FANTASY FOOTBALL RE-BORN

Well into Fantasy Football at the moment.

Am in a league at work, joined the Metro( daily newspaper given away free on public transport in the North of England) competition and entered my team of world beaters imaginatively named The Enforcers.

Very exciting as there are only 3 points separating 1st and 3rd in our league (I am currently 2nd) and studying my teams form on a Saturday morning and making the required transfers(you are allowed three a month) has now become the highlight of my week.

I made some inspired choices at the beginning of the season, Fabregas and Vidic have racked up the points while my defence has been very solid although the choice of Obi Mikel (a natural midfielder) in defence has not quite paid off, especially after his sending off on Sunday.
My forwards haven`t really fired but I sacrificed big name strikers for a solid defence (Reyna in goal) and an outstanding manager (Ferguson).

My current team is

1 Reyna (Liverpool)
2 Vidic (Man Utd)
3 Mikel (Chelsea)
4 Clichy Arsenal
5 Richards (Man City)
6 Johnston (Man City)
7 Fabregas (Arsenal)
8 Warnock (Blackburn)
9 Jagielka(Everton)
10 Dempsey (Fulham)
11 Forssell (Birmingham)

Highest position I have been is 2117 which is pretty good considering there is possibly over 250000 people in it.

I will update things at a later stage

The Special One has gone

The beautiful game is a little less beautiful as Jose Mourinho has left Chelsea by mutual consent(just what the hell does that mean anyway).

I am not a Chelsea fan but without a doubt this is a sad sad day for football and the media. This guy was the best thing to happen in football management since Brian Clough first breezed into the Victoria Ground at Hartlepool.

For a guy on around six million pounds a year (and remember that's what it took to build the bionic man) he seemed pretty unhappy most if not all of the time (check the websites for photos and see if you can find a picture of him smiling), what were the reasons for his dour expressions we can only guess at.

His management skills can not be called into question, 2 titles in 2 years and an FA Cup and League Cup but what made this guy special was his attitude and his raincoat and his so quotable quotes, these are some of the best

"Please don't call me arrogant, but I'm European champion and I think I'm a special one."Introducing himself to the English press after arriving from Porto in 2004.

"For me, pressure is bird flu. I'm feeling a lot of pressure with the problem in Scotland. It's not fun and I'm more scared of it than football."Insisting his side wouldn't catch a cold as Man Utd breathed down their necks.

"It's like having a blanket that is too small for the bed. You pull the blanket up to keep your chest warm and your feet stick out. I cannot buy a bigger blanket because the supermarket is closed. But the blanket is made of cashmere!"On the injury 'crisis' at Chelsea in February.


"The style of how we play is very important. But it is omelette's and eggs. No eggs - no omelette's! It depends on the quality of the eggs. In the supermarket you have class one, two or class three eggs and some are more expensive than others and some give you better omelette's. So when the class one eggs are in Waitrose and you cannot go there, you have a problem."What turned out to be his parting shot to Roman Abramovich.

Mourinho and the extra special one
"It all depends on my wife. If I am at home, yes, I will see it. But maybe my wife would like to go somewhere. I would like to see it - I like to see football and it is a big game. But maybe I will have no permission."Waiting to hear whether he'd be allowed to watch Arsenal-Man Utd.

"A brilliant reaction. I hate it when players just walk off."Following Arjen Robben's sharp exit down the tunnel after being substituted against Aston Villa.

"When I saw Rijkaard entering the referee's dressing room I couldn't believe it. When Drogba was sent off I didn't get surprised."Claiming Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard had met with Anders Frisk at half-time in their Champions League tie.

"If you ask me if I jump with happiness when I know Mr Poll is our referee? No."Not a fan of Graham Poll.

"Wenger has a real problem with us and I think he is what you call in England a voyeur. He is someone who likes to watch other people. There are some guys who, when they are at home, have this big telescope to look into the homes of other people and see what is happening. Wenger must be one of them - and it is a sickness."Astonishing attack on Arsene Wenger.

"Three years without a Premiership title? I don't think I would still be in a job."Putting the boot into Rafa Benitez.

"Many great managers have never won the Champions League - a big example is not far from us."Reminding Wenger there's only room for one Special One in London.

"This is the only time we have had to play before United and that's because we control the fixtures. Just imagine if we didn't control them!"Hitting back at Sir Alex Ferguson's claim that Chelsea engineered their game with Tottenham to take place just 39 hours after Spurs' Uefa Cup match in Seville.

"How do you say 'cheating' in Catalan? Barcelona is a cultural city with many great theatres and this boy has learned very well. He's learned play acting."Claiming Lionel Messi got Asier Del Horno sent off in a Champions League defeat by Barcelona.

"During the afternoon it rained only in this stadium - our kit man saw it - they tried everything. There must be a micro climate here."Bemoaning Blackburn's pitch-watering tactics after the Blues' hard-fought win at Ewood Park.

ENGLAND 3 RUSSIA O 12th SEPT 2007

The boys done well, no disputing that. Excellent performance last night against a decent side.
Is this a new era after the Erickson safety first half decade.
I don`t think McClarens the man to lead England, I don`t think he has the technical nous but if he goes on to win the Euro Championship then i`m sure he will become a national hero.
England look a better side without relying on Rooney, Lampard is the most overrated player in the country and Beckham should never have been re-called.
It is truly amazing that Gareth Barry has not played more for his country, I have been telling people that for years (not that anyone ever listens to me).
Michael Owen is a legend, I can not believe the amount of people who write him off. The two greatest sporting highlights of my life are Ian Bothams Headingly 100 against the Aussies in 1981 and Owens goal against the Argies in the 1998 World Cup.
In defence we look flashy if not solid, Ashley Cole does not convince me as a defender but I like Richards and you can`t argue with Terry and Ferdinand (well you could but they earn a lot more money than me and could afford good lawyers).
We should qualify now, we might not even need a result on the Astro-Turf in Russia if results go our way. We might even be joined by the chilly Jockos after their superb result in France