I happened to be in Macclesfield at the weekend and went over to the Crematorium to see Ian Curtis' plaque.
I was never fortunate enough to ever see Joy Division live but I vividly remember returning from a United game and watching them perform 'Transmission' and 'She's Lost Control' on a local TV program 'Something Else'.
Ian Curtis was a very ill man and hanged himself on the eve of a US tour.
His wife, Deborah, wrote a very interesting book about their life that describes him very differently from the tragic, angst ridden hero portrayed in the media.
One myth claimed that Ian Curtis committed suicide, standing on a block of ice but this is completely untrue.
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.
I dearly wish I had not opened a newspaper this weekend.
The image of John
Prescott receiving sexual gratification from his secretary, while simultaneously reviewing a Whitepaper on the environment, is one I am desperately trying to expunge from my consciousness.
British Airways are taking
steps to move the queues from the conventional check-in desks on UK domestic flights to queues at the self-service kiosks and even lengthier queues at the 'Fast Bag Drop' desk which will be renamed 'Bag Drop' to comply with the Trades Description Act.
This is good news and it will be interesting to see the effects but please take
care when printing your board pass.
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.
