Gordon Banks

Really sad news that one of the true legends of Football died today 😢
Gordon Banks was 81 years old.

England's keeper in the 1966 win, and but for a mystery stomach bug before the Quarter final against West Germany in 1970  might have been a two time winner?
He had a long career with Leicester and then Stoke. I think I saw him in the flesh at least once but can't remember what the result was?


Everyone is going on about that save from Pele in the 1970 World Cup, but the one that I remember most is the save from Geoff Hurst's penalty in 1972 League Cup Semi Final which stopped us making the Final that season 😭

Getting Shirty

I watched the Stoke v Swansea game on Sunday which featured a couple more debatable penalties, and anyone who has been watching football as long as me knew exactly how both managers would see the incidents.
Gary Monk's version was refreshingly honest, apart from not seeing Rangel's hand on Moses which will no doubt get him into all sorts of trouble, as honesty is not looked on kindly by the FA.
Mark Hughes is becoming the new Neil Warnock (even though we've still got one), his version of the first penalty was that despite Shawcross trying to pull Bony's shirt off then pulling him down, that this happens half a dozen times every game and shouldn't be a foul? but if one of his players gets lightly touched and throws himself to the floor it's a penalty all day long?
Monk will probably get a fine for his comments but Hughes won't even be called up for his interpretation of the laws of the game.
Although if Chico Florist still played for Swansea I would have less sympathy :)

Something I've been thinking about for years would be the introduction of Velcro shirts with detachable sleeves, fronts and backs, so that when the dodgy defender grabs the attackers shirt it comes off in their hand leaving even the blindest referees in no doubt what had been occuring.
Although they would then probably book the players for taking their shirts off? :)

Season 2012/13

Less than 2 hours to go till another Premier league season kicks off :)
The title race should be between the big 3 of Man City, Man United and Chelsea with Van Persie's transfer probably meaning Arsenal drop into the second group chasing the 4th place with Tottenham, Everton and maybe Newcastle.
AVB has the chance to show what all the fuss was about when he went to Chelsea last season, although he will probably have to do it without Modric, but the money will come in useful.
If Liverpool have the quality and can embrace the Rogers way they could have a decent season, but if they lose a couple he could be under pressure from the unrealistic ambitions of their fans and owners.

At the bottom it's a complete lottery, the poll currently has Wigan and Reading for the drop but I'm not so sure? Brian McDermott is a very likeable manager who will get the best out of a good Reading team and Martinez's Wigan looked very good at the end of last season.
Chris Hughton is a really good manager and might keep Norwich from suffering "2nd season syndrome", Brian Laudrup is highly rated and could lessen the blow of Brenda Rogers departure.
Martin Jol of Fulham has signed a few good players which might lessen the blow of probably losing their star player Dempsey.
Stoke should have a better season without having the European games which cost them last year.
I think West Brom could struggle without Roy Hodgson and I really don't rate Steve Clarke, QPR despite a number of good signings still don't have a settled team and I reckon they will have another season of fighting for their lives.
I really hate to say that the Hammers will be fighting relegation but unless we take advantage of the reasonably easy start to the season and manage to pick up at least 2-3 quality players before the end of the transfer window it could be a tough season.
Looking at this years teams any 3 of around 12 could be in the relegation places at the end of the season?

My predictions for the season -
1st Man Utd,  2nd Man City, 3rd  Chelsea, 4th Arsenal
Relegated - West Brom, QPR, Southampton

Another Bad Day

Hugely disappointing day, glad that Man U won the league but annoyed they didn't smash Blackburn and settled for the point they needed, wins for Blackpool and Wolves mean only a freaky set of results can save the Hammers now :(
Even if we win our last 2 games the chances of Fulham winning at Birmingham tomorrow are slim to non existant so relegation should be confirmed by 5.45 tomorrow evening .... Bollocks!!

The FA Cup final was another dull Wembley final with Man City deserving the win without ever looking that good, Stoke suffered the cup final nerves and never got going.
Slightly controversial as Yoyo Toure should have been sent off for the horrible challenge on Wilkinson before scoring the winner, to even it out Huth was lucky to still be on the pitch as well.

Gloomy Sunday

Well that's the FA Cup over for another season, I know we've still got a few games to go which might be of interest to some? but that's killed it for me :(
A good game spoiled as usual by the ref who managed to get most things wrong, Stoke's opener should have been a free kick to West Ham, West Ham's equaliser should have been a free kick to Stoke, the penalty should have just been a booking for Etherington's dive, the free kick awarded for Stoke's 2nd goal was unlucky but probably right although it would never be given against the likes of Man U, Chelsea and Liverpool etc, and 2 penalties not given? Huth's handball was blatant and Walters wrestling down Tomkins was the most obvious penalty you'll ever see?
Apart from that Stoke played reasonably well in their normal way, the Hammers had an off day missing Demba Ba who was left out for some reason? and Piquionne's injury after Huth's crunching tackle is a worry.

The Semi Draw:
Bolton v Stoke
Man U v Man C or Reading