Bolt after the Blues
Many have argued, quite successfully, that David Moyes is pound-for-pound the best manager in the Premier League.
Statistically Ferguson is to Moyesy what Usain Bolt is to Dwain Chambers, but Fergie hasn't been achieving quite so much with quite so little, has he?
All of which makes Everton's astounding home defeat to Arsenal all the more difficult to fathom.
Moyes has spent the best part of his summer holidays telling Man City where to get off as they hunt down Joleon Lescott. If Lescott really did come and tell his manager that he wasn't up to it on Saturday, it rather suggests the Scot got it hopelessly wrong.
I've always had Moyes down as a dead-ringer for Moe from The Simpsons, but he currently resembles a cornered fugitive holed-up in some two-bit apartment with Lescott tied to a chair, while the Sky Blue Feds demand he throw out the hostage.
Every time Moyes refuses, they chuck another bag of cash at him through the window. The gaffer should've given this up long ago, although most of us down the Blue Bell were hoping he might get to keep hold of his star centre-back. But £22m?
If Moyes is still in any doubt he could watch Lescott's performances for England at left-back, when he kept drifting back into the centre like a knackered shopping trolley.
And if he still thinks the bloke's worth all that, then he can watch the re-runs of the Arsenal game.
A team like the Gunners can make any outfit look a shambles on its day but this didn't need to be a great performance. Arsene must've been furious with goals two and three - free kick, header, goal - it's not the Gooner way - who do they think he is, George Flaming Graham? But that's all it took.
I won't roll out the old cliché about schoolboy defending - that would be hard on the average eight-year old schoolboy. Everton (and not just Lescott) were Norwich in disguise.
The cherry on the cake was Fabregas's second: keeper rolls it out, Cesc runs 45 yards, no one gets within a royal residence of him, and he slots it in the corner. It was like a late effort in a three-a-side kickabout on a full-size pitch.
I admire Moyes's attempts to resist the Eastlands steamroller, but the truth is it's not up to him. The player's mind is made up. Everton can never match the wages at City and Lescott would clearly become a very, very, very rich boy very quickly.
None of which means that Everton won't do OK this season, any more than it means that Wenger's suddenly found the perfect recipe for success. Dishing out a hiding in the first game is not necessarily Premier League-winning form. Ask Phil Scolari.
Ancelotti and Fergie have had perfect starts - really average performances and very iffy victories. I can hear Big Al Hansen's 'Winning when you're not playing well' speech as I write.
Incidentally, how good it was to have Match of the Day back on the box? As ever it coincided with a rare attempt at a bit of kissy-cuddly stuff from the wife.
I have told her this so many times before and I wish the poor woman would get the blinking message, but it is physically impossible for a fella of certain standards to break off from an entertaining away display by, say, Wigan Athletic, in order to indulge in even the teensiest bit of snogging.
Regular posters have mentioned the marriage-healing properties of Sky+ but I like my MOTD in one fell swoop. However, even my favourite footie programme could not quite match the excitement that unfolded on Sunday evening.
Even Rafa's insistence that Liverpool should have had three pens and won the game doesn't matter. It's not important either that yours truly's ridiculed suggestion that Spurs might grab fourth doesn't look quite so stupid now.
It's not even that significant that Neil Warnock's enjoyable rant about the goal that wasn't, was - for a change - utterly justified.
Because at around half eight I sat down and watched some lanky Jamaican run 100m in the time it takes for the wife to bat an eyelid. When I saw Usain Bolt doing all that larking about on the blocks I thought he might just be on the way to making a right nana of himself. I shouldn't have worried.
He goes so fast he'll be on Top Gear soon with Clarkson on his back telling us how 'it moves... like a dream!'
I've not seen a better advert for fried chicken. He's got the 200m coming up and I wouldn't put it past him to run that quicker than the 100. I felt a little sorry for Tyson Gay. That's the fastest any man has ever run whilst eating dust.
The only pointless exercise really is the post-race interview. Bolt doesn't have a great deal to say about his races but then I can remember Linford Christie being asked to 'take us through the race' and the answer amounted to summat like: 'The gun went off and I ran like ****!'
Besides, Bolt defies description and indeed belief. I love the man. We are in privileged times, boys and girls.
I'm Derek Robson. People call me Robbo. Legend has it I was raised in the furnace and smog of Teesside. Some might say I took the hard road. I like to tell folk I had trials for Middlesbrough, for Hartlepool and for burglary (not guilty). I've always loved sport. My job is to say it as I see it - whether it's in the bar of the Blue Bell or on this blog. You won't find me calling a spade a soil-redistribution implement.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~06~RS~)
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Whoo, First post! As funny as ever Robbo,I especially liked the bit about Lescott being like a knackered shopping trolley!
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Entertaining as always Robbo. Glad you mentioned Warnock in there, I've been smiling since they showed the incident on MOTD! Couldn't of happened to a nicer bunch!
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Spurs do the same away, and they're in for a wonderful season.
Looks like 'Arry is not there just to patch up problems and ensure premier league survival, but to build what his programme notes quoted as "My Team". This should be received as great news by any Spurs supporter, and hopefully it will start to bring about good performances in away matches as well as at home.
And I'm sure they'll play some more pretty pattern passing in the process ... very nice!
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That's meant to say 'us men', dunno where the n disappeared to.
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Excellent blog Robbo.
I agree that Spurs may well have been underrated this season..we'll see.
Also thought Stoke did well this weekend albeit against Burnley...nonetheless a good start.
And I was happy to see united get off to a steady start...would not have been happy with a loss to Birmingham!!
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Dear Robbo, don’t worry about the wifey no more. Just hand the problem to me and I’ll handle it for you.
As for Bolt, wouldn’t you bolt (sorry) out of your skin if you saw him in an opposing team’s line-up?
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Great blog as usual Robbo!!!!
The opening round of premiership matches were good to watch after a long summer of watching other sports like Tennis, Cricket, etc - which were all entertaining - but not quite footie if you know what I mean!!
Although I have to admit, the Bolt race did overshadow the premiership this weekend for me - who would have thought it in May!!!!!!!!
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Robbo
Next time the wife (or anyone else) questions you being able to watch MOTD "Live", offer to take them to a footy match (maybe theatre or something girly for the wife) but drag them down the Bluebell instead and tell them "it's alright, me mate dave's set up a camcorder on the seats so we'll be able to watch it just the same tomorrow".
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Been reading your blogs for quite a while now and this is the 1st time to take the time to comment on how good they are.
Funny as mate, this one is the best for a while now as well!
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Lescott has been a good servant to Everton, but has to leave NOW, asap ; it would be good business to get £20 million for him, and then settle the team down.Moyes' stance is laudable, perhaps a tad macho, but in the face of so much wonga on the table, I reckon he's lost this battle!
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What else, do you suppose, someone named Bolt is going to do when he grows up?
So unfair.
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Another fine blog Robbo.
It's now time for me to put all meetings on hold for the afternoon and chuckle at the imminent backlash from the backsplash that is the 'what a load of drivel' brigade.
i'll start you off...
i cant believe my licence fee is wasted on this drivel...
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I'm surprised that you have made no mention of Boro's excellent win on Saturday. When was the last time your lot scored 3 goals in one match?
Also not a single draw in the Prem. I wonder what odds the bookies would have given for that one?
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Usain Bolt is incredible. How can the man be fast?! Wasnt there an advert for nike where Cristiano Ronaldo raced a Bugatti Veyron? Get Bolt doing that and the car makers will have to start again!
Joleon Lescott pretty much typifies the pampered, spoilt and arrogant modern day footballer. "im not in the right frame of mind". Well son, GET in the right frame of mind. Are a you a professional or not? You're being paid god knows how much to play the game, you have thousands of people supporting you, people to whom Everton will always mean so much more than you and your sad little tantrums, so the least you can do is get your teddy back in the pram, do your job and act your bloody age. There, I said it, I feel better. Just because the players have got another club looking at them they think they can go on strike until they get their own way. If i turned to my boss and said "sorry, dont feel in the right frame of mind to be working today, theres another place that ive got an interview at and their offering me loads of cash, so my heads all confused, its probably best if I stay at home today", I wonder what i'd get told...........
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Robbo, I like a picture of Moe Syslak as much as the next Simpsons obsessive, and I was about to complain that you were a couple of years too late then, WHAM, you redeem yourself with the shopping trolley reference and sealed the deal with the photo. 'Excellent!'
Anyway, as for the Spurs tip, I've tipped them to break the top four for the last two seasons, and look where that has got me.
As for Lescott, for Everton's sake I hope he goes and I also hope that he get's jeered worse than Ashley Cole seems to, every time he touches the ball for the rest of his career. I have no problem with Lescott wanting to go as such, but his performance on Saturday was un-professional to the point of criminality and that, at the end of the day, is a crime against all us footy fans.
(p.s. surely this has been a missed opportunity for a gag about Mark Hughes literally falling flat on his face?)
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12. At 3:22pm on 17 Aug 2009, Spitfire wrote:
What else, do you suppose, someone named Bolt is going to do when he grows up?
So unfair.
Apparently there was an algerian footballer in the 70's called Ars bandeet. i bet he's glad he chose football.
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12. At 3:22pm on 17 Aug 2009, Spitfire wrote:
What else, do you suppose, someone named Bolt is going to do when he grows up?
Locksmith?
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Great blog Robbo. Bolt's been on Top Gear, and Clarkson was loving him!
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As witty as ever, Robbo, although as an Everton fan I was wincing more than smiling. Lescott's been poor for England, but he's been outstanding for us and we just don't want to get bullied into selling. Funnily enough, not all Evertonians are massive fans of Moyes - for one reason and another - but we're right behind him on this one. It's not just us, a lot of neutrals are "disgusted" with the way Mark Hughes has gone about all this. Money does indeed talk, but it doesn't half talk some tripe.
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#20 vanjoh
Funnily enough, not all Evertonians are massive fans of Moyes - for one reason and another -
-----------------------------------------------
Why is that?
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Good work as usual Robbo.
Why nothing on the cracking Football League show that means we now have 2 1/2 hours of solid football on a saturday night.
The mrs nearly went mad when she found out
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~~~~
None of which means that Everton won't do OK this season, any more than it means that Wenger's suddenly found the perfect recipe for success.
~~~~
I agree. It is just one game. But then again, the Spurs win was just one game too. How does that make your Spurs for 4th prediction look better?
It's just one game! We live in an age of massive over-reaction.
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It's just one game! We live in an age of massive over-reaction.
how can you say that!!!!!!???? oh my god! it's just ridiculous!!!!!!??!
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23: That was the most prolific statement ever on a BBC message board! I couldn't agree more, if i did my head would explode with agreeness!
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This is the biggest waste of tax-payers money in history and everything that is wrong with the world. In fact I think that is Jesus outside my window, so are you happy now Robbo, see what you have caused, the end of the world.
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Liverpool will win the league... this is there YEAR!
(Sorry, i've taken it too far now haven't I???)
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Yes, you are just being ridiculous.
Everyone clearly knows it is NEXT YEAR.
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#15 absolutely spot on!
The attitude displayed by Lescott is a disgrace to professionalism, yet symptomatic of the modern mercanary, or should that read footballer?
As for Bolt? 9.58 seconds of pure focused talent - with fantastic attitude!!
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Like you, Robbo, I was delighted to get Match of the Day back on the box but then as the highlights of the first game ended I began to get a combination of crawling skin and those sinking stomach feelings...
He's going to say it. Hansen's going to say it - Arsenal were 'unbelievable.' Next day when Liverpool lose to Spurs he's going to say 'No strength in depth' and when United sneak past Birmingham he'll say 'tremendous strength in depth. Unbelievable!'
It's not enough that he played for a team who won championships and European cups, had a starring role in a Gerry Anderson TV series, he gets to advertise supermarkets and spend his retirement years repeating two phrases every saturday night (and some sundays) for a shed load of cash coming from the pockets of us licence payers!
Nice one, Al! I am sooooooo jealous!!!
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Look it's just Moyes' canny Scottish bargaining. We could have turned round a few weeks ago and taken £18m, whereas, now, City can't turn back and we'll get £22m and a player or two.
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Think Moyes has doen the right thing to get more cash for lescott but shouldnt have played him against the gooners cos he clearlt doesnt wanna play for everton anymmore.
Spurs bossed the pool. Bassong had a great debut. Him and King looked marvelous at the back and gave gerrard and "nando" no space. 4th place possibly???
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30.
Ha hah! Long live Alan Hansen! I usually cringe when he starts his analysis!
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For the vast majority of lescotts time at Everton he has been nothing more than a makeshift left back. Until Yobo was injured last season him and jags were always first choice for moyes. Now that baines has come into his own and formed a superb relationship with pienaar down the left, can a club struggling financially ignore 22 million for a player who by the end of the season may be reduced to that of a squad player? There would be a need to bring in cover for the position, but taylor of newcastle is going to cost a darn sight less, with many more years ahead of him.
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Dunno who's gonna win the *Designated Diver/Golden Springboard Award for the season, but after Saturday's penalty box display of resilience by Berbatov, he's well ahead in the Concrete Wellies stakes.
Haven't seen such reluctance to go down since... Hmmm... Can't really say that.
Your wife takes over nine seconds to blink, Robbo? You're quite sure she's not nodding off all the time 'cos you're a boring old f*rt?
(Thought I'd better slip in a bit if abuse there. I'm missing Joe and JFC)
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So Lescott can become very rich three times as opposed to what, twice?
How many "very riches" does someone need? Your team won and the BBC has a weird show about the FL. Write about that.
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the difference between £18 million and £22 million is 3 points!
football is about the game and Everton failed to play it. The money's an excuse for Moyes not marshalling the team to success in a home game between the 4th and 5th placed teams of last year.
and Lescott should be ashamed of himself! mind you, the same happened to Spurs last year with Berba. blame the blue or the red halves of Manchester, but the selling teams should have seen the inevitable coming and prepared for it properly.
if you don't ... you're down 3 points before you even start.
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Lescott is not only the definition of money-grabbing whatsnot but he is also the definition of an over-hyped, over-valued English player. I honestly don't get it. Why is it always the English players that cost so much, if he was from somewhere else you would be able to buy him for whatever that bloke who beat next years champions cost.
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Ok two points here,
Funny as always but Lescott was in fact instructed by the international genius Steve MaClaren to "drift inside" and be some kind of daft 3rd centreback?!?! Leacving Joe Cole as an even dafter left wingback?!? So will people please stop blaming him for that. Everyone was garbage under McLaren (Ironically except for Beckham) and with instructions like that you can see why!
2. Lescott played CB because he was miles better than Valente, and then because Baines got injured and took awhile to settle. It was Jagielka who was struggling to get in the team and Yobo's injury and departure for the ACON allowed Jags and Lescott to form one of the best cb partnerships i the league. When Baines got his form last year Yobo was the bench warmer. Jagieka's injury may have stopped im from asking to leave for a club he'd start at.
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I'm increasingly becoming more and more aware of people basing their predictions of how teams will do on the first game. Everton will do OK? They got 8 points from 8 games last year and were written off for a European place at the start of the season. Then they went and got 5th and an FA Cup runners up medal. Everton have started badly again and again and again, and they started 5 years back, lest we not forget, with 17 players available, losing 4-1 to the Gunners first game and then coming 4th. Everton continually demolish people's predictions year after year without any money and they'll probably do it again. Continuing from therealeverton's point, Lescott has hardly ever played at left back for England, so I don't know why Moyes would look at his international performances for his role on the left side. I would have sold Lescott, yes, but Moyes has already said he will not let anyone go this summer. And besides, who can Everton get in this current football climate, to replace someone who scores 7 goals a year and plays left back and centre back very well?
You've said Spurs might get 4th because of the Liverpool game and Everton MIGHT do OK. It's one game. Nothing has changed.
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It's very noble of Moyes to want to resist the attempts of Manchester City, but when a player's heart is set on a move away from the club, that is the time to sell.
As a Tottenham fan, last season I felt Berbatov's petulant behaviour and longed-out move away from White Hart Lane was used far too often to excuse our team from its poor start - however, seeing how it has affected Everton I recommend that Moyes cuts his losses. Lescott is no £20m man, and he can buy twice as good, for half that price - Hughes is only targetting Lescott because him nor his staff have the skill to find such talent at good rates.
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Great blog Robbo.
Moyes should get shut of Lescott, he is obviously unhappy and starting to sulk and not worth £22m. If the rumours are true about Newcastle's Steven Taylor then I'd sooner have him and the millions in change.
The football league show after MOTD is good, but lets itself down with the strange set (is it a disused factory?) and that scruffy old man who talks to Manish, sorry I mean Steve Claridge. He may know his stuff, but surely the BBC has a stylist knocking around he could borrow? I think he has got too used to being on the radio.
http://www.loserscomesecond.com/
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We hear a lot about footballers being "professionals" - so what does it matter if they're "unhappy" at their club or not? They're extremely well paid to do play the game (which we'd all love to do) and they sign contracts which are supposed to mean something. Forget all the badge-kissing malarkey, it's about doing a job to the best of your abilities. Isn't that what the rest of us have to do in the real world?
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Can someone please explain to me why a win for Tottenham is proof of their ability but a demolition for Arsenal is just "one-game". Everton were awful in defence but people are acting like a league two team would have stuck six past them and ignoring the fact that except for a late goal when the game was over Arsenal were defensively solid and scored two with the head, while often criticised for lack of aerial ability. I accept that one match doesn't prove much but for the amount of criticism levelled at Arsenal and particularly Wenger, something a little more substatial could be said about him.
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Who, in Everton's thin squad, would have played instead of Lescott if Moyes had chosen to leave him out? Please bear in mind that Jagielka is out too, with injury.
This isn't a rhetorical question - I actually want to know.
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I share an office with two Evertonians so wish me luck!
Moyes - better manager than Fergie pound for pound (spent).
Lescott - good player. I think that £25 mill would be fair at todays prices but if they can get £22 mill with a choice of half decent defenders with average wages I would snap their hands off.
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hi all
first post - be gentle...
a great first day, lots of good football, altho not from LFC at WHL. great to have both MOTD and league show all in one - wow - footygasm!
great blog, love to read it, have done for a while. (altho i believe we are supposed to be slating it, so ... waste of the licence fee, typical red-agenda pinko bbc propaganda etc etc, *writes to daily fail*)
i agree about usain bolt - another awesome performance, the guy is amazing to watch, as he just goes up through the gears and then he is away.
@42 : i agree re: set for league show... it is a bit odd, and echo-ey at times, and you are also correct, re: steve claridge looks fabulous!
LFC at spurs - absolutely dismal, just no positives at all. I know it is only one game but we were awful. Spurs were better all over the park. why does Rafa play Babel out wide. in fact, why play babel. or kuyt? or ngog, el zhar, etc etc. please play 4-4-2 and play benayoun.
i just hope aquilani is some sort of midfield genius, i really do.
and lescott? flog him, £22 mil is way too much for him, and yeah, get taylor from the toon and break mike ashleighs ice-cold heart a little bit more. seriously. i cant stand him and what he has done there.
sorry its all disjointed.
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Alan Hansen on bbc sport today 'The defender is 27 and if he signed a four-year contract at City he would be set for life.'
I know that football players are paid rediculous money nowadays but am I wrong in thinking that if Lescott stayed at Everton with his current salary for 4 years he would be set for life? If he is on say £30k a week thats about £6 mill in 4 years (plus endorsements etc). He just needs to stay in a few nights a week (like Stevie G) and he might just manage to survive.
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Moyes needs to learn from Ferguson and Wenger. They both knew when to offload expensive stars like Beckham, Henry and Vieira to get a good deal, having had most of the good, trouble-free mileage from them. Wenger may yet prove he's done it again with Adebayor and Toure, although the former was on the scoresheet on Saturday so perhaps not.
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There will be 8 foot painted white signs on Motorway bridges soon
saying "LET LESCOTT GO...." Moyes is a prize chump, the player wants
to go and everyone from Andy Pandy upwards was predicting it would
eventually unsettle Everton. Take the 22 Million and go out and
buy Senderos for a third of it--everyone will be happy, well except
Moyes but then again he is a dour Scotsman.
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Have to say that the first public mention of any bid for Lescott was actually made on the official Everton site. So all those that claim MCFC have unsettled the player are being just a tad disngenious.
Having said that Lescott is a reasonable player, but definately not worth 22mil... would buy Taylor or Senderos instead if it was me.
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Now, now I'm not basing me Spurs in the top 4 on one game. I said it before the season started and a whole lot of you said I was a plank. We'll see...
As for missing out on a gag about Hughes falling flat on his face, I think he made the gag himself after the match. Good start for Citeh... although phooey to the people who suggest that the big signings will make a huge difference. An injury to the lad Ireland would be the hardest thing for Hughes's team to recover from.
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Robbo for goodness sake you are doing the unthinkable of stating the facts of what you said and expecting people to comment based on said facts.
And if the lad Ireland comes back to Ireland then the people of Ireland will probably see that he gets that injury you are so worried about. Unless one of his 14 grannies sticks up for him.
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People seem to be conveniently forgetting that Everton were without Arteta, Yakubu, and Jagielka against Arsenal. All three players play pivotal roles in midfield, stiker, and defensive positions. What do you expect, especially since all Moyes has to replace them is a group of teenagers ?
When Robbo questions the comparison between Ferguson and Moyes, let him have Ferguson manage at Old Trafford with the same kind of financial support that Moyes has to contend with season after season, and then see how well he manages.
I can't wait to see how Hughes manages to cope at Goodison when the Everton fans let him know what they think of him in no uncertain terms. The slip at Ewood Park will seem like twinkletoe tap dancing by BoJangles in comparison.
It is bad enough that 16 teams are just there to make up the fixtures for the wealthy teams in the EPL, but now they are being reduced to the status of farm teams for the mighty four or five to reap at will. How on earth can the English FA standby and figure all this is going to work out in the end ? I, personally, don't know how the supporters of the 16 can put up with it much longer as most fixtures are nothing but a foregone conclusion. It's time to take the perennial four and make up a league of wealthy teams to lock horns over who is supreme and end this farce of throwing four of the 16 christians to the four lions week after week.
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#54
When Robbo questions the comparison between Ferguson and Moyes, let him have Ferguson manage at Old Trafford with the same kind of financial support that Moyes has to contend with season after season, and then see how well he manages.
_______________________________________________________________________
OI! If your read the first two paragraphs you'll realise that that's exactly what I was saying. A tad kneejerk there me old son.
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Lets be honest...we lost home to Arsenal...no shame in that barring the extra goals. This time last year we lost to Ince's B'burn on the first day (his only league win), which is arguably worse. Moyes has to sell Lescott this wk before Hughes realises he isnt worth £22m, especially with an attitude like Joey Bartons and the marking of a 3 year old with a set of crayons.
At that price and his stage of career i dont disresepct Joleon for wanting cash, who wouldnt? Key thing is now Moyes has played the game, forced every penny, may even get a free player in (which is our issue, not whether we have to sell, but attracting players without ego's thatll improve us) but MUST sell him. I think he just hates Hughes and is best mates with Sir Alex.
Hopefully Moyes will send Jo home as part of the deal....Saha looks far better.
So, Everton won't be bottom, Stoke and West Ham wont be top 4. That result... unlike the boring Premiership modern day money certainties...was unpredictable. Untill the CL goes back to its old format we will be plagued by boredom and inequality within the domestic leagues.
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'That's the fastest any man has ever run whilst eating dust.' LOL
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I'm still confused about the Usain Bolt "Top Gear" reference. He HAS appeared on "Top Gear", as the "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car", and during his interview with Clarkson, he acknowledged that he had prepared for the Olympic 100m final by resting and "havin' some nuggets".
Am I being even more dense than usual, or is Robbo having a senior moment?
Whatever the case, what a great man. His eyeballing the camera a few seconds before Sunday's final, with "Are YOU ready? 'Cause AHM ready. Let's GO."... Wonderful.
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I've just had an idea. If Lescott goes, we (Everton) could invest the money in a speedy right winger. I reckon we could teach Bolt to dribble a bit and cross the ball. I'd love to see him giving Cole or Evra the runaround!
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Vanjoh
Don't you think the Abu Dhabi Collective have already put the phone call in?
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Well where to begin?
With the obvious I suppose - another utterly pointless blog with no style and even less substance.
Rehashed workingclass northerner stereotype of the week has concluded that Man City should sell Lescott, Tottenham will come fourth and Usain Bolt is fast. Groundbreaking stuff.
1. Yes Lescott should be sold. The price offered by City is well above what the player is worth. Even with the added on mandatory 20% English reserve international tax. For a guy that is ever complaining about having no money, Moyes seems to be missing the big picture here.
2. Tottenham will come fourth - er probably not. Yes a good win over a fairly incohesive Liverpool but your fifth place prediction (Arsenal) looked vastly superior.
3. Usain Bolt is fast - Yes the "lanky Jamaican" is.
There, all done. Couldnt be bothered with all the fictional characters, working class stereotyping, weak humour though and irratating colloquialisms. You will have to forgive me.
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Poor old JDR, he waits all that time and then makes a complete fool of himself (even more than usual) by saying City should sell Lescott.
Better luck next week Joe.
Robbo why don't you write next weeks blog in the guise of a Southern nancy-boy about rugger and Pimms just to keep him happy.
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GazUtd
Yes Gaz, a simple error on my part. However you continue to appear each week and address Robbo as a real person. Much the same as one might address Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones were they to meet him on the street.
Not to mention your pendantic pursuit of the "facts" on a Robbo blog which in itslf is an excercise in futility and an acheivement in missing the point.
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At 9:14pm on 17 Aug 2009, Robbo Robson wrote:
>OI! If your read the first two paragraphs you'll realise that that's exactly what I was saying. A tad kneejerk >there me old son.
"but Fergie hasn't been achieving quite so much with quite so little, has he?"
You were talking about missing Ronaldo and Tevez, while I was talking about the disparity in the money available for buying the best talent around. I think you're guilty of the tad knee jerk me old grandson.
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Funnily enough, not all Evertonians are massive fans of Moyes - for one reason and another -
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Why is that?
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'cause he's not Harry Catterick or Felicity Kendal!!!!;)
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#64 JDR
Joe you may be surprised to find out that my real name isn't GazUtd so unfortunately you are falling into your own trap by addressing me as such.
At the minute on the radio here there is a very popular segment where a local comedian impersonates many different people, the show's presenter speaks to him in the guise of all these people, do you want me to call in and tell them to stop? I will if you want Joe, anything for you.
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Joe
Not to mention your pendantic pursuit of the "facts" on a Robbo blog which in itslf is an excercise in futility and an acheivement in missing the point.
_________________________________________________________________________
Sorry to be pedantic but... Pendantic?
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I have never understood this admiration for Moyes.
He has been using the "we have no money" card for years now and still everyone buys into it. When he has had money he has bought decent players, then played them out of position and sold them.
His favourite formation is 5-5-0 and still he gets the plaudits.
His teams play crap football, he has no idea what to do with a striker and anyone who names his son after himself has got serious Issues!
The hardman act over Lescott will only end in Moyes getting more wound up, which I find quite funny. Sparky's comments about the big club will only add to the twitch on Moyes face getting more pronounced.
Its the fans along the A55 that I feel sorry for most..
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59 Gaz
Thank you for the improving messages. You pendant.
68 Robbo
Pendantic by itslf was the acheivement. The rest was drivel.
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Great blog Robbo, even as a man united fan ive always had a soft spot for harry and his teams so it was no surprise to see spurs turn the scousers over, i have a sneaking suspicion 'arry' might just be on to something there, and he's also imposed a booze ban on the players after what happened with Bentley, spurs are lucky to have him, he's a good bloke.
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Great blog as per usual robbo. As a liverpool fan im not surprised we lost, with Ron Burgundy and Brick Tamland in the boardroom we arent going to get very far, they sold one of our key players for 30 mil, we buy a player for 15 mil rising to 20 on appearances, then they say we have 1.5 mil for transfers... now this seems to me a bit like when the MPs wrote how of the 30k they were given to renovate their second home, they spent 20 grand on an oven glove and a toaster... oh well hopefully theyll decide theyve made enough soon and trot off before we turn into "The Merseyside Marauders"
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70. I think you mean pedant, unless you have the guy hanging around your neck on a chain like some macabre manulet? (portmanteau of amulet and man in case you wondered)
Spurs will do well this season, about time as well seen as theyve spent the combined GDP of central america every year for the past 20
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73. I was being frivolous at the expense of Joe - who, curiously, HAS been hanging around Robbo like the macabre manulet which you so poetically describe.
However, it's not for me to cast judgement on where a guy wants to dangle.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
I agree Jimmy, i think both our boys will be scratching their heads this season, while you've got arguably one of the top three midfielders in the world, (the other two are at Barca) and definitely the best striker in the world, where's the creativity gonna come from? Everyone bangs on about us loosing Ronaldo as a creative force but where are the goals gonna come from? Berbatov?
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75 Gaz
I think that that's what might be described as a stirring posting.
Thanks for the tip. That kind of thing can play havoc with your windscreen wipers.
No bloody consideration...
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54. DixieandPele:
"When Robbo questions the comparison between Ferguson and Moyes, let him have Ferguson manage at Old Trafford with the same kind of financial support that Moyes has to contend with season after season, and then see how well he manages." (a point which Robbo backs up in post 55).
He did pretty well when he managed Aberdeen, breaking the 'Old Firm' dominance and winning a European trophy. I think he could probably do a decent job if he was at Everton!
I know it's fashionable to heap praise on canny wheeler-dealers like Redknapp and Moyes while suggesting that Ferguson only achieves what he has achieved because of financial support, but some of Ferguson's signings have been outstanding, for next to nothing, while his faith in youngsters has played a massive part in Manchester United's success.
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Those saying that Ferguson couldn't cope with the resources of Moyes might do well to remember he did rather well with a lot less, at a club called Aberdeen when they won the title and a European trophy. How convenient it is for the cynics to forget...
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#78 and 79
Stop it. Just stop it.
This is the internet and you cannot go pointing out facts willy-nilly. Things like facts cause people to get all mad and stuff and that's how internet fights start. And before you know it there are broken lightsabres and green blood everywhere.
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Apparently Chelsea have bought a Kosice auto matic, personally i would have saved up a bit more and bought the Aguero.
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#21 & #56 ~ why Moyes is not universally admired by Everton fans...
Well, because he's been there a long time and we haven't won anything! Secondly because under him we play a style of football that is invariably described as "workmanlike". I could live with the lack of success if we sometimes played teams off the park by turning on the flair. The team is in his image: honest and hard working but lacking a certain pizzazz.
Finishing 5th and getting to the cup final may well be as good as it gets. I may be wrong and I hope I am. But I'm not alone in thinking that.
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Moyes has taken Everton as far as he can, unless some sheik ya money comes along and buys them and throws a massive wad his way i think its only a matter of time till he thinks, stuff this ive had enough.
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Anyway, you should all think yourselves lucky.
My team, having won the FA Vase, have just gone and sold one of our best players to Durham. Great, just what we needed to kick off a new season. Then, just to add the icing on the cake, our goalkeeper is confirmed as being out for 2 months.
The relevance? Moore has gone to Durham for more money. The lower leagues are no different.
We're suffering from post Wembley euphoria still, scraping a 2-2 draw at the weekend against Dunston in the FA Cup (yes, for us the FA Cup has started already!). That said, we play Shildon at the weekend and I reckon we're going to hammer them.
Now, put it into perspective....
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funny as always robbo.
as a city fan i dont see why we're still chasing after Lescott. that said, ive got a horrible feeling Moyes is gunna turn round any day now and say 'fine, £20 million and were taking onuoha'. what a shame that would be.
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and post #80.
effin hilarious mate (Y)
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Whitley you mean there is money changing hands in the lower leagues?
I thought players were traded for old kits and tokens for the hot water heaters in the showers.
This really is testament to how far football has fallen. Disgraceful.
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51. At 8:04pm on 17 Aug 2009, Peterpad32 wrote:
Have to say that the first public mention of any bid for Lescott was actually made on the official Everton site. So all those that claim MCFC have unsettled the player are being just a tad disngenious.
I think you and every other City fan who tries to make this point (including the 'current' manager..miaow)should remember that the story about City coming in for Lescott first appeared before last January's transfer window. I'm pretty sure the source then wasn't the Everton website. There's a world of difference between announcing that an official bid has been lodged and placing 'stories' with friendly reporters to help tap up another team's player. City put this in the press not Everton.
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I didn't think anyone that wasn't in the pub watched MOTD any more! On the rare occasion I am in front of a tv (not owning one but having the internet) the only variant that is entertaining is MOTD 2! More relaxed, funnier and better analysis.
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Oh come on - you gotta watch MOTD! Part of the fabric of English football culture isn't it? Check out the goals, think to yourself "I could have scored that!" sneer at Hansen repeating the same thing week in and week out, exclaim to no one in particular "Dixon's alright, but Martin Keown is woefully dull", get in a bit of a grump about your team always being on right at the end. That sort of thing...
You're quite right, though ~ MOTD2 is much better. Adrian Chiles is excellent.
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@53:
Gaz you're quite right about Ireland. He's not fit to wear the green ever again. Interesting anagram of the name "Stephen Ireland" is "head present nil". Speaks volumes. Now I'd better run and hide before one of his possibly dead grannies runs over me with a zimmerframe.
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Another good article Robbo.
I agree that Moyes shouldn't let the Lescott Saga continue any longer. If City really have offered over £20m for him, he should bite Hughes' hand off (not literally, of course!) If "Jolly Joleon" is causing unrest in he dressing room, there really is nothing to be gained from letting him stay.
I too was in awe of the speed demon Usain. His starts aren't that good, but his acceleration at the halfway point, when he leaves the rest for dead, is just unbelieveable!
Some funny results at the start of the Premier League season, but one game does not a season make, although it was encouraging to see Spurs, and Man City get off to a good start (the only teams I can see troubling the Big 4).
Likewise, the Championship has a nice look to it with Newcastle and Boro in 3rd and 4th place respectively. Just hoping the Smoggies can maintain their form...
Special mentions to Zootmac, GazUtd and Joe "The Roachman" Davis. I've had a right good chuckle reading your contributions.
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I often wonder why clubs don't take action against players who engineer their own trnasfers through the courts: breach of contract!!!! Having said that we should let Lescott go as he's not worth the money City are offering and more tellingly he has a really dodgy knee which could go "pop" at any minute and it'll be career over. We've had three good years out of him chances are he'll have a serious injury before too long. Take the money Moyes!!!!!!
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91. At 12:54pm on 18 Aug 2009, GodKeano16 wrote:
@53:
Gaz you're quite right about Ireland. He's not fit to wear the green ever again. Interesting anagram of the name "Stephen Ireland" is "head present nil". Speaks volumes. Now I'd better run and hide before one of his possibly dead grannies runs over me with a zimmerframe.
I, for one, would wholeheartedly support the return of Stephen to the Irish set up. Whatever his reasons for resigning from the squad in the first place (he was young as we all were once and he is entitled to some mistakes) we can ill afford to do without his sublime skills in the run in. Our squad is very threadbare as it is with any injury to a couple of key players likely to prove very costly. As Mr. Robson correctly points out his continued presence in the City team is absolutely essential (more so than any other player) if they are to enjoy any modicum of success this season.
Perhaps if Stephen had claimed the reason he left the squad was because of the diabolical organisation of the FAI he would be getting a more reasoned response from the Manchester United supporters among us.
Or maybe not.
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58. At 10:41pm on 17 Aug 2009, Zootmac wrote:
I'm still confused about the Usain Bolt "Top Gear" reference. He HAS appeared on "Top Gear", as the "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car", and during his interview with Clarkson, he acknowledged that he had prepared for the Olympic 100m final by resting and "havin' some nuggets".
Am I being even more dense than usual, or is Robbo having a senior moment?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Not knowing your usual density, I couldn't possibly comment, but what Robbo actually wrote was: He goes so fast he'll be on Top Gear soon with Clarkson on his back telling us how 'it moves... like a dream!'
As in Clarkson would be on his back driving him...or summat.
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It was inevitable wasn't it!
Perhaps Ira_Abu (who's name has mythical meaning and nothing else, in case anyone was wondering) if you realised that if Stephen Ireland came out and apologised for saying he was a complete numpty and would love to come back then everyone would welcome him with open arms.
Liked the classical diversion tactic of yours there where you tried to tar Roy Keane with the same brush, even though the 2 things were as different as your name and any political or anti-footie team meaning.
Nevertheless I have it on good authority that the Irish National shoulder hospital is opening again tomorrow so your chip removal surgery should be able to go ahead as scheduled.
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12. At 3:22pm on 17 Aug 2009, Spitfire wrote:
What else, do you suppose, someone named Bolt is going to do when he grows up?
So unfair.
Tyson Gay seems to be doing alright.......
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Ah GazUtd:
Rather than deal with the specific issue at hand you once again resort to childish name calling (numpty is a favourite term of mine but is in danger of falling into disrepute from overuse) and focusing specifically on my username as if this had any bearing on what was being discussed. I will leave it to other users to decide if they perceive any chip on my shoulder or otherwise. Your reaction, however, is interesting. Perhaps you would care to read the following (from your beloved BBC) and explain to everyone whether this was the reason for Roys departure or because of mismanagement:
From the BBCs own version of events:
After returning to the team hotel Keane tells manager Mick McCarthy he wants to go home. He cites 'personal reasons' and concerns over his troublesome knee as the reasons.
Stephen obviously was not the only Corkman who could change his story.
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95 eastlandsmanc
"... back on "Top Gear" soon, only this time with Clarkson..." would have been more sympathetic towards my rapidly failing capacities. Although conjuring up the image of Clarkson mounting Usain Bolt and murmering "It moves...like a dream" is actually quite distressing.
Thank heaven's for the nine o'clock watershed. I'll be in bed with my cocoa if it ever appears on telly.
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Robbo...please explain the comment
"I've not seen a better advert for fried chicken."
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GazUtd,
A number of other points:
1. Abu is not a mythical term. It is used in everyday conversations between native Irish speakers and is used in the context of being an exhortation to ones team. For instance United abu! would translate as "Come on United". Do a little research next time.
2. I am not "anti footie" as you put it. I played the game at a reasonable level as an adult for approximately 25 years. (although I do follow the fortunes of Leeds Utd. in which case the term probably has some meaning)
3. Ira is my middle name (funnily enough for an Irishman)
Now that that is out of the way perhaps we can concentrate on the matters at hand.
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100. At 4:30pm on 18 Aug 2009, white_hart_wayne wrote:
Robbo...please explain the comment
"I've not seen a better advert for fried chicken."
Well I'm not Robbo but here you go, '"I woke around 11am and decided to watch some TV and had some nuggets.
"Then I slept for a couple of hours more. Then I got some more nuggets and came to the track." '
When Bolt was at the Olympics he wasn't too sure about the local food, which I am sure we would all rather eat, so he would have nuggets as it was the only thing they served in the Olympic village that he knew that he liked.
Read more here:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/08/18/olympic-100m-hero-usain-bolt-powered-by-chicken-nuggets-and-yams-115875-20702431/
Kind of makes a mockery of Jamie's school dinners doesn't it....but then before all the kids go out and eat them this bloke has to consume a huge amount of calories every day just to keep moving...so he has an excuse.
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When the giant Cuban, Alberto Juantorena, destroyed the fields to win Olympic golds in 1976 in the 400m and 800m events, much was made of this being a definitive moment in athletics. "The era of the small man is finished..." was a standard response. Then came Sebastian Coe...
When, in the mid-seventies, Filbert Bayi of Tanzania won every middle distance event in sight, smashing world records with astonishing frequency, Ron Pickering asked Brendan Foster if Bayi had "brought a new dimension to middle distance running", Foster replied, "No. He just runs faster."
Usain is fabulous, but his performances are not necessarily definitive. I expect to see Arnold Munchkin make an appearance soon and break the nine second mark for the 100m.
You heard it here first.
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Ira I said you were anti a footie team, not football as a whole. Of course you denied it the other day, I mean it's not like a Leeds fan would have a dislike of United.
And it's amazing how you quoted the exact same thing as someone else last week, yet you seem to have conveniently forgotten how it was pointed out that Roy did say that initially, then after talking to his friends (look it up) and family he decided that the best thing to do for his country was try to play on. Unfortunately, like the winner he is, he couldn't stand the playground FAI facilities while the usual fat-cats dined on fois-gras. He approaced his boss about this and his boss didn't like it so he sent him home. Read on in your quoted article and you will find this out. Who would ever think that actually reading to the end of a book could pay off. If you ever get through the dictionary you'll find out the zebra did it.
And I can't find where I called anyone a name, I was suggesting that Stephen Ireland admitted himself that he was a numpty. Oops, I've used it again, sorry, don't like leaving you without one of your favourite words.
Anyway you seem o have the JoeDavisRoach knack of missing the humour in anything, surprising for a Leeds fan, so I'm afradi there's not much more I can do.
We await with bated breath to see which one of us our English superiors judges the winner. Come on you Brits, I always loved your Margaret Churchill! (Or should that be abu Brits?)
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Zoot you should attend a few caravan sites around these parts and wait for the Rozzers to show up. Many a munchkin has broken the 8 second barrier while carrying all sorts. And not the liqourice variety.
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101 (point three): Don't take it too personally mate... my freind Alan Qaeda had simmilar problems for years...
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Thanks, Gerrardswhiskers I though for a minute Robbo was enforcing the age old stereotype that all black people like fried chicken...for once reading a Daily Mirror article actually enlightened me!!
Also what happened about Usain Bolt training Man Utd at sprinting?
Did that ever happen or was it just media hype as he was due to be in Manchester...
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Yep WHW it happened. Bolt, who proclaims to be a United fan after some sort of run in with a Ruud Van Nistelrooy jersey (no I don't know either) was at United training ground last May where he gave sprinting tips to none other than Ronaldo.
Whether the rumour that Ronaldo asked for them because he was about to tell Fergie he was definitely going to Madrid is true or not remains to be seen.
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Yeh I was a bit surprised to hear he was a Man U fan...most of my Jamaican mates or family support London teams...mostly Arsenal with a few, like me...following Spurs.
The sprint training must have worked cos Ronaldo did a runner pretty sharpish!!
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Ref 105 Gaz
NOT the liquorice variety? That has brought some comfit to me.
Ref 106 RedBlue
My tipsy gran, Alky Eda, also had this problem. Bin laden with empties, dodgy videos, you name it.
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GazUtd,
I am beginning to suspect I am dealing less with a fellow adult and more with a rather unruly child with access to a computer.
It does not matter if someone else pointed it out last week. That does not make the point invalid. You did not explain why the reasons for his disgruntlement changed between his initial walking out (just because he did not physically walk out does not invalidate the claim) and the reasons he subsequently gave after (like said unruly child) he was sent home. Either he did not tell Mick McCarthy his true concerns initially or he was being economical with the truth subsequently. To help you decide perhaps you would consider the following. Roy Keane shook hands with Kenny Dalglish when he agreed to join Blackburn Rovers.
Perhaps my humour is too subtle for you to understand. To accuse another of being humourless reflects more on the person making the claim than the subject of said claim. Nevertheless I would like to point out the following:
1. I do not need validation for my point of view from our English superiors as you call them
2. It is more likely that the zloty did it
3. Are castrated pigs disgruntled?
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In all fairness to Linford (and Usain), what else is there to say about running the 100m but 'The gun went off and I legged it'.
Incidentally, a penny for your thought as to what Wenger is saying to Mayes there? Hardly "Well played". Maybe "So, have you thought about that Senderos deal?".
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Oh I give up!
Well I don't really but I thought that would add to the dramatic effect.
Of course you need validation from out English superiors Ira (if that is indeed your real name), every Irishman does. That have done nothing throughout the ages other than try to show us the way, much like a bigger brother really. Unless you were Jermaine. Or Tito.
I would like to say we will agree to disagree but as TommyTheOnion or was it BeyondThePaleOfComprehension said the other day... I am always right. Which makes you wrong. Sorry, but that's just the way it is, they are English (well I am sure they must be because they are both Pool supporters and no Pool supporter has ever come from outside spitting distance of The Mersey) so therefore their opinions outweigh yours.
And to prove how superior the English are I spent ages trying to come up with another funny-named relative but couldn't and then Zoot shot in there with Alky Eda. Quality as ever Zoot. Although Zoot might be Scottish, in which case that's a whole different ball game, the Welsh will be in next with their sheep shearing skills. Yes I said shearing.
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Good Blog Robbo - I especially like the description of Fabragas's second as... "It was like a late effort in a three-a-side kickabout on a full-size pitch" -you were spot on with this - watching on MOTD (and because of the narrow view provided by cameras following the ball) I actually thought that the Everton players had left the pitch!
I feel sorry for David Moyes, he is as they say 'p.....ing against the wind' and somebody should have advised him (before now) to hike up the price as high as possible, before the season started and/or in the meantime keep Lescott on the bench - as SAF threathened to do with Ronaldo last year.
His present position is untenable and after the 'thumping' by Arsenal somewhat humiliating - he does'nt deserve that!
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Ref 112... Yeah, good point, MarkusvanBasten, what are they saying in the pic at the top?
It's pre-match and I like to think Wenger is saying "OK, you let us win 6-1 today, and we'll let you win 6-1 at Highbury".
And I'm not just saying that because I'm an Everton supporter. No way.
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112. At 5:50pm on 18 Aug 2009, MarkusVanBasten wrote:
Incidentally, a penny for your thought as to what Wenger is saying to Mayes there? Hardly "Well played". Maybe "So, have you thought about that Senderos deal?".
_________________________________________________________________________
I suggest a variant on that: 'If you need another P***-poor defender, Senderos is still available.'
Or perhaps he's just saying "do what I do - preetend you never saw any of it."
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Highbury? Er, make that The Emirates. I'm living in the past...
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99. At 4:28pm on 18 Aug 2009, Zootmac wrote:
95 eastlandsmanc
"... back on "Top Gear" soon, only this time with Clarkson..." would have been more sympathetic towards my rapidly failing capacities. Although conjuring up the image of Clarkson mounting Usain Bolt and murmering "It moves...like a dream" is actually quite distressing.
Thank heaven's for the nine o'clock watershed. I'll be in bed with my cocoa if it ever appears on telly.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Aaaargh!!!
You called me eastlandsmanc. Do you realize how traumatized I now feel, and that I am casting about for someone to sue......
eastlancsmanc, that's me!! Red forever.
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At 10:42am on 18 Aug 2009, chips_in_the_queue wrote:
He did pretty well when he managed Aberdeen, breaking the 'Old Firm' dominance and winning a European trophy. I think he could probably do a decent job if he was at Everton!
Oh come on ! You're talking of quite a different league, a different era, and who knew back then what kind of money any team or individual players enjoyed. Everton even had the good fortune to win the Cup Winners Cup around that same time. Fergie, was out of his depth at Old Trafford in the First Division until the kit revenues started cascading in and has never looked back. I can remember an Everton team beating Man Utd at Old Trafford by a score of 5-0 before the shirt deal was thought up by some slick marketeers !
Fergie has sought players because they were 'the talk of the town' only to dispense with them when his interest waned and someone else had caught the eye of the Media. He couldn't get his hands on Hargreaves fast enough and then look what happened, and that goes for a lot of players he couldn't get to perform as before though that was never mentioned as the reason for their eventual transfers. He's like a spoiled brat in a candy store, and with his resources he will even go so far as to pick up Michael Owen for free just to keep him from his competitors, why ? because he has the resources to do it and enjoys ramming it down the throats of the other Premiership managers.
I've never been able to fathom how he received a knighthood when Liverpool FC before him had a manager who set the bar for excellence that he has salivated over and has striven to achieve with his millions to spend. Too bad Buckingham Palace doesn't have a branch operation down by the Mersey, if that could possibly have been the sole reason for it. I'm glad you said 'probably'.
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So anyway, the pic at the top...
Wenger's saying: "Look, David, if you want to break into the top four then you're going to have to wear a shirt and tie. I do, Alex does, Rafa does, Carlo does..."
Which prompts the following question: who is the worst dressed manager in the Premiership?
Tough one. [Scratches head] There's something about Phil Brown that makes you look twice - and not in a good way. He gets my vote.
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Of all things revolting that is Phil Brown, he does dress up.
Its the gawd aw-full patch of skin that protrudes out of the shirt is abhorrent.
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Zootmac,
Don't forget the Irish group the Tallaght Band that were arrested at the UK border and sent to Guantanamo Bay. (the ght is silent my English friends).
GazUtd:
Another post that failed to address the questions posed and an admission that you yield to superior forces.
This reminds me of the story of the Manchester United supporter (complete with latest kit as per corporate instructions) who was walking through the jungle when he was pounced upon and eaten by a lion. Later, the lion recounted his tale to his friend and said that in spite of his meal he still felt hungry. His friend replied "Your mistake was when you jumped on him you knocked the wind out of him. After that all you're left with are boots and buckle."
I must also take you up on your previous post where you used the term abu before the item that it referred to. In the Irish language abu can only come after that which it refers to. For intance, in English it would be equivalent to saying "GazUtd is intelligent very". You see? That just doesn't make any sense does it?
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I really do give up this time. What bloody questions posed have I not answered? I thought we got to the bottom of this. I'm right, you're wrong. Is it really that hard to understand?
And as for the Irish language I couldn't give two flying seamen. It's a stupid dead language that is only spoken by people who think it makes them more Irish than people who don't. It is of no value to anyone and does nothing but waste taxpayers money keeping up the ridiculious charade that we are a two language nation.
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Lovely to get the season rolling, great blog Robbo. Shame about my season opening with a defeat but as ever, I'll settle for top 17!!!
I've just dashed back from Bermuda full of the excitement of anticipation at the prospect of reading your blog. As it happens I was on the beach with Indiana Jones and a few younger friends of Zoot's Granny and oh, Gaz, there wasn't a crumb of fried grub in sight!
I reckon Spurs might be a decent price for a top four spot but I'd only put your cash on that one. Top 6 more like it but time will tell us all. The over-riding fact is that nobody cares what I think or what drivel I spout....you on the other hand.......
Wenger is saying "David, do you know there is a picture of a cock on your back?"
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118 eastlancsmanc
Heartfelt apologies. You see? Dense.
122 Irn_Bru
As if I could forget the Tallaght Band! The mayonnaise joke on the Band Joke website is one of my favourites. I remembered it when I read Gaz's reference to "flying seamen". (The a is silent, my Irish friends).
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Trotter - you're just back from Bermuda, and all you can think of is Robbo's blog? It's little wonder that all you could pick up on the beach are gran's chums, and Indy in his doteage. Just in passing, from your recent experience, would you say that the cock on Moyes' back is inside the Bermuda Triangle? If it's not there next week, we'll know why.
Chelsea picking up momentum now. I find it difficult to see them dropping points from their first ten games, and after that they'll be difficult to dislodge.
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Post 126: Zootmac:
"Chelsea picking up momentum now. I find it difficult to see them dropping points from their first ten games, and after that they'll be difficult to dislodge."
This is hardly the place to be discussing such matters!
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119. DixieandPele
I'm afraid I can't take your comment seriously. Ferguson is one of the greatest managers ever and he has proven himself time after time.
- You are saying that because Ferguson did what he did in the Scottish league, on a shoe-string, it bears no relevance whatsoever to his ability as a manager in England?
- You are suggesting that Ferguson is an average manager who has only achieved what he has achieved because of money? (how about his continual faith in young players?)
- You are saying that Manchester United's transformation only occurred because of 'kit revenues'?!!
- And perhaps best of all, you are suggesting that Ferguson's scouting is limited to who is 'talk of the town' or who has 'caught the eye of the Media'.
I don't need to argue against you on any of these points because when singled out, they do look rather silly don't they? Besides, your last paragraph nullifies any semblence of credibility your 'arguments' may have had.
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127 RedBlue:
I've recently given eastlancsmanc a free transfer to City, and he's still traumatised. I thought if I said something remotely sensible about footy, about which he would vehemently disagree, it might bring him round.
No word of him yet. I think it's all been too much.
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I was mistaken for a Farnborough fan once so i know exactly what old eastlancmanc is going through... And its the sort of thing you never get over!
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you have hit it on the nose robbo
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GazUtd,
As ever failing to see the point and arguing about something that is of no relevance whatsoever. Whether the Irish language is dead or not is not important. You made certain claims about what my username stood for and I was merely pointing out that it does not mean "anybody but United".
You appear to be suffering from what I believe is known as "post colonial guilt" whereby inhabitants of the newly independent country believe their own culture and language is inferior to their recently departed rulers. This was a deliberate ploy of all colonial powers (and not just the British) to keep the natives down so they would not object to their economic assets being exploited.
Also, for a person who is quick to notice a humour deficit in another, you appear strangely lacking in the quality yourself.
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GazUtd
To the more serious matter of Stephen Ireland and Roy Keane.
My point is that he told Mick McCarthy originally that he was quitting the squad because of "personal reasons" and because of his troublesome knee. When Mick accepted this and called up Colin Healy as a replacement Roy (for whatever reason) decided that he did not want to go home after all so a) his personal problems had diminished and b) his troublesome knee had miraculously improved. When the "Showdown at the Saipan Corral" took place Roy did not mention anything about the mismanagement of the FAI. It was an extremely personal attack on Mick McCarthy as a person not as manager of the Irish team. This is clearly demonstrated because a large part of the tirade was aimed at Mick’s skills (or lack of them) as a player. How this impacted on his ability to manage I'm not quite sure. Alex Ferguson admitted that he himself was no great shakes as a player, Arsene Wenger never played at a professional level and neither did Jose Mourinho.
When I pointed out that Roy Keane (in his own autobiography) had admitted to shaking hands with Kenny Dalglish on a deal to join Blackburn Rovers it showed that his word (and his handshake) could not be taken at face value and, therefore, his reasons for his disaffection should also be looked at in that light.
I would not blame anybody for coming up with an excuse that reflected well on themselves and shifted the blame to somebody else. This is especially effective where you can blame an organisation rather than a person as it cannot be taken personally by any individual. However, when those of us who are removed from what happened try to glean the truth of it, it is important to consider the facts but also (and more importantly) to consider the character of the protagonists.
As far as I can recall the Genesis report (which was very critical of the FAI) concluded that Roy Keane had no intention of playing in the World Cup.
For anyone, therefore, to criticise Stephen Ireland for his resignation from the Irish squad and demand an apology whilst refusing to face the facts about Roy Keane is, at best, being disingenuous and, at worst, dishonest.
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Gaz and Ira, you two get a room already. Luckily, neither of you would have to take a ferry to meet up.
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RBA 127 chuckle chuckle chuckle.
Zoot, I didn't need to pick up on the beach, I took my own. This also precludes the need for me to go shopping for fancy blue collared polo shirts. When's the cruise anyway?
It has also occurred to me that the cock is France's answer to our three lions, no wonder Wenger feels right at home at Goodison Park. If they lose another like that this Hurricane Bill (possibly en route to Bermuda)will have a last name....Kenwright! Moyes might be left playing the triangle.
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Ira you are the epitomy of a... well I don't know what I can call you the epitomy of without needlessly insulting a particular group.
There is no point answering anything you ask because you do not accept the answer. You continually point out rubbish that never happened, just because you believe it did doesn't mean it actually did. The simple facts of the matter are this...
1. Roy Keane is the best player that has ever came from The Republic of Ireland, a certain George Best lays claim to the best from this island.
2. Mick McCarthy and the FAI who appointed him were responsible for a complete farce of preparation and participation in the biggest sporting competition in the world.
3. Roy Keane consistently suffers from being too honest for his own good.
4. The Stephen Ireland / Roy Keane sagas are two completely different arguments, people like you constantly link things like this together because you are incapable of having a proper debate about one thing. It's the classic defence and transference syndrome. To put it as simply as I can for you it IS possible to criticise Stephen Ireland and at the same time support Roy Keane, one does not cancel out the other.
5. The simple fact that you put one ounce of faith or belief in the Genesis report shows exactly how stupid you are. This report is almost universally recognised as being a complete whitewash and nothing but a joke. For Gods sake the FAI appointed Steve Staunton after it.
It is very obvious that you have a hatred for Roy Keane and Man Utd, this hatred means you are unable to see or even listen to facts or different points of view when they are presented to you.
Now I fully expect the "that's what you do, you're worse than me" argument from you because you are incapable of anything else. Even after I continually answered whatever you ask you keep asking it and when I ask you or point out anything to you you either say I am calling you names, which I didn't but you did, or some other rubbish.
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Gaz, how are you mate? I reckon Georgie was the best ever and Pele agreed! Because of him (GB not Pele) I begged my ald man to take me to Old Trafford instead of Burnden Park but alas, the black peas were a greater draw. Nevertheless, my soft spot for ManU was there and I had my GB stylo matchmaker boots by my 8th birthday (no Trotters had comercial endorsements in those days, except maybe for Woodbines or Capstan Full Strength).
Nowadays, I still hope ManU win everything, simply because they're the best supported club in the world and their success will therefore make the most people happy!
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#137
Too young to have seen GB play in his heyday (just) but I vaguely remember seeing him on a childrens programme called SuperGran!
As I recall he was sitting on the bench and his team were losing with only minutes to go. Everybody assumed he would be called upon to turn the game around and therefore become the hero. Unfortunately for him they put SuperGran on instead and she single-handedly won the game - so he couldn't have been that good. I don't know whether it was true but I heard a rumour that her surname was Ireland...
What? No-one else is actually commenting on the blog anymore...
(Good blog as usual Robbo).
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138
The scenario you describe doesn't allow us to reach the conclusion that "he couldn't have been that good."
It could have been the case that had GB been sent on instead of SuperGran, their team may well have won even more convincingly.
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GazUtd:
Maybe I am the "epitome" of someone who can spell.
Let us deal with the facts. You are constantly introducing irrelevancies into the argument. Just because you disagree with something does not make it wrong. It is merely a difference of opinion.
To take your points in order:
1. Can you give me even one example of where I pointed out “rubbish that never happened”? Was it one of the following?
a) Roy Keane wanted to go home from Saipan because of personal reasons and injury concerns. You have already conceded this happened in a previous post.
b) Roy Keane shook hands with Kenny Dalglish on a deal to join Blackburn Rovers. He admitted this in his autobiography. You should read it. It is badly written but gives a good insight into the character of Roy Keane. Other insights which appeared in that book were that he was involved in a brawl with Irish supporters, once threw a pint of lager over a lady with whom he had a difference of opinion and then proceeded to brawl with her husband, and once (eureka moment!) told Mick McCarthy to “go ****” himself when Mick (as captain) confronted him about arriving late and drunk for the team bus. These are only some of the delightful details that Roy wanted to share with us. This list is not exhaustive, and I am only recalling from memory but I think you can get the gist of it.
2. Whether Roy Keane is or is not the best player to play for Ireland is completely irrelevant to the issue. He would definitely be in my top 5 but I have always thought that Paul McGrath should have that honour. As regards George Best I cannot comment as I never saw him play in the flesh. But, whatever, it is not material to the issue at hand.
3. For a team that was so badly prepared and had been badly disrupted by its most established player Ireland did not do too badly. They drew with Germany, Cameroon and Spain and beat Saudi Arabia. In the three drawn games they came from behind to get the draw which is a sign of a team with great spirit. I often wondered if this was because Roy Keane was SENT HOME as you so helpfully pointed out in capital letters in a previous post.
4. So Roy consistently suffers from being too honest for his own good. Could you give me an example of that? Was it when he shook hands with Kenny? Was it when he told Mick he wanted to go home because of personal reasons and because of his “troublesome” knee? Was it when he walked out on Sunderland?
5. I never said that Stephen and Roy’s situations cancelled each other out. I was merely comparing the Manchester United supporters response to Stephens case (“numpty, “full apology” etc.) to how they perceived the Roy Keane situation (KeanoGod16 I believe).
6. Where does it show that I have a “hatred” as you put it of Roy Keane and Manchester United? If it is in any of my posts I will gladly retract it and apologise. But of course it is not. I know this because it isn’t true. As a rational human being I am capable of deciding for myself the facts of a particular case. It may suit you to believe that hatred is the reason for my opinion as otherwise it would mean you would have to confront the facts in this case and that would take you out of your cosy “Manchester United are great because I support them” viewpoint. I am capable of dissociating Roy Keane the footballer from Roy Keane the man. Fine footballer but flawed human being (as we all are). Most Manchester United supporters seem to be incapable of making this distinction.
7. I never said you called me names but off the top of my head from your previous posts I can recall you comparing Mick McCarthy to a “blind goat”!? (no me neither), and said he was an “ignorant *********”. You also used the following terms, “drunken Australian with an IQ of 20”, “numpty”. Again you get the picture.
8. Several of your previous posts also went along the lines of “I’m right and your wrong” so there. A true master of the debating arts obviously.
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GazUtd:
It appears we were both wrong. Apparently the zygote did it!
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Trotter - you hope ManU win "simply because they are the best supported club in the world and their success will therefore make the most people happy!". Utilitarianism, as advocated by Jeremy Bentham and John Stewart Mill, preached "the greatest happiness of the greatest number" as being mankind's number 1 goal. I didn't know that you were such a keen Benthamite.
The problem with your logic, of course, is that most football supporters may well feel some antipathy towards ManU, so you should be seeking ManU's complete and utter destruction as a means of securing "the greatest happiness of the greatest number".
It would also preserve the motorways from the possible effects of Gaz's Merseyside danglers.
Sorry about all this. I've been following Gaz and Irn_Bru, so I'm becoming all philosophical and logical.
Your Supergran v GB analysis is MUCH more sound. Indeed, it's downright impressive.
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John Stuart Mill. Dammit. And here was me trying to be all profound, and everything.
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Zoot, I didn't know I was a Benthamite either but if you say so it must be so!
There must be a subtle difference between the most people being happy at the success of one team and the most people being happy at the failure of one team. I can only applaud those who applaud. Stuart/Stewart, who cares? We all knew who you meant (cough cough).
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#139
If you're using that argument then how do you know whether Supergran would not have surpassed GB's achievements at United if she had been given the chance. Unfortunately we will never know the outcome of either of the scenarios.
I do hope this debate doesn't get to the same level that GazUtd's and the ira's has gotten to. I was merely pointing out that surely you would pick the better player in that situation and the manager went for Supergran....and they won.
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#145
I'm in a bit of a rush but you can't base this on the manager's decision at that time any more than I could say he was saving George for the big game they had coming up three days later.
These things are so subjective, let's agree to disagree. I think GB was the best ever and you thing SG was better. Your opinion is just as valid as mine.
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Look this all started with Roy Keane calling Mick McCarthy a granny who definitely wasn't super so I whoever brought Supergran into it should be ashamed of themselves.
I warned you all a while ago not to get involved with 2 Irish men (?) arguing but you wouldn't listen would you!
So what has started as a "who do you like more, Roy or Mick" debate has degenerated into a pub argument, if the pub is in Austria and full of pshychologists.
Look Ira, I think Roy is 100 times the player and the man that McCarthy is, I am never going to like McCarthy and you are not going to change my opinion on the grey-haired, by-heck, donkey, illiterate moron. (Hey if you are going to start calling people names you may as well do it properly)
You clearly think Roy is some sort of Anti-Christ sent from Cork to lay waste to us all. A lot of people think that about Cork people funnily enough. The one thing I will say is that Roy is simply too honest for his own good. Yes he shook hands with Kenny, then he honestly admitted that this happened and he couldn't refuse the biggest club in the world (don't start all you Pool fans). Yes he tried to injure Haaland but then he honestly admitted he did. Yes he walked out on Sunderland, but then he honestly admitted why. Now how many other people in football have done the previous three things? Quite a lot I would wager. How many have been honest enough to admit to any of them? I can't think of anyone else. Roy is not perfect, no one is, but at least he is honest about it.
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#147
I am ashamed and truly sorry, I was just trying to get off the subject of Keane, McCarthy and Ireland (Stephen) but then I realise so are you....
Although now I'm thinking Roy Keane or Supergran??
Ok I'll leave it!
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148
SuperGran is twice the man that Kathy Ireland will ever be!
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Is there any chance Supergran is available for the 2nd half at Turf Moor?
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#149
Both quite a lot smaller than Barry.
#150
Gladys Neville's on now!
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Gladys Neville's on now!
----
Once that happened I knew all hope was lost.
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Well, there's a turn up. Still, Ralph Coates had a Bobby Charlton before Bobby Charlton had a Bobby Charlton so you can't take it away from the lads. Funny old game.
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Gawd. Now we've all got to endure Robbo and the Spurs stuff.
I'm leaving the country.
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I'm leaving too.
For entirely different reasons.
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I just got back, yikes! Wait no, I'm already out of the country, there's no escape. I fancy Spurs for top 3, remember where you heard it first!
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Well OK Robbo it's a fair cop...not just top 4, but Spurs for Champions after they demolished Hull "Norwich in disguise" City 5-1. (or were we Everton in disguise?). After my comments on your blog of last week I am now having a large slice of humble pie.
Re other postings: I am glad I left the country too.
Yours in despair...still there are 36 games left and 10 days until the transfer window closes.
PS. Man City can have Hull City's entire defence for 22 million quid!
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GazUtd;
Your latest post is once again the usual mixture of abuse, irrelevancies and ill-thought out hyperbole. To call Mick McCarthy a donkey and a moron is up to the usual high standards of your wit but, obviously, if you had read Roy Keane’s autobiography you would have seen that he managed to fail his Inter Cert. For those of you who are not Irish this is equivalent to the O-levels in Britain. I am not sure how the British exam is structured but in Ireland you have a choice between doing honours or pass exams in each subject. Basically if you do the pass subjects you should be able to reach the required level by being able to read, write, multiply and divide. I will leave it to the readers (those who are left, if any) to decide who would be more worthy of those epithets.
This has nothing to do with “who do you like more”. Your contribution to the argument is that you like Roy and dislike Mick. Your reasons for doing so are that Roy played for Manchester United and Mick did not. I would expect this from a young child but, if you are going to put your opinions in a public forum be sure that you are expected to engage on a more mature level. If you are going to engage in criticism of any individual at least try and base it on the facts and not on your prejudices. You have entirely accepted Roy Keane’s version of his reasons for his tirade against Mick McCarthy in Saipan. The reasons he gave were self-serving and ignored the basic facts. My reason for bringing up the handshake with Kenny Dalglish was to show that the word of Roy Keane means nothing. He did not behave honourably on that and many other occasions and, therefore, if you are a rational human being you have to consider this in relation to the events at the 2002 World Cup. Where I come from a man’s word is his bond and doubly so when it is accompanied with a handshake. You obviously are from different stock.
One other thing. Do not put words in my mouth. I have no particular feelings towards Roy Keane one way or the other. I do not regard him as the anti-christ as you put it. I have some great friends who are from Cork and, when it comes to the GAA, would prefer to see Cork win the All-Ireland if my county couldn’t. I do not hate Manchester United. Alex Ferguson is the greatest manager of all time, bar none. United have always striven to play good football and you are almost always guaranteed good football when they are involved. If it was not a good game you can be sure it wasn’t down to United. However you claim that Roy is too honest for his own good and give 3 examples.
The handshake with Kenny – His agreement to join Blackburn was in the public domain long before his autobiography. How could he deny it?
The deliberate attempt to injure Haaland – Anyone with eyes could have seen this. Again, how could he deny it?
Walking out on Sunderland – How do you know he was being honest?
I would wager that you have never met either Roy Keane or Mick McCarthy in person. This debate started when you bad-mouthed Mick in a previous blog. I defended his character and, in passing, mentioned Roy Keane as it was clear this was the reason for your dislike. When trying to ascertain a persons character you need to look at their actions. Every fact that I have advanced is provable in regards to Roy Keane. However, only Roy Keane himself can know the real reasons for his Saipan tirade. Therefore, you can only look at this in relation to his previous and subsequent actions.
I think anyone who has had even a passing interest in the career of Mr. Keane could easily draw their own conclusions on whether to believe his subsequent explanations.
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This time I really do give up.
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159. At 2:47pm on 20 Aug 2009, GazUtd wrote:
This time I really do give up.
Slan!
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155. At 10:38pm on 19 Aug 2009, GazUtd wrote:
I'm leaving too.
For entirely different reasons.
Are you going to England? You should feel right at home there.
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"Yes he tried to injure Haaland but then he honestly admitted he did"
Wow you make him sound so noble, he did not admit it, he gloated about it and did he ever apologise for ruining what was left of the guy's career or any of his other 'honest admissions'? I don't think so. As a footballer he was blessed with skill but as a man the guy was an @rse and any claim he may have had to greatness was dashed on the rocks as far as i am concerned by his less than savoury actions which he "honestly admitted to". Great players of which i list those such as Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Bobby Robson,Gary Lineaker,Ray Wilkins, Colin Bell etc were skillfull but were also honest hard working professionals who personified this on and off the pitch.
Roy Keane? The guy was good but he was also a thug.
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mick mccarthy started his manger career with millwall
and so did george graham both learn from the best club
in england and the best fans.
no body likes us but we don't care .
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