No need to rearrange too much in Summer 2008

I suppose it might have been a bit too optimistic for a Scotland fan to be booking their ticket for the Euro 2008 championships after a change in fortunes in the second half of World Cup 2006 qualifying under the stewardship of Walter Smith, but then the Uefa Bigwigs drop us in this group:

France
Italy
Ukraine
Scotland
Lithuania
Georgia
Faroe Islands

Are you kidding me? That's 3 teams in the World Cup this summer, all of whom won their World Cup qualifying group, all of whom have potent strike forces, and all are more likely to beat us. Even trying to get 3rd and boost our coefficient is going to be an ask, with Lithuania and Georgia no pushovers either. We won't dwell on the Faroes!

At Least there is a couple of good away games in there, I fancy France and the Ukraine and depending on where it is to be played Italy, Genoa hopefully.

We find out the dates w/e of 10-11th February

Boomtown Rats

Saw a really interesting TV programme on Channel 4 last night about Brenda Spencer, the first ever American School Shooter, who Killed two people injured 8 children as she shot at a school across the road from her house. Her explanation at the time as a 16 year old; 'I don't like Mondays' is the basis of the Boomtown Rats (Sir Bob Geldoffs group before he decided to
change the world), song of the same name.

It was a really interesting story, as Brenda after 26 years incarcerated had a parole hearing, where as is usually the case it seems her abusive father screwed with her mind as a child. Sadly Blazing Saddles came on, on the Beeb and as it has the greatest and most funny start to a movie ever, I missed the end. Altough looks like she never got her parole.

Free Wally

Unbelievable, a blooming muckle great whale managed to swim all the way up the Thames to Central London, where on Saturday it died having been rescued and was being returned on a boat back out to see. See the story here. What absolute car crash TV that it should have been the top story on the news on Saturday evening, especially when you consider that the election results in Iraq were just made public, and there have been all kinds of new threats that violence is likely to intensify. It's terrible that one whale could die and it outweigh the fact hundreds of innocent British soldiers who shouldn't be in Iraq and are in theory breaking all kinds of international laws are now having to dodge even more bullets.

Bliar indeed! I was surprised he didn't make an announcement that he was saddened by the news the whale had died!

Where Are You?

I want to see where everyone reads me Blog from, so click on the Frappr link to the right

Nice

Prediction No.2

And This one.

Mind you it didn't take a genius to work out Man U would gub a team of diddies.

Work is boring as sin, the question is, what shall I do with myself come 1st March 2006? The joy of not having to audit is one good thing, for sure!

Prediction in!

Can't say I didn't call this.

LTA must be so happy

Aside from not getting any wild cards for Brits in the Aussie Open as they usually do and with Greg The Brit awaiting his baby back home, It was Tiger Tim and Awesome Andy who were both knocked out with not so much as a whimper. Ahh wee, roll on June/July and the green, green grass of home.

C'mon the non-leaguers today and tomorrow. My tip, Nuneaton or Tamworth to get to extra time, and then probably lose. Tomorrow, Burton will get gubbed at Man U, where all is not well.

Top 100 searches brings up really interesting website

Saw a bit of a television show going through the top 100 MSN searches for the year 2005. I was struck by this one at no 100, the only actual domain name searched. It was started by this alfie fella, (click on his photo for close up), after the London Bombings, who apparently set the domain name up within an hour of the news, and has slowly grown in the six months since to the size it is now. I like lots of the photos; with mixtures of defiance, hope, hatred, humour, compassion and sympathy that gives you a good feeling about the world. The eclectic mix is added to by the vast diversity of locations from where they were all sent.

Top 10 MSN

1. Eastenders
2. Big Brother
3. Barbie
4. Angelina Jolie
5. Britney Spears
6. Star Wars
7. Sudoku
8. Liverpool FC
9. Michael Jackson
10. Cricket

Photo Update

Photos have been updated online now here.

Predictions

Er Yeah so I called 2 out of 4, shooting a casual .500, but managed to lose my two tips (King and Whitlock) for the title. I like the look of this Klaasen kids arrows though, but not good enough to beat the reigning champion, so I now think Barneveld to beat him convincingly in the final.

Too much work for me to do as many prediction posts as hoped.

This article made me chuckle, certainly brings a new meaning to 'Swing' Bowling. Seriously, are journalists struggling so much for a story that they are having to resort to this?

'Ladies and Gentlemen...'

'...Let's! Play! Darts!'

Lakeside action once more and it's been a bit disappointing so far, although obviously not as disappointing as for past Champions Andy Fordham, John Walton or Ted Hankey all off home before even getting a feel for the oche. So far you have to like Merv King and the Australian 'Wizard' Simon Whitlock, especially with Barney not doing too well in his opener.

Certainly the atmosphere seems a little bit less interesting than in years gone by, but with slightly longer Best of 7 setters in the last 16 tonight and tomorrow, this might switch it up.

Games today: (My Picks in Bold)

Jelle Klaasen v Mervyn King (1)
Paul Hogan v Albertino Essers
Shaun Greatbatch v Per Laursen
Paul Hanvidge v Simon Whitlock (4)

'I've come here to win Matches'

Roy Keanes debut in a Celtic Shirt somewhat went against his quote above. Biggest shock of the Weekend as the Bhoys went down 2-1 against Clyde of Div 1.

Great story being Clyde's season, their Pop Idol-esque trials at the start of the season in order to get a squad together. Might well save Mcleish's job too, providing he can finally beat Hibs this season.

Drama of the FA Cup

An absolute classic of an FA Cup weekend, even if Lawrenson who is often prone to the hyperbole, admitted as much. Shocks galore, although actual ‘Giant Killing’ was left to Leyton Orient and to a lesser extent Colchester. I think that in terms of progressing the ‘diddy’ teams will have shot their boat, especially Nuneaton Borough who should have beaten Middlesbrough and Burton who could have beaten Manchester United. Tamworth must be in with a shout of progressing on their own patch against Stoke.

As for the BBC’s Live games, they chose absolute doozies in Luton v Liverpool and Leicester v Spurs, their adage of great drama from a few seasons ago never seemed more apt. Despite being 3-1 down, Liverpool still seemed to be exerting a level of control and looked like scoring. As the Hatters tired, Alonso and Steven Gerrard saw more and more of the ball, and Alonso scored two of the greatest FA Cup goals ever. His half volley was sumptuous, and the goal at the end within 10 yards of his own half showed great skill, on his weaker foot. Alonso, the quiet man was once again overshadowed by his English Midfield accomplish, whose first goal was one few could score, passing a ball into the net at the speed of most other peoples drives and with the accuracy of a snooker player. By not celebrating (Which he later put down to the fact he didn’t think it would be the winning goal), it made this unique goal somewhat dour. Mr Gerrard, even managed to spoil the final minute goal by Alonso with his screaming for a pass before realising the ball was making its way into the net from a country mile away.

Tuning into the Leicester-Tottenham match on Sunday evening had potential for ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ feel to it. Indeed, on paper it was a miss-match, Spurs flying high in the Premiership, defeated only 3 times all season, Leicester having a torrid time and run of results in the Championship. I was interested in seeing how the Scottish contingent (Hughes, Douglas) in the Foxes side and former Ess-Pee-Ell players (Maybury, De Vries) would perform against world class opposition. The first half showed Tottenham’s mettle, with two well taken goals, and they were seemingly coasting. Good management by Craig Levein who wasn’t afraid to switch things around before half-time paid dividends with the substitute, Elvis Hammond pulled one back seconds before the break. The second half was a thrilling end-to-end spectacle, Stephen Hughes equalised, Stephen Kelly missed a sitter for the Londoners, before in injury time with a replay at the Lane beckoning, De Vries the best player on the park latched onto a through ball and remaining just onside settled the tie.

The thrills and spills of the cup showed what a great game football is, and how the Premiership is really not good for the game with it’s predictability. As we enter the second half of the season, we really are just asking, who will get the final Champions League spot (Spurs, Wigan or Arsenal) and who will head to the Championship with Sunderland. The Championship too seems destined to be won by Reading with the Blades moving up with them. Oh for the opportunity of not knowing who could win the title.

Early 2006 Predictions

Premiership: Chelsea
Relegated: Sunderland, West Brom, Pompey
FA Cup: Arsenal
League Cup: Manchester United
Champions League: Barcelona
Championship: Reading (C), Sheff Utd, Leeds.

Groom to be

Knew I'd find a picture of my good friend Will, seen here singing a bit of 'Maggie May' with my goodself in Whistles, Scranton, PA, During a stint at Indian Head Summer Camp (I'm the one on the right)


Cheeky little fact for you, Scranton is the US version of Slough, if you are a follower of Ricky Gervais's The Office comedy (US Version).

Willski

Great News as the big man Will and Amanda (AJ) announced their engagement over the Christmas period. Happy days to the pair of them.