England’s Number 2
Doesn’t quite have the same ring to it. I’ve always laughed at the likes of Portsmouth, West Ham and any other club with a half decent, English keeper when they’ve turned up at WHL and sung, “England’s No.1, England’s, England’s No.1″ because their goalie once came on for the second half of international friendly. There can only be one number one and for years now, he’s been ours. With Scott Carson getting the nod in tonight’s crucial game ahead of Paulo Robinsino, it feels like the end of an era. If he can’t be trusted now, will he ever be trusted again? Take one look at David James and your answer has got to be ‘no’. It doesn’t matter how good a couple of seasons the Pompey keeper has, he’ll always be Calamity James and by the same standard, Robbo will always be remembered by ‘that goal’ in Zagreb. Keepers will always be remembered for their mistakes and rarely anything else.
The irony of it all is that Croatia coach, Salven Bilic, is biliching about the state of our turf after it took a good churning in the Gridiron exhibition between the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins - what, they call us ‘Soccer’, I’m calling them ‘Gridiron’? Bilic said:
“The pitch is no good and not in the condition that Wembley used to be known for.”
I would have thought the odd strategic bobble in front of goal would suit the Croatian game down to the ground (no pun intended).
If losing the jersey is a knife through our hearts, it must be whole kitchen set through Robbo’s. In days gone by we’ve always been able to sing his song to lift his spirits, wont it just be a painful reminder to him from now? We should probably just opt for “Tottenham’s No.1, Tottenham’s, Tottenham’s No.1″ but I’ve a feeling that we’ll just go one singing the lie, just like all but Villa fans will do. Stripped of his status at national level, one can only wonder how untouchable he’ll remain at club.
Word fromour new feeder country has it, according to most publications, that Julie Baptista will not be coming to Spurs and that’s all because he said this:
“I have not talked to anybody from Tottenham and I just heard about it in the press. I am under contract with Real Madrid and my objective is to play for this team.
I appreciate Juande’s work but I have not talked to him and I don’t know much about it.”
Bullshit; not what the Beast has said but how this has been reported. This is not a player saying ‘no’. This is a player saying he’s not had any contact and, just in case anyone from his one club is reading, that he is still committed to Real. The second part is the clue and if anything the answer is ‘yes’. It translates as:
“I’d be happy to work under my old boss when he asks me, offers me big cash and promises me that global warming will have taken enough of an effect by next year for me to be happy in the London climate.”
One of Julie’s team mates has been equally committal, if a little less cryptic, about a possible move to the tropical climes of N17.
“I want to retire here. I will play until my body tells me to stop,” said Real captain, Guti, on Spanish radio.
“I want to renew my contract for two more years when the current one runs out. If not, everybody knows my intention to play in the Premier League. It is my second option. I like the cities of Liverpool and Manchester, but I would go to any team in London.”
Do you think he’s heard of Fulham?
The 6′1″, the midfielder’s Real through and through. If you broken him open he’d be white inside with a few encrusted diamonds for good Galactico measure. He started with the Real youth team, moved on to their reserves in the second division, Real Madrid Castilla and finally the huge distance to the fully-fledged first team - probably the gypsy in him. Here’s his head…
…running away after sticking chewing gum to another players face. Those crazy kids.
The 31-year-old creative midfielder’s been having a rather good time at the Bernabeu since the departure of Zidane and the Bernd Schuster era and I doubt anyone would complain if he did a little of this in a Lillywhite shirt…
…er….hang on…
You may not be impressed by the football but the commentary is something else…
“Saying it’s textbook is like saying Dali is just another painter.”
…but if it’s service you’re after, how’s this for a silver platter…
…and this…
…and that’s not all. He’s good creatively, he’s good with his left but he has one more attribute that we’ve been missing since the departure of Danny Murphy…
…a lovely wife.
Those of you who are going, enjoy the game tonight. Those of you who aren’t, enjoy your beer. I myself shall being taking LB out to dinner for her birthday. Lucky it’s only an England game.
You eat pieces of bagel for breakfast?
The Bagel.
November 22nd, 2007 at 11:35 am
Disasterous performance. Has the England team learnt nothing about how to play football? What an embarrassment.
Thank Christ Robbo was spared that nightmare. Maclarens best decision was to leave Robbo out. I don’t think he would have recovered from a mistake like the one Carson made.
Who next as manager?
November 22nd, 2007 at 11:41 am
Apparently the FA have offered the job to David Platt, but David said he has no intention of leaving Coronation Street!
November 22nd, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Martin Jol!!!!
November 22nd, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Ha! Adie, I was just thinking about that….he does want to remain in the south of England, where his family are settled. Wembley’s not that far from the Lane.
Poor Robbo - however, at least there may be a way back. I do feel a bit sorry for Carson. Jesus. What a total disaster- most of those players either completely bottled it, or just don’t give enough of a shit.
Whoever takes over should start with a blank piece of paper.
Bilic did his CV some good.