Tears Before Bedtime

Several stories in the news today have made me think of this song.

I can see a few tears being shed one way or another during the coming days and weeks.

Mr Hollow Way is no doubt dusting off his Kleenex as we speak.

Then there is Special K, who has apparently been 'summoned' to explain himself to his Board Chair, Mr Ashley.

And you have to feel sorry for Manchester City fans as Sven prepares to go off to pastures new.

Mark Hughes is taking his ball home following Michael Carrick's successful planning application to build a house opposite his (isn't that taking inter-club rivalry just a little too far?)

And Mr Capello is by no means out of the woods as investigations into his business affairs.

But all these are people who make their living out of football.

There are others with tears on their pillow.

Spare a thought for us.

I Ain't No Prawn Sandwich Fan

You'll all be relieved to know I am back.

It's like I always said. Give a Reading fan a blade of grass and they take a football pitch.

Thanks to those of you who have been leaving comments. I was beginning to think I was at an Arsenal match it was so quiet.

Anyway, one of these comments by a new reader, Colin Randall, himself a football blogger, challenged my fervent Foxes fanship (try saying that when you've had a few) on the basis that I show too much interest in and favour towards other teams.

It made me think about a conversation I had with my lover recently about the prawn sandwich brigade, some of whom (allegedly) change allegiance on a regular basis (only amongst the top four clubs of course).

The sort of think a member of the "prawn sandwich brigade" might say is:

"I think I'll support Chelsea next year. It will be nice to watch a team playing in a different colour for a change."

or

"I chose Manchester United because the parking at the ground is easier than at Liverpool"

As you know I am fairly new to football and have only been a Leicester City fan for about a year. You might wonder therefore how deep the roots of my loyalty really go. I have to confess to asking myself the same question with the threat of relegation looming so large.

I jokingly suggested that if they are relegated I would choose a different team. As I did so I had this really weird feeling. Like guilt. As if I had committed adultery or was at least contemplating it. I quickly realised that I could no more support another team than change sex. Even after such a short time and all the trials and tribulations, I'm a Foxes girl through and through.

But my journey has been about learning to love football and that has included learning to appreciate good football. So inevitably I have watched other teams play and bizarrely (although I don't believe for a minute I am unique in this) have found myself forming opinions and a level of allegiance on the scantiest of evidence.

None of these views would stand up to much scrutiny or analysis but here is my take on the Premiership teams:

Arsenal: I have a love for them because sometimes they play really really beautiful football. I don't like the persona Wenger presents in public but I do think he is a great and passionate manager. And of course my son loves them so I have an understandable affinity
Man U: How could you not love the football they play? I am much less keen on Fergie though even though I know he is a god in many ways.
Liverpool: I feel less pull to them although I love Crouchy
Chelsea: I can't love them Mourinholess
Newcastle: I'm sorry Mosher. I can't love a team who think KK is groovy and look like a packet if mint humbugs
Reading: I have to like them because my lover does. I do sort of - they have an underdog appeal don't they
Everton and Blackburn: Like 'em a bit. No idea why
Sunderland and Tottenham: Well there's Roy Keane and Ramos - yum!
Man City: I have to confess to finding Sven just a little bit sexy..........
Birmingham, Aston Villa and West Ham: No feelings either way
Portsmouth: Not sure really. Harry is a bit too much of a wide boy for my liking
Middlesbourgh and Wigan: Seem a bit dull
Fulham and Derby: I'm sorry. You can't love the unloveable.
Bolton: May they die a horrible death

Yet despite these strange affinities, I couldn't support any of them. Not like Leicester.

No - there is no doubt about it. Given the choice between a pie and a prawn sandwich I'll take the pie every time.

There's Nothing Like A Mother's Love

Happy Mother's Day!

They say, don't they, that no matter how ugly or awful someone is, their mother probably loves them. And in most cases I am sure that is true.

Despite the heartaches it is a real gift to be a mother. It is certainly one of the joys of my life.

It won't surprise you to know, therefore, that mothers are often an important feature in the lives of footballers.

For example, there is evidence to suggest that Arsene Wenger's mother is responsible for steering him towards the Gunners rather than any other team as a child. I mean look what she named him for goodness sake!

And even if they have not influenced them in a particular direction, footballer's mother's can sometimes provide us with an insight into what has inspired their offspring. Kevin Keegan will certainly be hoping Berbatov's mother's belief her son has Newcastle running through his heart will help him attract the Bulgarian player to the club in the summer.

And the theory that a love of football can be inherited seems to be proved by the fact that Frank Lampard's aunty is married to Harry Rednapp, and their son, Jamie, Frank's cousin, also has a career in the beautiful game.

Of course, the maternal influences have not all been good necessarily. There is a rumour, for instance, that Wayne Rooney's mother is responsible for his distinctive facial features because she fed him too many sprouts as a child. If that is the case, then maybe if I had put more pressure on my children to eat up their greens, one of them would now be a footballing god too. How we mothers let our children down!

And isn't it heartening to know that even one of the most famous football manager's in the world at the moment, Fabio Capello, is still the subject of his mum's worries, not least because she is concerned he may do so well that England triumph over Italy.

At the end of the day, there's nothing like a mother's love.

Handbags At Dawn

I'm not usually prone to schadenfreude as you know, but I can't help a wry smile about the antics at Newcastle. Keegan is adamant that the appointment of Dennis Wise as Executive Director of Football was no surprise to him and that his position as manager has not been undermined.

I can't help feeling that he protesteth a little too much though. What do you think? I see handbags at dawn.

Much more interesting though, I think, is the immienent announcement of the England team for the forthcoming friendly against Switzerland on February 6th.

Will he or won't he include Beckham, if only for the one match. Many notable voices are speaking out in support of him getting his 100th cap for England, joining the elite group comprising Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, Billy Wright and Peter Shilton. Voices such as that of Sir Alex Ferguson, Steve McLaren and Sven Goran Eriksson.

And who will be Captain? I favour Gerrard.

As for other players, I would have David James in goal and Rooney would definitely feature. Be good to see some new faces too though. Kitson, Bentley and Young must be contenders.

And what of those who don't get picked and think they should? More handbags at dawn perhaps?

Oh well - not long to wait now. I will just have to manage my excitement somehow in the meantime.

Pie In The Sky

So "Special K" is not going to have Alan Shearer as his assistant.

But he has said that Shearer could play a "worthwhile role"

Which has got this girl to thinking.

I wonder what that role will be.

There is no doubt that having Shearer on board would have distinct advantages. Every city needs a legend and for Newcastle, Shearer is one of them.

But how to include him..........

Well I have some ideas.

What about club minstrel? After all he's got music in his soul.

Or choir leader. He does seem to have the gift inspiring others musically.

Of course, that sort of thing might not be enough for those in whom he inspires passion and emotion. Whether positive or negative.

And if all else fails, he could always make the pies

Nemesis

Have you ever had that experience where you said something bad about someone thinking you would never see them again? And then they turn up. And they know what you said.

Michael Owen must be feeling a tad uncomfortable I suspect. His comments in his autobiography "Off The Record" were - well to be blunt - blunt.

Of course he could be describing a real flaw in Keegan's management style. On the other hand what if what he experienced for the first time in his life was someone who did not treat him like a god amongst mortals but as an individual who is part of a team.

Fergie is well known for his philosophy that no individual is greater than the team. Maybe Keegan holds the same belief.

We can only speculate - at this stage at least.

So, to turn now to more important matters, The Foxes play Norwich away tomorrow. Remember them?

I tell you what - I will love it if we beat them. Love it!

Tattyfilarious.

I'm not going to post about Keegan tonight (or "Special K" as I heard a fan refer to him on Talk Sport today. Get me a bucket!). Except to say he is not the Messiah. Trust me.

The other compelling story of the day, which I think would have had more coverage if the Magpies hadn't stolen the limelight, is a certain investigation into the tax affairs of one Fabio Capello.

I'm not going to comment on the ins and outs of the situation of course. Just remember that crossing swords with the Her Majesty's Inspector of Taxes is not always a bad thing. Lester might disagree of course. But for some it has provided unlimited material for a comedy routine. Gems such as;

"I told the Inland Revenue I didn't owe them a penny because I lived near the seaside."

and;

"I thought it would be a good idea to go into Politics, maybe I am a little old... but you know... I'd love to be Chancellor of the Exchequer - That way I'll be united with my money!”

Not that the Tax Inspector is likely to come knocking on any of our doors these days. They don't know where any of us live. Some bizarre story about a computer disc and an errant parcel delivery boy.

And now it's time for me to go. It's just left for me to say;

"What a great day for going up to a Newcastle fan, tickling him behind his elbow and saying Who are ya? Who are ya?"

No Pressure Then

They say never go back.

I heard someone on the radio tonight say that only 1 in 10 people who return to something they have done before, no matter how successfully, manage to make it work.

Surprising then perhaps that Kevin Keegan, known for his cautious, safety conscious ways, is prepared to take that risk.

Having said that, the odds on him becoming manager of the month in the near future are pretty good.

All that assumes, of course, that there is any science to how these things work in the world of football. I mean we are talking about a parallel universe here. One in which the likes of Keegan have a status such as that of the Greek Gods.

I don't want to sound cynical. After all it is hard enough to survive in that harsh environment without people not even giving you a chance. But with that kind of worship there is only one way ultimately and that is down. And the world just isn't the same as it was 11 years ago.

I wish him luck. And that he is able to stay this way. And not this.

PS: I've just heard the radio that Havant and Waterville are beating Swansea at half time. Lets hope they can resist the pressure too.