21 March 2007
Thanks to some top-notch trading, and in part owing to the 30-day rule, this week's Top Trader is SingaporeSaints. As you may guess from his name he's an ardent follower of Southampton football club. Having made it to the top of such an illustrious league maybe the ckub will commission a statue of him to be erected outside St Mary's? Just be careful who you get to sculpt it.
1. So, how does it feel to be Top Trader this week?
A bit disappointed at first to find I was lying 3rd this morning but then found out from Daq Talk that I was in with a chance of TT as the top 2, Rao and Kite, had fallen foul of the 30 day rule. Credit to those 2 for a close fought race but being a Saints fan, I'll take the win however fortunate it might be
2. hey, a win is a win. What was it that set you apart from the rest of the players this week and meant you got the silverware?
I recently had a month off from Daq to visit the wife's family in Singapore so was refreshed and raring to go when I got back. Getting all 3 WBs and good access to daq, as usual, is the only way you can compete with the best of the best daqers.
3. And there's nothing like brief holiday to sharpen those trading instincts. Your most important buy or sell this week?
My important buy of the week, without a doubt, was pre-packet mature Cheddar cheese! I had seriously mistimed my weekly Tescos run on Saturday. With only 30 minutes to go until 12.30 rugby WB deadline, I still hadn't got the usual wedge of cheese for my afternoon cheese on toast snack (cheese on toast without cheese just isn't the same). I usually carefully hand select my cheese from the cheese counter but I calculated there were 4 people before me in the queue, time I didn't have to waste. It was then I made the hasty decision to chuck the first per-packed lump of mature Cheddar I came across into the trolley rush to the checkouts and home. The gamble paid off as I managed to buy into Horgan with 2 minutes to spare.
4. We hereby lay down a future challenge for all TT's to beat that answer for the most uses of the word "cheese". In their willingness to drop Flintoff for his over-indulgence have England's cricket side set a good example for the football side to follow with their "untouchables"?
If any of these so called "untouchables" had been out on the lash with Freddy they still wouldn't physically be able to play now! It will never work in football as the clubs have too much to play for and too much to lose financially.
5. Although iwe would like to see Cristiano Ronaldo trying to keep pace with Freddie. What have we learnt from the 6 Nations ahead of this year's rugby World Cup?
Out of the 6 Nations there wasn't one team that really stood out. There were some good performances but not consistently over 5 games. I bet the Aussies and the All Blacks are quaking in their boots... not
6. Well, the Aussies will be. But only if they end up playing New Zealand. Lewis Hamilton finished third in his first grand prix. What other impressive debuts stick in your memory?
For me it has to be Alan Shearer's full debut for Southampton in 1988, scoring a hat-trick against Arsenal at the tender age of 17. This just beats into 2nd the very impressive, and now infamous, debut of George Weah's "cousin" Ali Dia!
7. Graeme Souness; what a judge of talent. Where's he managing now? Oh, sorry Graeme. European Championship qualifying starts again this weekend. How do you feel the home nations have performed so far?
It's good to see the likes of Scotland and Northern Ireland make such good starts in the qualifiers and would be a great to see one, if not both get through. The Republic have just got to hope results go their way and it's a shame Wales just can't get the results. And as for England, if we don't get 6 points from the next 2 games we're going to be in serious trouble. But hey, it's only a game!
8. Too right. We'll be too busy swimming to work when global climate change really kicks in to care soon. Finally, take the chance to talk about any sporting issue close to your heart. Try and keep it brief.
Not exactly a sporting issue, but definitely close to my heart being a Southampton fan and it's not our current form. But what the hell is that monstrosity of a statue that was revealed outside St Mary's last weekend. For those who don't know, fans had collected and raised over £50k, which the club matched, for a statue of the late great Ted Bates, Mr Saints himself.
Can the sculpture, who I wont name and shame, please have a look at the picture on top as this is what Ted Bates looks like, not what you came up with! It really is a shame and an insult to the great man and his family and the sooner it's taken down the better!
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