It's Friday

For some unknown reason all the nutters come out on the phone on Fridays. Trying to clear up all the stuff they've put off all week before the weekend starts, I guess, but it can make for a tiresome day. It also seems to be the day IT engineers reserve for breaking things, which hardly helps. It's bloody hot again, too.

Arsenal have admitted they've been talking to Chelski about AC3, though no deals have been mooted yet, so with any luck it's only a matter of time before he's off. No news on anyone coming in, though.

We've got either Ekranas or Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League qualifiers, both potential banana skins but you have to say we should be OK. Shouldn't we?

Absolute C*** Take Note

Mr Tweedy might want to consider SC23's graceful parting with the Arsenal. Says the Big Man, on the BBC site, "The more we spoke the more we all realised that the situation was actually good for both parties. They realised it was best for me to move on. There was no wrangling. It was all amicable. It was nicely done but that is Arsenal. They do things in a proper, gentlemanly manner."

A bit more on the charmless AC3 from PopBitch: "Ashley Cole might have employed over-the-top security to keep ordinary folk away from his wedding, but it seems he wasn't so bothered on his stag weekend. Some English girls on a hen weekend in Marbella got talking to Ashley's posse. They said most of the lads were very nice and friendly, especially Rio Ferdinand, and happily signed autographs. Except for Cole himself. His only contribution was to ask the bride-to-be why she was bothering to get married, "As it would only last a couple of years anyway.""

The sooner the blingy one takes his book, his ho and his wage demands to Chelski the better. Good riddance.

It rained a bit last night, but it's still infernally humid. A thunderstorm would be really, really welcome right now. Ah, now a Test Match has just started...

I'd Really Like A Good Kip Right Now

AC3 to Chelski for £30m? Good business if we can do it, it really is time to get rid of the annoying little twat. No real hints as to who, if anyone, will be coming in. Surely someone will be? Please?

Today's weather will be either the hottest on record or very wet, depending on who you listen to. ATM it's fucking hot so my money's on the former. Thankfully I've got the water back on at home.

Work situation chaotic, so no change there then.

That's The Way To Do It

The thoroughly crap managerial career of none-too-popular former Gunner David O'Leary has plumbed new depths with his departure from Aston Villa. He takes somewhere between £500k and £2m with him to add to the £4m he got when he left Leeds. There's something wrong here, surely?

Not a lot of footy news, as has become the norm. There are more reports that AC3 is off to Chelski, if this is going to happen then I suspect it'll be pretty soon, what with the mercenaries off to the USofA next week and all. Looks like Buffon is staying at Juve, which is good news for JL1 who really doesn't deserve to lose his place IMHO.

UPDATE: In today's "You Couldn't Make It Up" news, FIFA have banned the retired Zinedine Zidane for three games. Brilliant.

Too Darned Hot

Hence not so many posts of late. Here in Blighty we're in the grip of a heatwave. The roads are melting. According to The Sun, people's brains are melting. I'm just sitting here dreaming of cold beer and tacos.

TWTWTW

And what an odd week it was, too. I feel a few beers might be needed tonight to put a glaze of normality back on things. Talking of this evening, the outcome of the Serie A match fixing investigation is due around 18.00. Early reports suggest that Juventus, Fioentina and Lazio will be relagated to Serie B whist AC Milan will avoid relegation but be thrown out of the CL. We shall see...

Thanks. For. That.

Chaos at work yesterday, hence no post - evening posting ruled out by alcohol :/

Today we have a sort of "goodbye and thanks for all the fish" session, which promises to be (quite literally) an absolute riot.

Not a whole load of footie news today. FF15 will be FF4 next season, which I think is pretty cool. TW32 may or may not be off on loan to WBA in an attempt to swing a deal for Curtis Davis - if this were true it would add credibility to the rumours that we're about to sign Saviola.

Still nothing about the Serie A debacle, which I suspect (given the timescales involved for CL involvement/appeals etc) may mean they've all got away with it. This would be disgraceful, if unsurprising IMHO.

The Sun Has Got His Hat On

But I'm not coming out to play, Mr Sun's erratic behaviour of late has left me way too short of sleep. Not a lot sane going on in the world today that I can see, particularly in India ATM so I'll avoid being frivolous if I can.

In footy news there's still no word on the Italian scandal and FIFA have announced an enquiry into the ZZ sending off. What on earth for?

More later, or tomorrow indeed.

You Need Shoes

Oh yes indeedy. Or perhaps Sandals? If you're in the market for a pair of Size 5 Black Leather Ladies Sandals - and let's face it, most of us are - then you could do a whole lot worse than to buy these.

Actually, if you contact the seller you'll probably be able to get other colours and sizes too, just tell 'em I sent you :)

Normal Service Resumed

With the World Cup out of the way for another four years it's back to business as usual. Not too much news so far today (the Serie A match-fixing findings may well be out later, in which case an update is in order).

FF15 states he's happy at Arsenal and isn't about to slope off to Real Madrid; that absolute arsehole (not the real) Ronaldo is now behaving as badly off the pitch as he does on it in order to manipulate a move to Real or Barca. Good luck to ManUSA in getting a good price for him, even they don't deserve to have to put up with the wanker any longer.

World Cup Final 2006

And so here we are: The Final. Italy vs France. Might well be a very fine game. I'm rooting for the French, not least because there's talk of an absolutely disgraceful "pardon" for the four Italian Serie A clubs accused of match fixing (etc) if Italy win. I also think ZZ deserves if - what a note to retire on! Allez Les Blancs!

FULL TIME - That was all pretty weird. ZZ sent off (apparently via video evidence, we'll hear more of this no doubt [1]) for a blatant head-butt, TH14 and PV4 off injured, France lose on penalties. Shame, they'd looked the better team in the second-half.

OTHER NEWS - SC23 is off, it's been confirmed. He may not have been much use for a while but he was a giant (in a positive sense) for a few seasons. At least our last memories will be that trademark header in the CL final and not the walk out against the Hammers. Let's not forget, either, the many very fine performances he put in in an England shirt. The very best of luck to him in whatever he chooses to do next.

[1] FIFA deny this and say the fourth official brought the issue to the referee's attention.

Lampard To The Tower

Well, he'd have expected an MBE if we'd won the thing, so I think some sort of "award" for pretty much single-handedly getting us knocked out of the competition seems only fair. Honourary mention to the petulant Granny Shagger, though I have to say that twat Ronaldo would wind up a saint. Respect to Beckham, and congratulations (and thanks) to Hargreaves for a great performance.

So the party's over for another few years - but let's look on the good side, it's been a great few weeks and your liver could probably do with a rest right now...