Childsplay

I went to Toys R Us today.

I don't get to go very often because my children are grown up, but my step daughter has two children aged 3 and 1. My daughter and I are visiting them tomorrow so it was a great excuse to visit the store and wander round wishing I was about 40 years younger.

I've bought my grandson(3) the grooviest yellow toy guitar and my granddaughter(1) a workbench and hammer. I'm going to take my own guitar with me so my grandson can singalong with Nana Georgina.

Not surprising then that some of this week's football stories have put me in mind of childhood stories and behaviour.

For example, Mr Mandaric's plea for us Foxes fans to trust him inevitably made me think of this.

And this story reminded me of this kind of antic.

And of course Drogba's histrionics bring to mind this well known children's story.

What I can't really decide is if this a fair portrayal of Avram Grant's ability to manage.

What's The Carbon Footprint Of A Cuddle?

I'm sorry for my absence yesterday. I didn't get home until 12.30 this morning after going to watch my lover's son's band.

I was going to post about a conversation I had with my Dad tonight. It went something like this (phone called happened at half time in the Champion's League Cup match);

Georgina: Are you watching the Champion's League final?
Georgina's Dad: No. Why would I do a thing like that?
Georgina: Loads of people are watching it. And I know you have been known to watch the odd big match
Georgina's Dad: I don't even know who's playing

Georgina then proceeds to explain to Dad who is playing and the importance of the match, and so on and so forth.

Georgina's Dad: What I don't understand is why two Engish teams have gone all the way to Moscow. What sort of carbon footprint must that match have. I know someone who got fined for having his recycling bin too full. Where's the sense in that?
He's got a point.

Anyway, like I said, I'm not going to post about that.

Instead I want to talk about (of course) THE match.

Of the two I wanted the ManUre to win, although as the game went on I couldn't bear the thought of someone losing. So after the drama of the penalty shootout, whilst I enjoyed the celebrations of the ManUre (even if Ronaldo is the biggest drama queen out), I couldn't help but be touched by the distress of the Chelsea players.

John Terry (who to be fair I don't much care for usually) was inconsolable.

But the fascinating thing for me was seeing how that toadian rhino of a man Avram Grant comforted him with such sensitivity. He gave him a right old cuddle.

Well several actually.

I thought "What an amazing scene."

And then I thought "That cuddle's got one hell of a carbon footprint."

A Whisper In The Cacophony

In amongst the noise of Avram Grant shrieking that referees favour The ManUre, the furore following the behaviour of a small minority of Glasgow Rangers fans last night and the whoops of delight from Hull fans after their victory against Watford last night - in amongst all that, a football legend quietly slipped away.

Tommy Burns sadly lost his battle against skin cancer at the tender age of 51. 6 years older than me, which is a sobering thought.

He was originally diagnosed with the disease in 2006 but things took a downward turn a few weeks ago.

May he never walk alone.

Neither Rhyme Nor Reason

I hear Hicks may be in a fix tonight. I hope no-one picks on him. But if he will mix with the fans who at the moment are pretty sick of him, what does he expect?

Rafa, the gaffa will be hoping Gerrard plays well 'ard tonight, if only to detract from the fact that the pact has fallen apart in the boardroom.

Grant will be hoping he can supplant the chants of the fans for Jose.

I have to say that at the end of a long day, I'm looking forward to putting my feet up to watch the cup.

And have no fear - I'll swig a beer (or two) as I cheer for those dear Liverpool boys.

I just hope the match isn't a bore as we've seen before and that someone scores early doors.

Fingers crossed tomorrow's post is not about how Liverpool lost.

Urine Or Your Out

Where do you stand on the Avram Grant issue then?

Maligned competent manager or naive mediocre pretender?

He is as unusual in his own way as Mourhino. Although to be fair no one would argue that he has the same amount of charisma.

He seemed to appear in the spotlight from nowhere following the departure of The Special One.

Some brief research has, however, revealed that he has a strong pedigree for the role as manager of Chelsea.

His doubters point to a number of things. A lack of tactical ability. A failure to manage intra-team disputes. And of course that there is an air of the sinister about him.

Even his supporters struggle with his morose demeanour.

There are of course those who claim they have seen him smile. But evidence is scant it has to be said. When I put 'Avram Grant smiling into Google Video, the message displayed was "Your search did not return any results". Which probably tells you all you need to know.

Whilst he may not be blessed with the most beautiful of faces, he does, it seems, have a number of imitators. Such as this. This. This. And this.

I have, however, in my never-ending quest to bring you the very best of football information, found out why he has such a sour expression.

When you and I are drinking orange juice for breakfast, his wife, Tzofit Grant, serves him with this.

And in case you doubt me, that really is his wife, and she really is doing this.

I just wonder what she has in her glass in the picture above. I mean it can't really be ...... can it?

That really would be taking the piss.

They Should Have Gone To Specsavers

Have you noticed how small print these days is getting smaller? And even less small print is getting smaller? In fact I am increasingly coming to the conclusion that lots of things in the world are getting harder to see.

What do you mean go and get your eyes tested Georgina? Are you suggesting it might have something to do with my age?

Well I can understand why you might suggest that. But you see I have good evidence for thinking its not just me.

We have been aware for some time that Mr Wenger and Mr Ferguson are struggling. Even Avram Grant has succumbed.

And we all know that there are a significant proportion of referees with sight deficiencies.

Now I'm a girl who believes in celebrating diversity and I am passionate about finding ways to enable people with disabilities. But if you have this much trouble at home, should you really be refereeing a football match?

It would be good to think there can be a place in sport for those with eyesight problems. Already we have linesmen who sometimes pick up the wrong flag on their way to the match. And the Blind World Cup Football tournament is proof that anything is possible.

They say that disability is made by those around us. If we all only had one arm we would structure our world around us to respond to that. But because the world is, in the main, geared up for so called 'normal' people (if such a thing exists) those who are 'different' have to somehow try to fit in.

So I have been giving some thought as to how we might 'enable' some of these football managers and referees to be able to operate better in the football world.

Maybe it is a colour issue. After all one symptom of this condition is the ability to see fouls by the other team but not your own. Presumably then if you managed a team in a different colour, the problem would be solved. For the managers at least.

Or perhaps players should be fitted with a tackleometer which is able to give instant feedback on how hard they have been hit and where. It could have the double advantage of deterring some of the divers as well, who obviously present a trip hazard to those less able to see what's in front of them.

In truth, I'm not sure how you decide if it's you or the rest of the world. After all, there is every chance that when this or this happens, you are blissfully oblivious.

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?

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?

Vive Les Éléphants!

20th January sees the start of the African Cup of Nations tournament.

What has that got to do with us you might ask? Well try asking Arsene Wenger who expects to lose Toure (Ivory Coast) and Eboue (Ivory Coast) for at least four weeks to play there, plus any recovery time they might need. Or Avram Grant who stands to lose Drogba (Ivory Coast), Kalou (Ivory Coast), Obi (Nigeria) and Essien (Ghana) for the same period.

The tournament is currently held every two years and because of the number of African players now in Premiership teams has a significant impact upon English football.

The suggestion of those such as Wenger and Grant is that the tournament should be changed to the summer, possibly June time.

Its a tricky one. On the one hand most would agree that the English Premiership is the top football league in the world. On the other I can't help thinking why should Africa be the ones to change. Maybe it is the FA that should look at the scheduling over here.

Controversial of course! And unlikely to happen. But as a point of principle it would be good to see a somewhat less Eurocentric view of football.

Looking at past results, the host team for the tournament are most likely to win. Next year's host is Ghana who have won the trophy 4 times previously. Not surprising then that they are one of the favourites to win this time.

When you look at the quality of some of the players in the Ivory Coast team though they must be in with a chance. Amazing when you look at the size of the country compared to some of the others. If I was a betting woman they I would probably put my £1 each way on them.

You heard it here first.