Monday 13 May 2013

Farewell to Fergie

The rain, the Kremlin-style clapping, the big purple nose, that Govan growl. It is the last time we will see it.

Referees will wake up this morning a little less afraid. They will be able to return their watches to Greenwich Mean Time, as opposed to Fergie Time.
Sir Alex stepped down from management – at home at least – yesterday. There are those who bang on about the emotional rollercoaster of a day. I dunno, but Fergie’s a ‘man’s man’ (as I think Mark Lawrenson put it, ironically in his ‘man’s woman’s’ voice) and the tears didn’t come as far as I could tell. And frankly you want a bit of that on days like these, just to remind you that the bloke has a soul to go with all that fierce determination and repressed fury.
Then again, his speech, ad-libbed, proved where his heart is. His valedictory remark, reminding the fans that he got three and a half years’ grace at OT before he won owt and that therefore they need to get behind the new man, was characteristic of the good, nay great side of Ferguson.

Those of us that have gritted our teeth while he won every other Premier League for the last 26 years could point to his darker side: the intimidation of officials, the concept that still defies particle physicists‘ explanation of Fergie Time, the mind games that worked on everyone save for Mourinho. And the black rants into the faces of timid young millionaires as if he were a drill sergeant in An Officer And A Gentleman (actually most of us quite like him for that last bit).
The flip side is that young managers will tell you he’s always ready with advice if it’s wanted. And Robin van Persie told the world that he was a very nice man. I know, that surprised me too. What’s not in doubt is that he is the greatest manager of my lifetime. And that is simply because he reinvented his team many times over, rebuilt it around the talent available. And he never let anyone, Beckham, Keane, and now were he to stay, Rooney, get bigger than the club.

Not only that but, like them or not, Manchester United teams always had one saving grace under Fergie – they were good to watch.
There is a certain vanity, mixed with good sense, in appointing a successor who is very much in the same mould: another Glaswegian obsessive with a relentless work ethic and a ceaseless drive. David Moyes won nothing at Everton – except love, admiration and enormous loyalty and those three things are way more important than tin-pots and gongs.

The reception Ferguson received was pretty well matched at Goodison. And apart from a shared distaste for Liverpool Football Club you can’t imagine any Toffees welcoming his departure down the M62. Eleven years at a trophyless club is as rare these days as a Tony Hibbert piledriver.
So Moyes moves in on July 1st, and presumably some time before that he will be working out where he’d like Wayne Rooney to just bugger off to. Ferguson has fended off questions about the Toxteth Top-Weave, but hasn’t been slow in mentioning that the bloke’s an asset when he’s on top form… ergo, he’s been a bit crap this season.

If I were Moyes I’d be asking bidders to form a queue. You don’t want to start a new (and enormous) job which an old problem. And Rooney is just that. ‘Blue til I Die?’ Chelsea will be encouraged.

Perhaps Rooney might be able to team up with the sveltest fat man in England, Frank Lampard. This weekend Lampard became Chelsea’s top scorer – although, those that fell to get him the penalties, plus his partner in crime Rick O’Shea should be getting a share of the credit too. Lampard is a model pro mind you. Anyone who wants to insist that the lad got where he is today cos of family connections or good fortune just needs to get their heads checked.
Certainly Lamps might be able to teach Wazza the values of looking after himself, and not going into silly strops when the manager keeps putting you on the bench. (Although you’d have thought Rooney might have learnt that from Giggs – or the mighty Scholes.)

But despite all the celebrations and bon voyages the main shining beacon of light over the weekend was Wigan Athletic. I said in the last blog that romance was dead. It is. Wigan will go down. But they will do so as Cup-holders after utterly outplaying a bunch of self-interested mercenary millionaires. Mancini will walk because quite frankly the team – the best at his disposal on the day – played like they couldn’t give a shit – not for him, not for the fans.

Roberto, still for all the world looking like a photograph from a Mediterranean barbershop window, will be gone before the end of the week. Look, Signor, a man doesn’t put two squillion billion pounds into a club so that they can finish 2nd in the league and 2nd in the Cup. At a time when the bloke across time is stepping down after TWENTY-SIX YEARS, do you really think you’re going to get as many as three? I mean where will that lead?
Indeed if you have untold wealth and fancy a football club as your latest toy you now have two distinct models to follow, potential owners. There’s the Old Trafford one – stick to the same bloke, trust is judgement, build an academy, bring players through, spend big but judicious amounts of money on proven quality players. Or there’s the Stamford Bridge way – make every door a revolving one, give every chair an ejector button, force proven crocks upon the management, appoint caretakers, interims, part-timers, buy anyone who might be any good and when push comes to shove and things aren’t quite working out, fire someone.
Rafa Benitez, I’ve never much cared for you but you deserve a bloody medal for obstinacy this season. He’s after  a new job now – look out Everton…

155 comments:

  1. And the FIRST shall be last and the last shall be first for the called are many and the Special One didnt get the job

    ReplyDelete
  2. Re Moysie "...you can’t imagine any Toffees welcoming his departure down the M62". Don't you believe it, Robbo. There are fuckwits who "support" my team who reckon Moyes was a failure at Everton because he never won a trophy, as if we could win a pot by force of tradition alone, never mind the fact that his net spend over his tenure was close to zero!

    Oh, and there's even idiots touting El Camerero Gordo for the job! If Benitez becomes our manager I'm going to give up following football and take up cross-stitching. FFS!

    Nowt less that a pot and CL qualification every year is enough for those twats. Never underestimate the moronic levels to which yer average footy fan will sink. No wonder rugby fans look down on us.

    ReplyDelete
  3. spot on as per, robbo. i like fergie. now he's GONE. but his secret seemed to have been "loyalty". its that deep visceral loyalty which the Greeks understood, be kind to your friends and inexorable with your enemies and the kind of loyalty you need on a shipyard where your boss IS the chinless enemy and your mate has a bolt gun
    he engendered loyalty in a way that takes time to cultivate, so credit to whoever it was who didnt scack him in year 4. moyes wont have the same luxury.

    I give the pale ginger imitation six months.

    watching the highlights of the valedictory at OT made me very glad i didnt have to sit through the entire North Korea flag waving choreographed affair. not that i would have anyway, as MOTD requires a 45 minute delayed viewing these days and judicious use of the Fast Forward button.
    where were the Mass Games and the back flipping 10 year olds with blank eyes? well i guess thats a kind of loyalty as well. man u fans are not known for their brains or original thinking are they "duh who shall i say i support. duh whose top of the league. duh yer, them". not the ones who post on here, obviously (cough cough ;)

    great to see man c's gigolos beaten not that they gave a toss (kompany is quality but gareth barry? two argie pugilists still smarting over goose green? please! Pellegrini is a strange choice of successor, known for barcelona-style youth systems a million miles from what man city has at present in its first team

    as for wigan - which ever team ends up with martinez as manager is a lucky lucky club.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. also known for not winning anything with the most expensive Real Madrid team ever assembled - please please send him to City so they can spend loads and win nothing

      Delete
    2. In his defence :

      Pellegrini later reflected on his frustration at not being able to build a team at Real Madrid – due to the Galácticos policy at Real Madrid: "I didn't have a voice or a vote at Madrid. They sign the best players, but not the best players needed in a certain position. It’s no good having an orchestra with the 10 best guitarists if I don’t have a pianist. Real Madrid have the best guitarists, but if I ask them to play the piano they won’t be able to do it so well. He [Pérez] sold players that I considered important. We didn't win the Champions League because we didn't have a squad properly structured to be able to win it."

      Delete
    3. we've got a triangle player, a bottle whistler and 3 lads that can play the spoons.

      Delete
  4. Rafa to Everton? Would he really want that aggro? The stick he got off the fans at Chavsea would be akin to the rapturous scenes at OT yesterday compared to how I suspect the average Evertonian would react to someone who spent a good few years down the road at Anfield coming in and getting the gig.

    Oh well, I had my fun for the weekend, seeing City look like a sack of overpriced shite. Can't say Wigan aren't up for the fight when all seems hopeless.

    On that note, are you sitting comfortably Arsenal fans?

    ReplyDelete
  5. moyes of the same vs. the grass is always pellegrini

    ReplyDelete
  6. As a Chelsea man, fuck united & fuck fergie, fuck city & fuck mancini! Here's to a few barren years in manchester!!! That last jibe bout chelsea is justified Robbo. Nevertheless, i'm sure all neutrals would love to see the trophy cabinet in the blue part of london stack up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As a neutral, I'd just like to say.....NOT ME.

      I hope Moyes wins everything and every game until the Man U fans wonder why the fuck did they stick with Fergie for 26 years.

      Delete
    2. Shocked to know that united are your 2nd team. Bolton are a bit shit, so i cant say they that i blame u.

      Delete
    3. hey, to be the 27th ranked club out of 7,000+ football clubs in the country without a rich Russian, Yank or Arab bank-rolling us is ok by me. If Bill Gates steps in and buys us, my expectations will of course get elevated.

      Delete
    4. Aye, fuck that. I'd rather see Arsenal win silverware.

      Delete
    5. And now I have to go wash my fucking mouth out with soap .... or bleach.

      Delete
    6. Bill Gates? Interesting notion, I see Steven Ballmer to be the more likely candidate. Would buying Bolton be seemingly altruistic enough, as well as a decent tax deduction for either of them? Would "The Blue Screen of Death be a complimentary or derogatory nickname for a back 4?

      Delete
    7. Eddie Davies has been great, plowing in the cash to his hometown club that he's always supported. I prefer that to being taken over by a consortium of clueless cash rich cunts. Eventually it'll happen I suppose but I'd prefer Stevie Ballboy who made millions building up his paper round to Steve Ballmer.

      Delete
  7. Good stuff Robbo, it was like a week in the world summary and what a week it was, well done Hull!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Rafa will never go to Everton. He wants to return to Anfield one day and will not antagonize the fans. I think Rafa has done a great job at Chelsea seeing how things started for him there and on that basis some mid table, challenging for Europe, Spanish/French/ club is where he will end up.

    Malky Mackay being touted for the Everton job today. That cant be good news for poor old Cardiff.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That can't be good news for poor old everton! Unproven in the EPL, and basically shit.

      Delete
    2. That's good coming from someone called "Keegan" :)

      Much as I'm not keen on Talcy Malcky becoming our next mananger, he has just won the Chumpionship, so he can't be "shit" as you so eloquently put it!

      Delete
    3. Winning the championship is meaningless. Ask Warnock, Bruce, Keane, etc. The list just goes on & on of managers who won the championship but couldn't cut it in the big time. Malky seems one of them! Destined for failure! Everton would do well to bring in someone like Laudrup, with his european ties, could get in quality players on the cheap & ship them off for profits. Basically what moyes has been doing all of his 11yrs.

      Delete
  9. As a LiverCOOL fan, the league will never be the same without Sir Alex...he will be (finally) missed. However, i will always be glad that 26 years ago, he went to Manchester and not Everton ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why would Old Beetroot Face have joined us halfway through a title season, perchance?

      Delete
    2. Just of of curiosity Rog, who would you like to see take over at Goodison ? Within the realms of possibility of course (currently alive, maybe/surely available etc.)

      When Kenny was fired I was hoping for Van Gaal (though on hindsight, he might not have done better than Rodgers with the lack of money for big signings).

      Delete
    3. Currently alive:
      Martinez for me, would be a nice change in style from Moyes. Laudrup I'm not sure about as he'd use us as a stepping stone and we'd be back where we started. If Moyes recommends anyone it'll be Mackay. Not keen, but I'll back him. Lennon - untried at this level, and we don't want horses heads appearing in the dressing room, do we? Hughes & Beneathus - Nooooooooooooooooo
      Currently dead:
      Sir Mat Busby or Harry Catterick :)

      Delete
  10. So .... when Man U win games in the 96th minute next season will they start calling it Moyes Minutes?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And will the home crowd at OT stand up in unison on the 26th minute of matches chanting something along the lines of 'There's Only One SAF' ?

      Delete
  11. In terms of football club management, I think the only thing Un**ed haven't had a (well-paying) sponsor for is Sir Alex's chewing gum. I haven't seen Moyes munching away too much, so maybe the switch was on the cards and the marketing people couldn't get anyone to pay for it.

    ReplyDelete
  12. fabregas to united?

    http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/manchester-united-make-shock-move-for-former-arsenal-captain-cesc-fabregas-8614167.html

    ReplyDelete
  13. Well said as always, Robbo. Felt my eyes getting a bit Moyest there. Now let us Fergiet about the old man and move on.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great article as always. SAF will be missed for sure but we will get behind the new man and move forwards (I hope). As for Everton I will do them a favour and predict Rafa will go there. I have got every other prediction wrong so you can thank me now for saving you that horror. Otherwise it will be Wigan who will be next to need a manager as he will decide to remain in the EPL instead.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Mancini sacked. Constant rumours he was going to be replaced. Secret meetings with the new manager and his representatives in the weeks leading up to his sacking. Sacked after the club invest millions and millions into new players he picked.

    Sounds just like how he got the job in the first place.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But Mancini won things, obviously.

      Delete
    2. Sparky Hughes is available!

      Delete
    3. ...so the model that Manchester City's owners follow is the Stamfor Bridge way

      Delete
    4. I think they should give Graham Norton a go...

      Delete
  16. Good blog Robbo.

    I thought it quite appropriate that Mark (the Red Devil) Clattenberg was the man in charge of Fergie's farewell game at OT.

    Hope Watford beat Crystal Palace in the Championship playoff final. The thought of another season of of watching and listening to Holloway's babbling rants week after week is enough for me to consider a 12 month sabbatical from watching the "beautiful game".... well the BPL anyway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. was that Clattenburg Bo? He's put a pile of weight on and changed his hairstyle since I last saw him.

      Delete
    2. it's Jon Moss

      Delete
    3. They must have used a photo from a previous game because the ref in the pic I saw was definitely Clattenberg.

      Delete
    4. Not the ref, but the fourth official, I think Bo. The one who gets all the Fergie-time comments in his ear.....

      I wonder if they give that guy ear protectors 'cos it doesn't seem to matter who is on the touch-line, he gets someone shouting in his ear every week!

      Delete
  17. Second place finish not good enough, eh? Man City may not change managers in Abramovichian fashion, but they might as well.

    If Mourinho doesn't end up at Chelsea, perhaps they'll sign Mancini, instead. That would make as much sense as any other choice, in that it would make little sense at all.

    Better yet, Mancini and Mourinho sign with either Man City or Chelsea, then switch at Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Gattuso sacked at Sion.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22513334

    He is the fifth coach Sion have sacked this season. They've had "around 30 coaches" since 2002. Chelsea have some work to do if they're planning to catch up.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wigan more successful than arsenal over last 8 years.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you will find Bloggy that Arsene has deliberately not won any troffys lately as the stats show that the 3 prem managers who did win something last season, Mancini, Di Matteo and Dalglish have all since been sacked

      Delete
  20. Beautiful Summers morning.

    Snow forecast for this afternoon.

    Wtf?

    ReplyDelete
  21. Gills done good, star, part of the robbos blog exodus from league 2, 3 at the top & shots off the bottom and into blue square oblivion. Will the gills stay up do you think? Vale will need a couple more actual footballers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. they'll be taking a holistic approach next season I suppose? Candles, meditation, Tibetan folk music.......

      Delete
    2. Dunno Blogs ... last time we were in L1 we struggled all year and got relegated. That said, having teams like Leeds, Southampton, Charlton, Leicester and Norwich all in that league at the time didn't help.

      That said there's a few big hitters in there next year. Wolves, Sheff United come to mind.

      Hopefully Scally will have learned the lessons from last time round and given Mad Dog a decent budget to cope.

      Delete
    3. As for Port Vale, well you'll won't be found wanting for goals at any rate if Pope bangs them, in like he did this season.

      Truth be told both teams are in the same boat. Plenty of teams got promoted from L2 in recent years who went straight back down again.

      Delete
  22. Sir Bloody Beetroot deserves credit for his time but also was a good time to manage Man U, with Premier League & Champions League starting Man U were quick to utilize all the extra £££££'s in there coffers with stadium size & revenue coming in, until takeovers of Chelski n Citeh
    A british backbone helped, as it did with Chelski once they got R.A.s millions but that could change next season possibly minus Terry, Lamps, maybe Arsely Cole.
    SAF never had to buy a team, just tweaked where the other two did, Gooners struggled after the Brit/French pack left.....
    Respect to SAF tho, even tho Pool fan....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anon, I think the specific players, rather than the fact they are British, is what helped. Man City had few British regulars and finished second. Stoke was full of Brits and they aren't nearly as exciting. Help the foreign players adjust and they do just fine. Even some of the maladjusted (see: Tevez, Suarez) ones outstrip the local boys (except Rooney and JT).

      Delete
  23. This will probably be the first time that the teams finishing in the top 3 positions will all have new managers next season (assuming chelsea finish third).

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wow..amazing stat..

    Brendan Rodgers will be the seventh longest serving manager in the Premier League at the start of next season,having been at Liverpool for a whole season.

    Outstanding stat really..if you manage to complete a season, you have done better than almost 2/3rds of your peers (of course retirements kinda skew this stat, but even so).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. he'll be getting a gold clock if he makes it until Christmas.

      Delete
    2. Pulis is the second longest serving manager after Arsene, assuming he doesn't get the elbow at the end of the year.

      Delete
  25. My phone connects to the internet. That's fucking amazing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. that's nothing. My amazing internet fucks my phone connection...ooer missus.

      Delete
    2. Roger, Roger. There's more to the interweb than porn.

      Dont listen to those siren voices calling you onto the rocks, the web is a cornucopia of useful knowledge for instance the stuff below about how to use kettleballs and sandbags and how to avoid damaging the rainwater tank or cistern

      Delete
  26. Farewell Wigan. Once Martinez and a handful of players move on, we won't be seeing Wigan up for a while.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Looks like the fantasy leagues are all wrapped up, except Jacks H2H, where it will go down to the final week. Only overall score separates AH and I at the top. Both of our opponents for next week would have beaten us this week, though AH's doesn't appear to be as active lately as mine.

    Rumor has it both sides will be under new management next season.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hear the owners have agreed to swap managers.

      Delete
    2. You have the Jacks H2H Stephen. No way I can make up a 23 point gap in one week.

      Delete
    3. Assuming we both end up with the same result. This could easily finish much the way of last year's PL, and given that nobody else has anything to play for, who knows how our band of normally reliable fantasy athletes will perform.

      Delete
    4. The most irritating part of all but Gunners/Spurs having nothing to play for is that managers will leave out their main players and give the younger ones a chance, which means that most of our players may not even play.

      Delete
  28. One armed waiters - they can take it, but they can't dish it out.

    ReplyDelete
  29. With Ben 25 toys you would be ready to the game anywhere and
    the world over. The way I see it, if it can work for me, it can hard work for anyone!


    my web-site: imprezy integracyjne

    ReplyDelete
  30. If it hard works for me I don't want to part any of it.

    4-1, a flattering scoreline. After we scored the opener, Wigan looked the more threatening and after they equalised looked more likely to score again until an eight minute period half way through the second half in which we scored 3 goals which broke their spirit. The win made our game on the weekend a little easier, Villa have nothing to play for now, although I am sure they wont lay down for us.

    Apparently Wilshire is to have a minor ankle operation at the end of the season, Wenger says "Jack plays with painkillers. I use him only when it is really needed" which doesn't make a lot of sense really...he brought him on with 13 minutes to go with us 4-1 up... I can't see where or why he was needed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. keeping him in the shop window, Bo. I see Bayern have him as a long-term target

      Delete
  31. I hope Villa do lay down for you Bo, but seeing as you're playing Newcastle it won't help you. Newcastle have nothing to play for either. In fact, no one does, except Arsenal and Spurs.

    I said about 6 weeks ago that we'd finish 5th, and we can't be too upset with that. Looking at the goal difference, it's obvious what our problem is - we're 15 goals or so behind the other top teams. AVB has done very well with a squad that lost it's best players in Modric and VDV sold, and Sandro and Kaboul injured for most of the season. Levy is at fault for not strengthening when it was obvious we needed a striker, or two, and a creative midfield man. But I imagine some Spurs fans will see 5th as being worse than 4th, and so Harry was better. Bollocks.

    I don't mind the Europa, now that we have a manager who takes it seriously. But until UEFA stops letting Champions League losers drop down into it, it'll always be a bit of a joke. The 4 semi-finalists this year all played in the Champs League earlier. What's the point in other teams playing in it for 5 months before they demote better teams into it?

    Anyhow, still all to play for on Sunday. Who knows what'll happen, but I'll be happyish with 5th!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm on a run noel.... two fuck ups in two posts

      Delete
    2. You can have 15 goals from us in return for 12 points Noel.

      Delete
    3. If those goals come from a pair of racist teeth, then we're not interested, but thanks for the offer pal.

      Delete
    4. You can have 10 from Sturridge and 2 from Hendo then.

      Delete
    5. Same shit, different year Noel. I've been saying for years we're a striker who'll turn up for more than a third of the season away from kicking on, especially with the midfield riches we've had to play with.

      As for who we lost last season. VDV was good but never finished a game and Luca who? I really don't think we missed him much.

      5th ain't all that bad given we took a bit of time to get and kick on under AVB, though it's galling in a way because falling asleep at Liverpool and/or not turning up at Wigan looks like all that stopped us from finishing 4th.

      Delete
    6. Coincidentally, am I really asking too much for a striker who turns up and plays for more than a third of a season?

      Delete
  32. Manchester United are interested in signing former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, 26, from Barcelona for £20m.

    I don't think so. Fabregas' reason for leaving the gunners was more honourable than the mercenaries that left before and since his departure. He will play out his football life at Barca... with a slight chance of him at Arsenal at the arse end of his career.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. problem is, he spends most of his time watching Barca. At least the Wanderers could guarantee him first team football.

      Delete
  33. It seems Arsenal fans agree with you, H2 concerning Ramsey... he just won the supporters player of the month award. I'm fucked if I can see how but there ya go, what do I know... fuck all it seems.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Bo.

      I don't think it's because he's a particularly skillful or gifted player as he is neither, but unlike other players in the team he never goes missing. He's always in there right in the mix, he's been asked to play in a number of positions and he just gets his head down and grafts. He does a lot of the unsung hero work, the covering, the running back, tracking runners and moping up and he does it well. I can understand why some get frustrated because he does have a tendency to misplace passes, but there is so much more to his game that I can overlook that short coming because he is improving all the time.

      He took a lot of stick (I thought unfairly) last year and last season when he was asked to fill the gap that Cesc' departure left, a position he was not suited to, but he got on with it, never sulked or moaned and is now coming in to his own..... well, that's just my opinion anyway. ;)

      Delete
    2. Plus, I rigged the PotM elections.

      Delete
    3. We'll have to agree to disagree H2. As long as my arsehole points south I'll never see the reasoning behind it... unless, of course, he has a lot of rellies in the supporters club.

      Delete
  34. With Thursday, August 8th the predictions called for crest levels of above 35 ankles and
    shins. Untrained people can easily damage the rainwater tank or cistern.


    Here is my web blog imprezy integracyjne

    ReplyDelete
  35. Give consideration to taking wedding vows in the natural
    settings. Have you interested in seeking out
    other articles?

    Also visit my page; organizacja imprez integracyjnych

    ReplyDelete
  36. You must always have an as a whole objective. Kettleballs and sandbags are another
    effective gym tool recommended to increase might.


    my blog imprezy integracyjne

    ReplyDelete
  37. This post is truly a nice one it assists new the web people, who
    are wishing for blogging.

    Visit my page: Michael Kors Canada

    ReplyDelete
  38. This in turn is arguably a very much better tack of enjoying a place with your new family or company.
    Release yourself amid the entire emerald nature.

    My weblog - imprezy integracyjne

    ReplyDelete
  39. Good lord these spambots are on a roll arent they.

    ReplyDelete
  40. just checkin' in to see who's been sacked today and I see the blog has been transformed into a veritable gateway to Hell. Dafuq? Is there a solution? Who has it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is indeed a solution Trotts and I have it - 10 parts wine to 0 part water.

      Delete
    2. Bells, I'll take your advice except I'll substitute brandy for the wine... at around 55 pence a bottle here it is a cheaper alternative.

      Delete
  41. 35 ankles and shins, eh? Though the lack of an objective is quite existential and more than I can handle when I'm debating a workout.

    I love the odd translations from whatever language they originated into English, as they're still more sensible than McNumpty.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Queens Park Rangers striker Loic Remy is arrested along with two other men on suspicion of rape.
    -----------------------------------

    Well, at least QPR dont have to worry about his wages if he is indeed guilty and convicted.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Oh well, bye bye Wigan. I'm going to miss them guys. Small team, not afraid to play decent football, a thoroughly likeable owner and manager who have all the time in the world for one another and they found some real gems (for them anyway) as they always seem to pick up obscurities for 50p and sell them on for a few million a couple years later.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley's SportsDirect company website claims that the club are preparing a bid to sign Manchester United's Wayne Rooney.
    -----------------------------------------
    No way. Would he really ??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do hope he does, that removes the threat of us being lumbered with him.

      Delete
    2. wayen rooney, the new michael owen famous for underachieving

      Delete
  45. I am sorry but I do feel compelled to add the following









    GO CHELSEA

    ReplyDelete
  46. Some sort of easy-to-follow steps often makes your task much simpler.
    Step uncover the software that's best for needs, you can certainly comprehend it.

    Feel free to visit my weblog - agencja detektywistyczna warszawa

    ReplyDelete
  47. Now that's a way to end a match.

    It isn't the preferred trophy with the preferred manager, but there are worse things that could have happened.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Replies
    1. As I said to my German colleague that I did not want to see
      but there he was up front like a c**t

      Delete
    2. A cunt has it's uses Tone, Terry is a useless arsehole.

      Delete
  49. Chelsea will be able to claim another record. Getting rid of two different manager just after winning a European Cup in two consecutive seasons. Now that is a record never likely to be beaten - for reasons of sanity !!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  50. well done Chelsea, I'm very happy for Bells and hope the Wagon wheel did a roaring trade.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Chelsea briefly hold both European titles simultaneously. Mourinho better win both next year or he'll probably be sacked.

    ReplyDelete
  52. As I post this, near the top of the list of Chelsea rumors and news mentions (http://shed.chelseafc.com/shed_rumour.shtml), is the following headline:

    Jesus: Defeat was undeserved - Sky Sports

    So much for having God on your side. Who knew another man with Liverpudlian connections would be bigger than Jesus?

    ReplyDelete
  53. Congratulations to Chelsea, well done for getting hold of successive European cup! Too bad, both followed with managerial exit.

    ..or... maybe this is the recipe for success in Chelsea? Let's just rid the successful manager this season to be successful next season!

    ReplyDelete
  54. ¸.¤*¨¨*¤.¸¸...¸.¤*¨¨*¤.
    \¸.¤GLOAT
    .\¸.¤*¨¨*¤.¸¸.¸.¤*¨¨*¤.
    ..\


    ..


    / \

    Well we did play pretty crap but who gives a toss if you win and at least it didn't go into extra time and penalties so I dont have a hang over

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Feeling any less hostile towards Rafa ? An 8 year extension perhaps ?

      Delete
  55. Rafa was lucky..Chelsea's fixture pileup worked in his favor. Had they had to play one game a week, he would still have tinkered around too much..4-5 changes to the team every week and they wouldn't have won jack (not of buxton).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think he may have hacked into my team for the Jacks and Robbo FFL ....

      Delete
  56. it wouldn't have happened if Suarez hadn't bitten Ivanovic and injected his "goal scoring twat" venom.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. True. Let's send him a medal. That'll be the only way he gets one.

      Delete
    2. sleeping in a coffin lined with serbian earth is a small price to pay

      Delete
  57. Congratulations Bells.


    SAVE RAFA!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  58. Rafia Benitez come with no strings attached

    ReplyDelete
  59. ooh and a belated thank you to Trotts and H2 on your kind congrats!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't speak for H, Bells, but mine were sincere and from the heart and deeply felt.

      Delete
    2. well I would expect nothing less from you Trotts, did you also shed a tear of joy at seeing JT go up to collect the cup

      Delete
    3. well in that case can i add my own deeply insincere congratulations.

      im sure all this undeserved success is down to the polonium-210 magic sponge that abramovich, who is actually starting to resemble monty burns, slips into the opposition physios bag of tricks

      Delete
    4. no, I didn't see it. I played in a golf outing yesterday and about the time of your trophy presentation I was in a bar without a single moment of contemplation of the Chelsea endeavour.

      Delete
  60. In hindsight Rafa was a pretty decent appointment. A guarenteed top 4 finish and an european title is bloody good going, I don't believe that either of these achievements can be chalked up to mere luck. They may not of been better on the day then Benfica, but they scored more and conceded less and that's all that matters in a one off game, plus, at the end of a season the table doesn't lie.

    Any other club owner would move heaven and earth to try to keep a manager who achieved so much in so little time, but as we all know, Chelsea do not operate within the realms of reality. In the end, Rafa will make out like a bandit, he will walk away with an improved resumee and will be able to pick and choose his next position, with all due respect, that won't be a club like Everton.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i never thought benfica looked like they thought they were going to win. 7 finals in a row theyve lost now - stats like that eats away at the mind eg England in semi-final penalty shoot-outs

      Delete
  61. As fot the Wagonwheel, I don't think the game was even on the box last night as I wasn't in the bar. I was struck down with a wicked flu bug and am only now starting to feel a bit better.

    ps. The Chavs being in a 50 mile radius had nothing to do with my sudden and totally otherwise inexplicable illness................ Probably.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Can anyone explain to me why Demba Ba got a medal last night?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now that is a good point. I didn't see that.

      In fact all I saw was the first half where it looked like Benfica were going out of their way NOT to score. If I was a conspiracy theorist, I would have said that a certain Russian gentleman had paid them off. But, you have to say Chelsea have "done it again" - hung on in there being outplayed, but still getting the win. It has happened a lot so you can't say it was a fluke, but surely you can't call this a plan can you?

      Delete
    2. Well in terms of appearances v medals , by FAR the most successful player of all times for Chelsea is Ross Turnball. He has played seven time and got 6 medals, Prem, FA x 2, Community Shield, Champions League and Europa

      Delete
    3. But he's in the squad, so he's entitled to one.

      Demba Ba was not in Chelsea's squad emited to UEFA, because he was cuptied having already played in the competition for that french team, eeer Newcastle.

      Delete
  63. yeah, the winning club gets 40 gold medals so they spread 'em out all the way through the squad, the coaches etc. Unforunately BHB was #41 on the list.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Methods for you to plethora of translation apps available with regards to smart
    devices.

    My blog post usługi ochrony lublin

    ReplyDelete
  65. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/video-11yearold-liverpool-fan-picks-up-the-europa-league-trophy-with-chelsea-8619695.html

    ReplyDelete
  66. Chelsea fan saves Rafa from drowning.

    (took his foot off his head)

    ReplyDelete
  67. And there went Becks. That's all the old guard gone except Giggs, who I presume is just going to continue until he falls to the ground and regenerates at some point next season.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. farewell becks ...and so, it's time for another blog, robbo!

      Delete
  68. Mote good news - Hansens off n'all. If they replace him with Michael owen or Phil the lesser Neville, I'll fucking scream

    Here's a few more retirements I'm looking forward to.

    Rafa, mainly because of that little sheepish Gordon brown smile when he wins something
    Shearer ... there must be a fence somewhere that needs despairing, Alan
    Mark Hughes... bad
    Phil McNumpty... Worse
    Mick Gove, education secretary ... oily clueless little shit whose fuckwitted idea of the day has become as irresistible as Rhiannas decolletage to the tabloids.

    ReplyDelete
  69. *despairing ... Creosoting ..but sometimes predo knows best

    ReplyDelete
  70. Enjoy a diversity of natural charm treatments and soothing Fijian massage.

    The same does work for a two-story house in Ottawa.

    Here is my website ochrona obiektów lublin

    ReplyDelete
  71. So Ottawan houses enjoy Fijian massages ... well you learn something (useless) new every day.

    ReplyDelete
  72. that must be one charming and relaxed 2up 2down

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suspect it may be a little more vigorous 1 up,1 down,1 up,1 down,1 up,1 down,kleenex?

      Delete
  73. got to love the Sun

    yesterday online :

    Headline 1 : Becks : it hurts when critics talk about things other than football

    Headline 2 : Becks : the top 10 hairstyles

    ReplyDelete
  74. Howdy! I just would like to give an enormous thumbs up for the great
    info you’ve right here on this post. I will be coming
    again to your blog for extra soon.

    Also visit my homepage - seo

    ReplyDelete

Powered By Blogger