Of Luck, Puck And Er......... A Cock

How awful!

Those poor unlucky people killed in that disaster at a Liberian football match.

It is a humbling reminder that whatever our small moans and groans in life there is always someone facing something far worse.

Not that I'm feeling particularly gloomy today. In fact I am really looking forward to tonight's match. I know some of the big names won't be playing but I think it will offer an interesting insight into just what Mr Capello is trying to build in the England camp, and hint at some stars of the future.

Another thing I have been doing today is preparing my lover's little caravan for us to take away on holiday. I think it is probably the smallest caravan in the world. I'll definitely have to moderate my pie eating when we are away in that.

I have also been continuing my preparations for Euro 2008. My kitchen has an increasingly French feel to it (topped off by the cheap ornamental cockeral I keep in there to annoy my lover) and the hanging garlic and onions are giving me the urge to don my beret at ever opportunity.

Ok, I made some of that up.

You've got to get excited though......haven't you?

How To Speak Football

One of the things I have learned on my journey into football is the extent to which it has a language of its own.

For example, no self-respecting football fan or pundit would miss an opportunity to add colour to their dialogue with such classics as "At the end of the day" and "To be fair".

Then there is the 'statement of the bleedin' obvious', which forms an essential part of any football conversation. Like - "At the end of the day it's a game of two halves".

And for those for whom English is not a first language, (yes that includes you Mr Capello), this site offers a helpful tutorial on the potentially confusing expressions used not only by those in the football world but which have infiltrated our language on a daily basis.

Presumably there are equally things a proper football fanatic would never say:

"I shan't bother going to the match tomorrow. I'm staying in to wash my hair"

"It's not the winning it's the taking part"

"Eat a pie? I couldn't possibly"

Anyway I'm going to play it safe tonight, kick the troubles of the day into touch, lie on my clean sheet and snuggle up early doors.

Is There Anything New Under The Sun?

If I tried to get away today without at least some reference to the announcement today of Capello's England squad you would probably stop calling me a football fan (that assumes you do at the moment of course).

A few surprises in there, the biggest one to me being the inclusion of Michael Owen, who has only managed one goal since October. And the exclusion of Reading's David Kitson, the highest scoring Englishman in the Premier League. I wonder if his recent behaviour off the pitch had a bearing.

As for the decision to leave Beckham out, whilst at one level I feel sad, another bit of me thinks Beckham deserves better than a token inclusion in the team for his 100th cap. If he can play in good form and have earned his place (which Capello has hinted is entirely possible), the experience will ultimately have far more personal value.

In the meantime David, if you are reading this and need a little TLC to make it all better just let me know.........

There I've done it now so let's talk about what I really want to discuss, which is the coup being planned by Liverpool supporters to oust Hicks and Gillett. It is obviously very early days but if it were to come off, the ramifications for English football would be massive.

It's not a new concept - in fact it already works well on the Continent, but it would certainly be a first for the Premier League.

Indeed when you get down to it, there is probably nothing completely new under the sun. But things do come in different shades and flavours. Like the new look England squad. Without its usual topping.

That's My Boy

My son is 22. He has been an Arsenal supporter for as long as I can remember.

I have to confess I never previously took much notice. Neither his dad nor I had any interest in football. His older half brothers are keen - one supporting Manchester United and one Chelsea. But it was never a major discussion topic in our household.

If you had asked me six months ago how much my son knew about football I would not have had a clue. I had certainly never had a conversation with him about it.

Then this summer we travelled to a christening together and started chatting. I asked him how he came to support Arsenal, especially as his brothers support other teams. He recounted a vivid memory from when he was 7 or 8 and first saw Ian Wright playing on the television. He talked about the impact it had had upon him and how he has loved football, and in particular Arsenal, ever since.

It was a strange moment in many ways. Like seeing your own son for the first time. Learning about a passion I had simply never noticed because I hadn't bothered to ask.

I spoke to him on the phone tonight. It went like this:

" Hi Mum"
"Hi Son"
"Did you see the press conference with Capello today?"
"No although I have heard them talking about it on the radio. He didn't speak much English did he?"
"No. He seems to know what he is doing though. I think he'll be good"
" I reckon he is going to cut through some of the crap and play people because they are the right people for the team, not because individually they are some sort of superstar, no matter how good"
"I think he should take Michael Owen out. He seems to get a place just because of who he is"
"I agree. There are a few past their sell-by date. Capello seems to be clearly saying that everyone will have to earn their place every time. That has to be a good thing. Wonder what he will do about the Lampard/Gerrard thing"
"They are both good but I prefer Gerrard."
"Me too. I'm not keen on John Terry though. He seems a bit of a thug"
"He can be. He is good at getting people moving around though on the pitch. I think Gerrard would be good as Captain too. He leads Liverpool with real passion."
"He needs to find a decent goalie. Robinson has been off form and David James, while brilliant sometimes, is inconsistent"
"Robinson is a good goalie. McLaren made a bad mistake playing someone for the first time in that recent match on a poor surface. He really set him up"

Now if that isn't a proper conversation between a mother and son, I don't know what is.

Ladies' Man

What I would like to be posting about today is a fantastic away win for The Foxes at Hull.

I could of course. But it would be a lie. 2 - 0 defeat. No points. Just above the relegation zone.

So that leaves me with the new England manager, Signor Fabio Capello.

Champion of feminists across the world.

Interestingly, some interpret his public dislike of WAGS as misogyny. That somehow he does not think women have a place in the world of football.

My view is this simply shows that what he expects is that women will conduct themselves with dignity. That any interest in football is based upon a love of the game and a desire for success within it, not seeking a means to use it for self aggrandisement.

Sounds pretty reasonable to me.

Girls can do football. Of course they can. But it has to come from the heart as well as the head.

Get The Right Man For The Job

I think the way the FA is going about the business of finding a new manager for the England football team is flawed.

As I understand it the only real pressure in terms of time is the fierce public, and in particular media, interest. I am not aware of any important international engagements coming up which require us to have someone in place. We certainly don't need one to prepare for Euro '08 do we for goodness sake.

I was very struck when I heard Ian Holloway interviewed on Talk Sport recently. He talked about the small window of time in which he had to make major career-changing decisions when he was faced with the choice between Plymouth and Leicester.

That situation was different though. There was an imperative to get someone in and for them to hit the ground running.

In my view the FA should have just put the brakes on. They should have made it clear that they would take as long as necessary to identify the right person.

Yes there would be huge and on-going media interest. Yes everyone would moan.

And no doubt the FA would say they have to answer to the fans.

But I am certain that if you asked any English fan what they wanted they would not say an immediate decision. They would say they want the best man for the job.

And lets be honest, eventually the story would become stale and the media focus would shift. With good PR which included smoke screening and red herrings they could have taken back the power. Pursued various options. Gathered information. Sought to target who they wanted then work to get it over time.

Instead they have given away all their power. Their actions smack of desperation. Everyone now knows - or at least believes - that Mourinho was first choice and Capello second. If he turns it down then anyone else offered it starts to look like an 'also-ran'. Just what happened with McLaren.

I tell you what. I would love to get involved in running the FA. They would have to let me be in charge of course. But I am sure I could make a better fist of it than some of the current incumbents. In other words - I am the right woman for the job.

So if any of my readers have friends with influence perhaps you could have a word in the right ear.

We Have An Opinion

There are a few lonely places in the world and I suspect that the Steve McLaren Fanclub is one of them at the moment.

A few people are a bit cross with him. And he has now been fired from his job as England manager of course. After just 16 months.

Perhaps we should not be too surprised. After all the FA originally wanted Scolari.

Of course one of the big questions on everyone's lips, is who will replace him. Other contenders last time round included Allardyce, Curbishley and O'Neill. O'Neill has already stated that he does not wish to put himself forward this time though, as has Allardyce.

Needless to say rumours, speculation and suggestions are rife.

Should be Redknapp say some. No way say Portsmouth. If it does turn out to be him I hope he will resist extending his squad to include members of the crowd.

We want Mourinho chant others. Yes please says Georgina Best. I'm sure he would be a popular choice with the fans.

Frank Capello has made it clear he would be interested in the job and is currently the favourite. This could bring a whole new meaning to phrases such as "C'e un capello nella minestra" (there is a hair in the soup).

Scolari, Shearer, Robson, Beckham - all names I have heard in the frame.

But this is football. Which means all fans have to have an opinion on who it should and will be.

So where is GB going to cast her prediction?

For good man management skills, excellent performance record and great attacking football - Harry Redknapp.