tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083755.post117079191617125419..comments2023-10-30T10:30:06.191+00:00Comments on Cheer Up Alan Shearer: Craig Bellamy for Newcastle Utd (v Feyenoord), 13 November 2002LBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06234702470107953581noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083755.post-33829028102610647482007-02-23T15:48:00.000+00:002007-02-23T15:48:00.000+00:00For a while I dabbled in foosball and even got qui...For a while I dabbled in foosball and even got quite good at it (that was before I took up crazy golf, which is of course another story)<BR/><BR/>However I managed to get blacklisted and ostracized from the table football world after an altercation with the British number 5 involving a tube of WD40 and a pint of Boddingtons...<BR/><BR/>A legal banning order prevents me from revealing any more.<BR/><BR/>I now like to think of myself as the bad boy of table football forced into early retirement - like Cantona...Phillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01138633738728309340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083755.post-70911002476009809442007-02-14T21:38:00.000+00:002007-02-14T21:38:00.000+00:00Excellent feature as always.As a Bristol City fan ...Excellent feature as always.<BR/><BR/>As a Bristol City fan I have to say my faith in the FA cup has been restored somewhat this season. Since beating Gillingham 4-3 in the second round, we've taken Coventry to a replay with a 3-3 draw at Ashton Gate (and won it 2-0). Then in the fifth round we've taken Middlesbrough to a replay after coming back from a two-goal deficit, only to lose on sudden death penalties (after another cracking 2-2 draw).<BR/><BR/>Yakubu missing the fifth penalty to win the game, after being psyched out by our keeper (who had saved one during extra time by standing still), was priceless. Sending our inexperienced bag of nerves left-back to take the next kick however, was not.<BR/><BR/>I suppose the cup may have lost some of it's glamour for the supporters of the top clubs, whose real ambition nowadays is clearly a place in the Champion's league. However, for followers of smaller clubs it's still got a lot of potential to provide that all-important magic moment.<BR/><BR/>As for babyfoot (I'm afraid it's the only decent thing ever to have come out of France, so has to be 'babyfoot'), I wasted my two years at A-level college playing it constantly, and here comes my all time sporting claim to fame...I once beat the British Champion, who had just returned from the World Championships in Florida (and had a side business maintaining babyfoot tables in the South West). <BR/><BR/>Of course, he taught me a lesson or two afterwards, but yes, once you get passed the random elements (and ban spinning!), it's a hugely under-rated game.Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06193403012209549634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083755.post-88667788497509528792007-02-09T02:11:00.000+00:002007-02-09T02:11:00.000+00:00To return the compliment..."You might also be will...To return the compliment...<BR/><BR/>"You might also be willing to risk running the gauntlet of getting through the 90 minutes without attempting to erode your zip fly with a sudden goal-propelled jet of backed-up russet-hued urine"<BR/><BR/>"a patty of meat so limp it comes with its own orthopaedic shoe"<BR/><BR/>Stop it, Skif - the rest of us might as well give up now!<BR/><BR/>Enjoying this feature almost as much as I enjoyed the finale to that Feyenoord game...Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03008553685046831301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083755.post-1170865616333163992007-02-07T16:26:00.000+00:002007-02-07T16:26:00.000+00:00"they are nevertheless just as likely to be found ..."they are nevertheless just as likely to be found in a bar late at night."<BR/><BR/>One of my favourite puns of all time, right there. Handsome.skifhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03611935963292986777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083755.post-1170864712775699202007-02-07T16:11:00.000+00:002007-02-07T16:11:00.000+00:00As for the magic of the FA Cup. I think that might...As for the magic of the FA Cup. I think that might well be the case for the bigger clubs, but for followers of lower-league and non-league clubs (well, those of us who do fairly well in it, I guess), then there is the desire to get to the first round or third round, whichever represents the ideal achievement for a team at your level. <BR/><BR/>There will be some, even there, who see it as a distraction from the bread and butter league activity. Crowds do tend to go down for clubs unless they are approaching a significant milestone.<BR/><BR/>So I can see why boredom does set in around about Round 4 for followers of the bigger teams, cos I feel it too. I can tell you, like many, I am no longer arsed about this year's competition. <BR/><BR/>In the early stages though, I love it. This year I attended a game in each of the seven rounds up to and including the first proper. In only three of those game was I partisan. It really doesn't matter to me. There's somethign in the air in the Cup, even at the Extra Preliminary, without doubt. <BR/><BR/>And in terms of my team, each win's good for cash too, which always helps.<BR/><BR/>I say these things, despite the fact that my team had their best FA Cup year so far this year (third time in 1st round proper but first time drawn against a league club) and actually lost money. Quite a bit in fact.<BR/>Which you can read about <A HREF="http://hobotread.blogspot.com/2006/11/havant-waterlooville-1-millwall-2.html" REL="nofollow">here</A>. You'll see though that it had it's compensations.<BR/><BR/>As such, I am already giddy about the idea of next year's cup, and not only dreaming of Leeds United away (could happen, if they carry on the way they are), but also about rocking up to sides lower in the pyramid that we don't usually get to play in the qualifiers.<BR/><BR/>Even with the inherent banana-related dangers of that.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps I should just speak for myself, but I really can't get enough of it. <BR/><BR/>Bring on next year's Road to Wembley, well at least the road to Chelsea v Bolton in round 4, anyway.skifhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03611935963292986777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083755.post-1170860230161832872007-02-07T14:57:00.000+00:002007-02-07T14:57:00.000+00:00I'm even going to submit for the next one"I'm even going to submit for the next one"ademhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00370168900902377016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15083755.post-1170853509003250192007-02-07T13:05:00.000+00:002007-02-07T13:05:00.000+00:00I call Gretna.Bagsies!I call Gretna.<BR/><BR/>Bagsies!skifhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03611935963292986777noreply@blogger.com