Getting closer and closer to the off. A quick look at Sara's blog will tell you exactly how long 'til der Weltmeisterschaft.
Can't wait...................
You never know!
Thursday, June 01, 2006
tick, tick, tick, tick
National Geographic Magazine - World Cup
Getting closer and closer to the off. A quick look at Sara's blog will tell you exactly how long 'til der Weltmeisterschaft.
Can't wait...................
You never know!
Getting closer and closer to the off. A quick look at Sara's blog will tell you exactly how long 'til der Weltmeisterschaft.
Can't wait...................
You never know!
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
How to enjoy two thirds of a rugby match
Counties make up for clubs' disappointing seasons
Lancashire 32, Devon 26
Good display by the Waterloo boys by the sound of it.
Being a Skyless pauper my mum taped this game for me and I was planning on enjoying it tonight I checked the tape last night and somehow the Sky box must have froze 'cause the channel information panel is stuck on the screen throughout the game meaning only the top two thirds of the screen is visible. Bugger.
I wonder if Devon & Lancs confined all their attacking play to their blind & opensides respectively?
Lancashire 32, Devon 26
Good display by the Waterloo boys by the sound of it.
Being a Skyless pauper my mum taped this game for me and I was planning on enjoying it tonight I checked the tape last night and somehow the Sky box must have froze 'cause the channel information panel is stuck on the screen throughout the game meaning only the top two thirds of the screen is visible. Bugger.
I wonder if Devon & Lancs confined all their attacking play to their blind & opensides respectively?
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Everton complete Johnson capture
Everton complete Johnson capture:
"I believe Everton will afford me the best opportunity to fulfil my twin ambitions"
Yeah baby, Yeah!
My only reservation is that Evertonians might be induced into singing that pigbag song when he scores...that'd annoy me, but not that much.
"I believe Everton will afford me the best opportunity to fulfil my twin ambitions"
Yeah baby, Yeah!
My only reservation is that Evertonians might be induced into singing that pigbag song when he scores...that'd annoy me, but not that much.
Give Guy Goma A Job At The BBC Petition
Give Guy Goma A Job At The BBC Petition
Seems the BBC didn't give "The Wrong Guy" the job. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Seems the BBC didn't give "The Wrong Guy" the job. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Super Andy Johnson?
ANDY JOHNSON: I WANT TO JOIN BLUES
"I find the prospect of playing for one of the biggest names in British football impossible to resist and I am now just hopeful that I can swiftly complete my medical so that I can sign on the dotted line and commit myself to the club."
How to win friends and influence people!
Not sure 8.5 million represents good value but apparently it's all tied up with clauses & the like. A pacey striker to play off Beats is just what we need. It's a lot of money but it could be awesome. We still need a centre half though.
Everton to hijack Wigan Huth move
Had a nice bank holiday...Enjoyed a couple of afternoon pints of Cains as I watched the rugby final on Saturday (after a nice stroll to the pub)....Monday went out for someone's birthday and got drank perhaps a few too many (as my hopelessly over enthusiastic dancing showed). You see...Everton sign a striker and all restraint and decorum go out the window.
"I find the prospect of playing for one of the biggest names in British football impossible to resist and I am now just hopeful that I can swiftly complete my medical so that I can sign on the dotted line and commit myself to the club."
How to win friends and influence people!
Not sure 8.5 million represents good value but apparently it's all tied up with clauses & the like. A pacey striker to play off Beats is just what we need. It's a lot of money but it could be awesome. We still need a centre half though.
Everton to hijack Wigan Huth move
Had a nice bank holiday...Enjoyed a couple of afternoon pints of Cains as I watched the rugby final on Saturday (after a nice stroll to the pub)....Monday went out for someone's birthday and got drank perhaps a few too many (as my hopelessly over enthusiastic dancing showed). You see...Everton sign a striker and all restraint and decorum go out the window.
Monday, May 29, 2006
England seal test win
Thankfully TMS tempting fate didn't totally jinx England.
England seal second Test triumph
That Pietersen reverse sweep shot was astounding...as is Malinga's bowling action.
England seal second Test triumph
That Pietersen reverse sweep shot was astounding...as is Malinga's bowling action.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Well..............
After years of bemoaning the injustice that is the playoff Leicester Tigers cant realy complaine. The best team, over the season, won. It's just a pity that the same can't be said about the other years when the Tigers have been head and shoulders above the other teams only to get pipped to the post in the post season.
Next year beckons.
After years of bemoaning the injustice that is the playoff Leicester Tigers cant realy complaine. The best team, over the season, won. It's just a pity that the same can't be said about the other years when the Tigers have been head and shoulders above the other teams only to get pipped to the post in the post season.
Next year beckons.
Friday, May 26, 2006
TMS tempt fates
The tempted fates strike again
1545: One of the most amazing shots you will ever see from Pietersen, who reverse sweeps Muralitharan for six over point. He follows up by berating someone for moving behind the sightscreen.
'England are in such control that you almost feel it's fading out as a contest. I can't imagine Murali has been treated like this by many batsmen.'
TMS analyst Gus Fraser "
1546: WICKET ENGLAND 290-6 Pietersen 142
Groans from the crowd and Pietersen walks off shaking his head after Hair decides he is out lbw this time to a Muralitharan doosra. A good decision from the umpire robs the crowd of more entertainment.
1551: WICKET ENGLAND 290-7 Flintoff 6 Malinga beats Flintoff for pace and rips out his off-stump with a good delivery. The skipper had been unusually subdued and registers a rare failure. England have lost their two kingpins in successive overs but are still in control with a lead of 149.
1545: One of the most amazing shots you will ever see from Pietersen, who reverse sweeps Muralitharan for six over point. He follows up by berating someone for moving behind the sightscreen.
'England are in such control that you almost feel it's fading out as a contest. I can't imagine Murali has been treated like this by many batsmen.'
TMS analyst Gus Fraser "
1546: WICKET ENGLAND 290-6 Pietersen 142
Groans from the crowd and Pietersen walks off shaking his head after Hair decides he is out lbw this time to a Muralitharan doosra. A good decision from the umpire robs the crowd of more entertainment.
1551: WICKET ENGLAND 290-7 Flintoff 6 Malinga beats Flintoff for pace and rips out his off-stump with a good delivery. The skipper had been unusually subdued and registers a rare failure. England have lost their two kingpins in successive overs but are still in control with a lead of 149.
England B 1-2 Belarus
England B 1-2 Belarus
The world cup build up began in earnest yesterday and it got off to a bit of a dodgy start with the second string losing to 10-man Belarus. A few positives though...Owen looked sharp, Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell both came through the game and Crouch seems to lurch between pragmatically effective and anonymous. Aaron Lennon was the star of the show and showed he is up to the job if required. Theo Walcott came on and showed pace and ambition.
I suppose it was a second string midfield so it was always going to be sloppy. Robert Green was the big loser, crumpling to the floor whilst taking a goal kick and lying prostrate in agony as the Belarus striker hit the ball straight into the unguarded net. His World Cup is over.
According to the BBC "Wayne Rooney will definitely miss England's World Cup group stage games.
The striker, who has had a scan on his broken metatarsal, has been told he will not discover when he can resume training for another three weeks."
The world cup build up began in earnest yesterday and it got off to a bit of a dodgy start with the second string losing to 10-man Belarus. A few positives though...Owen looked sharp, Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell both came through the game and Crouch seems to lurch between pragmatically effective and anonymous. Aaron Lennon was the star of the show and showed he is up to the job if required. Theo Walcott came on and showed pace and ambition.
I suppose it was a second string midfield so it was always going to be sloppy. Robert Green was the big loser, crumpling to the floor whilst taking a goal kick and lying prostrate in agony as the Belarus striker hit the ball straight into the unguarded net. His World Cup is over.
According to the BBC "Wayne Rooney will definitely miss England's World Cup group stage games.
The striker, who has had a scan on his broken metatarsal, has been told he will not discover when he can resume training for another three weeks."
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Rugby Franchisisation
Rugby union: Twickenham to offer end to relegation
I suppose that's effectively what it is at the moment. Aside from the formality of one team coming up as cannon fodder whilst one Premiership has a twelve month hiatus.
Look at the nationals...the RFU/FDR hasn't even got a sponsor for the country's second tier. No natioanl cup competition any more, just some be-group staged anglo-welsh monstrosity.
The RFU's plan, and it seems they will get it one way or the other, is for a closed shop of professional franchises with academys & development structures with a cheerful little amateur game sitting happily below that.
As it stands there is just no way you'll ever see Waterloo or Orrell or Richmond or London Scottish back...I know thems the breaks but there's always the dream for these clubs. Closing the shop seems damned un-British. It just feels incestuous and stagnant.....
...I can't work out if this is a heart or head thing. Perhaps I'm just an old fuddy duddy.
I suppose this is a sport that's only been competing in leagues for les than 20 years and has only been professional for about 10 or so. Growing pains? It seems a bit cyncical (or perhaps just pragmatic).
Surely they'll need a franchise from Devon & Cornwall and surely one from Yorkshire would be logical but the Leeds Tykes experiment seems to have failed. Could the RFU prop them up?
I suppose that's effectively what it is at the moment. Aside from the formality of one team coming up as cannon fodder whilst one Premiership has a twelve month hiatus.
Look at the nationals...the RFU/FDR hasn't even got a sponsor for the country's second tier. No natioanl cup competition any more, just some be-group staged anglo-welsh monstrosity.
The RFU's plan, and it seems they will get it one way or the other, is for a closed shop of professional franchises with academys & development structures with a cheerful little amateur game sitting happily below that.
As it stands there is just no way you'll ever see Waterloo or Orrell or Richmond or London Scottish back...I know thems the breaks but there's always the dream for these clubs. Closing the shop seems damned un-British. It just feels incestuous and stagnant.....
...I can't work out if this is a heart or head thing. Perhaps I'm just an old fuddy duddy.
I suppose this is a sport that's only been competing in leagues for les than 20 years and has only been professional for about 10 or so. Growing pains? It seems a bit cyncical (or perhaps just pragmatic).
Surely they'll need a franchise from Devon & Cornwall and surely one from Yorkshire would be logical but the Leeds Tykes experiment seems to have failed. Could the RFU prop them up?
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Good Lord!!!!!!!!!!!
MC DICKO in da surban semi-detached house
I really shouldn't laugh at this but it's just too funny. Good old Chester!
And on a similar note :
'Celebrity' in odd name for baby shocker
What exactly is that fatuous bimbo no-mark famous for nowadays?
I really shouldn't laugh at this but it's just too funny. Good old Chester!
And on a similar note :
'Celebrity' in odd name for baby shocker
What exactly is that fatuous bimbo no-mark famous for nowadays?
Monday, May 22, 2006
Trafficmaster!
Indian Traffic camera video
Flashback!
Apart from the curious lack of cows this is exactly what it's like all the time getting round in Indian cities.
Started a conflagration over on Sara's blog by sending her a BBC article patronising American soccer fans. Hell hath no fury....
It put me in mind of an article some American journo wrote ages ago when the exact opposite occurred. English fans, and for some reason Everton fans in particular, were used as a comparison to some basketball fans bad behaviour
Blackistone: Fans exceeding limits with distasteful behavior 02/11/01
"And above all, no matter how much you mortgaged to get in to the big game, you don't have the right to pelt the opposition, its fans or the referees with bottles, lighters, coins, batteries, bags of excrement, your great granddad's false uppers, your ex's door keys or the marbles you've apparently lost.
Where do you think you are? At Stanley Park in Liverpool with the Everton soccer team in the house!"
How very odd...not least of all the Stanley Park thing.
Flashback!
Apart from the curious lack of cows this is exactly what it's like all the time getting round in Indian cities.
Started a conflagration over on Sara's blog by sending her a BBC article patronising American soccer fans. Hell hath no fury....
It put me in mind of an article some American journo wrote ages ago when the exact opposite occurred. English fans, and for some reason Everton fans in particular, were used as a comparison to some basketball fans bad behaviour
Blackistone: Fans exceeding limits with distasteful behavior 02/11/01
"And above all, no matter how much you mortgaged to get in to the big game, you don't have the right to pelt the opposition, its fans or the referees with bottles, lighters, coins, batteries, bags of excrement, your great granddad's false uppers, your ex's door keys or the marbles you've apparently lost.
Where do you think you are? At Stanley Park in Liverpool with the Everton soccer team in the house!"
How very odd...not least of all the Stanley Park thing.
Wet weekends
It seems that I overslept on Saturday morning and woke up in November...my garden is flooded again, my grass is growing out of control and the rain has forced the local ant nest to move into our house...little buggers.
Congrats to Munster for finally winning the Heineken cup and particular credit goes to Peter Stringer (above) who has put the handicap of not actually having a body behind him to play top level rugby. They did well to come back after a dodgy try was given early on (The Biarritz player clearly put a foot in touch). Biarritz are a great side so after coming so close twice it's a great achievment. Stringer's try was a great piece of oportunism.
On Sunday we braved the weather and the dreaded rail replacement bus to meet friends in town...The playoff game is generally worth watching and where better then in a pub with lots of Guinness?
Bit of a dull old game but it was nice to see the team that finished 3rd go up. The oddly named American Jay DeMerit was still sleeping off his hangover when the BBC were meant to be interviewing him on the breakfast show the next morning. I don't think anyone begrudged him it but it's a bit of a weak showing. Look at Flintoff's example after the Ashes, if a job's worth doing...
After the game we were all set to leave and were just going out the door when suddenly the rain started fizzing down....if ever God was telling us to stay put and drink more then this was it. Due to a mix up I got a rather nasty Southern Comfort and tonic...I really wouldn't recomend it. That was it for the weekend really...very dull without a footy or rugby game to go to and with it raining for 48 hours solid.
James Beattie Web | Your #1 source for James Beattie
Stumbled across this while undoing yet more kopite mishief on Wikipedia...I wonder if Beats checks out sites like this? Ir must be odd having people devote webpages to you....if anyone want to dedicate one to me though feel free.
Here is a list of National Division 1 fixtures for next season :
Fixtures and Results 2004-2005
Congrats to Munster for finally winning the Heineken cup and particular credit goes to Peter Stringer (above) who has put the handicap of not actually having a body behind him to play top level rugby. They did well to come back after a dodgy try was given early on (The Biarritz player clearly put a foot in touch). Biarritz are a great side so after coming so close twice it's a great achievment. Stringer's try was a great piece of oportunism.
On Sunday we braved the weather and the dreaded rail replacement bus to meet friends in town...The playoff game is generally worth watching and where better then in a pub with lots of Guinness?
Bit of a dull old game but it was nice to see the team that finished 3rd go up. The oddly named American Jay DeMerit was still sleeping off his hangover when the BBC were meant to be interviewing him on the breakfast show the next morning. I don't think anyone begrudged him it but it's a bit of a weak showing. Look at Flintoff's example after the Ashes, if a job's worth doing...
After the game we were all set to leave and were just going out the door when suddenly the rain started fizzing down....if ever God was telling us to stay put and drink more then this was it. Due to a mix up I got a rather nasty Southern Comfort and tonic...I really wouldn't recomend it. That was it for the weekend really...very dull without a footy or rugby game to go to and with it raining for 48 hours solid.
James Beattie Web | Your #1 source for James Beattie
Stumbled across this while undoing yet more kopite mishief on Wikipedia...I wonder if Beats checks out sites like this? Ir must be odd having people devote webpages to you....if anyone want to dedicate one to me though feel free.
Here is a list of National Division 1 fixtures for next season :
Fixtures and Results 2004-2005
Friday, May 19, 2006
Big Brother
Big Brother opens its doors and then closes them again.
I detest that show. The desire to go on Big Brother should proclude you from ever making it into the house. I'd love to have those morons gurn and strut their way into the house and prance around then they close the doors just turn the cameras off. Just leave them in there for 3 months with no-one watching their pathetic posturing and 'outrageous' behaviour.
Why do they always go for retarded idiots, slags who fancy themselves, outrageously gay people and bolshy misfit weirdos?
Car crash telly for people who are wasting their lives. Why can't they at least try to make it interesting like Survivor was....ship them off to any island and make them work to survive....Actually make them do something rather than just letting them sit or lie there drinking & smoking and arguing whilst a the nation's underclass waits with baited breath to see if any of them will actually have dignity levels low enough to sleep together. At least have the house gradually filling full of water...or rats...something. Or they should chloroform them & whisk them off to Africa and have them build an orphanage or hospital...I'd watch that. The money from all the texts could go on food & medicine.
Also saw this :
Officers discover sex-slave cult
You can imagine this dozy Canadian girl coming over and finding a grotty pebble-dashed council terrace on Teeside waiting for her instead of the opulent country mansion she'd been envisioning.
"Your slave is here master"
"Aye love, just pop down the shops for some tabs will yer pet"
I detest that show. The desire to go on Big Brother should proclude you from ever making it into the house. I'd love to have those morons gurn and strut their way into the house and prance around then they close the doors just turn the cameras off. Just leave them in there for 3 months with no-one watching their pathetic posturing and 'outrageous' behaviour.
Why do they always go for retarded idiots, slags who fancy themselves, outrageously gay people and bolshy misfit weirdos?
Car crash telly for people who are wasting their lives. Why can't they at least try to make it interesting like Survivor was....ship them off to any island and make them work to survive....Actually make them do something rather than just letting them sit or lie there drinking & smoking and arguing whilst a the nation's underclass waits with baited breath to see if any of them will actually have dignity levels low enough to sleep together. At least have the house gradually filling full of water...or rats...something. Or they should chloroform them & whisk them off to Africa and have them build an orphanage or hospital...I'd watch that. The money from all the texts could go on food & medicine.
Also saw this :
Officers discover sex-slave cult
You can imagine this dozy Canadian girl coming over and finding a grotty pebble-dashed council terrace on Teeside waiting for her instead of the opulent country mansion she'd been envisioning.
"Your slave is here master"
"Aye love, just pop down the shops for some tabs will yer pet"
Thursday, May 18, 2006
British beers
I can't really think of an excuse for a post devoted solely to some of my favourite British breweries...Our Cains beers have already been mentioned on here(Bank Holiday) but here are some links to some others :
Adnams
Shepherd Neame
Fullers
Wychwood Brewery
Young's
Being stuck in work in the summer is a real pain...it's the season for sunglasses, cricket, beer gardens, and beer.
Adnams
Shepherd Neame
Fullers
Wychwood Brewery
Young's
Being stuck in work in the summer is a real pain...it's the season for sunglasses, cricket, beer gardens, and beer.
Barcelona 2-1 Arsenal
Barcelona 2-1 Arsenal
I think all the complaining about the ref is a touch graceless. In the end the extra man told. Henry was out of his feet and so couldn't finish the game off when he had the chance...the resulting equaliser had a touch of inevitabilty about it and once that had gone in there was only going to be one winner.
Arsenal should look to their own performance...There is a lot to be proud of. Great start (could have taken the lead in the first 5 minutes), great resiliance after going down to 10 men (utterly unavoidable, the ref's only other option was to let the goal stand AND send Lehman off), great goal by Sol (from a dodgy freekick)...ultimately they ran out of steam.
You can't begrudge Barcelona anything...they are the best team in Europe and as a club they are the best in the world...I think every footy fan has a secret admiration for Barca.
I think all the complaining about the ref is a touch graceless. In the end the extra man told. Henry was out of his feet and so couldn't finish the game off when he had the chance...the resulting equaliser had a touch of inevitabilty about it and once that had gone in there was only going to be one winner.
Arsenal should look to their own performance...There is a lot to be proud of. Great start (could have taken the lead in the first 5 minutes), great resiliance after going down to 10 men (utterly unavoidable, the ref's only other option was to let the goal stand AND send Lehman off), great goal by Sol (from a dodgy freekick)...ultimately they ran out of steam.
You can't begrudge Barcelona anything...they are the best team in Europe and as a club they are the best in the world...I think every footy fan has a secret admiration for Barca.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Chimbonda 'panic' led to request
Chimbonda 'panic' led to request:
"Chimbonda handed his transfer request to Jewell as soon as he walked into the Wigan changing room after their 4-2 defeat by Arsenal, according to Wigan's head of communications, Matt McCann.
'He unzipped his bag, took the note out and handed it to the manager - he hadn't even taken his boots off,' McCann said.
'The other players couldn't fail to notice what was going on and some of the senior pros were very angry. In fact they still are.' "
Good for Wigan for standing up to player and, more importantly, agent greed.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/4759103.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/4984346.stm
"Chimbonda handed his transfer request to Jewell as soon as he walked into the Wigan changing room after their 4-2 defeat by Arsenal, according to Wigan's head of communications, Matt McCann.
'He unzipped his bag, took the note out and handed it to the manager - he hadn't even taken his boots off,' McCann said.
'The other players couldn't fail to notice what was going on and some of the senior pros were very angry. In fact they still are.' "
Good for Wigan for standing up to player and, more importantly, agent greed.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/4759103.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/4984346.stm
Hotel cleared over Spurs illness
Hotel cleared over Spurs illness
It seems it was just a virus laying the Spurs players low before the crucial game...The Marriot should sue after all the innuendo and bad publicity caused by this.
It seems it was just a virus laying the Spurs players low before the crucial game...The Marriot should sue after all the innuendo and bad publicity caused by this.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Champions League Final linesman denies Barca bias
Final linesman denies Barca bias
Probably just a bunch of Barca fans messing about by giving him the shirt to wear and posing for a picture.
I daresay this will play into Arsenal's hands...a few close offsides going against the gunners and he'll start feeling the spotlight on him.
Looking forward to the game tomorrow.
Update : UEFA have now replaced the linesman. Probably not a bad idea but it seems his home town newspaper did a feature on him and got him to wear it for a photo shoot.
Probably just a bunch of Barca fans messing about by giving him the shirt to wear and posing for a picture.
I daresay this will play into Arsenal's hands...a few close offsides going against the gunners and he'll start feeling the spotlight on him.
Looking forward to the game tomorrow.
Update : UEFA have now replaced the linesman. Probably not a bad idea but it seems his home town newspaper did a feature on him and got him to wear it for a photo shoot.
BBC News 24's 'wrong Guy' is revealed
News 24's 'wrong Guy' is revealed
This is fantastic...Watch the interview, look at the poor bloke doing his best to not let the interviewer down. Hope he get's his job.
Dogs have owners, cats have staff members...I was dismayed to find some feline mischief had occured in our garden yesterday...I was taking a tour of the grounds and had just passed the orchard into the hardwood forest we are growing*. Around the bottom of one of the oaks I found the mess of feathers which can only mean that some bugger's cat has been taking some of the game birds. Either that or foxes or sparrowhawks....or we have poachers!
I hate cats and now I have to go rummaging round picking up feathers and looking for woodpigeon corpses in the undergrowth. Grim.
*Whilst technically true that bit is just a bit of an exaguration.
This is fantastic...Watch the interview, look at the poor bloke doing his best to not let the interviewer down. Hope he get's his job.
Dogs have owners, cats have staff members...I was dismayed to find some feline mischief had occured in our garden yesterday...I was taking a tour of the grounds and had just passed the orchard into the hardwood forest we are growing*. Around the bottom of one of the oaks I found the mess of feathers which can only mean that some bugger's cat has been taking some of the game birds. Either that or foxes or sparrowhawks....or we have poachers!
I hate cats and now I have to go rummaging round picking up feathers and looking for woodpigeon corpses in the undergrowth. Grim.
*Whilst technically true that bit is just a bit of an exaguration.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
FA Cup
Enough said. Still, my cover bet earns me some cash so who's moaning?
liverpool fc : One Evertonian (maybe two) away from mediocrity.
Tremendous work by Gretna taking Hearts to pens...shows what a team from the English leagues can do up there.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Celtic FC - News
Celtic FC - News
Very surprised Lennon played in that game...after Shearer had deliberately kicked him in the face and then squirmed his way out of the punishment.
In other Celt related news they are due to play the blues on July 23rd at Parkhead...that'd be nice. We are playing Preston at Deepdale too.
Everton pre-season details
Very surprised Lennon played in that game...after Shearer had deliberately kicked him in the face and then squirmed his way out of the punishment.
In other Celt related news they are due to play the blues on July 23rd at Parkhead...that'd be nice. We are playing Preston at Deepdale too.
Everton pre-season details
Tickets again
Guardian Unlimited Football: "The stadium's chief executive Paul Sergeant welcomed that move but said the club only had themselves to blame. 'This is the most sensible conclusion to this unfortunate set of circumstances,' said Sergeant. 'There is no one more pleased than us that those fans who were due to miss out will now be coming to the Millennium Stadium after all. However, if Liverpool had followed stadium advice and dispatched tickets in a secure way, this situation would not have arisen."
The lfc forums are full of people proposing protests and booing down the national anthem or 'Abide with me'. Smalltime.
At the end of the day who's to blame...The wretches who robbed the tickets. The Millennium Stadium shouldn't be attacked for erring on the side of caution when it comes to fan safety. Notice Mr Parry seems very quick to say what's unacceptable, you'd almost wonder if he was trying to deflect criticism.
Anyway there'll be a 1,000 less rednoses in the stadium but by cancelling a ticket ballot all those who had their tickets stolen will get into the game. I suppose that's the fairest, feasible result.
The lfc forums are full of people proposing protests and booing down the national anthem or 'Abide with me'. Smalltime.
At the end of the day who's to blame...The wretches who robbed the tickets. The Millennium Stadium shouldn't be attacked for erring on the side of caution when it comes to fan safety. Notice Mr Parry seems very quick to say what's unacceptable, you'd almost wonder if he was trying to deflect criticism.
Anyway there'll be a 1,000 less rednoses in the stadium but by cancelling a ticket ballot all those who had their tickets stolen will get into the game. I suppose that's the fairest, feasible result.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Ah, summer is here
"There is something Boycottian about the way Cook bats." "That's not a bad thing..."
Blowers and Boycott in the TMS commentary box
"If I was in against these seamers, you wouldn't get a bat down at number six, Gatting" "Yes, but there would ne no-one in the ground Geoffrey."
Boycott and Gatting go at it in the TMS commentary box
"There are people here with their shirts off - on 11 May! My word - are you allowed to do that at Lord's?"
TMS commentator Jonathan Agnew
"That's not England captain's attire! What is that? An athlete's singlet? A vest? On the Lord's balcony..."
TMS commentator Christopher Martin-Jenkins
A Bridge too far
Middlesbrough 0-4 Sevilla
England 0 - 4 Spain for at the end of the 1st leg...the 2nd leg is in Paris next Wednesday.
I don't think there's anyone who could complain about that result...When you look back Sevilla were just too good for them. In the previous rounds 'boro had found themselves 4 goals adrift and after they'd scored one the opposition retreated deeper and deeper...inviting the comback. Sevilla were a better team than both Steau and Basle but even then, at 1-0, they were pit firmly on the defensive for 20 minute in the 2nd half. During this period Viduka had one fabulous chance that he met really well on the half-volley but went straight at the keeper, another shot that he should have got on target and a very good shout for a penalty...this was as good as it got...Sevilla, who always looked more like scoring, broke away and got the second goal and from there on in it was one way traffic.
You can feel sorry for the 'boro fans but you'd be a hard-hearted person if you didn't smile at the joy from the Spanish fans...this was their first trophy for 50 odd years and their first ever European one. The Sevilla fans were either dancing for joy or overcome with emotion (one particular guy the camera kept focusing on was in bits).
So that's it...can't see Arsenal managing to establish an aggregate lead in next week's 'second leg'.
The first cricket test starts today...the earliest ever start to the international season. Glorious weather at the moment. Full summer of cricket, Champions League final, play-offs and a world cup to come....who could ask for more?
As well as this their is the obligatory scanning of all news sources for info on close season goings on at Everton and Waterloo!
These are helping :
Everton
Waterloo
England 0 - 4 Spain for at the end of the 1st leg...the 2nd leg is in Paris next Wednesday.
I don't think there's anyone who could complain about that result...When you look back Sevilla were just too good for them. In the previous rounds 'boro had found themselves 4 goals adrift and after they'd scored one the opposition retreated deeper and deeper...inviting the comback. Sevilla were a better team than both Steau and Basle but even then, at 1-0, they were pit firmly on the defensive for 20 minute in the 2nd half. During this period Viduka had one fabulous chance that he met really well on the half-volley but went straight at the keeper, another shot that he should have got on target and a very good shout for a penalty...this was as good as it got...Sevilla, who always looked more like scoring, broke away and got the second goal and from there on in it was one way traffic.
You can feel sorry for the 'boro fans but you'd be a hard-hearted person if you didn't smile at the joy from the Spanish fans...this was their first trophy for 50 odd years and their first ever European one. The Sevilla fans were either dancing for joy or overcome with emotion (one particular guy the camera kept focusing on was in bits).
So that's it...can't see Arsenal managing to establish an aggregate lead in next week's 'second leg'.
The first cricket test starts today...the earliest ever start to the international season. Glorious weather at the moment. Full summer of cricket, Champions League final, play-offs and a world cup to come....who could ask for more?
As well as this their is the obligatory scanning of all news sources for info on close season goings on at Everton and Waterloo!
These are helping :
Everton
Waterloo
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
If at first you don't suceed...
Cry, cry again.
It is unfortunate but I don't see how Spurs can moan.
"Our next issue was team selection. Martin Jol and his staff, having originally selected their squad of 17 players for the match, were then left in the invidious position of choosing between starting the match with their original 17 players, 10 of whom were feeling very unwell, or drafting in Reserve Team players, the majority of whom have not played for the First Team this season or are untried and untested at First Team level. In any case, having ended their season, our Reserve Team players were scattered across various parts of London and the South East, would not have been prepared to play in a Premier League (or any other) match at such short notice and would rarely, if ever, have played together. "
In other words "We didn't have our best team so we shouldn't have had to play". Still I suppose it's a bit of a tradition for the team finishing 5th to complain and try and get the rules changed.
Bit of a grim situation up her at present :
FA Cup final ticket theft
It seems harsh that the Millennium Stadium won't re-issue the tickets but I can sort of see their point about safety issues. If there was barcodes or some other way to instantly identify the stolen tickets at the turnstile you could sort something out but once there 1,600 people in the groud that need ejecting it becomes a nightmare...the question no-one seems to be asking, least of all Rick Parry, is "Did liverpool Football Club really just drop £100,000 worth of tickets in the outgoing mail?". That seems a touch irresponsible...why not get Securicor to take them to the sorting office.
It is unfortunate but I don't see how Spurs can moan.
"Our next issue was team selection. Martin Jol and his staff, having originally selected their squad of 17 players for the match, were then left in the invidious position of choosing between starting the match with their original 17 players, 10 of whom were feeling very unwell, or drafting in Reserve Team players, the majority of whom have not played for the First Team this season or are untried and untested at First Team level. In any case, having ended their season, our Reserve Team players were scattered across various parts of London and the South East, would not have been prepared to play in a Premier League (or any other) match at such short notice and would rarely, if ever, have played together. "
In other words "We didn't have our best team so we shouldn't have had to play". Still I suppose it's a bit of a tradition for the team finishing 5th to complain and try and get the rules changed.
Bit of a grim situation up her at present :
FA Cup final ticket theft
It seems harsh that the Millennium Stadium won't re-issue the tickets but I can sort of see their point about safety issues. If there was barcodes or some other way to instantly identify the stolen tickets at the turnstile you could sort something out but once there 1,600 people in the groud that need ejecting it becomes a nightmare...the question no-one seems to be asking, least of all Rick Parry, is "Did liverpool Football Club really just drop £100,000 worth of tickets in the outgoing mail?". That seems a touch irresponsible...why not get Securicor to take them to the sorting office.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Walcott & Lennon in England squad
Walcott & Lennon in England squad
With the injured Rooney and Owen taking up two places Sven has went with out-of-form Peter Crouch and 17 year old Theo Walcott who's never played a game in the top level of domestic football never mind international level.
I assume he's hoping for a bit of an Owen98 or Rooney04 effect but it seems kind of ricky to pin all your hopes on that happening, especially when the kid in question is completely un-tested. I'd have gone with Defoe but I'm not the manager.
With the injured Rooney and Owen taking up two places Sven has went with out-of-form Peter Crouch and 17 year old Theo Walcott who's never played a game in the top level of domestic football never mind international level.
I assume he's hoping for a bit of an Owen98 or Rooney04 effect but it seems kind of ricky to pin all your hopes on that happening, especially when the kid in question is completely un-tested. I'd have gone with Defoe but I'm not the manager.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Everton - Statistics
Everton - Statistics
remember how utterly abject we were up until mid October.
goal distribution...look at how many we conceded eary in the 2nd half. I remember at the Charlton game Moyes had the players out for most of the half time break doing light passing and stretching...that was pretty much a turning point.
Beattie 11
Cahill 7
McFadden 7
Osman 5
Arteta 3
Yobo 2
Anichebe 1
Bent 1
Cahill 1
Davies 1
Ferguson 1
Weir 1
(own goals) 1
The goals table looks a bit paltry...I wish Beattie had grabbed a few more in the last month of the season.
Soccerbot annotated table
And that's that for another year.
The game on Sunday was a chance to pay tribute to Brian Labone...we applauded 'til our arms ached. Some fans wanted to ignore the moments silence and applaud through it...I can understand the sentiments...it might have been slightly awkward but it was warm & genuine. That's what mattered.
BBC - Everton 2-2 West Brom
The game on Sunday was pretty meaningless but a win could have took us into the top half which would have been nice. Everton were very disjointed against a busy West Brom...it wasn't really against the run of play when they took the lead through Gera.
We were very disjointed and they hit us with a sucker punch at the start of the 2nd half. Fans were getting edgy (Simon Davies seems to be the target for the Boo-boys now despite him playing fairly well) but their keeper was playing an absolute blinder and made 5 or 6 good saves...it just didn't feel like our day.
In the end they couldn't hold out for ever...Young Victor Anichebe managed to squirm on through Tomasz Kuszczak's legs and then in the last minute Arterta earned us a penalty..looked a soft one but I'd have to see it again properly to know for sure if it was a dive. Despite the club paying a tribute to one of it's legends and farewell to one of our current heroes, plus superb saves and contrversial offsides a-plenty we only got ITV-esque coverage on MotD. If a job's worth doing....
Anyway the ball was given to Big Dunc who didn't look like he wanted to take it but it HAD to be him who took it, he was skipper for the day and it looks like this will be his last game...even then Kuszczak saved it but Dunc was left with a simple tap in...2-2. Fans ran onto the pitch, it was a very happy place. Dunc's status as a talisman has always defied logic but he is The Big Man...there is no arguing.
A lap of appreciation by the players was emotional, it was great to applaud the players, people may boo and moan but they are still our heroes. Duncan trailed behind the main group applauded the fans who stuck by him no matter what...you can say what you like about him but a bond like that between players and fans is something truly special and at the end the players made a guard of honour for him to leave the field to as the fans sang his name.
Elsewhere there was an interesting end to the season Arsenal were having a party to bid adieu to Highbury (one of English football's venerable old stadia) before they move into their sumptuous new Ashburton Grove.
They were hoping Spurs would falter at West Ham in order to capture the last Champions League place. Beforehand it was announced that the West Ham v Tottenham was in doubt 'cause most of the Spurs team were suffering from food poisoning after going to a hotel the night before the game.
Probe into Spurs illness outbreak
Now it sounds a dodgy coincidence that it happens the night before such a crucial game but regardless the show must go on (remember 'boro getting fined and docked points for calling off one of their games when most of their best players had flu).
remember how utterly abject we were up until mid October.
goal distribution...look at how many we conceded eary in the 2nd half. I remember at the Charlton game Moyes had the players out for most of the half time break doing light passing and stretching...that was pretty much a turning point.
Beattie 11
Cahill 7
McFadden 7
Osman 5
Arteta 3
Yobo 2
Anichebe 1
Bent 1
Cahill 1
Davies 1
Ferguson 1
Weir 1
(own goals) 1
The goals table looks a bit paltry...I wish Beattie had grabbed a few more in the last month of the season.
Soccerbot annotated table
And that's that for another year.
The game on Sunday was a chance to pay tribute to Brian Labone...we applauded 'til our arms ached. Some fans wanted to ignore the moments silence and applaud through it...I can understand the sentiments...it might have been slightly awkward but it was warm & genuine. That's what mattered.
BBC - Everton 2-2 West Brom
The game on Sunday was pretty meaningless but a win could have took us into the top half which would have been nice. Everton were very disjointed against a busy West Brom...it wasn't really against the run of play when they took the lead through Gera.
We were very disjointed and they hit us with a sucker punch at the start of the 2nd half. Fans were getting edgy (Simon Davies seems to be the target for the Boo-boys now despite him playing fairly well) but their keeper was playing an absolute blinder and made 5 or 6 good saves...it just didn't feel like our day.
In the end they couldn't hold out for ever...Young Victor Anichebe managed to squirm on through Tomasz Kuszczak's legs and then in the last minute Arterta earned us a penalty..looked a soft one but I'd have to see it again properly to know for sure if it was a dive. Despite the club paying a tribute to one of it's legends and farewell to one of our current heroes, plus superb saves and contrversial offsides a-plenty we only got ITV-esque coverage on MotD. If a job's worth doing....
Anyway the ball was given to Big Dunc who didn't look like he wanted to take it but it HAD to be him who took it, he was skipper for the day and it looks like this will be his last game...even then Kuszczak saved it but Dunc was left with a simple tap in...2-2. Fans ran onto the pitch, it was a very happy place. Dunc's status as a talisman has always defied logic but he is The Big Man...there is no arguing.
A lap of appreciation by the players was emotional, it was great to applaud the players, people may boo and moan but they are still our heroes. Duncan trailed behind the main group applauded the fans who stuck by him no matter what...you can say what you like about him but a bond like that between players and fans is something truly special and at the end the players made a guard of honour for him to leave the field to as the fans sang his name.
Elsewhere there was an interesting end to the season Arsenal were having a party to bid adieu to Highbury (one of English football's venerable old stadia) before they move into their sumptuous new Ashburton Grove.
They were hoping Spurs would falter at West Ham in order to capture the last Champions League place. Beforehand it was announced that the West Ham v Tottenham was in doubt 'cause most of the Spurs team were suffering from food poisoning after going to a hotel the night before the game.
Probe into Spurs illness outbreak
Now it sounds a dodgy coincidence that it happens the night before such a crucial game but regardless the show must go on (remember 'boro getting fined and docked points for calling off one of their games when most of their best players had flu).
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Why has no-one ever heard of Magnum PI
Well fancy dress is a funny business...Anne's sister, who lives up on Teeside was having a fancy dress party for her 30th...Anne went as Lara Croft which was fine but barely anyone remembered Magnum PI and so my get-up (Hawaiian shirt, wig, fake moustache etc etc) was a bit of a disaster...managed to drink away the pain and get up the next day for our dash back across the country for the match.
Friday, May 05, 2006
List of monarchs in the British Isles
List of monarchs in the British Isles:
Willy Willy Harry Steve,
Henry Dick John Henry three;
Then three Edwards Richard two,
Henry Four, Five Six then who?
Edward four five, Dick the bad,
Two more Henries, Ned the lad;
Bloody Mary she came next,
Then we have our Good Queen Bess.
From Scotland we got James the Vain;
Charlie one, two, James again.
William and Mary, Anna Gloria,
Four Georges, William, and Victoria.
Edward, George, the same again,
Now Elizabeth - and the end.
Sure this'll come in useful at some stage.
Willy Willy Harry Steve,
Henry Dick John Henry three;
Then three Edwards Richard two,
Henry Four, Five Six then who?
Edward four five, Dick the bad,
Two more Henries, Ned the lad;
Bloody Mary she came next,
Then we have our Good Queen Bess.
From Scotland we got James the Vain;
Charlie one, two, James again.
William and Mary, Anna Gloria,
Four Georges, William, and Victoria.
Edward, George, the same again,
Now Elizabeth - and the end.
Sure this'll come in useful at some stage.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
YouTube - Boris Johnson vs Germany
YouTube - Boris Johnson vs Germany
I can only assume that Boris is a rugger-bugger and his instincts took over.
I can only assume that Boris is a rugger-bugger and his instincts took over.
Congrats to the Jambos
This morning's sites :
My Life of Travel - Travel Journals, Travel Blogs, Travel Reviews, Travel Photos
and
Random chance or no random chance simulator
Congrats to Hearts on their gaining a Champions League spot and to Gretna who go into the UEFA cup as a result.
My Life of Travel - Travel Journals, Travel Blogs, Travel Reviews, Travel Photos
and
Random chance or no random chance simulator
Congrats to Hearts on their gaining a Champions League spot and to Gretna who go into the UEFA cup as a result.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Rooney's foot...the real cost.
Manchester United Official Web Site - Club & News - News - What The Papers Say - 2:08:43 PM
"Wayne Rooney's uncle stands to rake in £50,000 with an amazing 250-1 World Cup bet - £250 placed with bookies when the soccer ace was only 12. A pal said: 'He always knew Wayne was amazing. The only thing that could get in the way is if Wayne is injured. We're all on tenterhooks.'"
Whoops!
Rooney needs a miracle - Eriksson
"Wayne Rooney has 'more than one fracture' and maybe needs a 'miracle' to be fit for the World Cup, according to England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson."
Membrane thin boots with ultra soft soles? Firm pitches? Who knows...really can't see him making it though.
"Wayne Rooney's uncle stands to rake in £50,000 with an amazing 250-1 World Cup bet - £250 placed with bookies when the soccer ace was only 12. A pal said: 'He always knew Wayne was amazing. The only thing that could get in the way is if Wayne is injured. We're all on tenterhooks.'"
Whoops!
Rooney needs a miracle - Eriksson
"Wayne Rooney has 'more than one fracture' and maybe needs a 'miracle' to be fit for the World Cup, according to England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson."
Membrane thin boots with ultra soft soles? Firm pitches? Who knows...really can't see him making it though.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Bank holidays come 6 times a year
and then it’s back to work a.g.a.i.n!
Today was set aside for wedding stuff….it was nice to do something pleasurable because recently the hall we’d booked for our reception has, out of the blue, told us there’s no way they’d be able to accommodate the 140 people we’d invited to their 160 capacity room. In fact they told us this again, and again, and again. I’m not for messing about but we’d booked the room a year ago, apparently they’d mentioned that there was not way the room would take 160 for a silver service meal (which we aren’t having) and apparently it was all over the booking form that the room only take 100 people (no idea but I’d be surprised if we’d completely ignored such explicit warnings) and apparently it was is also on the confirmation documentation they sent us (it definitely isn’t mentioned anywhere on this).
As you can imagine this is putting a big steaming turd in the middle of our wedding preps…
…so today we went to John Lewis’ to point a cool barcode laser device at everything we’ve ever wanted…Bleep : Denby Dinner service. Bleep : Posh duvet cover. Bleep : Stainless Steel carving dish. Found lots of reasonably priced gifts, hardly anything over twenty five pound….we feel cheeky telling people what to get us but it’s nice that people know that they are getting us something we do really want without breaking the bank.
It did take a lot of trudging around though. John Lewis’ in Liverpool is labyrinthine. (Kitchenware? 2 buildings over and down to the basement. Sports? Go up to the 4th floor walk along then down to the 3rd floor, along again and then back up to 4th again). As a reward we flopped into Doctor Duncan’s, a pub owned by Cain’s……what more could you want? Cain’s Lager, new Cain’s Liverpool Lager, Cain’s 2008 & Cain’s Treble Hop all got resounding thumbs up. Cain’s IPA, Cain’s Best Bitter & Cain’s FA are all ace but we didn’t have time. Cain’s Victorian Beer and Cain’s Sundowner all tantalise on the menu but aren’t available at present. Classic rock blared out as we did the Time crossword before a switch to incongruous dance music razed me to a brief Victor Meldrew-esque fury…limp 80s rock and another pint followed and by late afternoon we strolled towards Lime Street to see if a train was due to take us home…we made the train by 2 minutes so things could scarcely have gone better…apart from the train getting stuck behind some broken points : We sat there watching train after train zipping to and fro and squirmed as my bladder go fuller and fuller. Ultimately I got away without wetting myself so at the end of the day all’s well that ends well.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
P*ss ups in or not in breweries
Well thankfully we didn’t leave it to the FA to organise our p*ss up…it has to be said that if they were trying to put together a blueprint on how to make a laughing stock of the whole organisation then they couldn’t have done a better job. Protracted, public interviewing process, setting themselves pointless deadlines in order to appease the media, grand announcements of who they were hoping to get, upsetting clubs and other nations FAs and unsettling potential candidates at every turn. A pretty impressive list.
The football season is winding up and just like four years ago it’s seems the metatarsal is still in full swing. Rooney is the latest victim…an innocuous looking challenge in the game against Chelsea left him in agony and he’s apparently out for at least six weeks…not good. With Rooney we are a formidable team, without him we are decent at best…add to that the fact that Owen played his first game after his foot injury and apparently didn’t feel too good. All of sudden optimism is in short supply. Most gutted will be Wayne Rooney’s uncle who stood to win tens of thousands of pounds if Wayne played in the World Cup having made a bet years earlier.
With no English strikers looking like world beaters Beattie could be a shoo in for a place in the squad but in the last month or so performance levels at Everton have been worse than insipid. Saying that we managed to get an extremely creditable away win at ‘boro (although admittedly ‘boro were midway through a run of 3 games in 5 days). McFadden breaking clear to put a sublime lob dead-centre into the onrushing keeper’s goal on 89 minutes.
49 points puts us just in the bottom half of the table. It’d be good to finish in the top half….relegated West Brom await. It’s symbolic really...we’ve been through the mill this year, we didn’t know where the next point was coming from at one time (August & September were surreal when you think about it) and yet here we are lamenting the fact that we’ve not been putting in the effort for the last month. Strange. I’m not being a mediocrity apologist but it really is odd when you think back to this weird down-up-down-up-down season.
Anyway back to p*ss ups…We didn’t let the FA organise ours, rather we trusted our livers to Waterloo’s end of season bash. We’d pulled out the stops & phoned everyone we knew to stroll down to St Anthony’s mob handed. There was a barbeque (including hog-roast), an Irish band plus freely flowing beer to keep people happy plus a pretty good rugby game.
Henley Hawks showed their mettle and put in two early tries but, as my soon-to-be Father-in-law judged, they’d have needed a twenty point lead going into the second half against the wind and into the sun. This proved to be a pretty accurate prediction and the game finished 34-20 to Waterloo. O’Keefe and Tchakoute strapped their knees up and put in an appearance and J-Lo & Freeman did their stuff. Kerfoot & Palmer put in tries and the game was won. After the whistle everyone strolled onto the field to salute the players and the departing coaching team. Gill Burns (MBE) handed out the champagne and everyone was happy.
A few more beers in the clubhouse and the meaning of the word ‘club’ was becoming obvious. Everton will always be my team, renewing might have took an eternity but it’s done…at stages this season I’ve just ended up going to the game out of habit, it’d just be strange to not go to the match. It’s just what we do. ‘loo on the other hand is secondary to that but they’ve certainly struck a chord with us… I hope we’ll be able to keep up with them next season.
The football season is winding up and just like four years ago it’s seems the metatarsal is still in full swing. Rooney is the latest victim…an innocuous looking challenge in the game against Chelsea left him in agony and he’s apparently out for at least six weeks…not good. With Rooney we are a formidable team, without him we are decent at best…add to that the fact that Owen played his first game after his foot injury and apparently didn’t feel too good. All of sudden optimism is in short supply. Most gutted will be Wayne Rooney’s uncle who stood to win tens of thousands of pounds if Wayne played in the World Cup having made a bet years earlier.
With no English strikers looking like world beaters Beattie could be a shoo in for a place in the squad but in the last month or so performance levels at Everton have been worse than insipid. Saying that we managed to get an extremely creditable away win at ‘boro (although admittedly ‘boro were midway through a run of 3 games in 5 days). McFadden breaking clear to put a sublime lob dead-centre into the onrushing keeper’s goal on 89 minutes.
49 points puts us just in the bottom half of the table. It’d be good to finish in the top half….relegated West Brom await. It’s symbolic really...we’ve been through the mill this year, we didn’t know where the next point was coming from at one time (August & September were surreal when you think about it) and yet here we are lamenting the fact that we’ve not been putting in the effort for the last month. Strange. I’m not being a mediocrity apologist but it really is odd when you think back to this weird down-up-down-up-down season.
Anyway back to p*ss ups…We didn’t let the FA organise ours, rather we trusted our livers to Waterloo’s end of season bash. We’d pulled out the stops & phoned everyone we knew to stroll down to St Anthony’s mob handed. There was a barbeque (including hog-roast), an Irish band plus freely flowing beer to keep people happy plus a pretty good rugby game.
Henley Hawks showed their mettle and put in two early tries but, as my soon-to-be Father-in-law judged, they’d have needed a twenty point lead going into the second half against the wind and into the sun. This proved to be a pretty accurate prediction and the game finished 34-20 to Waterloo. O’Keefe and Tchakoute strapped their knees up and put in an appearance and J-Lo & Freeman did their stuff. Kerfoot & Palmer put in tries and the game was won. After the whistle everyone strolled onto the field to salute the players and the departing coaching team. Gill Burns (MBE) handed out the champagne and everyone was happy.
A few more beers in the clubhouse and the meaning of the word ‘club’ was becoming obvious. Everton will always be my team, renewing might have took an eternity but it’s done…at stages this season I’ve just ended up going to the game out of habit, it’d just be strange to not go to the match. It’s just what we do. ‘loo on the other hand is secondary to that but they’ve certainly struck a chord with us… I hope we’ll be able to keep up with them next season.
Friday, April 28, 2006
A to Z of UK Birds - The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
A to Z of UK Birds - The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Just this week our garden has turned into a jungle...lovely to be able to get out there (consdering I hardly ever saw it in daylight for about 4 or 5 months).
Just this week our garden has turned into a jungle...lovely to be able to get out there (consdering I hardly ever saw it in daylight for about 4 or 5 months).
Lightning strikes twice....
...it plays a stupid annoying tune whenever it does!
M'brough 4-2 S B'chrst (agg 4-3)
Unbelievable stuff...Boro where in total disarray and needed 4 goals...sounds familiar. Drama all the way. Steaua just retreated further and further and got more and more panicky and you just knew what would happen. Maccarone 89th minute and they're into the final.
I hope that season ticket chucker feels like the biggest tit on the face of the planet now and I hope of of the fans who turned up to the games against Litex Lovec & Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk are sneering at their 34,998 new mates.
It's okay though 'cause they won't have that tw@tty song playing if they score in Eindhoven so I can actually want them to win without caveats. It must be fairly unusual in football to want a team to win purely 'cause their chairman is a good bloke.
M'brough 4-2 S B'chrst (agg 4-3)
Unbelievable stuff...Boro where in total disarray and needed 4 goals...sounds familiar. Drama all the way. Steaua just retreated further and further and got more and more panicky and you just knew what would happen. Maccarone 89th minute and they're into the final.
I hope that season ticket chucker feels like the biggest tit on the face of the planet now and I hope of of the fans who turned up to the games against Litex Lovec & Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk are sneering at their 34,998 new mates.
It's okay though 'cause they won't have that tw@tty song playing if they score in Eindhoven so I can actually want them to win without caveats. It must be fairly unusual in football to want a team to win purely 'cause their chairman is a good bloke.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Panini Football 84 & 85 Sticker Albums - Craig Cullen
Panini Football 84 & 85 Sticker Albums - Craig Cullen
Ah! halcyon days!
Got!
Got!
Got!
Got!
Got!
Everton 85 - What a team
Ah! halcyon days!
Got!
Got!
Got!
Got!
Got!
Everton 85 - What a team
Waterloo duo go
Waterloo duo go
"WATERLOO Director of Rugby Ian Aitchison and Head Coach Phil Winstanley are stepping down at the end of the season despite the team being promoted to National One.
'It has not been an easy decision to make,' Phil Winstanley explained.
'Ian has a very demanding job with the Nat West as I have with Premiership Rugby.
'We both have a lot of travelling to do and we also have young families to think about. We think it is appropriate now for us to step aside.'"
Well that's a bit of bad news but I suppose it's life in the lower leagues. All you can do is thank them for a job well done and wish them all the best in the future.
BACK ROW (Left to Right)Brian Findlay, Stuart Thomas, Paddy Young, Gareth Davies, Dan Smith and Stephen Nutt
STANDING ROW (Left to Right)Richard Baxendale, Sean Ruwers, Njike Tchakoute, Rob O'Donnell, Jon Nugent, Paul White, Martin O'Keefe, Dave Mercer, Jan Van De-Venter and Craig Aikman
FRONT ROW (Left to Right)David Giles, Chris Tyms, David Blyth, Phil Winstanley, Gill Burns, Freeman Payne, Ian Aitchison, Neil Kerfoot, Jon Broxson and Neil Hunter
"WATERLOO Director of Rugby Ian Aitchison and Head Coach Phil Winstanley are stepping down at the end of the season despite the team being promoted to National One.
'It has not been an easy decision to make,' Phil Winstanley explained.
'Ian has a very demanding job with the Nat West as I have with Premiership Rugby.
'We both have a lot of travelling to do and we also have young families to think about. We think it is appropriate now for us to step aside.'"
Well that's a bit of bad news but I suppose it's life in the lower leagues. All you can do is thank them for a job well done and wish them all the best in the future.
BACK ROW (Left to Right)Brian Findlay, Stuart Thomas, Paddy Young, Gareth Davies, Dan Smith and Stephen Nutt
STANDING ROW (Left to Right)Richard Baxendale, Sean Ruwers, Njike Tchakoute, Rob O'Donnell, Jon Nugent, Paul White, Martin O'Keefe, Dave Mercer, Jan Van De-Venter and Craig Aikman
FRONT ROW (Left to Right)David Giles, Chris Tyms, David Blyth, Phil Winstanley, Gill Burns, Freeman Payne, Ian Aitchison, Neil Kerfoot, Jon Broxson and Neil Hunter
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
'loo try from the Redruth website
Go J-Lo Go!
Jan van der Venter, Freeman Payne and a limping Martin O'Keefe star in a vid of one of the tries from last week's game...courtesy of Redruth & Mike Caddy.
And again
Freeman this time
Picture Gallery
Jan van der Venter, Freeman Payne and a limping Martin O'Keefe star in a vid of one of the tries from last week's game...courtesy of Redruth & Mike Caddy.
And again
Freeman this time
Picture Gallery
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Brian Labone 1940 - 2006
Brian Labone
Official site tribute
Wikipedia
BBC News
Merseyside mourns noble - Times Online
Brian Labone - Comment - Times Online
Independent Online Edition - Obituaries
Telegraph - Obituaries
Terrible news for all blues this morning. Brian Labone passed away last night aged 66. A true gentleman and a real Evertonian through and through. "The last of the corinthians".
Hero is such an overused word nowadays but this was a man who embodied it. Everton FC couldn't have ever had a better ambassador.
"Brian was Everton. If you could put together a team of every player that has ever captained Everton, every one of us would turn to Brian to lead us out. He will always be known as the captain of Everton." - Kevin Ratcliffe
RIP Labby
Official site tribute
Wikipedia
BBC News
Merseyside mourns noble - Times Online
Brian Labone - Comment - Times Online
Independent Online Edition - Obituaries
Telegraph - Obituaries
Terrible news for all blues this morning. Brian Labone passed away last night aged 66. A true gentleman and a real Evertonian through and through. "The last of the corinthians".
Hero is such an overused word nowadays but this was a man who embodied it. Everton FC couldn't have ever had a better ambassador.
"Brian was Everton. If you could put together a team of every player that has ever captained Everton, every one of us would turn to Brian to lead us out. He will always be known as the captain of Everton." - Kevin Ratcliffe
RIP Labby
Monday, April 24, 2006
Dutch blues
Congrats to Sparta Rotterdam and best of luck to Willem II in the play-offs. The two Dutch blues I know, Joost & Bert, have had rough seasons for their own dutch clubs. Hopefully it'll be a happy ending.
Dutch League
Dutch League
Everton 0-0 Birmingham
Everton 0-0 Birmingham
Another plod towards the end of the season...not as bad as you'd think but still...
It was a weird game...Birmingham just defended and we looked blunt and un-inspired with only a none match-fit Andy van der Meyde providing any creativity for us (especially once Cahill went off). You'd have expected a team in the relegation scrap to have been a bit more adventurous but they kept 8 men behind the ball at all times.
Can't really comment more than that. Heskey, Sutton and Forsell looked garbage. Yobo did well for us I thought. Osman tried, McFadden & Beattie ran round but ultimately our attackers just didn't get into the game. Should have had a penalty though.
There was a bit of a boo at full time...I don't think we were that bad but it is dull at present.
Another plod towards the end of the season...not as bad as you'd think but still...
It was a weird game...Birmingham just defended and we looked blunt and un-inspired with only a none match-fit Andy van der Meyde providing any creativity for us (especially once Cahill went off). You'd have expected a team in the relegation scrap to have been a bit more adventurous but they kept 8 men behind the ball at all times.
Can't really comment more than that. Heskey, Sutton and Forsell looked garbage. Yobo did well for us I thought. Osman tried, McFadden & Beattie ran round but ultimately our attackers just didn't get into the game. Should have had a penalty though.
There was a bit of a boo at full time...I don't think we were that bad but it is dull at present.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Bored Thursday night ramblings
Anne's on nights and it's not really worth going up to have pint with my Mum and Dad and our Ste so I'm home alone and a wee bit bored.
I’ve been meaning to post this for a week or so…it’s from the Waterloo programme and corresponds to the all important Esher game (the last bit made me chuckle) :
Phil Winstanley “Before the game we had been given two separate changing rooms. As is usually the case the forwards and backs split. Believe me that I realised 1½ hours before kick-off I could do no more. As a coach you are always tempted to say a little bit more but on Saturday I could see that the forwards were more than in control and I resorted to spending my time stepping over hairdryers and make-up in the backs room”
The Esher win is especially gratifying for ‘loo because, as I’ve mentioned before, Esher have enjoyed sniping at the men green, red & white.
Esher RFC: Match Report - Waterloo
"Esher may feel the more aggrieved not to have taken the full points as at least they tried to play some decent rugby, and may not have got the rub of the green or should that be mud. Waterloo play a style that will not win many plaudits in the entertainment stakes."
“Esher may feel the more aggrieved not to have taken the full points as at least they tried to play some decent rugby, and may not have got the rub of the green or should that be mud. Waterloo play a style that will not win many plaudits in the entertainment stakes.”
They also included these comments in the program before the Esher – Waterloo game. A fact that was commented on more than once when everyone met up at St Anthony’s. It is just fuel to the fire when a team arrives at a ground to find that they’ve already been bad mouthed. The team-talk was already written for them. ‘loo put on a show and took Esher to the cleaners. Saying that by all accounts the hosts where more than gracious afterwards and even played Waterloo by Abba after the final whistle!!!
Esher local newspaper report
In other news Radio 4 are repeating That Mitchell & Webb sound on Thursdays at 6:30….this is possibly my favourite ever Radio 4 comedy. Tonight’s was the one with the German SS trooper questioning whether the skull & crossbone on their caps meant they were the baddies and the National Milk Helpline that has received 346 calls asking "Why the hell would anyone want a national milk helpline?" and 1 from a young man who wanted to know if it was true that you get banana milkshake from milking monkeys.
www.myspace.com/mitchellandwebb
I’ve been meaning to post this for a week or so…it’s from the Waterloo programme and corresponds to the all important Esher game (the last bit made me chuckle) :
Phil Winstanley “Before the game we had been given two separate changing rooms. As is usually the case the forwards and backs split. Believe me that I realised 1½ hours before kick-off I could do no more. As a coach you are always tempted to say a little bit more but on Saturday I could see that the forwards were more than in control and I resorted to spending my time stepping over hairdryers and make-up in the backs room”
The Esher win is especially gratifying for ‘loo because, as I’ve mentioned before, Esher have enjoyed sniping at the men green, red & white.
Esher RFC: Match Report - Waterloo
"Esher may feel the more aggrieved not to have taken the full points as at least they tried to play some decent rugby, and may not have got the rub of the green or should that be mud. Waterloo play a style that will not win many plaudits in the entertainment stakes."
“Esher may feel the more aggrieved not to have taken the full points as at least they tried to play some decent rugby, and may not have got the rub of the green or should that be mud. Waterloo play a style that will not win many plaudits in the entertainment stakes.”
They also included these comments in the program before the Esher – Waterloo game. A fact that was commented on more than once when everyone met up at St Anthony’s. It is just fuel to the fire when a team arrives at a ground to find that they’ve already been bad mouthed. The team-talk was already written for them. ‘loo put on a show and took Esher to the cleaners. Saying that by all accounts the hosts where more than gracious afterwards and even played Waterloo by Abba after the final whistle!!!
Esher local newspaper report
In other news Radio 4 are repeating That Mitchell & Webb sound on Thursdays at 6:30….this is possibly my favourite ever Radio 4 comedy. Tonight’s was the one with the German SS trooper questioning whether the skull & crossbone on their caps meant they were the baddies and the National Milk Helpline that has received 346 calls asking "Why the hell would anyone want a national milk helpline?" and 1 from a young man who wanted to know if it was true that you get banana milkshake from milking monkeys.
www.myspace.com/mitchellandwebb
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Dig for ancient pyramid in Bosnia
Dig for ancient pyramid in Bosnia
Now that's interesting.
The games at the weekend came and went...they were two tough fixtures for the blues, the two teams that are pushing hardest for thier placings at the moment. On Saturday we played okay against Spurs. Better, I'd say, than against Villa but Beattie just didn't get into the game. Gardner and King battered him everywhere ever time the ball went near him and the ref did nothing all game. Osman didn't show either. We were blunt but ultimately not that bad considering the opposition. I know I've been accusing them of end-of-term syundrome but this weekend I wouldn't really criticise. One player who does deserve to take a bow is Richard Wright...much maligned chap but against Spurs made at least 3 great saves including one truly world class one after Naysmith had *ahem* under cooked an defensive header (that's the most polite thing I can say about it). It was a fabulous save but it just loses out to Big Nige's wonder save away at Villareal as save of the season.
Anyway I moan and grumble but thank God we aren't down there in the dogfight...It's truly soul destroying : Hoping and Praying for each and every point, living on your nerves as each fragile second passes, having to do the same for all your rival's games....grim. Last night's game at the Hawthornes sounded truly dire but those wasted half chances will have gutted those Baggies fans. The BBC gave the score and said that 0-0 was a flattering scoreline for a game like this. Anne commented that Bolton could have just walked off the field and it would have still ended all square.
Anyway enough footy...had a decent easter. Usual stuff. lots of Mass followed by lots of DIY & gardening. In the past when I've given up sweets Anne has got me lots of chocolate, when I gave up crisps I got lots of Sensations and this year after 6 weeks of not swearing I got some Castlemaine XXXX...made me laugh anyway.
Now that's interesting.
The games at the weekend came and went...they were two tough fixtures for the blues, the two teams that are pushing hardest for thier placings at the moment. On Saturday we played okay against Spurs. Better, I'd say, than against Villa but Beattie just didn't get into the game. Gardner and King battered him everywhere ever time the ball went near him and the ref did nothing all game. Osman didn't show either. We were blunt but ultimately not that bad considering the opposition. I know I've been accusing them of end-of-term syundrome but this weekend I wouldn't really criticise. One player who does deserve to take a bow is Richard Wright...much maligned chap but against Spurs made at least 3 great saves including one truly world class one after Naysmith had *ahem* under cooked an defensive header (that's the most polite thing I can say about it). It was a fabulous save but it just loses out to Big Nige's wonder save away at Villareal as save of the season.
Anyway I moan and grumble but thank God we aren't down there in the dogfight...It's truly soul destroying : Hoping and Praying for each and every point, living on your nerves as each fragile second passes, having to do the same for all your rival's games....grim. Last night's game at the Hawthornes sounded truly dire but those wasted half chances will have gutted those Baggies fans. The BBC gave the score and said that 0-0 was a flattering scoreline for a game like this. Anne commented that Bolton could have just walked off the field and it would have still ended all square.
Anyway enough footy...had a decent easter. Usual stuff. lots of Mass followed by lots of DIY & gardening. In the past when I've given up sweets Anne has got me lots of chocolate, when I gave up crisps I got lots of Sensations and this year after 6 weeks of not swearing I got some Castlemaine XXXX...made me laugh anyway.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Accrington complete their fairytale
Accrington complete their fairytale
The Prodigal founder member returns...lovely story of a town refusing to let their club die.
The Everton fans call our club The People's Club (sometimes ruefully) but when you hear stories like this (and indeed what the Charlton fans did to get their club back to The Valley) it shows what you need to do to be able to claim that badge of honour.
This is a step in that direction :
UEFA Magazine - Everton Former Players Foundation
The Prodigal founder member returns...lovely story of a town refusing to let their club die.
The Everton fans call our club The People's Club (sometimes ruefully) but when you hear stories like this (and indeed what the Charlton fans did to get their club back to The Valley) it shows what you need to do to be able to claim that badge of honour.
This is a step in that direction :
UEFA Magazine - Everton Former Players Foundation
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Living to fight another day
Premiership Table 13/04/05
Last night's result means Everton are officially, mathematically safe!
It's annoying that we seem to be winding down to our usual in-the-doldrums finish but when you consider how we wrote off the first quarter of the season it makes that run after Christmas all the more impressive (If you think back we were rock bottom of the league for what felt like an eternity!).
LWLLLLLLXWWLWWWXLLLLWWWWXWWLXWWLXX.....
It doesn't actually look that bad but one win in our first 8 games and it all felt pretty dire...Drawing Villareal & Dinamo Bucharest in the europeans was the real disappointment this season. Even by the time 'boro dumped us out the League Cup it felt like a corner had been turned but by then the damage had been done.
The shame is that all the euphoria of last season's fantastic achievment has been allowed to drift from the memory. The media, and perhaps more criminally the bluenoses themselves, barely seem to acknowledge what we did.
Still, The People's Club will abide & prevail.
Last night's result means Everton are officially, mathematically safe!
It's annoying that we seem to be winding down to our usual in-the-doldrums finish but when you consider how we wrote off the first quarter of the season it makes that run after Christmas all the more impressive (If you think back we were rock bottom of the league for what felt like an eternity!).
LWLLLLLLXWWLWWWXLLLLWWWWXWWLXWWLXX.....
It doesn't actually look that bad but one win in our first 8 games and it all felt pretty dire...Drawing Villareal & Dinamo Bucharest in the europeans was the real disappointment this season. Even by the time 'boro dumped us out the League Cup it felt like a corner had been turned but by then the damage had been done.
The shame is that all the euphoria of last season's fantastic achievment has been allowed to drift from the memory. The media, and perhaps more criminally the bluenoses themselves, barely seem to acknowledge what we did.
Still, The People's Club will abide & prevail.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Intertoto...hmm
English sides set Intertoto fate
Nice trophy! Perfect for wedging back doors open possibly.
almost as bad at the Today League trophy which sits forlornly in the Goodison trophy room and is a talking point on the tour for how shoddy it is. It's a piece of glass mounts on a cheap wooden plynth that was given to use for being champions of the oldest football league in the world. It nestles amongst sumptuously oppulent jade & gold trophies recieved for merely popping over to play friendlies in Thailand & Malaysia.
No accounting for taste I suppose.
Nice trophy! Perfect for wedging back doors open possibly.
almost as bad at the Today League trophy which sits forlornly in the Goodison trophy room and is a talking point on the tour for how shoddy it is. It's a piece of glass mounts on a cheap wooden plynth that was given to use for being champions of the oldest football league in the world. It nestles amongst sumptuously oppulent jade & gold trophies recieved for merely popping over to play friendlies in Thailand & Malaysia.
No accounting for taste I suppose.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Blackheath R.C.
Blackheath R.C.: "[to eliminate hacking would] do away with all the courage and pluck from the game, and I will be bound over to bring over a lot of Frenchmen who would beat you with a week’s practice."
This is one of my favourite sporting quotes of all time...it's from Francis Maude Campbell, the chairman of Blackheath FC, who attended the first ever meeting of the fledgling Football Association in 1863. Upon hearing they were proposing to outlaw the deliberate kicking of an opponent he promptly walked out making the above statement.
Everton played out a fairly tame Nil-niller with Charlton at the Valley enlivened mainly by Richard Wright's criminal misreading of a bouncing ball that lead to him sprinting towards his own goal and swatting the ball off the goal line at the last moment. The lad isn't doing himself any favours.
We spent the afternoon at Waterloo. It was a fairly miserable day until we got there when the sun came out and it turned from 'freezing' to merely 'bracing'. It turned out to be a fairly comprehensive win against a slightly rude Harrogate side (two fairly un-nescessary fights)...couple of really good tries went in just in front of us.
Our horses in the National did absolutely nothing but didn't end up in the big glue factory in the sky.
Spent yesterday DIYing and doing a tiny bit of gardening...it was a windy weekend and it's blown a blackbirds nest (complete with eggs) from one of the trees which is a bit sad.
This is one of my favourite sporting quotes of all time...it's from Francis Maude Campbell, the chairman of Blackheath FC, who attended the first ever meeting of the fledgling Football Association in 1863. Upon hearing they were proposing to outlaw the deliberate kicking of an opponent he promptly walked out making the above statement.
Everton played out a fairly tame Nil-niller with Charlton at the Valley enlivened mainly by Richard Wright's criminal misreading of a bouncing ball that lead to him sprinting towards his own goal and swatting the ball off the goal line at the last moment. The lad isn't doing himself any favours.
We spent the afternoon at Waterloo. It was a fairly miserable day until we got there when the sun came out and it turned from 'freezing' to merely 'bracing'. It turned out to be a fairly comprehensive win against a slightly rude Harrogate side (two fairly un-nescessary fights)...couple of really good tries went in just in front of us.
Our horses in the National did absolutely nothing but didn't end up in the big glue factory in the sky.
Spent yesterday DIYing and doing a tiny bit of gardening...it was a windy weekend and it's blown a blackbirds nest (complete with eggs) from one of the trees which is a bit sad.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Beat that f##cking boro and win the cup tomorrow
I thought at the time the Basel fans having that banner accross their stadium in the first leg was a touch classless...and they were playing against a team who's fans are some of the most classless around...who did I want to lose least.
In fairness last week Basel were great and did everything right apart from going in serch of a third goal in their home leg. Boro's supporters actually turned up last night (24,521) as opposed to ringing the ticket office and asking what channel the game is on.
Now we all know what a tremendous comeback it was...3-0 down including an away goal. 60 odd minutes to get 4 goals...subs coming off the bench to hit 30 yard screamers, out of favour strikers popping up with a 91st minute winnner...amazing drama. All I could think about it that tune ('Pappa needs a brand new Pig bag' apparently) they play for the fans after each goal. It makes me never want to see them score a goal ever again. It's just so embarressing they way they all just wait until the DJ fires up the tune allowing them to clap sing along to it (it being an instrumental), I think it's a personal thing but I just find it appalling.
It actually makes me want to never see their team score a goal again. The same goes for Bolton ('Amarillo' & 'I feel good'), Wigan ('Tom Hark'), Norwich ('Samba De Janiero') etc etc. I mean when things are flat and the team need the fans to give them a lift I can almost understand things like the Sheffield Wed band attempting to get people going but after the team have scored? Surely you don't need prompting. I hate the way the fans decide to behave like trained seals at the moment when they should be swept away in the joy of the moment. That "Easy, Easy" thing annoys me too.
Anyway that's my impressions from last night...fabulous, gripping, dramatic, monumental comeback (arguably more impressive than the rednoses last year) and all I can worry about is that awful tune.
In fairness last week Basel were great and did everything right apart from going in serch of a third goal in their home leg. Boro's supporters actually turned up last night (24,521) as opposed to ringing the ticket office and asking what channel the game is on.
Now we all know what a tremendous comeback it was...3-0 down including an away goal. 60 odd minutes to get 4 goals...subs coming off the bench to hit 30 yard screamers, out of favour strikers popping up with a 91st minute winnner...amazing drama. All I could think about it that tune ('Pappa needs a brand new Pig bag' apparently) they play for the fans after each goal. It makes me never want to see them score a goal ever again. It's just so embarressing they way they all just wait until the DJ fires up the tune allowing them to clap sing along to it (it being an instrumental), I think it's a personal thing but I just find it appalling.
It actually makes me want to never see their team score a goal again. The same goes for Bolton ('Amarillo' & 'I feel good'), Wigan ('Tom Hark'), Norwich ('Samba De Janiero') etc etc. I mean when things are flat and the team need the fans to give them a lift I can almost understand things like the Sheffield Wed band attempting to get people going but after the team have scored? Surely you don't need prompting. I hate the way the fans decide to behave like trained seals at the moment when they should be swept away in the joy of the moment. That "Easy, Easy" thing annoys me too.
Anyway that's my impressions from last night...fabulous, gripping, dramatic, monumental comeback (arguably more impressive than the rednoses last year) and all I can worry about is that awful tune.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Monday, April 03, 2006
Everton 2-2 Sunderland
Everton 2-2 Sunderland
The worry is that Everton might be heading happily towards their end of term party...there was a definite Kerplunky 'Own-clothes' sort of feeling about the game at thw weekend. We were rubbish from start to finish...the only shocking thing is that we somehow managed to score two goals. It has to be said that Sunderland were a team of cart-horses...just very tall. Everton just played into their hands time and time again. Ultimately it seemed like they wanted it more.
I hope it's not the case that Everton are winding down...It annoys me when they keep you living on your nerves for most of the season then when you can finally afford to sit back and enjoy it for once they just stroll round and get spanked. Ah well...rather be in our position than Sunderland, Portsmouth, Birmingham & West Brom's. It is just crippling when you are down there. I remember the 1998 season when we stayed up on goal difference after the final game of the season. Truly nightmarish stuff...the one two seasons ago wasn't much better either, we were lucky Leeds were so abject.
Mid-table obscurity has long been the dream but I'm hoping we have something to enjoy between now and the end of the season.
The worry is that Everton might be heading happily towards their end of term party...there was a definite Kerplunky 'Own-clothes' sort of feeling about the game at thw weekend. We were rubbish from start to finish...the only shocking thing is that we somehow managed to score two goals. It has to be said that Sunderland were a team of cart-horses...just very tall. Everton just played into their hands time and time again. Ultimately it seemed like they wanted it more.
I hope it's not the case that Everton are winding down...It annoys me when they keep you living on your nerves for most of the season then when you can finally afford to sit back and enjoy it for once they just stroll round and get spanked. Ah well...rather be in our position than Sunderland, Portsmouth, Birmingham & West Brom's. It is just crippling when you are down there. I remember the 1998 season when we stayed up on goal difference after the final game of the season. Truly nightmarish stuff...the one two seasons ago wasn't much better either, we were lucky Leeds were so abject.
Mid-table obscurity has long been the dream but I'm hoping we have something to enjoy between now and the end of the season.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Rugby Union Nat Lge2 Table
Rugby Union Nat Lge2 Table
1 Moseley 23 21 0 2 693 356 17 101
2 Waterloo 23 19 2 2 711 338 16 96
3 Esher 23 16 1 6 642 362 14 80
Waterloo promoted after a stunning 41-7 win away at Esher....WOW! Congratulations to Phil Winstanley, Ian Aitchison, Freeman Payne & everyone at St Anthony's.
Any chance of one final push for the title?
1 Moseley 23 21 0 2 693 356 17 101
2 Waterloo 23 19 2 2 711 338 16 96
3 Esher 23 16 1 6 642 362 14 80
Waterloo promoted after a stunning 41-7 win away at Esher....WOW! Congratulations to Phil Winstanley, Ian Aitchison, Freeman Payne & everyone at St Anthony's.
Any chance of one final push for the title?
evertonfc.com :::: APRIL FOOL
evertonfc.com :::: APRIL FOOL
Some friends of ours actually fell for this year's official website April Fool!
Shame on you Carmel & Damian!
SB
Some friends of ours actually fell for this year's official website April Fool!
Shame on you Carmel & Damian!
SB
Friday, March 31, 2006
Viruses *cough*
Ironic that the last entry I did should be entitled Virus because for the past few days I’ve been lying in bed with a temperature of 1800 degrees C (although feeling like 0 kelvin). I’ve also been coughing up a seemingly inexhaustible production run of a new adhesive product I simply call “Green Tac” (Patent Pending). Ugh!
It’s not like me to be off work but I’ve spent most of the week aching, coughing, shivering and sweating in equal measures. On Tuesday, just as I was beginning to feel rough, I found out the weekly 5-a-side footy game was cancelled due to a general strike by government workers and I’ve never been so glad. I have to say that in the absence of Sky Sports or Internet Broadband being off work is pretty dull. It is shocking how bad the telly. Celebrity Pet Swap Antique Academy Challenge or endless low grade American sitcoms. Joy. Anyway enough of my moaning.
Everton play Sunderland tomorrow…they could be relegated (Sunderland I mean not Everton!). Not nice to see….then again you know Everton, if ever you need a result it seems Goodison is the place to get it (perversely we never seem to respect team’s long unbeaten records). Sunderland are a bit disappointing…The Mackems I know personally would go to see their team if they ended up in the Newcastle & District Division 6 amateur reserve team’s second XIs league. It’s been a shame to see the Stadium of Light barely half full all year. I know it’s a big ground for a club of their size but it was full not so long ago. Where are all those band-wagon jumpers when their club’s really needed them? I suppose it’s easy enough to criticise them but you’ve got to remember that their team hasn’t won a home game all season. Still I remember going up to the Stadium of Light and being amazed at how fickle their fans were. They were up in something like 3rd in the Premiership when we beat them 5-0 at Goodison and two months later they’d not won a game in the interim…it was 1-1 and they were booing Peter Reid as he stood up to give his team instructions. Then again I suppose I should climb off my high-horse, it was getting a bit hairy for Moyes for a while this season. Back when we just couldn’t win and were rock bottom of the Premiership there were people calling for Moyes to go. It was only ever the odd person moaning but there was a few. I always thought it was a false position and besides these empty vessels never elaborated on step two in their masterplan for success. Funny that! ”Step One : Get rid of the manager” is always fairly well mapped out but “Step Two : And replace him with xxxxxx” is always less well defined. Anyway with 43 points we can afford to take things as they come. Europe is still a possibility (although it’ll be difficult to see us overhauling both Bolton and Blackburn) but ultimately it’s Que Sera Sera.
Waterloo are away at Esher…a game that’s been looming on the horizon for a while but recent results mean that a bonus point win for the men in green, red & white would mean promotion with 3 games to spare, I don’t suspect that will happen, Esher are a very good team, but it goes to show how close ‘loo are now. Still a bonus point win for the Londoners and the lead is back down to 6. Mosely just seem to roll on and on and barring a truly awful turn round in form will be worthy champions.
Anyway enough sportyness (especially considering just walking round the garden is tiring me out at present). My friends Tina and Tony are off to Peru to walk the Inca trail this week…I am fundamentally jealous but we should be there before too long.
It’s not like me to be off work but I’ve spent most of the week aching, coughing, shivering and sweating in equal measures. On Tuesday, just as I was beginning to feel rough, I found out the weekly 5-a-side footy game was cancelled due to a general strike by government workers and I’ve never been so glad. I have to say that in the absence of Sky Sports or Internet Broadband being off work is pretty dull. It is shocking how bad the telly. Celebrity Pet Swap Antique Academy Challenge or endless low grade American sitcoms. Joy. Anyway enough of my moaning.
Everton play Sunderland tomorrow…they could be relegated (Sunderland I mean not Everton!). Not nice to see….then again you know Everton, if ever you need a result it seems Goodison is the place to get it (perversely we never seem to respect team’s long unbeaten records). Sunderland are a bit disappointing…The Mackems I know personally would go to see their team if they ended up in the Newcastle & District Division 6 amateur reserve team’s second XIs league. It’s been a shame to see the Stadium of Light barely half full all year. I know it’s a big ground for a club of their size but it was full not so long ago. Where are all those band-wagon jumpers when their club’s really needed them? I suppose it’s easy enough to criticise them but you’ve got to remember that their team hasn’t won a home game all season. Still I remember going up to the Stadium of Light and being amazed at how fickle their fans were. They were up in something like 3rd in the Premiership when we beat them 5-0 at Goodison and two months later they’d not won a game in the interim…it was 1-1 and they were booing Peter Reid as he stood up to give his team instructions. Then again I suppose I should climb off my high-horse, it was getting a bit hairy for Moyes for a while this season. Back when we just couldn’t win and were rock bottom of the Premiership there were people calling for Moyes to go. It was only ever the odd person moaning but there was a few. I always thought it was a false position and besides these empty vessels never elaborated on step two in their masterplan for success. Funny that! ”Step One : Get rid of the manager” is always fairly well mapped out but “Step Two : And replace him with xxxxxx” is always less well defined. Anyway with 43 points we can afford to take things as they come. Europe is still a possibility (although it’ll be difficult to see us overhauling both Bolton and Blackburn) but ultimately it’s Que Sera Sera.
Waterloo are away at Esher…a game that’s been looming on the horizon for a while but recent results mean that a bonus point win for the men in green, red & white would mean promotion with 3 games to spare, I don’t suspect that will happen, Esher are a very good team, but it goes to show how close ‘loo are now. Still a bonus point win for the Londoners and the lead is back down to 6. Mosely just seem to roll on and on and barring a truly awful turn round in form will be worthy champions.
Anyway enough sportyness (especially considering just walking round the garden is tiring me out at present). My friends Tina and Tony are off to Peru to walk the Inca trail this week…I am fundamentally jealous but we should be there before too long.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Viruses
Just making a note of these for future reference.
Adware remover :
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10399602.html?tag=lst-0-1
Virus remover :
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/
Virus scanner :
http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10503939.html?tag=lst-0-2
Firewall :
http://www.myzips.com/download/Zone-Alarm.phtml
Adware remover :
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10399602.html?tag=lst-0-1
Virus remover :
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/
Virus scanner :
http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10503939.html?tag=lst-0-2
Firewall :
http://www.myzips.com/download/Zone-Alarm.phtml
Monday, March 27, 2006
Just another game
Liverpool 3-1 Everton
Just another game? Yeah, right...I hate losing to them. Hate it, hate it, hate it, hate it! On Saturday as soon as I heard the news about Arteta not being fit I had a bit of a sinking feeling but somehow when Gerrard, their number 08 for the day, got himself sent off I just knew it'd be there day (Anne thinks I am lunatic but I've been a blue long enough to be able to read the signs when it comes to those jammy gets).
It was an annoying getting beat by 10 men especially given the "Gerrard, 9 donkeys and a giraffe" jokes there are doing the rounds I was particularly gutted for Phil Neville who really doesn't deserve to be on -1 career goals for Everton. At the end of the day sucker punches either side of half time meant it was never going to be our day. Their 2nd goal really did expose our veteran defenders' shortcomings. The ref had no choice with either of the red cards though surely it wasn't that bad a game to warrant the host of yellows...apparently this fixture has generated more yellows than any other in the history of the Premiership. Looking at the statistics you'd think it'd be a bloodbath.
Nope we've been screwed over many a time (Handball-Henchoz, Hutchison's 'back header' being chalked off for no reason, the ref allowing McCallister to calmly move the ball forward 10 yards from that freekick *shudder*, Cadamarteri's collar somehow becoming detached as he fell to ground for no reason in the penalty area when clean through and that's just the recent ones) but this wasn't one of them...Sunderland next week.
With the cloud of a derby defeat hanging over me the perfect way to unwind was to spend a nice sunny afternoon watching the rugby...didn't happen. We'd just arrived and about to start our first pint when the rain started and I assured everyone it would only be on for 5 minutes but 80 minutes later it was still throwing it down. Still after a slow start to the game Waterloo hit their stride against a really tenacious Wharfedale side who scored the try of the match despite having a scrum half who must have weight less than 9 stone. From the moment 'loo mauled over (complete with some pretty hardcore exchanges between the respective forwards right in front of us) for the first of 3 quick tries it looked like we could hold them off. Towards the end we sheltered from the rain in the pavilion and chatted to a really nice chap who turned out to be, the number 8, Nijke Tchakoute's father-in-law and afterwards we spent the 'third half' chatting to some nice gents from up at Grassington (where Upper Wharfedale are from) and talked about pubs, beer & rugby.
So apart from the crippling anxiety & annoyance generated by the footy and the constant rain during the rugby not a bad day. When we got home checked the teletext and found out Esher had got beat which puts Waterloo 11 points clear with 4 to play (Waterloo's next game is at Esher so fingers crossed).
Echo match report
Just another game? Yeah, right...I hate losing to them. Hate it, hate it, hate it, hate it! On Saturday as soon as I heard the news about Arteta not being fit I had a bit of a sinking feeling but somehow when Gerrard, their number 08 for the day, got himself sent off I just knew it'd be there day (Anne thinks I am lunatic but I've been a blue long enough to be able to read the signs when it comes to those jammy gets).
It was an annoying getting beat by 10 men especially given the "Gerrard, 9 donkeys and a giraffe" jokes there are doing the rounds I was particularly gutted for Phil Neville who really doesn't deserve to be on -1 career goals for Everton. At the end of the day sucker punches either side of half time meant it was never going to be our day. Their 2nd goal really did expose our veteran defenders' shortcomings. The ref had no choice with either of the red cards though surely it wasn't that bad a game to warrant the host of yellows...apparently this fixture has generated more yellows than any other in the history of the Premiership. Looking at the statistics you'd think it'd be a bloodbath.
Nope we've been screwed over many a time (Handball-Henchoz, Hutchison's 'back header' being chalked off for no reason, the ref allowing McCallister to calmly move the ball forward 10 yards from that freekick *shudder*, Cadamarteri's collar somehow becoming detached as he fell to ground for no reason in the penalty area when clean through and that's just the recent ones) but this wasn't one of them...Sunderland next week.
With the cloud of a derby defeat hanging over me the perfect way to unwind was to spend a nice sunny afternoon watching the rugby...didn't happen. We'd just arrived and about to start our first pint when the rain started and I assured everyone it would only be on for 5 minutes but 80 minutes later it was still throwing it down. Still after a slow start to the game Waterloo hit their stride against a really tenacious Wharfedale side who scored the try of the match despite having a scrum half who must have weight less than 9 stone. From the moment 'loo mauled over (complete with some pretty hardcore exchanges between the respective forwards right in front of us) for the first of 3 quick tries it looked like we could hold them off. Towards the end we sheltered from the rain in the pavilion and chatted to a really nice chap who turned out to be, the number 8, Nijke Tchakoute's father-in-law and afterwards we spent the 'third half' chatting to some nice gents from up at Grassington (where Upper Wharfedale are from) and talked about pubs, beer & rugby.
So apart from the crippling anxiety & annoyance generated by the footy and the constant rain during the rugby not a bad day. When we got home checked the teletext and found out Esher had got beat which puts Waterloo 11 points clear with 4 to play (Waterloo's next game is at Esher so fingers crossed).
Echo match report
Friday, March 24, 2006
Kember freed & George Cross for Iraq bomb hero
BBC NEWS World Middle East British Iraq hostage Kember freed
Gallantry
Nice to hear some halfway decent news from Iraq. Whatever you think about the war (and, for the record, it's obvious how fundamentally flawed and fundamentally wrong the whole thing was from the start) the people who've been sent out there deserve recognition. People are all too quick to seize upon lurid pictures of rogue troopers (regardless of whether they are taken in context or even genuine).
All that gallantry and humanity makes my worrying about the forthcoming derby fairly shallow but let's face it come tomorrow my stomach will be in knots. At least we have played ourselves into a position where we are desperate for the points...It'd be annoying if that lot where there first team to do the double over us, especially considering that since the last time we played them we've only dropped 8 points out of the last 33.
WWWWXWWLXWW isn't that bad a run of league form is it? Especially when you consider it came after LWLLLLLLXWWLWWWXLLLL. What an odd, odd season we are having.
Tomorrow I'll go for updates on Sky Sports (far too gut churning listening on the radio) then some consolatory or celebratory drinks watching 'loo.
Gallantry
Nice to hear some halfway decent news from Iraq. Whatever you think about the war (and, for the record, it's obvious how fundamentally flawed and fundamentally wrong the whole thing was from the start) the people who've been sent out there deserve recognition. People are all too quick to seize upon lurid pictures of rogue troopers (regardless of whether they are taken in context or even genuine).
All that gallantry and humanity makes my worrying about the forthcoming derby fairly shallow but let's face it come tomorrow my stomach will be in knots. At least we have played ourselves into a position where we are desperate for the points...It'd be annoying if that lot where there first team to do the double over us, especially considering that since the last time we played them we've only dropped 8 points out of the last 33.
WWWWXWWLXWW isn't that bad a run of league form is it? Especially when you consider it came after LWLLLLLLXWWLWWWXLLLL. What an odd, odd season we are having.
Tomorrow I'll go for updates on Sky Sports (far too gut churning listening on the radio) then some consolatory or celebratory drinks watching 'loo.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Hmm
Colm, an Irish blue I know has posted this picture on the forum.
I assume any Welsh officials looking at this would state that each and every one of the Ireland players is standing on the field of play.
The East Terrace has a different slant on the game :
The East Terrace - For the Rugby Football enthusiast
I assume any Welsh officials looking at this would state that each and every one of the Ireland players is standing on the field of play.
The East Terrace has a different slant on the game :
The East Terrace - For the Rugby Football enthusiast
We interrupt this public affairs program in order to bring you a football game
England beat India to tie series
Tremendous stuff from England this morning. With their captain, vice captain, two seamers and their first choice spinner all sitting at home injured Flintoff's second string skittled India out this morning.
England doing the job, sun shining and TMS on the radio! Who could ask for more. Especially when they actually delayed "Yesterday in Parliament" to continue coverage of the match. Special mentions go to the usual suspects (Flintoff, The Hogster etc etc) but Anderson & Udal deserve special mentions and it was great for little Monty. He dropped an absolute skier from Doni which could have been key but three balls later the same batsman loft one to him again and he redeemed himself much to the delight of the rest of the team (He seems a really popular lad). Ironically in the end the match finish just before Yesterday in Parliament was due!
Tremendous stuff from England this morning. With their captain, vice captain, two seamers and their first choice spinner all sitting at home injured Flintoff's second string skittled India out this morning.
England doing the job, sun shining and TMS on the radio! Who could ask for more. Especially when they actually delayed "Yesterday in Parliament" to continue coverage of the match. Special mentions go to the usual suspects (Flintoff, The Hogster etc etc) but Anderson & Udal deserve special mentions and it was great for little Monty. He dropped an absolute skier from Doni which could have been key but three balls later the same batsman loft one to him again and he redeemed himself much to the delight of the rest of the team (He seems a really popular lad). Ironically in the end the match finish just before Yesterday in Parliament was due!
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Sara's Musings
Sara's Musings
This Everton blog has a countdown to the world cup...I don't know how to insert it into mine but click the link to check how long it is to the off.
Also in an "It's a small world" sort of moment it's turn out that Sara is a mate of Diana, a friend of ours who runs the Everton North American Supporters Club.
SB
This Everton blog has a countdown to the world cup...I don't know how to insert it into mine but click the link to check how long it is to the off.
Also in an "It's a small world" sort of moment it's turn out that Sara is a mate of Diana, a friend of ours who runs the Everton North American Supporters Club.
SB
Tough day at the cricket
Tough day
Third Test, Mumbai, day four (stumps):
England 400 & 191 v India 279 & 18-1
England have ground out a decent lead going into the final day at the Wankhede Stadium (*snigger*). The need another 9 wickets to draw the series and are defending a lead of 295 runs.
The name of a the venue for the match (second only to the Wankdorf stadium in Bern) allows me a priceless opportunity to swear without adding to my burgeoning Lent swearbox. Not doing too bad so far but the jar is slowly building up. As predicted the match is proving tricky but I'm generally remembering to go with "We don't care what the red side say, what the hell do we care" as opposed to the real words. The brummies in front of us are enjoying my inability to join in with the banter but at the end of the Villa game the wife of the couple, Ann, gave me a pound of the jar as penance for their contributions.
Third Test, Mumbai, day four (stumps):
England 400 & 191 v India 279 & 18-1
England have ground out a decent lead going into the final day at the Wankhede Stadium (*snigger*). The need another 9 wickets to draw the series and are defending a lead of 295 runs.
The name of a the venue for the match (second only to the Wankdorf stadium in Bern) allows me a priceless opportunity to swear without adding to my burgeoning Lent swearbox. Not doing too bad so far but the jar is slowly building up. As predicted the match is proving tricky but I'm generally remembering to go with "We don't care what the red side say, what the hell do we care" as opposed to the real words. The brummies in front of us are enjoying my inability to join in with the banter but at the end of the Villa game the wife of the couple, Ann, gave me a pound of the jar as penance for their contributions.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Ireland
Here is secret footage from last week of the Ireland team donning hard hats and getting in some last minute training whilst the the workmen demolished Lansdowne Road :
The weekend
St Patrick's night was fun enough but I've got a feeling it meant that at 12:45 the next morning the Everton fans going the game weren't as vociferous as they'd usually be.
It was a unusually flat feeling 4-1 victory for Everton...pretty dull stuff in truth. We were passing it about well and they were pacey up-front which was causing nerves even at 3-1.
The Villa fans had a good sense of fun singing "We've got an honest bunch of lads" as a reference to their managers excuse mongering.
Had a quick couple of pints in the Black Horse afterwards and got home in time for the 2nd half ot the rugby. Ireland are improving because they only needed two dodgy tries to beat England this time....Keep up the good work lads.
As I type England are battling India's wagging tail in the final test...it's going fairly well for the lads but they have to win to square the series. Fingers crossed.
Another comfortable win for 'loo but it actually means we lose ground on the other's 'cause we didn't get a 4th try and therefore no bonus point.
It was a unusually flat feeling 4-1 victory for Everton...pretty dull stuff in truth. We were passing it about well and they were pacey up-front which was causing nerves even at 3-1.
The Villa fans had a good sense of fun singing "We've got an honest bunch of lads" as a reference to their managers excuse mongering.
Had a quick couple of pints in the Black Horse afterwards and got home in time for the 2nd half ot the rugby. Ireland are improving because they only needed two dodgy tries to beat England this time....Keep up the good work lads.
As I type England are battling India's wagging tail in the final test...it's going fairly well for the lads but they have to win to square the series. Fingers crossed.
Another comfortable win for 'loo but it actually means we lose ground on the other's 'cause we didn't get a 4th try and therefore no bonus point.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Fonzie
Fonz will ALWAYS be the ultimate in cool.
The ISO accept that he represents the bench mark for the internationally agreed standard on coolness levels. He clocks in at 1 Fonzie (this being the point of absolute coolness which nothing can exceed). The rest of us have levels measured in the millifonzies.
Alternatively there is a radical movement using the Daniel O'Donnel scale. A recent article pulished in the journal 'Cool & Coolness' details a scale that starts at 0 DO'Ds (the theoretical point at which there is a complete absense of cool) and rises up from there...the controversial theory behind this is that even Fonz could be more cool....for example if The Fonz started going to Everton games then the theory goes that he'd obviously be more cool...this would cause scientists using the millifonzie scale to have to recalibrate their scale whereas the DO'D scale would be okay.
When this topic is debated at ISO meetings supporters of Arthur 'Fonzie' Fonzarelli simply raise their thumbs and going 'Eyyyyyyyyyy'. The DO'D supporters have no counter-argument.
The ISO accept that he represents the bench mark for the internationally agreed standard on coolness levels. He clocks in at 1 Fonzie (this being the point of absolute coolness which nothing can exceed). The rest of us have levels measured in the millifonzies.
Alternatively there is a radical movement using the Daniel O'Donnel scale. A recent article pulished in the journal 'Cool & Coolness' details a scale that starts at 0 DO'Ds (the theoretical point at which there is a complete absense of cool) and rises up from there...the controversial theory behind this is that even Fonz could be more cool....for example if The Fonz started going to Everton games then the theory goes that he'd obviously be more cool...this would cause scientists using the millifonzie scale to have to recalibrate their scale whereas the DO'D scale would be okay.
When this topic is debated at ISO meetings supporters of Arthur 'Fonzie' Fonzarelli simply raise their thumbs and going 'Eyyyyyyyyyy'. The DO'D supporters have no counter-argument.
Monday, March 13, 2006
The best one day match ever?
SA shatter record to beat Aussies
Two world record run totals and a one wicket win with two balls to spare......no too bad.
Two world record run totals and a one wicket win with two balls to spare......no too bad.
Fat man walking....plus the weekend's sport
TheFatManWalking.com
Saw this in the Observer and thought I'd bookmark it.
Woke up yesterday to find a thick load of snow had plopped down onto Liverpool. In the time it took me and Anne to walk to the shop to get the sunday papers all our footprints had been covered over by fresh snow...I was not intending to do much with the rest of the day. In fact the way it was going it looked dodgy for getting work this morning (although ultimately that didn't happen).
Spent the day being depressed by England...The Cricket is currently plodding towards and Indian win after yesterday morning's capitulation, I then spent the afternoon watching the rugby team embarress themselves in Paris...one of those days. The final footnote to the day was England's best midfielder reprising his European Championships by playing back a tame backpass to Theiry Henry putting him clean through on goal. Some of these were funnier than others.
Saturday had been "Score a spectacular goal" day in the Premiership...Everton, it has to be said, don't score many goals and goal-of-the-month contenders are even rarer. Against a woeful Fulham we scored two...it was almost surreal! Two beautiful, audacious, sublime, spectacular goals sailing & looping their way into the far corner of the net. One into the Park End by Beats and in the second half McFadden did a brilliant chest down and volley into the Gwladys St....brilliant stuff. Whilst Everton were rampant against Fulham the rest of the Premiership seemed to be chipping in with great goals of their own. Gallas, Roberts, Mendez, Pederson amongst others.
Highlight of the weekend...one bloke in the Upper Gwladys trying to salute Arteta's man of the match display with "Arrrrrteta, Arteta, Arteta." to the tune of the Mexican Hat Dance (oddly enough).
Saw this in the Observer and thought I'd bookmark it.
Woke up yesterday to find a thick load of snow had plopped down onto Liverpool. In the time it took me and Anne to walk to the shop to get the sunday papers all our footprints had been covered over by fresh snow...I was not intending to do much with the rest of the day. In fact the way it was going it looked dodgy for getting work this morning (although ultimately that didn't happen).
Spent the day being depressed by England...The Cricket is currently plodding towards and Indian win after yesterday morning's capitulation, I then spent the afternoon watching the rugby team embarress themselves in Paris...one of those days. The final footnote to the day was England's best midfielder reprising his European Championships by playing back a tame backpass to Theiry Henry putting him clean through on goal. Some of these were funnier than others.
Saturday had been "Score a spectacular goal" day in the Premiership...Everton, it has to be said, don't score many goals and goal-of-the-month contenders are even rarer. Against a woeful Fulham we scored two...it was almost surreal! Two beautiful, audacious, sublime, spectacular goals sailing & looping their way into the far corner of the net. One into the Park End by Beats and in the second half McFadden did a brilliant chest down and volley into the Gwladys St....brilliant stuff. Whilst Everton were rampant against Fulham the rest of the Premiership seemed to be chipping in with great goals of their own. Gallas, Roberts, Mendez, Pederson amongst others.
Highlight of the weekend...one bloke in the Upper Gwladys trying to salute Arteta's man of the match display with "Arrrrrteta, Arteta, Arteta." to the tune of the Mexican Hat Dance (oddly enough).
Friday, March 10, 2006
FCL - Football Club Lourdais - site officiel
FCL - Football Club Lourdais - site officiel
It turns out our fave French town has one of the most successful rugby teams in France. Nowadays however they are in the lower divisons but not many teams have been champions more than Lourdais. Might have to investigate.
It turns out our fave French town has one of the most successful rugby teams in France. Nowadays however they are in the lower divisons but not many teams have been champions more than Lourdais. Might have to investigate.
Weather spoils second Test again
Weather spoils second Test again
English whether here and in India making for little play at the test...no TMS for me.
The rednoses crashed out of the Champions League. You know that feeling when a team gets a blatantly unjustified penalty but then the keeper saves it...lot of that about the other night.
In the same way all those foolish Evertonians got the half-time smiles wiped off their faces last year I think a few of our lovable cousins might have learnt a bit recently. Going to Old Trafford to 'five' the Utd fans & coming away well & truly Nevilled. All lined up in the pub cheering away as Barca took on 'Chelski', sending e-mails about big-red and Barca making John Terry cry then getting dumped out by one of the weakest teams left in the competition.
Live by the gloat die by the gloat...
English whether here and in India making for little play at the test...no TMS for me.
The rednoses crashed out of the Champions League. You know that feeling when a team gets a blatantly unjustified penalty but then the keeper saves it...lot of that about the other night.
In the same way all those foolish Evertonians got the half-time smiles wiped off their faces last year I think a few of our lovable cousins might have learnt a bit recently. Going to Old Trafford to 'five' the Utd fans & coming away well & truly Nevilled. All lined up in the pub cheering away as Barca took on 'Chelski', sending e-mails about big-red and Barca making John Terry cry then getting dumped out by one of the weakest teams left in the competition.
Live by the gloat die by the gloat...
Monday, March 06, 2006
Lent
Cripes....I've decided to give up cussing & a-swearing for lent. Always good thing to cut out your spontaneous expletives.
The match will be tricky...and I find driving brings out a few.
20p per swear for 6 weeks......might mean the chancellor has to raise the base rate 'cause of the increased spending.
My mate Antony has given up all drinking and another mate Darren is giving up beer (but not spirits)...it's me extra tough for him 'cause he's Irish and St Patrick's day approaches.
The match will be tricky...and I find driving brings out a few.
20p per swear for 6 weeks......might mean the chancellor has to raise the base rate 'cause of the increased spending.
My mate Antony has given up all drinking and another mate Darren is giving up beer (but not spirits)...it's me extra tough for him 'cause he's Irish and St Patrick's day approaches.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Sublime to the ridiculous
After Tuesday's glorious weather we've went a bit to the other extreme. Snow on Wednesday and thick fog & ice this morning.
Running out of screenwash didn't help...could barely see a thing with the low sun shining through all the dirt on my windscreen. Usually I'd have a bottle of water to squirt but this morning I had to resort to chucking my cup of tea onto the windscreen...worked a treat though.
Cricket progressing with it's usual pleasantness...Man of the day Mathew Hoggard who at one point had bowling figures for the day of 9 overs 6 maidens 4 wickets for 12 runs. Top work.
Running out of screenwash didn't help...could barely see a thing with the low sun shining through all the dirt on my windscreen. Usually I'd have a bottle of water to squirt but this morning I had to resort to chucking my cup of tea onto the windscreen...worked a treat though.
Cricket progressing with it's usual pleasantness...Man of the day Mathew Hoggard who at one point had bowling figures for the day of 9 overs 6 maidens 4 wickets for 12 runs. Top work.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
1st Test: India v England at Nagpur
1st Test: India v England at Nagpur, 1-5 Mar 2006
Ah the cricket is back...I've said it before but the drive to work is a million more pleasant with TMS on the radio. Especially on mornings like this...their won't have been more clear blue sky above the cricket down at Nagpur than there was beaming down on me, just 35 degrees C temperature difference.
Ah the cricket is back...I've said it before but the drive to work is a million more pleasant with TMS on the radio. Especially on mornings like this...their won't have been more clear blue sky above the cricket down at Nagpur than there was beaming down on me, just 35 degrees C temperature difference.
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