Portugal Were Glued, Stitched And Morocco-Bound
Metier’s amazing company accountant; Brian used to use a phrase of screwed, glued and tattooed, when a person or company was in trouble with the authorities and they would have to pay up.
My father was a printer and bookbinder and after today’s World Cup match between Portugal and Morocco, he’d have come up with an appropriate phrase like glued, stitched and Morocco-bound.
Note that both Brian and my father had a lot of the real East End about them.
It’s Hugo Lloris vs Jordan Pickford And There’s Only One Winner
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on The Telegraph.
This is the introductory paragraph.
By most measures, Jordan Pickford has been the better keeper than Hugo Lloris this season — especially when it comes to penalties
The Telegraph uses statistics from a specialist goalkeeping statistics site, which is called Goalkeeper-XG.
So I would tend to put a high level of trust in their deductions.
I found the Telegraph article, when I was looking for any article about the two team captains, Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris, who both play for Tottenham Hotspur, where Lloris is captain.
I also suspect that in training.
- Harry Kane has probably scored more penalties than any other player has against Hugo Lloris.
- Hugo Lloris has probably saved more penalties than any other keeper from Harry Kane.
The two players probably know each other’s strengths and weaknesses well and in addition.
- Eric Dier of Tottenham has played many games in front of Lloris, is also in the England team.
- I suspect several of the England team have taken penalties or been in one-on-one situations with the French goalkeeper in Premier League games.
- Some England players may feel they have scores to settle, after Lloris denied them of a goal, because of a superb save.
All of this information, will be powerful in the hands and minds of England’s coaches and psychologists.
On the other hand, with the notable exception of Olivier Giroud, I suspect that only a handful of the French players have faced Jordan Pickford in a goal-scoring opportunity.
I feel that the battle of the goalkeepers will be key tonight.
What A Depressing Opening Game For A World Cup!
I’m sure that the game would be more exciting if Hartlepool and Forfar had been asked to put on an exhibition match.
I think the score was three-nil to Ecuador, as like the BBC panel, I can’t see any fault with the goal that was disallowed by VAR. But then like the BBC panel, I haven’t accepted any brown envelopes!
Qatar World Cup: It Is Hard To Know What Is Real At An Ever Creepier Tournament
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on The Times, which has been written by Owen Slot, who is Chief Sports Writer of The Times.
This is the sub-heading to the article.
It is a disgrace that, less than a month before kick-off, we still don’t know how many workers died in the construction of the facilities
I agree with Owen Slot.
The article also details what I consider to be other dubious practices.
Fans from around the world have been recruited as a PR army to report anything derogatory to Qatar.
This is a paragraph from the report.
This is the part in the agreement where these recruits are obliged, effectively, to spy on their fellow fans: “You agree to report any offensive, degrading or abusive comments to the SC and, if possible, to take a screenshot of those comments and then promptly delete them.”
The SC is The Qatar Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.
I can see this and Qatar’s views on human rights, homosexuality and alcohol, leading to serious trouble.
On my several trips abroad to support football teams, there has general been good humour and manners between the two groups of fans.
One trip, that fans on the way out might go terribly badly was England’s trip to Belarus in October 2008.
Everything went well because everyone wanted a good time and gestures on both sides diffused tensions.
- The good people of Minsk helped visiting fans navigate the city.
- A group of us were made very welcome in their excellent War Museum.
- British fans laid a St. George’s Cross wreath on the War Memorial, which was much appreciated.
- The Belarussian police were passing local kids into the England fans to get their programmes signed.
- The hotel were excellent with my gluten-free food, after I gave them instructions in Russian.
- Several locals engaged me in conversation to test their English.
I also wrote a piece for the East Anglian Daily Times about the trip. It is in two parts.
Belarus to me indicates how the good people of a country, with help from a sensible police, can still organise things in a friendly manner.
A German View Of The Euro 2022 Final
This article on DW.COM is German View of the match.
Ukraine Crisis: Fifa And Uefa Suspend All Russian Clubs And National Teams
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This first paragraph says it all.
Russian football clubs and national teams have been suspended from all competitions by Fifa and Uefa after the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
It looks like it is a complete ban from both Fifa and Uefa.
Vlad the Invader/Mad/Poisoner (Delete as appropriate!), is reportedly not amused.
My father, who had something to do with the League of Nations, felt that we didn’t act soon enough over Hitler and Stalin and I could argue we should have acted with tough sanctions after Putin annexed Crimea in 2014.
Ukraine Conflict: Champions League Final Moved from Russia To Paris
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
UEFA has done the right thing!
How will Putin get his own back on UEFA?
He could stage the Anti-Nazi World Cup by inviting Belarus, Brazil, China, Cuba, Iran, Kazakstan, Myanmar, Syria, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
London To Edinburgh On Lumo
Yesterday, I took the 10:45 Lumo service from King’s Cross to Edinburgh.
I took some pictures on the way.
I have split them into sepate topics.
Lumo’s Class 803 Train Arrives
Note.
- The train is in Platform 10 in the old suburban station.
- This has now been reduced to just two platforms.
- In the other platform is a Grand Central service to Bradford Interchange station.
At least it appears, that there could be space to reinstate a third platform, if it should prove necessary.
Seating On Lumo
Note.
- I didn’t get a seat with a proper window.
- The seat-back table is generously-sized.
- There is a light over the table.
- The luggage racks were well used.
- There is more than normal leg-room. My neighbour, who was taller than my 1.70 metres, also liked the leg-room.
Both of us, thought the seats were more comfortable than LNER.
I have a spine that curves outwards at the bottom and it often objects to train and car seats. But after four-and-a-half hours on Lumo, it wasn’t protesting.
York to Church Fenton Improvement Scheme
When the York To Church Fenton Improvement Scheme and the closely related Huddersfield To Westtown (Dewsbury) Upgrade are completed, the TransPennine route between Huddersfield and York will be fully-electrified.
These pictures show the electrification is underway.
York to Huddersfield will be over forty miles of electrified line, with a remaining gap of just eighteen miles to the electrification being installed between Stalybridge and Manchester Victoria.
Work At Reston Station
Reston station is being built North of Berwick-on-Tweed. I took these pictures as we passed through.
I describe the station in a post called A New Reston Station.
Arrival In Edinburgh
I took these pictures when we arrived in Edinburgh.
Note Edinburgh is not short of platforms that can take five- and ten-car trains.
These are a few other thoughts about the journey.
Non-Stop Between King’s Cross And Newcastle
It seemed to me, that a lot of passengers left the train at Newcastle.
- Times between King’s Cross And Newcastle are comparable betyween LNER and Lumo.
- Lumo is non-stop until Newcastle.
- Lumo is probably more affordable.
I can see Lumo picking up a lot of business on this leg.
Football At Newcastle
I have come across several Newcastle United season ticket holders in London.
Looking at Lumo’s full timetable, there are these two trains on a Saturday.
- A train leaves King’s Cross at 10:25 and arrives in Newcastle at 13:25.
- A train leaves Newcastle at 19:35 and arrives in King’s Cross at 22:29.
These could be ideal to see the match and get back to London.
Food
The full food service isn’t in operation yet, but we the trolley did come through twice.
Passenger Loading
Most seats were taken, as we left King’s Cross, but due to high number, who left at Newcastle, there were a few gaps as we ran between Newcastle and Edinburgh.
But then this is a shorter leg and perhaps travellers are more likely to drive.
I suspect that Lumo can’t wait to build up their service to the full five trains per day, as it does look like the demand is there.
Morpeth Station
There wasn’t many boarders and leavers at Morpeth station, but as services build up and travellers realise the system is there, will business increase?
Conclusion
I shall take another trip in the New Year, when the full service is implemented.
A Memory Of Jimmy Greaves
I have many memories of seeing Greaves play, but i some ways one memory stands out, as I’ve never seen anybody else do anything similar.
As a game was approaching ninety minutes, Greaves was preparing to take an inswinging corner from the right, as he often did in his latter years at Tottenham.
But the referee blew for time.
Greaves then picked up the ball and bounced it in front of himself. He then kicked it in to the middle, hit the penalty spot and as he’d applied so much spin, the ball rolled into the goal.
I have never seen another player, who controlled the ball as well as Greaves.
Metrolink Tram Drivers To Strike After ‘Pitiful’ Pay Offer
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railnews.
The strikes will be on the 25th and 26th September, which coincide with a Manchester United home match and the Great Manchester Run.
It would appear that Unite’s new boss; Sharon Graham means business. And in Manchester’s case, a drop in business activity for two days.
I wonder how many extra tonnes of carbon dioxide will be emitted in Manchester on each day of the strike, as people swap from the electric trams to their cars.
The Anonymous Widower 