There's Nothing Worse...................

Ssshhh!

We need to keep our voices down.

My lover is not very happy.

4 losses on the bounce for his beloved Liverpool.

He has been out of love with Rafa for a while now.

Ever since the Robbie Keane debacle.

But he did have some belief in him.

He feels worried and let down.

And a bit grumpy.

Oh my.

Few things worse than a bitter Liverpool fan.

Faith, Hope And Charity

So it looks as if Gordon Strachen is heading for 'Boro.

Thank goodness I say.

All that worry for nothing after all.

I must learn to have a little more faith. Football does have a way of testing that though doesn't it?

And whilst all that has been going on I haven't had chance to chat to you about the great girl story that has been in the news this week.

Hope Powell to Grimsby?

A girl managing a men's football team?

Well 2/3 of people taking part in a Guardian poll today thought she could do the job.

Even though she has said she has not applied.

Don't worry though girls.

Our day will come.

And then we'll party.

Smoke free of course.

He Is Our Sunshine

Oh my!

What a day.

My emotions are in shreds.

Work did not present anything out of the ordinary.

My lover and I continue to live together in hippy paradise.

So why the trauma?

Well it started at about 7.50am when I heard on the radio that Gareth Southgate had been sacked last night.

I text my lover to tell him.

Just a bit of football gossip at that stage.

But then it all went horribly wrong when the reply text from my lover indicated that NIGEL PEARSON was rumoured to be a strong contender to replace Southgate.

That would be our NIGEL PEARSON.

The man who has lifted our drooping Fox tails and turned them into proud bushes.

The man who has the capacity to take us into the Premiership, if not this year then next.

I had this sort of sick feeling in my stomach as I read it.

"Noooooooooooooo!", I wanted to scream out loud.

I've been trying to keep an eye on the news all day to see if there was any relief or reassurance.

None came directly, although it has to be said that the news that we are trying to sign Edgar Davids is exciting and a sign that the club is building in confidence and self belief.

So Middlesborough - if you have any heart, listen to this girl's plea.

Please don't take our sunshine away.

Breaking The Rules

You don't have to go far in the football world to find someone, somewhere in trouble for bad behaviour or breaking the rules.

Just down the road in fact to Cheltenham FC, where Martin Allen has once again managed to get himself into trouble.

I wonder if they got a reference from MM before taking him on?

Then there is Heskey who has managed to incur the wrath of Fabio.

Oops!

I do hope that Crouchy won't fine himself in the hot seat though after being snapped again strutting his stuff.

I know Harry has said he doesn't want the players hanging around pubs and clubs.

But the some folks who just can't help dancing.

Even if it is breaking the rules.

Just A Coincidence? Apparently.

So there's a beach ball on the pitch?

Which is instrumental in causing a goal?

Deliberate sabotage or just coincidence?

And then there is the fate of the unfortunate ref who had either forgotten or never learnt that what he should have done in that situation is give a free kick.

Who apparently will be refereeing in the Championship next weekend.

But it is definitely not some sort of censure or punishment.

Just a coincidence.

Apparently

Bottom's Up

What I didn't get around to telling you yesterday was that whilst at the Walker's we spent some time in the shop.

It's pathetic I know but I really like being surrounded by all the LCFC branded stuff, even though I know it is all about making money.

Anyway I came away with a 125 anniversary pin badge, a new mug and a padded seat cushion.

The cushion is for my newly refurbished spare bedroom.

When I say newly refurbished what I actually mean is that my lover has built me a dressing table out of an old wardrobe.

Clever!

I had a chair to sit at it but no cushion.

What better way to lift my spirits for the day than to get ready with my bottom firmly placed upon a Fox's head?

Bad Omen

"I wonder if that's an omen", I said to my lover as we passed a dead fox on our way up the Fosse Way to the Walker's Stadium this morning.

It was only said in jest. I was feeling pretty optimistic as we looked forward to reaching Leicester and sitting down to a cooked breakfast and mug of hot tea.

There must have been some bad karma around though. For despite the boys coming out full of vim and vigour and a first half dominated by the Foxes, which included some fluid play and good passing, we were unable to find the back of the net apart from towards the end, and even then that was disallowed for offside.

The only luck we really had was that Derby didn't score in a couple of near misses, which would have been a travesty of justice.

To add insult to injury, when I went to buy my pie at half-time after queueing for ages, they had sold out.

Leaving me to wonder who ate all the pies?

He Used To Be A Werewolf But He's Alright Nowooooooooo!

So what is the reason behind the Golden One's new look?

Style statement?

Not sure. I would have expected sharper edges and clearer lines. And less bushiness.

Finished a contract for some advertising company which banned him from having any facial hair and now exercising his freedom?

Don't think it's really his style - do you?

Or maybe he has grown it in readiness to shave it off as part of an advertising campaign?

Or for charity?

No - they don't seem that plausible either. And it doesn't explain the hair.

Maybe it was for a bet? To go along with his 25 to 1 odds of being man of the match (might explain the sighting of Brucie coming out of Paddy Power yesterday).

Actually I do have a theory.

In truth it was my first thought as soon as I saw him last night.

He's really one of these.

Miss It And Weep

Bless me readers for I have sinned.

Two days without posting (although my lover kindly stepped in on Monday night).

I'm pleased to say I am at home this evening, however. You can bet I will be firmly ensconced in front of the TV at around 7.30pm.

I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Which reminds me. If we are talking about things not to miss, that takes me right back to last night and the reason I did not post.

I was here watching this lot.

As a number of commentators have recently said - the best live band on the planet.

Miss them and weep!

Lets hope the same can be said of tonight's match.

If you feel up to it

Is what she said, disappearing out the door as I yelled at her "dew want me to run your blog tonight?"

She's away organising next year's Stroud festival. The committee are looking at "interested parties" for next year's event. As you might imagine, GB has got um all organised. And me it would seem........because here I am.... HL writ large for one night only.

Saturday at 3 saw us camping it up on the radio at Stroud FM A three hour chattery sports show with me and the girl at the helm.

Normally we tend to veer towards football, because that's what we know about. And groovy little tunes hopefully. Every other week, 3 though to 5 normally. (we did an extra hour for the sports round-up guy Steve)

Anyway, between groovy tunes and talk about sport, it suddenly descended on us, two day's before the show, there was no easy smooze this week with endless Premiership results adding colour and drama to our THREE hours of ....er......fun.

So, Saturday morning found me and GB trawling the depths of the net for Div one and Div two stories.

This exercise humbled me. I'd been seduced by Glamour. Football is such a huge game .Everybody plays it apparently. Even dodgy people play it in some form or another. Anyway we managed to keep our eyes away from the stars and talked down and dirty.

Most of our chat on the show this week focused on Forest Green of course and a sorry tale for the boys in Black and White indeed.

Life goes on internationally of course. I believe Emile Heskey has had his day.

Oh, and this Saturday sees us at The Walkers. Spion Kop, half way up in the middle. Say hello to the bird with the hair and the old geezer with the pony tail.

Cheers for now

HL (who did feel up to it)