we're football crazy, football mad…

Needing a break from a T S Eliot dissertation, I'm following the (very boring) England-West Indies cricket match ball-by-ball here, and every soccer game here. I think Hull and Middlesborough will go down, despite Ferguson's choice of the Manchester United No-Stars and my own desire to see Newcastle drop. Blue-nosed Rangers have won the Scottish Premiership, unfortunately. Oh well, decades of Celtic supremacy was making the world's least competitive league boring. Stoke to sneak a 1-0 victory over Arsenal from a set-piece.

Update: so much for my predictive skills. We're 2-0 down after 16 minutes, thanks to an own-goal and a penalty.

Update: a goal for them and a penalty for us makes it 3-1. Only 60 minutes of this left…

Update: oh dear. 4-1 down at half-time.

Update: Middlesbrough and Newcastle relegated - Stoke flying high (except for today's result). Good season, chaps and chapesses (another one for Deer Friend there - we've been discussing terms for acquaintances)!

Sunday Sunday

Today is another marathon marking session, while I cower inside from the relentless searing heat. I don't have the words to describe how much I abhor hot weather. Give me driving rain and blustery storms any day. The only upside of today's weather is that I can dry my clothes on the line, which is much more civilised and environmentally friendly than using a tumble dryer.

The other excitement of the day is that clash of the titans, Stoke City versus Arsenal. We beat them 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium, their goal coming in the 93rd minute, so I've high hopes. Whatever happens, we've been vindicated and we're here to stay.

I did some marking yesterday, and feel quite optimistic based on those results - some good projects, some convincing arguments. Or had I had too much to drink at the sophisticated Euro-barbecue I attended yesterday? Fine wines, cooked (rather than burned) lamb and chicken, excellent taboulleh. Mmmm. Must go swimming tomorrow!

Neal and I were thinking about chocolate and cheese today: a dark, bitter chocolate and an acidic Cheshire would make a fantastic soufflé. Your thoughts?

Why why why, Delilah?

Just to make you happy, congratulations to Manchester United for their league success. I've lost a filling getting that out through gritted teeth.

Good weekend for the revived giants of Stoke though. A clear victory. We're closing on Man City and ahead of all my friends' teams other than MU. I'd like to finish the season by doling out a damn good thrashing to Woolwich Arsenal. All that remains for me to say is I TOLD YOU SO.

Tony Pulis for England?

Gooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaal

I should be working but I'm paralysed with joy - Premiership survival assured and by such a sweet method: beating West Brom yet again. 26 games, 1 defeat. Altogether now: 'We always beat West Brom'.

Actually, I'll quite miss West Brazilwich, and having them replaced with Wolverhampton isn't really a fair exchange. If people think Stoke play - ahem - 'direct' or 'physical' football, wait until they see the yam-yams hack their way to 0-0 results.

To my friends: note that SCFC are now above Blackburn Rovers, above all the other promoted teams, and above Newcastle etc. etc. We'll turn Newcastle over on Saturday, beat whoever we have left at home, then end the season by being the first team (I think) to beat Arsenal at Highbury this season. Probably.

Why, why why, Delilah…

Where are you now, Arsenal? Sure, you can beat showponies like Manchester United, but you fold up like a cheap deckchair 

when faced with Stoke City - and Wigan hung on for a draw today. We'll settle for the UEFA cup this year (and thanks to Cynical Ben for my present of £1 on us to win the Premiership at 7500-1).