Sorry I've been lazy on here lately but it is the holidays! I'm out tomorrow afternoon/evening and with the forthcoming hangover,I'd better this one in now.
Its that time of year again so I'd just like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. Have a good one folks and lets hope this weather thaws out a bit so we can have some bloody football to watch!
An interesting draw for the last 16 of the Champions League eariler today. Congratulations to Chelsea who are through (I'll top myself if we lose to Copenhagen!) Man Utd should also go through but take some earplugs Mullers for when they come to Manc. They make quite a din although they are not quite as bad as the Turks or the Bubbles.
There is no doubt about it. Chelsea are falling apart at the moment. Who's fault is it though? What exactly has gone wrong for my beloved Blues?
Football in this country really has gone flaming mad hasn't it? What the hell has Chris Hughton done wrong to get the sack? Sure,Newcastle have lost a few games but they are comfortabe in midtable which is no mean feat considering they have just come up. What the fuck is wrong with Mike Ashley and the morons that run that club? Who do they think they are,Chelsea? I thought it was only us who shot ourselves in the foot on a regular basis (Ancelotti will be out soon,I fear)
Wow,what a great result for Avram tonight who's understrength West Ham slaughtered Man Utd 4 0. It should of been more too if I'm honest. True,Utd's team was well weakened too but that display was shocking and West Ham played out of their skins. See,this is what happens when football Managers come over here and listen to Longy. Avram (and indeed Arsene's) results start to improve) as they ram my previous post down my gob.
Chelsea may be going through a mini crisis but the going's on at Arsenal and West Ham put them into perspective. Tomorrow is a massive day for West Ham manager Avram Grunt. Defeat at home to Wigan would surely mean the end of the road for the Israeli. If I was a Hammer's fan,I'd WANT my team to lose tomorrow just to get rid of the cunt! I speak from experience and the fact that Avram isn't what you'd call a lucky manager and no,I still haven't forgiven him for leading us to a memorable Carling Cup defeat against Spurs either. Having said that,I hope West Ham win tomorrow - the longer Grunt stays,the more chance of the Hammers going down!
You really wouldn't think Chelsea are still top of the League. The doom and gloom surrounding the club is quite epic right now. First the sudden departure (I call it sacking) of Ray Wilkins then the shocking performance against Sunderland where lets be honest here,we were lucky to only lose 3 0. Now the news of the injuries to JT and Alex and what with Lampard also injured again and Essien out,Drogba with malaria and the rest of them bar Cech playing like total cabbages,you can see why there's the doom. It doesn't help matters when the manager sees fit to play Paulo Ferriera in central defence instead of young Bruma and the promising Josh McEachran is left out of midfield despite the shitty performances so far from Ramires (the only Brazilian footballer in history who cannot trap a football)
Strange going's on at Chelsea today with the club announcing the departure of Butch Wilkins. Apparently he was taking training when he heard his contract wasn't getting renewed. A quick two lines on the clubs website and no explanation for the masses. Why don't they just tell the truth and say they sacked him?
We got what we deserved today. Fuck all! Embarressing to watch in the first half and bloody painful with it. Torres just loves scoring against us the prick!
I must admit before a ball was kicked in anger this season I would of had money on all 3 promoted teams (WBA,Newcastle and Blackpool) going straight back down from the top flight. It could still happen of course especially to Blackpool who have such a small squad. But isn't refreshing to see them all doing reasonably well so far?
A classic old VHS rip of the contraversional Vinnie Jones video which landed him in hot water with the FA and got him a 20 grand fine to boot. Some great footage of some of the games finest ever hatchet men.
Football lost a great man yesterday. One of the games great characters and someone I feel didn't get the credit they deserved (not outside the blue half of Manchester anyway) I'm sure he'll be having a few pints in the great gig in the sky and maybe a few arguements too with the likes of Cloughie and co.
Everyone likes a good documentary don't they? Well this Panorama documentary on Millwall FC's lovely hooligans filmed in 1977 will make you piss yourselves. Thick as two short planks is not the word for it. These guys make that ICF lot look quite intelligent! Still this was a groundbreaking documentary for it's time and alot has changed in 33 years although everyone I know is STILL wary of travelling down to Millwall. No-one likes them......and with good reason.
I won't go on about Chelsea beating Arsenal today even though its tempting. I'll just say the Gooners played some really pretty football and lost again. Enough said!
I can't stand them! They all get is positive press despite not winning a trophy for 6 years and having the biggest whingeing manager in the history of football. Arsenal went a season unbeaten in the League in 2003/4 - yes a great feat depite drawing several games. Chelsea win the League the season after with just one defeat and many more points than "the invincibles" and what do we get? Negative publicity! Chelsea win the double last season with record goals scored and what do we get - fuck all publicity. Everyone is too busy going on about Wenger's pretty pleasing on the eye football. Well winning games 7 2,7 1, 7 0 and 8 0 is pretty pleasing on my bloody eye! Its making me more paranoid than Wenger!
You've got to say hats off to Man City for their deserved win against Chelsea yesterday. Yes the result could quite easily have been a draw had we not hit the post but in reality we got out-muscled and Mancini got his tactics spot on. Its not pretty on the eye for the City fans but I doubt they care about that too much - 3 points is 3 points so congratulations to them. Thats 3 wins in a row against us now,they really are turning into our new bogey team. And Tevez loves scoring against us whoever he is playing for (the bastard!)
I'll be honest,I don't think they will do despite their reasonablly good start to the season but they are one team I admire. Every man and their dog think they haven't got a chance and rightly so but the team have spirit and the funniest Manager in the Premier League. Their fans have a great sense of humour too singing "Your'e not as good as Arsenal" when they were 4 0 down and another classic "WE WANT ONE WE WANT ONE" Our fans stood up and applauded this one. Great fans living the dream in the promised land of the top flight. I,for one,really hope they stay there. Good luck for the rest of the season Blackpool. You are a credit to football.
Yes thats what its been. It all started with Man Utd at Everton. With Alex Fersuson deciding not to risk Rooney's temper to the baying Everton crowd,Utd sailed into a 3 1 lead and into injury time. Then bang,2 Everton goals in dying seconds from nowhere and Alex has a face like thunder. Pure comedy.
This one is for you Lee :) Quite funny watching this after all these years and no offense mate,they do come across as a tad dim. Its an interesting social document of the time though,I'll give it that much.
Despite only having 9 men on the pitch,it was a great result for England tonight. 9 men? Yes 9 men. Walcott was fucking rubbish again and as for Glen Johnson - well he really is a liability. I lost count of the number of times he got caught out of position (again) A half decent team would of punished us.
Southampton have sacked Alan Pardew. Why? I really don't understand this one at all. Okay they had a bad start losing at home to Plymouth but for fuck sake they won 4 0 away on Saturday and they won't get a better manager at this level than Pardew. Don't forget this is the man who took them to Wembley and won the Johnstone's Paint trophy just last season and he also did well in the league considering they started on minus 10 points. Has the world gone mad? Not only that,my pre season bet on the Saints is now right out the window. The person responsible for this decision is a complete and utter fucking moron.
So thats it for SSN for us poor people on freeview. Will I buying Sky now? Will I fuck! But I will certainly miss the only channel I watched on a regular basis. I'm sure I'll find it online if I look hard enough anyway. If will miss Jeff Stelling and all the panelists as well as the bevy of beauties that lit up the screen while giving us the latest sports news.
"Boring boring Chelsea! Boring boring Chelsea!"
As William Gallas completes he's medical ahead of signing on a one year deal for Tottenham Hotspuds,Arsenal (and indeed Chelsea) fans will be looking forward to seeing the man return to his former clubs homes. Knowing William,he will duck out of returning to the Emirates this season,just like he ducked out of Stamford Bridge for a season when he signed for the Gooners.
Mancini is starting to lose the plot now. Bellemy was (along with Tevez) Citeh's best player last season from what I saw. Always a 100% tryer and would walk into most teams in the Premier League. Cardiff City fans will be very happy with this deal but I'm not so sure Citeh fans will feel the same. Yep they might have Ballotelli and Milner and god knows who else but they have made a big mistake with this one. At least Craig seems happy to be back in his native country and Man City are still paying his high wages.
Normal service is resumed as Chelsea at last,show some of the form that won them the double. I would of been quite happy with a simple one nil victory but I'll settle for this. Sorry Blackpool to pinch your top spot!
2 games,2 defeats and he's resigned already. Its not the first time Coppell has walked early in a job as Manchester City fans will testify but its not good news for fans of the Robins. Why take the bloody job in the first place you plonker?
So a Stevie Gerrard captain's performance saved Capello and England further embarressment last night. Its a pity he went AWOL from this role during the World Cup isn't it? I was actually pleased when we went 1 nil down because I was hoping defeat would see the end of Capello but alas it didn't happen and those pricks at the FA are too tight to get rid of him.
Chelsea have agreed a fee with Real Madrid for defender Ricky Carvalho,believed to be in the region of 6.7 million. Not bad for a 32 year old who's best days are behind him. Still a fantastic player when fit and such a clever positional defender. No one in the game is better than him at getting away with fouling either. We will miss him. He has been and is an absolute legend and worth every penny of the 20 odd million we paid for him.
A deserved victory for Man Utd in the end at Chelsea's second home and a good game for a change for a shield opener. Chelsea's fourth defeat in a row in pre-season and plenty to ponder before the big kick-off this weekend. I had great seats yesterday (bottom row behind the goal row 7.....a perfect view for Utd's first goal...gulp!) £30 a ticket - thats exactly £55 cheaper than my FA Cup final ticket cost me last season where I was stuck up by the corner flag. I'm hungover and rambling on about fuck all now so I'll end by saying (through slightly gritted teeth) congratulations to Man Utd.
NICOLAS ANELKA has sensationally backed Tottenham to win the Premier League this season. The Chelsea striker, who won the title at Stamford Bridge last term, has tipped Harry Redknapp's team to upset the traditional balance of power at the top of the table.
Ex-Arsenal star Anelka, 31, insisted: "I rate Spurs very highly. They are absolute favourites to win the title."
Anelka was impressed by the way Tottenham shot out of the starting blocks last season, beating Liverpool at home on the first day before never dropping out of the top six.
At last Chelsea are making what looks like a decent signing (after the ongoing medical is completed) as Ramires will be signed from Benfica for a reported 18 million quid. At 23 and very fast,it will give us more options in our ageing midfield. This could mean "piles" for Yossi Benayoun!
The ex-England defender, 35, blamed Toon's training kit for making him look tubby.
Campbell, signed on a free from Arsenal this summer, was slated by Magpies fans over an unflattering training ground photograph.
Supporters labelled him the 'Hog on the Tyne' and fear he will be a fat lot of good.
But Campbell said: "I'm a naturally big guy. I can't rush my conditioning, otherwise trying too much too quickly could result in injuries.
"It's pathetic. I'd been training for three days, just three days! I am three weeks behind everyone in pre-season. Don't they know I have just got married and been on honeymoon?
"I accept the picture wasn't flattering and I do need to catch up on my level of fitness.
"But the training kit was not very flattering and showed up all sorts."
Something for you Lee. One hour long on MPEG-4 format so it plays on Media Player Classic and focusing on his time playing for the dark side :) its Di Canio. You cannot accuse this player of ever being dull,that is for sure.
So lifelong Chelsea fan and ex Blue,Mark Hughes returns to management with Fulham. A good move? Maybe for the man....not so sure about the club though but he should keep them up!
Manchester United and Alex Ferguson remind me a bit of myself and my old Austin Allegro. I knew the car was old and would pack in anyday but I still ran it into the ground until it did. Luckily I was at a roundabout doing approx 2mph when it finally conked out on me.
Despite all the bad things he did in his life,you couldn't say he wasn't a great entertainer in the world of snooker when he was at the top of his game. Alex led a colourful life and went downhill once the booze took over his life and he whacked that referee! But he was a true sporting character - the George Best of snooker if you like. Seeing those last pictures of him in the papers looking so frail was a sad and pitiful sight. I only hope he finds peace in that great green biaze in the sky.
I've seen some calamity Goalkeepers in my time but this one takes some beating. I remember watching Ross's debut in the reserves online last season where he made 4 fatal error's in a four nil home defeat to Aston Villa. The warning signs were there then and he obviously hasn't improved if yesterday's first half against Ajax is anything to go by. Two more fatal errors and with Petr Cech injured and only another dodgy keeper (Hilario) ahead of him in the first team queue,Chelsea have a massive problem before a ball is even kicked in anger this season.
A footballer cleared of murder three years ago is facing a life sentence after being convicted of another gun killing. Former Millwall striker Gavin Grant (no relation to Avram) was involved in a series of "tit-for-tat" shootings in and around a "lawless" council estate, the Old Bailey was told.
Grant, 26, who also played for Wycombe Wanderers before joining Bradford City as a non-contract player until the end of last season, was found guilty of gunning down Leon Labastide, 21.
Stephen Batten QC, prosecuting, said many of the people involved in the case had been linked to shootings and drug dealing on the Stonebridge Park Estate, in Harlesden, north west London. He told the jury: "Attitudes and standards are different. It is more the law of the jungle than the law of civilised England. You will hear about and see people whose behaviour will probably disgust you and make you wonder if there is any hope for the human race. If he hadn't of ever played for Millwall,this would of never happened"
But on Friday he was found guilty of Mr Labastide's murder in January 2004 after trials last December and this month. The court was told it was Mr Labastide's killing which led to the second murder and a spate of shootings on the estate. Grant denied involvement and said Mr Labastide, who was known as Playboy, was a friend.
Operation Trident gun-crime detectives believe there were up to 30 connected shooting incidents in the area arising from the fall-out. Following the arrests of Grant and others, officers said shootings fell by almost 50% in the area. Stonebridge Park, although still notorious for drugs and crime, has seen improvements with a £250 million regeneration.
Gareth Downie, 25, was also found guilty of murdering Mr Labastide. Damian Williams, 32, was found guilty of conspiring with them to murder Mr Labastide. All the verdicts were by 10-2 majorities. They were all remanded in custody for sentencing on Monday.
Roberto Parchment, 24, originally convicted of Mr Moore's murder, was found guilty again following a retrial in December brought about by supergrass Darren Mathurin's involvement. He was jailed for life again and ordered to serve the remainder of his 28-year sentence. Romain Whyte, 25, was cleared of that murder by a 10-2 majority verdict.
Grant, from Kenton, north London, Williams, of Southwark, south London, and Downie of Markby Road, Birmingham, all face life sentences.
Harry Redknapp masterminded Spurs' highest Premier League finish of fourth last term, setting up a maiden Champions League campaign for the club. And the 63-year-old claims he has the players to end what would be a 50-year wait for the league championship at White Hart Lane.
"I feel we could contend for the title; we have got the players here," said Redknapp, who has added only the Brazilian midfielder Sandro to his first-team squad so far this summer.
"We have to aim for it. We could win the championship"
Yes and I could be shagging Cheryl Cole tomorrow night!
If you've got a spare 51 minutes on your hands then you could do far worse than to watch this very old (well over 20 years) online docu on Sir Trevor Brooking. Despite a lifetime of complete dislike for the Hammers,Trevor is one player I have always admired and could of loved to of had at my club. Instead we got bloody Alan Dickens who set the world alight with 48 appearances in 4 years,scoring a mighty one goal!
Good luck Joey but obviously I hope you win nothing up there. And a big thank you for not joining Tottenham! So we get Benayoun and they get Joe Cole. Great business there Chelsea NOT!
Based on the best book about football ever (Time Out) by Pete Davies, One Night in Turin tells the incredible inside story of Englands Italia 1990. From an age before the Premier League and multi-million pound salaries, remember how a under pressure (Sir) Bobby Robson and the mercurial Paul Gascoigne led a small band of English brothers to overcome scandal, political intrigue and even the mighty Dutch, to reach a semi-final against West Germany in Turin. From Platts last-minute winner against Belgium and Linekers cool finishing, to the heartbreak of being one kick away from the World Cup Final, relive all the glory and pain of an epic event that changed our footballing nation forever. Featuring match action from the FIFA archives and previously unseen footage from inside the England camp, as the nation begins to dream again, see how the modern age of the game began.
How can you get excited by a 500 mile round trip for a pre-season friendly away at Crystal Palace? Good question but I am. I can't wait for tomorrow. We are not even playing a full strength side as the players on World Cup duty won't be there. But at least I'll get to see Yossi Benayoun in a Chelsea shirt for the first time eh? Maybe I'm not so excited afterall then!
I'm probably not the only one in the world who likes a flutter on the football and I do like an anti-post bet on who is going to win all the leagues. Looking at this Ladbrokes slip,who would you bung money on this time round?
