Views From The `Footiemad` Armchair
Diary Of A Season May 2006



Monday 1st May 2006
 Which 1999 thriller had various taglines including, "Fear Thy Neighbour" and "Your Paranoia Is Real"?

Prior to WC2002, England played two World Cup warm up games in the Far East, but against which two nations?
Easy For Arsenal: If ever a game typified the good against the poor, then Arsenal's 3-0 win at Sunderland this tea-time did. Three goals in a thirteen minute spell before half time did the damage, although only rarely did Arsenal look like conceding against the club who are now officially the worst in Premiership history. Star of the show was Thierry Henry who made two and scored one and it just made you wonder if the Gunners could produce a sensational recovery and somehow snatch fourth place away from Spurs. Equally, you wonder of France's chances in the summer if Henry produces the goods at international level, something that he and his compatriots failed dismally to do four years ago. If they do, then France are a decent outside bet for the tournament.

Rooney Saga: As expected, every man and his dog is having a say on Wayne Rooney. As expected, Sven says that Rooney will go to Germany if there's a chance of playing in the tournament with some stating that he could be fit for the third group game against Sweden. Others take a different view with Terry Butcher feeling that no player who isn't 100% fit should go, whilst Sir Alex has stated that he doesn't think his player will play any part in the competition. That could be a bit of selfish wishful thinking from the Man United boss, but you can rest assured that by the time the season ends next Sunday and the preliminary squad is announced, everyone who is anyone in football will have had their say.


Tuesday 2nd May 2006
 "Your love isn't fair, you live in a world where you didn't listen and you didn't care. So I'm floating, floating on air." (Song Lyric)

Sunderland points total this season will be the lowest in Premiership history, but whose record have they broken?
Sunderland! (02-03): Correctly answered by Matt Robbins
Last night's clash between West Brom and West Ham sadly had `end of season encounter` stamped all over it. Sky had obviously planned it with the assumption that the Baggies would still be fighting against the drop and that this could be the game that either sent them down or gave them a stay of execution. Thanks to Portsmouth on Saturday that wasn't the case and we had a match between a club already down and another, quite rightly, with half a mind on the FA Cup Final and with little intention of doing anything that might get them injured or suspended. Unfortuntely for Dean Ashton, his hamstring didn't have his heart set on the Cup Final and decided to pull less than two weeks before the showdown. In truth, what I saw of the game wasn't all bore. There were chances and at least we had a goal, however it held little attraction to outsiders and I spent most of the time flicking between the football and the snooker.

Wednesday 3rd May 2006
 "You never let me cross to the other side now. I'm tied to the hope that you will somehow. Hard on the heels of something more." (Song Lyric)

When Blackburn won the Prem in 94-95, just one of their 80 league goals was scored by a non-UK or Channel Island born player. Who was that player (not including own goals)?
Henning Berg: Correctly answered by Matt Robbins
In recent seasons, we've all seen players punished for over-celebrating goals and you only need to look at Arjen Robben this season and Tim Cahill, whose crime was lifting his shirt above his head, for how celebrations can get you sent off. So, with that in mind, spare a thought (or maybe not!) for Robbie Savage who was booked last night for running toward his own fans having curled a beauty inside the far post to clinch a UEFA Cup spot for Blackburn and all at the expense of Champions Chelsea! I can only imagine the reaction of Savage, not so much when he was booked as we saw that on screen, but when he finally discovered that the final touch actually belonged to team mate Steven Reid whose faint flick of the top hair took the ball in. Booked for celebrating a goal that you didn't score, now that takes some doing!


Thursday 4th May 2006
 "How can you speak this language? Every word sounds like an execution." (Film Quote)

Prior to this season, which was the last club apart from Celtic or Rangers, to finish in the top two of the SPL?
Another end of season jaunt last night as Bolton and Middlesbrough drew 1-1, however it was notable for it being the clash of two managers who are up for the England job and, if rumours are to be believed, it would seem that Middlesbrough's Steve McLaren is likely to be officially appointed, possibly as early as today. It's a good move on two fronts. Firstly he's English and that will keep most of the sceptics and pedantics happy, and secondly he's had experience at international level with his time served under Sven and that should at least give him a head start above others that were lined up. Much like any other managerial appointment, time will tell whether it's a good one or not, however he could yet be doing `a Mourinho` and leave his club after winning a European trophy.

There's something strange afoot north of the border with Hearts clinching a top two place - and a spot in the CL qualifiers - for the first time in 14 years. Equally, little Gretna will feature in the UEFA Cup as they play Hearts in the Cup Final and that guarantees a UEFA Cup spot. Of course, all this romance and glamour will be lost on Rangers who will still play in Europe next season, but having reached the knock out stages of the CL this time around, surely would have hoped for a chance to repeat their heroics. But no, it's Hearts who'll have that privilage should they get through and is the culmination of a remarkable season that saw them rocket clear at the top of the table initially only to falter, not to mention go through THREE managers in one season. I think that 2005-06 will not be easily forgotten by Hearts fans.


Friday 5th May 2006
 "Libraries gave us power. Then work came and made us free. What price now for a shallow piece of dignity." (Song Lyric)

Between August 92 and April 94, which Scottish club went a record 38 home games without a win?
It's Up For Grabs Now: Yes, the race for fourth place is very much open after Arsenal beat Man City 3-1 in a rare Thursday Premiership clash. For a while I have to admit that I thought Arsenal had blown it and were going to either draw 1-1 or even lose it. Sub Jose Antonio Reyes perhaps hasn't hit the heights that he did last season when he first arrived as a youngster, however his two late goals last night could yet prove vital for their Champions League hopes. Of course it's still very much out of their hands as, if Spurs beat West Ham, then it doesn't matter what Arsenal do against Wigan, it will still be Spurs who keep that elusive fourth spot. I keep thinking back to the end of the first ever Prem season in 92-93 when Oldham (yes kids, they were a Prem side!) needed to win their last three games in the space of seven days AND hope that Palace lost theirs to escape relegation and that's exactly what happened. This included an unlikely win at Villa Park against the team fighting Man United for the title and yes kids, Villa were a title chasing club back then as well. Hard to believe eh.

Sunderland Shock: A home league win for Sunderland at last, their first in the top flight since December 2002! Fulham were the unlucky victims, although their away record is almost as bad as the Mackems home one. Wouldn't you be a bit peeved though as a Fulham fan as they were ahead at the Stadium of Light last month before it was abandoned (correctly) due to a waterlogged pitch. Good job that ultimately the result is of little consequence really.


Saturday 6th May 2006
 Which late 70s horror classic was filmed in just three weeks on a budget of just $300,000?

Watford's last Premiership goal in 1999-2000 was scored by which player, currently still in the Prem with a different London club?
Halfway To The Championship? Okay, a 1-1 draw at home to Preston in the first leg of the play off final seems, on first inspection, not to be good. However, lets enter `glass half full` mode. We didn't lose and are capable of getting a result away to Preston, indeed they reached the final last season even though we did the double over them, including a 4-2 with at Deepdale. Equally, despite a mediocre performance, we still got some kind of a result. However, in `glass half empty` mode: It wasn't the sort of display that would encourage thoughts of an away win on Monday. To me, Preston looked the better side and played the better football whilst half of our game was hoofing in forward and hoping for the best. So we'll see what happens but at the moment, my gut instinct is that another season in the Championship, welcoming Southend and Colchester to Elland Road, looks likely. Still, things could be far worse...

Palace Pulverised! ...I could be a Crystal Palace fan. At least us Leeds supporters still have a semblence of hope unlike Palace who were destroyed at home by Watford today after a second half goal blitz that saw them record a 3-0 victory. To be fair, Watford did look excellent and could end the curse of third place by gaining promotion if today was anything to go by, regardless of who they face in the final. All three goals were excellent strikes at well, including a lovely free kick and it was the aftermath of that which produced the game's best moment as keeper Gabor Kiraly came racing off of his line, not just to have a moan at the wall but to stamp his feet like some sort of kid who wasn't allowed to buy sweeties in the supermarket! Absolutely priceless moment. A spoke to a Palace fan at work yesterday and he said that he was tempted to travel up from here in Somerset to London and try and see the game. I hope for his sake that he decided against it.


Sunday 7th May 2006
 "You can see I'm single-minded, I know what I could be. How'd you feel about it, come and take a walk with me." (Song Lyric)

Which defender scored Arsenal first Premiership goal at Highbury?
The final day of the league season and the first question is of course whatever possessed Sky to show the Man United - Charlton game instead of West Ham v Spurs. Yes, I know United had to win to clinch a place in the league stage of the CL, but they were already in the competetion whereas a win for Spurs would have seen them in it for the first time ever. In hindsight, it would have made more exciting viewing as well. I watched the Arsenal v Wigan game, however for most of the game it was tense not only as to what was happening at Highbury, but due to events across London at Upton Park and whilst dual viewing of the games across two channels may not have reached the drama of 94-95, it would have still been good stuff.

Spurs Gutted: Ultimately, Spurs fans are probably glad they weren't on the box after their defeat at West Ham let Arsenal in to clinch fourth place. It seemed a cracking game at Upton Park as I caught batchs of it on the radio and the Sheringham missed penalty would really have had the conspiracy theorists out and about had Spurs have won the game! Even at Highbury, it looked in doubt until David Thompson's woeful back pass let in Thierry Henry to make it 3-2 although after that, the main talking point was the red card to Andreas Johansson just seconds after coming on as sub! Despite my dislike of Spurs, you have to feel some sympathy for them although I wonder if it's a blessing in disguise. I mean if Middlesbrough can reach the final of the UEFA Cup, surely Spurs will have a decent chance next season. Back to Arsenal though and wasn't it great to see Ian Wright cheering along as Henry moved further out of sight from his record.

Remarkably, as I mentioned earlier in the week, all of the other important issues were settled before the final games and it meant that just two clubs moved up after today's results with Fulham leaping over Middlesbrough and Man City and of course, the Arsenal move.

Goodbye? Not quite yet. The diary will continue until the Championship Play off Final, so here's to a Middlesbrough, Arsenal and Leeds triple final success...!!


Monday 8th May 2006
 "Short of the outbreak of World War Three, the ship sinking or being attacked by a giant octopus, I'd like to be undisturbed for the next thirty minutes." (Film Quote)

In the 1984-85 UEFA Cup 1st Round, which club won their second leg game 14-0 (Fourteen-nil) having only drawn the first leg against Red Boys 0-0?
The day after the afternoon before and the recriminations begin as to who was at fault over the non-postponment of the Spurs match at West Ham after a batch of their players went down with apparent food poisoning. On various mailing lists and forums the blame has been thrown at the FA for whom Arsenal chief David Dein plays a major role, the police for not wanting to delay the game and the Marriott hotel who suddenly have a load of Gunners fans working their with rat poison. Through all the chaos comes sanity in the figure of Spurs boss Martin Jol who, whilst disappointed, has conducted himself superbly over the last 24 hours. Basically he says that he understands the reasons why the game wasn't called off, especially with West Ham preparing for a Cup Final and that they've achieved their primary target of getting into Europe. He adds that he's gutted, but there is no ranting and raving, no threats to sue the hotel or the FA and no fingers of blame pointed at anyone or company in particular. There are a few bosses that could learn the art of diplomacy from Mr Jol.


Tuesday 9th May 2006
 Characters from which film include Zed, Mia Wallace, Vincent and Jules?

Leeds were involved in the first ever play off final in 1987, however which club stayed in the top flight by beating them in a replay?
The Premiership: Are We Having A Laugh After All? Wow, that was some evening! I had about three hours sleep I reckon as even after getting to bed, I was on a high and couldn't have dropped off unless someone had hit with a sledgehammer. All told, the first half was fairly drab and boring with us defending deep and in numbers, whilst Preston did their best to break us down and failed. Ultimately at half time I was happy that we were still in the game and that I was managing to stay awake. Then the Deepdale lights went out and I must have been one of the few that was hoping it was called off, largely as any delay meant a later night but still needing to get up at stupid o'clock in the morning. But, after a 25 minute delay, off we went again and we actually started to attack and, shock horror, found that when we did, we scored - twice! Unlike last Friday, I did realise that we'd scored this time and was off the sofa like a shot both times, the budgie joining in with my demented squeeling. Then came sheer farce as we collected eight second half bookings to go with our two from the first half, resulting in two red cards. Crainey was dopey for kicking the ball away and then fouling, however Cresswell seemed to get booked for nothing and then in the last minute, 2-0 up and the ball in THEIR half, kicks the ball away! Bloody fool deserves to miss the final for sheer stupidity. Six minutes of stoppage time meant that I hit the sack well after 10pm and couldn't mentally switch off until much later. No surprise when the alarm jolted me into life at 3:30am with my brain still in Deepdale. Even if we don't go up (and I don't think we'll beat Watford( then at least the season has almost ended on a high.


Wednesday 10th May 2006
 "I'm never gonna dance again, guilty feet have got no rhythm. Though it's easy to pretend, I know you're not a fool." (Song Lyric)

Why did only three clubs from the second tier division qualify for the play offs into the top division in 1987 and 1988?
The fourth club came from the top division - the lowest club not to be relegated: Correctly answered by Matt Robbins
So It's Watford! Not that it was any great surprise following Saturday's first leg win. As far as entertainment goes, last night's second leg goalless draw against Palace was not the sort of game that you'd want to watch over and over. Palace stuttered and struggled to break through a tight Watford defence whilst the home side soaked the pressure and did very little going forward in truth. But then, they didn't have to! Thanks to the 3-0 away win, the hard work was done and apart from making sure they didn't do anything silly at home, then the final was there's for the taking, so credit to boss Ade Boothroyd for ensuring his players didn't over do it. And that brings me, rather nicely I thought, to the highlight of the game. With few goalscoring chances to speak of, Mr Boothroyd did his best to liven matters up by trying a waste a few seconds by rolling the ball away after it had gone out for a throw. Cue an angry Fitz Hall who pushed the Watford boss, sparking an all-too-brief handbags at dawn bust up between the pair before Boothroyd was restrained. Personally I loved it. A punch up on the pitch is routine, yet one between player and opposing boss is back page headlines and whilst neither did anything worse than six year olds in the school playground, it gave the journalists something to write about. There's talk that Boothroyd will be banned from being pitchside at the final. If he is, it will make little difference to be fair, if anything Watford may even be spurred on more.


Thursday 11th May 2006
 "How dare you open a Space Ranger's helmet on an uncharted planet? My eyeballs could have been sucked out of their sockets!" (Film Quote)

What part did Seville play as regards the 2003 UEFA Cup Final?
All Good Things Come To An End: Maybe Middlesbrough used their luck and good fortune up in the previous two rounds, however last night's 4-0 defeat in the UEFA Cup Final at the hands of Seville will be a game that most Boro fans will wish to forget. Here in the gloriously sunny South-West, the weather took a turn for the worst about an hour before kick off time and after a flash and a rumble, we were treated to a full scale thunderstorm that continued periodically throughout the night. Despite the odd flicker and fizz on the telly, I stuck with it hoping that we wouldn't get a power cut and thankfully it seemed to rumble all around us but never quite on top. So, back to the game and in truth, Boro were second best for most of the match, however the defining moment surely came with fifteen minutes left when Mark Viduka was pushed in the area but never got the penalty. At the time they were only a goal down and another Lazarus comeback was possible, but within two minutes it was 2-0 and a further five saw a third goal. The fourth wrapped it up late on as Boro crumbled at the back in the latter stages as, for once, the hell for leather formation conspired against them. What next for Boro then? The search for a new boss will be priority I would imagine but it's somewhat ironic that having came so close to European glory this year, yet they haven't qualified next season at all.


Friday 12th May 2006
 "Don't start me talking, I could talk all night. My mind goes sleepwalking, while I'm putting the world to right." (Song Lyric)

During their one and only Prem season, which was the only club that Barnsley did the double over?
To say that I watched the play off semi between Barnsley and Huddersfield last night was a bit wrong. I did have it on, however my interest level was fairly low as I was trying to finish a library book that I borrowed (A Place Of Execution by Val McDermid since you ask!) and was only taking a partial interest in the football. I did however, but the book down long enough to see the absolute classic of a goal five minutes from time. Not classic in that it'll win Goal of the Season, but will surely appear on a few end of season blooper DVD's presented by a TV has-been. For those who didn't see it, cross came in from the left, keeper went to collect, defender got in his way, ball bobbled away from them both leaving attacker to bundle over the line before being pawed away by keeper. The sort of goal that your team concedes too often yet never seem to score!

You've probably noticed, but it's the FA Cup Final tomorrow and prediction time from yours truly as I, once again, display my remarkable talent for getting things wrong big time. On paper, it looks a Liverpool banker with West Ham not exactly there to make up the numbers, but not expected to make any significant impact on preceedings. Doubtless the Liverpool management will tell their players that the Hammers will not roll over and play dead and to take them on as though it were Chelsea or Barcelona. Good advice naturally and I reckon that West Ham will shed any inhibitions that many expected them to have and have a real go at Liverpool. I believe it will be a more even game than last year when Man United did everything but score, only to lose on penalties to Arsenal and again, unlike last year, there will be goals. My tip is for Liverpool to sneak it 2-1, however I have a feeling that Teddy Sheringham might have some impact late on and that Djibril Cisse will be among the goals. Be ready to laugh tomorrow!


Saturday 13th May 2006
 "Sleep Kills." (Film Tagline)

Who were the last club to go 2-0 down in an FA Cup Final and come back to win?
What A Final! So, have you got your breath back after that? What an astonishing final for more than one reason. So lets start at the beginning. Although not a fan of either club, I was going for underdogs West Ham to win and after the opening twenty minutes, I was wondering if a decent book would have been a better option. Then the Hammers struck twice, both with a helping hand from their opponents, however you wondered if an FA Cup upset was on the cards for the first time in yonks and it might well have been had they held out until half time. Cisse's goal (I said he'd score!!) gave them hope and Gerrard's equaliser had me thinking about there being only one winner now. Then up popped Paul Konchesky with the sort of strike that should only happen in Sunday League. It was the third fluke goal for West Ham, but I was off the sofa, sparking the budgie into squawk mode and probably had the neighbours wondering if I was being attacked by a serial killer. And it was so close wasn't it? The announcer was telling us that four minutes of stoppage time would be played and Gerrard produces the sort of strike usually reserved for Greek opponents at Anfield. It has to be said that it was stunning. This left me somewhat pissed off for two reasons. Firstly that an upset had been denied and mainly that I had to go back to work at 5pm and ultimately missed extra time and penalties. I've seen the shoot out now and can only hope that Konchesky will be remembered for his goal and not the penalty miss and my other thought was how Rio felt when brother Anton missed that vital last kick. In the weeks, months and years to come, it will go down as one of the best finals ever, however that's of little consolation to Hammers fans at the moment. Great final, great entertainment, sadly not the result that the neutrals wanted. But fair play to Liverpool. Plenty of clubs would have collapsed after the first 28 minutes and West Ham can console themselves with the fact that they did an awful lot more than last season's winners managed in the final.


Sunday & Monday 14th and 15th May 2006
 "It's cold outside and the paint's peeling off of my walls. There's a man outside. In a long coat, grey hat, smoking a cigarette." (Song Lyric)

Who were the last club to win a Champions League Final in Paris?
Silly Season: The last ball of the season has yet to be kicked, yet the transfer roundabout has started with rumours amid the occasional confirmed story. Biggest one so far is also the worst kept secret as Michael Ballack will unveiled by Chelsea on Monday after leaving Bayern Munich on a free transfer. It makes a change for Chelsea not to spend millions on a player and at least they cannot be criticised for trying to buy success as regards the Ballack move. Shevchenko is also being linked to Chelsea after stating that he wants to leave Milan, however until we get a definite quote from player or club, then believe nothing. I'm afraid that the old `sources close to the player revealed` does nothing for me now. However if the transfer merry-go-round is manic now, just wait until the world cup starts. An unknown player scores for Togo against a bigger nation and he'll be linked to every club with a vowel in their name.

The new Monday lottery started last week and it seems to be a success despite being online only. I'll admit that I've played the usual lottery since it started and I tried the Monday game last week, especially as you are able to nominate which charities your cash goes to. So, if you are fed up with arty-farty, politically correct groups getting all the Camelot cash, it's worth trying the other one. Sadly I didn't walk away with �200,000, however I did get three numbers on my Lucky Dip and received �13 (as opposed to �10 with Camelot!). But save the begging letters for now please!


Tuesday 16th May 2006
 "This isn't a completely dead eye, it still works a bit. The problem is, the only thing I can see with it is Joey Cusack." (Film Quote)

Which current Barcelona player scored four goals, including a hat trick of penalties, during a World Cup qualifier in June 2001?
The Curse Strikes Again: Ten divisional play off semi finals so far this season and not a single home win has been recorded after Barnsley beat Huddersfield 3-1 to go through on aggregate. To be fair to Barnsley, they did their best to help their West Yorkshire opponents by gifting them the only goal in the first leg and doing the same last night thanks to a woefully underhit back pass from Stephen McPhail. This is the same S.McPhail that broke into the Leeds first team back in the late 90s and was touted by some as being the new Liam Brady. That was some label to live up to and although I rated him quite highly, other fans who saw more of him than I were less complimentary and he earned the nickname of McFrail. Weak back passes aside, it would appear that they were right and that the Prem was simply a little too much for him and that he's now found his niche in the lower leagues. Just goes to show that calling youngsters `The New...` does not always help their careers.


Wednesday 17th May 2006
 Which legendary war film was based on Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness?

Barcelona are the only club not to score a single penalty during a shoot out in a major European final. Who were their opponents?
Drip Of The Year Award Part 1: As Grimsby finally broke the play off jinx and won at home - the first in eleven play off games where the hosts have won - one of their goalscorers, Gary Jones, has rivalled Leeds striker Richard Cresswell for the most costly sending off. You'll recall that Cresswell will miss our play off final after kicking the ball away with 30 seconds to go, well Jones went one better and elbowed an opponent in the chops with two minutes to go and his side cruising at 3-1 ahead. His manager has said that he saw nothing in it and will appeal, but frankly I'd be amazed if they got away with it as it looked a clear elbowing offence. However, whilst both Jones and Cresswell will miss a big game, they may get a second chance later in their careers, unlike surely the winner of the award...

Drip Of The Year Part 2: Prior to yesterday, I hadn't heard of Ole Hermann Borgan and I doubt that many had. However he is or was, one of the linesman for the Champions League Final and agreed to a request by his local Norwegian paper to have a photo shoot whilst wearing a Barcelona shirt! Now leaving aside the argument that the original plan was for him to wear both Barca and Arsenal kits, surely a little modicum of common sense would have alerted him to the fact that any match official wearing ANY team kit is asking for trouble, however much impartiality you might claim. He's now been replaced and will miss out on probably the biggest match of his life unless he's called up for World Cup Final duty at a later stage. If he does, then expect to see him in a Brazil shirt two days before the game!


Thursday 18th May 2006
 "Cry wolf. Given mouth to mouth, like a moving heartbeat in the witching hour." (Song Lyric)

Which Prem based player was the leading scorer in last seasons Champions League?
Ruud Van Nistelrooy: Correctly answered (eventually!) by Matt Robbins
A Night Of `What If's?`: So Arsenal were not to emulate Liverpool of last season and win against all the odds. It's a shame but it happens, so instead lets have a moan about how awful certain things were and on the turning points. The ref was crap. Totally out of his depth, something that UEFA should have picked up on after the Chelsea-Barca game earlier this season but didn't. Had he never heard of the advantage rule I wonder? Yes, the goal should have stood and Arsenal, although a goal down, would at least have still had all eleven men on the pitch. As soon as he blew for a free kick and disallowed the goal, you knew that Lehmann was off and with it went any chance of a decent end to end game. Fair play to Arsenal though when they took the lead and sent me leaping around the room like a manic dalek. Great cross, brilliant header, shock result is on. Of course we can harp on about what if Lehmann hadn't have been sent off, but the bigger what if came midway through the second half when Thierry Henry was through and failed to beat the keeper. Had that have gone in, then 2-0 with twenty minutes to go would have been tough for Barca as Arsenal would have ploughed everyone back. Ultimately it didn't work that way and sub Henrik Larsson changed the game by setting up both late Barca goals and even with ten minutes left, Arsenal never looked like equalising. All told, it was a decent enough game, partially ruined by a referee who seemed intent on holding play up as much as possible. Two players - Henry and a Barca defender - were booked for playing the ball and the Lehmann incident should be a candidate for future refereeing conferences on how to play the advantage. Still, every cloud has a silver lining and it does mean that Celtic will qualify automatically for the group stages next season.


Sunday 21st May 2006
 "The demon is a liar. He will lie to confuse us. But he will also mix lies with the truth to attack us. The attack is psychological, Damien." (Film Quote)

When Watford won promotion to the Prem in 1999, which two clubs did they beat in the play off semi final and final?
No diary for the last couple of days due to major revamp and relocation at work and although we've only moved around the corner, it's astonishing how much stuff has to be shifted and, more to the point, how long it takes. That said, I did have the solace of the play off final to look forward to today, however it was around 4:20pm when the realisation hit me that it would be...

...Goodbye Chelsea, hello Colchester: It wasn't so much that, when the second Watford goal went I that I felt it was all over. I mean, two down with more than half an hour to go is more than adequate even for a Leeds team firing on no cylinders. It was more the manner of the goal as a half hit shot was blocked by Eddie Lewis only for the ball to spin in all directions, loop over keeper Neil Sullivan, hit the post and then hit Sullivan's arm before dribbling over the line with all the pace of an old-age snail. It's those sort of moments that you know that Lady Luck has not only kicked you in the balls, but also kicked you in the teeth whilst bent over double. I could harp on about Shaun Derry having two efforts cleared off the line. About how we could have had a penalty when their keeper pushed Paul Butler (but how often are those given anyway). About how the throw in that led to the aforementioned fluke second goal should have been a Leeds throw and about how, during our best spell, the linesman pulled a muscle and held play up as he felt it would be nice to have treatment ON the pitch. So, whilst all those things may ring true, the simple fact was that Watford were better than us on the day and, according to the table, over the season. So no hard cheese and sour grapes from me. Yes, promotion would have been great, but I'm getting too long in the tooth to get too cranky when we lose a big game and my days of kicking the cat through the cat flap and putting an elastic band on the budgies beak are long gone. Disappointed yes, but that won't last long and there are ultimately more important things in life than football. In fact, whilst writing this, I've got a broad smile on my face as I remembered the funniest bit of the afternoon that occurred even before kick off. As the teams came out and the pyrotechnics began, one such bang was sufficiently loud enough to make Liam Miller jump the proverbial mile!

So it's goodbye to season 2005-06. I'm not around next weekend for the other two play off finals, however the diary will return for the World Cup and will appear, somewhat not surprisingly, on the World Cup section on the site. Thanks for reading my inane ramblings.


Know any of the trivia answers? Mail Me Now and get an on-site name check!
Return to Diary menu
Return to main Footiemad menu