When you think of early August, what comes to mind? Beaches, pub gardens, holiday packing perhaps. Or maybe it’s trawling through a lengthy database of football players on your hot laptop in an effort to find the best value full-back for AFC Bournemouth.
I used to love the annual pre-season ritual of picking a Fantasy Football squad. At least, I told myself that I loved it. As a “man who likes football”, this is just what you did.
On paper, it was harmless, of course, and in my fantasy salad days (2006-2014, my own fantasy equivalent of Chelsea’s early Abramovich era), there was at least some glory to back it up.