Monday 28 January 2013

Cup A Load Of That!

At last! Just when you thought it was safe to dismiss football as a self-interested bunch of millionaires playing at sport while the rest of us cough up to fund their increasingly cynical, egotistical and exploitative endeavours, up pops the FA Cup. Not to mention the League Cup, by crikey.

Yes, football can still be a wonderful focal point for a community. Football can still reward hard work and loyalty, from fans and players alike. Football can still sit sentimentally in our hearts like a good pie and a cup of Bovril from a thermos. (Although the pies ran out dead quickly at Boundary Park.)

In light of the weekend's events you might point to Bradford City as the tipping point. Hellfire, thought the other tiddlers, if the Bantams, who cost about as much as a Premier League footballer's round at a nightclub, can reach Wembley then who the hell couldn't?

I confess to the odd tear when the final whistle blew at Valley Parade. It couldn't have been more miraculous had Gary Jones wafted his hand across the sky and turned the rain into rioja. Granted they were fortunate to be playing a team with all the defensive rigour of a wendy house.

And is it me or do teams that struggle in the top-flight always have a striker who is a 'real handful' but can't actually do what he's paid to do? Christian Benteke's conversion rate must be lower than a door-to-door Jehovah's witness's. He is well ahead in the race for the 2013 Emile Heskey Big Lunk of the Year Award.

It's no wonder Villa keep losing these evening kick-offs. Lambert has to go round his team at 7pm and get them out of their pyjamas with a cup of warm milk before he can get them on the pitch.

But stuff like that doesn't happen more than once, does it? Ah but wait. What about plucky Luton! I'm still struggling with the concept of Luton Town being a non-league side - although probably not quite as much as the average Hatters fan. In my head Luton Town still means Eric Morecambe, and David Pleat dancing in his hushpuppies like an unwelcome uncle at a teenage disco, and Paul Walsh and Ricky Hill promising to be top flight England internationals. (Time does strange things to your memory).

Well now they can add a Premier League scalp in Norwich City as can MK Dons - a forever unlikeable club given its origins. But come Sunday, and there were three certs for the Death of the Romance of the Cup.

Then Leeds beat Spurs - who still betray all the hallmarks of showboating fancy Dans when push comes to shove. That kind of equates romance with Neil Warnock, which is about as ugly a thought as one can imagine whilst keeping your breakfast down. Then Brentford almost turned over Chelsea, a result that a lot of Blues fans wouldn't really of minded given that it would've confirmed every suspicion they had about the Tapas restaurant manager in charge.

And finally we got to Oldham-Liverpool. Poor old ITV. They get the short straw again. A comfy 4-0 victory for the Big Boys, surely...? Rodgers selected a strong team, so we're told. Jordan Henderson was the midfield maestro, and played like an inflatable Steven Gerrard with a slow puncture. (You can buy inflatable Steven Gerrards from just about any Adult Shop in Liverpool. There's not a Koppite who hasn't slept with one.)

There was Fabio Borini, too. One of those anonymous Italians who sounds like he should be good but is more than a bit shit.

But it was one of those FA Cup games. Boundary Park, with stands on only three sides, has the feel of a half-built car-park. The weather was perfect. Rain bucketed down and fell off the roof of the ricketty stand like a partly-vandalised water feature. Wind howled like a portent of doom.

And Oldham - one point in eight games - had in Matt Smith a hero in waiting. Like Bradford's Jim Hanson, a huge bastard with some weedy defenders to get amongst, a sunflower rising amongst the daisies. And who the hell is Coates and why can't we pronounce his name like the legendary Ralph's?

It took Rodgers 55 minutes to bring on the Messiah and all Stevie G did - apart from illustrating how much Henderson has to learn - was witter away at the referee for the rest of the game. You could just hear his squeaky Scouse whine, couldn't you? - like a fly trapped in a jar. (Okay he did hit the bar and was their best player once he came on but... )

It was all too lovely, wasn't it? The only team to really puncture the sentiment was my dear old Boro who stumbled horribly past a very good Aldershot, and will probably fare a lot better should we get them lightweights Chelsea in the next round.

So a week, and a weekend shorn of the cynicism of the season thus far; a throwback to Ronnie Radford and Sutton United and Blyth Spartans and many others too numerous to mention. The only blot on the landscape came not from a player but from a ball boy.

Media reaction to Eden Hazard 'kicking a ball boy' has been utterly ludicrous. I know of only one person who didn't think the lad deserved a cracked rib and that's his Mum. Even the boy himself accepts he's been a total nob.

Yes, footballers are arrogant and superior and, let's not beat around the bush here, obscenely rich (so would you be if someone agreed to give you that much money a week) but they don't have to be patient with that sort of numpty. They say football only has itself to blame for the ball boy's behaviour. Really? Nah. The lad is, as he should be, ashamed of himself.

Hazard should be getting a one-game ban, a tap on the wrist. And, if you ask me, a pat on the back.









225 comments:

  1. great stuff Robbo, it was a great game for Rodgers to "assess" his team. He should be buying bus tickets for a few of them this week. Problem is, everybody else has seen it to so they'll be left wandering the hallowed halls of hanfield.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Replies
    1. (Basically what any club outside of Manchester is saying right about now...)

      Delete
  3. Benteke has 11 goals in 25 games (basically 1 in 2) for possibly the worst villa ever, hardly a contendor for the Big Lunk of the Year Award. In comparison Giroud has 13 in 32 for Arsenal and is 6 year older.

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  4. Well said as usual, Robbo; perfect way to start a Monday morning. Odd that two of the Americans spot the post at the crack of dawn (or before, for me) first while the Brits are... what's that... at work?

    Agreed on Hazard, and not just because I had to drop him from my fantasy team. Definitely deserves to sit out a match, but shouldn't his punishment be mitigated since his victim took a Suarezian dive?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Can't count among the two. Who are they, you and Anon?

      Delete
  5. all it really showed is that the second string premiership habitual bench warmers dont like it up em capt mainwaring

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  6. Benteke could have scored a dozen against Bradford if you look at both legs - and indeed his head too.

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  7. Villa's defence were, erm, 'Outnumbered' ?

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  8. You know the ball boy's mum, RObbo? How's she like?


    Oh how I cringed when the journos up and down the country smirked at how Arsenal barely scraped through but come Sunday afternoon, I was laughing.

    The magic of cup is alive and well.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jacks, hope you are well.

    Thomas Eisfeld is set to head your ways on loan. Hope it works out for the player and the club.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great blog Robbo,I'm in agreement a one match ban but then I thought the same when Cantona only kicked a fan who deserved a good kicking.
    Del

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  11. Oh yeah, dont agree with the one match ban either.

    Irrespective of if the ball boy was asking for it, no footballer should kick him. Thats not right.

    ReplyDelete
  12. UFC special on 90 mins player vs ballboy,then the clubs can put in ringers (Derek Chisora in his Bandit mask)
    Del

    ReplyDelete
  13. My first reaction to the ballboy incident was, "Automatic red card".
    But after watching it a few times now, I can't help feeling that Hazard kicked the ball"boy" in the wrong place!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Good stuff Robbo, was indeed an interesting 4th round, unfortunatly we don't get much coverage of it over here so I've only seen very limited highlights, enough to have a good laugh at the Spuds and Mickeys and a bit of a giggle at the chavs but not enough to form any real meaningful opinion.

    It's not just you that finds it hard getting to grips with Luton being a non-league team, I watched Arsenal play them a number of times at Highbury in the mid 70's and early 80's, They weren't half bad for a while with the likes of Hill, Stein, Moss and the (at the time) comicaly named Raddy Antic, well I thought it was funny. They beat us at Wembley too, a match I traveled from Spain especially to see.......... waste of money, ;)

    I'm afraid I can't completly agree with you on Hazard.

    Yes the meedja have blown it out of proportion..

    Yes, the ballboy was an absolute twatspanner

    And yes, he probably deserved a good kicking.

    But Hazard should have known better, you do that on the field it's a red card too, so what did he expect.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Chelsea half the team as United
    Hazard half the player as Cantona
    Hazard is Belgian so half French
    Ballboy half as bad as kicking a spectator
    So half the punishment
    banned for 4 months
    Del

    ReplyDelete
  16. H2H there are a couple of good free streaming sights on the net for all televised events, am I allowed to name them on here?
    Del

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanx Del, I know the sites.

      I get to watch a lot of Footy here in the bar, but it has to be on TV, I can't really watch a game on the computer.

      Delete
    2. connect your computer to the TV
      Del

      Delete
    3. Not that simple I'm afraid, due to copyright infringement laws.

      I have a sports packet whick I have to pay broadcasting rights for. If a game is broadcasted on a channel or from a competition that falls outside of that I have to pay extra or be subjected to pay a fine or worse, if caught. Admitedly the chance is low, but why risk it.

      Delete
  17. Eisman to Ipswich?

    A decent player in the making. Absolutly ran the show in the second half of the COC game against Reading.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He's an excellent player but hampered with injuries. its the only kind we deal in.

      Delete
  18. Everton to sign the Bouncer from Holland.

    What's the scouting report, H? Will he make a good addition to my FFSL team?

    Is it time for Harry Rednap to play his wild card?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought he was the dog in Neighbours.

      Delete
    2. Leroy "de uitsmijter" Fer.

      A pretty decent player, physical type will probably do OK in the PL, I didn't see much of him at Twenthe but he done well at Feyenoord.

      Replacement for Fellani maybe?

      Delete
    3. Thought uitsmijter was a breakfast with 3 eggs,ham and bread? whats the translation ?
      Del

      Delete
    4. Indeed it is Del, but also slang for a bouncer.

      Delete
  19. Oy Oy Spits.

    http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town/ipswich_town_target_arsenal_s_young_german_midfielder_thomas_eisfeld_1_1829661#

    If he could stop us conceding last minute goals,he'd be worth his weight in gold.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Here in the Lowlands the Queen has just abdacated the throne. April 30th there will be a new king here.

    Should be quite a party.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not exactly a surprise H2H - seems like you have a organised retirement plan even for royalty in the Netherlands. It also helps that you have a decent replacement (unlike some other countries and one premier league team I can think of......)

      Didn't you kick one Prince out of the line of succession when he married someone not approved of?

      Delete
  21. The Bouncer from Holland? Presumably trained up by Martin Jol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. aye, a Dutch Bouncer, sounds like a hooker on a pogo stick.

      Delete
  22. Great Blog as always, Robbo. It proves that the 2nd tier of the Premiership can't take liberties with team selection, even with Div III teams (I ignore all this Capital 1 carp) Menacingly the big 2 1/2 (Sorry, BHB, I mean the Big 3) are still in the competition so when it gets to the last 8 they might start fielding full strength sides as the Premiership (sorry, I mean Div I - must be consistent) will have been sown up by then. I wonder how many Chelski fans inwardly groaned when Nando equalised because it meant they were still stuck with the Maitre d'? Still, it was a good finish but then it was "only" Brentford. Now if Nando could do that in Div I......

    Spider

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It wasn't so much an inward groan Spider - I am surprised Trotts & Stephen didn't hear my wails of despair when I saw the result and the irony of is being Tosser The Striker of all people to equalise ...

      Delete
  23. Never know, Levy and AVB will buy a fucking striker after yesterday's clusterfuck but no, we've got another fucking midfielder being rushed in 6 months early because Sandro's knackered.

    So we've Bale and Lennon on the wings, proven talents of Dempsey, Dembele, Parker and useful bods such as Huddlestone, Siggardson and Carrol to fall back on .... we don't need any more fucking midfielders and as we've proven yesterday, talents such as ours are ultimately wasted if we haven't got someone half decent up front to stick them away.

    Even fucking Lawro pointed out in his predictions only one team can get away with not using strikers, and that team resides in Spain.

    -

    James

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AvB is just following the rules laid down in the Book of Saint Totteringham.

      Everytime it looks like you're going to do well, it's imperative you shoot yourselves in the foot. It's the law.

      Delete
  24. I see.the UK I'd planning to run adverts in Romania and Bulgaria saying we're shit don't come here

    I suggest we just play them repeats of that stoke v. man city match.what a load of pony

    ReplyDelete
  25. Let's hope QE2 doesn't follow suit H

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well it wouldn't be that bad, Charles as monarch would probably scare more then just the Romanians and Bulgarians away.

      Delete
  26. Del, you are indeed correct, Uitsmijter is a breakfast/lunch meal, I sell them here.

    But loosely translated, its out-thrower, from there the Bouncer simile.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you H2H,I thought I'd eaten one or two in the mists of time.
      Del

      Delete
  27. Looks like Balotelli's finally off to Milan. Should start an interesting game of cards featuring at least 3-4 clubs.

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  28. Someone remind Fer to hold his horses...

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  29. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20130128/jurgen-klinsman-helicopter/?sct=hp_t2_a12&eref=sihp

    A move to Sheffield United in the offing?

    ReplyDelete
  30. Nice blog Robbo. Plenty of laughing going on as the results came in from this weeks cup matches - until Sunday afternoon at least. Not the end of the world for Spurs, and hopefully it shows Levy that a striker (or two) is what we need. For the Germany-based bloggers on here (or others who watch the Bundesliga), what's this Lewis Holtby lad like? Plenty of good reviews on t'interweb, but I've never seen him play. Must be a decent player to get into the national team I'd have thought?

    It does feel weird seeing Luton as a non-league team. I remember them being in the old First Division, along with Oldham and their plastic pitch and Andy Ritchie scoring goals for fun. Seems a long time ago now.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Dutch Bouncer sounds like an extra strength spliff to me like the camberwell carrot

    ReplyDelete
  32. Scholes has de-icing car stolen

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-21243965

    "It was a piece of cake," said the thief, "since the idiot left the car running."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. de-icing a piece of cake? That's ridiculous. The icing is often the best part.

      Delete
    2. or was it a biscuit?

      Delete
    3. no, he said it was a piece of cake, Bells, he took the cake, you take the biscuit!

      Delete
    4. Schole-boy error :)

      Delete
  33. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21234216


    what are the odds on that happening?

    ReplyDelete
  34. Ouch.

    Not too far away from my old school that.

    ReplyDelete
  35. 1630: BALOTELLI TRANSFER LATESTMilan director Umberto Gandini has confirmed a deal for Balotelli via Twitter(external), saying: "Transfer agreement for Balotelli signed with Manchester City. Medicals tomorrow in Milan, then personal terms until 2017 signing."

    ---------------_
    Was fun while it lasted. for us at least.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good riddance to the jumped up little twat.

      -

      James.

      Delete
  36. Replies
    1. or a missile?

      Fruit or vegetable?Botanically, a tomato is a fruit: the ovary, together with its seeds, of a flowering plant. However, the tomato has a much lower sugar content than other edible fruits, and is therefore not as sweet. Typically served as part of a salad or main course of a meal, rather than at dessert, it is considered a vegetable for most culinary uses. One exception is that tomatoes are treated as a fruit in home canning practices: they are acidic enough to be processed in a water bath rather than a pressure cooker as vegetables would require. Tomatoes are not the only food source with this ambiguity: green beans, eggplants, cucumbers, and squashes of all kinds (such as zucchini and pumpkins) are all botanically fruits, yet cooked as vegetables.

      This dispute has led to legal speculation in the United States. In 1887, U.S. tariff laws that imposed a duty on vegetables, but not on fruits, caused the tomato's status to become a matter of legal importance. The U.S. Supreme Court settled this controversy on May 10, 1893, by declaring that the tomato is a vegetable, based on the popular definition that classifies vegetables by use, that they are generally served with dinner and not dessert (Nix v. Hedden (149 U.S. 304)).[58] The holding of this case applies only to the interpretation of the Tariff Act of March 3, 1883, and the court did not purport to reclassify the tomato for botanical or other purposes.

      Delete
    2. Thanks Trottipedia.

      I always thought it was a ketchup.

      Delete
  37. Awww I liked balotteli plus he was a liability for a club I enjoy watching lose

    ReplyDelete
  38. If tamaytos are fruit trot does that mean ketchup is a tomayto smoothie?

    ReplyDelete
  39. Then she gave me a thing with a hole that looked like David hasselhoff

    ReplyDelete
  40. Then I called the hole thing Hoff

    ReplyDelete
  41. my reply button is no longer working, Blog. I dunno the answer to your ketchup question but try consuming 4 pints a day and let us know if you lose weight and get big muscles please.

    ReplyDelete
  42. I've never been so.hungry. I'm eating this.bacon and lettuce as if there's no tomato.

    ReplyDelete
  43. I'm not taking.g no reply for an answer trot

    ReplyDelete
  44. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Newcastle manager Alan Pardew: "There has been a lot of work and effort to get that win. From the players to the chairman to get the new players in. First half we were magnificent, second half the French lads ran out of legs but we hung on.

    Does he mean they've run out of frogs legs in Newcastle?

    ReplyDelete
  46. Hurray! Two matches on ESPN3 today... let's see, I missed the first half of Man City v QPR, but that's okay, I'll watch the end, since there's no replay. Wait... no goals... not that interesting. Ah, but Swansea v Sunderland has a replay available... now THAT will surely produce goals. Or not. But at least I have Rangel and Davies in my fantasy team, picking up shutouts. What do you mean, Rangel didn't play?

    So close, yet so far.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Is anybody there .......





    that was my best Derek Acorah impersonation - spookily accurate eh?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm here.

      That was my best impression of a guy who drinks too much and is slightly overweight.



      ps, that guy is me.

      Delete
    2. I thought that was Mr BHB for a minute ...

      Delete
    3. Ah, probably the London accent that fooled ya.

      Delete
    4. in the interest of fairness to the lovely Mr BHB, I should point out that whilst not over weight I do also drink too much

      Delete
  48. yeah Bells, I'm here, just fresh from checking the league tables and I see Newcastle are moving up. They'll probably just beat out Chelsea and finish 4th, making post 9pm predictions come true.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am sure if R*f* has anything to do with it, you may well be right

      Delete
    2. Newcastle will frog -march past us on to glory

      On subject of glory Robbo - IF by some remote chance we do beat Brentford in replay and end up playing the mighty Boro. Can we do a deal that if Chelsea win I get a photo of Mourinho on here and if Boro win I get two? Seems fair?

      Delete
  49. and well done Jack Butland for turning down Chelsea and the opportunity of being a highly paid bench warmer.

    ReplyDelete
  50. hope you didnt miss the mourinho documnetary on itv3 at 2.30am the other day, bells

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. wasn't that fantastic Blog, a full hour. He should put some fuckin' clothes on though.

      Delete
    2. Bugger it, I thought it was on ITV2 at 3.30am, stayed up for nothing then.


      Hows your arm (?) these days Bloggy?

      Delete
    3. That was below the belt Trotts (literally), I am now dribbling - not a good look

      Delete
    4. Dribbling from below the belt bells?

      Colch

      Delete
  51. Nothing to do with football - or jaffa cakes - I have just got a text from my 12 year old niece and I have NO idea what it means!

    Can someone (youngish) translate lkr!!!>:O

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yeah, she certainly mis-dialled on that text, little monkey that she is.

      Delete
  52. My arm is on the mend thanks bells apart from a touch of avascular necrosis. If they amputate I'm looking forward to having a range of interchangeable cybernetic replacements...TV gadget, pirate hook, electric toothbrush, fishing rod, ray gun, bottle opener....

    ReplyDelete
  53. I think the text speak is something to do with falconry, bells

    ReplyDelete
  54. Having had to sit through Les Mis with my better half earlier this week, I can confirm that this version is a lot better, and the singing is certainly an improvement on Russell Crowe's.

    http://www.offthepost.info/blog/2013/01/one-day-more-transfer-deadline-day-vs-les-miserables/

    I bloody love transfer deadline day. At least we haven't got Harry to spoil it for us this year. Fucking Ryan Nelson and Louis Saha. The writing was on the wall from that point on.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Fucking Rafa. Idiot. Has transformed Ba from an FFL god to worse than Andy Carroll. Got walloped in both H2H but fortunately so did anyone who could leapfrom me in the standings so maintain top spot in both. Stephen has taken the same in the classic leagues. Should be a tight finish.

    Good game at the emirates. Folks on liverpool messageboards screaming about the Suarez chance in stoppage time to win it for us, but the gunners had their fair chances to win it too. Just because our chance was in stoppage time doesnt mean we deserved to win. Good game and I'll happily take a point at the Emirates any day. Not the best examples of how to defend from either team though.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Chris Samba is having his medical this morning ahead of a £12.5m 100k-per-week move to QPR.
    ---------------------------
    Bloody hell. No wonder Liverpool cant sign anyone except 13 year olds. Didn't 'Arry say the last signings were bleeding the owners and he would advise them not to sign anyone till they knew if they could survive. I sure hope they don't get relegated with the wage bill they have.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. they will survive, as long as he knows how to buy, he knows they're still alive, it might take all the cash they have and might bring cardiac arrest, but at the end of May this year, they will still play with the best.

      Delete
    2. I dont see how they could possibly be be playing with the Philadelphia Union in May.

      Delete
    3. hahahah Philadelphia Schmiladelphia. Yo, AH, did you have power outages last night, any trees down? No power here and the wind chimes kept me awake.

      Delete
    4. Several trees down, one few feet away from the house. No power outages though surprisingly enough.

      Delete
  57. I was becoming quite Le Fondre of Reading until the end of yesterday's match.

    ReplyDelete

  58. well I will ignore your 'help' with the text H2 and Trotts, many thanks to you Bloggy with the only feasible explanation

    And Colch, slap wrists for you ....

    -----------

    R*f* Perplexed By Chelsea Draw

    - not as 'perplexed' as me & Mr BHB were last night, checked score on phone 2-0 up, feeling pleased, went outside for a smoke and came back and it was 2-2 , WTF happened? I think it must eb what's known as the R*f* effect

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. seems to me as if Rafa is almost permanently perplexed, this is not a new state of being for him, it's been years now, no less amusing though!

      Delete
    2. too right - he looks in the mirror every day and smirks "not yet rumbled" but increasingly cant understand why

      Delete
  59. DONE DEAL - Kieron Dyer - unattached to Middlesbrough
    What is the treatment room like at the Riverside? The only reason I am asking is that Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray has just confirmed to BBC Tees Sport that Kieron Dyer has joined the club on a short-term deal. QPR released the 34-year-old former England international midfielder this week.
    ----------------------------------------------

    Wonder what Robbo and FBH think of this?

    Colch

    ReplyDelete
  60. Among all the transfer haze, forgot to mention that Liverpool now have a new number 10. Phillippe Coutinho. What's that you say - 'Who' ?

    Dont really know to be honest. 20 year old with a lot of potential.If he's anything like Henderson, he'll probably get a couple goal a year and a half from now. How we're in 7th place drawing away at Arsenal, I'll never know.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Coutin who? Robin who? Ronaldin who? (who incidentally has weirdly been recalled to play England next week... i suppose they think a bunch of bald fat old brazilians barnacle boys will still give the spoilt english millionaire forever children a good game. the match is in the sand pit at the side of wembley btw.

      Delete
  61. Phil McNulty, BBC Sport chief football writer
    EVERTON LATEST
    "Can confirm that Everton's £8.6m deal for FC Twente's Leroy Fer is not back - and never has been."

    That's a prime example of McNumpty talking about nothing.

    As for me, I have never banged Keira Knightley and never will do no matter how many rumours you spread.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Arsenal apparently signing a left back called Nacho Monreal. How long will the mexican starters jokes continue to be funny I wonder.

    ReplyDelete
  63. So ...fuck all transfer news on the Spurs front, but in the world of FFL Thungton Rovers have made seven changes in order to rack up goals and points.

    Wanted RVP and Walcott in but had to pull and prod around with the team to afford them. Somehow kept the excellent spine of my team intact but if I get injuries I doubt my subs will get played.

    -

    James.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Becks to Paris? Is that why all the frogs have gone to Newcastle? But well done Becks for donating all his wages to charity. They can't complain if he plays like shit.

    Now, just stay out of high speed underground car chases.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Butland to Stoke City... next year. Good move. Must be resigned to losing Begovic. Brek Shea? Sure, why not. Another American to since Edu left on loan.

    And what's up with QPR? You'd think they're playing Football Manager with all the transfers.

    ReplyDelete
  66. good old becks donating his PR budget to the Paris Conservatoire for Kids Who Can't Read Good and Want to Do Other Stuff Good Too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How can we be expected to teach children to learn how to read if they can't even fit inside the building?

      Oh wait... with his budget, the building will be bigger than the Emirates. (Not the stadium, the UAE.)

      Delete
  67. In terms of over paid pampered celebrity becks is a rare example of a rat actually joining a sinking ship (the Paris Commune) ... personally I agree with french policy of not for once kissing rich ass and maybe they'll love him for it maybe they'll think fucking Brand Beckham fucking Victorias fashion and perfume line fucking thickos fucking charidee oo do set zink set are keeding

    ReplyDelete
  68. ... looking at the transfers, i was expecting to see more news and comments about qpr ... but it seems the media will be all over good ol' becks instead

    ReplyDelete
  69. Balotelli gone and no replacement despite Mancini stating that they're doing everything right except scoring goals indicates possibly the abu dhabi group have had it with him and have Rafa in their sights for summer.

    ReplyDelete
  70. Rafa to City would be an outstanding idea - they can join Chelsea and Liverpool in the Europa League next season

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Plus he wouldn't have to move house when he takes over from the Govan Beetroot.

      Delete
    2. that's never gonna happen - Guardiola when he's finished at Bayern or David Moyes are the more likely choices

      Delete
  71. Sad for Odemwingie having the door slammed in his face like that at Selhurst park. no professional deserves that kind of treatment.

    Cocky twat. Would live to have seen his face. 'but but don't you know who I am?'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it might have helped if he'd gone to Loftus Rd.

      Delete
  72. All the same to me trot. Cockneys innit

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No they isn't. Too far west to be cockneys.

      Delete
    2. it's all the same to him too!

      He'll show up at the Emirates in the Summer window and they'll drag him in off the street!

      Delete
    3. or the patio or garden terrace or whatever the fuck they have there instead of a street.

      Delete
  73. adampsb1 February 2013 14:41
    Rafa to City would be an outstanding idea - they can join Chelsea and Liverpool in the Europa League next season


    That would mean them finishing third in their CL group, which would actually be an improvement on the last two seasons.

    ReplyDelete
  74. The cockneys start at Birmingham, H.

    ReplyDelete
  75. Replies
    1. ie everyone south of birmingham is a cockney. Exvept for toffs who live in a little world of their own.

      Delete
  76. Boulevard trot. It's not a stadium anymore nether, it's now the Emirates jardin du Plaisir .

    Footballers in bentleys how the Fuck did that happen? They ll be collecting the bins in the back of a Porsche next

    ReplyDelete
  77. Maybe this is just nostalgia for the gutter but we do need a government backed De-gentrification in football it's ruining it. Best example I know is Colchester united orrible new ground/car park/industrial estate up on the A12. I loved Layer Road it was brilliantly atmospheric and you could WALK there ffs

    ReplyDelete
  78. I suspect Odemwingie's decision to drive down to QPR has 'arry's tapping up written all over it.

    ReplyDelete
  79. Tractor Boys against the mighty Boro today.

    Already practising my dignified in defeat speech.

    ReplyDelete
  80. Col u boys vs tractor.boys tomorrow jacks blogdignag jnr (not his real name) still in the running for a pro career so ignore wot I said above about Bentleys and de gentrification. For now.

    ReplyDelete
  81. haha, the boulevard, yes. Of Broken Dreams!

    ReplyDelete
  82. Wonderful display by Bunn against QPR. Good thing I picked him up just in time for the match. If only I'd thought to start him...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Join the club.

      Delete
    2. I put Cesar in goal so that's 8 points and a safe bet seeing as QPR aren't shipping goals since 'Arry took over.

      -

      James

      Delete
  83. This may be getting tiresome now but vale are about to go top.

    In the next week a play two teams in the bottom four so Fuck you Gillingham

    ReplyDelete
  84. This week's bench: Bunn (12), Schneiderlin (7), O'Brien (6), Demel (6), all before the bonus points.

    That equals the score from my starting 11, albeit awaiting van Persie (C) and Suarez.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. what I meant to say is,
      how do you pick 'em?

      Delete
    3. Poorly.

      Though choosing two Swansea defenders over Demel & O'Brien made sense since Swansea score more than West Ham. Bunn was behind Begovic in part because I forgot to bench the latter, though Begovic did rather well and I couldn't have known about Bunn's penalty save. Schneiderlin is behind Mata, Lampard, Michu, and Cazorla. If only someone had told me in advance Michu still wouldn't score, Cazorla wouldn't start, and Schneiderlin would actually be involved in the scoring.

      All that justification for nothing, of course.

      Delete
  85. Mickey Owen in trouble for 'thumping' Arteta. First time in a very long time that I've seen his name in a headline that didn't also include the word 'twitter'.

    My FFL team has finally got off the bottom of Jacks' H2H league after posting a league high 84 points last week. I think it may be the first time all season that I haven't been last. My season starts now. Looking good for wins this week too.

    ReplyDelete
  86. Perfect scoring combo.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21209277

    Makes you wonder who would make up such combos for other teams. I imagine Chelsea's ladies would have an easier time than Havant & Waterlooville.

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete
  88. Oh joy, a spambot!

    ReplyDelete
  89. What's up with Reina and Skrtl...gifted the equalizer to City at Anfield (Skrtl's fault) and gifted the equalizer to City again today (Reina doing his now commonplace Almnunia impression). Liverpool completely dominated City at the Etihad
    but nothing to show for it in the same week we led Arsenal away by 2-0 again with nothing to show for it at the end of the game. That being said, 2 away games to Arsenal and City within 4 days, anyone at Liverpool would've taken 2 points before they started. But if we knew how to hold on to a lead ..ah..what might have been.

    ReplyDelete
  90. Thank fuck Togo are out of the AFCoN. Adebayor up front will be better than nobody I guess, now that Defoe is out for a few weeks. Scoring goals has been a problem for Spurs for a month or so now, just a shame Levy won't rectify it.

    Anyhow, it's Superbowl time so I'd best go and get comfy on the sofa.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Spurs will have to convert some of those extra midfielders to strikers. What? They already did that?

      Delete
    2. Should stick Bale up front, given he can smash them in on his left foot and has the face to go by more or less anyone.

      Oh well, thank fuck Togo did the decent thing and lost yesterday.

      -

      James

      Delete
  91. Superbowl was superb although teh Ravens were clinging on aby their fingernails at the end.

    Which 49ers fan switched off the lights??

    ReplyDelete
  92. Stop sniggering at the back there over our result on Saturday all you Spurs supporters ....

    _____________

    Match-fixing: Champions League tie played in England 'was fixed'

    Why did I get the sinking feeling I may need to dig out my 'Why always us' t-shirt

    On MUCH brighter note

    Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is ready to return to Chelsea to replace under-pressure interim manager Rafa Benitez.

    Full story: the Sun


    Closely followed by:

    Benitez's future at the club could be in doubt if the Blues fail to beat Wigan this weekend.

    Full story: Daily Telegraph





    GO WIGAN

    OK didn't really mean that bit

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry about the sniggering Bells (ha ha stop it). Glad to see you believe what it says in the Bun and Torygraph. What manager in his right mind, and with a long term plan, would want to go and work for Roman?

      Hear Rafa's dog walking business is going down the pan. Loses too many leads.


      Jedi

      Delete
    2. PS: Go WIGAN.

      I did mean it.


      Jedi

      Delete
    3. If it 'means' the return of the Yummy One to Stamford Bridge Jedi - not only am I prepared to believe what I read in the Old Current Bun and Torygraph, I am also CONVINCED that blogdignag Jnr is Bloggys sons real name :)

      Delete
    4. I still say Di Canio would fit in better.

      http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21326698

      Delete
    5. Apparently M***inho has said he won't be back in England for at least another year. Other possibles (form a queue: it moves quick!) are Gus Poyet, who is doing a good job at Brighton, and Gianfranco Zola, who has got Watford playing excellent football (mostly using Italian loan signings). Either of those float your boat, Bells?


      Jedi

      Delete
  93. Best ever Superbowl party! Who won?

    ReplyDelete
  94. I've been bitten by a fucking mouse

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Serves you right for interrupting Mr and Mrs Mouse going at it.

      Delete
    2. How would you like it if a mouse sneaked up on you and mrs. blogdignag (not her real name).

      Delete
    3. if it was a big sexy mouse i wouldnt mind at all

      Delete
  95. Barton sorry for seventh red card
    ----------------------------
    He wasnt sorry for the first six ?

    ------------
    Midfielder Joey Barton was sent off for the first time in his Marseille career during a 1-0 defeat by Nancy on Sunday.
    --------------
    Not too bad. Spent half a season without being red carded.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He probably thought he was being beaten by a woman and decided to hit her back.

      Delete
  96. Roberto Di Mateo is going back as a "temporary replacement interim substitute short term stop gap fill in" manager on a 4 month contract.

    ReplyDelete
  97. West Brom outcast Peter Odemwingie, 31, apologised on Twitter for team-mate Goran Popov, 28, after the defender was shown a red card for spitting.
    --------------------
    Er..there might be a couple of other things you need to apologize for, Pete my man.

    ReplyDelete
  98. Champions league match in England fixed,
    FA and Eufa know nothing about it.

    Probably made up by an ABU


    Alex Ferguson?
    Del

    ReplyDelete
  99. Fifa wants clarity on offside rule

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21324698

    The rest of us, however, would the managers see a bit more clearly instead. Refs will make mistakes. How about Fergie condemns his own idiots once or admits the ref made a correct call that went against him? (I would make a Chelsea reference, but none of our managers are around long enough to notice a pattern.)

    ReplyDelete
  100. What's all this about match fixing?

    I never realised they were broken.

    ReplyDelete
  101. Was away for the weekend, so was just catching up on all the gossip rubish when I saw this gem;

    Interim Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez has told his players he expects to stay at Stamford Bridge next season in an attempt to raise morale.
    Full story: Sunday Mirror


    I'm no Chelsea player, but that certainly boosted my morale

    ReplyDelete
  102. and everyone else's in the top 4 - but is he staying to manage the team or boost "morale" whatever that may be a euphemism for

    ReplyDelete
  103. What a mess at a once great club.

    You can't see the Nottingham Forest for the trees.

    ReplyDelete
  104. it had to be fixed if Lucas scored the winner.

    ReplyDelete
  105. Replies
    1. Apparently it had to be fixed for Liverpool to beat Debrecen 1-0. Sad days.

      Delete
    2. Sad days?

      You were in the CL then.

      Delete
  106. The Debrecen keeper was paid to allow Liverpool to win by more than 2.5 goals, however, Liverpool were so bad that he didn't even get the chance to let 3 goals in.

    ReplyDelete
  107. Maybe Abramovich is the center of a "next-manager-to-be-sacked" fixing ring.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Impossible. No one would bet against that.


      Jedi

      Delete
  108. Arsenal's head of youth development and former midfielder Liam Brady believes Gunners midfielder Jack Wilshere, 21, will become a renowned England player similar to Paul Gascoigne and Glenn Hoddle.
    Full story: talkSPORT


    A drunk who doesn't like the disabled?

    ReplyDelete
  109. As long as it's not a Sp*rs player, I can live with it.

    ReplyDelete
  110. Or a pop Career with Foggy Diamond Nights on the Tyne

    ReplyDelete
  111. or a faith healer in a distant rehab clinic?

    ReplyDelete

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