Last Chance Saloon

Exactly twelve hours of the transfer window left and no real sign of any action. Updates later if anything does actually happen.

Meanwhile, consider the following from The Guardian: "Corinthians are partially owned by the mysterious Media Sports Investments company, in which Roman Abramovich is said to have a significant holding. It has also been reported that MSI owns the contracts of both players and can therefore block moves to, say, clubs likely to rival Chelsea for domestic or European glory".

Hmmm...

UPDATE: It's 21.50 UK time ATM and there's no confirmed news about anything, but it looks like JAR9 is being swapped for The Beast and Cashley **** is being swapped for Gallas. More tonight if there's anything solid published, otherwise I'll see you tomorrow.

No News, Some Light Rain

It's one of those days. There we are, all waiting with baited breath for some transfer news and there isn't any. There are a few rumours, mind. A couple of Argentinians, a Scottish kiddie and Buffon may all be on their way. Or, rather more likely, they aren't.

Further news later if there is any, otherwise we'll just have to see what tomorrow brings.

Normal Service Now Resumed

I'm back from my stint acting as carer for The Boss. She's doing fine now, which is excellent. Respect to anyone who cares for people on a full-time basis, respect too for those being cared for, I suspect it isn't exactly easy for them either.

A nice sunny day for my return to work, which sees Sod's Law in action yet again as the weather's been bloody awful for the last week or so.

Changes

As you can see I've changed the colour scheme for the new season and I've got rid of the advertising. I'll carry on the prettying-up process over the next week or so in the hope of making the place look a little less template-like, though I have to say it's a perfectly nice template IMHO :) I'm not sure about the ads yet, they don't actually generate any money so I guess they're a little pointless, perhaps I'll look into adding some more picture/video goodness and that sort of thing.

Still no transfer news, the only footie news at all ATM relates to this evening's entirely pointless England friendly.

It's A Partridge Sort Of A Day

In that the repetition is starting to make it all rather meaningless. Apparently AC3's "autobiography" may be shelved if he ends up staying at Arsenal - quelle surprise! I wonder just how he's feeling about the whole fiasco right now - if he thought Arsenal have shafted him (by doubling his wages) then WTF does he make of Chelski's current behaviour? Perhaps a year in the reserves will give him a chance to reflect on it all.

No further news on the JAR9 front, apart from EA25 joining in the fans' chorus of "let's just get it over with".

A Plan So Cunning...

So AC3's *still* there... the new season starts on Saturday (though the transfer window's still open until the end of August) and Chelski still haven't signed him. No one else appears interested. This is now getting quite interesting as we don't look to be willing to budge on price and the Ruskies aren't prepared to pay it. C***ley stays with us, therefore, and Chelski have real problems at left back. All rather interesting, but we'll no doubt hear at lunchtime that he's gone down the Fulham Road for the price of a tin of beans such is the power of my predictions...

More later if there's anything to report.

Tis The Week Before Kick-Off

Here we are then in the home straight before the new season gets under way. Still no more incoming transfers, and the fates of AC3 and JAR9 remain undetermined. It could well be a busy week, I suspect.

Good to see Chelski get off to a losing start yesterday, beaten by a Peter Crouch header of all things.

Slightly More Than No News At All

Well, on the football front, anyway. Plenty going on else in the world, very little of it good. The AC3 saga rumbles on with rumours suggesting that he'll be off any day now for around £20m. Sounds good to me.

In JAR9 news reports are suggesting a swap deal involving Baptista. This one has promise, although at least one of the red tops suggests Baptista still doesn't have a European passport - I thought one of the reasons he'd stayed in Spain last season was that he was due to get one during that season - which could well mess things up as he'd be unlikely, I suspect, to qualify for a work permit on the basis of his international appearances.

Spiders On Cider

Mr Fisher has another outlet for his artwork, which you can now get on mugs, t-shirts, "trucker hats" and all manner of other stuff. I've ordered some fridge magnets, so some of you may be getting early Christmas presents...

You'll find the stuff here. Give it a look!

Half Way There

A splendid result in Zagreb last night which sees us take a 3-0 lead into the second leg of the CL qualifier at the Emirates Stadium. You'd have to think it's enough, surely...

AC3's still there, JAR9 is still there (though only on the bench last night) and there's no hint of any incoming transfers. Time (and it's running out) will tell.

Liverpool are on the box tonight in what is on the face of it a foregone conclusion of a game, but I think I'll give it a look unless there's a Vicar Of Dibley repeat on.

A Week Goes By Like Nothing

Urgh. I've spent most of the week in bed with some or other bug. No fun. Not much fun in the world of footy either: we've still got AC3 and now JAR9 wants to go to Madrid. Actually, I've a lot of sympathy for him, he's clearly never settled in England but nonetheless he's always tried his damndest for the club and for the fans. I hope he gets his move - and I hope we bring in someone half-way established to keep up the numbers.

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...

Day Twenty-Two

The nation awakes to the headline "Lampard Injured" but sadly falls asleep again at this false dawn and comes round to the news that he's "Expected To Be Fit For Portugal". Bollocks. No disrespect to the man, but he's playing like a complete wanker ATM and is taking up a place that could be occupied by a real footballer.

The first two quarter-finals are today - I'll be rooting for the Germans this afternoon...

More later, perhaps.

UPDATE: Germany are through! JL1 is the hero! Cracking entertainment, I have to say, and a great result for the competition. Italy vs Ukraine is boring the living daylights out of me, but one good result a day is cool by me. Mark Lawrenson has just come up with "can't wait to see Shevchenko in the Premiership, he's a real winner". If Chelski can follow the man's example and get beaten 3 - 0 every time he's "this good" then that'll be fine AFAIAC.

Day Twenty-One

Bit of a wasted day yesterday, three hours sitting around railway stations, five and a bit hours on trains all to attend a meeting that had been cancelled by the time I arrived (on time) for it. I also had possibly the worst Burger King Whopper with Cheese ever made (well at least since the last one I had at the same outlet at Paddington Station). If Burger King have a QC department they might want to take a look at that place - burgers aren't difficult to make and can be truly awesome but if you use ingredients that are clearly several days past their "best before" dates the resultant item is likely to be fairly horrid. And it was. Oh yes indeed.

Nothing at all going on on the football front, maybe someone'll make some news up tomorrow...

Day Eighteen

Well the World Cup street party goes on for England and I have to say, England football performances aside, it's been absolutely great so far. Yesterday was no exception, no traffic on the roads during the game then kids and adults alike out waving flags and partying late into the night. Wonderful stuff!

The game itself? Better in the second half, I thought. Rooney had a fair stab at playing the lone striker role, but which really doesn't suit him at all. Otherwise I thought England, with the notable exception of the frankly abysmal Lampard, looked a fair bit better than in previous games. I'm still not convinced by Robinson, who seems to be gaining weight in the heat rather than losing it, but the alternatives are no more convincing so I guess we'll have to keep on with him.

Roll on Saturday!

Day Fourteen

Horrendous day at work, but then that's what I'm paid for so I won't moan. Not too much, anyway.

Cracking game this evening - Australia vs Croatia - a real cup game and if this is a taster for what's to come then I can't wait.

In other news, the Italian match-fixing scandal investigations are coming on apace. This one could have very, very wide ranging repurcussions, I suspect. More on this in the morning, I have chicken [1] to cook right now.

[1] A misleading description. This stuff came from Tescos and appears merely to be some form of unidentifiable organic matter (and not much of it) suspended in water (lots of this). If I have to add much more oil to cook the stuff I'm in danger of inviting an American invasion of Shepton [2]. Note to self: you really must shop somewhere else in future.

[2] Yes, I am aware that Shepton prison was an American military prison for some years and that they carried out executions there (every executed man being black, IIRC). This, however, isn't meant to be a political blog...

UPDATE: Re [2] above, "their racial mix was :11 African American, 3 Latino and 4 white and it is thought that their average age was 21.5 years" - this is taken from an article you can find here. You may also find this interesting, too.

England vs Sweden

Well here we go again. We really do need at least a point. Rooney and Owen up front, Hargreaves and Lampard in midfield, Carragher at right back. I have to say, with the exception of Citizen Neville for Carragher and Gerrard for Lampard this is the team I would have picked. Go for it lads!

1:00 Owen appears to be in agony, he's rolled off the pitch, looks like his knee's gone. Lewin's immediately called for a substitution, Crouch is coming on.

10:00 England look OK. The straight 4-4-2 makes sense and the midfield certainly looks better than it has in the last two games. I reckon we'll win this one but any more injuries or cards could play havoc in the next game.

15:30 Fine cross from Joe Cole, Crouch couldn't get to it (too high!). This looks like a Premiership game and England are playing, as you might therefore expect, well.

19:00 Owen's off for a scan tomorrow, looks like it may be just a twist rather than ligament damage. Still won't help Sven explain his extraordinary choice (and use) of strikers if we don't win the thing. Not that he'll then care, I expect. Never mind the quality, feel the pay packet.

23:30 Another chance for Crouch either to go for goal or to set someone else up, as against Trinidad & Tobago he did neither.

24:30 Good chance for Rooney contrived by Beckham, well defended.

31:00 Sweden coming forward. We look so much more solid with Hargreaves in the team - perhaps today's performance (if he keeps it up) will persuade the IN-GER-LAND lager crew that there's more to being a good international footballer than playing for Chelski.

33:10 Enland score! Joe Cole! Great goal, whacked in from miles (and no this doesn't justify the Chelski thing).

38:10 Absolutely great tackle in the area by Ferdinand on FL8. Ferdinand's having a fine game: the new formation is helping a lot, methinks.

39:30 Over the bar from Lampard. Unusual...

41:50 England corner. Half-heartedly cleared a couple of times resulting in a Rooney shot over the bar.

Half Time: 1 - 0 to England. Good performance so far, standout players for me are Joe Cole and Owen Hargreaves. Lampard is now looking out of his depth in what is otherwise a genuinely world-class midfield. To be fair to the man he's trying very hard but he's just not up to it. If we play the same lot in midfield next game with Stevie G taking Lampard's place we'll really be getting somewhere.

No Half Time changes, off we go...

50:03 Sweden score! Good header from a corner, defending none too clever, came close to the goal and you have to wonder what the keeper was up to. Not catching the thing, that's for sure.

54:00 Off the English crossbar! Swedish corner... eventually goes out of play in our favour but we're on the ropes ATM.

55:32 Ferdinand limps off, SC23 on. This ain't great news either, though at least SC23 scores from time to time.

58:49 Another Swedish shot clips off the bar. We're looking in trouble now.

60:00 Rooney's looking tired - what on Earth does Sven do now, having been forced to use two subs? Frankly I'd like to see TW32 on, we need strikers on the pitch but we really don't need the Granny Shagger injured/knackered. This is the sort of decision that separates the managerial men from the boys, but it's also the sort of decision Svennis tends to bottle. Time to stand up and be counted, IMHO.

61:50 Great tackle in the area by SC23, the big man's playing well.

68:30 Svennis brings on Gerrard for Rooney. Makes no fucking sense to me but then I'm not paid several million quid a year to screw England's chances of progressing in this tournament.

71:09 Cleared off the English line by Gerrard. If our luck continues like this we'll have a good chance despite Svennis.

74:30 AC3 clears on the right. He's doing a lot of this. Where the fuck is Carragher? I quite like Brainiac's idea of playing Lennon in midfield and Beckham at right back. Think about it...

76:02 There's no one upfield at all for us when Sweden have the ball in our half. What started so well is looking horribly wrong now and it's just down to inept substitutions. Mind you, we only started with a good team by accident.

84:44 England score! Gerrard, great header! I have to say though this puts a false gloss on things, we're still not looking convincing and Lampard's getting worse as the game goes on.

89:47 Sweden score! Well no surprise really; Larson gets it after some awful defending.

FULL TIME: 2- 2. Well we got what we needed, if not what we wanted. Plus side? We're not playing Germany in the next round and Joe Cole and Owen Hargreaves looked very good indeed. Down side? Svennis' decision to take two unfit strikers looks to be backfiring and Lampard looks more of a liability than an asset, which wouldn't be so much of an issue if you didn't know Svennis won't drop him. We really could win this thing, thanks to Svennis I don't think we will. I hope I'm wrong.

Please Feed The Loony

No doubt you've got a mobile phone, or indeed several, and look at the thing from time to time thinking "I wish that logo screen were a mite more surreal". Up til now there's been little you can do about it... Hurrah for Mr Fisher! Visit his all-singing-all-dancing mobile wallpaper site here for more weird backgrounds than you could shake a ferret at. You know you want one...

Day Twelve

England vs Sweden tonight. The Carne Asada's festering away in the fridge, the beer's chilling and the sun's looking like it might put in an appearance. Not a lot of news this early in the day, but there's an (oddly out-of-focus) picture of the new Arsenal home strip on the official website. Looks pretty good, 70s style retro which should appeal to Geoff. You can preorder from mid-July, if you do this your shirt will come with a free DVD of last season's 7-0 dubbing of Boro. Sounds like a deal.

UPDATE: Well we now know who England will get in the next round: a win or a draw tonight will see us play Ecuador, defeat will leave us facing the Germans. Let's not lose, eh?

Day Eleven

Great weekend, thanks very much, how was yours? Slightly muzzy head again this morning, I think it's something to do with Brizzle opening hours.




A couple of interesting results over the weekend, particular highlights being the Ghana and USA ones. Togo vs Switzerland is on in a moment or two - not that I'll see much of it as I have my back to the screen. More later, perhaps.

UPDATE: No surprises in the early games but Spain vs Tunisia is currently rather fun, it being 0 - 1 after 65 minutes. FF15's been brought on... Raul's get Spain back in it with a knock-in after the keeper parried FF15's shot, 72 minutes gone... Well that should do it, Torres has scored, set up by FF15 with a very fine pass... Spain are looking like a very good team now, FF15 has made a vast difference, as has Raul... Another fine pass by FF15 and Torres fucks up a sitter, they get a corner out of it though... Penalty to Spain, Torres held down jumping for a header, Torres takes it himself and scores, though the keeper got a fair bit on it, Torres was decidedly lucky... And that's it. The scoreline flatters Spain slightly, in that they had a fair bit of help from the Tunisian keeper, but that's not going to show up in the record books. If the Spanish coach has the bottle to start a game with the team that finished this one then they'd be a force to be concerned about, IMHO. Something tells me he'll go back to Plan A for the next one, though. We shall see.

Day Eight

Another England performance of excruciating ineptitude, another three points. We're through to the next round, at which stage we are likely to be making our exit unless Svennis and his lads can come up with something more closely resembling a performance by a team of top-flight footballers than that of a Sunday morning pub team after a particularly good Saturday night.




Friday today (just to remind those confused by having to live by numbered days) which is a good thing, IMHO.




UPDATE: Mexico 0 Angola 0 What a fantastic result! 10-man Angola get their first ever point in World Cup Finals football (well it is their first time in the tournament)! Man of the Match: the Angolan 'keeper, great, great game! It's this sort of game that makes this competition so very wonderful. Roll on Saturday (that's Day Nine to you)!

Day Seven

England play Trinidad & Tobago today. Loads of people at work in England shirts today, excitement abounds. We'll be watching the match in The Thatch tonight I think, general opinion has it that The Charlton is going to unbearably full. Best I phone the bank for a loan, The Thatch isn't exactly cheap.

Latest news on the Granny Shagger is that he's going to be examined by an independent medical bod some time today. It's all getting very silly. The Beeb site is joining in with a build-up page which is basically various journos and managers engaged in a will he/won't he debate (well not really a debate, more a listing of opinions).

One player who won't be taking part is Citizen Neville, who's out for 10 days. This gives Svennis the chance to piss the nation off by picking the ever-popular Hargreaves to play out of position again. I wish he'd give the poor guy a full game as a holding midfielder so everyone can see what he's actually about. Good for the team, too.

UPDATE: Rooney has been passed fit to take some part in today's game. I have a strange feeling that one way or the other it'll be a short appearance, but then I'm very often wrong.

Day Six

A fine evening drinking in Brizzle has left me somewhat muzzy-headed this morning and it's busy here to boot :(

Very very little on the footy gossip front today, the red tops seem to have given up making things up. It looks, though, as if Sven won't be picking the Granny Shagger tomorrow in case he gets sued by Man USA. This is getting ridiculous.

Spain vs Ukraine is first up today, might be a good 'un, methinks.

UPDATE: Three really entertaining games today, IMHO. The excellent quality of the refereeing is helping a lot, I think.

Day Five

Not sure how long I can put up with this "numbered day" malarky, but everyone's doing it so I think I'll go with the flow for the moment. There's a bit of Arsenal interest today with TH14, PS20 and JD36 involved in the France - Switzerland game and EA25 likely to be turning out for Togo.

Under the simply appalling headline "Don't Do A Gazza Wazza" the Sun wonders if the Granny Shagger is in danger of a "G8"-style self-inflicted injury. I have to say that if he doesn't put a lid on it there's a very fair chance that his next appearance will be a very short one, either as a result of said self-inflicted injury or through a red card. I guess the latter option would at least keep Sir Red Face happy.

Not a lot of other news so far, maybe some updates later :)

Day Four

Just watched the Czechs beat the USA very comfortably. Rosicky was great and scored a couple of very, very good goals. A fabulous buy for us, I have to say - I'm not surprised AW was keen to sign him before the competition began.

Being ancient I lack the stamina to give you the full run down on every bloody game, the very fine Mr Prior can provide this service, though, so check out his site at World Cup Nutcase.

Weekend Round Up

Well England made it, if somewhat unconvincingly. Never mind, it's three points. I'm more than a little concerned that the Lampard/Gerrard thing really isn't working - personally I'd opt for Hargreaves/Gerrard but I don't suppose I'll be in the majority on that one.




Not a whole lot else has really caught the eye, I have to say, though Marquez for Mexico was superb and the Angolans brought a smile to the face.




Great weekend, good company, loads of beer and good food. What more could you want? Check some of it out at the excellent Hardcore Booze.

Have a great week!

Day One Round Up

Exciting, isn't it :) There are certainly going to be a few goals, the new ball looks well weird. Flies fine, but bounces like a "normal" ball on AstroTurf. Goalkeepers aren't the only ones who need to worry about this ball...

Germany 4 Costa Rica 2

Hey! Goals in an opening match! Entertaining game, unless you're a German defender.

GunnerWatch: JL1 had a decent game, particularly if you consider what's in front of him.

Poland 0 Ecuador 2

The pundits would have us believe this is a "bit of a shock result", which suggests they've seen Poland since the '70s about as often as I have. Thoroughly deserved result, even if Poland's use of the new "super-accurate ball" suggests they've been practicing hitting the woodwork.

Overall?

I think it's been a fine first day. I've been particularly impressed with the refereeing, which I think has been both competent and sensible. I had thought we might get the usual glut of "FIFA says I must" cards, but, no, the men in the middle have done a very fine job. If their colleagues can keep this standard up then we're in for a good tournament.

'Ere We Go

So the World Cup starts today. Cracking stuff!

I'll be watching tomorrow's England game in The Bell, so if you fancy a jar or three I'll see you there.

Come on England!

By George, That's Tacky

The flags are up. They do look more than a little tacky, I have to say, which is how it should be. We can't find anywhere to stick up our wall-planner thing, though...

The Mighty Foot has been scanned, no news yet on the outcome, there may well be no news before the morning. Yawn...

UPDATE: Well he's gone back to join the squad. The decision on whether he should go would appear to have been something of a close call and the best that anyone who knows what's going on has come up with is "there's a good chance he'll be ready after the group stage". This doesn't sound to me anything like "he's fully fit" and I really don't think risking him is in England's or his, for that matter, interests.

Tuesday Update

Well, there isn't one really, since there's not been too much going on on the footy front. We're in a sort of lull-before-the-World-Cup-storm at the moment and even the transfer speculation has dried up.

I believe we're stuffing flags up in the office tomorrow. Cool.

England vs Jamaica

Svennis' last match on "home" soil. I wish I were there, the atmosphere before the game looks really great and I'd love to have a go at some of that Jamaican BBQ stuff they're all cooking up. It's got all the makings of a fun game in the summer sun. Bring it on!

On the footy side, we're back to 4-4-2. National sigh of relief? This looks like his first choice XI barring the absence of Citizen Neville and The Granny Shagger - Carragher's in for Neville, as good a second-choice as you could have, he'd be a first-choice in most sides. On paper this is a very good team indeed.

Owen really needs to get his act together today. He's up there with Crouch, which realistically should suit Owen down to the ground. If he fucks up again, though, will Svennis drop him? Actually, I think he might...

BBC coverage is so far crap as usual, why the fuck do I have to pay money for this nonsense? [1]

Here we go! Rock 'n' Roll!

2:00 Well Jamaica are playing well, look like they're up for it and certainly aren't taking prisoners. Might not be a bad idea to take Owen off now?

8:10 England in control but achieving very little. It's hot out there, too, could get interesting.

9:15 Free kick to England. Central and about 25 yards. Beckham, straight back out again.

10:47 Goal to England! Lampard. Well taken, following on into the area. Made it look easy. Shame he can't do the same thing from the penalty spot - if Beckham's not going to take them (and let's face it, he shouldn't) then AC3 would be my choice: knocks them in as cool as you like.

15:00 Joe Cole fouled, fair engough but he made a real meal of it. He really has got to watch that. Beckham free kick...

15:30 Goal to England! Good free kick, looks like an own goal.

20:45 Fine chance set up for Owen by AC3. Owen falls over. He really seems out of luck ATM.

22:00 Robinson rescues Terry from a rare lapse in concentration. There is a certain arrogance about the man (see my comments about the Hungary match) that he could do with losing. He may be good but I don't think he's as good as he thinks he is and that, I suspect, is a view shared by a few of the truly-world-class strikers he'll have to deal with in the World Cup. Nothing that a good bollocking wouldn't cure, however, he's certainly got the ability.

26:00 Crouch is everywhere ATM, doing a TH14. Good for him, he's way up in my Brownie Points league over the last couple of games. Is Owen still on the pitch?

28:04 Great knock back up Crouch, corner results.

28:10 Goal for England! Possibly RoboCrouch, possibly an OG, but we got the dance anyway. I could grow to love this man...

29:54 Great move, Owen yards offside. I know I keep knocking the man, but he's lost it, he really has. Give us TW32 at half-time so we can have a sensible comparison.

31:00 Goal for England! Owen, making hard work of an open goal. He's still not convincing me.

31:30 Terry off, SC23 on. Tight hamstring for Terry, apparently. Beckham's been looking like he's uncomfortable but he's still on.

34:47 AC3 off (tight thigh), Wayne Bridge on.

35:39 Shelton really should have scored for Jamaica. Shelton and Euell went through the revamped England defence like it wasn't there. Cross-shot went wide.

37:00 Jamaica may be 4-0 down but they're currently comfortably the better team.

40:51 Good run forward by Carragher, corner. England looking comfortable, having got their shape back. Corner cleared easily.

45:59 Shot by Shelton for Jamaica, over the top but a fine effort.

46:47 Another fine shot by Jamaica, wide.

Half-Time. 4-0. Can't argue with the score, whilst it looks a bit harsh on Jamaica, England have clearly taken the foot off the gas. I can't see that you can judge anything from what happens here, but at least it gives the team another chance to play together. Man of the Match so far? Peter Crouch by a country mile.

James on for Robinson for the second half. Makes sense.

50:30 Good break from Lampard, poor cross though. Corner nonetheless.

51:50 Crawford yellow-carded for a fairly awful tackle on Lampard. His moaning about it may well have got his card upgraded to red in a meaningful match.

54:42 Fine move by England (Beckham/Lampard). Corner. Cleared without too much trouble.

55:40 20-odd yard shot from Joe Cole. Not bad, but didn't bother the keeper either.

57:56 Jamaica attack. Good cross cleared by Carragher. Corner.

58:40 Corner cleared by Ferdinand for another corner. This one cleared easily.

64:00 It's all gone rather quiet. It's about SvenSub time, but there's not much sign of activity. Shot from Joe Cole, well saved.

My commentary is likely to suffer for the rest of this game from my need to deal with the kids visiting my neighbour. Obnoxious brats.

67:00 Goal for Enland! RoboCrouch! Great cross on the ground into the six-yard box from Carragher.

73:00 All a bit lame now. England are pretty much in control and are just attempting pot-shots. Jamaica certainly haven't given up, but they're running around a lot to no great purpose.

76:00 England have one substitution left. I'd really love Svennis to take Owen off and put on TW32 but he's taking off Gerrard and putting on Downing. Again fair enough, but I'm starting to worry about his reliance on the currently useless Owen. Sure, the guy needs games to get fit but the World Cup isn't the place to give him them. I'll probably be proved wrong by little Micky getting a hat-trick in each of the group games but when this doesn't happen I reserve the right to say "I told you so".

80:00 70k in attendance today, apparently. Great. I still think England matches should continue to go on a "road show" round the country, it's been really popular and gets crowds for England games we'd never get if they were all held at that place in Middlesex.

81:00 Penalty to England. Owen floored. Crouch to take. Gently put into row Z. Has he been talking to Beckham? Shame, though, he deserved the hat-trick. [2]

83:45 Free kick to Jamaica. High, though not that much.

89:00 Goal to England! Absolutely fantastic goal from RoboCrouch! Very, very well deserved hat-trick. If that's not enough to get him a start in the first group match then I may well have to introduce Svennis to the joys of vegetable marrows myself...

Full-Time. 6-0. Fair result, Crouch the Man of the Match easily. Everybody else pretty good though I have to say Terry and Ferdinand (though the latter wasn't so bad today) need to realise it doesn't just come on a plate and they do have to work from time to time.

[1] I appreciate there's more to the BBC than football (and indeed TV), comments via the "comments" bit perhaps?
[2] That's two missed in two games. Do we practice these? CF the Arsenal vs ManUSA cup final shootout...

When In Brighton

Don't stay at The Malvern Hotel. No, really, just don't. It's so bad it's gone all the way through "so bad it's funny" and out the other side to "just fucking awful".

What's wrong with it? Well it's in a fairly horrible state of disrepair, paint, plaster and wallpaper peeling and questionable electric fittings, but that would be almost excusable if it weren't filthy. By filthy I mean uncleaned toilet and vomit stains on the wall in the room I was in amongst other delights. The crack is, the place isn't cheap at all: £65 pp per night, in our case. Good quality chain hotels in the same area of Brighton are £10 - £25 per night cheaper... The place exists, of course, because there is an endless stream of foreign tourists in Brighton who don't know they're being ripped off. This sort of thing needs stamping on, it's little short of a national disgrace the way we allow visitors to our once fine country to be treated.

We should have figured out something was up when I called for directions on the way in:

Me: "We're heading in from the West on the A27, please would you give us directions?"
Chinese Woman who runs the "hotel": "You will be here by half-past eight".

It traspired that this was intended not as advice but rather as a demand (we ended up having to buy a map to find the place and in retrospect sincerely wish we hadn't).

Just so there's no confusion, the place I'm talking about is:

The Malvern Hotel
33 Regency Square
Brighton
BN1 2GG

Just say no.

England vs Hungary

Here we are at the last-but-one chance Svennis has got for one of his England sub-o-rama fiascos. Let's hope that this time he employs some common sense and lets his first choice eleven get a bit of practice, and lets hope we see a team we can believe in.

Come on England!

We're playing 4-1-3-1-1 with Carragher in the holding role and Gerrard trying to do a DB10. Fuck knows if this is a good idea, it's certainly not what I'd have gone for but then I'm not a Swede with a propensity for shagging secretaries [1].

5:00 Where is Gerrard supposed to be playing? Perhaps someone should tell him, he's all over the shop atm.

8:43 Gerrard clipped over just outside the box, no foul given (nor I think committed, he looked to have lost the ball). Sod Rooney, this guy is probably our best player but I wish he'd stop trying to play everywhere, we're hardly in the last couple of minutes of a match that matters...

11:00 AC3 clattered, free kick. Beckham to take, straight back out again.

England are playing fine and are in control but I think we're seeing the "Curse of Svennis" in that no-one knows whether they're in or out so they're tending to play for themselves rather than for the team.

16:00 Hungary would appear to have got their heads round our rather eccentric formation and are now, predictably, crowding us out of midfield. They don't look ludicrously dangerous but then they really don't seem to be trying too hard.

20:00 Corner to Hungary. The England formation is looking increasingly nonsensical and we're coming under some pressure now.

26:00 Nice bit of work by Joe Cole, but it's all individual stuff. There's just no plan. Free kick to England, though, and Beckham to take. Cleared without undue effort.

31:00 This really does need some fresh thought. Beckham and Gerrard are both trying to play central midfield when they really should be somewhere else. Why we can't just play a formation these players are familiar with is beyond me. I'm starting to see the clamour for Rooney in a different light - at least he can score in a brothel.

34:00 Corner to Hungary. Cleared by Beckham.

36:00 There's a worrying arrogance to England's play. A better team than Hungary - and there are plenty - would be a couple of goals up by now.

38:12 Joe Cole hacked down (not for the first time tonight he made the most of it - something he may well have learned from Drogba but which he needs to unlearn by the World Cup if he wants to stay on the pitch), reasonable free kick.

39:55 Penalty to England. Gerrard down (dive, he didn't get caught), though Owen should have scored from the chance that immediately preceded it. Lampard to take... saved, well as it happens. Lampard certainly hoofed it. At the end of the day it was probably the fair result, given the award.

42:00 England are starting to dominate... Joe Cole header off the post, defender clears it off the crossbar. We can consider ourselves unlucky, IMHO. The team's starting to develop a shape, though I don't think it's the one Svennis intended.

45:51 Corner to England. Nothing comes of it, and now it's half-time.

England are flattering to deceive, we surely won't win too many competetive games playing like this. Awful. Good points? Neville's doing his usual fine job (much though it pains me to say it), Beckham's put in a couple of decent balls and Joe Cole looks like he's playing for his life, let alone his place in the team. Otherwise, Gerrard looks like a fish out of water, sadly, and Lampard is being bypassed. Wake up Svennis, let's have Carrick and TW32 and give it a proper English go.

Oh wow, England substitution: Hargreaves for Neville. Fucking hell.

BTW, I sincerely hope I can watch the World Cup games on a channel other than BBC, I really don't think I can take another Motson/Lawrenson evening...

46:13 Goal to England! Gerrard, very nicely placed header.

51:00 Goal to England! Terry from a fine Beckham free-kick.

54:04 Goal for Hungary. Fabulous out-of-the-blue shot, Robinson couldn't get near it. It's fair to say it was against the run of play, England certainly have had the upper hand since the first goal but we're still far from convincing.

60:00 I'd be expecting to see some substitutions now (I'd particularly like to get the injury-prone Owen off the pitch under his own steam) but there's no sign of anything.

64:36 Gerrard and Owen off, Crouch and TW32 on. TW32 now England's youngest-ever full international. Good for him, let's hope this is just the first of many.

69:18 TW32 takes off like a missile on speed, decent cross aimed at Crouch, cleared.

England are starting to look like a team, at least going forward. The midfield still looks rather confused defensively.

75:00 All a bit aimless at the moment.

75:30 Terry off, SC23 on. Hungary bloody nearly scored whilst he was coming on, England had gone to sleep.

76:45 SC23 booked for taking his man out whilst trying to recover from a dire ball to him.

77:26 Fine save by Robinson.

83:03 Looks like a foul on Crouch in the area, but not given.

84:00 Goal for England! Crouch, very fine cross shot (even better in the replays). He seems to be working well with TW32, whose movement has been very good. They played together at Southampton, of course. Perhaps this is the real "Plan B" - Owen looked really out of sorts whilst Crouch and TW32 look not only right up for it but fit, too. Give them a run together on Saturday?

87:56 Shot by TW32, pretty good though the cross-hit effort went wide. No way is this boy out of his depth.

88:54 Beckham booked. Committed challenge, though hardly a nasty one. Do these bookings count for anything?

So there we have it. "Plus-point" performances: Beckham, Joe Cole, Neville, Crouch, Gerrard (if he sticks to a role) and TW32. "OK" performances: pretty much everyone else on the night, though I'm not fully convinced by Ferdinand or Robinson (can't see any real alternative to the latter however). "Oh Dear" performances: Owen. Give up on the man, he's just not up to it at the moment.

[1] Calls for Prezza to be next England manager will, I hope, fall on deaf ears.

The Groovy Chicks Rock Devon

And didn't they just! Cracking day out, wonderful food and very fine company. Margaret Groovy's 75th celebration provided a true invitation to over-indulge that was gratefully accepted by all who attended. Great to see four generations enjoying themselves together, reminds me of the Old Days. Gosh I'm getting old...

Back To The Rooney Saga

Well it's not healed. Not exactly surprising, I'd have thought. It's now "officially" accepted that we won't make the group stages. That being the case I have to say that IMHO taking him at all is lunacy.

There are only three other strikers in the squad atm, one of which is the inexperienced TW32 who really isn't likely to start any games, and another of which is Peter Crouch. The third is Owen and if he survives all of the group games he'll have played more consecutive games than he's probably managed for Newcastle this season.

It's time to give up on Rooney and call in another striker, giving him time to get used to being part of the set up.

Goodbye Bobby

In today's "Oh really?" news, RP7 has signed for Villarreal.

Good luck to him, and thanks - no doubt from us all - for the very fine work he's done for the Arsenal over the last few years. He'll be fondly remembered.

That's Us Out In The Group Stages, Then

It's been announced that England will have a Victory Parade through London on 11th July to celebrate winning the World Cup. There'll be a national holiday too (somewhat bizarrely also given to the Scots).

Talk about counting chickens... this particular SNAFU comes courtesy of the FA rather than the Home Office, though at the moment it's not too easy to tell them apart...

Welcome, Tomas

We've signed Tomas Rosicky, a fine 25-year old Czech midfielder (old news by now, but I plead illness for failure to write this yesterday).

Fine news. Welcome and good luck.

The Rain In England Falls Mainly On Shepton

Well it's raining. That's hardly news here, to be fair. The only "news" of any sort are a few reports that Fenerbache want SC23 and are prepared to pay quite a lot for him (whether as a fee to us or as his pay package isn't clear): good business for us, but possibly nowhere near as good for the player.

What Fantastic Madness

If our friends over the pond ever need to point to one thing to justify not understanding Europeans the Eurovision song contest would be just that thing. What lunacy! Last night's could well be the best since ABBA won...

The sheer insanity of 37 countries voting for the best song from amongst 24 which mixed national musical quirks with attempted rap, cellos, national dance and that infamous euro-beat was just wonderful to behold. The fact that it was won by a Finnish death-metal band dressed as orcs was just the icing on the cake.

Bring back It's A Knockout...

Four More Years

Fantastic news! TH14 will be leading out the team at the Emirates Stadium next year as we'd all hoped. The love affair goes on...

Aftermath

Well the general opinion at work - from non-Gooners, to boot - is that the best team lost. I'm not about to argue, I entirely agree. The team can feel justly proud, IMHO, they were fantastic.

I wish we could get the TH14 thing out of the way so we can just get on with the World Cup, but he's always said he'd take his time so I guess we owe it to him to give him it.

Champions League Final

OK, here we go. Gosh, I'm more than a little nervous. Geoff's called from the ground, the lads are to the left of the goal at the Arsenal end on the second tier. Perhaps they'll wave. I hope to fuck they're cheering at the end...

Come on you Arsenal!

2:35 Ooooh... Close by TH14, fine chance...

3:05 Fine shot from TH14...

11:52 Ronaldinho free kick's gone wide. Good game so far. Not that I care about quality, I just want the right result...

17:33 In the net from Barca. Goal disallowed, but JL1 sent off for taking down Eto'o outside the area. Technically right? Probably, but rather harsh, why not just let the goal stand? JL1 first man ever sent off in a CL Final. I'm sure he's chuffed about that, I don't think any sane person would fault him for going for the save though. MA24 on, RP7 off. Free kick wide. We're down to 10 men in the CL again. I hope AW wasn't joking when he said we practice for this.

36:10 Free kick to us, right side of their box.

36:50 Goal! 1-0 to the Arsenal! SC23, thumping header!

46:24 MA24 brilliantly pushes Eto'o's fine shot onto the post.

47:43 TH14 on his own... row Z...

Half Time: Barca 0 Arsenal 1. Cracking. I'm really not sure how much longer we can hold out like this, but come on you Arsenal!

And here we go again. Edmilson off, Iniesta on for Barca. No changes for us. Let's face it, we can't now waste subs.

47:51 Deco shoots, held well by MA24.

50:44 Yellow card for TH14 who was chasing back. I have to say the cards, or threat of them, all seem to be going one way.

54:36 Free kick to Barca just outside the area. Fair free kick (we'll ignore the one we didn't get a few seconds earlier) but the card Barca are calling for would have been unfair, and one isn't presented as it happens. Ends up in a goal kick.

57:01 Another good piece of work by MA24. We're under a fair bit of pressure now.

59:30 Corner to Arsenal. Cleared comfortably.

60:20 Larsson on, Van Bommel off for Barca.

62:28 Fine move from Arsenal, ending in a shot wide from AH13.

65:06 Arsenal on the break again, TH14 into the box but the ball slightly over-ran.

66:25 Great break by FL8, corner. Taken by FF15, cleared easily.

69:45 Another chance for TH14, keeper did well. Pretty much immediately followed by a shot from Ronaldinho which went wide.

70:54 Belletti on, Olegurer off for Barca. That's their last sub.

71:57 Dive on the edge of the box from Eto'o. No card, of course.

73:26 Corner to Arsenal. FF15 off, MF16 on. Cleared comfortably.

75:56 Goal to Barca. Eto'o. Bollocks.

Now we're in trouble. Not only are we playing with 10 men but having to bring on MA24 has meant we've only got one sub left. We can't now win this by defending, so let's bring on DB10 :)

80:30 Goal. Barca again. Belletti. We're probably fucked, but, hey, faith is a good thing. Now give us Dennis...

84:21 AH13 off, JAR9 on.

92:11 Oh, he's finally booked a Barca player.

Full Time: Barca 2 Arsenal 1. Very game performance from us, and difficult to say anyone's underperformed under the circumstances. If you play the self-styled "best team in the world" with 10 players you're going to find it difficult. Well done Arsenal, you've done us proud.

Urghhh

There's yet another bug about and I've got it. I'm not enjoying it, as it happens. Cracking FA Cup Final, well done Liverpool (and Stevie G in particular). Shame anyone had to lose it, as they say.

It's the biggie tomorrow. Come on you Arsenal!

The Silly Season's Just Got Interesting...

I suspect the investigations into "sporting fraud" in Italy's Seria A could well have a significant bearing on what happens in this Summer's transfer merry-go-round. Who'd now want to move to Juve, AC Milan or Lazio? How many of their players may end up available on the cheap?

Hmmm...

Warming Up For The FA Cup

I love the FA Cup, I really don't give a toss whether it's trendy or not. The beer's in the fridge, there's spicy chicken stuff to be prepared and I'm ready for the fun.

Whilst I number a fair few 'Pool fans amongst my friends I'm going to support the Hammers tomorrow (a) because every neutral loves an underdog (b) because they're from London and (c) because we owe them one for last Sunday.

I've a feeling that, for once, this one could be a corker...

After The Lasagne Comes The Humble Pie

A fitting end to the whole S***s with the s***s fiasco would be for the now entirely exonerated Docklands Marriott hotel to sue the WHL scum for defamation. It's highly unlikely to happen, sadly, as I can't see a fairly well-respected hotel group sinking to S***s' puerile level.

UPDATE: It gets stranger by the minute. S***s are now saying that only one player has been shown to have had a virus prior to their stay at the Marriott. This one could run and run, if you'll pardon any pun.

UPDATE: S***s have gone all quiet again. However, Paul Downing, the general manager of the Marriott concerned has at last joined the fun: "I'm not demanding an apology from Spurs but it would be the right thing to do. Nobody should have to go through what my staff and I have been through in the past few days". Too bloody right it would be the right thing to do. So on past performance I guess we can assume they won't do it.

UEFA Cup FInal

Thought I'd try a different approach with this one, with the CL Final in mind...

10:00 A reasonable start from Boro, though Sevilla have had a couple of decent chances. Boro certainly don't look over-awed.

23:00 Pleasant enough to watch but not exactly exciting - both teams are keeping their shape and they're just playing swap-ball in midfield. Sevilla possibly marginally ahead on points, but there's really bugger-all in it atm. One of the Boro defenders keeps slipping over, which makes you wonder about his footwear choice - let's hope this doesn't cause a real problem before they can fix it.

25:59 Goal to Sevilla. Good move, fine (headed) finish. The Zorro-masked Schwarzer stood no chance whatsoever.

HT Boro 0 Sevilla 1 You can't argue with the score, Boro finished the first half very much on the back foot and really do need to up it a lot if they're going to win this. They're starting to look nervy, too...

OK, here comes the second half and Boro have brought on Maccarone. Good luck, chaps!

60:00 One good chance to Boro but despite that, and the fact that Boro are pushing forward, Sevilla still very much have the uppper hand. Boro are also playing a very tiring game so extra-time wouldn't be too good (though better than where they are atm, of course)...

70:00 Well we're not into the two-minute drill but already Boro are out with the Hail Marys. They've got four forwards on now but sadly there's still no real penetration (titter ye not, Mr Howerd).

74:30 Should have been a penalty to Boro for a shove on the Pie Eater, IMHO. Not given though.

77:45 Goal. Another for Sevilla. Good goal, though the keeper was a little unlucky. I suspect the fat lady's getting ready, sadly.

83:34 Goal. She might as well come on now 'cause it's another to Sevilla. Yet another good 'un, even if it took a deflection, but the score's really now not fair to Boro who've had far more of this game than 3-0 suggests. Of course, it's only the score that goes in the books...

88:40 Goal. Blow the whistle, Ref, this is getting unfair on Boro. Sevilla's fourth was from Kanoute, FWIW.

FT Boro 0 Sevilla 4 The right team won, for sure, but I think the final score was a little harsh on a very game Boro side. Let's hope they'll be back before too long.

Toxic Seats - S***s To Blame?

According to the Beeb we've been sitting on cadmium-laced toxic seating for the last few years. Not sure what the symptoms of cadmium poisoning are, but if they include bouts of hysterical laughter every time anyone mentions the current behaviour of the lot from WHL then I'm clearly affected.

I'll be cheering on the 'Boro tonight, I just hope they decide not to give the opposition a three-goal start this time as I'm trying to save up my resistence to heart-related stress for the CL final.

Are We Having Fun?

It's that usual Tuesday afternoon feeling, particularly strong this week as I'm on the late shift. Oh well, it's actually a nice day in Somerset and it's busy enough to pass the time without being silly.

Sven's acid-inspired squad choice has met with pretty much universal approval and has certainly put a smile on the national face. I think there's more of a "we can win it" feeling about now than there was when it was all down to Rooney, though that could just be because the tournament's growning closer.

The England Squad

After years of being Johnny Foreigner Sven has suddenly manifested that most English of things - utter eccentricity. What a squad. Actually, I think it's pretty cool (given that realistically Rooney and, probably, Owen won't make it for the final selection) and the inclusion of Lennon and TW32 could well prove to be a masterstroke.

I'm getting quite excited...

I've Always Been Partial To Lasagne

Well at the end of the day it was a really great send-off for Highbury. An entertaining game, great atmosphere, a hat-trick from TH14 and fourth place secured to boot.

Most excellent.

The Sun Always Shines On Someone Else

And today I'm amongst the "someone else". Sadly, in someone else's life, the very brave Hayley Newbery has died. My thoughts and prayers are with those she leaves behind, they could do with the sun shining on them right now.

In other, utterly irrelevant, news Robbie Fowler has got himself another year at the 'Pool. Good for him. Good for the fans, too, I'd wager. I'm convinced that Benitez is developing a scouse accent. Anyone remember Jan Molby?

Citeh Full Time

3-1 to the Arsenal. Good result, fair performance (second half anyway, I missed the first). Good news for England, too, in that AC3 had a pretty fair game (and lasted all of it) and SC23 looked OKer than he has done for a while.

Some Keystone-Cops defending from us, but what the heck it's been that sort of day...

McClaren Named England Manager

Oh well, good luck to the man. He's now in the rather odd position of helping Svennis win the WC whilst hoping he fails so he's not left with an impossible act to follow.

The whole process of selecting the man has been a complete mess and at the end of the day we've ended up with the usual group-think result of choosing the candidate that no none actively didn't want as opposed to one anyone actually did want.

Who would you have gone for?

UPDATE: I've just watched his press conference and I have to say he sounds OK. Mind you, so does Dubya so I'm not going to make too much of that. At least he's used to the wretched British Red Tops...

Here Comes The Silly Season

Thankfully we've got the World Cup this year to divert us from the usual summer transfer speculation, not, of course, that it'll actually stop said speculation. At the moment it would appear that the majority of the Arsenal first team are on their way to Spain. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see AC3 go there (and I'd be more than happy if he did) and I fully expect to see TH14 there but there's bugger all point in worrying about it all, what will be be will and I'm convinced we're going to have a fine team for next season come what may. We could always draft in some of the women's team...

World Cup wise it seems Rooney's injury is worse than at first believed. I wish people would give up on any idiotic ideas of taking him to Germany (see previous World Cups for examples of this sort of folly) and come up with a decent alternative plan. Relying on The Giraffe is not such a plan, IMHO. Take Fowler and be done with it.

Tuesday Round Up

Another Tuesday and another wet day in Somerset. The gardening project is on indefinite hold, I think the rain's here to stay for a while yet.

Congratulations to the Arsenal Ladies who completed their third double in six years with a 5-0 win over Leeds in the Women's FA Cup Final.

In other news AD2 looks likely to be out for 5 to 6 months following his injury (dislocated and broken ankle) in yesterday's win over Sunderland. A real bloody shame, he was looking good and has worked hard since he joined us. Here's hoping he makes a swift recovery.

Without A Foot To Stand On

Sunday morning brings us the news that Wayne Rooney is quite possibly out of the World Cup with a broken bone in his foot. Michael Owen appears to be in the same boat. There's more in the rags, as usual, about TH14 being off to Barca in the summer and apparently PV4 is being put up for sale by Juve.

United yesterday screwed their attempt to derail the Chelski express with a performance that would have embarrassed quite a few pub sides, so I'm grateful that watching football in pubs has some other compensations.

Bolton have the chance to do us a favour for once this afternoon, which will no doubt result in a home win for S***s.

The weather's not conducive to my gardening project today, but I guess I'm just going to have to live with it.

A Musical Aside

The other day I found, quite by accident, a fascinating article about the origins of Brit Pop, tracing things back to Norwich. Way cool. You can read it here. This got me thinking that it's time to revive/revise the Capitalist Music site, a project I'll be using to fill up any idle time over the next few days. FWIW, you can find the current version here. I'll let you know when I've got it done...

Friday's Here

At last. I'm oddly knackered atm and am really looking forward to a couple of days rest.

Not a whole lot of footy news so far today, though TH14 has won the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award for a record third time. Congratulations to him for that rather splendid achievement!

No Particular Day Of The Week

All these odd days off are doing nothing for my body-clock. Barca vs Milan tonight. I'm not sure I much care who wins this - I guess we'd get more credit for beating Barca in the final (and that'd be the match-up most neutrals would like, I think) but whoever gets there are going to provide quite some game.

I've a sneaky feeling Milan will get through tonight...

UPDATE: Well, I was wrong. Isn't the first time, certainly won't be the last. Barca then. I really fancy our chances. I have to be right sometime, surely...

Paris Calling

Fuck me, we're there! The dream really could come true...

I Don't Care If It Rains Or Freezes

We said goodbye to Bob yesterday. A fantastic turnout - every one who could make it was there - which just goes to show the esteem in which this wonderful and profoundly good man was held by all those whose lives he touched.

I'll miss him a lot.

Please Keep The Fat Lady Off The Stage

More the manner of the game than the actual result that sticks in the craw, I suspect. Overall a draw was probably a fair result on the play but it'll be the sight of S***s walking off to a near-universal chorus of "cheats" that remains with me for a while to come. At least the squirrel left to cheers, a point the cheating WHL scum might like to ponder.

Still, this is no time for recriminations, we've got to pull ourselves together and win all our remaining games. Then we'd have a season to remember!

Come on you Arsenal!

Gawd Bless Yer, Ma'am!

It's the Queen's 80th birthday today. Many happy returns, Your Majesty!

Tottenham Early Team News

Well SC23 is out injured. No surprise and not bad news either for most of us, I suspect.

More on the AC3 situation, I still think he's hoping to go to the World Cup without having to bother playing for us this season (mind you, given MF16's performances I really like to think he'd wouldn't force his way back into the team anyway):

AW says: "Gael Clichy looks ready but I don't know how much he is free pain-wise in his foot.

"Ashley looks completely free pain-wise but looks to be behind Gael fitness-wise. Let's give him two more weeks before he is completely ready to play."

The Squirrel Has It

It's hangover time. Never mind, the don't-concede-at-home mission has been completed, extending our Champions League shut-out record to nine games.

Fine result, though the tie's by no means over yet.

I Say, Jolly Well Done!

Arsenal Ladies completed an unbeaten Premier League season with a 5-3 away win at Doncaster Rovers Belles on Sunday!

Congratulations, very well done ladies!

Another Weekend Passes By

And I've spent most of this one parked up on the sofa feeling ill. Regular bouts of somewhat non-specific illnesses are one of the joys of working on a Helpdesk of course, but this one's been a real corker.

I did notice we won on Saturday - well done chaps - and that United did us a rare favour at WHL. Roll on next Saturday!

Portsmouth Full Time

Well it finished 1-1. Two points dropped, however you look at it. I'm not feeling ludicrously negative about this, but I'm not exactly over the moon either.

Full thoughts tomorrow, beer and bed now.

Sleep well :)

PS: Boro won 4-2.

Portsmouth 64:51

1-1. LuaLua. Bollocks.

Portsmouth Half Time

Still 1-nil to us. FL8's been booked, as has one of their chaps, otherwise I really can't comment on what's going on.

The game's on Prem Plus, which I can't afford, and I really can't face wandering up into town in the hope of finding somewhere that's got it on.

Still, I'm really rather more concerned with the result than the performance: we need the three points...

Keep it up Arsenal!

Oh, btw, in the Cup it's Boro 2 Charlton 1...

Portsmouth 36:00

1-nil to the Arsenal! TH14, set up by EA25.

Sorry if these comments are a bit brief, I'm having to follow the game on the BBC website...

No Surprise There Then

It's being reported that AC3, who is magically going to be fit for the World Cup having spent most of the season out injured, has decided he's leaving Arsenal in the Summer.

Good, I'll be bloody glad to see the back of the annoying little twat, I just hope we can still get a couple of bob for him.

Nothing much at all else going on, it's a definite slow news day...

Just Another Tuesday

But there's nothing wrong with that. Quite a pleasant normal day at work and all that.

Not much footy news, but it looks like SC23 will get a run-out tomorrow night. I'm not too sure about this, but I guess it's no bad thing to help keep a fit back-up. AC3 is due back next week, apparently, and TH14 has signed a sponsorship deal with Reebok.

More anon, have a fine evening :)

The Eyes Have It

Ah, new contact lenses :)

Now, however, I can see just how badly the housework needs doing (every silver lining having a cloud, and all). Not a lot of news today, it's Monday and England once again creaks and groans her way into the new week. At least it's a short week!

I notice that the CrispAds server is currently serving up ads which not only are illegible but which also link to sites which can't be visited from the UK. Rather pointless, I'd have said, I'll keep an eye on this...

Man USA Full Time

Well we lost, but we lost with dignity and style. No heads going down, we kept at it 'til the end. Great game for a neutral, I imagine.

MF16 really is looking good now, I suspect Summer would be a fine time to flog the irritating AC3.

Oh, well. Beer for me. We'll just have to go out and destroy Portsmouth on Wednesday.

It's work tomorrow, sadly, the weekends seem to get shorter the older you get :(

Have a great week.

Double Shit

Two-nil United. Park. Set up by Rooney - I really could grow to dislike that granny-shagging pie-eater.

Shit

One-nil United. Rooney. I can feel another beer coming on. Come on Arsenal!

Man USA Half Time

Entertaining stuff so far. A couple of fine saves from JL1 (and quite possibly one from KT28, though I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say he was trying to get out of the way).

We're making a few chances as well so you never know... AH13's looking good, though I have to say EA25 looks a little out of touch with everyone else (though I don't doubt this would improve with starting consistently - at least next year we won't have the cup-tied issue) and FF15 seemed rather less effective towards the end of the half.

Giggs looks like a whippet on speed atm, with any luck he's too old to keep it up.

Mad Jens Confirmed As German First Choice

Fine news for JL1 following on his excellent season so far for us - it's been announced that he's to be Germany's first-choice keeper for this Summer's World Cup.

Good luck to him, well deserved IMHO.

Well Done Boro!

What a result! Well done, chaps, you've put a smile on a few people's faces tonight :)

May We Dance?

Don't get excited, they say.

A sterling performance in Turin last night and we're into the semi-finals. Eight clean sheets in a row in the Champions League, a new record.

Don't get excited, they say.

Vilareal in the semis. They're a bit handy, or they wouldn't be there. We've only beaten Real Madrid and Juventus.

Fuck it, I'm excited!

Fourth Spot

Birmingham have now handily beaten Bolton which leaves our race for fourth spot entirely in our own hands. I'd love for further results to allow us to throw the game at Old Trafford, but that's really asking way too much. Shame.

Looks like FF15 may be fit to play tomorrow, which is fine news, but the news about EE27 is not so positive. Still, if we can keep our focus we really could do it - come on you Gunners!

More Flickr Stuff

Geoff in Wales,
originally uploaded by Git Mohair.

Deary me, this is a long job (mind you, only 'cause my network's a mess atm, but I'm working on that - it's the last thing I've got round to since I moved)!

I've now got up pictures from the 2005 Community Shield, the 2005 Blackburn Semi and, of course, the great "Invincibles Day" against Leicester.

There's a fair bit more to come, including the 2003 and 2005 Finals, I'll advise when it's all done.

To find what's there at the moment just follow the links on this site or search for "geoff's gooners" on Flickr.

Juventus Away - Brief Team News

According to the Beeb and the Arsenal site, FF15 and EE27 are both travelling for Wednesday's game.

Whether this means either will be fit to play is of course not at all clear, but it's better news than it might have been and, indeed, it's the only news there is so far.

Another Monday

Another Monday comes around and I'm feeling strangely drained. Still, at least the sun's out and it looks like Spring is finally here.

Something's gone very wrong with my internet connection atm so I'll keep this brief.

Not much in the way of team news for Wednesday yet, more, no doubt, tomorrow.

Oh, And The Rest Of The Weekend

I still haven't got over Friday night, but I did manage to notice that we won on Saturday. 5-0 against the Villa. Fine result, particularly as the WHL lot conspired to lose to the somewhat erratic Toon. A couple of injuries for us though, which isn't good news at all.

The Boss and I went for a very splendid Sunday lunch today with The Silkster and The Silkstress - Waggon and Horses in Doulting Beacon, thoroughly recommended I have to say.

Work tomorrow, have a good week :)

Awesome, Said The Boss. She Was Right, As Usual

The Boss and I went up to Manchester on Friday night to see BB King on his final tour.

An hour and a half watching and listening to an 80 year-old man and I feel as if I've been touched by God. I truly feel honoured (and humbled) to have been there.

Wow.