Political football 2023

As a result we now have a political panorama which resembles the forward line of any football team from some 40 years ago. The football analogy even extends as far as the fact that the big tournament scheduled for the end of the year has been brought forward to July 23rd and all the players are now suddenly scrambling for a place in the team. The selectors have had the advantage of seeing all the potential players during the kickabout that took place recently on May 28th. There is little time to be wasted since some players are struggling for fitness while others have shown signs of significant improvement.

The right side of the forward line boasts the players who performed so well during the mini-tournament of May 28th. On the right wing is Vox, a player who has consolidated their position having been catapulted onto the national stage some four years ago and who continues to impress. Another player who stood out during the kickabout was the Partido Popular who, having spent several years in the wilderness, is finally coming good. Such was their dominance along with their incisive play at inside right they could well end up becoming captain of the team. The only blot on their copy book is that they have to learn to coordinate their play with Vox so as to avoid getting in each other's way.

On the left wing, wearing number 11 during the last few years is Podemos, a ponytailed player who arrived on the scene to great fanfare some eight years ago but has recently dropped out of the reckoning. A number of fairly ordinary players, 15 in total, are jostling to replace him and it would appear that Sumar, a very independently minded left winger, is likely to take his place. Having been around for a few years she has consistently been voted the team's best player in all the popularity polls.

Playing at inside left is the PSOE or Socialist party who was elevated to captain of the team some five years ago in very controversial circumstances. His performance has very much depended on the ability of some junior players and his continuity as captain is not assured after a dismal display in the kickabout on May 28th.

The problem that the team currently faces is the lack of a sharp, incisive centre forward to wear the number 9 shirt. Those with long memories will remember Roy of the Rovers who would be the obvious choice but the Melchester Rovers player hung up his boots many years ago. A previous incumbent UPyD occupied this position some time ago but following a number of indifferent performances was forced into retirement.

A similar fate has befallen its successor, Ciudadanos, who, having received a red card for fighting, has been discarded by the coach.

With so many players vying for the left wing shirt it remains to be seen if any of them can be turned into a goalscorer or are likely to remain on the bench for the foreseeable future.