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!