Monday, September 29, 2008
Congratulations
Congratulations to Tim Feldbruegge and his wife EB on the birth of triplets! Bloody hell, can you imagine? All boys there names are John Frasier, Charles Ryan and Samuel Joseph. Blimey I would have thought three names would have been hard to pick!
Week 6 reminder
Ok, remember this is last week's action not the weekend just gone.
On the Saturday Zola's reign at Upton Park got off to a good start, the Hammers even owned all the players on the pitch according to Scott Duxbury, oh. Di Michele scoring twice and Etherington getting the other as they beat Newcastle 3-1. Don't panic Joe Kinnear is coming.
Chopra, fresh out of Betty Ford scored twice, not with Betty but for Sunderland at home to Boro. Stoke held on for dear life at home to Liverpool to draw 0-0. Arsenal won convincingly at Bolton and Matt Derbyshire's late goal beat Foolham.
On the Sunday Villa won 2-1 at the Hawthorns, Spudz and Wigan played out a relegation battle and both won a point each, whilst the other relegation candidate Man U scraped a vital point at Stamford Bridge. Park and Kalou scoring the goals. Utd had 19 players booked. Hull drew 2-2 on Humberside and Man City went all out attack and stuffed Pompey 6-0. Jo, Dunne, Robinho, Wright, Phillips, Evans and Gelson scored. Hang on, isn't that 7?
On the Saturday Zola's reign at Upton Park got off to a good start, the Hammers even owned all the players on the pitch according to Scott Duxbury, oh. Di Michele scoring twice and Etherington getting the other as they beat Newcastle 3-1. Don't panic Joe Kinnear is coming.
Chopra, fresh out of Betty Ford scored twice, not with Betty but for Sunderland at home to Boro. Stoke held on for dear life at home to Liverpool to draw 0-0. Arsenal won convincingly at Bolton and Matt Derbyshire's late goal beat Foolham.
On the Sunday Villa won 2-1 at the Hawthorns, Spudz and Wigan played out a relegation battle and both won a point each, whilst the other relegation candidate Man U scraped a vital point at Stamford Bridge. Park and Kalou scoring the goals. Utd had 19 players booked. Hull drew 2-2 on Humberside and Man City went all out attack and stuffed Pompey 6-0. Jo, Dunne, Robinho, Wright, Phillips, Evans and Gelson scored. Hang on, isn't that 7?
Whose likely to challenge?
Breaking News 88888 The N&R FL League Table
6 weeks gone and Goonersmoan still sit proudly on top - come on Rutts, this is your year. In fact the top 4 each remain unchanged. Student Ninjas move into 5th, with Brighton Blues up 4 to 7th.
But it's outside the top 10 that I want to look this week. In 13th and 14th lie two annual title contenders, Soozie and Roubles. Then comes another fairly consistent player Aaron and his Torres Rosso in 15th. In 16th is Doyley's Ginger Rapids, also lets not forget a previous champ.
Further down the charts Danny's Arsene Knows have shed loads of fantasy experience, as does Lamb to the Slaughter. Behind them potential challengers that lie in wait are Elland (Glad) Back and the USA! USA! USA!'s Guinness and eggs. Two old stalwarts that have started slowly but we'd expect to be nearer the top than the bottom come May are Bollo*ks to insurance and Paris Eagles.
Who are you calling Big Nose, Boys on tour and Team GB have each had a crap start and the less said about the Champions the better, but watch them move up the table as the pressure mounts and if I had to pluck a new boy or girl out this season I would say either Dynamo Kebab or St Mirnoff FC to be up there at the action end of the season.
6 weeks gone and Goonersmoan still sit proudly on top - come on Rutts, this is your year. In fact the top 4 each remain unchanged. Student Ninjas move into 5th, with Brighton Blues up 4 to 7th.
But it's outside the top 10 that I want to look this week. In 13th and 14th lie two annual title contenders, Soozie and Roubles. Then comes another fairly consistent player Aaron and his Torres Rosso in 15th. In 16th is Doyley's Ginger Rapids, also lets not forget a previous champ.
Further down the charts Danny's Arsene Knows have shed loads of fantasy experience, as does Lamb to the Slaughter. Behind them potential challengers that lie in wait are Elland (Glad) Back and the USA! USA! USA!'s Guinness and eggs. Two old stalwarts that have started slowly but we'd expect to be nearer the top than the bottom come May are Bollo*ks to insurance and Paris Eagles.
Who are you calling Big Nose, Boys on tour and Team GB have each had a crap start and the less said about the Champions the better, but watch them move up the table as the pressure mounts and if I had to pluck a new boy or girl out this season I would say either Dynamo Kebab or St Mirnoff FC to be up there at the action end of the season.
No. 27 to go
Breaking News 88888 Week 6 scoresAfter a great start Team Chong bounced back into the big time in week 6. Danny tied for MoW with Paris Eagles, both Barry and Dan scoring a lowly 27. Brighton Blues kept up their Hull-like start to the season with 26, the same as Soozie Saveall, nee Syrett.
Five teams then managed 25 points. Student Ninjas stay in the top 5, while In Tatters, Bollo*ks to insurance, Bingo FC and Lovejoy all improve their positions. League leader Goonersmoan had another fine week scoring 24, same as Loads of Roubles, Shinawatras Dream and Curbishley is s**t.
The week's lowest score was by Michael Stout's No hopers, who slipped in just 3.
Bermuda Triangle
I know you lot worry about my well being. Of course I often pour my heart out on here, but that would mean you'd have to decipher the Charlton crap, best avoided probably.
I've been here about 10 weeks now and am finally getting more settled. I suppose it took me a lot longer in Chicago, 6 months I would say before I really appreciated the enormity of what I'd done. But this time around, as I would have hoped, it's been a lot quicker.
Bermuda is like living in a bubble though a surreal place where work and holiday intertwine. There is no getting away from the sea, you can see it from almost everywhere as Bermuda is only a mile and a half wide at it's widest point. Office life is like any other, but commuting by ferry makes me realise that this is no normal place.
I've compared Bermuda to like living in an English village 20 years ago except with 10,000% inflation. The post comes when the postman feels like it, the shops shut on a Sunday and mostly only open 9 to 5 midweek. The banks shut at 4pm! Everyone says hello to each other, the television is rubbish and a pet cat being run over is front page of the newspaper.
For me what I have really liked is the market community, that doesn't exist in Chicago. Here with the market made up of Brits, Americans, Canadians and Bermudians the market has more of a buzz about it and weirdly at every turn of a street corner I recognise a face from the past. Often not their name, but their face. If you wondered where that bloke went you used to see at ABC syndicate, at Cannon St station or in The Lamb everyday, well more than likely he is here.
Bermuda, a bubble full of new capital and old faces. It is really all the same except for the sound of the waves.....
I've been here about 10 weeks now and am finally getting more settled. I suppose it took me a lot longer in Chicago, 6 months I would say before I really appreciated the enormity of what I'd done. But this time around, as I would have hoped, it's been a lot quicker.
Bermuda is like living in a bubble though a surreal place where work and holiday intertwine. There is no getting away from the sea, you can see it from almost everywhere as Bermuda is only a mile and a half wide at it's widest point. Office life is like any other, but commuting by ferry makes me realise that this is no normal place.
I've compared Bermuda to like living in an English village 20 years ago except with 10,000% inflation. The post comes when the postman feels like it, the shops shut on a Sunday and mostly only open 9 to 5 midweek. The banks shut at 4pm! Everyone says hello to each other, the television is rubbish and a pet cat being run over is front page of the newspaper.
For me what I have really liked is the market community, that doesn't exist in Chicago. Here with the market made up of Brits, Americans, Canadians and Bermudians the market has more of a buzz about it and weirdly at every turn of a street corner I recognise a face from the past. Often not their name, but their face. If you wondered where that bloke went you used to see at ABC syndicate, at Cannon St station or in The Lamb everyday, well more than likely he is here.
Bermuda, a bubble full of new capital and old faces. It is really all the same except for the sound of the waves.....
Photograph of the week
Actually not sure which made me laugh more. Roy Kinnear or the new Newcastle manager! Friday, September 26, 2008
Payment please
If you still owe money for this season, then please can you arrange payment in one of the following three ways:
1) Pass either cash or a cheque to Ready.
2) Put the funds into my bank account as follows:
Simon J Newport
NatWest
Sort Code56 00 18
A/C no. 08164193
3) Send a cheque to me at my parents at the following address:
8 Paddock Gardens
Wannock
Polegate
E Sussex
BN26 5PW
Thank you.
1) Pass either cash or a cheque to Ready.
2) Put the funds into my bank account as follows:
Simon J Newport
NatWest
Sort Code56 00 18
A/C no. 08164193
3) Send a cheque to me at my parents at the following address:
8 Paddock Gardens
Wannock
Polegate
E Sussex
BN26 5PW
Thank you.
Rant over
None of my business, but after my recent rant about the state of our game and the fat getting more ignorant and all that, bloody congratulations to Sheffield United and Kevin McCabe on 'winning' their independent tribunal decision on overturning the Premier League's Carlos Tevez decision not to deduct points from West Ham but to fine them a derisory and frankly cowardly sum of £5.5m instead.
Amazingly chief liar Scott Duxbury is still the chief executive of West Ham, Terry Brown is still counting his £33m, Paul Aldridge is proving that liars can still get the best jobs as chief operating officer of nouveau riche Man City, Kia Joorabchian is still advising the Hammers on transfers, Richard Scudamore earns over a £1m as the Premier League's chief executive and the three old buffers Lord Griffiths, Judge Sir Anthony Colman and Robert Englehart QC are probably still trying to get tonight's dinner out of their beard. The word incompetence does not do these fools justice.
I have nothing against West Ham, in fact I've always had a bit of a soft spot for them, but the list of idiots above have hammered (no pun intended) another huge flaming nail into the coffin containing the game that we love.
Amazingly chief liar Scott Duxbury is still the chief executive of West Ham, Terry Brown is still counting his £33m, Paul Aldridge is proving that liars can still get the best jobs as chief operating officer of nouveau riche Man City, Kia Joorabchian is still advising the Hammers on transfers, Richard Scudamore earns over a £1m as the Premier League's chief executive and the three old buffers Lord Griffiths, Judge Sir Anthony Colman and Robert Englehart QC are probably still trying to get tonight's dinner out of their beard. The word incompetence does not do these fools justice.
I have nothing against West Ham, in fact I've always had a bit of a soft spot for them, but the list of idiots above have hammered (no pun intended) another huge flaming nail into the coffin containing the game that we love.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Quick fire
Breaking News 88888 Week 5 scores
Brian Rutter has always been known as a quick starter and according to my sources in Bangkok, a bit of a quick finisher too! However after just 4 scoring weeks Bri's Goonersmoan has had 3 excellent weeks and fully deserves the N&R fiver for MoW last week hitting a season-best 67, 11 more than 2nd best 2Infinity & beyond. Pot Noodle scored well as did Pk's Tellywacker's Bukkake Marathon and Lamb to the slaughter.
Also worth a mention in a tough week was Francey's Keep the faith, a very apt name indeed, although I believe it was originally named after his beloved Brighton and not AIG. Gooner win League, Student Ninja's, Beaver Ruin, Load of Roubles, Paris Eagles and Glasgow kiss all deserved a mention in dispatches.
Not Mark's Champions, who followed week 3's 0 points with 1 in week 5.
Brian Rutter has always been known as a quick starter and according to my sources in Bangkok, a bit of a quick finisher too! However after just 4 scoring weeks Bri's Goonersmoan has had 3 excellent weeks and fully deserves the N&R fiver for MoW last week hitting a season-best 67, 11 more than 2nd best 2Infinity & beyond. Pot Noodle scored well as did Pk's Tellywacker's Bukkake Marathon and Lamb to the slaughter.
Also worth a mention in a tough week was Francey's Keep the faith, a very apt name indeed, although I believe it was originally named after his beloved Brighton and not AIG. Gooner win League, Student Ninja's, Beaver Ruin, Load of Roubles, Paris Eagles and Glasgow kiss all deserved a mention in dispatches.
Not Mark's Champions, who followed week 3's 0 points with 1 in week 5.
AIG
Many of us have worked some long hours this week as we navigate the latest insurance disaster to be thrown at us. As I said to someone yesterday "Whoever said insurance is boring?"
In fact if you'd only entered the insurance industry at the turn of the century, then you'd have already faced 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Spitzer and now the AIG financial crisis.
Thing is in these times though is to remember the people, just like some of the poor sods who worked for that fat bastard at Independent many years back. There are some great people at AIG, quite a lot of whom form part of the N&R FL and we are proud to have you on here.
Ready is in Thailand this week but from both of us lets hope this all works itself out and that the AIG people and their families come out of it unscathed.
In fact if you'd only entered the insurance industry at the turn of the century, then you'd have already faced 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Spitzer and now the AIG financial crisis.
Thing is in these times though is to remember the people, just like some of the poor sods who worked for that fat bastard at Independent many years back. There are some great people at AIG, quite a lot of whom form part of the N&R FL and we are proud to have you on here.
Ready is in Thailand this week but from both of us lets hope this all works itself out and that the AIG people and their families come out of it unscathed.
Week 5 reminder
No games in week 4 due to the world cup qualifying campaign.
In week 5 Man U slipped up again losing at Liverpool in Rafa's first victory over their big rivals. Babel got the winner despite an early Tevez goal, assisted by Berbatov. The Cockney Mafia lost to Hull at St James Park, confused by Mike Ashley as the park in London. Marlon King got two. In the game of the zillionaires, Citeh lost convincingly to Chelski 3-1, this despite Robinho's early free kick.
Arsenal scored four more goals, this time at Ewood. Adebayor helped himself to a hat trick. West Ham lost to West Brom whilst Zola sat in the stand being nice to people around him, even Frank Skinner. Foolham beat Bootem 2-1, Defoe scored two as Pompey beat Boro and Wigan and Sunderland drew 1-1. On Sunday Stoke despite playing for throw-ins so Delap could launch 50-yard throws lost at home in quite a game to Everton. Tim Cahill beating the corner flag up for some reason after he got the winner.
And finally relegation favourites Spurs lost again to Aston Villa 2-1 despite Darren Bent's goal.
In week 5 Man U slipped up again losing at Liverpool in Rafa's first victory over their big rivals. Babel got the winner despite an early Tevez goal, assisted by Berbatov. The Cockney Mafia lost to Hull at St James Park, confused by Mike Ashley as the park in London. Marlon King got two. In the game of the zillionaires, Citeh lost convincingly to Chelski 3-1, this despite Robinho's early free kick.
Arsenal scored four more goals, this time at Ewood. Adebayor helped himself to a hat trick. West Ham lost to West Brom whilst Zola sat in the stand being nice to people around him, even Frank Skinner. Foolham beat Bootem 2-1, Defoe scored two as Pompey beat Boro and Wigan and Sunderland drew 1-1. On Sunday Stoke despite playing for throw-ins so Delap could launch 50-yard throws lost at home in quite a game to Everton. Tim Cahill beating the corner flag up for some reason after he got the winner.
And finally relegation favourites Spurs lost again to Aston Villa 2-1 despite Darren Bent's goal.
No moaning from Rutts
Breaking News 88888 The N&R FL League Table
Rutter's Goonersmoan stepped out in front after week 5. A MoW performance put him 16 points clear of 2 Infinity & Beyond, with Hannoi Utd dropping to 6th. Tellywacker's Bukkake Marathon stay in 3rd with Gooner Win League into 4th and Beaver Ruin FC up to 5th.
Below Ready is Glasgow kiss (*subject to points deduction) with Student Ninjas, Sweaty Palms (down 6) and Pot Noodle Miners FC making up the top 10.
With just 5 weeks gone including a blank one, it is rather scary for us mere mortals to see Plummer, Kelleher, Ready & Down all in the top 10 with Ryan's Sizzling Saveloys Bangers, Danny's Arsene Knows and John's Loads of Roubles just outside.
Big climbers were the Lamb to the Slaughter up 17 places and Keep the faith up 18. A big sinker was Danny's Team Chong who fell 16 points.
Early days of course but Mark Simmons' Champions are having an absolute 'mare.
Rutter's Goonersmoan stepped out in front after week 5. A MoW performance put him 16 points clear of 2 Infinity & Beyond, with Hannoi Utd dropping to 6th. Tellywacker's Bukkake Marathon stay in 3rd with Gooner Win League into 4th and Beaver Ruin FC up to 5th.
Below Ready is Glasgow kiss (*subject to points deduction) with Student Ninjas, Sweaty Palms (down 6) and Pot Noodle Miners FC making up the top 10.
With just 5 weeks gone including a blank one, it is rather scary for us mere mortals to see Plummer, Kelleher, Ready & Down all in the top 10 with Ryan's Sizzling Saveloys Bangers, Danny's Arsene Knows and John's Loads of Roubles just outside.
Big climbers were the Lamb to the Slaughter up 17 places and Keep the faith up 18. A big sinker was Danny's Team Chong who fell 16 points.
Early days of course but Mark Simmons' Champions are having an absolute 'mare.
Sooz and Sav - a match made in N&R heaven
Our first ever Nobby & Ready Fantasy marriage has been announced ladies and gentlemen, Cilla Black will be proud. Soozie Syrett and Ryan Saveall got engaged in Rome at the Trevi Fountain (saved on buying dinner of course) and both Keith and I are very happy to have been the catalyst for this meeting of two people of like fantasy minds. Actually it was probably 10 pints of ordinary at the 2007 end of season pissup in The Lamb, and the fact that Soozie had a very low cut top on that night if I remember, but hey we are taking all the plaudits and have already arranged for us to go out and have a hat made each.
Soozie and Sav are both also previous champions of the N&R FL, a match made in N&R heaven then, and certainly a more attractive one than say Peter Godfrey and Peter Doyle, two other past champs.
Congratulations to both Sooz and Sav - we can't wait for the hen night.
Soozie and Sav are both also previous champions of the N&R FL, a match made in N&R heaven then, and certainly a more attractive one than say Peter Godfrey and Peter Doyle, two other past champs.
Congratulations to both Sooz and Sav - we can't wait for the hen night.
Road to Wembley - Jets fail
Oxhey Jets’ hopes of causing another FA Cup shock were emphatically ended by Dulwich Hamlet.
Having scored five in the previous two rounds, the ball was firmly on the other foot in Saturday’s first round qualifying tie as Hamlet ran out 5-1 victors at the Boundary Stadium. The Ryman League One side were firmly in control of the game by the half-hour mark after DARYL PLUMMER had scored on nine minutes and LAURENT HAMICI had added a 29th-minute penalty.
HAMICI added a third two minutes after the restart before JAMIE ARTHUR gave Jets a glimmer of hope by netting on 54 minutes. But any hopes of a turnaround were ended by PLUMMER's second on 70 minutes before HAMICI completeda fine hat-trick in the last minute.
Hamlet were frankly too good for our Jets, and passed the ball around well. So it is goodbye to the Jets a hello to the Hamlet, who play Hendon at home in the 2nd Qualifying Round on September 27th.
Having scored five in the previous two rounds, the ball was firmly on the other foot in Saturday’s first round qualifying tie as Hamlet ran out 5-1 victors at the Boundary Stadium. The Ryman League One side were firmly in control of the game by the half-hour mark after DARYL PLUMMER had scored on nine minutes and LAURENT HAMICI had added a 29th-minute penalty.
HAMICI added a third two minutes after the restart before JAMIE ARTHUR gave Jets a glimmer of hope by netting on 54 minutes. But any hopes of a turnaround were ended by PLUMMER's second on 70 minutes before HAMICI completeda fine hat-trick in the last minute.
Hamlet were frankly too good for our Jets, and passed the ball around well. So it is goodbye to the Jets a hello to the Hamlet, who play Hendon at home in the 2nd Qualifying Round on September 27th.
Photograph of the week
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Patrick Collins says
Another great writer and Charlton fan incidently. Patrick Collins has spoken sense on the subject of our first love for donkeys years. This is from his most recent outburst in the Mail on Sunday. Click here for full article (courtesy of Rob Munden).
"For the past week has demonstrated that the only people who count are the ones with the deepest pockets. They may know a little, or nothing at all. It doesn't matter. Provided they have the money, they can do as they like, promote whom they choose and dispense with those who displease them, all without check or restraint.
That is the cold reality of English football. It is a ship of fools without a captain, a course or a discernible direction. It has great wealth and no values. It cherishes cheap celebrity and despises its own history. It attracts legions of fellow travellers and alienates those who once loved it most dearly.
He may not appreciate it at the moment but I'd say Kevin Keegan is well out of it."
"For the past week has demonstrated that the only people who count are the ones with the deepest pockets. They may know a little, or nothing at all. It doesn't matter. Provided they have the money, they can do as they like, promote whom they choose and dispense with those who displease them, all without check or restraint.
That is the cold reality of English football. It is a ship of fools without a captain, a course or a discernible direction. It has great wealth and no values. It cherishes cheap celebrity and despises its own history. It attracts legions of fellow travellers and alienates those who once loved it most dearly.
He may not appreciate it at the moment but I'd say Kevin Keegan is well out of it."
Friday, September 12, 2008
Photograph of the week
Blimey, something to be proud off. Even Rio looks like he's enjoying himself. Pity only a few hundred could watch it on Setanta though.Tuesday, September 09, 2008
The Plan
Top of my head - this is what we are going to do this season.
As you have no doubt already realised we have 55 managers all in one big league - no fun there, unless you are near the top. So after week 12 we are going to split up into world cup like qualifying groups. The number of which and how many in each group will take me a bit longer to work out, but week 12 will be the split and each manager will retain their points.
Later in the season, we will determine when everyone comes back together again, but needless to say, the team with the season's most points will be crowned the N&R FL Champion.
New this season will be the Nobby & Ready Cup. Six rounds plus a Final and we will start that near the end of the year. Each round will take place when there is a full schedule of Premiership matches and each team will be drawn out of a hat and be paired in advance. The manager with the most points that week over his opponent, goes through to the next round. Exciting eh?
As you have no doubt already realised we have 55 managers all in one big league - no fun there, unless you are near the top. So after week 12 we are going to split up into world cup like qualifying groups. The number of which and how many in each group will take me a bit longer to work out, but week 12 will be the split and each manager will retain their points.
Later in the season, we will determine when everyone comes back together again, but needless to say, the team with the season's most points will be crowned the N&R FL Champion.
New this season will be the Nobby & Ready Cup. Six rounds plus a Final and we will start that near the end of the year. Each round will take place when there is a full schedule of Premiership matches and each team will be drawn out of a hat and be paired in advance. The manager with the most points that week over his opponent, goes through to the next round. Exciting eh?
10,000 hits
Oh look at that, Nobby & Ready's blog has surpassed 10,000 hits. Not bad since only you saddo's and me look at it. Actually it doesn't even count my visits.
Back in the day Ready and I used to hand deliver newsletters once every couple of weeks. Then we mailed them out, and I actually remember once our office postie jobsworth complaining about me using Aon's postage for them, and then we emailed a word document until four years ago when we found the blog world.
So 10,000 hits equates to about 49 'visits' a week - you're all welcome, keep them coming please.
Back in the day Ready and I used to hand deliver newsletters once every couple of weeks. Then we mailed them out, and I actually remember once our office postie jobsworth complaining about me using Aon's postage for them, and then we emailed a word document until four years ago when we found the blog world.
So 10,000 hits equates to about 49 'visits' a week - you're all welcome, keep them coming please.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Straw Poll
These were the results of last week's straw poll.
Do you think ADUG's takeover of Manchester City is good or bad for the game:
Good: 33% (9 votes)
Bad: 67% (18 votes)
These are a selection of the comments suggesting it was good for the game:
"Kenyon and Abramovich are classless chavs and their club behaves accordingly - no grace or style and sulking humourless oafs. Seeing a bagman like Kenyon getting medals on the pitch with the players in the Champs League final was dreadful and compared horribly with Man U and true english hero Bobby Charlton. Its great to see them lose out and look like the second rate bullies they are." Martin Singleton.
"Good, well not actually good but not necessarily bad. It's no different to any other takeover, United and Chelsea are not exactly owned by Unicef and Amnesty International." Huw Thomas.
"Yes for English Football - possibly not good for Manchester where the has historically only been one real team. Message from friend of mine - In Brazil, United are known as Manchester as no one has heard of City. I think Robinho is in for a shock!!" Mark Simmons
"Good - brings best players in the World to England." Rod Munden
"City's propensity for shambles will remain despite the money pouring in - they are bound to buy loads of duffers (remember Malcolm Allison's tremendous waste of money in the 70's?) and they won't ever win anything serious but they will upset many of the also-rans e.g. Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham etc who think that they will be the next big thing." Singleton again.
And these were some saying it wasn't good:
"Bad – we will see less and less English qualified players in the Premier League and more overseas mercenaries! We are already seeing the effect of this as England struggle to beat Andorra – pathetic!" Francey
"Definately Bad, soon there will be no Top English Clubs in British Control. Having said that, if it brings in cash to spend on players and success, then I guess supporters will be happy short term. But do we really know these guys long term intentions etc - leave dbt ridden clubs when they move onto some other pet project/hobby." Alex Boswell
"Bad - cos I'm fed up of Premier League primadona nonsense that relates not a jot to the football of yesteryear in the good old days!" Rob Munden
"Bad - cos they didn't buy Leeds when we needed them!!!!!" Rob Munden obviously
"Very Bad. What English Football needs is more Americans. I hear the following are interested: Mark Cuban, George W. - he'll be bored come January and T Boone Pickens." John Littig
Do you think ADUG's takeover of Manchester City is good or bad for the game:
Good: 33% (9 votes)
Bad: 67% (18 votes)
These are a selection of the comments suggesting it was good for the game:
"Kenyon and Abramovich are classless chavs and their club behaves accordingly - no grace or style and sulking humourless oafs. Seeing a bagman like Kenyon getting medals on the pitch with the players in the Champs League final was dreadful and compared horribly with Man U and true english hero Bobby Charlton. Its great to see them lose out and look like the second rate bullies they are." Martin Singleton.
"Good, well not actually good but not necessarily bad. It's no different to any other takeover, United and Chelsea are not exactly owned by Unicef and Amnesty International." Huw Thomas.
"Yes for English Football - possibly not good for Manchester where the has historically only been one real team. Message from friend of mine - In Brazil, United are known as Manchester as no one has heard of City. I think Robinho is in for a shock!!" Mark Simmons
"Good - brings best players in the World to England." Rod Munden
"City's propensity for shambles will remain despite the money pouring in - they are bound to buy loads of duffers (remember Malcolm Allison's tremendous waste of money in the 70's?) and they won't ever win anything serious but they will upset many of the also-rans e.g. Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham etc who think that they will be the next big thing." Singleton again.
And these were some saying it wasn't good:
"Bad – we will see less and less English qualified players in the Premier League and more overseas mercenaries! We are already seeing the effect of this as England struggle to beat Andorra – pathetic!" Francey
"Definately Bad, soon there will be no Top English Clubs in British Control. Having said that, if it brings in cash to spend on players and success, then I guess supporters will be happy short term. But do we really know these guys long term intentions etc - leave dbt ridden clubs when they move onto some other pet project/hobby." Alex Boswell
"Bad - cos I'm fed up of Premier League primadona nonsense that relates not a jot to the football of yesteryear in the good old days!" Rob Munden
"Bad - cos they didn't buy Leeds when we needed them!!!!!" Rob Munden obviously
"Very Bad. What English Football needs is more Americans. I hear the following are interested: Mark Cuban, George W. - he'll be bored come January and T Boone Pickens." John Littig
Rod Liddle says
I now have the delight to spend my Sunday mornings with The Sunday Times, thanks to an ingenious idea where full copies of international newspapers are digitially printed on a broadsheet format and delivered to your front door wherever you live. It is $10 well spent.
I expect many of you lot are Sunday Sport people, and who can blame you, but me I love the old Sunday Times, particularly writers such as AA Gill, Simon Barnes, Martin Johnson, Giles Smith, Hugh McIlvanney and in particular Rod Liddle.
So for those of you that miss Mr Liddle's cutting comments on the state of today's game, many of which mirror my own, I thought I would start a new series of quotes, linking to Liddle's full article.
"It seems the manager (Alan Curbishley) had a strip torn off him by one of his players in the dressing room following West Ham’s fortuitous victory over Blackburn last week. Curbishley had ventured to suggest that his team had seemed intent, for the second time in three games, on chucking away a two-goal lead. What nerve, what cheek, of a manager to say such a thing! One player shouted at him that the team had “kept you in a job” by their magnanimity in occasionally contriving to win matches. This was the club captain, Lucas Neill, who was well renowned for his consuming arrogance even when he played for Millwall. The same Lucas Neill awarded an outrageous wage packet by Curbishley when he arrived from Blackburn and which he earned by sitting on his arse for three months with a knee injury."
Read full story here.
I expect many of you lot are Sunday Sport people, and who can blame you, but me I love the old Sunday Times, particularly writers such as AA Gill, Simon Barnes, Martin Johnson, Giles Smith, Hugh McIlvanney and in particular Rod Liddle.
So for those of you that miss Mr Liddle's cutting comments on the state of today's game, many of which mirror my own, I thought I would start a new series of quotes, linking to Liddle's full article.
"It seems the manager (Alan Curbishley) had a strip torn off him by one of his players in the dressing room following West Ham’s fortuitous victory over Blackburn last week. Curbishley had ventured to suggest that his team had seemed intent, for the second time in three games, on chucking away a two-goal lead. What nerve, what cheek, of a manager to say such a thing! One player shouted at him that the team had “kept you in a job” by their magnanimity in occasionally contriving to win matches. This was the club captain, Lucas Neill, who was well renowned for his consuming arrogance even when he played for Millwall. The same Lucas Neill awarded an outrageous wage packet by Curbishley when he arrived from Blackburn and which he earned by sitting on his arse for three months with a knee injury."
Read full story here.
Photograph of the week
Some Manc happy with life outside 'Middle Eastlands' after it was announced that Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan's oil filthy rich backed Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) bought Man City from Thaksin Shinawatra over a latte at a Costa Coffee outlet near Dubai airport.
Week 3 reminder
Ok, here we go. A quick run down of last week's matches. Chelsea were held by the Spudz at home after Darren Bent equalised Belletti's first half opener. On the same day Liverpool drew at Villa Park and noveaux riche Man City were in sparkling form as Shaun Wright Phillips scored twice at Sunderland in a 3-0 win.
Arsenal beat those lovable rogues Newcastle 3-0, Pompey won big at Goodison with Defore scoring twice, despite Crouch trying to nick one of his goals. The goals continued to fly in as Wigan hit 5 at Hull and West Ham beat Blackburn 4-1 with two late goals. Curbs would have been pleas... Oh.
Boro beat Stoke 2-1, who had that useless piece of shit Amdy Faye sent off and in the only goalless game of the week, the Baggies drew 0-0 at Bolton.
Arsenal beat those lovable rogues Newcastle 3-0, Pompey won big at Goodison with Defore scoring twice, despite Crouch trying to nick one of his goals. The goals continued to fly in as Wigan hit 5 at Hull and West Ham beat Blackburn 4-1 with two late goals. Curbs would have been pleas... Oh.
Boro beat Stoke 2-1, who had that useless piece of shit Amdy Faye sent off and in the only goalless game of the week, the Baggies drew 0-0 at Bolton.
Sausage in hand
Breaking News 88888 Week 3 scores
Sweaty Palms and Soozies Succulent Sizzlers engenders all kinds of lurid headlines and stories, so I will try to refrain. However together they enjoyed a good old gang banger (nope, couldn't do it) in week 3, after both managers claimed the season's best score so far of 61, a solitary point more than Tallywacker's Bukkake Marathon. Thank god Paul didn't score 61 as well, is all I can say.
Goonersmoan kept up their great start by scoring 58, as did Hannoi Utd (54) and 2Infinity & Beyond (56). Steve Black's Guinness and eggs also performed cracking in a half century.
The week's lowest score was Mark Simmons' Champions, probably because his team contains 11 players who all happened to be in Monaco at the time!
Sweaty Palms and Soozies Succulent Sizzlers engenders all kinds of lurid headlines and stories, so I will try to refrain. However together they enjoyed a good old gang banger (nope, couldn't do it) in week 3, after both managers claimed the season's best score so far of 61, a solitary point more than Tallywacker's Bukkake Marathon. Thank god Paul didn't score 61 as well, is all I can say.
Goonersmoan kept up their great start by scoring 58, as did Hannoi Utd (54) and 2Infinity & Beyond (56). Steve Black's Guinness and eggs also performed cracking in a half century.
The week's lowest score was Mark Simmons' Champions, probably because his team contains 11 players who all happened to be in Monaco at the time!
Ready & Rutts top but Simmo bottom
Breaking News 88888 The N&R FL League Table
Ready's Hannoi Utd join Rutt's Arsenal laden Goonersmoan at the top of the N&R FL. Ready cashed in large in week 3 and moved up from 18th place. Brian made even a bigger leap up from 23rd.
Behind the big two fellas is low and behold the current champ, Pk, and his Tallywacker's Bukkake Marathon. He is joint 4th with Andy Murray look-e-like Lee Baughan. Sweaty Palms had a wonder week, and what odds do other managers give me on Lee finishing bottom?
The three most consistent teams in this embryonic season are Gooner Win League, Glasgow Kiss and Beaver Ruin, and they occupy 5th and 6th. Next up are two other previous winners Ryan Saveall and Barry Plummer. Sizzling Saveloys Bangers and 2Infinity & beyond sandwich Aaron's Torres Rosso.
At the bottom, Dave's Curbishley is s**t are off the bottom - Dave if you want to change your team name to Curbishley is s****d, or Zola is s**t, then just let us know! The big news is that Mark Simmons' Champions currently sit in bottom and 55th place - probably we'd expect the first time that has ever happened.
Ready's Hannoi Utd join Rutt's Arsenal laden Goonersmoan at the top of the N&R FL. Ready cashed in large in week 3 and moved up from 18th place. Brian made even a bigger leap up from 23rd.
Behind the big two fellas is low and behold the current champ, Pk, and his Tallywacker's Bukkake Marathon. He is joint 4th with Andy Murray look-e-like Lee Baughan. Sweaty Palms had a wonder week, and what odds do other managers give me on Lee finishing bottom?
The three most consistent teams in this embryonic season are Gooner Win League, Glasgow Kiss and Beaver Ruin, and they occupy 5th and 6th. Next up are two other previous winners Ryan Saveall and Barry Plummer. Sizzling Saveloys Bangers and 2Infinity & beyond sandwich Aaron's Torres Rosso.
At the bottom, Dave's Curbishley is s**t are off the bottom - Dave if you want to change your team name to Curbishley is s****d, or Zola is s**t, then just let us know! The big news is that Mark Simmons' Champions currently sit in bottom and 55th place - probably we'd expect the first time that has ever happened.
Friday, September 05, 2008
Road to Wembley - Jet Power
The super Jets brushed Ilford to one side in Saturday's Preliminary Round by knocking in another 5 goals. 93 people saw the home side were quick off the mark and found themselves two goals up within 16 minutes.
The superior movement of Jets' front pairing was too much for Ilford anadvice cost Ilford dear. Lee Grace knocked the ball into the area, Paul Turner won the near post header and the ball fell to TIM O'MARA on the far post who stabbed home the opener. The 2nd came when Tim O’Mara turned provider, breaking the offside trap when running onto a through ball from Paul Turner, then drawing the keeper and defender before squaring for JAMIE ARTHUR to tap into an empty net.
The Essex boys did have some good spells of possession but just after the break Jets made it game over when PAUL TURNER finished off a Lee Grace cross at the back post.
Ilford pulled one back through a THOMAS header. But Oxhey booked their place when Tim O’Mara went clear on the right wing with a through ball from Nathan Roberts and, in a copy cat move to the 2nd goal, drew the Ilford defenders before squaring for JAMIE ARTHUR to put away his second of the game and nail the game.
4-1 up but the best was still to come. Jets took the opportunity for substitutions, and on came club 'Legend' GARY PAGE and his ten minute appearance chance was not going to pass without a goal and, after rounding three defenders, he squeezed home a shot between the ‘keeper and the goalpost to make it a day not to forget.
Ilford scored a consolation goal in stoppage time to make the final score 5-2.
The Jets now host one of my old local teams Dulwich Hamlet in the next round.
The superior movement of Jets' front pairing was too much for Ilford anadvice cost Ilford dear. Lee Grace knocked the ball into the area, Paul Turner won the near post header and the ball fell to TIM O'MARA on the far post who stabbed home the opener. The 2nd came when Tim O’Mara turned provider, breaking the offside trap when running onto a through ball from Paul Turner, then drawing the keeper and defender before squaring for JAMIE ARTHUR to tap into an empty net.
The Essex boys did have some good spells of possession but just after the break Jets made it game over when PAUL TURNER finished off a Lee Grace cross at the back post.
Ilford pulled one back through a THOMAS header. But Oxhey booked their place when Tim O’Mara went clear on the right wing with a through ball from Nathan Roberts and, in a copy cat move to the 2nd goal, drew the Ilford defenders before squaring for JAMIE ARTHUR to put away his second of the game and nail the game.
4-1 up but the best was still to come. Jets took the opportunity for substitutions, and on came club 'Legend' GARY PAGE and his ten minute appearance chance was not going to pass without a goal and, after rounding three defenders, he squeezed home a shot between the ‘keeper and the goalpost to make it a day not to forget.
Ilford scored a consolation goal in stoppage time to make the final score 5-2.
The Jets now host one of my old local teams Dulwich Hamlet in the next round.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Rant over
You know I've always been in the not bothered camp when it comes to Curbishley. Yes he gave me one of the most joyous days of my life, and he did sign a book for me once for my son, trouble was I ended up reading it. There is no doubting his legendary Charlton status and deservedly so, but all that "I am a lifelong West Ham fan praps, praps" got on my wick a bit to be quite honest.As for Kevin Keegan, as a young 'un I used to run around the back garden pretending to be both Steve Heighway and King Kev (without the perm), he was the dogs' wasn't he? But that was before I was introduced to one Paddy Powell and Killer Hales.
And despite one being from Mars and the other from Venus in football terms, the two men today probably unknowingly locked arms and gave a collective middle finger to the arse holes who now run our football clubs. And bloody hats off to King Kev and Curbs too.
Newcastle United is nothing short of a tragedy, Shakespeare if he was around today would be writing their matchday programme. West Ham of course, dare we forget is more of an academy than a tragedy but a clever anagrammatist would take but a few seconds to create the same sorry thing.
Once upon a time I would've been laughing my head off at the antics these last few days. Citeh fans wearing keffiyeh's and daydreaming of pre-season tours in the Persian Gulf, Geordies demonstrating on steps outside St James' wearing, well a short sleeved 1980's black and white football top, what else would they be wearing? And the happy Hammers puffing their chests out dreaming of World Cup victories and Trevor Brooking headers but not realising that some Icelandic nobody has leveraged their famous club up to the hilt.
But I am not laughing because the game that we all love and grew up on is no longer our game. These megalomaniac's don't care about us or our communities, the managers who we either boo or sing their name depending on the scoreline no longer hold any power in our football clubs and players, who are paid twice the annual average wage in one week, have the cheek to kiss the badge of the team that we love and think that they are one of us. Well fuck them.
Let them, their debt and their Arabs all poodle off to a European League and play in front of empty seats and empty dreams. Take Sky with them and their badge and arse kissing and the rest of us will do our best to cope without them.
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