So Howard Webb, the eminent footie referee has apologised for 'getting it wrong' at Old Trafford last week when he awarded a penalty to Manchester United which virtually handed them the league title, and put the chances of Spurs reaching Europe in serious doubt.
He appears to have been the only person in the ground who thought it was a penalty, with Alex Ferguson commenting that they had been a bit lucky, and Arsene Wenger indicating that although he did not see it, it was clearly not a penalty.
Spurs have been unfortunate at Old Trafford before, as Mark Clattenburg disallowed a goal in the Martin Jol era, when Ray Carroll clawed the ball back from several feet behind the line. it earned the referee an entry in the Viz Profanisaurus thus:
Clattenburg, n: the term used for sexual intercourse as demonstrated during an Adult Channel movie shown in a hotel room. Everybody knows its in, but you just can't see it.
So once more it opens up the debate for the introduction of technology to aid referees to make the correct decisions. Rugby League pioneered it, Rugby Union and Cricket followed suit and now tennis players are allowed to query calls in which Hawkeye is used to adjudicate .
Would it slow the game down? Well image a couple of examples, the penalty at Old Trafford is given so there is a delay anyway during which the third official would say 'no penalty, indirect free kick to Spurs'. Alternatively, as happened on Tuesday, Thiery Henry is pulled down in the box by a Chelsea player, the ref waves play on. The third official has a look, and mikes the ref, 'Penalty'. The decision is made, the players will moan, but will eventually realise it was shown on TV so justice is done. Very little delay to the game.
Add into the mix the cricket and tennis approach where each manager is allowed three appeals to the third official. if right they keep their three, if wrong then they lose an appeal. Maybe two per half would avoid both managers questioning every decision in the last ten minutes?
Sadly the football authorities think they and their game is so pure that they do not need these things, but with money the prime motivator these days they need to wake up and smell the coffee. Anyway where is my copy of ' Debbie does Dallas'?
Thursday 30 April 2009
Wednesday 29 April 2009
Oink, Oink
So a new strain of flu is spreading its way around the world as a result of the initial outbreak in Mexico. We are all checking ourselves here to ensure we have not developed small curly tails, pointy ears or large square looking noses. I guess that anybody who looks like Shrek is being viewed with suspicion, so I wonder if Manchester United have put Wayne Rooney into quarantine?
It is not surprising that cases are starting to be identified across the globe given the number of people in the air at any one time. On Sunday morning I drove past the runway at Heathrow, past Hatton Cross, and the aircraft takeoff route was right above us to the East. In the six or seven minutes it took me to pass the three sets of lights on the A30, five jumbo's took off. Thats about 2000 people, or 20,000 per hour, just from one airport.
I remember when the flu virus mutated into Asian flu some years ago and there were a number of fatalities particularly amongst the older population. It did hit Britain during the Winter, however, and I suspect the fact we are entering our warmest period now may contribute to the reduced effects the virus seems to be having here. Mexico is one of the most polluted countries in the world, and the air quality in Mexico City in particular is very poor. I am confident that sensible precautions in the UK will contain this strain as just another 'bad cold'.
Anyway, its early so I must go and stick my snout in the trough.
It is not surprising that cases are starting to be identified across the globe given the number of people in the air at any one time. On Sunday morning I drove past the runway at Heathrow, past Hatton Cross, and the aircraft takeoff route was right above us to the East. In the six or seven minutes it took me to pass the three sets of lights on the A30, five jumbo's took off. Thats about 2000 people, or 20,000 per hour, just from one airport.
I remember when the flu virus mutated into Asian flu some years ago and there were a number of fatalities particularly amongst the older population. It did hit Britain during the Winter, however, and I suspect the fact we are entering our warmest period now may contribute to the reduced effects the virus seems to be having here. Mexico is one of the most polluted countries in the world, and the air quality in Mexico City in particular is very poor. I am confident that sensible precautions in the UK will contain this strain as just another 'bad cold'.
Anyway, its early so I must go and stick my snout in the trough.
Tuesday 28 April 2009
Come on you Greens........
Phew, what a dramatic few days in the Weathers sporting calender.........
- Saturday, Plymouth Albion assured of National One status next season as Esher get thrashed at Bedford
- Sunday, Plymouth Raiders reach the finals weekend in Birmingham in the British Basketball league for the second season running, winning on the road at Guildford
- Sunday, Twickenham Colts win the Middlesex Cup in a pulsating final, 15-12 against Finchley
- Sunday, Middlesex thrash Scotland at Lords, why am I not in Edinburgh today?
- Monday, Plymouth Argyle maintain their Championship status as Steve Coppells Reading beat Norwich
Focus now moves to Scouseland and the European Cup......dare I support Arsenal against Man U??
Stumped
As the football season draws to a close, and the sound of leather on willow once again can be heard in the hamlets and villages of olde England, an interesting booklet was passed to me by a local religious historian.
To save you back tracking to look for the genealogy of the Scouse house, here is a quick summary. (I could not find the link anyway!!)
The 16th Earl of Shrewsbury sold the land on which the house is built in the mid-1800's and a lady named Eliza Lockhart purchased direct from the builder. She lived here a number of years before selling it on in the early 1900's. Census records then indicate that her daughter subsequently purchased the property and re-introduced it into the family. What happened after that I have not taken the time to research.
My initial investigations, however, did discover that the family name of the Shrewsbury's was Talbot, and their country home was Alton Towers, now of Theme Park fame. They are also the senior lorded family in the Country and as such would accede to the throne if the whole of the Royal Family were ever wiped out. The stately home in Alton Towers was relieved of its finery when legal fees were needed to pay for the long running dispute about the 16th Earls will, when he died. The Scouse house is on the corner of Shrewsbury Road and Alton Road, with Talbot Road very close by.
Anyway, back to the Lockharts and the booklet. It would appear that the son of Eliza was one W P Lockhart, Birkenheads great evangelist. Now not being a God fearing man, I would have found this less interesting but for the fact that William Peddie Lockhart was also an accomplished cricketer. He played for the Birkenhead Park cricket club and the North of England between 1857 and 1860 when he won 7 caps for England and was considered the best wicket keeper of his time.
He never lived in the Scouse house but must have visited his mother and sister many times, his mother moving here after the death of her husband. That must explain why Kieran is always on at me to mow the cricket pitch in the lawn every May!!
To save you back tracking to look for the genealogy of the Scouse house, here is a quick summary. (I could not find the link anyway!!)
The 16th Earl of Shrewsbury sold the land on which the house is built in the mid-1800's and a lady named Eliza Lockhart purchased direct from the builder. She lived here a number of years before selling it on in the early 1900's. Census records then indicate that her daughter subsequently purchased the property and re-introduced it into the family. What happened after that I have not taken the time to research.
My initial investigations, however, did discover that the family name of the Shrewsbury's was Talbot, and their country home was Alton Towers, now of Theme Park fame. They are also the senior lorded family in the Country and as such would accede to the throne if the whole of the Royal Family were ever wiped out. The stately home in Alton Towers was relieved of its finery when legal fees were needed to pay for the long running dispute about the 16th Earls will, when he died. The Scouse house is on the corner of Shrewsbury Road and Alton Road, with Talbot Road very close by.
Anyway, back to the Lockharts and the booklet. It would appear that the son of Eliza was one W P Lockhart, Birkenheads great evangelist. Now not being a God fearing man, I would have found this less interesting but for the fact that William Peddie Lockhart was also an accomplished cricketer. He played for the Birkenhead Park cricket club and the North of England between 1857 and 1860 when he won 7 caps for England and was considered the best wicket keeper of his time.
He never lived in the Scouse house but must have visited his mother and sister many times, his mother moving here after the death of her husband. That must explain why Kieran is always on at me to mow the cricket pitch in the lawn every May!!
Friday 17 April 2009
Clement Freud
Sir Clement passed away yesterday at the grand age of 84. Much has been written about him, from his hound dog looks on his dog food adverts, to his culinary skills and Parliamentary membership.
The one thing which has been overlooked is that he was a passionate and (almost) life long supporter of the mighty greens, Plymouth Argyle FC.
I say lifelong as he had attended Dartington College near Plymouth and while there decided to take a local club 'under his wing'.
He became a Plymouth Argyle fan, and remained a Pilgrim throughout his life, frequently mentioning the clubs in his columns and radio and TV appearances.
Last February, however, Freud claimed he had abandoned his love of Argyle. During an 'audience with' session in Headington he was asked if he still followed the club. He replied: "No not anymore - I can’t pronounce the names of any of the players. We used to have people from Plymouth. Sometimes we even went to Bristol and signed somebody! Nowadays, you have three Estonians, others from countries I’ve never heard of."
This is a sad reflection on 'local' football, but money talks and even 4th division teams have players with unpronounceable names.
Still Clement will always be regarded as a true celebrity Green, a cameo he shares with that other aging politician Michael Foot. Michael was born in Plymouth and for many years served as MP for Devonport. I wonder if he is a candidate in the Twickenham RFC death list?
The one thing which has been overlooked is that he was a passionate and (almost) life long supporter of the mighty greens, Plymouth Argyle FC.
I say lifelong as he had attended Dartington College near Plymouth and while there decided to take a local club 'under his wing'.
He became a Plymouth Argyle fan, and remained a Pilgrim throughout his life, frequently mentioning the clubs in his columns and radio and TV appearances.
Last February, however, Freud claimed he had abandoned his love of Argyle. During an 'audience with' session in Headington he was asked if he still followed the club. He replied: "No not anymore - I can’t pronounce the names of any of the players. We used to have people from Plymouth. Sometimes we even went to Bristol and signed somebody! Nowadays, you have three Estonians, others from countries I’ve never heard of."
This is a sad reflection on 'local' football, but money talks and even 4th division teams have players with unpronounceable names.
Still Clement will always be regarded as a true celebrity Green, a cameo he shares with that other aging politician Michael Foot. Michael was born in Plymouth and for many years served as MP for Devonport. I wonder if he is a candidate in the Twickenham RFC death list?
Thursday 9 April 2009
I'm Mandy, Fly Me
I have just returned from Portugal after the annual 'Algarve Cup' tournament. I avoided winning the parrot for last place, and with two good and two bad rounds, I came mid-table.
I travelled over and back on EasyJet, but for some reason from Liverpool, John Lennon International Airport, they only fly one flight on the Monday, so whereas most of the team got back Monday night, I had to wait until Tuesday.
EasyJet are fine as long as they fly on time, I don't have a problem paying for baggage or golf clubs, and the staff are generally friendly and helpful. I was interested though to read about the extra charges being introduced at their hub in Luton, while travelling back.
I had already noticed that people are charged 50p for the clear plastic bag they put their make-up in, at Liverpool, and there is the lounge charge, the priority boarding charge and the fast track security charge which seem to be accepted these days. The announcement that people were to be charged £1 to drop people off at the airport though is a bit cheeky. Air travel is designed to be quicker than other modes of transport, so encouraging people to use the park and ride so way away is only going to erode the differential. I know its only £1 , but judging by the RyanAir announcement to their staff that theyneed to think of new ways of charging passengers, it could be the tip of the iceberg.
So, what are the suggestions; charging people to eat their own food on the plane ( food corkage equivalent), making fat people pay more money, or including your weight as part of your baggage allowance, and what else?
Well here are a few things for you if any RyanAir people read this.
Its 30p to spend a penny at Paddington Station in London, although you can slide in past the turnstiles if you know the trick!! So lets have a toilet usage charge on aircraft. What about paying so that the seat in front of you cannot be reclined, although a reclining passenger may need to be re-imbursed for not being able to be selfish and inconsiderate. Short haul don't have movies or entertainment, but that is an obvious one to charge for, if they do not already.
They could also sell papers and magazines, wet wipes and serviettes but they would all contribute to total takeoff weight and may not therefore be viable.
Alternatively of course they could just make everything inclusive and put the base price up, I am sure it will happen, but then don't Virgin and BA do that already?
I travelled over and back on EasyJet, but for some reason from Liverpool, John Lennon International Airport, they only fly one flight on the Monday, so whereas most of the team got back Monday night, I had to wait until Tuesday.
EasyJet are fine as long as they fly on time, I don't have a problem paying for baggage or golf clubs, and the staff are generally friendly and helpful. I was interested though to read about the extra charges being introduced at their hub in Luton, while travelling back.
I had already noticed that people are charged 50p for the clear plastic bag they put their make-up in, at Liverpool, and there is the lounge charge, the priority boarding charge and the fast track security charge which seem to be accepted these days. The announcement that people were to be charged £1 to drop people off at the airport though is a bit cheeky. Air travel is designed to be quicker than other modes of transport, so encouraging people to use the park and ride so way away is only going to erode the differential. I know its only £1 , but judging by the RyanAir announcement to their staff that theyneed to think of new ways of charging passengers, it could be the tip of the iceberg.
So, what are the suggestions; charging people to eat their own food on the plane ( food corkage equivalent), making fat people pay more money, or including your weight as part of your baggage allowance, and what else?
Well here are a few things for you if any RyanAir people read this.
Its 30p to spend a penny at Paddington Station in London, although you can slide in past the turnstiles if you know the trick!! So lets have a toilet usage charge on aircraft. What about paying so that the seat in front of you cannot be reclined, although a reclining passenger may need to be re-imbursed for not being able to be selfish and inconsiderate. Short haul don't have movies or entertainment, but that is an obvious one to charge for, if they do not already.
They could also sell papers and magazines, wet wipes and serviettes but they would all contribute to total takeoff weight and may not therefore be viable.
Alternatively of course they could just make everything inclusive and put the base price up, I am sure it will happen, but then don't Virgin and BA do that already?
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