Thursday 08 January 2009

There is a darkness deep in you

if, buts and maybes

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

Or, as we say back home

'If my Auntie had bollocks, she would be my Uncle.'

bingo night

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'. Burns secured victory with a superb spot to a reference to Nigel Spinks and Aston Villa's triumph in 1982 (2 points) and a late rally with a flurry of references to 'Should he stay or should he go' (16 points). Doug immediately vacated the scene of his famous victory to continue his celebrations with his Norwegian neighbours. The special 'OOONNN-RRR-EEE' category was judged by celebrity, Tracey Temple, former Diary Secretary to John Prescott.
'Two premature ejaculations in the first 2 minutes within 20 seconds of each other (2 points and 1 point), continual soft moaning for 90 minutes (nul point) and a failure to get it up after 70 minutes (3 points) ending in ultimate disappointment all round. What an anti-climax. Just like a night of passion with the DPM, in fact.'

Champions League bingo

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.
  • 4 - Thierry Henry's future ('Staying'). Score double for 'Going'.
  • 4 - Price of blackmarket tickets outside the stadium.
  • 5 - Idiotic Norwegian linesman who donned a Barcelona shirt.
  • 5 - Arsenal already qualified for Champions League thanks to 'that lasagne'.
  • 5 - He's only played twice this season (Ashley Cole).
  • 10 - 'EEENNN- RRREEE !!!!'. Score double if Martin Tyler actually reaches a climax.
  • 20 - Pitchside analysis at half-time from Townsend/McCoist. Score double if fans manage to drown it out.
  • 20 - Only he (Ronaldinho) could produce that.
  • 25 - Sven Goran Eriksson will be pleased/shocked/worried/annoyed about that. Score double for 'ashamed'.
  • 1000 - Thierry Henry saying 'I'm leaving' in the post match interview.

World Cup prediction time

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.

Ing-er-land

I am sorry Wayne Rooney broke a toe and will miss the World Cup. I am not sorry for England. I am not even sorry for Manchester United. I am sorry for a 20 year old Scouser whose first chance to realise a lifelong dream has been ended. Unlike ten other players wearing red shirts on Saturday, he was making every effort for the entire 93 minutes to score a goal for United against Chelsea. Like the rest of the United players (Gary Neville excepted) he could have just gone through the motions, watched the ball pass by, play out time and applaud the United fans as he trudged off Stamford Bridge. But no - even with three minutes left of a meaningless game in a season of failure that is now finally over, Wayne Rooney was still trying his heart out and making every physical effort to drive the team forward.