What A Difference A Good Win Makes
I went to see Ipswich Town for the first time in a home match for some time.
The trains were actually trains and not buses and the match was worth seeing as Ipswich beat Millwall by three goals to nil.
Let’s hope this sequence of wins continues. I’m off to Leeds on next Saturday.
A Truly European Tournament
I can’t believe that UEFA are being so sensible and proposing that Euro 2020, is going to be organised in a dozen or so European countries.
David Bond, the BBC Sports Editor discusses the various issues here.
In my view the advantages are large, as in a time of austerity, Europe won’t have to build a lot of new stadia. It also gives the smaller countries the chance to stage a few matches.
When did the so-called great and good come up with something sensible like this before?
Starbucks And Glasgow Rangers
I’ve been reading about the tax avoidance measures of Starbucks over the last few days and it looks like they are doing a few things to normalise the situation, according to this article on the BBC.
This could be due to the protests and boycotts mounted by the good old British public.
Now some might think, that Glasgow Rangers have also cheated the tax man, by the use of Employee Benefit Trusts. According to this article on the BBC, the HMRC thinks so and is pursuing what they think should have been paid.
But surely the issue in both cases is fairness. Does their tax situation give Starbucks an advantage over their rivals? Many argue that it does.
And if it is true in Starbucks case, it must be true in that of Glasgow Rangers, as they can pay their players more money.
I would like to see one set of rules applied equally to all companies and individuals.
A Good Day
Seeing Tornado was the start of a good day.
I then took a Virgin Train to Manchester Piccadilly, where I had lunch at Carluccio’s in the station before going to the Reebok stadium to see Ipswich Town at Bolton. Town won 2-1, which was a good result, just like England’s victory in the rugby over New Zealand Although a friend had his pocket picked at Twickenham.
Coming back wasn’t the best part as the train from Bolton to Manchester was just three coaches and far too crowded. This was then followed by a Virgin that was empty in First Class and nearly half-an-hour late into Euston. If you’re going to get problems coming in to London, you can generally rely on Euston to not perform.
Although I eventually found some supper there, Marks and Spencer at Euston, looked as if it had been ravaged by a plague of locusts.
I do wish that someone starts a London to Manchester service from St. Pancras after the line is electrified. But they won’t be allowed to as you mustn’t annoy Saint Richard! Although to be fair, the lateness wasn’t down to Virgin.
The day was also improved as Chelski lost! On the train and in Bolton, no-one had any sympathy for them!
Dutch Footballer In The S-h-1-T
I first heard this story on Radio 5, where it caused a lot of hilarity. Mainly about the Dutch word, wildpoepen, for which there is no English equivalent.
The story is in full, in the Mirror.
Why Can’t I Buy Tickets For England v Brazil?
I’ve bought tickets for England home games in the past, but I can’t even get logged in as a registered England fan to even see if I can purchase tickets. I just get a message saying.
According to our records, you are not eligible to purchase tickets for this event.
I suspected that this could be because I have moved house, since I last bought a ticket.
So I registered as a new England fan at my new address and tried again. And what happened?
I got the same message again.
I wonder why I’m not allowed to buy tickets. I have e-mailed them and guess what? I’ve not received any reply at all.
So it could be that FA doesn’t stand for Football Association, but something else.
Or could it be that I’m too old? Or perhaps someone with the same name as me, is on a banned list?
All I want is a ticket for myself and a couple for friends.
By the time that I get logged in, they might all have gone!
I think, I’ll reach for my solicitor if that happens. I think my human rights have been abused.
BT Will Setup BT Sport On The Olympic Park
There was good news today for Hackney, when BT said that they will run their BT Sport operation from the Broadcast Centre on the Olympic Park. It’s all here on the BBC.
As BSkyB is also London-based, does it not look to have been a bad decision to move BBC Sport to Manchester?
Fabrice Muamba Shows How To Come Back
Fabrice Muamba has made a remarkable recovery from his collapse on the pitch at White Hart Lane, where his heart stopped for 78 minutes.
He’s now going to appear on Strictly Come Dancing at Christmas.
I suspect now that Fabrice will be unlikely t0 die from any form of heart disease, as his doctors will watch him like a hawk and give him the best of care.
The New Chelsea Manager Has Been Given A Contract To 2015
That’s not three years, but about three hours as I write.
Iron Bars
I know it is a serious matter, but it is being reported that Spurs supporters have been attacked in Rome using iron bars. It’s here on the BBC web site. This is an extract.
The owner of the bar, Mario Manzi, told the BBC: “At 1am there were around 30 English fans here, plus some American students, and some Italians.
“At some point, from around the corner, some 40 guys, all wearing helmets, faces covered with scarves, came here, destroyed that window, and came in.
“The English people hid behind here, and everything was destroyed. There were rocks, iron bars, everything.”
He said: “The English fans were very calm, they weren’t even drunk, then these men with heads covered came barging in throwing cobblestones. They had clubs and metal rods. It lasted about 20 minutes.”
Now where do you get iron bars from? Not that I want to get any. But it does seem to be an expression used with violence.
The Anonymous Widower 