Thursday 16 April 2009

I’VE SEEN ARSENE WENGER’S DANCE BEFORE!

It was by the contestant Susan on Britain’s Got Talent!

When he joined in the celebrations led by Arsenal strikers Theo Walcott and Emmanuel Adebayor, with a polished penalty by Robin van Persie, each scoring a goal against Villarreal yesterday, the rest of the punters at the pub joined in – even if they, like Wenger, had two left feet!

His performance, along with the rest of the Arsenal team, reminded me of the Will Smith video Getting Jiggy With It - without its slickness!

Like the Arsenal manager, the crowd in the pub simply didn’t care about the style of their dancing, as the result has put this magnificent team in the next stage of the Champions League.

See the Will Smith video I've mentioned for yourself:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIduOvEoVeQ

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I decided to go to Harlesden, instead of Wembley, to watch Arsenal and Manchester United play.

I’m glad to say I made the right decision, as two public houses were showing both matches - that were right next to each other!

Furthermore, Harlesden, yes in the north-west ten area of London, has a strong Portuguese community, who quickly corrected me that Porto is in northern Portugal – sorry for my earlier mistake of saying it was in the mid-west.

I kept running in between pubs before settling for the one that showed the Man U game, simply because the atmosphere in that one was electric!

You see, the Portuguese crowd had divided loyalties; such is the case when the country – or a team – from England, is playing against another team or national side, from your mother or father country.

For instance, a few years ago, the England football team played against Cameroon in the World Cup.

It was hard for many individuals of West African descent to decide which team to support.

The same goes for cricket.

When England is playing against the West Indies, many of Caribbean origin are also torn, as to who to support.

So when Man U played against Porto yesterday, loyalties in the Portuguese camp, were bound to be tested.

When the ball was passed to Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani, who came on as a substitute for Dimitar Berbatov – who on occasions did drift out of the game – the Portuguese punters, who dominated one pub, either cheered or booed these two footballers.

When Mr Ronaldo scored for United in the sixth minute – which was from under 40 yards and at a speed of more than 64 miles per hour – there were both cries of joy and laughter from some as well as yells of shame and Judas from others for Cristiano, who displayed why he’s the Fifa World Player of the Year.

Man U certainly seemed sure of themselves in defence, whereas Porto FC, despite their strong reputation as a formidable team, seemed to lack self-belief on this crucial evening.

So congratulations to both victors, Arsenal and Manchester United, on their success; who will probably face each other in the next leg – the semi-finals - of the UEFA Champions League

The managers of these two fine English clubs have crossed verbal and mental swords before, so it will be just as thrilling to see which club goes onto the final.

Sir Alex Ferguson for Man U will hope it’s onwards and upwards for his team but if they are playing against Arsenal, Wenger will definitely have something to say about that!

Please don’t hesitate to visit my other internet site: www.andriagreaves.com

PEACE

Andria

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Wednesday 15 April 2009

It’s amazing – part I

Congratulations to Chelsea on coming back from 2-nil down before half-time against Liverpool, on their own territory yesterday to finish the second half with four goals yesterday -14th April.

I was working as a steward yesterday at Chelsea Village – which includes the home of Chelsea FC - and felt the energy of the supporters (which included having to hold some of them back from invading the pitch at the Mathew Harding Stand) when Didier Drogba – in my view, the Premier league’s top scorer for this season – scored for Chelsea.

His strike put the game off its then balance and towards a positive result for Chelsea, as Frank Lampard then netted his second in the 89th minute to finally quell a magnificent effort from the visitors who let slip a 2-0 lead.

Eventually the final score was 4-4 but this meant Chelsea had won, as the total score, which included last week’s 3-1 result during the first half at Liverpool’s home ground, meant the final score was 5-7 to the Blues.

When the final whistle rang, the Chelsea supporters were dancing in the isles and in front of their seats to One Step Beyond, by Madness.

I took one of their flags, left behind by a fan, as a souvenir!

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It’s amazing – part II

Sheffield Wednesday let a 0-2 goal lead slip to see QPR’s B-team win 3-2, on Bank Holiday Monday, 13th April.

Previous manager Paulo Sousa would have been proud of them and the result, which shows that it’s not just Manchester United’s and Arsenal's youth project that's bearing fruit.

Ironically, it was at the Sheffield Wednesday stadium that Liverpool were playing against Nottingham Forest 20 years ago, that led to the tragedy of 96 fans losing their lives at this football match in Hillsborough, which has led to the high level of training and supervising of safety stewards and crowd control at football matches.

It’s also sad that fans still take the mickey over safety issues at football matches, from deliberately standing on chairs to using derogatory language that still makes it difficult for children to attend matches.

It’s also dissapointing to see and hear some dads using offensive language towards stewards in front of their children, as I experienced while working in crowd safety at QPR on Saturday 11th April.

Nevertheless, the anticipated display of anger against the chairman and co-owner Flavio Briatore didn’t amount to anything, with only a couple of drunkards protesting at the main entrance at how Paulo was removed from the club last week - after a leak of confidential club information.

It now means that QPR is now without a manager for the fifth time since Mr Briatore took over 18 months ago.

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I’m going to visit a pub in Wembley Central to watch tonight’s match: FC Porto vs Manchester United.

Part of Portugal’s name comes from this city, in the mid-west of this beautiful country.

No English side has ever won at the Dragao Stadium, so here’s wishing that Manchester United will be the first to break the hoodoo.

Porto is beautiful at night, as this aerial shot below shows, courtesy of Hedda blog.

Please don’t hesitate to visit my other internet site: www.andriagreaves.com

Until next time,

Andria

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Wednesday 8 April 2009

Robinho will come back stronger!

Brazilian and Manchester City star Robinho won’t be facing any charges over an allegation that he committed a serious sexual assault at a nightclub in Leeds.

The 25 year-old was arrested, regarding a report by an 18 year-old woman in the northern city of Leeds in January this year.

But a spokeswoman from West Yorkshire Police said: “A file was submitted to the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) who decided no further action should be taken.”

This must come as a huge relief for Robinho and his family.

It should also serve as a warning to other football stars in the media spotlight to be careful as to where you go after hours, as Robinho, his wife and family, from the time this started until now, must have been to hell and back over this allegation.

Neighbouring footballer Cristiano Ronaldo also went through a similar hell. Five years ago he too had a serious sexual accusation against him but came back from it a stronger and better player.

Hopefully Robinho will now do the same and we’ll finally see why Real Madrid received a share of the 32.5 million pound transfer fee, paid in September 2008.

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When talking of sport, many people still think of men running about on the rugby or football pitch.

Some even think about cricket – although not many realise why certain games are called a ‘test’.

So I want to pass on my congratulations to the Woman’s England Cricket team for winning the world cup a few weeks ago.

Let’s face it, when have we last said that about the England men’s cricket team?

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Hell’s Kitchen star Marco Pierre White is not a man to mess with!

So I wish all the stars in this year’s show, including Ms Dynamite, all the best which includes comedian Adrian Edmondson, who it seems Mr White has already tipped for success.

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Liverpool vs Chelsea, UEFA Champions League Quarter Final – tonight!

I’m going to be so excited to watch this match!

Mainly because I’m going to see how four great men, in two great teams, play off against each other.

They are:

John Terry v Fernando Torres

England’s best defender against one of the world’s best strikers.

It will be exceedingly interesting to see who comes out on top!

This match could depend on Terry’s power and positional excellence against Torres’ pace, guile and strength.

Frank Lampard v Steven Gerrard

Just who is England’s best midfielder?

England’s football manager Fabio Capello has found the key in having the pair both playing in midfield but this is the match where these two great men will finally be able to prove just who is top dog in midfield - once and for all.

Let the battle commence!

I’m now off to buy myself a cool, cold bottle of Jamaican Ginger Beer – sorry mum - as some of you may realise, I’m of Barbadian parentage.

But this drink hits the spot Sorrell simply doesn’t and I can’t make Mauby.

Light and Peace

Andria

PS, don’t forget to visit my other internet page: www.andriagreaves.com

Thursday 2 April 2009

PLEASE WATCH THE DAMNED UNITED FILM!

I’d give this movie five out of five, if you understand the joy, passion and sometimes dark humour underlying British football.

Most of us know that the family of Brian Clough have criticised elements of this film but as far as I'm concerned, it’s an honest, warts-and-all portrait at what happened then - and probably even now – in English football.

It looks at Mr Clough’s doomed 44-day tenure as manager at Leeds United, a team that was the Manchester United of its day.

You can tell by the swagger and open confidence of the Leeds United team that anyone crossing swords with them was going to lose – it reminds me of today’s Manchester United football team, minus the 70s hairstyle, dodgy clothing and openly lit cigarettes of the players.

Mr Clough takes over from the previous manager Don Revie, who was also Mr Clough’s bitter rival.

This film shows that football managers have to contend with more than just choosing and running a football team.

It also shows how important it is for all of us to be surrounded with work colleagues who share the same goals in life as Mr Clough realised at Leeds, as he was without his right-hand man and clearly surrogate brother, Peter Taylor - played brilliantly by Timothy Spall.

It’s a heart-warming portrayal of Brian Clough, not an angry drunk that many have mistakenly claimed.

The film is true in showing how Mr Clough could be reckless and sometimes mis-calculating in his decision-making.

It also shows how manipulative the newly-promoted-to-England manager Mr Revie was towards Mr Clough and what a mountain any man had to climb, in dealing with the players at Leeds United once Revie left.

To get a taster of it, see the trailer, by clicking video on this:

www.sonypictures.co.uk/movies/thedamnedunited/#/home/

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Southampton Leisure Holdings, the owners of Southampton Football Club, have confirmed it has appointed Mark Fry and David Hudson, partners of Begbies Traynor, an accountancy firm, as administrators of the business.

With this and last year’s downturn in the economy, it was enviable that something like this was going to happen to a football club.

I wouldn’t be surprised if members of tomorrow’s G20 protestors turn out to be Southampton FC fans.

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So the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes racing team, represented on the racing pitch by Lewis Hamilton, have been disqualified from participating in the Australian leg of the Grand Prix.

Hamilton had finished the race fourth overall but was promoted to the podium after reporting Toyota’s Jarno Trulli for illegal overtaking.

But Trulli has now been reinstated to third place and with Jenson in poll position – no doubt, thanks to having Sir Richard Branson at his side, a man who knows about wining – it’s going to be tough for Lewis to hang onto the Formula One title!

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I’m really pleased that England’s football team, under Fabio Capello, have now won all five of their games to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

2010 is a year to look forward to, as I’m sure that England will be heading for South Africa.

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I’m surprised that QPR football team forward Dexter Blackstock is joining Nottingham Forest, even if it is on loan.

He’s been amazing in creating and getting goals for QPR this season but I’m glad he’s looking forward to keep third-bottom Forest in the First Division Championship.

It's just that if QPR still want to push for promotion to the Premiership league, I would of thought they would be holding onto their best players, come what may.

After all, you don't see Manchester United loaning Wayne Rooney to Newcastle, despite the The Magpies being third-bottom and two points away from Premier League safety!

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Which brings me back, full circle, to Brian Clough, as after Leeds, he went to be a manager of a then struggling Division Two football team called Nottingham Forest, who not only gained promotion to Division One but played in the early years of the Premiership League.

I think that’s a good note to end it on.

Please visit my other internet site: www.andriagreaves.com

Here’s a picture of Wembley Stadium, home of British football, to warm your cockles, as I say ciao!

Light and Peace

Andria

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