Monday 1 April 2013

Torn A-Sunderland

Just in case you thought that the stupidity of British football had reached its peak with Blackburn Rovers and its managerial hotseat (not that any managers sits in it for long enough for it to get even lukewarm) along come Sunderland FC to remind you that we North-Easterners know how to do things really dopily.

It’s not really a great surprise that O’Neill’s been sacked. Sunderland carve out opportunities with all the regularity of a North Korean anti-government march.  Were it not for Stephen Fletcher’s opportunism they would have scored fewer goals than Jan Vertonghen. This is a desperately poor team and even O’Neill’s habitual spring lamb bounce has disappeared. In recent weeks he’s been about as thrilling a watch as a Bank Of England statement from Mervin King.

So, yes, O’Neill had to go – but now?  As with Adkins at Reading, the new man’s going to be lumbered with the same set of thinly-talented players. Adam Johnson is thin and talented, actually, but so work-shy that I’m surprised that the Government aren’t seeking him out for fiscal punishment.

Anyway it turns out that, unlike Blackburn or Wolves, that Sunderland did have a replacement in mind. The papers started by touting Steve McClaren, or Mark Hughes, on the basis that Mark Hughes is always available when someone’s given the boot. It’s a reflex speculation these days, like assuming Suarez has dived or Messi has scored.
But no, Sunderland have turned to international football’s answer to Benito Mussolini, Paolo di Canio.

That’s right. Something radical needed to be done at the Stadium of Light and so Sunderland chose someone with very views that are about as radical as it’s possible to get.

Di Canio has described himself as a ‘fascist, but not a racist’ which, when you look at the twentieth century history of fascism, makes him the single exception to the rule. Some might argue, as Tony Thompson in the Bell argued last night, that ‘Hitler was a fascist and you can’t say his team did badly in Europe.’

David Miliband has resigned his position at the club – a knee-jerk reaction according to the Swindon Town chairman Jeremy Wray. That’s right, Mr Wray, those Jews get a bit oversensitive when it comes to fascists. Dunno why, eh?
However the fact is that many of us remember Di Canio with a mixture of trepidation and delight. From Paul Durkin’s laughable tumble after being gently shoved by the Italian, to the sublime volley against Wimbledon, Di Canio never failed to entertain. There is a level of worship at West Ham that borders on the homoerotic. They like Tevez too, but not in that way.

Di Canio’s time at Swindon was successful but punctuated by moments of mild insanity. The replacement of his goalie after 20 minutes was the best. Crikey if England managers did that after the keeper’s made one mistake there’s be a whole bench full of men in green jerseys on the bench.
In an interview with the BBC he described himself as having an ego as big as an elephant. He also sits there gesturing like a cartoon Italian, the sort that Paul Whitehouse might lob off in an Aviva commercial.
All in all, it’s a potty appointment. Foolhardy in the extreme. But eminently more exciting thatn Reading’s decision to appoint good ol’ Nige Adkins. Presumably Sunderland didn’t want a safe pair of hands.

He wanted someone who’s going to go in there and say to Simon Mignolet:
“You gotta quarter-of-an-hour to make-a me like-a you or I’m a-gonna-senda-you to a-de place where the sun don’ta shine.”

“Mais, non, Gaffer, anywhere but Middlesbrough” he will no doubt reply.
Sunderland want a man who’s going to run on the pitch at the half-time whistle and have a stand-up row with Danny Graham for proving to be every bit as limited as seasoned Swansea watchers thought he was.

What’s for certain is he won’t go in there and be conciliatory or kind. Dare I say it, his management style might be a tad fascistic.
Now I don’t condone his politics in any sense. I think it’s wrong and bad and there’s way too much of it going on in Eastern Europe and of course in Italy. There's plenty here too and they don't need a figurehead to rally around. The idea that Di Canio can uncouple his fascism from racism is laughable. Not one of the stone-skulled numpties on the terraces at Lazio does that because for them they are pretty much one and the same.

Nevertheless it doesn't make Di Canio a bad footballer, anymore than the fact that Ian Dury wasn't very nice to people makes 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick' a bad song. It certainly doesn't make him a bad manager. The successful ones are pretty much all dictators.

So I reckon the Sunderland fans have got it right. Keep your opinions to yourself, Paolo. Keep that arm straight and true and pointing to the ground. Try to get the best out of a team of woefully underconfident footballers. And good luck to you when you come to the Riverside for the Tees-Wear derby next season.

And if it doesn't work out, there's always Mark Hughes.





 

271 comments:

  1. First. He's a racist twat

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  2. It was Paul Alcock not Durkin he pushed

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  3. Aw, shucks, now Chelsea are less likely to hire Di Canio to replace Appleton who will replace Rafa right before the next round of the FA Cup. Looks like you've moved up one spot on the "Chelsea's Next Manager" list, Robbo!

    Is the spring lamb bounce what you get after you've been hit with the rhythm stick?

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  4. good stuff Robbo, brilliant headline but it's going to draw mass criticism from the Beijing Bloggers I fear. Be good for the Boro' if Sunderland go down, two extra derby games next year!

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  6. Very Good title.

    Me, I think desperate times call for desperate measures and I think Sunderland should be applauded for thinking outside the box.

    Southampton got rid of Aitkens, everybody cryed foul, but now it seems like a good decision, it will be more then vindicated if they stay up.

    Reading dumping McDermott seemed silly at the time............... Still does actualy, because Reading, with all due respect are a good Championship team, they are way out of their depth in the Pl and I really can't see anyone coming in with a few games to go and changing anything. I saw them on Saturday against Arsenal and they were completly outplayed, it was a scandal that we only put four past them, it should of been double that, at least.

    Sunderland though is a completly different kettle of fish. Their team (on Paper at least) is not that bad, they have been underperforming, their results have been poor and they have been sucked into the relegation dog fight without as much as a whimper of fight. I really can't understand the "shock" at the decision, although that's mostly coming from the beeb who have a long standing relationship with the jumpy bespectacled one. He's looked clueless and powerless to change the situation, his demeanor and expression in his interview after the Man U game was as blank as Alan Sherears.

    With seven games to go and 21pts up for grabs it was do or die for Sunderland, O'Neil had his chance and blew it, let's not forget he'd dropped 30mill on players recently, (that's more then Readings net worth. ;) ) Di Canio will definitly shake things up, he won't take any shit from the underperformers and if he fails everyone will understand, but if he succeeds they'll have a new hero up there in Tyne and Wierd land.

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  7. You're right. Alcock. Unforgettable name, strangely forgotten.

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    1. Not surprising really, referees are all cocks.

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  8. I agree H2H. No harm in this decision really, although it's come very late in the season. They've been bad for a long time and O'Neill has to take the rap for that.

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  12. Bloodyhell...all his colleagues have views concerning this article too.

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  13. Zealous of getting familiarity, eh?

    I'm starting to like these Robbots. (Anonybots?)

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  14. If they'd waited a day longer, they could have had Colin.

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  15. Great blog Robbo. Not surprising that O'Neill was sacked - I think the players had lost faith in him and the results reflected that. The timing was odd - have a two week international break, then lose to United, before bringing someone else in. Were they expecting to beat United, and then for everything to turn out rosy? I think di Canio will be liking bringing a hornet's nest into the dressing room. You might get short term benefits, but it's just a matter of time before it all goes spectacularly wrong.

    Another nail in Harry's coffin tonight. QPR must be facing financial oblivion if they're relegated, surely?

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  16. Not a good week to have Neil in your name. This one's been Warnocked out of Leeds. (Sorry... not quite reached Robbo level, pun-wise.)

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21998112

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  17. Dicanios denying he's zealous of the fascism. The life size tattoo on his back of someone resembling Mussolini is actually his mum. Italian women don't age well. It's the pasta. My view is that he's entitled to orrible personal opinions as long as he keeps them to himself -the time to worry is when he starts organising torch lit rallies at the stadium of shite. A pogrom against Titus bramble might not be a bad thing tho.

    And resignation of fratricidal uber-nerd David "Saddam Hussein was offside"Milliband is a plus. Nothing to do with moving to America then Dave?

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    1. Surely not? A man who is quite happy to kidnap people and send them off to be tortured (which is what "Extraordinary Rendition" is) clearly has immaculate morals.


      Jedi

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  18. Free speech anyone?

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  19. You've got to watch this, Harry telling di Canio stories...the new ballotelli

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgAbu4zOxg4

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  20. Shoud have been done after the defeats to QPR and Reading. O'Neil has been clueless most of the season and his stubborness in playing 4-5-1 all the time has cost Sunderland dearly. They need at least 2 more wins to be safe and Chelsea away isn't the place where they will get one of them

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  21. Mussolini was a geography teacher and so obviously a massive cunt

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  22. First hats off to Robbo who has an unbelievable eye for the best story of the week, Sunderland it is.

    Second, about this whole business of if you've admitted at some point in your life to supporting a political party like the bnp our the Italian fascist movement, in what circumstances does the statement debar you from responsible positions?

    I don't think you can be a teacher, even of geography and openly do so. corruption of youth, race hate legislation etc. - we don't have unlimited free speech in these circumstances. Say what you like as a private individual, but in public life it's different, there's a community of opinion to consider.

    So, as uber nerd milliband implies it is, is'football manager'one of these positions?

    No.

    In defence of di Canio anyone who behaves like he did in the whu vs Bradford game 5-4, see YouTube, is no political philosopher. He likes to get a reaction, probably why he's an effective manager.likes control.

    He's probably too thick to make the wider connections to the death of hordes of working class Geordies in the war and the holocaust of course. Not that the American owner or high finance gives a toss about these things. Neither will the fans if he saves them from relegation.

    If he fails they'll hang him upside down outside a Tyneside petrol station

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    1. "So, as uber nerd milliband implies it is, is'football manager'one of these positions?"
      I'm afraid it is, yes. He will be a magnet for every slopeheaded ignoramus of the far right in the area who latch on to footy, for starters, and should he put his foot in his gob on matters political during his time there (more than likely you have to admit - he's not the sharpest pin in the box) gawd knows what would happen.
      A football manager, particularly of a PL club is always in the spotlight, and appointing this noob is risky, and not just where footballing matters are concerned.

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    2. Then again he didn't mention politics at Swindon so maybe this is an issue he'll avoid.

      Italian Fascism is a strange thing as while it is nationalistic it doesn't centre on racial purity the way the Germans and East Europeans did although it does attract those elements it is more about nationalist expansion and totalitarianism and the control of the state over the individual and in that one respect differed from Nazism for whom racial purity was the central tenet.

      Can you be a fascist and not a racist? Possibly depending on what attracted you to fascism in the first place but the majority are probbaly both.

      Di Canio said he was taken out of context so the only way to really find out is get a copy of the full interview transcript and publish it but I suspect he will simply avoid political statements in an effort to defuse the row and concentrate on the football

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    3. Can one be fascist and not racist? It's probably about as likely as being a Tory with a social conscience.
      As far as I know he said "I am a fascist" and regardless of what he said directly before or after that, the statement means only one thing. There is no "context", a word often used by the guilty to try and squirm out of whatever verbal tangle they've got themselves in.

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    4. There is always context but without undertaking a long-winded political analysis of Italian Fascism it is difficult to demonstrate it. Mussolini made some statements about race in the early 1920s but had abandoned it by the 1930s due to internal opposition within the party so clearly there were fascists who weren't inherently racist but just wanted a stronger Italy.

      It is interesting to note however that the countries that were the main ones were only unified in the late 1800s and eary 1900s and were still struggling to find a national identity.

      And a lot of Conservatives have a social conscience even if the Chancellor is making more cuts than a pair of scissors

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    5. Wasn't Italian fascism about getting all the trains to run on time? Joking aside, I don't like DiCanio, and I sincerely believe that he should never have been appointed manager of any English club.

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  23. I don't recall all this occurring when Di Canio was made manager at Swindon.

    Or indeed when the BBC gave him a job.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19431338

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  24. Fair point about the Beeb, but Swindon? possibly cos no-one cared diddly squat!

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  25. or maybe because Swindon didn't have a publicity seeking leech called David Milliband on the board taking £125K a year for doing nothing on the board and as he is fading into non-entityness wanted a few more headlines before he goes away

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  26. Whatever you think of Miliband, I have to admit if I were Jewish and on the board at Sunderland, I'd feel decidely uncomfortable with a bloke like DiCanio being the public face of the club, and would probably resign, too, so fair play to him.

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  27. At least Di Canio will get the mascots running on time

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  28. Heheh...
    http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/sport/kim-jong-un-to-manage-carlisle-united-2013040264375

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  29. I vote with the group that's saying if you shut up while he was at Swindon, then hold your silence now. There is no big club-small club context to be had here.

    Also, given what a loudmouth he is, his "I'm a fascist, not a racist" comment should be taken with a pinch of salt, specially since he has said nothing of the sort whilst at Swindon. Perhaps he was trying to say he didnt like the races but just liked attending wearing the latest from Versace.

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  30. Not so sure about all this facist rubbish. The guy comes from Italy, a place where racism is pretty much inbedded in their national iditenity, I'm not in any shape or form excusing it, just saying how it is, they're all pretty right minded compared to where I live.

    That said, I've read articles in the Daily Mail that I thought were bordeline facist too, I suppose it all depends on your perspective of how right is the right?

    Even if his past transgressions or words do break any moral or ethical codes then surely it's down to the F.A or, god forbid, Uefa/Fifa to step in and take action? I wouldn't hold my breath though, their track record in that particular department is shambolic.

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  31. Proof will be in the pudding as they say. How he treats the black players will be an easy indicator of whether he is racist or not

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  32. At West ham he played with Shaka Hislop, Trevor Sinclair, Ian Wright (not known as the silent type), Rio (did you call my bruvva a black c*nt) Ferdinand and Israel International Eyal Berkovic.

    I never heard any of them complaining about him.

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  33. I supported man utd, briefly, in 1999, in a bar in delft, but i regret it.i feel ashamed and sullied by my lapse of judgement. In penance i shaved off my hair and travelled to the Peloponnese to bathe in the purifying waters of the Eurotas. I trend to keep quiet about it and wouldn't want to be judged by the unfortunate incident. It was witnessed by a bunch of foreigners who don't count and a mate who also isn't a man u fan but was that night.

    We never talk about it.

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  34. Having said that, there is no analogy with di Canio who has a fucking Mussolini tattoo.

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  35. not unless you have a Stalin tatoo

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  36. I haven't Adam. Maradonna has a Mao tattoo tho. 45 million killed in the great leap forward. the only great leap forward anyone here ever talks about is the one he did with his hand up. And no one ever mentions Messi's Adolf hitter tattoo.he says it's his son, but how come it has a little tooth brush moustache....

    It's a minefield of contradictions. How far do we tolerate expressions of intolerance? How sincere are they? Or said like a child to shock...Di Canio has a Jewish agent.

    We all say stupid things, some of us more than most, but by their fruit shalt thou know them. Move on. The wars over. Of I've forgiven the Germans for trying to kill my granddad so can you. Di Canio and apparently all Italians are entertaining buffoons and not really a threat to civilised values. The Argentinian s on the other hand....

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  37. Good arguments, Roger, but I don't think football managers are particularly respected figures, tbh. I give di Canio two years at best.no one takes him seriously and I can't see that changing.

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  38. Stalin was a c-unit Adam.

    There is a certain amount of the media creating their own story (once again) with this Di Canio story.

    I'm sure Di Canio has had it up to here with this stupid non-story.

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    1. He was indeed and probably more of a Fascist than a Communist although he paid the required lip service to Lenin he was only ever interested in power not the equality of the masses.

      As Marx, Lenin and Stalin all espoused the totalitarian state and the latter 2 killed loads of their political enemies given than Milliband's dad was a "celebrated" Marxist thinker and he is a Marxist himself we can question if he was ever a fit person to work for a football club (assuming he actually did some for his money)

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  39. What happens in Delft, stays in Delft.

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    1. unless you bring it home and to your doctor's clinic on Monday morning.

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    2. Unless you buy the porcelain!

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  40. It's a massive conspiracy, I tell you.

    No not this Di Canio story but I read somewhere the other day that The Yummy One has provisionally said yes to coming back to Chelsea but only if we are in top four, so what does The Prat Spanish Waiter do - lose to Southampton and endanger our chances.

    Whilst any win over Man Poo is always welcome, I am surprised Fergie didn't come out 'guns blazing' with his players as at end of day, they have got the Prem sown up so it shouldn't matter AS much about losing maybe the next league match with a 'weaker' side. Mind you having said that when Van Persie did come on it's looked as though he had been given tips by Torres on 'scoring'

    Oi and Bloggy I take umbrage that we ALL say stupid things, with the possible exception of my Schindlers List/Sophies Choice faux pas that you and Trotts so unkindly picked on :)

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    1. can you remind us of the details Bells? I don't recall that.

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    2. It was a fair few years ago Trotts - way back on BBC blog - I cannot recall the details (scarred for life by the bullying of you two :) suffice to say I said something about choosing between two things 'like on Schindlers List' then realised I had the wrong film entirely which prompted much amusement and piss-taking by you both

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    3. can't have been me, I never met Sophie Schindler.

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  41. One thing that is worrying me is that if Oscar Pistorius is allowed to race again while on bail - he's going to have a huge advatnage over his competitors as the minute they hear the starting pistol they're all going to dive for cover.

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  42. Isnt Dan Droan a cunt, an apprentice to McCunty?

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  43. Just found SAFC's new song....

    Salve o popolo d'eroi
    Salve o patria immortale
    Son rinati i figli tuoi
    Con la fede e l'ideale
    Il valor dei tuoi guerrieri,
    La virtù dei pionieri
    La vision dell'Alighieri
    Oggi brilla in tutti i cuor

    Loosely translated as......

    Hail, people of heroes,
    Hail, immortal Sunderland,
    Your sons were born again
    With the faith and the Ideal.
    Your warriors' valour,
    Your pioneers' virtue,
    Di Canio's vision,
    Today shines in every heart

    Ha'way The Lads

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  44. Bolton 4 points from a playoff position. There's only one Dougie Freedman!

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    1. just relax will ya, 20 minutes to play yet, mudda fuckin scouse yank kiss of death curse hex you might have just put on us!

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    2. you're off the hook AH. Great call!

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  45. Yes bells, that trotter geezer is a notorious piss-taker, but nevertheless what a great film that Schindler's Choice is

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  46. Pressure mounts on Sunderland and Paolo Di Canio with calls for clarification on fascist views

    Turns out the socialists of Sunderland don't want him partly due, as Roger said, because they're concerned that the Sunderland fascisti -growing support in the area for the EDL and the BNP, it seems, might want him for the wrong reasons.

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  47. They should try one of them protest campaigns like the anti-Glazer green and gold campaign, that should get rid of him.....

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  48. 5 games to go in league 2. Gills have got top spot, so starfire wherever he is, nutter, will be chuffed. My aim is 3Rd. Close at the top though and 4 clubs still fighting over the other two promo slots. One is Burton, who we play on Friday.another must win match.

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  49. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  50. No, not even securing promotion for port vale would induce me to have that Stalin tattoo.

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  51. Good game psg/barc.

    Particularly enjoyed the Beckham interview. Been missing the family game we have of counting the number of times he says 'ye know'.

    16

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  52. Oh I meant to say -Adam, Karl Marx no more espoused totalitarianism than did Harpo.

    He was a compassionate egalitarian and marxism as i understand it (and marx said he wasnt a Marxist) is an emancipatory credo, which, like christianity, had proven useful to evil bastards who want power.

    It's also pretty obvious that his analysis of the instability of capitalism was right. He just didn't anticipate the 4 true opiates of the masses, TV, internet, football and opium.

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  53. There is a bit in the Communist Manifesto where they suggested that the "proletariat" might in competition with the bourgeoisie be compelled to organise as a class, form a revolution, make itself a ruling class, sweep away the old conditions of production, and in that step have abolished its own supremacy as a class

    It hints at one-party control but is a little unclear in its structure as a sentence as to its ultimate aim. All Communist countries have been single party states so there must be something in his thinking that encouraged it

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    Replies
    1. The Proletariat v The Bourgeoisie.

      I bet that damn Murcoch already has the tv rights.

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  54. After I initially commented I seem to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments
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    ReplyDelete
  55. People in the UK now fit into seven social classes, a major survey conducted by the BBC suggests.
    ==================================

    Surely should be 8 classes - they seem to have forgotten about the resident and non-resident Robbo blog regulars. A class of their own, that lot.

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  56. There are really only 4 classes, Politicians with loads of money, other people with loads of money and people who work , have worked and want to work who have been screwed by politicians for their money so that the politicos can hang out with the rich and have lots of money and those who have no intention of working yet still manage to own an iPhone5, Xbox and a holiday to Tenerife every year

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  57. BTW I know it is a sweeping generalisation that will have exceptions in each bit but these classifications often are

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  58. Hi to all resident and non-resident Robbo regulars. Hope all are good and each one's club doing well in respective leagues ;)

    AH- had good game in FFL? Hope I didnt scupper your chances of topping the league :P

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  59. I see there's been a Korean invasion on this blog. Trotts have u formed Allies yet and when's the WW III starting with base camp at New Jooisey :P

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  60. IPL 6 starts today. Fingers crossed over Mumbai Indians. Not sure how will we fare this time... balance all wrong but hopefully Ponting's luck in finals of the tournament will rub on the team.

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  61. welcome back SS, no time for a war here, I have to get grass seed in this week. Have you seen the movie, Trotter's List?

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    Replies
    1. Welcome back SS - don't worry seeing about Trotter's List, it is a prequel to Trotter's Pissed (but not as often as H2)

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    2. I think SS is really Sophie Schindler.

      Delete
  62. Not yet Trotts! There's generally a 2 week delay between US release date and India release date. Are you planning to host a premier launch for me here? :P

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    Replies
    1. only if B.H.Bells is there with Maureen and you provide a blue carpet.

      Delete
  63. cricket talk is banned until the end of the footie season SS far too early at the moment especially with Arsenal fighting it out with Chelsea and Everton to see who can blow finishing 4th the most spectacularly

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    1. We are used to fighting it out for 4th place and finishing in Top 4 regularly. If we blow it up then it would be because we deserved to based upon entire season's performance. But if somehow manage to achieve Top 4 it would still be counted as a disappointing season compared to prev seasons where we finished 4th.

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  64. Welcome back SS, dont be a stranger.

    Nope, you did not scupper my chances of winning the league, as the downfall started 3-4 weeks ago (soon after I began gloating). I'm still gonna get the Robbo H2H league though, since it's the only one that matters, I will be happy. FACT.

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  65. Dont know what all the talk about Mourinho is about Bells. Rafa is going to win the Europa League, FA cup and finish 3rd and will be rewarded with an 8 year contract. Roman will then lose interest in the club before he can fire Rafa and sell to an American who will keep Rafa on for the length of his contract as firing him would be too expensive.

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  66. "on the basis that Mark Hughes is always available when someone’s given the boot. It’s a reflex speculation these days"
    --------------
    Mark Hughes could replace Neil Warnock for the second time in 15 months after being lined up by Leeds.
    Full story: Daily Mirror
    ---------------
    Teehee.

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  67. I liked this bit;

    Warnock told talkSPORT: "I personally hope Mark Hughes follows me again and destroys another team of mine.

    Now, I'm not sure if destroying something that’s already pretty much broken is any mean feat, but if anyone could do it well then I’m sure Sparky could.

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  68. Mark Hughes after QPR misquotes mythology

    I am become Hughes the destroyer of teams

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  69. Looking for a new keeper?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-NZ_Z0S6Uhw#!

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  70. Adam blaming Marx for stalins genocide is a bit like blaming Christ for the crusades..... "there must have been something a bit rapey about the summon on the mount''

    If you can understand the context of Italian fascism why not the context of the 1848 pamphlet aiming at the overthrow of an exploitative ancien regime and fueled by righteous fury at the conditions of the working class (qv) . What he calls the dictatorship of the proletariat in context I would call an appeal for democracy. I m not condoning the means he espoused to achieve this by, but it seems to me a reasonable proposition.

    As for those workshy bastards who enjoy state supported luxury,
    I agree the Royals have gotten away with it for far too long....

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    Replies
    1. I'm not blaming Marx for Stalin's genocide as there is no necessity to kill loads of people just because the state is taking control over everyone but the practical application of Marxist theory can only be undertaken in a totalitarian environment as there is a high element of compulsion needed to make it work and forcibly remove wealth, land and property from the middle and upper classes to give to the peasants so some of them can be that little bit more equal than everyone else

      Delete
    2. I do understand the Communist Manifesto in context I was just commenting that the means needed to implement it are the same

      Delete
  71. Replies
    1. well, stranger things have happened, they got Wisdom in Liverpool!

      Delete
    2. Norman Wisdom, I assume



      Jedi

      Delete
  72. AH: "Dont know what all the talk about Mourinho is about Bells... sell to an American who will keep Rafa on for the length of his contract as firing him would be too expensive."

    Who told you about my plan to buy Chelsea?

    ReplyDelete
  73. An outstanding share! I've just forwarded this onto a coworker who had been conducting a little research on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast simply because I discovered it for him... lol. So allow me to reword this.... Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending the time to talk about this subject here on your site.

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    ReplyDelete
  74. It would be worth a nuclear war on the Korean peninsular to be rid of this turbulent not

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You should at least get a breakfast out of it me old China.

      Delete
  76. Barton back in business!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22022259

    Robbie Rogers' Retirement Reasons, #598

    ReplyDelete
  77. Please all sign my petition below

    帶回美味

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. very interesting that Bells, from what I remember from my infants school Korean class, that has something to do with British baked goods!

      Delete
    2. well you do know how I like to bring a certain standard of intelligence to this blog Trotts.

      Delete
  78. and not wanting to leave out all the Azerbaijan readers

    Bu Yummy biri geri gətir

    ReplyDelete
  79. Blackburn Rovers managing director Derek Shaw is told to stay away from Ewood Park during an investigation into the compensation owed to former manager Henning Berg.

    On Wednesday Shaw received notice of the disciplinary inquiry in a letter.
    -----------------------------------------------
    Fans of all other football clubs who think you are suffering, look at Blackburn and know that it could be much, much worse.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Portsmouth fans wish they were Blackburn.

      Delete
    2. Blackburn Rovers are just an employment tribunal waiting to happen really. You would have though the head chicken at Venky's would have the manners to actually telephone the MD if she hasn't got the bottle to deliver the news in person.

      Ridiculous club

      Delete
    3. Adam, I think you mean headless chicken.


      Jedi

      Delete
  80. well if no-one is out to play, will wish you all good weekend as am off tomorrow as it is my birthday which means large (ok larger) amounts of wine must be drunk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Must be a taxing experience Bells! Have a good one, no prizes for guessing what your wish will be if you blow out all the candles on your Birthday Cake!

      Spider

      Delete
  81. Happy Birthday, Bells, fantastic when one's 21st falls on a Friday!

    ReplyDelete
  82. Happy Birthday, Bells... May all your wishes come true!

    ReplyDelete
  83. Mo' Money, Mo' Problems?

    Vancouver Canucks (now) backup goalie, Roberto Luongo, on not being traded as the deadline passed:

    "My contract sucks. Unfortunately it's big factor in trading me and it's probably why I'm still here . . . I think disappointment is the right word."

    He said this about his "12-year, $64 million contract that ties him up until age 43."

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nhl/news/20130403/deadline-wrap-up/?sct=uk_t11_a1

    If only we were all burdened with such troubles.

    ReplyDelete
  84. Bells will be happy, an early birthday brace from the Lone Ranger!

    ReplyDelete
  85. Happy birthday, Bells!

    Spurs scrape a draw in Thursday night football, but more worringly will be injuries to Lennon and Bale. Don't know the extent yet, but as I said a week or so ago, playing without Lennon destroys our shape and we are half the team without him. Obviously losing Bale will cause plenty more 'one man team' jibes if we lose our upcoming games against Chelsea, City and Everton. Games we'd probably lose without Lennon anyway. We have players who can cover Bale's position (but probably not his goals) but no cover for Lennon.

    ReplyDelete
  86. http://www.offthepost.info/blog/2013/04/just-the-worst-free-kick-routine-you-have-ever-seen-bar-none/#more-30233

    ReplyDelete
  87. God must be an Arsenal Supporter. Sending us some hope and help by injuring Bale at the crucial stage of 4th place fight. :)

    Belated birthday wishes BHB!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I personally don't think God gives a shit about football but thinking he's an Arsenal fan seems a bit of a stretch.

      Delete
    2. If he don't give a shit about football that would more then likely make him a Bolton fan. ;)

      Delete
  88. Hope BHB had a great birthday. My FFL team is in chaos as Walcott and Bale are both out this week.

    Doomed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walcott hasn't done anything ofr note for over two months now anyway.

      Delete
  89. SWP out for the season, this could be the lifeline 'arry needed.

    ReplyDelete
  90. I recognise this probably isn't the right place for a political arguments but Adam started it...

    Revolutions often go through dark short term periods Adam but equally often result in wider democratic freedoms. Many examples.

    I think you could make a case that Marx is a democrat. I also think it's partly his analysis which has provided the social and political stability which capitalism needs to grow in. The NHS is a glorious socialist state invention.

    The social darwinism (and sheer nastiness yes George Osbourne i mean you) of neo-liberalism might eventually push things too far the other way resulting in instability. Englush people will only stand so much you know and then they'll come off the xbox and moan for a bit.

    We don't have democracy, we just have it's theoretical possibility -just look at the cunts who get elected, i can't tell the three party leaders apart -and I think we're in danger of losing even that.

    It all starts with a fascist football manager, then UKIP gain power(the gentleman's BNP) then watch out ....it's not a rise in Marxism people should be worrying about.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We should worry about a rise in any -ism unlesss its Miserablism which is perfectly acceptable.

      Fascism and Communism are just opposite sides of the same coin and implemented in exactly the same way.

      Marxism is a label that the Commies use to try and pass security clearance

      Delete
  91.  643 bankers will get combined tax cut worth £34.6m

    The politics of greed.

    ReplyDelete
  92. If we do have a rise in Marxism,I'm hoping they'll show Duck Soup first.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I prefer tomato soup myself - not keen on eating ducks really.

      Go West was decent though

      Delete
  93. which cunts elect the big cunts that elect the even bigger cunts?

    ReplyDelete
  94. Rufus T. Firefly: [into radio] This is Rufus T. Firefly coming to you through the courtesy of the enemy. We're in a mess folks, we're in a mess. Rush to Freedonia! Three men and one woman are trapped in a building! Send help at once! If you can't send help, send two more women! [Pinky enters and raises three fingers] 
    Rufus T. Firefly: Make that three more women! 

    ReplyDelete
  95. Holloway2Holland5 April 2013 14:51
    If he don't give a shit about football that would more then likely make him a Bolton fan. ;)

    I take issue with this suggestion and put forth Jack Wilshere as evidence. When he was at Bolton on loan, God said "arise Jack, walk, you can do this". Then he returned to Arsenal and was smited back into a wheel chair and turned into a block of fragile and crystalized camel turds.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think your rebutle just adds weight to my arguement

      Delete
    2. Portsmouth seem to be having the most divine intervention as they haven't been deducted 10 points yet and if normal business practices were followed would have been liquidated months ago for trading whilst insolvent

      Delete
  96. oh yeah, you're right. Let me have another think and come up with something else!

    ReplyDelete
  97. Take your time, sir. I'm in no hurry to shoot your next premise down too. :p

    ReplyDelete
  98. The problem is that we have an Arsenal fan saying that God must be a Gooner and another Arsenal fan saying that God is a Trotter on the basis of the Bolton fan (me) saying that God doesn't give a shit about football. Then unintentionally suggesting that God cares more about Bolton than he does about Arsenal which is a completely ridiculous case to make if indeed, He doesn't care. In the final analysis I'm convinced that God doesn't lend his support to any particular team but does occasionally use the game to illustrate a point.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Looking at it I think God is an A****al fan,as he lets his son play in goal.

      Doesn't like crosses.

      (ba-doom tish)

      Delete
  99. Just when Paolo Di Canio thought it couldn't get any worse.....

    http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/chelsea-captain-john-terry-praises-real-nice-guy-paolo-di-canio-8562186.html

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

    ReplyDelete
  101. BREAKING NEWS…….

    CNN are reporting that France have just surrendered to North Korea.

    ReplyDelete
  102. And where are my manners.

    Happy Birthday BHB.

    May all your wine glasses be filled with the finest Chablis.

    ReplyDelete
  103. Blogidy,

    It seems that UKIP are the gentleman's EDL.

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/english-defence-league-backs-ukip-in-local-elections-8562350.html

    ReplyDelete
  104. UKIP

    I thought it was a cure for insomnia.

    ReplyDelete
  105. Evwn tho the sound of it Is something quite explosious

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

    ReplyDelete
  107. If you say it loud enough you'll blow up South Dakota...

    ReplyDelete
  108. Plenty more burgers on the way...

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/22045330

    What kind of crazy shit do you make your horses do, anyway? I thought they just ran around a track really fast. Or danced, if you prefer that sort of thing.

    ReplyDelete
  109. I love horse racing, me, but it's fuckin' sick in the USA, this from the NY Times.....

    On average, 24 horses die each week at racetracks across America. Many are inexpensive horses racing with little regulatory protection in pursuit of bigger and bigger prizes. These deaths often go unexamined, the bodies shipped to rendering plants and landfills rather than to pathologists who might have discovered why the horses broke down.

    In 2008, after a Kentucky Derby horse, Eight Belles, broke two ankles on national television and was euthanized, Congress extracted promises from the racing industry to make its sport safer. While safety measures like bans on anabolic steroids have been enacted, assessing their impact has been difficult because many tracks do not keep accurate accident figures or will not release them.

    But an investigation by The New York Times has found that industry practices continue to put animal and rider at risk. A computer analysis of data from more than 150,000 races, along with injury reports, drug test results and interviews, shows an industry still mired in a culture of drugs and lax regulation and a fatal breakdown rate that remains far worse than in most of the world.

    ReplyDelete
  110. Are the plants and landfills owned by Tesco?

    ReplyDelete
  111. Sorry I've been out of circulation for a while, but I'm back again. Good blog Robbo (143rd)

    ReplyDelete
  112. All these comments about which team God supports (Arsenal or Bolton!) misses the bleedin' obvious - which team does Satan support?(A massive clue - they're nicknamed the Red Devils!)

    Spider

    ReplyDelete
  113. Welcome back BD glad you didn't go down with the ship.

    Who does god support? Would that be the club winning 7 (seven) -1 tonight?

    That's 7-1.

    Seven.

    ReplyDelete
  114. My moneys on Horsetodie at 20-1

    ReplyDelete
  115. That's a good safe bet Blog.

    Big Fella Thanks
    Rare Bob
    Saint Are
    Harry The Viking

    ReplyDelete
  116. 7-1 win against Burton is a tremendous win Blogidy.

    We've got Derby away today.

    Oh well....

    ReplyDelete
  117. Replies
    1. it was Staines in the Blue Square Conference, I can see it now, what a team!

      Delete
  118. Good luck v derby jacks, poignant start to that match I read, in memory of those 6 kids.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tremendous amount of back pedalling going on since Gideon claimed that the welfare state was responsible for that cock sucker Philpot doing what he did.

      Despite Call me Dave and Gideon being in charge the Labour party are still pretty clueless.

      get rid of Wallace Millibland and Ed Balls Up and get Yvette Cooper and Andy Burnham in as quick as possible.

      As things stand I can't see labour winning the next election Blogidy.

      On an unrelated note,over 10,000 at Vale Park last night.

      Delete
    2. They are both rubbish as well though (isn't Yvette Cooper married to Ed Balls btw?)

      Labour need to find people who have had proper jobs and experience rather than professional politicos and unionistas who have never done any proper work in their lives

      Delete
  119. Good luck in fantasyland, H2H.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ikea pulls elk lasagne due to pork contamination

      http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22051117

      Doe! It all sounds very deer. This isn't bucking any trends.

      Delete
  120. Jay Rodriguez tearing it up the last few weeks. Ever the talent-spotter, I picked him up right as his hot streak started. Ever the idiot, I promptly dropped him.

    ReplyDelete
  121. Can't remember a worst bunch, tbh jacks, all parties. They all make Nigel farage look like Churchill. Using dead children as an excuse to cut benefits to children is a low as it gets but no suprise from that strident incompetent little shit Gideon. The Nasty Party is back. What we need is a revolution to put me in charge then just sit back and watch the Real Madrid scale funding of port vale.

    ReplyDelete
  122. With Northampton and Cheltenham both losing, promotion must be in the bag.

    Surely.

    ReplyDelete
  123. Tomb Raider, Mega Moolah, Mermaid's Millions, and Blackjack are some of the new Android game apps that have been released from Microgaming's partner, Spin 3.
    I laughed when she said that, partially because I
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    ReplyDelete
  124. Bantams edging back into the play-off places, Doonhamers already champions up here in Jockland, can't be bad!

    ReplyDelete
  125. And taking part in the Ramsden's cup final this afternoon against Partick Thistle Nil!

    ReplyDelete
  126. Good thing I didn't start Demel and O'Brien, because there's no way West Ham would keep a clean sheet against Liverpool.......

    ReplyDelete
  127. There's only one Duke Of Farnworth.

    ReplyDelete
  128. Only one Mick McCarthy as well.

    I think we're safe.

    Let's hope Dougie Howser can get Notlob into the play offs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. no, there's at least two, I went to school with one of the other Mick McCarthy's.

      Delete
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    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for that. I kept confusing the two. Could never get them straight.

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  131. The spam brigade are up early.

    Happy Monday to y'all.

    Had a massively busy last week with hardly any time to watch the footy so I recorded it all (WBA v Ars, MoTD & 2) managed to catch the Arsenal game at around 5 o clock Sunday morning. Watched the last twenty minutes, plus six added minutes (where the fuck did they come from?) from hidin bbehind the sofa reminisint of when I was a wee lad watching Dr Who, that was some scarry shit.

    But that was nothing compared to the horror that awaited me last night while catching up with the rest of the weekends action on the beebs highlights show. I know I've said it before, but it's just getting worse and worse, how long are they going to let it it deteriate before something gets done? Shockingly bad.

    ReplyDelete
  132. It improves blood and oxygen flow to the muscles that are recovering from the prior hard workout.

    Are you talking about after wank juice?

    ReplyDelete
  133. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22067155

    ReplyDelete
  134. Thatcher was a hugely significant figure in politics regardless of whether one liked her or not her policies changed British life in some ways for better and others not so good.

    Expect the left-wing vitriol to pour out on the Guardian, Mirror and BBC pages and that'll just be the journalists never mind the commenters.

    ReplyDelete
  135. Indeed Adam, love her or hate her, there's no denying that she had a major influence on the UK's political landscape and everyday life. She was also one of the most iconic and easily recognised females of the late 20th Century.

    ReplyDelete
  136. Millwall club chaplain Father Owen Beament is hoping for a helping hand from God when the Lions take on Wigan in next weekend's FA Cup semi-final. As well as praying for the London team, he also says he will be having a few gin and tonics to calm his nerves.
    Full story: Sunday Mirror

    ====

    Surely God is not a Millwall fan!?

    ReplyDelete

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