Soixante-Neuf

69 days to go until the new football season starts.

So what has a girl who loves the beautiful game got to look forward to in the meantime?

Well there is this.

And this.

69 seems an attractive proposition when you look at it like that.

So Long, Farewell

Bye bye Gus.

The boys are gonna miss you.

One man in particular.

Who cries when he misses.

Wheale'in and Dealin.

At the end of a season where we fielded no less than five goalkeepers (not all together of course!), it's reassuring to hear that we have some new, hungry, blood on the way.

Slightly unsettling, however, is the array of headlines in different publications about the move.

"Pearson nets Weale".
"Leicester scoops Bristol City goalie."

"Foxes' new catch".

I'm going to save my judgement rather than diving in.

Lets just hope his feet aren't as corny..........................

When The Penny Drops

You know how sometimes you have two parallel things going on in your head?

And how if you actually put those two things together you realise there is a connection?

And then the penny drops?

Well so it was for me last night when my lover was talking about the FA Cup Final.

For I suddenly realised we are going to be out.

We are going here.

My lover has been going for years and we are planning a trip with various members of his family.

What a dilemma.

Never a girl to be beaten, however, I have sent a polite email to the organisers to find out if they will have any coverage of the match there.

If not I'll be needing that dropped penny and a few more to buy some new batteries for my pocket radio.

The Pieman

Well, well, well.

Well, well, well, well, well.

How come the ManUre didn't turn up tonight?

No ideas. No creativity. No sparkle.

A pretty crusty performance all round.

And I had to endure the ritual of the three men in my life tucking into pork pies as we watched the match.

Good game though.

And a fair result.

What will Sir Alex the Pieman do now?

The Rough And The Smooth

If you were trying to find the silver lining in the cloud that is relegation, you could do worse than suggest it provides an opportunity to show your true allegiance to your team.

Proving you stick by them through thick and thin.

Hoping one day your loyalty will be rewarded with success.

Because that's what being a proper football fan is - isn't it?

Or is it?

Remember this football dedicate?

He spent his season chasing the highs.

Yet still found himself facing a relegation fight in the last match of the season.

Which just goes to show - in football you have to be prepared to take the rough with the smooth.

Small Is Beautiful?

As I have said to my lover on many occasions "Small is beautiful".

It will be interesting to see how these little sardines manage amongst the sharks, whales and dolphins that hunt in the Premiership.

They might want to think about warming up to this before each match in readiness.

A Spoonful Of Sugar

One for sorrow........

And that's where the song ends this season for Newcastle fans.

Do I think Magpie fans have had a raw deal?

Yes I do.

Do I think they deserve relegation?

I wouldn't wish relegation on anyone. And although there are some things I think the fans are deluded about (Alan Shearer for one), I empathise with their pain at this time.

Do I think they will come back?

Of course. The issue will be how quickly they are able to learn the lessons and make the changes required.

Which probably needs to start with a change of ownership.

It's a bit like drinking horrible medicine.

It tastes vile but you just have to trust it will do you good.

So keep a smile on your faces Newcastle fans.

And remember this.

Sign Of Madness?

I told you yesterday we are in Dorset.

As you know, we do a radio show every other Saturday.

And today was one of those days.

So what did we do?

Well we jumped in the car and did a 200 mile trip of course.

Mad?

Probably.

I mean who would travel that far for about 2 hours entertainment.....................?

Relegation Ratrace

You may find yourself reading this a few days after it was written.

After all that talk about the seaside yesterday, my lover and I decided to take a few impromptu days away on the Dorset coast.

So I am typing this in the middle of a field near Bridport, sitting at a plastic table, with an extension lead from the caravan to my laptop.

Unfortunately WiFi access in this field is severely limited. So you don't get to read this until now. Which is not really now at all - if you see what I mean.

The great thing about going away like this is that it changes your perspective on things. Gives you a fresh view. Helps you feel more positive about things.

Well most things anyway.

For I have to confess there are some positive perspectives which are less appealing.

Like the notion of calling Sunday "Survival Sunday".

Sorry no.

It's "Relegation Ratrace" for me.

Georgina's predictions?

Middlesborough and Hull will be the ones accompanying the Baggies into Championship Purdah.

Middlesborough because it is all but inevitable. And Hull because I just think Newcastle will scrape through by the skin of their teeth.

We'll see.

A Fishy Tail

My lover and I are having a treat tonight.

We are having fish and chips.

A sort of early Bank Holiday celebration.

Lucky us I say.

A great British institution enjoyed by many another institution.

Anyway they have arrived and they are in the oven keeping warm.

Whilst I post.

Georgina: I can't think what to write My Lover: Write about what football and fish and chips have in common. Georgina: There's no story there.

Unless of course you think there is sufficient connection between the seaside (as in the place to get the best fish and chips) and a certain out-of-work-for-the-last-year football manager. And his new fishy friend.

Or the fact that it seems to be a favourite with overseas ManUre players.

Nope. I really don't think there is a connection.

Back Of The Net

Sorry you missed me last night.

Although I gather you were amply entertained by my lover in my absence.

So where was I?

Well believe it or not - here

I had various reasons for going.

I took my mum because I thought she would enjoy it (and she did. She told me all about how she had met my dad there at the Town Hall at a dance, and where he was standing when she saw him for the first time and where she was. And how he asked her out on a date the next Tuesday. And the rest, as they say, is history. And somewhere in there the creation of Georgina Best.).

I wanted to see if I could makes some contacts for my charity. And I did (somewhat hampered by the slightly wild look my hair acquired during the course of yesterday. I got progressively madder and frizzier until I looked like an enthusiastic hippy.).

And I had a vague interest in seeing what went on (although I found myself getting pulled in despite myself. Including singing 'God Save The Queen' with considerable gusto. First time for years.).

But most of all I was on a mission, as ever, to test the theory that Football is everywhere - even where you least expect it.

And I was not disappointed. 10 minutes in the new mayor is fantasising in his speech about leading the parade at Wembley when Cheltenham Town FC are in the League 2 playoffs next season. A lifelong season ticket holder.

Did I enjoy my evening?

Back of the net!

While the Cat's away !

It's her lover tonight. Georgina Best is away being Georgina.

In between now and 8.45, I've got to do this and make supper. I'm not a fan of this woman but, I expect food tonight will be something like this.

Helpful hints for the whole family, the video says.

Here's my helpful hints to the good fairy in my life.....Ladies and Gentlemen....Ms Georgina Best !

1. Please GB let Newcastle survive and continue in the Prem.

(Real Sorry Mosh but I can't get on with Alan. I just can't. How about Phil Brown....could he do the job ?:-))

2. Please GB let it be true that Carol Tevez comes to Liverpool.

3. Please GB,try to get rid of Jason Cundy on Talk Sport and also, on that thought, promote more of this sort of thing on your blog :-)

Here's something to keep us all cheerful.

I love that Chelsea Dagger.

Love from me x

Poor Risk Assessment?

No doubt when you saw this you were shocked.

I certainly was.

I simply couldn't believe someone could so blatantly cheat.

The condemnation has been universal.

But then I got to thinking.

There are little cheats going on all the time.

Some of it fairly low level.

The odd push here. A pull of the shirt there.

Some more blatant.

Handballs. Trips. Two footed tackles.

Except in the odd cases where these is personal malice, most players would probably say they do it for their teams, that the other team are going to do it whether you do it or not, and that everyone just knows it is part of the game.

What it always involves is a calculated risk.

Partly taking account of the consequences (e.g. if you are already on a yellow card you might be more careful).

But mostly, I suspect, making an assessment of the likelihood of getting caught.

Despite being widespread, when put like that it sounds very unsporting.

Which begs the question.

Was Lafferty's behaviour an act devoid of moral reasoning?

Or the product of a poor risk assessment.

Lucky Girl

Every now and then I wake up in a grumpy mood.

Not often you understand. Just occasionally.

Anyway, yesterday was such a day.

I don' t know if it was because I had had a nightmare I didn't remember. Or the stresses of the week catching up with me. Lack of sleep. Or being miserable because Tevez may leave the Premiership.

Whatever the reason, I just couldn't seem to snap out of it.

Eventually my lover had the great thought of going out for a drive.

It was an inspired idea. A lovely meander round the local countryside.

And because my lover knows my heart so well, he saved the best until last.

A trip to a local common for home made ice cream. And a tour round Forest Green Rovers car park.

What a lucky girl I am.

Dog Fight

There's a fight going on.

Well two at the moment actually.

The first one is SAF and RB.

And the second one is me and my lover.

We are fighting about the first fight.

You see sometimes when my lover sees me sitting researching and planning my posts, he has the odd idea or two of his own. It's hard to resist his enthusiastic whisperings in my ear, even though I am precious about creating my own ideas.

This is how the conversation goes;

My Lover: You should write about the fight going on between Fergie and Benitez
Georgina: Already decided to. I'm looking for a suitable video.
My Lover: This is the one
Georgina: I think more like this.
My Lover: No, this is better.
Georgina: Oh alright then. I'll go with that.

But of course, I won't - because I'm a girl and I always have the last word.

Seven Deadly Sins

How bad have you been today?

Have you been guilty of any of the seven deadly sins?

I have to confess to having had a few wrathful moments.

I think I have largely avoided pride, envy and greed but gluttony is always something I have to watch out for, especially as my lover has just returned with our fish and chips for tea. I predict increasing sloth as the evening goes on.

Which just leaves lust I guess.

Hope my chips don't fill be up too much...............

Anyway, apparently I and you other sinners out there aren't the only ones.

Make sure you get your copies of the Guardian this week to find out more.

Dear Sir

Georgina Best
2 Fox Villas
Fox Lane
Foxtown

14th May 2009

Dear Sir Alex,

I am a Foxes fan but have to own a grudging respect for you and for your team.

I feel compelled to write to you to ask you to do all you can to keep Carlos Tevez. Please.

I think he is one of the grooviest players in the Premiership. He is talented, hardworking and great to watch. He is a real team player too from what I can see.

So please - try to keep him.

For me.

Thanking you in anticipation

Yours respectfully

Georgina Best
x

A Question Of Dignity

I was saddened to learn of Steve Coppell's departure from Reading.

From what I have seen of him he seems a decent manager and indeed a decent man with considerable dignity.

It does go to show though that the right fit between manager and club includes the whole dynamic, and not simply a question of having good management skills.

I can't help thinking there will be a few clubs queuing up to offer him a new position.

Oh and today's other piece of important news for any of you who watched the Champion's League Semi-Final second leg between the ManUre and the Arse and listened to Jens Lehmann at half time explaining away Almunia's goalkeeping error, is that it is highly improbable that a football speeds up in the air as suggested.

Talk about making yourself look silly.

Somehow I can't imagine Mr Coppell making such a claim. Can you?

He has far too much dignity.

On The Fiddle

There is suspicion around in the world of football.

Suspicion of dishonesty.

The FA recently launched an investigation into suspicious goings on in relation to betting on a match between Lewes and Forest Green Rovers.

How shocking.

Whatever next?

MPs fiddling their expenses maybe?

Surely not.

An Appealing Explanation

Some of you may be feeling a bit confused about this whole ManUre/UEFA appeal thing.

So I thought I would offer my help.

Darren Fletcher gets a red card in the second leg of the semi-final of the Champions League. And gets sent off of course. Most people consider unfairly.

Arsenal score from the resulting penalty.

Darren Fletcher is suspended for the next match. The final.

There is no appeal process against such decisions.

Which everyone agrees is very silly.

But then UEFA hint that they might look kindly on an appeal.

So the ManUre submit an appeal "on compassionate grounds".

That appeal is then refused. Out of time and no evidence of a wrong decision.

The ManUre have 3 days to appeal this appeal decision.

Even though there is no appeal process.

Hope that has clarified things for you.

PS Tonight's picture has nothing whatsoever to do with this story. I just think it is groovy.

Buzzzzzzzzzzz

How do you feel about annoying little insects?

No I don't mean John Terry or Gary Megson.

I mean mosquitoes.

No, I'm not too keen either.

And neither is Sir David Beckham. Nor Andrew Murray.

Got a spare £5?

Head In The Clouds

Brian Clough said "If God wanted us to play football in the air, then he would have built a pitch in the clouds".

I think I may have discovered a response.

In my efforts to amuse myself when my lover was working late earlier this week, I stumbled upon a programme on the BBC iPlayer called "Cloudspotting".

It proved to be absolutely compelling.

It featured a man called Gavin Preton-Pinney. He has formed a community called the Cloud Appreciation Society.

One of the early messages in the programme was how as children we love clouds. Loving their shapes. Imagining you see pictures within them. Thinking them magical.

And then we grow up and learn to hate them.

We hate them because they bring rain.

We hate them because they hide the sun.

We hate them because we no longer really see them.

We forget their beauty and the joy they brought us as children.

I felt a powerful reconnection with my youth. Remembering warm summer evenings lying in a field gazing at the sky. Allowing it to entertain me. Feeling protected by it.

And I remembered how I used to love clouds.

So my response to Mr Clough is as follows;

"Clouds are the most wonderful things. They are truly beautiful. And magical. Magical enough to stage a football match. So presumably God did want us to play football in the air."

Of course I don't really believe that last bit.

But I do love clouds.

I Have A Dream

Regular readers will know that I am trying to learn the guitar and to sing.

It's a bit of a slow upward struggle but I plod on.

Anyway, from time to time I hear female singers who inspire me to keep going.

How lovely then, whilst researching for my blog tonight to stumble on a story about the Scottish PFA.

And to listen with envy to this voice.

PS. That's my guitar in the picture

Sour Grapes?

They thought it was all over.

And then in extra time it was.

Except not quite.

Because it went on for a few minutes afterwards..........

No Dummies

According to my friend Sandy, the Women's FA Cup final yesterday was a great game, with some really good football.

When I told my lover he said "Of course. They spring from the Arsenal camp" (I'm writing it down so he can't subsequently deny it).

I wonder if Uncle Arsene ever has anything to do with them?

Not at the moment I'm sure. Too much else on.

It's a bit of an upward struggle he and the boys face tonight. But if Arsene says they can do it - I believe him. He's no dummy!

And talking about dummies, lets all cross our fingers we don't get any diving and tantrums from Mr Ronaldo this time.

Talk about throwing your dummy out of the pram!

What's The Difference Between Newcastle United And Alan Shearer?

As I started my research for my post this evening, my eye was almost immediately drawn to the compelling title "Alan Shearer exposed as a novice in Mike Ashley's hour of dire need".

"Hello", I thought, "Someone else has noticed".

And sure enough, Richard Williams has provided me with a joke to dine out on all week.

Delia's Souffle Has Sunk

You would have to be a hard hearted person not to spare a thought for the supporters of clubs relegated today.

Norwich being one of them.

Oh and for the sake of my son who has never seen this piece of classic footage - enjoy!

Should have shouted a bit louder Delia.

Inappropriate to gloat really.

But then again - it is football.

Poetry In Motion

How do you feel about poetry?

I rather like it I have to say - well some at least.

After my student days, which included 3 years doing a BA in English Literature, I stopped reading any for ages but got drawn back in when this book was published.

Since then I have dipped into the work of various poets, my absolute favourite being Wilfred Owen.

I also have two friends who write poems.

And being a girl, I was delighted to hear we have our first female (and gay) poet laureate.

So how wonderful to be sitting in my local pub recently watching an Arsenal match and find myself talking to one of the Stroud Football Poets, whose work led on to the development of this site, now selected for preservation by the British Library.

Who knows - I might be inspired to post the odd ryhme myself.

On The Ball

Do you remember this?

If you do, I expect you've been wondering how I am getting on.

No?

Well its probably best not to talk about it anyway.

Particularly now that we have a new world champion.

Clever eh?

But not as clever at this.

Which is something I won't be trying at home.