Via Urban 75: " Just heard that the Manchester clubs are jointly releasing a fragrance for Christmas: Channel No.5

Jaap Stam was sold, which was a bombshell as big as Sparky leaving, even for the players – especially for the players. We were as mystified as anyone. All kinds of conspiracies swirled around because Jaap's exit came on the back of his 'controversial' autobiography; but I've always believed that the book was a minor factor, perhaps irrelevant. I know the manager wasn't thrilled about the book, and nor was I at being called a 'busy cunt'. Jaap had called me that to my face many times, and I know it was meant affectionately, but it didn't look quite so [...]
. . . from today's excellent Joy of Six : "Given Manchester United have just won a record 19th English league championship, the fact that they've had only three title-winning managers comes as quite a surprise." And of course Ron Saunders should have got an honorable mention.
» Link to video Oh she was a former Miss Wales ... I wondered how they met. [See post to listen to audio] » The Rainbow Choir - Superinjunction We Love You

With reference to this photo: I love the exasperated cry from 'WackAttack' in the comments box of today's Five things we learned from the Premier League this weekend column: Thanks for putting that photo up on two different stories. One of my colleagues just walked past and commented "Are you still looking at that picture?" The picture captures in all its glory the love that dares not speak [...]

Nice result for Everton today. And on the back of beating Chelsea the other week. If only they got the memo that the season starts in August rather than late November, they'd be a shoe in for the fourth place. They might still make it but it'll be close and, as they don't have much depth to their squad, they're only a couple of injuries away from the wheels coming off their recent resurgence. I've got to ask, though: what's the deal with Dan Gosling's hair in the picture below? [...]
Stumbled across this wonderful old Joy of Six article from the Guardian's Rob Smyth in the draft section of the blog and I realised it would be a dereliction of footie duty if I didn't bring it to the attention of my readership . Check out Krankl's volley against West Germany at the '78 World Cup in Argentina. Is that not a nugget of bastard genius? When you have a left foot as sweet as that you can be forgiven for abominations like this . . . maybe. Sit [...]

Michael Owen signs for Man Utd? We're looking at the most inspired signing of the pre-season or ' Garry Birtles : The Remake'.

. . . via the good folk at Urban 75. March 14th seems so long ago.

Inspired . . . and I don't even have that much of a problem with either Benitez or Liverpool. Once again, Fergie wins the minds games and Man Utd wins the title . Sammy Lee as Uncle Albert is just brilliant. Made my day seeing that. Those Surrey Reds can be creative when they put their minds to it. Hat tip to the good people at Urban 75 .

Inspired . . . and I don't even have that much of a problem with either Benitez or Liverpool. Once again, Fergie wins the minds games and Man Utd wins the title . Sammy Lee as Uncle Albert is just brilliant. Make my day. Those Surrey Reds can be creative when they out their minds to it. Hat tip to the good people at Urban 75 .

Did you know Manchester Utd defender Rio Ferdinand had his own magazine? Well yes he has. His latest foray into the world of the media sees him interview 50 cent and old chum Christiano Ronaldo. Check it here

Huh...? Wha....? Is it over...? *Rubs eyes* What did I miss...? Nothing...? .. not a single goal..? What I did see Ronnie Ronaldo falling down every time he was challenged, I should have done something with the prediction league where the players had to guess how many. - Oh I did promise to post something from the winners didn't I. Me and my big mouth... I was hoping that the other side would have pulled off an upset because I had a [...]

Latest team news is that 'arry is going to throw them under the bus give the kids another run out in the UEFA Cup 2nd leg against Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday. This gives us the chance to see the new Clown Prince of goalkeepers in action... Pictured above: Gomes in action where he knocked out one of his own players, pulled an injury of his own and conceeded a 2nd goal. All this happened in the same game . [...]

Somewhat belatedly... I mentioned in a previous Prediction League mailout that the 1st week of February was a bit of a black hole music-wise. Specifically with February 3rd, 1959 and the aircrash which took the lives of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens & The Big Bopper. But it wasn't just in music in which there was a big loss, football-wise too. Also in the beginning of February, one year and three days before the above was an event which devastated and nearly caused Manchester United Football Club to fold. [...]

The weather is closing in, getting a bit nippy outside of a night. Perfect time to post some calypso music... I've previously posted a couple of football and calypso music tracks here and here - this is part one of a two part post that will gather them all together. Yes that's right, there are so many footie&calypso songs that I had to split this in half. In the 50's there was a craze for the music in Britain and this even spread [...]
Oops, been slacking off with the Guardian's preview of the upcoming English Premier League. That calls for some last minute substitutions: Man Utd Middlesbrough