In April 2002, I got off my barstool and actually went to see a Manchester United game. The fixture was at Upton Park and I was in the Bobby Moore stand as I was the guest of a West Ham member. United won an very entertaining game 5-3 and Beckham scored a fantastic goal (lob from outside the box). All of this made it very hard to keep my mouth shut....
I don’t agree with Alex Ferguson about everything (Stam, Beckham, RvN) but to make positive, bullish noises on Friday then quietly release the statement that Rooney’s injury ‘involves the joint’ was an absolute master stroke.
Football Shirts Hall Of Shame. Top Left. Coventry City. A true classic.
In response to Chelsea’s recent acquisition of Michael Ballack and continued pursuit of Schevchenko, Manchester United are widening the search for a world class striker to replace Ruud van Nistelrooy. Damn. We so nearly got him.
Oh no. The first pictures are starting to circulate. Stop it. Stop it now. Please stop it.
With apologies to Mr. Kipling (who does bake exceedingly good cakes) and Tele Savalas ‘If’ - a poem by Arsene Wenger of North London. If UEFA had changed the rules of football for all games played on 17 May 2006 If the referee hadn’t been a Barcelona supporter If the idiotic, Norwegian linesman had been allowed to officiate and flag the first goal offside If Lehman had still been on the pitch, he would have saved both goals If D’Artagnan had been allowed to stay on the pitch If the Barca goalkeeper hadn’t tipped Lundberg’s shot over the bar If poor Thierry hadn’t been so tired, he would have definitely scored that goal...
Oracle ‘A’ lister and Scottish football fan, Doug Burns, was celebrating last night as he hoisted the inaugural ‘Champions League Bingo’ trophy aloft in an Edinburgh pub. Burns commented: ‘Obviously I am surprised and delighted to win this cup. I had never played before but the cliches just kept on coming. It was unbelievable. I was in a noisy pub and I had to ask the barstaff to pump up the volume and my friends to stop talking but it was worth it’....
To liven up tonights Champions League Final between Arsenal and Barcelona, score the following number of points for each and every mention of the following: 1 - The English clubs who have won the European Cup (MUFC, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest). Score double for Aston Villa. 2 - The Scottish club who have won the European Cup (Celtic). 2 - Patrick Viera. 3 - Sol Campbell’s ‘state of mind’. 4 - The fact that Barcelona have only lifted the trophy once....
Rooney will (and should not) play no part whatsoever. He should not even travel. Eriksson should play 4-5-1 with Owen upfront if fit. Otherwise Defoe. Midfield of Gerrard, Lampard, Cole and Beckham with Carrick in holding role. Eriksson has absolutely nothing to lose. He is leaving so why should he give a hoot what the public/media think. However, he will care and will play Crouch/Owen upfront with a lop-sided midfield and England will be lucky to get out of the group stages....
People often ask me “Norman - when will you be updating your award-winning ‘Sport bars of Europe ‘meme’ ?” No. 2 - The Irish Rover Stroget, Copenhagen Satellite feed - RTE. Thankfully, we were spared Tyler’s orgasmic ‘ON REEE !’ Food feed - Irish Rover Burger (inevitably). Just like a standard burger in a English pub. Smoke feed - Intense. Peaked around the time of the missed penalty. Beer feed - Carls Special and Tuborg substituted at half-time for Leffe....