worse.

"The Special One", Jose Mourinho, sacked by Chelsea while leaving the club bleeding after a string of unprecedented defeats for one labelled defending champions. Has that worked out as expected and logical instead of materialising as an event not conceived in one's wildest imagination.

Van Gaal sacked? Not possible the majority would have insisted not long ago. Now it's possible.

With a degree of greater logic, perhaps, a group of hotheads in The Buccaneers' camp are campaigning for Eric Tinkler to be sacked despite the club reaching the Confederation Cup final - although the club at this moment are saying the coach is staying.

It is more in line with logic that Chiefs should not think of firing the astute Steve Komphela at this juncture of his first stanza as coach even though the Amakhosi were distressingly beaten in successive PSL finals by Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns.

But, all in all, it's a case of soccer logic going overboard as 2015 draws to a close. And, if you don't believe it, what about Leicester City heading the English Premiership and Claudio Ranieri and his men making a mockery of what should and shouldn't happen.

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