Thursday 28 January 2010

Meanwhile, outside politics

Those of you interested in football may have chanced upon a game played last night by two little-known teams from the Manchester Area, for a chance to play in the final of the Carling Cup (sponsored by Britain's worst lager).

It had everything: a derby match between the biggest club in the world which is currently finding things difficult, a newly-enriched team keen to escape the shadow of its neighbour, grudges between players and a previous leg (2-1 in City's favour) to build on. So obviously I didn't watch it, but did feel for Emma, marooned in some business hotel in Swindon, and for Neil, who lives in London but isn't a Manchester United fan - he's one of the few Man City Londoners not currently living in some kind of shelter.

From the newspaper reports, it was a classic. A 3-1 victory in stoppage time to Manchester United (4-3 on aggregate), with full-blooded commitment from both sides (and unfortunately the fans, who threw coins and bottles at Craig Bellamy, one of the premiership division's leading thugs).

I vaguely wished for a Man City win - as a Stoke fan, I'm always for the underdogs, and Emma has agreed that if Manchester United win no silverware this year, she'll ditch her vegetarianism for a slap-up feed of animal products, so certain is she of at least one victory. I hope she likes these.

7 comments:

Benjamin. said...

It was a brilliant game even the lady was compelled and I felt as obdurated to the action as those in the stands thanks to to Sky's
coverage.

What's more, 3-D is on it's way so imagine what that'll be like.

neal said...

I watched the highlights on MOTD and it was a fantastic game. Rooney was incredible, I think he's really benefiting from not playing with Ronaldo, at one point he did an amazing crossfield pass to Giggs I think it was, bodes well for the World Cup. I wasn't bothered who won, but will be supporting Villa in the final

On Craig Bellamy, he's certainly mouthy, but not a dirty player, and has been brilliant this season, underrated I'd say. He once twatted John Arne Riise with a golf club for not wanting to do karaoke but then I have heard Riise is a complete knob (He phoned round a number of Norwegian pop stars to see if they wanted to get together to become the Norwegian 'Posh and Becks').
Bellamy's also set up a charity working in Sierra Leone, and donated £450,000 to it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/sep/27/craig-bellamy-manchester-city

Newton Heath 18 said...

What can I say my team are never dull. And Vole you'll have to find better pictures than that. Besides, we're out to avenge 1994,

Kate said...

Vole, stop being mean to my Emma, you know she finds scratchings particularly repulsive, how's about a nice rare steak to really show her what she's been missing out on (covered in blue cheese sauce with a side of fries of course!)

The Plashing Vole said...

Prawn sandwiches would be appropriate given Keane's description of a certain section of the crowd as 'the prawn sandwich brigade', though she isn't one of these.

Neil Haynes said...

It was a good game in all ways bar the result. The dirty cheating reds played a defender who should have been banned who went on to bring down Tevez for a penalty that wasn't given. But am I bitter? Damn right I am. Now excuse me while I go and find a United to pick a fight with (but where will I find one of those in London?)

The Plashing Vole said...

Mm, tough one. Try the financial district and look for Americans begging for money.