Off to Nottingham Today
Ipswich are at Forest today and I’m going.
It will be a train from Dullingham to Cambridge and then I change at Leicester for Nottingham getting there just after three hours on the train.
Coming back is again about three hours with changes at Ely and Cambridge from where I’ll get a taxi if I’m tired. Or I might go to Carluccio’s for supper and then get a taxi home.
It all depends on how I feel after the match!
Portsmouth on the Brink
I’m glad that I visited Fratton Park earlier in the season, as it looks like the club may not come out of administration according to this report on the BBC.
Wayne’s Crazy World!
Why is it that when we get a home-grown football superstar, in many cases it all ends in tears?
It’s not just the Paul Gascoignes and George Bests of this world, but every decade has had its fair share of footballers with drink, drugs, gambling, marriage or other personal problems. But there are many others, whose indeiscretions and problems are just those that effect us all. I remember talking to one ex-footballer, who said that he’d kept his nose clean, saved a lot of his money wisely and been able to get a good life after he retired. He felt that life had been good to him.
So why when Wayne has it all at his feet, does he throw a big wobbly at Manchester United. If I were Sir Alex, I’d seriously give consideration to letting him go to another club. But then, that club might just be Manchester City, who let’s face it could afford any player, who thought money was more important than playing football.
But Rooney has often struck me as a bit of an idiot. I seem to remember that he recently took up smoking. If that is true, my case is proven!
So perhaps, Sir Alex should sell Wayne Rooney to Manchester City and let them have all the problems! Unfortunately, there is a sell-on clause in Rooney’s contract, that would mean that Everton would get quite a bit of any transfer fee!
Can FIFA be Trusted?
Yet again we’re seeing allegations abut the voting for a major sports event. In this case it’s the 2018 World Cup, with delegates from Nigeria and Tahiti being accused of being prepared to sell their votes.
FIFA seem to be taking control, but I do wonder if their voting structure makes it very difficult to get everything squeaky clean.
Sometimes I Wonder Why I Bother!
Ipswich weren’t very good today and justifiably lost to Coventry. They just never seemed to get going and when they did nothing seemed to come of it.
At one point I thought I’d had a bit of luck in that I’d drawn Coventry to win 1-0 on the bus. But even that didn’t work out, as the referee gave a dodgy penalty to make it 2-0.
Simon Barnes on Liverpool and Money in Sport
Simon Barnes is my favourite sports writers and his piece on Liverpool in today’s paper is one of his best. And that is praise indeed, as to beat his usual high standard takes doing.
This is the opening paragraph.
What’s the difference between Peter Ridsdale at Leeds United and the Tom Hicks-George Gillett Jr regime at Liverpool? Answer: Ridsdale tried to use money to acquire glory; Hicks and Gillett tried to use glory to acquire money.
As the two Americans are saying they’ll be suing RBS for $1.6billion, I suspect that some journalists, who have put the boot into the two, may well be up for feeling the long arm of the American Legal System.
At least though our judges will probably protect those that need to be protected.
Liverpool on the Brink
Of what I’m not sure! But it looks like now that the Texas Legal System has got involved, that things will get more uncertain for the club.
I can’t see what a Texas Court has got to do with a deal done in the UK involving a British Bank, two individuals and an English football club. On the other hand I can understand why RBS don’t want to go against the US Courts, as there have been some rather one-sided results in the past, like the NatWest Three.
I’ve Been Watching Wales in Preference to England
On;ly because it’s on Sky and England are on the dreadful ITV.
I suppose I will watch England, but the idiot who gave them the contract for England matches needs certifying.
Sky and of course the BBC do football so much better!
Bury Town 2 – Staines 2
I think that was the final score, but I left soon after half-time with Staines in the lead, as the match was a bit of a struggle for Bury and I needed to get the bus back to Newmarket.
Ram Meadow is a pleasant little ground that holds about 2,000.
It was interesting to see James Scowcroft enjoying himself and showing no mean skills. Players like him seem to continue playing, just because it’s such a good thing to do.
Will I follow the winner of this tie towards the final. I’m not sure, but I think I might go to Staines!
Ipswich Town Keep Another Clean Sheet Against the Azzuris
Well not really, but in the World cup, Italy failed to score against New Zealand and Tommy Smith and now last night, they did the same against Northern Ireland and Gareth McAuley! But they had been talking to each other according to this report.
The Anonymous Widower 