Battleship Ahoy!

Well there are a few football boats rocking out there at the moment.

There's the Good Ship Liverpool, where the 3 men in a boat seem to be upsetting the balance one way or another, with even more waves around them today as the rumours of a possible sell out get louder.

On HMS Chelsea, the skipper is shouting for the seas to calm, furious about the storm that has brewed since their defeat by Tottenham in the League Cup at the weekend.

Aboard the Pirate Ship Newcastle, the crew are starting to worry that they might sink.

Meantime, I'm hoping the Foxes have prepared their battleship properly for tomorrow's encounter with Cardiff.

We need to blow them right out of the water!!!

Cruel To Be Kind?

I have been pondering on one of the comments made in response to one of my recent posts that football is like a soap opera (thanks paul coombes!)

If I'm honest, true to my girlie nature, it was probably those soap opera qualities that drew me into football. It was my entry point really.

But there have been a number of events recently that have made me think beyond that. One was actually another comment on this blog by Mrs Dowie ,when I had been unkind about Iain Dowie, in which he talked about a kind act by the former Coventry manager. Another was the Eduardo/Taylor incident and all the aftermath.

Football is a soap opera. There is no doubt about it. Larger than life stories that take you to the fringes of belief. The madness of life in the fast lane. The bizarre coincidences that could never happen in real life.

These events, though, have reminded me of the difference between the two. Because although there is an element of the characters 'acting', in that they project a public persona (David Beckham can't possibly look that gorgeous all the time can he?), behind the soap opera are real people with real lives. And feelings.

And the whole world is their judge and jury as they live life in the spotlight.

So my feeling when I read tonight of the generosity of spirit of Eduardo and how it is bringing comfort to Taylor, was one of warmth towards two other human beings, touched by tragedy and digging deep to recover from the wounds it has left - physical and psychological.

I have resolved to try to always bear in mind that when I am considering delivering biting satire at the expense of some hapless victim, that what I say could be hurtful.

Except, of course, in the case of Leeds United, when cruelty is entirely justified.

One Thing Leads To Another

I'm absolutely shattered today. Emotionally and physically. It's been a long one.

I can barely put one foot in front of the other. The same could be said too of Eduardo today as he left hospital. We would both do well to remember that tomorrow is another day and nothing ever stays the same.

And talking of putting one foot in front of the other, I understand that is what David Beckham is saying he is going to focus on over the coming weeks as he battles to reach peak fitness.

And talking of battles, those naughty boys have been fighting again.

Which is what Richard Hope, Captain of Wrexam, is vowing to do to ensure they do not get relegated at the end of the season.

Unlike Liverpool, who in some quarters are saying that they should be challenging for the Premiership title.

Another challenge in the news, of course, is Middlesbrough's criticism of the FA's decision to not only reject their appeal against Aliadiere's ban but to extend it by a futher match.

And on the subject of matches, what about this proposal to have the vote for man of the match on line?

Did I say on-line? Good grief look at the time. I have been on line for over an hour. Time to stop I think and rest my weary head.

Goodnight girls - and boys too if there are any out there xx

Are You A Fox Or A Hedgehog?

If Football was a work of literature, what genre do you think it would be?

Perhaps horror. After all that is the label that has been attached to the Taylor tackle on Da Silva. And it is by no means the first.

Comedy maybe? Or a tragedy.

Something to touch the heart? Or a little bit sexy?

I think, though, it is probably a fable. Which means you need to decide whether you are a fox or a hedgehog.

What am I? Well girls, there are no spikes on me. I'm as foxy as they come.

Sometimes Things Just Happen

I have to say my heart goes out to both Eduardo da Silva and Martin Taylor today.

Da Silva is facing a nine month gradual return to fitness in the aftermath of his injury. He will miss this summer's European Cup, where he was due to play for Croatia and will have months of rehabilitation ahead of him.

Equally, from what I can gather, Taylor is distraut about what happened on Saturday. Voices speaking up on behalf of him are adamant that he is a gentle giant who would never execute a malicious tackle, let alone deliberately break someone's leg.

To be fair, his statistics support that. No yellow cards and only one red in his career. And Eduardo is not blaming him either.

Awful to think, then, that he is receiving death threats.

Sometimes these things just happen.

Maybe both of them can take some comfort that there is always someone worse off - leastways if this is to be believed.

The Football Curriculum

I've had an interesting day today.

My lover and I went down to Brighton. He went to see his daughter and I indulged in some retail therapy.

I won't bore you with all the details except to say that hanging monkeys and banana hair slides featured.

Of course I did not abandon my commitment and responsibilities to football, whatever the distractions. I mean how could I on League Cup day for goodness sake?

There I was wandering the streets with my little radio in my ears keeping me updated. At the mercy of the radio commentators.

Oh dear! What a lot they are. I mean talk about arm chair managers. And they are so inconsistent. One minute they are slagging off Ramos for his decision to deepen his defences once Spurs had scored their second goal, the next (once Spurs had won of course), hailing him as a god.

And Avram Grant who until today seemed to be defying the critics and winning praise from various quarters, including the media, has suddenly become incompetent.

I appreciate it is a quick fire activity. I respect that they have to keep talking about something, even when nothing is happening. And I admire the way they are able to offer up-to-the-second commentary on fast moving action. I sometimes find I learn a lot from their explanations.

At other times, though, they do seem to struggle with various aspects of the football curriculum;

Maths for example;

'Peru score their third, and it's 3-1 to Scotland.' - DAVID COLEMAN
'Arsenal are quick to credit Bergkamp with laying on 75% of their nine goals.' - TONY GUBBA
'Ian Rush is deadly ten times out of ten, but that wasn't one of them.' - PETER JONES

History;

'Tottenham are trying tonight to become the first London team to win this cup. The last team to do so was the 1973 Spurs team.' - MIKE INGHAM

Biology;

'Celtic manager Davie Hay still has a fresh pair of legs up his sleeve.' - JOHN GREIG
'...he's using his favourite left foot..' - ITV commentator
'Dumbarton player Steve McCahill has limped off with a badly cut forehead.' - TOM PERRIE

Domestic Science;

'The Uruguayans are losing no time in making a meal around the referee.' - MIKE INGHAM
'And Rush, quick as a needle...' - RON JONES
'...a tale of too many cooks in the defence.' - IAN BROWN
'A smoked salmon sandwich of a football match if ever there has been one.' - PETER DRURY
'He runs a very tightly knit ship' - ROB HAWTHORNE

Literature;

'Emile Zola has scored again for Chelsea' - Radio 5 Live
'They say football is unscripted drama and this match certainly hasn't followed the script tonight.' - CONOR MCNAMARA

Languages;

'It's deja vu all over again.' - GARY BLOOM
'Cantona's expression speaking the whole French dictionary without saying a word.' - BARRY DAVIES

Geography;

'Stockport usually play at Edgeley Park, but this time they've come to Maine Road, because, um, this is an away game' - OSKU LAUKKANEN

They do, however, appear to excel at stating the bleeding obvious;

'If that had gone in, it would have been a goal' - DAVID COLEMAN
'Leeds are enjoying more possession now that they have the ball.' - SIMON BROTHERTON
'In this sort of match, whoever scores the most goals wins' - PORTUGUESE COMMENTATOR
'At the beginning it was a 90 minute game, at halftime it was a 45 minute game and now it's even shorter.' - ABC COMMENTATOR

Being a girl just learning about football, it's no wonder I get confused.

Don't It Make Your Green Eyes Blue

Why did Kevin Keegan go back to Newcastle? I remember him saying something about unfinished business. I didn't see any 'job done' look in his eyes today I have to say.

I'm sure he has made a mistake. Remember never go back?

And Wenger, the man who never sees anything (leastways not when his players are misbehaving). His eyes were certainly working today. He saw the pain in Eduardo's eyes. Poor man.

We shouldn't let the events of today distract us from the Liverpool situation either. A good win in the end but a shaky start within a shakier context. One to still keep an eye on I would say.

As for the Foxes. Another 2 nil defeat. Enough to make my green eyes turn blue.

Leicester To My Roots

I can't get to the match today unfortunately as I am having my roots done.

That's where I am off to now. Complete with my tiny radio to listen to Talk Sport and Ian Holloway autobiography. I'm not wearing my Leicester City shirt though because it'll get all itchy when I have my ends trimmed.

I'll be back later to report on events at the M69 Derby and other footballing stories of the day.

And of course I will be 'rooting' for those Foxes.

Do You Feel Lucky Punk?

Apparently we Foxes have a lucky charm. A lucky potato to be exact.

I've talked before about luck, but what about the lengths people go to to create it?

• Lucky pants
• Following certain principles
• Charms and talismans
• Crossing fingers
  

and somewhat surprisingly this.

According to this, my lucky charm is a dragon.

A little bit of luck makes the world go around. And the ball go in the back of the net.

Hopefully we will get our share tomorrow as we face Coventry.

There But For The Grace Of God ....

I was really sad to learn of Paul Gascoigne's troubles.

Mental health problems can affect any of us. Did you know for example;

• According to the Office for National Statistics, 1 in 4 British adults experience at least one diagnosable mental health problem in any one year, and one in six experiences this at any given time.
• Between 8 and 10% of the population experience depression in any one year
• Suicide is the most common form of death in men under 35

The most common forms of mental health problems are;

• Alcohol and drug problems
• Anorexia and Bulimia
• Anxiety and Phobias
• Bereavement
• Depression
• Memory problems/dementia
• Obsessive compulsive disorder
• Personality disorder
• Sleep problems
• Stress
• Schizophrenia
• Post Traumatic Stress
• Post Natal Depression

Awful enough to be coping with such difficulties but to have to do it in the public spotlight makes it so much worse. Just ask this woman.

Wherever you are tonight Gazza we are thinking of you. Thanks for the magic.

The Joy Of Life

I have just become a grandma again.

My stepson and his wife have had a baby boy.

The good news is that my stepson is football mad so my grandson is going to grow up in a good footballing tradition.

The bad news is he is a Chelsea fan and they live in America, which means it is going to be hard for me to subversivly win over the new arrival to The Foxes.

I will have to think of a cunning plan.

Seriously though there is something wonderful about having a new baby in the family, even if sadly so far away. It brings joy to your heart and hope for the future.

Which is just as well when you read awful stories like this. Sickening eh?

Head Kept

2 - 0.

Head kept I would say.

Be A Man My Son

Oh Rafa.

Big night tonight mate. You really need to do well in Europe. Really, really well. 2 years ago you won the FA cup. 3 years ago you won the Champions Cup. It isn't looking quite so rosy for this year at the moment thought is it?

But then you have to keep believing don't you? Remember this?

Shame someone didn't teach that poem to those involved in the trouble in Leicester on Saturday after the match.

I mean for goodness sake. Get a grip. Football violence is soooooooo old fash!

Indeed, had those fans just been able to "keep their heads" and "meet with Triumph and Disaster and keep those two impostors just the same", the trouble that occurred in Loseby Lane might never have happened;

Norwich Fan: Loseby Lane?

Leicester Fan: No - Loseby 4 - 0 mate

Whack!

One Look Tells You All You Need To Know

Sometimes things speak for themselves don't you think? One look tells you all you need to know.

Such as why Coventry have almost certainly replaced Ian Dowie with Chris Coleman.


Or that playing "keepie uppie" to celebrate being 4 -0 up will result in a kicking from someone

Or that if you are Manchester United it is inevitable you will draw yet another Premiership club in the FA cup this year.

And there's Newcastle who are sponsored by Northern Rock, soon to become British Rock. Which means Newcastle will be sporting the logo of a defunct organisation for the rest for the season.

Like I say - all you need to know

One Day I'm Gonna Be Famous

You may recall me mentioning the football Hall of Fame recently.

Well not having heard of such a thing before I thought I would take a look.

Not in reality of course because the football museum it is housed in is miles away - Preston to be exact.

But virtually, via the website.

Its interesting to see who is in there (and I note I gave you duff information before - there are actually now 7 women). The list includes managers as well as players.

Not our Ollie yet but one day.......................

Have a look around and see what you think.

Here is a more comprehensive list of what is included.

I'm looking forward to the day when they have a category for "football bloggers". I can see it now.....my name in lights........everlasting fame........

Shaggy Dog Stories

If someone had told me at the start of today we would be celebrating a 4 - 0 victory by the end of it I would have thought they were telling me a tale.

I didn't get to the match as I was supposed to be going away to London (last minute crisis led to a change of plan). So I used to opportunity to watch the Man U/Arsenal rout. Ouch!

And what about Barnsley.

I mean Barnsley. Even we beat them for goodness sake.

And when I wasn't watching football or listening to it on the radio I used my unexpected free time to read some more of Ian Holloway's autobiography.

There are all sort of funny litte stories in it but one that made me chuckle was a tale (or should that be tail) of when a police dog bit a player who was taking a throw in during a match.

So I thought to celebrate our win over Norwich today I would find a few more examples of football-related animal antics to make you smile;

• Monty the Footymad Staffy
• A sports drink supping squirrel (allegedly.....)
• Trying to get in on the action
• A mammouth version
• A bunny
• Even stuffed versions
  

Who said animals are stupid? If they like footy they are OK by me. And there is nothing better than a shaggy dog story. Especially when it is the one about Leicester winning 4 -0.

Ice Cold And Ready To Go

"Ice cold and ready to go" is how Ian Holloway described himself in his column this week.

Not like Mr Blatter who has once again poured petrol on the fire in the discussion about whether some Premiership matches should be played in other countries of the world.

The odd ice pack seems to have worked for John Terry though as he has made a miraculous recovery from a broken foot.

Ice can be pretty cool. But then so can hot.

Or best of all, is to mix the two and find something to bring your temperature down when you're feeling steamy.

Girl Power

The football greats.

Pele, Maradona, Best, Banks and of course Lily Parr.

What do you mean - who?

Lily Parr played for the Dick, Kerr's ladies team (named after the Preston company that started the team). She scored over 1000 goals in her career with them. The power of her kick was said to equal the power of a man's and indeed it is rumoured she once broke a male goalkeeper's arm with the force of her shot. She was a lefty too.

In addition to being celebrated in the UK Football National Hall of Fame (the first of only 2 women to receive the honour), she now lends her name to the Lily Parr Lesbian Football Cup, played recently as part of the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender) History Month. She has also been eulogised in poetry.

And at last the FA have acknowledged the damage that their 50 year ban on women playing at association grounds (which only ended in 1971) had upon the women's game. It's funny how I grew up in an environment where I was told girls did not do football. Yet as previously reported it is now the fastest growing women's sport in the country.

Which leads me to conclude that either the women at the beginning of centuries are more suited to football than those later on - or the reason girls did not do football during my childhood and adolescence had something to do with male sexism, patriarchy and abuse of power.

What do you think girls?

Barking Mad

Rumours are rife today that Milan Mandaric is thinking of replacing Ian Holloway.

The suggestion was that he was seeking to replace him with Billy Davies (formally of Derby er...fame ??).

Mandaric has denied it of course.

What I say is - there is no smoke without fire.

But if you did Mandy - you are barking!

Wash Your Mouth Out

B****r! Another defeat for The Foxes.

Despite Ollie's assurances that he is not downhearted it does make you want to swear.

Not an activity that is going to be allowed in the Arngrove Northern League for much longer.

Sounds straightforward enough, if hard to comply with.

Except when you start digging a bit deeper. For there is a lot more to swearing than you might at first think.

Did you know, for example, that scientists believe the brain actually processes swear words differently. Whereas most language is processed as a series of sounds that must be combined to form a word, the theory is that swear words are stored as a whole unit. Plus, swear words are 4 times easier to remember than ordinary ones.

Because swearing utilises the lower, more instinctive and emotional sections of the brain, it also explains some brain disorders which include swearing such as Coprolalia, a symptom of Tourette Sundrome where sufferers appear compelled to utter obscenities.

And there's more. Swear words fall into two categories - deistic (related to religion) and visceral (related to the body and its functions). Some also relate to people's parentage (as any referee will tell you).

It is also suggested that swearing has an important function as a way of showing emotion and relieving stress and anxiety. Other possible purposes include;

• Establishing a group identity
• Establishing membership in a group and maintain the group's boundaries
• Expressing solidarity with other people
• Expressing trust and intimacy (mostly when women swear in the presence of other women)
• Adding humour, emphasis or "shock value"
• Attempting to camouflage a person's fear or insecurity

So I say b******s to the Arngrove Northern League. F**k the rules. And b****r getting over yet another Foxes defeat.

Lies, Damned Lies And Statistics

There is a time and a place for a man (or woman) in an anorak.

A figure of fun, or indeed fear, to some, people who wear anoraks, keep statistics and who used to be famed for their train spotting activities have gradually moved into the less dangerous world of football over recent years.

All over the country there are people sitting close to the touchline on football pitches fervently counting what to most of us would be the uncountable (well how else do they get the information?).

Not just the number of goals scored or the number of red cards given out, but other things such as the number of dribbles and runs one person does in a season or the number of tackles.

And if you believe the statistics published as a result then in the Premiership this season:

• Renaldo is top scorer (19) (although Adebayor has a better success rate of turning shots into goals at 27%)
• Bentley has played the most crosses (277)
• Adebayor has been offside the most (49)
  

and

• Bolton's Davies has played the most fouls (71)
  

If you haven't fallen asleep yet you can read even more fascinating figures here.

Like I say there is a time and a place for numbers and statistics and to be truthful most of us probably have a bit of anorak in us. It's all a matter of proportion.

Where am I on that continuum? Well if it helps I would far rather listen to this than this.
(And if you are reading this after watching the whole of that last video I'm sorry but it is time to get a life!)

Can't Buy Me Love

Goodbye Iain Dowie.

After 49 games in charge, 20 wins, 21 losses and 8 draws, Dowie and Coventry City have parted company. It is another chapter in his rather rocky journey through football management, having left QPR closely pursued by a writ alleging he had lied to the chairman about his reasons for leaving, followed by only a very brief spell at Charlton Athletic before he was sacked there.

Of course the Dowie/Coventry split is not the only high profile separation in the press today, as these two start to slog it out in court.

Public pain is not a pretty thing. Not at all.

I can't help thinking that Dowie's severance package won't be as lucrative though.

Mourinho For Liverpool

I saw him today ....... The Special One.

He was in the crowd at the African Cup of Nations final. (Well done to Egypt for a deserved win).

I do think about him now and then you know. Wondering how he is. What he is doing. And most importantly where he may pop up next.

To be fair Avram Grant is doing a decent job at Chelsea against all expectations. But the Premiership has not been the same since Mourinho left.

Interesting that despite various public opportunities (including the England manager job of course) and no doubt lots more private ones, he has not yet committed himself to his next move.

You can't help wondering if he is maybe playing a waiting game. Not only for the right opportunity but one in top-flight football in the Premiership once he has fulfilled the terms of his severance agreement (i.e. not to manage a Premiership team for a set period of time).

And if you were Mourhino would you take anything less than one of the 'top four'? It's not going to be Man U, Arsenal or Chelsea is it?

Which leaves ......... Liverpool.

You heard it here first.

PS. Did you notice the striking resemblance between today's picture and yesterday's?

Keep Singing The Blues

It's been a bit glum around here tonight as you can imagine. Both The Royals (the team my lover supports) and The Foxes lost their matches today.

We were trying to think of things to do to cheer each other up. Tricks. Stunts. Playing guitars. Eating cake. Singing.

Then we had an idea.

Do you remember how your mum always used to say "There's always someone worse off than you"?

So we counted our blessings and thought how glad we are tonight that we are not:

• A Magpie


• A Hatter


• A Ram


• Gary Megson

You see. Your mum was right.

A Masked Gesture

An 82 year old Ghanaian fan offered his granddaughter's hand in marriage this week to Junior Agogo as a 'thank-you' for scoring the goal that got the team into the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations. Not sure if the offer still stands now they are out of the competition though!

Great gesture.

Talking of which, Foxes fans are being urged to don Ian Holloway masks for the match against Plymouth Argyle tomorrow.

The plan is intended as an act of defiance following public criticism of our beloved manager earlier in the week by Plymouth Argyle Chairman, Paul Stapleton.

I'm not going to the match myself sadly but I will of course be wearing my mask at home as a gesture of solidarity.

I hope my lover can see his way to feeling some level of attraction for a balding 44 year old.

You Know It's Time To Quit When...........

You wonder what the world of football is coming to when:

1. Yet another team goes into administration
2. There are nearly as many players on the subs bench as there are on the pitch
3. There are claims that plans to stage Premiership matches abroad is a way of spreading the English traditions of football when really it is all about money
4. The Plymouth chairman is bad-mouthing our beloved Ollie
   

You know it's time to quit football when:

1. You start dreaming of burgers instead of pies
2. You can't keep quiet during a minute's silence to honour the victims of the Munich Air Disaster
3. You are homesick
   
4. You are Dennis Wise

Fortunately I fall into none of these four categories.

P Is For Patience

Sorry I'm a bit late posting tonight girls. I have been watching THE match.

So what did Georgie think of her first proper international as a football fan and with her increasing understanding of the beautiful game? And more importantly what is her verdict on Mr Capello and his boys?

Well after a wobbly start I thought the England team gradually got into its stride. What I saw was a team still trying to gel. Certainly in the first half they struggled to get the passing and positioning right, frequently losing possession. And the 4 - 5 - 1 formation did look different to the football I have been used to watching. But you could see how if other parts of the team had been working more smoothly, Rooney could have fired shots in from his position.

I liked the way too that the shape of play gradually shifted and Rooney started operating more on the wing. What a game he had too. He is like a little turbo.

The Switzerland side worked hard to keep us closed down but once we got in our stride, despite a good goal, they were largely out-gunned. So much so that by the end they had less than half the original team on the pitch!

I thought Rooney, Gerrard, Joe Cole and Bentley all had good matches. Jenus played well too and deserved his first international goal.

I don't know for sure because I haven't been watching football long enough, but I thought the crowd's reaction was fascinating. Although as I say we were a bit hesitant and wobbly early on, when England started passing the ball around to retain possession and allow people to get into position they started booing for goodness sake! Moments later we had created a chance. It was as if the crowd were thrown by the different approach and just didn't get it. And yet clearly showing a bit of patience paid off.

Overall , I thought there was a lot of promise in what a saw tonight, despite some clear areas for improvement. As they say, Rome was not built in a day (even by an Italian). We are simply going to have to trust for a while and be patient.

As Shakespeare said:

"How poor are they who have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees"

Don't You Just Love It When He's Strict!

Fabio Capello has delighted S & M fans everywhere today by putting the word "discipline" on everyone's lips.

He has pledged to bring a "group mentality" to the English team by setting clear behavioural expectations on and off the pitch.

'No-no's' include lateness in any circumstances, use of mobile phones other than in the bedroom when on England business, and late night drunken behaviour. WAGS will be banned when the team is on tour and blazers are to be worn. Oh and surnames will be used to address the players.

Capello, or as he prefers to be known, the Marquis de Soho Square, will be called "Boss" by the squad. It is reported that he has brought in specialist help to enforce his new regime.

According to the FA, there are currently no plans to allow the public to watch players who break the rules being disciplined, although they have pledged to keep the situation under review if there is sufficient interest. A spokesman said today:

"I can't imagine there would be an appetite for seeing handsome, finely honed, scantily clad sportsmen being humiliated and punished for misdemeanours. "

Really??!!

Anyway, enough of this. I'm off to explain to my lover that inspired by developments today, I have decided things are going to be a little different around here too from now on.

The Dude

I decided to listen to the Football Forum on Radio Leicestershire today - or the "Monday Moan-In" as the fans on Talking Balls call it.

I haven't listened to it before, not least because of some of the disparaging remarks on Balls.

But I couldn't resist listening in to Ollie tonight, who was a guest on the show.

That man is a dude. No doubt about it.

I just love his open, genuine approach. No fancy frills. No corporate speak. Just plain talking about how he thinks things are.

For those unlucky enough not to have heard the interview here are some of the key points he made:

• 3 things need to happen for the team to improve; individuals taking responsibility within the team (especially those with more experience), better balance in the team and more experience
• He is "trying to make the most of an absolute mess" (referring to the situation he took on)
• Of the 14 players bought in the summer, none were better than those already there and he has only felt able to play two of them
• They are losing money by having to pay off useless members of the squad
• He is not going to put up with people not giving their all - there must be pride in the badge
• He won't have a culture of blaming (referring to those players who blamed 17 year old Mattock's mistake for the first goal on Saturday)
• Ultimately it's not what you spend, it's what you create that makes a team successful

Like I say - he's a dude.

Of Daps, Stingers And Chucky Pigs

Having finally finished the Philip Pullman trilogy I was reading I am at last getting stuck into one of my Christmas presents - Ian Holloway's autobiography.

I have only just started it but it looks as if it is going to be readable.

Being of West Country origin myself, there are already some references that have brought a smile to my face and have made me realise we have quite a lot in common.

For example, he, like me, calls plimsolls 'daps'. So named, apparently, because the factory making them used to have a sign outside saying "Dunlop Athletic Plimsoles". As a child I was encouraged to say 'pumps' because 'daps' was deemed somewhat common in 1970s Gloucestershire. Being the rebel that I am, though, I still call them 'daps' today (only please don't tell my Mum!).

And those of you who read Ollie's BBC column on a regular basis will know that there has been considerable debate about his nickname of "Stinger", following his explanation that he was given the nickname because that is what he calls stinging nettles. I'm definitely a 'stinger' girl I have to say.

Ollie and I are a similar age (although I have more hair than him). Which means that I would almost certainly have seen him playing live during my very brief earlier dalliance with football in the early 1980s when I used to occasionally go to watch Bristol Rovers with my then boyfriend. I can't pretend I remember it though.

Spooky then that with all this in common our paths should cross again with a mutual interest in the fate of Leicester City Football Club.

Of course, whilst I am not suggesting that he is only financially motivated, Ollie does get paid for loving The Foxes. Whilst I do it completely for free.

I wonder if he calls woodlice 'chucky pigs' like me.

Just A Little Prick

I didn't manage to get to the match today but I listened to it on the radio.

I thought we were in trouble as soon as Taylor-Fletcher scored but then in the second half The Foxes seemed to be getting it more together.

I was happily strumming my guitar as I heard Howard put the ball in the net for us. Just managed to keep enough wits about me not to drop it as I jumped up in delight, cheering.

But later on it all went horribly wrong with some suspect decisions by the referee - including a missed 'handball' by Blackpool and a very dodgy dive by the aptly named Dickov, which resulted in a free kick.

The game could probably have gone either way or no way but even so the 2 - 1 result feels harsh. How wonderful it would have been to be celebrating this evening.

The shoots of recovery are visible. But we are nowhere near a harvest yet.

Then again, as the old Spanish proverb goes:

"He that has a good harvest must be content with a few thistles"

Or to quote another proverb:

"Who gathers thistles may expect pricks"

Guess today proves the point.

Spot The Difference

My lover is not very keen on soap operas. As he rightly points out, why would you want to watch one dimensional fiction when you have football and all that goes with it?

But as you know we had to watch a bit of Corrie on Monday night at the pub waiting for the football to come on. My beloved revealed that he had not watched the programme for about 10 years.

Imagine his surprise then when Alan Shearer appeared on the screen.

Lover: What's he doing in this?
Georgina: Who?
Lover: Shearer.
Georgina: Ah, you mean Ashley Peacock

And when you start looking about it is amazing how many football player do indeed have doubles. In the most unlikely places.

Not to mention that providing look alikes can be big business.

I did ask my lover if he thought I might have a double somewhere. He replied that there is no-one quite like me anywhere in this world or any other.

I'm still trying to work out if that is a compliment or not.