I have this “football crazy” friend whose familiar refrain is that he backs Manchester United because he is hypertensive and he loves a team that won’t give him stress.

I wonder how his reaction would be following the recent spate of incredibly poor shows by the reputed Old Trafford magicians.

United, famous for their trademark splendid shows around Christmas has flopped so miserably this time round, most of their die hard  admirers, including yours truly, are  beginning  to lose faith in the team.

If you consider the fact that in the run in to the Xmas programme, United had won four straight victories banging in 16 goals and conceding only one, then the sudden drop in losing back to back to Blackburn and Newcastle and conceding six goals in the process is quite puzzling.

Well the pundits say football is not an exact science so it could be that either United have suddenly lost form or their opponents are fast finding an antidote to their magical play.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew claims his team won because they did not allow Manchester to play. Could this be the strategy to neutralize Manchester United’s poison?

Alex Ferguson doesn’t think so. He believes it is the nature of football and it’s not a time for panic. “We have the experience to cope with it”, he added with amazing confidence that should set the tone for the titanic FA Cup match against neighbours Manchester City this weekend.

Honestly, the recent chain of incredible results recorded in the English league with all the giants, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man United and Man City suffering unexpected defeats confirm the fact that there is no logic in football.

That is why I am surprised at those who have already crowned the Black Stars of Ghana, the 2012 Africa Cup Winners since most of the so called giants like Egypt, Nigeria, and Cameroun won’t be around for the upcoming continental event in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

People are losing sight of the fact that all those giant killers like Guinea, Niger and Burkina Faso are nursing the hope to cause a stir and they should not be underrated.

Truth be told, not many people expected the Black Stars to shine that much in the last Championships in Angola 2010 but they rose to the occasion and missed the Cup by a whisker.

The name of the game is still Association Football, the most unpredictable sport on the planet and that’s why a lot of cash is made from football pools by those who understand what gambling is all about.

It is this unpredictable nature of the game that gives it the special attraction. Come to think of it, without shocking results and inconsistencies sport in general will cease to be an attraction. So let’s have more of those to keep the fans on their feet.

Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.