Title race the closest ever?

ARE we set for the best Upton Park chase ever?

A third of the way through the season and, theoretically, four sides can win the title and two more – Sylvans and Vale Rec – will not make it easy for the rest.

Take Rovers out of the equation and the remaining six sides are so well matched you cannot turn up at any game and be confident that A will beat B.

From that end the inaugural Senior County Division One season is set to be a thriller and with generally encouraging words for the new under-21 league, the GFA's much-criticised plan seems to be working a treat.

It would be dangerous to assume equality means quality, but Division One is throwing up some quirky results and a few new stars.

Is there a better centre-back at present than new Saints recruit Naro Zimmerman, a better midfielder than Ben Coulter?

Their early season displays suggest there will be a strong St Martin's influence on the 2009 Muratti team.

But just as pleasing as those two lads' emergence as real quality is the gradual turnaround happening at Vale Rec, highlighted by their superb 2-1 win over North on Wednesday.

After the misery of last season, it's heartening to see a good club turning the corner.

CRAIG ALLEN and Colin Fallaize are two of the best strikers island football has seen, no matter what the era.

And their thoughts on Guernsey United, the pros and cons, provided this writer with much to ponder on departing St Andrew's last Saturday, the final whistle having gone on Saints' 6-3 Division One win over a Rangers side seemingly intent on self destruction for much of the game.

In truth, the chat was better than the action, although Fallaize's well-drilled side left quite an impression on many present, including me.

Indeed, I would be surprised if Fal's men don't push North all the way to the wire for the right to represent Guernsey in the 2009 Upton.

Allen's views on Guernsey United were unmistakably clear – it must happen.

The best news in Guernsey football for years was the thought of the man who carved himself such a successful professional career in the United States.

Nowadays, he is focused on how Ross, his talented son already capped at senior Muratti level, develops his own career.

Playing Division One football for an extended period is not what he sees as being good for his son.

Judging from what he said, in the absence of better offers from within the professional game, I would expect Allen jnr would jump at playing in the Kent League at a level several levels higher than what we know as the Priaulx.

Fallaize was honest enough to admit that were he still be playing, he would be there too, yet he is very hesitant to say Guernsey United would be good for the game locally and admitted that the prospect of losing half a team to another club keen to cream off the cream, does not sit too well with him.

His main concern was the question of sustainability.

Guernsey United, his argument went, might be fine for one or two seasons, but what then if it all folds?

He was also sceptical whether today's established player would have the commitment to play week in, week out, which is what Allen believes is necessary to get the best out of a player, not the local structure with irregular frequency and representative matches once a blue moon.

The Saints boss said Guernsey United would be better to start with a junior side playing on the national scene and that way by the time they became seniors it would be second nature to them.

Clearly 'Fal' favours the national side route and warned that creating a club required more than just a handful of entrepreneurs with a big idea, albeit one with such an appealing carrot.

As usual, he spoke with passion and deep knowledge of the workings of the local game, its strengths and its weaknesses.

But his observation that all that mattered was beating Jersey in May, surely cannot be right for the overall development of footballers and, on Saturday's evidence, can Ross Allen improve himself as a footballer by staying with Rangers or if he subsequently plays for any of the island's leading clubs?

You have got to get away to do that, but the trick is how and by what route.