CT (Just In Case!!)

Villa Training Day

2010-10-27T02:38:00.001-07:00

Villa Training Day

UFC 120 London 02

2010-10-14T12:51:00.001-07:00

UFC 120 - 02 Arena - October 16th 2010

Can't wait for this - why? Because I'll be f*cking there that's why!!

The fight I'm really looking forward to is Dan Hardy and Carlos Condit which should be a belter. Michael Bisping will have a tough night with Akiyama but I still think he'll win, and John Hathaway has another tough one with Mike Pyle. Obviously I want all the English guys to win but I just hope they're all great fights -

I'll be there with my Nephew - bring it f*cking on!!

...more later.

UFC 120 - The Aftermath

What a night! Even with so many of the English fighters losing and Dan Hardy getting spearked out, it was a fantastic event - really enjoyable. The 02 is a brilliant venue and I look forward to going there again.

Before the start my Nephew's girlfriend has said about 02 customers going into a bar if they text a number - I did that so we got into an "exclusive" area and won UFC2010 for the XBox 360 - only problem being I don't have one!!

Drinks were expensive (we were prepared for that) - food was diabolical, the only minor downside to a superb night.

Onto the action then - here goes....

IT'S TIME!!!!

James McSweeney vs. Fabio Maldonado

McSweeney starts the contest with a couple of outside leg kicks. Maldonado retaliates by charging forward with punches, but none of them land. The Brit is still kicking. First, he goes upstairs and then follows with a shot to Maldonado’s thigh.

A right hand from McSweeney lands solidly. The crowd is chanting the Brit’s name, and he accidentally hits the Brazilian with a shot below the belt. Maldonado recovers and bulls forward with more punches. McSweeney locks up the Thai plum on him and lands a knee. The pair clinches against the cage and McSweeney shoves Maldonado against the fence. McSweeney slips a big right hand from the Brazilian and lands knees to the head of the prone Maldonado, followed by a high kick. Maldonado points at his chin, taunting McSweeney.

The Brit obliges him and lands another shot. Maldonado is unfazed, again pointing to his chin. McSweeney lands multiple shots on the Brazilian against the cage, and all Maldonado can do is cover up. McSweeney backs up as the round ends.

The crowd is fired up to start round two, and McSweeney starts this frame as he did the first one, firing off a leg kick. McSweeney looks a little tired, and he’s backing up. He pushes out a front kick. The crowd is still cheering him on. Maldonado connects with a right hand to the body that hurts McSweeney. Maldonado smells blood and continues his assault on the Brit’s ribs. Hurt from the body shots, McSweeney falls to the floor to protect himself. The Brazilian follows him to the floor and ends up in side control.

McSweeney recovers half-guard. Maldonado transitions back to side mount and is working for an americana. McSweeney escapes, but Maldonado is there to deliver more punishment. The Brit works up to his knees, but Maldonado is on his back and drags him back to the mat. Maldonado decides to stand back up late in the round, and McSweeney obliges. The Brit looks tired now. Maldonado capitalizes, landing combinations as the round ends.

Exhausted, McSweeney is tossing out front kicks to keep the Brazilian at a distance. He lands a jab, but Maldonado again points at his chin and let’s McSweeney know the punch did nothing. McSweeney slips, but Maldonado allows him to stand.

The Brit covers up against the cage, but Maldonado is relentless with his body attack. The Brazilian can see it’s his fight to win, and he unleashes a flurry of hard punches, forcing referee Marc Goddard to stop the fight at 48 seconds of Round 3.

Spencer Fisher vs. Curt Warburton

Fisher comes in looking to throw leg kicks, Warburton obliges him hitting the more powerful leg strikes. The kicking exchange continues for 90 seconds until Fisher decides to clinch up. Warburton reverses and has the American on the fence. Warburton hitting knees to the thigh and takes down Fisher with 2:30 left. He's in side guard working a guillotine. It looks tight but Fisher wiggles out of at at 1:45 left.

Round two starts with a low kick exchange as well until Fisher catches the leg and moves to clinch. Warburton promptly reverses him. Both fighters' offense in the clinch consists of knees to the thigh, but the Englishman is more active in throwing those. The referee separates them with three minutes left. Fisher misses a spinning back kick and clinches up again, this time he has his opponent on the fence. The fighters separate and Fisher lands a right during coming out. Warburton clinches again, dropped levels for a takedown that was easily stopped. Fisher catches the leg and sweeps Warburton. Warburton rolls for a leg during an axe kick with Fisher on top of him but doesn't get it. Fisher now tries some GNP but stands up and goes for the axe kick again and same scenario happens. 10-9 Warburton.

The fighters abstain from leg kicks electing to use their hands more. Fisher tags Warburton with a "Superman" punch and clinches up again. Both fighters get reversed on the fence a couple of times. Referee separates them with 2:30 left. Warburton misses a takedown but still forces Waburton against the fence. Referee steps in much quicker here. Warburton lands a mid kick but gets tagged by a right hook. Warburton knees low again forcing the referee to step in. 70 seconds left. Double jump flying knee at least partially lands for fisher. Warburton elects to try a takedown but get reversed and Fisher goes for a rear-naked choke, doesn't get it but has mount and soon after tries again. With less than 10 seconds left he lets it go and tries to punch as the horn sounds. 10-9 Fisher.

Fisher takes the unanimous decision with scores of 29-28 across the board.

Paul Sass vs. Mark Holst

Holst comes in swinging on Sass, who changes levels but decides to work from guard. He threatens with his trademark triangle but Holst doesn't have much trouble defending it and standing up. Same scenario on the feet with Sass grabbing a hold of Holst and pulling guard. Sass attacking with elbows from the bottom. Holst trying to stand up but Sass has him well tied up. Sass goes for a heel hook but finally Holst returns to his feet. Sass very slowly throws a spinning-back kick but uses the opportunity to tie up Holst on the ground again. 1:40 left when the fight returns to feet. Sass again is reversed on his takedown attempt and works from his back. after throwing some initial elbows Sass stops his offense until he gets Holst in a triangle. The American tries to defend and forces Sass to readjust a couple of times but ultimately can not find a way out and submits to the Englishman with a triangle choke at 4:45 of round one.

Rob Broughton vs. Vinicius Kappke de Quieroz

Spartan throwing heavy hands and connecting on his opponent with a right and a leg kick that bends over Broughton. Then he muscles the Englishman to the ground and works from half guard. Powerful rights land from that position. Broughton regains full guard and Queiroz still working hard. Broughton tries to rise to his feet but he gives up his back. Queiroz has his hooks in but not working hard for the choke.

Broughton almost does a 180 on a haymaker and Queiroz jumps on his back. He can't secures the position and the Englishman shrugs him off. Spartan has slowed much in this round and Broughton gets inside of his range an lands repeatedly a jab, hook combo. Queiroz wisely takes the fight to the ground with Broughton offering no defense of the takedown. nothing much happens on the ground and Goddard stands them up after less than a minute. Broughton goes back to his jab to right hook combo to score some more points, Queiroz answers with a light head kick that landed and again takes his opponent to the mat.

The crowd is quick to boo as the Brazilian does almost nothing. Broughton actually is busier of his back with some light punches. The fight returns to feet and after a few successful combos by Broughton he again can do nothing about the takedown. Spartan is in full guard just holding on. 10-9 Broughton.

Double jab, right hook lands for Broughton. Again with the looping hook, he finally defends a takedown and catches a standing guillotine. He lets it go but in the process muscled the Brazilian to his back. Queiroz tries to get up but Broughton keeps him in his half guard. Broughton now working a straight armbar and Queiroz rolls to turtle position. Queiroz has to fend off left hand punches from Broughton before the local gets his hooks and gets the rear-naked choke victory. Broughton takes the win at 1:46 of round three.

James Wilks vs. Claude Patrick

Referee Dan Miragliotta presides over the first fight of the main card. Wilks opens up with a leg kick, which is returned by Patrick. The Canadian ducks inside and pushes Wilks to the fence with double underhooks, then trips the Brit to the ground. Patrick lands in half guard, but Wilks stuffs him back to full. Triangle attempt makes Patrick stand, and Wilks tags him with an upkick. Patrick dives back into Wilks’ guard and Wilks closes up. Patrick stands and chops at the grounded Wilks with leg kicks, then spins into side control on Wilks’ right.

Patrick steps right into mount with two minutes left. Wilks again manages to stuff him back, but Patrick looks for an arm-triangle, then transitions to a north-south choke. Neither stick, and Patrick winds up back in Wilks’ guard after stacking him up and landing a few hard shots. Again, Patrick stands, keeping out of range of upkicks from the lanky Wilks. From half-guard, Patrick lands a hard left hand, then mounts Wilks for the final 10 seconds.

As the round begins, Wilks is cut under his right eye. Patrick changes levels, feinting a single-leg, but it’s Wilks who comes forward and pushes Patrick into the cage. They jockey for position, reversing along the fence in the clinch. Left straight connects for Patrick as he backs out, but they’re soon back to clinching.

Patrick finds the double unders again, drags Wilks to the mat. Wilks ties up Patrick’s right arm, making offense from half guard difficult, so Patrick stands and slaps away with more leg kicks. The Canadian goes back down and scores with short punches to the body and face from Wilks’ open guard. As Wilks tries for rubber guard, Patrick stands and eats another solid upkick, but it doesn’t seem to faze him, and he goes right back to half-guard with a minute left. Patrick looking to isolate Wilks’ right arm, but the round ends before he can do anything.

It’s Wilks who initiates the clinch to start the third, but it’s Patrick who once again scores the takedown with an easy trip. Pattering shots to the body by Patrick, as Wilks just tries to tie up and maintain guard. Patrick stands and Wilks looks for a leg lock, which Patrick defends easily. Light boos coming from the British crowd as Patrick passes to Wilks’ right with two minutes remaining in the bout.

Wilks escapes and pushes Patrick up with the butterfly guard, but Patrick stays on top and gives Wilks a couple hard punches for his efforts. Wilks looks for a desperation omoplata in the final seconds, but doesn’t really come close.

Cheick Kongo vs. Travis Browne

Referee Marc Goddard in the cage for this heavyweight bout. Browne comes out swinging wild, not connecting. Kongo answers with some hard kicks to the inside and outside of Browne’s left leg. More wild strikes from Browne, ugly head kicks missing by a bunch. Browne’s looking for a home run left hook, but Kongo’s evading it every time.

Browne finally connects with the left about three minutes in, and Kongo begins to look a bit more tentative. Body blow from Browne, answered by Kongo with a kick to the liver. Browne steps in with a single, looping overhand right that clubs Kongo about the ear. Then another. Kongo clinches briefly, but can’t hold Browne against the fence as the frame ends.

The pair clash inside leg kicks, then Kongo follows up with a few more. Browne goes to duck inside with another overhand, but Kongo’s ready this time and tags him. They clinch against the fence and Kongo lands a knee to the groin. Browne recovers quickly and they restart.

Again, Browne rushes Kongo with flailing shots, and again the Frenchman sees it coming. Kongo bullies Browne into the fence, but Browne shoves him out and Kongo falls to his rear. Kongo seems to motion that he’s been poked in the eye, but Goddard tells them to fight on. Kongo pushes Browne into the cage with over-unders, landing liberal knees all over Browne’s legs. Goddard warns Kongo to work; he doesn’t, and they’re restarted. Browne misses with a further four punches, then opts to push Kongo into the cage. Kongo reverses and goes back to working the inside right thigh of Browne.

With a minute remaining, Goddard again cautions them to stay busy. Browne now trying to check the knees. Goddard splits them up, and they clinch again almost immediately. Browne trips Kongo to the mat just before the horn sounds.

Browne pushes forward instantly and muscles Kongo into the fence. Goddard warns Kongo for holding the shorts of Browne. He lets go, but Browne tells the ref Kongo’s still holding them. Goddard disagrees, but a moment later, Kongo grabs them again. Goddard splits the heavyweights up and deducts a point from Kongo for the infraction. Kongo pushes Browne into the fence, tries some foot stomps, and is again warned for grabbing Browne’s trunks. They disengage. Kongo is pressing the action now, with Browne moving backward. Kick to the midsection by Kongo, then back to the familiar clinch.

Kongo grabs at Browne’s shorts again, and Goddard doesn’t take another point, but instead manually removes Kongo’s grip. The ref splits them up for inaction, and Kongo begins unloading punches on the visibly weary Browne. Single right hand lands for Browne with 40 seconds left; it’s his best offense of the round. Kongo pushes Browne into the cage once more, and again Goddard takes his hand away from Browne’s shorts. Browne scores a takedown in the last five seconds of the bout.

All three official judges see the bout 28-28 for a draw.

* Marciniak and Rysiewski saw the third round 10-10. Kongo's point deduction gave Browne the frame on their scorecards, 10-9.

John Hathaway vs. Mike Pyle

Leon Roberts is the third man in the cage. Hathaway works from the center of the cage as Pyle circles outside. Pyle ducks inside, pushes Hathaway across the cage and trips him down against the base of the cage. Hathaway uses the fence to quickly work back to his feet and reverses the position, putting the sitting Pyle’s back against the cage post.

Hathaway can’t advance and lets Pyle back up. Pyle goes low again as Hathaway misses with a one-two, but Pyle can’t get a grip on the Brit’s leg this time. Quick flurry lands for Hathaway; Pyle answers with a hook which stumbles Hathaway. Another right lands flush for Pyle, then a follow-up left. Hathaway trying to stick and move with his jab as Pyle continues to head hunt. Shots to the body by Pyle now, who trips Hathaway to the mat with 10 seconds left and finishes punching from Hathaway’s guard.

Hathaway begins the second frame looking to establish his left jab, then swinging hard with the right. Pyle ducks in with a body lock, spins Hathaway around, but can’t complete the takedown. Then, it’s Hathaway pushing the American into the fence, exiting with a short-range elbow and a solid left hand.

Hathaway puts together a nice one-two, then a knee to the midsection, and Pyle tries another takedown. Hathaway defends momentarily, but Pyle whips him to the ground with a second effort. Hard elbow from the top by Pyle as he tries to step over. He does, and Pyle locks up a very tight inverted triangle from mount, then punches away at the face of the defenseless Hathaway. Still 90 seconds left in the round, and Hathaway is just hanging on, trying to use his only free hand, his left, to defend his bare face. The choke won’t put Hathaway out, but these punches are accumulating, and Pyle starts to add elbows to the mix. Hathaway somehow survives to see the final round.

Hathaway looks recovered and pushes the action as the third round begins. He puts Pyle’s back to the fence, but Pyle puts him down. Hathaway stands, only to be dragged down once more. This time, Pyle scoots the Brit away from the cage and works from Hathaway’s closed guard. Hathaway throws up his legs for a sub attempt and Pyle shucks them aside, advancing to half-guard. Hathaway pushes Pyle back to guard and tries to explode, but Pyle stays right on him and pushes him into the fence.

Pyle pouring on the punches from half-guard as Hathaway angles for a last-second sub. He can’t find anything, and Pyle finishes on top, much to the displeasure of the London crowd, who boos at the final horn.

Dan Hardy vs. Carlos Condit

Dan Miragliotta returns to ref this welterweight match. Condit opens up with four or five inside leg kicks, and Hardy gives back a few of his own. Left hook from Hardy finds its mark as Condit continues to slap away with kicks, now sending some to the body as well. Tentative exchanges through the first half of the round. Condit tries a hard spinning elbow which just misses, as does the counter left from Hardy.

Condit pops Hardy with a solid left hook, and Hardy lands one in return. One minute left and Hardy puts his left in Condit’s face again. The pair swing hard left hands at one another, and Condit’s lands first, sending Hardy crashing to the mat. Condit pounces with a right which puts the Brit out cold. The official time is 4:27 of the opening frame.

Michael Bisping vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama

Referee Marc Goddard draws officiating duties for the main event. Akiyama connects with a cracking right hand just seconds into the bout. Bisping quickly regains his composure and tries for a head kick, which is blocked. Left straight lands for Akiyama, then a left hook. Bisping tries to trip Akiyama down, can’t get it, tries again and succeeds, but Akiyama pops back up instantly. Kick from Bisping appears to land low, but Goddard tells them to proceed and Bisping lands a few punches.

Akiyama lands a low kick of his own and Bisping waves it off. Right straight from Bisping finds the mark, followed by a partially blocked head kick. The Brit goes low for a single, but thinks better of the takedown attempt and wades back out. Spinning back-fist attempt from Akiyama puts a grin on Bisping’s face. Bisping tries a takedown, can’t get it, and instead opts for a flying knee attempt just before the end of the round.

One-two combo from Akiyama opens the round. Bisping kicks to the body, Akiyama catches it and lands a right straight. One minute into the round, Bisping motions that he’s been poked in the eye; Akiyama stops the action, but Goddard tells the fighters to continue after just a few seconds. Bisping missing on his combinations as Akiyama backs out of range each time he comes forward. Right straight lands for Bisping, he goes for a leg, then backs out again. Another right for Bisping, and the pair trade stiff jabs. Bisping capitalizes on Akiyama standing in the pocket and tags him with a right cross, then follows up with some leg kicks and a teep to the body.

Now it’s Akiyama who ducks Bisping’s spinning strike attempt. Akiyama slowing down, not throwing with anywhere near the volume of the first frame. Single shots coming from Akiyama now, and a solid right lands. Another right from Akiyama with 10 seconds left appears to hurt “The Count.” Akiyama smells blood and tries to punch him out as Bisping backs into the fence, but the round ends there.

UFC 120

Akiyama looking to land the same right hand again, and he does about 30 seconds into the round. Left high kick connects for Bisping, but Akiyama absorbs it. Another kick from Bisping, then a flush straight right 10 seconds later. Bisping finding his mark with the straight right repeatedly now. Left inside thigh kick from Bisping connects square to the cup of Akiyama, who collapses to the mat in obvious pain, kicking his legs on the mat. Referee Goddard wants Akiyama to stand almost immediately, but it’s clearly not happening and he calls for the ringside doctor.

After two or three minutes, Akiyama gets to his feet. Bisping wanders over from his neutral side and apologizes, embracing the judoka. Action resumes with a little over three minutes left in the bout. Akiyama catches a leg kick and tries to sweep, nearly kicks Bisping low, but Bisping stays vertical. Bisping doing well with head and body kicks. Left hook lands for Akiyama, who’s pushing the action now with two minutes remaining.

Akiyama stands stock-still in front of Bisping with his hands at his waist, allowing the Brit to land a few blows. Bisping pours on the combinations, his best punches coming in the form of right hooks. One combo sends Akiyama stumbling backward. Akiyama only throwing single punches with 30 seconds left, and continues trading blow-for-blow with Bisping to the final horn.

Official scores: 30-27 across the board for Michael Bisping, the winner by unanimous decision.

What a night!

Watson Beats Reid

2010-09-26T09:45:00.001-07:00

Tom Watson v Alex Reid Bamma 4

Though Alex Reid had to contend with the pressure of the media circus surrounding him, he stepped up and showed that he is indeed a fighter, first and foremost. For me, Reid has never been that good technically - many will never know how he blew his UFC Ultimate Fighter chance by being cocky and showing off.

Whilst I thought Tom Watson would hammer Reid, the fight became an absolute war of attrition from the opening bell to the last, a testament to the heart and conditioning of both athletes. Probably shocking no one more than Watson, Reid employed an aggressive, forward motion from the start, catching the defending champion early and making his intentions clear.

Watson found himself having to counter as well as defend the shoot as Reid walked him down, easily taking the first round.

Setting the tone for the fight, Reid and Watson engaged in a gruelling battle, played out on the feet and in the clinch. Trading kicks, knees and elbows as well as landing big combinations, both athletes were soon marked up and bleeding and though Reid looked like he was gassing in the third, he continued to stalk the champion and throw big shots.

Watson tried to shoot but Reid stuffed the takedown showing that records mean nothing and that ring rust was having no effect. Going into the final and fifth round, both men traded vicious combinations and submission attempts until the bell.

The judges gave the nod to Watson (49-46, 49-46, 49-47) but the fight proved to be more than a title defence. Reid displayed the toughness that he was always known for on the domestic scene whilst both earned the respect of the other.

Getting a title shot after so many MMA defeats was a bit of a joke but it was a really good fight.

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Gerard Houllier

2010-09-11T11:58:00.001-07:00

Welcome To Villa Park Gerard Houllier

Considering the shitty timing of Martin O'Neill's exit, I think Randy Lerner has done extremely well to come up with this appointment.

Some of the names on the list were quite scary - this man has a wealth of European knowledge and has won trophies by the bucketload. His contract with the FFF seems like a minor problem - I can't imagine Villa announcing the press conference is there REALLY was a chance he couldn't arrive for three months!

Which will come first - Gerard Houllier or the Nike shirts?!

I wish him all the best

James Milner Twat

2010-08-30T03:26:00.000-07:00

James Milner - Not That We're Bitter....

Stephen Ireland - Welcome To Villa Park!

2010-08-18T10:57:00.000-07:00

Stephen Ireland - Welcome To Villa Park!

Daniel's Third VP Match

2010-08-14T13:33:00.001-07:00

Aston Villa 3 West Ham 0

That was one of the best team performances I've seen in years.

I could try and single out Marc Albrighton for a fantastic display, or maybe Ciaran Clark for popping Carlton Cole into his pocket and looking like he's been in the first-team for years.

Maybe Stuart Downing's best display since arriving, Petrov's urgency, Ashley Young's skill and workrate. Luke Young being rock-like in his rightful position and also getting forward. James Milner's performance which ended with him getting a standing ovation. John Carew who got nothing from an awful referee but still should have scored a couple at least.

We played like a team and we looked happy.

Apart from a spell at the start of the 2nd half (when the thunder and lightning arrived) we dominated West Ham who were lucky to get away with three. It was one of the best and most enjoyable games I've seen in a long time. For the first half alone, Kevin MacDonald should be allowed to continue in this job for the season at least.

The available names for our job fills me with utter dread. The way we played today suggested a very happy camp with him at the helm.

Lucky mascot Daniel was with me too today - that's 3 visits to Villa Park and wins with no goals conceded. He was even happy to brave the swirling rain with me while others ran away - it was a great day and he loved it!

Aston Villa (2)3 West Ham (0)0: Downing, Petrov, Milner - Att: 36,604

UFC 117 Review

2010-08-08T08:14:00.001-07:00

UFC 117

F*cking wow - what a card and what an amazing main event fight between Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva. The best I've seen in ages.

Sonnen backed up every inch of what he promised pre-fight and totally dominated Silva on the ground. Not only that but he caught Silva several times during the stand up battle as well - but after four rounds and three minutes of domination, Silva pulled out a submission and stayed the Champion.

Props to Silva for being battered but winning - I have a new hero in Chael Sonnen though - there must be a RE-MATCH!

One of my favourite fighters, Clay Guida, dragged Rafael dos Anjos into the third round, where the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt submitted to an apparent jaw injury. Dos Anjos, cringing in visible pain tapped out. Guida turned the tide in round two, as he secured his first takedown, controlled the last half of the round from top position and neutralized dos Anjos with ground-and-pound. In between rounds, concern over the injury became evident in dos Anjos’ corner.

Another great fight saw Matt Hughes knock down former middleweight Ricardo Almeida with a ringing left hook and then rendered him unconscious with a modified anaconda choke. The end came 3:15 into round one, as Hughes became the first man to submit the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.

Roy Nelson showed huge balls of steel in his fight with Junior dos Santos. Dos Santos scored repeatedly with uppercuts, knees to the head, punches to the body and even a third-round takedown, as he won a unanimous decision from the former International Fight League heavyweight champion. Scores were 30-26, 30-27 and 30-27 for dos Santos, who secured a title shot with his seventh consecutive victory

Some New Ish CD's

2010-07-31T08:22:00.000-07:00

Just a few CD'S purchased recently

Avenged Sevenfold - Nightmare

Written in the aftermath of Jimmy "The Rev" dying at the age of 28. Some of their best stuff in my opinion, including a couple of quick nasty tracks befitting a heavier band. "Buried Alive" the best for me.

Mad Caddies - Consensual Selections

Apart from two tracks, Caddies fans will know all of these. Still great though!

The Bluetones - A New Athens

Probably dreaded this the most - loved The Bluetones since "Expecting To Fly" but they've tailed off a bit and the last album was pretty average. I feared more of the same but have been pleasantly surprised and would say this is some of their best work since ETF. Personal fave is "The Culling Song" but there are plenty of strong tracks on here including a hidden instrumental.

Blur

Never got into Blur and only got this for "The Universal" which I really like. However, it's strange how many tracks you end up remembering - like "Charmless Man" and "Coffee & TV". Really good listen.

Hatebreed

Just had to get another shouty, full on kick in the nuts record and this fits the bill! A brilliant instrumental in here too but in the main just loud guitars and lots of shouting!

Milner Gone

2010-07-23T08:07:00.000-07:00

Money Grabbing Fuck Bag

He won't be wearing the new Villa shirt!!

Slavia Prague Kit 2010 / 2011

2010-07-17T01:34:00.000-07:00

Slavia Prague Kit 2010 / 2011

Italia 1990 World Cup

2010-07-14T13:33:00.000-07:00

Gazza's Tears Italia 1990 World Cup

Everyone has a World Cup they associate as being "theirs" - this was mine.

I was 19, following the Villa everywhere and extremely patriotic. For Italia '90 we would meet at the Riverside in Tewkesbury to watch the England games - it became such a popular place that lads from Worcester and Birmingham were heading there!

I remember the terrible stick the press gave Bobby Robson and the team in general and the programme that was on the other night brought back all the memories of that June twenty years ago. Hearing "Nessun Dorma" again just brought it all back.

After the opening two draws we still felt we would qualify easily and had played pretty well against Holland. The Riverside was buzzing for the Egypt match and I remember having "World In Motion" blaring for the boys on the journey over to Tewkesbury.

What followed against Belgium was amazing. We'd met some Nottingham Forest lads who were a good crack but were pretty scathing about Platty coming on as a sub making out he wasnt good enough - when the mental celebrations of his goal had finished we all reminded them of their comments! Afterwards Terry Butcher & Chris Waddle were doing the "lets all have a disco" dance. The feel-good factor was amazing.

Cameroon was hell - Platty scored again and started to get a repuatation - some witch doctor had predicted a 2-1 win for them and when they went ahead we all looked at each other and said "he's gonna be fucking right"!! Luckily Gary Lineker saved the day and we prepared for the German game. People who had just watched the game at home said it was boring - anyone who was watching the games where we were could tell a different story.

A couple of us had even looked into going over for the Germany game but £400 for a day trip was a bit much back then! The Riverside was rammed solid and the game was torturous, everyone knows the rest. We could barely watch as Platty stepped up for his penalty but when he scored the Forest lads were hugging us again - we hoped to return the favour because Stuart Pearce was a sure shot with penalties - but not this time. A few minutes later it was all over, the Forest lads were inconsolable, as were all of us.

A few BMW's were hurt that night.

Paul Gascoigne was a true football genius and down to earth with it. That's why it's so sad to see him as he is now. Bobby Robson stuffed it to the press and ended up a hero - England should have been in the Final and there was a cheating Argentinian who was due 4 years of payback.

Italia 90. Nessun Dorma, Toto Schillachi, Roger Milla, Paul Gascoinge, The Italian Riot Police, Sardinia, Germans, penalties and The Riverside.

When Paul Gascoinge said he never wanted it to end I know how he felt because I didn't either.

Final Day Of Football Training 09/10 HYFC

2010-07-03T04:01:00.000-07:00

Daniel & all his friends have their final training day of the season. A very enjoyable day, and enjoyable experience all year. We're lucky to have a very supportive group of parents around us and look forward to meeting up again in September!

Don't Believe The Hype

2010-06-27T11:02:00.001-07:00

Germany 4 England 1

After the Slovenia game people were saying everyone should stop moaning after the "hugely impressive" victory over such a massive football nation.

This defeat today was coming - it was on the cards but the majority were caught up in the England hype and honestly believed we would win. I saw Germany twice and it was obvious to Stevie Wonder that they were far better than us.

We're guilty of being ignorant. I saw the likes of Shearer and Hansen laughing away at "the fun to watch" Japanese when they beat Denmark. England would kill to have the team-play, work-rate and skill of that Japan side at the moment. Japan played excellent football at World Cup level - can England honestly say the same?

Those players in red today are simply made better in the Premier League by the foreign players around them. The England side have great players but are a fucking awful TEAM. Alan Hansen said the goal Italy conceded against Slovakia was the worst he'd seen by them - the first goal England conceded straight from a goal kick must be the worst this country has seen nationally. John Terry and Matt Upson between them were a sad joke.

Gareth Barry and Glenn Johnson were fucking abysmal.

I've seen this too many times before and I don't get caught up in the hype. We'll never be good enough at these tournaments, even when we were gift-wrapped a decent group to finish first in. Now everyone who bought a cheap t-shirt from Tesco and pretended to be a "football supporter" by going to the pub to watch it can leave it for another couple of years before they start to like football again.

Forget the three Lions - the only Lion that matters in the Rampant Lion of Aston Villa. August 15, West Ham at home, - I'll be there - and I'll be giving Robert Green plenty, believe you me.

"Sonic.gif"

Same Old England

2010-06-19T03:55:00.000-07:00

Shit Old England Same Old Story

England 0-0 Algeria

I am so bored of this. In 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and now again - we're sat here saying about how our national team can't pass and keep the ball whereas other teams do it wish ease. Along with the French, we're the most dismal team in the Tournament. Lets all talk about changing things at Grass-roots level for the fucking millionth time.

We've got a bunch of hugely overpaid, over-blown prima-donnas who think they're much better than they are. We have great players, but an absolutely shit team. A striker in Wayne Rooney who does fuck all for 2 games but slates supporters who dare to have a go.

You may want a reality check Wayne - they're the people who spend thousands travelling to places like South Africa, that's peanuts to you - they're fucking well entitled to have a go when the England team dishes up such a pathetic and spineless display.

These players are pampered and molly-coddled to death but when it comes to the crunch they haven't got the stomach, or the bollocks, for a fight. There is zero passion, zero pride, zero tactics and zero technical skill.

Jesus - if they think they're under too much pressure to perform against the USA and Algeria, what the fuck are they going to do if they come up against the likes or Germany, Italy, Argentina, Spain or Brazil?

Years ago I was passionate about the national team - now I can't stand most of them and they continual bullshit they spout. Oh, and that advert Carling do about the super-passionate team-talk - please pull the plug on that NOW. After one average and one abject display seeing this advert say "Do It For Bobby" is insulting to the memory of Sir Bobby Robson.

..and one other thing. Emile Heskey is the butt of everyone's jokes and texts but he's done more in tho games than our "National Saviour" Wayne Rooney by a fucking mile.

I said second Round or Q/final before it started - it appears I may have been way too optimistic.

Pic

2010-06-17T11:16:00.001-07:00

Cro Cop Barry

Old Pic

2010-06-12T04:59:00.000-07:00

Old Pic

New Villa Kit 2010/2011 - Not

2010-05-30T08:39:00.000-07:00

New Villa Kit 2010/2011 - Not

They're Not - But They Should Be

28 Years Ago Today

2010-05-26T13:04:00.000-07:00

Aston Villa Won The European Cup

Others may laugh but for all you modern day glory-hunters, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City have never won it!

Well Done Ian Holloway

2010-05-23T02:12:00.000-07:00

Ian Holloway - Sometimes The Good Guys Win

I was really pleased for Ian Holloway yesterday.

I've followed his career since he was at Bristol Rovers as the boss and always loved his TV interviews. It's nice to see a real, honest, genuine guy like him get success and I wish him and Blackpool all the best in the Premier League next season. Listening to his after match interview in the Blackpool dressing room yesterday was fantastic - what a top bloke.

In Nottingham Forest and Cardiff I though they had the hardest of roads to victory but they did it with style - fair play to em.

Bloomfield Road is actually one of the few league grounds I haven't been to so I'll be looking forward to putting that right sometime soon when the Villa go there! The burning question has to be - "I wonder if the away section will get a roof"?!

Daniel's New Kit

Paul Daley - Idiot

2010-05-10T12:32:00.001-07:00

UFC 113 - Josh Koscheck & Paul Daley - What A Pair Of Cocks

I was looking forward to this fight at UFC 113 more than the main event. It turned out to be an utter farce.

Koscheck neutralized Daley’s strikes and nearly submitted him with a rear-naked choke in the opening round. Daley reversed into top position and unleashed an illegal knee as he backed out. The blow grazed the top/side of Koscheck’s head and brought the match to a standstill, though the American Kickboxing Academy standout appeared to really exaggerate the damage the knee caused.

Whereas Dan Hardy had been given a lesson but lost with pride, Daley ended up looking a complete dick. After the horn sounded to end the fight, Daley approached Koscheck from behind and blindsided him with a left hook to the face. Referee Dan Miragliotta quickly intervened and prevented the situation from escalating.

He'd had 15 f*cking minutes to punch him and chose then to finally do it. Now he's been cut instantly from the UFC - before the fight he talked plenty of sh*t but couldn't back it up. Now he's achieved the impossible as ending up as a bigger prick than Koscheck.

In the main event Mauricio Rua beat Lyoto Machida - Rua ate some knees to the body and succumbed to a pair of takedowns early in round one. However, Rua dropped Machida with a right hand to the side of the head in a stand-up exchange, followed him to the ground and moved immediately to mount on the dazed champion. A series of unanswered punches from the top left Machida limp, as Rua rose as the new champ.

Birthdays & Elections

2010-05-08T12:26:00.001-07:00

Birthdays, Elections and Accrington Stanley's Incredible Fans

First off, Daniel was Five on Wednesday - he was made a fuss of at school and gave out sweets to his friends before I picked him up. Then he came home to play with his presents and eat his football cake. He's got a big party tomorrow with all his friends and been invited to another in the afternoon!

Election Day on Thursday. It made me laugh with all these people turning up at the last minute to vote and then complaining when they clearly didn't know the rules - and the law! If it was so important the Polling Stations were open at 7am - don't tell me you all worked 15 hour days?!

Now we have a hung parliament and it doesn't sit well with me. Gordon Brown should be booted out on his arse yet after losing he doesn't have to leave! It's all corrupt and we'll probably get shafted by whoever takes over.

Cheltenham Stay Up By The Skin Of Their Teeth!

I took Daniel to Whaddon Road to see his first Cheltenham Town game and cheer them onto staying up in League Two. Bottom line was that they did it with a 1-1 draw and finished one place above the two relegated teams, Grimsby and Darlington. It was right up there with some of the most awful, tedious and un-skilful games I've ever seen.

However, there was huge entertainment during the game - it came from the away end.

Accrington Stanley brought 150-200 fans, the majority of which made a noise more befitting to 3000 fans - they would do the Premier League proud making that sort of constant noise. They sang loads of different songs including "I want to be Stan-a-ley" to the Sex Pistols "Anarchy" track! They even briefly sang "Sh*t support My Lord" which made me laugh!

Then during the first half (which even saw them lighting flares) something happened in the middle of their lot and one guy got injured and everything got very lively. The police waded in, one web-toed got arrested and so it continued for 5 minutes or so.

Then in the second half some lads had gone over to the left side of the Carlsberg Stand to collect a huge flag - when they attempted to take it back to where they were sat all hell broke loose as the stewards and Police wouldn't let them - more arrests and another injury.

A very surreal last 10 minutes followed as half of their supporters had disappeared. The A/S supporters entertainment far outweighed that of the tripe that was served up on the pitch! A few of them had banners with "SA" on them - couldn't quite work that one out - I don't think they'll forget their trip to Whaddon Road in a hurry.

Luckily Daniel saw none of it and was almost asleep for the last ten minutes (like most of home support) although he had enjoyed his day!

Chelsea Beat Villa

2010-04-11T10:02:00.001-07:00

Wembley - The Same Hollow Feeling

First off, the trip down was fantastic - like old times on the Marchants bus, stopping for a couple of hours for drinks. Deep down I knew this would be the best part of the day and I wasn't wrong.

Aged 4 years and 11 months Daniel was a very lucky boy and got to see Wembley Stadium - as expected, parts of it passed him by but he did sing along at times and was really well behaved.

The game went as expected, we huffed and puffed but ultimately fell short in quality. The penalty we weren't given was a disgrace - Howard Webb should be strung up for that - but honestly, even possibly 1-0 up I don't think we would have won. Once they scored I knew the game was up - I don't think we seriously tested Cech at all.

Without wanting to single anyone out, Stuart Downing was abysmal for us, offering nothing and looking like the very average player I always thought he was at Boro.

"Bar.gif"

UFC 112

Anyway, Stuart Downing wasn't the only major disappointment. On returning to watch UFC 112 I had to suffer the misfortune of watching Anderson Silva defend his belt against Demian Maia. For two round he showed a total lack of class and respect as he fought hands down, chin up, taunting Maia at every opportunity.

Then he just stopped fighting. It was pathetic. No wonder the entire crowd booed him - it was a complete joke and made a mockery of the UFC and MMA. I hope Georges St Pierre gets his hands on Silva and makes him pay for that disgraceful display.

At least Dana White was honest....

Please Stay Martin!

2010-04-02T04:50:00.000-07:00

Martin O'Neill - Tell Tale Signs....

It's pretty easy to see when a manager is under pressure by how he handles the media & press conferences. Yesterday Martin seemed very down, talking in a past tense.

He's really had the hump a couple of times with the support at Villa Park - once at the first game against Wigan and then against Wolves. I don't know if his reaction has been that clever in those situations but he seems to be really taking it to heart now.

Of course we have our grumbles. Why is Carlos Cuellar being turned into an awful right back rather than a decent centre half? Why is Luke Young so rarely used? Why even bother persisting with Emile Heskey? Why did we buy no one at all in January?

But hang on. These are the same grumbles any team (barring the top three) might have. M.O.N took over from the appalling David O'Leary, since when we've finished 11th, 6th and 6th again. This season we have a good chance of being top 6 again, got to the League Cup final and now the FA Cup Semi Final.

Of course we're going to moan about individual things at certain games, but overall we have to look at where we are now and be very happy in my opinion.

It would be a disaster if Martin O'Neill left us. Someone new comes in and starts all over again - and if you see what's available out there I'd advise we stick well and truly with what we have.

I hope we can get over what happened last week at Chelsea. Hey, we can always ask them how many European Cups they've won! Come on Martin - chin up!

2010-03-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

UFC 111 Dan Hardy v GSP - Come On Dan Hardy!

Dan Hardy will be flying the flag for England and the UK on Saturday night against Georges St-Pierre at UFC 111 - If he wins he'll be the first Englishman to hold a UFC Title Belt.

The build up has been great and the UFC Primetime programmes have been revealing - Dan did Taekwondo like me and trained with the shaolin monks in 2000 for a couple of months - quite the contrast to GSP who claimed that Hardy wasn't a "Martial Artist". Plus they showed Dan training with Matt Serra who was helping him with the ground game.

The majority of the UK will have no idea about this but I'm sure many hardened MMA fans will either be staying up late or watching UFC 111 first thing in the morning on ESPN.

Like previous fighters, Mike Swick and Marcus Davis, Dan Hardy is getting inside GSP and winning the mins games pre-fight. For me, the heart says come on Dan, you can do this, you know you can knock him out and you know your stand-up is better. The head says GSP is the total package - look at the way he dismantled BJ Penn for instance - if GSP is right on his game he should win.

Predictions: Frank Mir to win and get ready to face Brock Lesnar and, I'm going out on a limb, - shock of the night as Hardy wins and brings the belt back to England with him! Come on Dan!

UFC 111 Review

GSP was awesome - dominant from start to finish. I'm struggling to think if Hardy landed a shot on him. Patriotism blinded me in thinking Dan could possibly win, but one thing - Hardy has a huge, huge set of nads for going the distance and not tapping with the arm bar & kimura.

The fight's end result came as no surprise to anyone who has watched GSP fight before. GSP took Dan Hardy down at will, beating him up and just neutralizing him. After 4 rounds of dominance I was willing Dan to just let his hands go at the start of the 5th - just a flurry, or something to ruffle GSP. Great as GSP is, I was gutted that Dan lost.

GSP can do nothing more to cement his status as the best welterweight in UFC history. The only competitive fights for him lie in the middleweight division. As for Dan, he can be a great fighter in this division for years to come. His next fight should be against Jon Fitch or Josh Koscheck.

Shane Carwin vs. Frank Mir:

Shane Carwin came into the fight with an undefeated 11-0 record, with none of his fights going past 2:11 seconds of the first round. Frank Mir came into the fight with a very impressive submission win over Cheick Kongo, in which we saw a new and improved Frank Mir.

The fight was supposed to be a pretty even match-up, and for a few minutes it was. Then Shane Carwin unleashed his unbelievable punching power, and dropped Frank Mir with a few clean left uppercuts. Now, a fight with heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar awaits him.

Villa Lose The Final

2010-02-28T09:24:00.001-08:00

Things That Make You F*cking Angry About Losing A Final

Empty seats in the "Freeloading" sections of Wembley. I've been to the arse-end of Europe supporting Aston Villa but because I don't have a Season Ticket now I have zero chance of getting to a game like this. Yet empty red seats adorned a Final I'd have loved to have been at.

Not only were there seats empty for the entire game, but hundreds were empty for up to 10 minutes of the second half as people meandered back to a game that clearly meant very little to them. I know of a Spurs fan who went along as his company gave him "a jolly up".

The FA make me fucking sick - and they've been doing it for as long as I've been going. Nearly 30,000 seats in that Stadium belonged to people that didn't deserve them - there should be a equal split of the full stadium for the teams - but of course, that will never happen.

Then you have a "bottle-job" like Phil Dowd - as baltant a sending off as you can get, but because it's Man Utd and because it's only a few minutes in he doesn't even book him! Wanker.

I think we've played alright today and gave a good account of ourselves. Maybe the service could have been better (esp from Cuellar) but it was certainly better than the pitiful effort 10 years ago at Wembley that's for sure. I stopped watching as soon as the whistle went so I haven't heard what's been said afterwards.

I still think Utd are a one-man team up front - without Rooney they have very little, although if we were without Gabby we'd be well and truly fucked too!

Up The Villa.

UFC 110 Australia Bonnar Blood!

2010-02-21T09:28:00.000-08:00

UFC 110 - Bisping Loses to Silva In Australia

This was a big one for Michael Bisping, coming off a good win but needing to cement his position in the 185 standings. It didn't happen - it was very close - what annoyed me more was how all those judges saw Wanderlei Silva win the first round despite getting taken to the floor several times.

The second round was close with Bisping getting a takedown and Silva going straight to an arm-in guillotine - the bell coming at a handy time for our boy! The Aussie crowd were giving Bisping loads of stick, probably still frustrated by the fact their cricket team had lost the Ashes to England again.

The third round is even again and with 30 seconds left I'm just hoping Bisping will take him down and see out the round. At the 10-second warning, Silva lands a right hook that drops Bisping to the ground. Silva swarms, but runs out of time and Bisping is saved by the bell.

The main bout was Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira & Cain Velasquez with the latter winning by TKO in the first round.

Both Anthony Perosh and Stephan Bonnar spilt loads of blood for the cause - both fighters continued until they were told to stop.

Ticket For Wembley?

2010-01-28T13:42:00.000-08:00

Which Brad To Use For The Job

Now we're going to Wembley, M.O.N has to make a brave choice regarding the goalkeepers.

For me he has to play his strongest team in the final, and that means Brad Friedel must play in goal. Brad Guzan has been great on the way but was found out by Blackburn in the Semi Finals and Manchester United won't be offering him any charity come Feb 28.

Oh well, looks like the chances of a ticket for the final at Wembley are slim to none. I applaud the way Villa distribute the tickets (as they always have done)- they do it perfectly in my opinion. I just wish in some perfect world there was a way of rewarding 15 years of having a season-ticket, years of never missing a game and going all over Europe.

Unfortunately, after a few years of not having a ST, there isn't. Sigh.

Just aside from that, isn't Arsene Wenger a complete fucking prick? Whenever they lose or draw to throws a hissy fit, either not shaking hands or moaning that something wasn't fair.

Now after his side drew at Villa Park we're a "long ball team". Martin was dead right about that being an appalling insult. I'll just add that he's a f*cking idiot.

"Sonic.gif"

Snow In Hucc

2010-01-09T05:25:00.001-08:00

Here Comes The Snow Again

So last Wednesday the snow arrived, much like last February it was quite deep, and if you're driving - very annoying. Still, the main roads were fairly resonable while the side roads and estate roads were the ones that needed extra care.

On Thursday morning the temperature in the car was -10'. I've never seen that ever before - left alone the -12' when I actually arrived at work. Not that you ever get any thanks for getting into work while others are off "sick", turn up late or not at all.

Daniel has been home with the school, being closed and all training has been cancelled so far which meant at least I could have half an our in snow with Daniel when I got home which we both enjoyed.

Today I've been out with him on his sledge which he's loved! We went round to the Business Park where you could see the snow for miles on the hills and it also has a few small spots where he can slide down in the sledge.

Daniel enjoyed running up the hilly part towards the trees and getting me to lob snowballs in his direction so he could jump out the way and shout "missed me"! Then he'd run down and fire back at close range. We ended up in our back garden, played snow-football and made some snow angels - with snow down the back of his neck and a very runny nose, I thought it was time to call it a day. Just an hour later after tea he fell asleep on the sofa!

You may as well get out in it as there's little on sport-wise today - everything has been decimated and even Wigan's undersoil-heating couldn't cope meaning the game was called off today, the second in a row after Blackburn.

Looking at the forecast there could be more games postponed in the week ahead...

Planet Sound Gone!

2009-12-31T06:12:00.000-08:00

Planet Sound Teletext Is Gone!

Have a Happy New Year Everyone.

The last couple of weeks saw the demise of Planet Sound, the Channel 4 Teletext music magazine. I've been reading it for more years than I can actually remember and I can tell you it is going to be a sad miss not being able to read it anymore.

I actually got a contribution on screen (only my second ever sent!) just a day before Michael Jackson died - it would have never got on after that! Teletext as a whole will probably be obsolete soon. Shame, I really liked it! :-(

..and Jesus - I was within an inch of kicking the TV through the wall when Fernando fuckin' Torres scored in the third minute of injury time. There was no way we deserved to lose that - I just hope that after the Arsenal thrashing we're not going to go into freefall like last season!

See you in 2010.

"Sonic.gif"

R.A.T.M Xmas No.1

2009-12-21T07:57:00.000-08:00

Rage Against The Machine Is Christmas No.1 2009

As Hatemanu will know and laugh at, I'm about the last human alive who is NOT on Facebook. I don't have any great desire to be either despite being asked several times.

It does have it's plus side though and this is one.

I have no idea why "Killing In The Name" or indeed Rage Against The Machine was picked but a mighty well done to whoever started the Facebook campaign. I've liked this track for as long as it's been released (91 or 92 I think) and can't believe it's a UK Christmas Number 1!!

I have long since lost total interest in the charts due to the domination of utter bollocks from The X-Factor. Drivel of the lowest level made for children and grandparents alike. Mass market ballad sickness. If I was ever captured behind enemy lines, torturing me would be easy - just a couple of Simon Cowell puppet-ballads and I'd be done for.

This is the unedited version of the 5-Live link up.....

What Shelagh said!!

Poor old Shelagh Fogarty - "Quick get rid of it" and then "just buy the other record".

..I think the UK just said "Fuck You I Won't Do What You Tell Me" to her and Simon Cowell. Happy Christmas.

Villa Win At Old Trafford

2009-12-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

Manchester United 0 Aston Villa 1

I was there as a kid in 1983 and I was there yesterday as Villa won league games at Old Trafford with a small yearly gap in between! From Peter Withe to Gabby Agbonlahor - it's been a bit of a wait!

During the final twenty minutes yesterday I felt I couldn't take anymore of the tension as I bit nails and did various other things associated with being seriously fucking nervous.

Our boys were great first half and more than deserved to be ahead through Gabby's headed goal. Once Wayne Rooney had been booked for cheating and then hit the bar I started to feel it was possibly going to be our day - the trouble is you can never believe that at Old Trafford until the final whistle goes.

The second half was a battle. I missed the first 6 minutes after catching up with my old mate Taggy on the concourse, then we just got behind the boys and made the sort of noise that must have embarrassed the silent 73,000 "home" fans.

Through some absolutely heroic defending we got 3 points and the away section was as delerious as it could ever be after a 1-0 win! People fell over seats, strangers kissed and hugged each other - it was pretty special. All the boys worked so hard but I thought Richard Dunne and Carlos Cuellar were rocks. I wonder if Man City think they got a good deal letting Dunny go and bringing in Lescott? I know who I'd rather have thanks!

The whole day was superb - we had a near four hour stop in Knutsford and also on the way back for some alcohol induced fun. It had been an early start at 9am and we wouldn't get back until 1.25am - but fucking hell it was well worth it! I've had to wait till now to update as my head was sore as hell this morning.

We even mentioned that it would be an idea to stop over the night at Knutsford though that was probably/definitely the drink talking by then...

To be able to give the daytrippers so much grief at the end of the game was fantastic - we took ages getting away from Old Trafford and we milked it for everything it was worth. We've suffered a lot of grief there over the years and yesterday was our time for payback.

Coaches from Ireland and all over the UK drew the curtains as the Stourbridge bus literally rocked it's way from the "Theatre Of Our Dreams". Fucking hell-hole.

.....Oh - we forgot to do the stadium tour. Damn!

Extras

Football Training

2009-11-07T05:25:00.000-08:00

A Busy Night, A Busy Morning

Last night was the Firework Display at Hucclecote Rugby Club.

It was the first time we'd taken Daniel to one of these and he really enjoyed it. I'd quite underestimated the amount of people turning up to the event as in the end it would have been quicker to walk than to drive!

There were hundreds there and the display was really good, lasting for about 25 minutes with a huge bang at the end!

Then this morning Daniel had his first football training session with Hucclecote Youth Football Club Under 5's.

Nine children were present with the session running alongside the under 6's. They were given basic dribbing skills from side to side and then from one end of the small pitch to the other - then scoring some goals which they obviously all enjoyed.

Daniel was probably slightly slower with the skills than some of the others but took care to dribble round the markers that were set out rather than just running past them. In the end there was a little match which was good fun and a nice way to finish the session.

The coach huddled everyone around and said that each week there would be a trophy awarded to the player who impressed the coach the most. All the children had done really well but you can imagine how chuffed we were when he said Daniel was the winner for the first week for listening and doing everything he asked. Now he gets to keep the trophy for a week before taking it back next Saturday.

He's really enjoyed it - I think he'll be going back somehow!

TUF Heavyweights

2009-10-28T13:56:00.000-07:00

The Ultimate Fighter - The Heavyweights

Been watching this with interest on the FIVE USA Channel on Saturday nights.

I can only think so far that Dana White must be incredibly disappointed with Rampage Jackson as a coach. As his fighters have lost he's started to disown them after the fights leaving Rashad and his coaches to console them! Plus, his pre-coaching of Zak Jensen was absolutely appalling.

Instead of coaching the guy he just continually went on about Darrill Schoonover having "titties". Jensen looked embarrassed at times and it was cringing to watch. I bet most of his team wish they had Rashad Evans coaching them!

Ross Noble's Tour Of Australia

Great viewing on Channel 5 (always on Sky+ though so I can whizz through the boring adverts). Ross is a lucky boy, travelling on his motorbike to see remote parts of Australia that few of us will ever get to see.

Saw him at Cheltenham Town Hall a few years back and he was great. I do wonder where they store the giant inflatable balls on the road mind!

Sunderland 0 Aston Villa 0 (1-3 on Penalties)

Brad Guzan - penalty king! Not only saving the day in normal time with the save from Kenwyn Jones but to save so many in the shootout was amazing.

Massive well done to the club for laying on free transport too. Something they were not obliged to do but did it nonetheless.

The last time a Villa goalkeeper had a blinder at Sunderland in a League Cup match (Mark Bosnich at Roker Park - his best ever game IMO), we did rather well in the following ties I seem to recall.....

5FDP Review

2009-10-11T10:06:00.000-07:00

Five Finger Death Punch - My Review

I have to admit really liking these guys after hearing their debut album and then the follow up which has not long been released.

I've always liked hard rock / various forms of metal but never particularly liked screamed vocals - this has plenty, but also has enough good clean vocals to clamp people like me, and now I'm hooked.

The first album (The Way Of The Fist) is heavier than the second in my opinion, not that the second is soft but the slower ones are definitely not as heavy. Probably like many people I heard "The Bleeding" and thought it was excellent and went from there with the rest of the album. Most of the record follows a "screamed/growled" verse and "sung" chorus which works very well.

Certainly on the first album there isn't a track I don't like whereas on the second there are a couple which get skipped. On the second CD (War Is The Answer),"Dying Breed" is a really brutal start and "Hard To See" is a great single. "No One Gets Left Behind" is my personal fave.

I've since bought a few albums from bands I probably wouldn't have before. 36 Crazyfists, All That Remains and Atreyu, finding some really good stuff in there. It would appear my musical taste has certainly got heavier in the last few months having had no temptation to buy albums from Muse and Editors who I've followed both from the start due to very average sounding singles.

Lyrically there may be a flaw or two with 5FDP but I'm not going to argue with Ivan and his boys! I'd love to see em' live!

Treetops Nursery

2009-10-08T13:15:00.000-07:00

TreeTops Nursery, Hucclecote

I just wanted to give them a shout out and to say thankyou for a great 3 months Daniel had with them before he started school.

He learned more and was stimulated way better than at his previous nursery where things had become very disorganised and stale. The move was the best thing we did and 3 months later Daniel was as prepared as possible for school life.

He really enjoyed his time there - we actually looked into Treetops years ago but they were too expensive at that time. When we enquired after All My Friends decided to close we found their prices were marginally CHEAPER!

The staff were great - we would happily recommend them to anyone and they are head and shoulders apart in quality from All My Friends (formally Tiddlywinks).

Blues 0 Villa 1

2009-09-20T09:55:00.000-07:00

Blues 0 Villa 1

It looked like Richard Dunne and James Collins had been playing together for years. Dunne had a touch of "Laursen" about him in the way he won everything in the air and Collins really impressed me too - M.O.N may well have struck gold on the final day of the transfer window.

The game really only came to life when John Carew came on for Nigel Reo-Coker. Only then did we get forward and start to look like a threat. The big fella played his part with the nod back for Gabby to head home.

The away end celebrations reminded me of games at The Hawthorns in the late 80's - it looked absolutely mental.

We should have got a couple more after that but we'd done enough - an excellent three points from a game where if we're honest, we never got out of second gear. They huffed and puffed to their limit but it still wasn't enough.

Gabby may well know their alternative version of our song for him, but he had the last laugh on them all.

Here's to the next 3 points on Derby day....

1st Day At School

2009-09-04T02:29:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 2nd September 2009 - 1st Day At School

Nearly four and a half years - just where have they gone exactly? On the Tuesday before I took him to MagicLand so he could have some fun before all the seriousness of school began...

Daniel started his new school on Wednesday morning. We took him down and waited outside his new classroom where the school had a clever way of getting the children in quickly to avoid any major tears.

By lunchtime when I went to pick him he already had dirty shoes and trousers! That was within 3 hours! Having this deliberately booked 2 weeks has been great for me as I get to take him in and collect him too.

On Thursday his new school jumper arrived and it fitted perfectly.

Daniel @ Villa Park II

2009-08-31T00:57:00.000-07:00

Daniel In His Second Match At Villa Park

Fair play to those concerned at Villa Park - they laid on plenty for the kids before the Fulham game, enough even that a 4yr old didn't get bored. Thanks to a mate who ended up with a spare adult&child ticket we ended up seeing the Fulham game which we weren't planning on doing 24 hours earlier!

He had his face painted, visited the three mascots, Hercules Bella & Chip and had some photos with them. He had his picture with the Peace Cup in the Villa Village and then we all headed off to the indoor area where he ran around and kicked a few footballs - he sweated like mad in there!

The game was OK - Fulham never managed a single shot. The early goal was important and almost missed by us as Daniel decided he needed the toilet right at kick-off time! Luckily we were virtually back at our seats when it went in. Daniel enjoyed the cheering and clapping but I reckon he thinks the PA system is too loud!

We were sat over in the Lower Witton where the away fans would normally be - of course this was Fulham though and they brought a couple of carloads with them. "We're all going on a European tour" all 8 of them sang - I'm sure Rome is quaking in it's boots at the thought of a handful of Fulham Fans coming over to follow their desperately ordinary team!

Gabby's second goal was a beauty. Young Ciaran Clark did really well and looked very composed for a 19yr old. Dare I say, a little like Gareth Barry did against Arsenal all those years back?

A welcome 3 points and then a drenching on the way back to the car! Daniel didn't mind though as he'd had a great day at the football with his Dad and his friends - 10 minutes into the journey back he was fast asleep!

England Win Ashes 2009

2009-08-23T13:12:00.001-07:00

England Win Ashes Series 2-1 2009

A great effort to win any series against Australia, but especially when the best efforts with bat and ball belonged to the Aussies.

England won it during key periods when they really put Ponting and his boys to the sword or when they managed to hang on for the unlikely draw at Cardiff. While England did extremely well, I still believe they are a good side and nothing more - their rank of fifth best in the World is spot on in my view and replacing Andrew Flintoff will be very, very hard.

I have to say I actually like Ricky Ponting. A lot of soft footballers could take note - he was hit hard right in the face fielding close in and was spitting blood for ages with a swollen lip and face. Ponting just got on with it - no drama or rolling about - fair play to him.

Let's hope we don't get thrashed 5-0 again in 18 months time Down Under!!

Whaddon Road

2009-08-15T14:13:00.001-07:00

Cheltenham Town - Four points from six

Good solid start from Martin Allen's boys.

Now for a rant - after seeing the match programme from the Grimsby game, all I can say to Paul Baker and co is you're a bunch of f*cking sell-outs.

Whaddon Road - That's the name of Cheltenham Town's ground - it has been for 117 years - IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND IT ALWAYS WILL BE - yet you've all happily forgotten now that some tinpot company decides to sponsor it.

I hope new supporters as well as old retain the tradition and history, realising that every time they set foot inside that ground, they are at WHADDON ROAD - nowhere f*cking else.

New Villa Home

2009-07-28T11:04:00.001-07:00

New Nike Aston Villa Home Shirt 2009/2010

I think Nike have gone for the "if it ain't broke" attitude with our home shirt.

The ONLY difference between this and last season's if the round collar and a small amount of blue piping on the shoulders. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with the kit's colours or traditional appearance which is great. I hope it's just complete chance that Ashley Young is the only player not smiling for the photo.....

I do think that charging people £45 for what is almost a carbon copy of last season's is a bit rich though.

A few new players holding the f*cking thing up might be nice - last season we had a squad which was universally accepted as being too small for a league and cup challenge. We are three players DOWN on that number after losing Martin Laursen, Lard-Arse Barry and now Zat Knight.

Our lone summer signing can't walk properly and won't be playing until December so excuse me if I don't count him at the moment.

I'm assuming by this lack of activity that we won't be taking the Europa League/UEFA Cup too seriously again then?

Weston

2009-07-19T13:14:00.001-07:00

I'm A Jinx! Maybe I Shouldn't Do Weston Again!

We had three fighters at Weston on Saturday night.

Nick won his first kick-boxing bout against a local Weston Warriors fighter who took time out in the first round to salute them before getting knocked flat on his arse! Like Nick, Shane also won a unanimous decision a reclaimed his belt with a great display.

The night was left incomplete for us though as Gemma beat Kate after a five-round battle. There seemed to be little of Gemma who at first glance looked like she'd blow away in a gust of wind - looks proved totally wrong - she could box with the best and matched Kate all the way for fight and heart.

It was just like last time when I was there - Kate had all the vocal support and the other girl had nothing. Everything was eerily similar - maybe I'll give the next one a miss so Kate can get that belt back!

Kate probably heard "you did us proud" enough to be sick, but she did and we were just gutted about the result. There's nothing you can say to console after that - maybe we should just be quiet!!

Another huge disappointment for me was that Mark Weir should have been fighting but ended up not being able to find an opponent to step in with him. Never mind, maybe next time....

Bob Fleming & 96 Tats!

2009-06-17T14:23:00.000-07:00

Bob Fleming

Bob Fleming, my favourite Fast Show character - here's a couple of clips, the second of which I could barely control the fits of laughter!! The first includes the fantastic "All Around My Arse"! This show was so great....nice!

Bob Fleming - Folkin Classics

Bob Fleming - Arse

Bob Fleming - Cough Medicine

No comedy around like this anymore!

The Girl With 96 Star Tattoo's On Her Face

I have four, in much less painful areas and I can tell you I couldn't have slept through any of them! Still, the guy who did them looks like a thoroughly decent enough chap.....

96 Nice Stars Part 1

96 Nice Stars Part 2

It's such a lot of bollocks anyway - any tatoo artist will put a stencil on first so you can see exactly what they are going to do. It's only with your say-so that they continue.

Basically, she thought it would look cool - it didn't turn out like Kat Von D - Dad freaks out - cue story.......

New Villa White Away Kit 2009/2010

2009-05-30T12:18:00.000-07:00

New Villa White Away Kit 2009/2010

This one seems to be splitting opinion at the moment....

Villa 1 Newcastle 0

2009-05-26T13:03:00.000-07:00

Aston Villa 1 Newcastle United 0

So we ended up finishing 6th and playing fairly well I thought. Clearly everyone's focus was on the opposition and for me, having big Sunderland & some Hull roots in my family tree, I was quite happy to see them go down. My Grandad was Sunderland born and bred - I was proud to see a match at Roker Park with him when, unfortunately for him that day, Villa won 4-1 and sent them down. He would have loved yesterday seeing Villa return the favour and giving Sunderland the chance to be the only North-East team in the Premier League.

Don't believe the SKY myth everyone, Newcastle United are not a big club, what they are is a well-supported club and have been for some time. There is a big difference. I thought I'd be delighted at seeing Shearer (who was hated as a player at Villa Park) and co. drop down but actually felt strangely apathetic - much like their squad of players.

Newcastle's players were so bad, especially in the second half, it was almost as if they didn't have the will, urgency or desire to get back in the game. Some of the shots of Michael Owen I saw later make him look completely unfazed by what is happening. Maybe that's modern day footballers for you - most of them will jump ship and leave the mess they made behind them.

The performance highlighted the areas where we need to strengthen, defence and midfield especially, though I'm beginning to think that breaking the top four monotony is not going to happen anyway, certainly not for us - Maybe Man City with their billions, but not us. Sixth for me would have been acceptable at the start of the season but to be so strong just 3 months back and to completely capitulate was obviously disappointing.

The CSKA Moscow fiasco left a sour taste, especially from a manager who I really like and hope stays for many a year, and proved resting players made no difference whatsoever - those "rested" couldn't see out 92 minutes at home to Stoke City with a two goal lead and I feel our season ended right there.

The UEFA Cup/Europa League beckons again - countless games by the sound of it if you're keen on winning the trophy - what it will mean is another European trip somewhere later this year for me, hopefully somewhere exciting and hopefully as good as the trip to Slavia Prague was late last year. Congratulations to Slavia by the way who are Champions again having wrapped up another Gambrinus liga title with a game to spare.

This season saw Daniel see his first Villa game - today, just for a short while he wanted "to be John Carew" playing football in the back garden! It saw near neighbours West Brom go down but two more local rivals come back up. It also see's another famous old club, Burley, back in the top flight after beating Sheffield United at Wembley - I had many Burnley friends from years gone by and was "on't Turf" the night they only beat Torquay 1-0 and lost in the play-off Semi Final when a Blackburn fan hired a plane with a message for all to see - it read "Staying Down 4Eever - Love Rovers".

Michael Duff or "Duffer" as he was known at Cheltenham scored a header against Yeovil Town at Whaddon Road just over 10 years ago which put Cheltenham Town into the Football League for the first time in 107 years! Now he's part of a Burnley side in the Premier League - after seeing Duffer play against many, many non-league teams, I can't wait to see him up against Torres, Ronaldo, Anelka, Adebayor and Carew!!

Welcome back Burnley!

This season has come and gone - and we're all another year older!

Daniel Is 4

2009-05-05T10:35:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday Daniel - You Are Four!!

5th May 2009 - Four years on!

Daniel has had loads of presents and got to enjoy his birthday with his friends at nursery and then with us at home today. The photo above shows him wearing his new away kit and blowing out his four candles on the Spiderman cake - Many gifts were Spiderman related but his big present was being taken to his first Aston Villa game against Hull last night.

I have to admit to being a little nervous of his reaction bearing in mind how old he is - I thought he'd get bored and maybe play up a little, especially as by kick-off time he'd normally be in bed or be close to going to sleep.

He did way better than I thought. By half time he was still wide awake, clapping along and helped his Dad celebrate John Carew's goal. We were sat in Row B of the Upper Trinity so the view was great and it was fairly quiet up there - so ideal for him. He tired during the second half but by the end had a surge and was wide awake again cheering the final whistle and walking back to the car with me.

So even if he ends up supporting someone else for whatever reason he'll always have that first game etched in stone! I must also say a huge thankyou to IanB for pointing me in the right direction of contacts at Villa Park. Sheila Maybury was fantastic and got my Mum a parking space at very short notice in the Villa Village as the days of her walking any sort of distance are gone.

May 4th 2009. Aston Villa 1 Hull City 0: Goalscorer - John Carew. Att 39,607

The Conservatory

It started like this as the builders dug out a trench and started laying bricks.

The frame, roof and windows are now all in and the builders are back tomorrow to level the floor off. The John, our builder, will be back to plaster and finish the room and electrics off. Daniel thinks it's great fun! I'd be laughing too if I wasn't paying for it!

Within just a few weeks it looked like this!!

Thomas Land 2009

2009-04-25T13:35:00.001-07:00

Thomas Land At Drayton Manor 2009

Daniel loved his surprise visit to Thomas Land on Thursday. His excited sqeals when he realised where he was made it worthwhile in an instant.

Being nearly four and much braver than last time, he went on everything - including eight trips on the "Troublesome Trucks". It was sunny and not busy at all due to the kids being at school so we could go on everything as often as we wanted to. Which was nice!

We sort of insisted he looked at the other parts of the park too, so he saw some of the animals including the tigers, penguins and monkeys. He went on the cable car ride completely unfazed by the height and seems to have little fear when it comes to the rides.

Everything reverted back to Thomas though so that's where we finished up. The video below shows our trip on the "Troublesome Trucks" and how much he loved it.

We left about 3.30 after having "one more go" on all the rides - safe to say Daniel was asleep within minutes for the return journey.

Conservatory 2009

We've decided to go ahead with our addition to the house, I mean you can only worry about money for so long - so we decided f*ck it. The builders were only here for a few days and the job was done - now the glass will arrive next week. Here's a photo of Daniel sitting on the bricks.

He likes his new sun hat, I decided to buy one too so he took to weraing it more easily!

Hillsborough - Twenty Years On

2009-04-15T04:25:00.000-07:00

Hillsborough - Twenty Years On

April 15th 1989.

Anyone, especially football supporters will know where they were and what they were doing on that awful day.

I was at Deepdale, home of Preston North End, watching a League game with some friends of mine who lived there. Preston obviously had a deep dislike of Blackpool and Burnley but for some reason also had no love for Liverpool or scousers.

At half-time the PA announcer told the ground that the FA Cup Semi-Final had been abandoned due to a pitch invasion by Liverpool supporters. The PNE fans were unanimous in condemning Liverpool - how little anybody knew at that time.

We got back in the car after the game to hear Peter Jones on the radio start the football round up by saying that a gym at Hillsborough was now being used as a mortuary. The four of us in the car fell silent and just listened. It was horrible. As a pretty hardore, every game Aston Villa fan I was used to terraces and terrible away grounds and disgraceful treatment by police from all around the country. I was used to being treated like an animal and cages, pens and the like were the norm for us all.

Only weeks before we had been to a League Cup game at Upton Park where Villa had taken thousands upon thousands for this midweek game - more than West Ham had expected. My feet had barely touched the ground 10 feet from the turnstile and the crush was intense once inside. We got near to the front and just swayed about with no control over what we did - a policeman shouted "move back". We just told him we couoldn't.

Luckily for us all that night, West Ham didn't have fencing and the police were alert enough to open up some of the pen to our right to relieve the crush. For the 96 Liverpool fans, the South Yorkshire Police didn't offer them the same protection.

That night we were all going out in Preston Town centre but before we did we headed to a local pub where my girlfriends Dad liked to go. The guy had the news footage playing on the TV - it was so horrifying he actually turned it off and a normal bustling pub was very, very quiet.

Every normal football fan realised it could have been them. As far as I can recall, our next away game was at Norwich - Carrow Road fell silent for a minute before the match and both sets of fans sang "You'll Never Walk Alone" before the game started. Like many others, I'd sent my Villa scarf up to Hillsborough via some Sheffield Wednesday friends of mine who lived in Foxhill near the ground.

When you look back at some of the photo's of Hillsborough then it looks pre-historic. When Villa played Sheff Weds in the first game of the 1991/92 season we were the first set of supporters to sit in the Lower Leppings Lane since 1989. We walked through that tunnel and everyone just shuddered at the thought of what went on that day.

Now, because I've mentioned this one here before, is not the time for me to apportion blame. Everyone knows where it lies but justice will never be done. I looked at the mothers and fathers and despair for them - if it was my son I would fight until my last breath and never ever give up hope of seeing someone pay for the targic events on that day.

Today at work has been very strange, everything being normal until the afternoon as I looked at some of the awful pictures on the BBC site - they warned that some photo's would cause distress and they weren't wrong. Everything got put into perspective. It makes me very, very sad.

RIP. Justice for the 96.

Red Dwarf

2009-04-11T00:30:00.000-07:00

Red Dwarf - Oh Yes, They're Smegging Back!

One of my favourite shows, Red Dwarf, is back with some new stuff this Easter Weekend! Yes! Will the new episodes sit alongside classics and my personal favourites such as "Back To Reality", "Gunmen of the Apocalypse" and "Meltdown"? Should be fun finding out.

The cast are to reunite for a new two-part storyline which will see them finally return to Earth. Back to Earth will air on UKTV digital channel Dave.

It will sit alongside two further new episodes, an improvised Red Dwarf: Unplugged, which will feature the cast dealing with no sets, effects or autocue, and Red Dwarf: the Making of Back to Earth, a behind the scenes look at the new production.

The new two-parter will begin a decade on from when the crew of the Red Dwarf were last seen, with a "shock development" throwing Rimmer, Lister, Cat and Kryten back to Earth.

Chris Barrie will return as Rimmer, Craig Charles as Lister, Danny John-Jules as Cat and Robert Llewellyn as Kryten, with the new storyline written and directed by Red Dwarf co-creator Doug Naylor.

Red Dwarf originally launched on BBC2 in 1988 and went on to air for eight series and 52 episodes, as well as a number of specials

Team UK

2009-04-07T12:59:00.001-07:00

Ultimate Fighter: Team UK v Team USA

The weekend was drawing to a close. The bitter and really fucking painful images of losing in the "next goal wins" phase at the Theatre Of Added Time wouldn't go away despite a good afternoon watching it in a bar.

Setanta fucking Sports have taken away the UFC once wonderfully housed by Bravo, so I rarely get to see any of it these days but imagine my delight when prely by accident, I found out that Virgin 1 (Channel 121) was showing the current Ultimate Fighter series! Yes!

Episode 1 showed the 16 UK guys being cut to 8 in a series of fights. Che Mills from the Range Fighting Gym just down the road from here was involved but unfortunately lost in the first round which was a big shame. Michael Bisping will be leading the UK team against Dan Henderson who will be looking after the US interests.

The eight fighters now head to Vegas to take on eight USA fighters who we'll see in their bouts next week.

Yum, yum - can't wait!

Martial Arts At St Thomas Rich's

2009-03-01T13:11:00.001-08:00

Gloucester Martial Arts

St Thomas Rich's School, Longlevens (Oakleaze), Gloucester. Sunday mornings 10.30am - 11.30am

As of last Sunday, Februray 22nd, Mr Carter handed me the reigns to this slot on a Sunday morning. I hope to make it an enjoyable and potentially sweaty hour of kickboxing for everyone most importantly for me is that everyone can work hard but have fun at the same time.

Please note the following:

EVERYONE IS WELCOME - YOUNG, OLD, EXISTING MEMBERS OR ANYONE TRYING A MARTIAL ART FOR THE FIRST TIME. IF YOU WISH TO GET FIT, MEET NEW FRIENDS - WHATEVER YOUR GOALS MAY BE - COME AND GIVE THIS A TRY!

Please Email me at CT211070@GMAIL.COM

We have a good mixed age and grade level at the moment - Prices are still being arranged at the moment but I will post them as soon as I have them to hand. Come and join the club!

Sir Thomas Rich's is located in Longlevens, on the eastern edge of Gloucester. Access from the M5 and Cheltenham is excellent as we are less than a mile from the Golden Valley by-pass. Journey time from the M5 is less than ten minutes

From junction 11 of the M5 head towards Gloucester. At the end of the dual carriageway, take the third turning off the roundabout onto Cheltenham Road. After 100 metres, turn left at the traffic lights (opposite Greyhound Pub) into Nine Elms Road and follow this road round to the right After half a mile (as the road bends left) turn left into Oakleaze.

The school is on the left. There is ample parking in the car park at the front of the school and reception is clearly signposted through the archway. Click here for a print quality map .

Paul Birch RIP

2009-02-02T13:36:00.001-08:00

Paul Birch RIP (20 November 1962 – 2 February 2009)

Johnny Dixon, Vic Crowe and now Birchy. Without meaning the first two any less important, the news today that Paul Birch has died at the young age of 46 has left me very, very sad.

Paul Birch was there when I started supporting Aston Villa and I probably saw him play most of his games for the club. He had the heart of a lion and was never less than 100% committed to the cause.

He had some fantastic games, great goals, like Arsenal away in the League Cup 86, - but the over-riding one for me was popping Lothar Mattheus in his pocket for 90 minutes against Inter Milan at Villa Park. Kent Neilsen and David Platt got the plaudits for the goals, but one little man's huge effort in stopping the German captain was the main reason we won that game.

Birchy came down to Cheltenham after winning our Player Of The Year award - he was an honest, down to earth, humble, normal guy. I'm honoured to have my picture with him.

I'm happy the all the pain is over now Paul. Thankyou for being an ever present part of my Villa memories.

RIP Birchy.

Visit To CT

2009-01-22T12:36:00.001-08:00

Daniel's Visit To Cheltenham Town

Today we had to pop over to Whaddon Road first thing to grab some tickets for the Doncaster FA Cup game. The day's game with Millwall had been called off the night before due to freezing conditions and we got there just before the ticket office opened.

We took a couple of photo's as this was Daniel's first proper visit to a football ground as he was fast asleep when we were outside Villa Park a few months back!

After noticing an open gate we asked if we could nip in and show Daniel the inside and were told that was fine. To be fair there was no-one outside the ground except us anyway! The pitch was covered in frost and a third of it was covered by a huge black cover - we told Daniel where his Grampy normally sits and then went back out to get the tickets sorted.

Wenger The Cock

2008-12-28T09:03:00.000-08:00

Aston Villa 2 Arsenal 2

Arsene Wenger is a total cock.

His after match interview with Jeff Shreeves saw him answering like a spoilt child, to the point where you could hear Shreeves getting totally pissed off with the pathetic one-word answers.

No need to look at your tactics Arsene, the ones which leave less defenders than attackers in injury time of a game - no, just come out with some completely pathetic excuse that John Robertson influenced the referee at half time! The only person influencing penalites was William Gallas!

We absolutely battered them in the first half - three attempts against the woodwork, Luke Young and Steve Sidwell going close - something else Wenger incredibly failed to acknowledge. It was a joy to watch us putting them under so much pressure and I felt we were quite superb. Then they score - it couldn't have been any more against the run of play and it was their first attempt at goal.

Robin Hood clearly wore an Arsenal shirt.

When they got the second, and a really good goal too, I felt that might be it. Then we get the "oh so debatable" penalty, smashed in by GB, and it's game on! Fair play to Zat Knight for being in the right place and keeping his strike on target as well, especially being at the critical last stage of the match.

It would have been nothing short of a travesty if we'd lost that game.

Happy Christmas Mr Wenger - you really are a complete knob.

..and finally.

Phil Brown sees his team getting smashed 4-0 at half time and decides to conduct most of the team talk in front of the travelling Hull City supporters.

This seems to have got Brown alot of criticism. Why? Because the little overpaid prima-donnas had to sit in the cold for a while? Because they had to do it in front of fans who gave up their Boxing Day to see their team barely make the effort.

Fair play to Phil Brown - once in a while that's not a bad thing to try. Anyway, I like what Hull are doing - long may they continue to prosper at this level (apart from Tuesday night of course!)

Daniel Xmas Photo!

Barry Hayles Photo!

Caption?

Texas Stadium

2008-12-18T08:13:00.001-08:00

Final Game At Texas Stadium Against Ravens

Apart from some freakish possible scores involving other teams and play-off rankings, this is it. The last ever game for the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium will be against the Baltimore Ravens and the way the season has progressed, it's turned into a must-win game as well. The Cowboys really need a victory to keep their chances of playing in the post-season alive.

I've been three times to the old place, the first time in 1997 for an amazing game against the Washington Redskins. Aikman, Smith and Irvin were all playing - but not playing well! With just minutes remaining the Cowboys has scored just 2 field goals and had to start a drive on their own 3 yard line.

People started to leave, fans gave up - knowing a team that had played so badly would never do it. We held on and stayed having travelled this far we wouldn't leave before the end - Troy Aikman then led the team the 97 yards before converting the 2 point conversion as well. 14-14 - the Cowboys stopped Washington instantly and got the ball back and with 4 seconds remaining Chris Boniol kicked the winning field goal!

Crowd erupts - those who left couldn't believe it!

The other two games were against the Reskins again, and the Buffalo Bills in 2003, both resulting in wins but a bit less exciting. 21-14 over the Skins and 10-6 over the Bills where Drew Bledsoe got pounded time and again by the Dallas defence!

The day after we went on the fantastic Stadium tour where my proud moment came when I kicked two field goals on the hallowed turf.

Time has caught up with the old place, even at only 37 years old. Even five years ago you knew it needed a facelift or replacing. The hole in the roof and probably the wealth of superstars that played there gave it an edge it otherwise wouldn't have had. Of course, it used to feature on the opening credits of the soap opera Dallas too!

I hope I see the new Stadium one day - it looks incredible (with incredible ticket prices no doubt too) - well, maybe one day.

There's plenty of nostalgia here too at the Farewell To Texas Stadium website.

As for the amazing new Stadium - Check this out! Wow! Ready for the start of next season, where has the time gone?!

Aston Villa v CSKA Moscow

What a tough draw.

I still feel it was a huge mistake for M.O.N to play such a weak team against Zilina at Villa Park in the third game. With 3 or 4 more experienced players we could have got into a winning position and started taking them off but ended up chasing the game and obviously losing.

That's what cost us this ultra-hard draw - not fielding the even weaker side against Hamburg which I could understand.

Anyway, I have bad memories when I was a kid of seeing the other side from Moscow (Spartak) getting a last minute winner at Villa Park and knocking us out after we'd drawn 2-2 over there. Anyone remember Mark Walters fantastic strike in the away leg?

Oh well, we'll worry about it more in February!

K/Boxing Grading

2008-12-08T07:34:00.001-08:00

How Long Is A Black Belt Kickboxing Grading?

Just a shade over three hours in this case.

I was expecting hell so anything less than that would be a bonus. It was good to be grading with people we knew and had trained with for ages - plus the examiners - though fearsome in their suits - were all familiar to us all too.

Everything was there and it was so tough physically. We all had moments where we were either sick or totally gasping for breath but everyone battled away and did what they had to do.

So much of the grading is mentally based - about 90 mins or so in we were sparring and maybe knew the "2 onto 1" section was coming up where we expected to spar everyone else in survival mode. No! In walk 3 fresh full-contact fighters ready to whip our knackered sorry butts!! That was harsh!

It's easy to forget things you've been taught when you're cornered and taking shots from two angles. I ended up covering up too much but moved about reasonably well apart from that. I was happy with the wood-breaking at the end and fortunately broke first time with an elbow strike and a spinning back kick.

As I sit here now I'm in much-expected pain all over. My knee was worrying me but it ended up being a hip bone which gave me the most problems - it started getting really painful just 2 hours before the grading when shopping in Tesco - Oh great, thanks alot body!

Anyway, everyone did so well and it was a real good team effort with everyone encouraging and helping when others needed it. Well done to all concerned! Mr Champion said at the end that we'd all worked very hard and it had been a pleasure to grade us - great words for us from someone such as himself!

My main goal was not to let myself down and more importantly Mr Paradine and Mr Carter. I've trained hard all year but in the last six weeks I've been down the GMAX gym every Wednesday night for extra work which I know helped me during the grading. I'm going to relax now for a few days and get back into it next Saturday.

Now, much like the Taekwondo black belt grading, we sit and await our news - it could be a long wait.....

Daniel's Rapid Progress

At 3 years and 7 months, his progress is pretty amazing.

His level of speech is unbelievable at times - whilst eating tea the other night he was after some of my food and had forgotten to say please. I said "what's the magic word?" to which he replied - "Abracadabra". Couldn't really refuse could I?!

Daniel is still enjoying training on a Saturday at the club and continues to do well under Kate's watchful eye! He doesn't realise that it's an English champion training him (after Kate beat Louise Tanner in their re-match last weekend). Anyway, he got his first first official GMA t-shirt the other week which he doesn't like taking off!

We got his school application form this week (how's that for making you feel old?) - another reminder of his progress. Now Christmas is approaching and he's aware of Santa, Advent calendars and all things festive!

Everton 2 Aston Villa 3

I walk in, I'm knackered after three hours of torture - but it's 1-1 and I've got the whole second half to watch.

Ashley capitalises on a defensive howler and we're looking good but for the last 15 minutes we're under the cosh and taking a battering. I still thought we'd hold out but with 40 seconds left Lescott bangs one in after Martin Laursen missed probably his only header of the game. I'm gutted, I just cast believe we've done this again!

Lescott feigns throwing his shirt towards the Villa fans and their players spend the next 45 seconds celebrating for which the referee rightly adds on time. Daniel asks me "whats wrong Daddy" as I'm holding head in hands!

Some seconds later were jumping around the room as Laursen wins another decisive header and Ashley beats a defender and whips in a winner. Mass celebration! Daniel shouts "It's a goal!!"

Lescott isn't offering his shirt to anyone anymore now and wonders off the pitch - such a shame. A fantastic ending and three points in a game where overall we've been under pressure - that's the way to do it!

Slavia Prague 0 Villa 1

2008-11-08T08:43:00.000-08:00

All I Want For Xmas Is A Slavia Prague Away Kit

What a great few days we had in Prague.

Czech Airlines left on time, we had a half empty flight so plenty of room to stretch out and we arrived late afternoon. Thanks to Frank on the H&V discussion pages, we bought a 3 day transport pass and this served us well. We finally got dropped of at Lapansky but a bit tired we trudged around for ages getting directed everywhere towards our seemingly invisable Seifert hotel!

We found a local bar showing the football on Wednesday and then went for some food - it was very late and the fog had really set in so we called it a night.

Thursday was great. We saw the much more beautiful side of Prague as opposed to where we were staying - the buildings, the river - just a fantastic place and huge as well as we negotiated all the various metros and buses. We looked round quite a few shops and it was soon clear that Prague was maybe not the cheap place for shopping that it once was! We stopped at Rocky O'Reillys for a couple of hours but by 1.30ish everyone seemed to be moving on elsewhere.

We found places with cheap beer and obviously the more tacky English ones like the George & Dragon in the Old Town Square although it was worth it to see all the tourists lining up to take photo's and videos of Aston Villa fans singing. Amongst all these people's treasured memories will be the hour they watched foreign football fans singing away outside a bar. Strange.

It was all good natured and the police were in full force but kept a very low profile. There must have been about 9 or 10 vans full of them so everyone knew they were there - I have to say I was impressed with their handling of it all.

Clearly alot of our fans were unsure of how to get to the ground but we were primed in advance and got to the ground in time to have a couple more drinks in the hotel that was part of the stadium Eden. It was strange because to be honest it didn't really look like a football ground from the outside.

The atmosphere before kick off was fantastic as the Slavia Prague and Villa fans mixed easily with no problems at all. Even the hotel kept it's doors open when it would have been easy for them to close up - Everyone in Prague from beginning to end were extremely friendly (apart from one bus driver!!). We had a very quick look inside their shop and were a bit surprised at how pricey their scarves and shirts are! One shop in town earlier had a home Slavia shirt for £70!

As for the game itself, we feared the worst when we heard the team Martin O'Neill had picked but we shouldn't have worried. Salifou was probably Man Of The Match closely followed by Brad Guzan who made a fantastic first half save that I don't think Brad Friedel would have stopped. Their fans, as well as our own were really noisy and laid on some pre-arranged stuff to get behind their team.

We were excellent in that first half and had to sit tight during the second when the expected Slavia onslought arrived. They had plenty of opportunities but we were holding on as the fog began to come down around the ground, just as it had the night before.

We just held on for a great win - after the game the Slavia players sat down in front of their supporters while they chanted away and then walked around the ground to applaud the fans, something that I was amazed to see. The Villa fans generously applauded back which capped a good natured day. Apparantly this is something they do all the time so the fans can tell them they are behind them whatever the result!

The security and riot police had been very heavy-handed during the final few minutes of the game when they really didn't need to be but it certainly didn't spoil the time I had there. Not surprisingly we were kept inside for about 20 minutes after the game - I'm sure there was no need though. The atmosphere had been great all day and wasn't about to change.

The number 22 tram ride after the game was a right laugh. The Carlos Cuellar song must have been done about 30 times on the long ride back into town - sort of! Again we knew the Metro needed to get back into the Old Town square but everywhere was strangely quiet - we arrived just as the Midnight bells were ringing out which was a nice cultural moment and headed off for another drink - only to find we couldn't get in as they were shutting up. Still, it had been an excellent day.

We were flying fairly soon the next day so we were up early and on the 133 bus into Town. Quick stop to buy Daniel a souvenier t-shirt and then it was the Mustek metro to Dejvicka before getting the 119 bus back to Prague Airport. Again, Czech Airlines were all on time and another half full flight headed back to Heathrow.

All the thanks to my good buddy Hatemanu who went up in the early hours to get the tickets from Villa Park, booked all the flights & hotels and got his mate to drive us to Heathrow & back. Top stuff mate - I think I repaid him fully by buying him an extra large Twix at Prague Airport!!!!

An excellent trip, one of my favourites actually, and I think I'll adopt Slavia Prague as my favourite Czech team - even if their shirts are expensive!

The After Match Slavia Prague Ritual

This is what I was trying to explain earlier about the players going over to their fans after our game. There is even a translation on this explaining exactly what they're chanting at the players. Just after this film stops the players did a shortened version with the supporters on the side stand and then came round by us where they were probably surprised to be applauded by us too.

Fantastic support by Slavia fans. Over here if your team loses 1-0 they get booed off and dozens of "fans" ring up various radio phone-ins asking for managers to get sacked. Anyway, Czech this out...(sorry)

There is a YouTube one from their 4-1 derby win over Sparta which they seemed to enjoy!

Missing Ajax

2008-10-26T04:19:00.000-07:00

Last Minute Substitution

You don't play Ajax at home very often.

I'd been looking forward to it for ages, seeing such a famous European name on a big floodlit night at Villa Park. It wasn't to be though.

On Wednesday night within an hour of being perfectly OK, I was struck by a virus and ended up being sick nearly twenty times during the night. With absolutely no sleep at all I attempted to go to work the next day, hoping it would be a better soloution to making the match later.

I knew by lunchtime it wouldn't happen and got sent home anyway early afternoon. Fortunately between them, my two top buddies, Hatemanu & Spanner managed to sell my ticket so at least avoiding paying £25 and not seeing the match.

I got home around 3 O'clock, slept for a bit and watched Spurs. The next thing I know it's 11.30pm and I've missed the lot. I actually saw the result on teletext - I knew we'd win. Luckily I'd Sky+d the game as I'd anticipated being there so I still got to see it the next day, but obviously it wasn't the same. I hope the lad who got my ticket appreciates how lucky he was.

A fantastic night and win for Aston Villa - just totally gutted I wasn't there.

First Training

2008-10-16T04:13:00.001-07:00

Daniel's First Training Session!

Last week I noticed a few very young children with Kate (one of the GMA Kick-boxing black belts) being trained in a fun and very introductory way. Mr Carter also looked after them for a while too with a bit of "Mit work"!

I was really keen to give Daniel a go yesterday just to see how he reacted - although I was training myself at the time he looked like he was doing really well. He lasted the whole hour, doing all sorts of little exercises and was rewarded at the end with 2 stickers which said "Focus" and "Control".

He'd been excited about it all week since I mentioned the possibility of it and it went really well. He even ran over to me while I was supervising some of the youngsters sparring as he was so excited!

Now he wants to do it again which I'm really chuffed about!

Cowboys Beat Browns

2008-09-14T02:45:00.001-07:00

Cowboys Watch:

Cleveland Browns 10 Dallas Cowboys 28

Randy Lerner has been a saviour for Aston Villa but there could be no favours on Sunday as his Browns were to be given a lesson by Tony Romo and the Boys!

Picking apart Cleveland's secondary with ease, Romo passed for 320 yards, Terrell Owens caught a 35-yard touchdown pass and Barber scored on a pair of 1-yard runs as the Cowboys opened a season they expect to end in the Super Bowl by overwhelming the out-of-sync Browns 28-10.

Coming off a 13-win season, which ended with a bitterly disappointing playoff loss at home to the New York Giants, the Cowboys lived up to all their preseason hype with a solid all-around performance. We are the team to beat in the NFC, and after one game, it's hard to argue there's any better.

With all day to throw, Romo completed 24 of 32 passes as Dallas' offense racked up nearly 500 yards, controlled the clock and strung together four long touchdown drives. The defense held one of the AFC's most potent offenses to 205 yards, and except for some silly penalties, the star-studded Cowboys, whose training camp was profiled on HBO's "Hard Knocks," had a knockout debut.

Jason Witten added six catches for 96 yards and Barber rushed for 80 on 16 carries before leaving in the third quarter holding his ribs. Coach Wade Phillips said he's a "little worried" about Barber's injury but wouldn't speculate on the severity or if the running back will be ready for Philadelphia next Monday.

On top of a strong performance on both sides of the ball, the Cowboys also got their first look at Adam Jones, the cornerback/punt returner/troublemaker, who was recently reinstated after serving a 17-month suspension and played his first game since 2006, for Tennessee.

Starting at corner for Terence Newman, Jones, who was arrested six times and involved in many more incidents involving police since joining the league, was called for interference in the end zone to set up Cleveland's only TD.

Surrounded by reporters afterward, Jones gushed about his new team.

They've got big-time fans, too. Before the game, LeBron James, Cleveland's NBA superstar and a longtime Dallas fan, hugged both Joneses and Owens. Saddled with enormous expectations, the Browns, who were winless during an injury-plagued preseason, dropped to 1-9 in openers since returning to the league in 1999.

The Browns began last season by being trounced 34-7 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, who will visit next Sunday night in a nationally televised game.

Cleveland's only touchdown came on Derek Anderson's 2-yard pass to Kellen Winslow in the second quarter. Anderson went 11-of-24 for 114 yards but never got into a rhythm with wide receiver Braylon Edwards, who had only two catches and dropped at least two, including one in the first quarter on what would have been a sure TD.

Edwards missed three exhibition games with a cut foot and said the time off hurt his timing. The Cowboys, who led 21-7 at halftime, had touchdown drives of 80, 69, 69 and 86 yards, the final one capped by an 11-yard TD run by rookie Felix Jones on his first regular-season carry. He finished with 62 yards.

In the second quarter, Owens blew past safety Brandon McDonald and hauled in his TD pass from Romo to give the Cowboys a 14-7 lead. One of the league's most celebrated end zone showmen, Owens placed the ball near the goal line and shook each leg as if he was getting ready to get into the starting blocks and take on Olympic blur Usain Bolt in the 100 meters. He was called for unsportsmanlike conduct.

It was his 130th career TD, tying him with Cris Carter for second on the career list behind Jerry Rice (197).

The Cowboys now face the Eagles on Monday night!

Setanta Can Go & Do One!

I used to be so patriotic about the England football team, but I realised how little I care now when I found out that Setanta were going to deny the majority of the country from watching them. I heard about 3 minutes of the 5-Live commentary and realised I just wasn't bothered and wasn't going to waste time listening to England make excuses for only scoring 2 goals against a part-time football team.

England may have won well in Croatia but for too long now they've been average at best with over-paid, lazy susperstar players wearing the three lions. Players who clearly are not bothered when they don't do well and churn out the standard boring interviews time and time again.

I can't get excited about a team with players in it who I despise and an FA who've ripped off supporters for far too long.

I watched the Croatia game at a mates house, and while we were obviously pleased England had won, we were all talking through the game and didn't always give it all of our attention.

Setanta can kiss my arse - there's more than enough football on Sky thanks.

Marg Ginger - 17 Years

2008-08-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

Mark Ginger - RIP

Mark Ginger died August 30, 1991 in a motorway accident.

He was Aston Villa through and through, travelled everywhere with our lot and was just one of the lads. The trip to Milan in 1990 had been a real highlight for all of us, we'd had such a great time there.

Mark was a Gloucester boy for which we naturally gave him stick, but he gave us plenty back and we loved him to bits. We were totally devastated when he died so young and I can't really believe it's 17 years as I write this now. Seventeen years, where has that time gone? I'll never forget finding out the next morning or having to break the news to some of the lads.

I remember arranging a supporters match in his memory a few days after the funeral - It was always a pain in the arse organising our lot for a game of football but this time everyone was available without hesitation and it showed the respect everyone had for Mark.

We used to create a little fanzine just for our lot who travelled on the coach everywhere and me, Mark and Aaron were the major contributors. I still have the fanzines in the garage and they hold great memories for me. It was called "Marchants Lions" in recognition of the bus company that used to look after us.

Thinking of you mate, if I don't make it down the Crem over the weekend I'm sorry. Miss you like mad sunshine.

Holte Enders in the Sky - RIP.

Stoke away

2008-08-24T02:59:00.000-07:00

Gloucester Martial Arts New Gym

Alan Carter has opened up a new gym for the full-contact and MMA fighters at the top end of Barton Street in Gloucester.

I had the pleasure of an hours training today which was fantastic and which I really enjoyed - my hands are still shaking and without my wrist support I think my wrist would just fall off! I'm a million light years away from these talented guys and girls but I can still stick in 100% effort and give all I have - certainly did that today!

Gloucester Martial Arts Extreme (GMAX) will now have it's fighters based there and hopefully heady times are ahead.

Here are some pictures of the new place which is still taking place and will soon be getting a bit bigger. As soon as my main blog is back up (server has been down for ages) I'll pop this info on there.

Stoke City 3 Aston Villa 2

This was probably one of least enjoyable away days in quite some time.

We reached the centre of Stoke (or "the land that time forgot") fairly early and found a pub called The Famous Lion which was pretty good. We should have stayed there - all day.

After walking for ages to get to the ground we found The Harvester which is right opposite The Britannia Stadium. If you fancy waiting 25 minutes to get served and then be faced by the the most useless, gobby, jumped-up female bar-staff on the planet, this is the place for you. The place is a fucking shambles - they should pop over to see how the one near Pride Park run theirs.

Forgot to mention the YTS boy going around getting people to take their caps off. It wasn't to be the only Mickey Mouse performance of the afternoon.

In the first half Villa were pathetic. Not one shot on target, no midfield, no clue. Reo-Coker was lost out on the right and Gareth Barry was dreaming of red somewhere else. Stoke were doing their impression of Watford and just lumping the ball forward at every opportunity.

Mark Halsey does us every year and he started early this time with the ridiculous penalty decision. Fair play to Stoke though, they deserved a lead. John Carew took his goal very well but did precious little else but for me the turning point was their second goal.

Gareth Barry supplied a terrible pass and then stood admiring it while Stoke charged forward and scored a really well taken goal. Gareth can be as professional as he likes - his heart isn't there and yesterday it showed. The sooner we have 11 players on the pitch who actually want to be wear the fucking shirt the better.

Again we came back with an albeit scruffy free-kick only to concede from a fucking long throw in right at the end. We can change the players but our habit of conceding late goals just won't go away. Halsey let Stoke celebrate for a full minute before blowing straight from the kick off.

Whatever I may feel about Stoke's tactics, they deserved the win - they played with heart and passion. Something sadly lacking from the opposition who clearly thought by turning up they would win. The Stoke fans (most of them) deserved their moment - I hope they're as loud and passionate when they play the likes of Bolton and Middlesbrough in midweek games.

Our support was OK, nothing more. Singing "Have You Won The European Cup" to Stoke City fans is embarrassing quite frankly. If we had a MOTM it would probably have been Stan Petrov which is quite frightening.

The best part of the day was getting home earlier than expected, which pretty much sums it all up.

Levellers / The Fratellis

2008-08-16T12:49:00.001-07:00

Levellers - Letters From The Underground Review

The lads have finally tried to duplicate the fantastic "Levelling The Land" album and have succeeded. The passion, speed, fiddles, everything is there - even down to "Behold The Pale Rider" replacing "Another Mans Cause". Plus the production is so much better on this record compared to the last one which had good tracks but sounded not so clever.

After the excellent "The Cholera Well" opening, I was struck dumb by the awful second track "Death Loves Youth" and feared the worst. Fortunately with maybe one exception the rest of the album gets stronger and stronger, keeping up a great pace. Simon is back doing main vocals on two tracks including the final one "Fight Or Flight" My faves at the moment would be "Accidental Anarchist", "Duty" and "Heart Of The Country"

In conclusion, it's the best offering for some time in my opinion and now feel it might be time for the Brighton boys to call it a day. It's obvious that Mark's voice is not as good as it once was and to finish with such a great, strong-sounding record would be a fitting studio end for them.

They've got enough live material now to go on forever!

The Fratellis - Here We Stand Review

Once in a while you buy an album and get very unexpectedly blown away.

This one has done just that for me.

I was never a fan of the band and thought "Chelsea Dagger" was crap to be honest. I bought this on the strength of hearing "A Heady Tale" and have to hold my hands up and say what a great record this is.

Tracks like "Acid Jazz Singer", "Mistress Mable" and "Look Out Sunshine" are favourites, but the whole album is very strong and there is only one track that I tend to skip - out of twelve that's pretty good!

The album is a rocky, foot-stomping good sound - fair play, I think it's great!

Cheltenham Town 2 Swindon Town 0

My first visit to Whaddon Road in absolutely ages and it was a really exciting game of football, almost spoiled by one of the most disgraceful refereeing performances I've seen for a while. Uriah Rennie eat yer heart out - you have a successor.

Step forward Mr Phil Crossley from Kent. What an incompetant twat!

Swindon looked a really decent footballing side in the first half, especially Anthony McNamee, and probably should have been ahead by half time. Their football was a very high quality with the added bonus of getting every decision from the ref! Cheltenham looked disjointed and a bit lacking in belief to be honest.

Barry Hayles was playing a sound game up front but when Paul Connor came on things really changed and they both played a part in Ben Gill's great goal. Gill celebrated his first league goal and was booked - a few minutes later after a challenge only barely worthy of stopping play, he was off. Mr Crossley only stopped short of having a shot for Swindon.

With 10 men though, Town actally got stronger and Jennison Myrie-Williams scored after a lovely cross by Alex Russell. Shane Higgs played his part too and made some fine stops including a stunner in the first half. It was a real end to end second half though and a really enjoyable freebie afternoon - almost 5000 were there to see our boys get a welcome 3 points!

With 10 minutes left the Swindon fans gave up on their team and left in droves, safe in the knowledge it wouldn't take long to get back to the five magic roundabouts.

Nicky Shorey

2008-08-07T12:45:00.000-07:00

Nicky Shorey

Welcome to Villa Park to Nicky Shorey, a really decent left back and someone we badly needed after Freddie Bouma's awful injury. Reading's loss is our gain.

It looks as if Luke Young is also joining from Middlesbrough - I always felt we should have been in for him last year - £2million was nothing then. Both these guys hould help solidify things at the back with Brad Friedel in goal too now.

...and hours later Young was with us too!

Thomas Land @ Drayton

2008-07-14T06:31:00.000-07:00

A couple of Pics Of Danny Boy with his beloved trains!

Fights

2008-07-13T03:17:00.000-07:00

Kate's Fight

Steve's Fight

Black Belt Pics

2008-07-08T14:46:00.001-07:00

Mr Robinson, Mr Paradine & Me

Taekwondo Black Belts

Fat Barry & Liverpool

2008-07-04T12:41:00.000-07:00

..And Now The End Is Near

Hopefully the Gareth Barry saga will soon be over.

I saw his debut and well remember John Gregory publicly stating that the Brighton Chairman wouldn't recognise him if "he stood of the beach with a seagull on his head" when we had to pay some compensation.

Gareth has been club captain for some time but his attitude over the summer has been a disgrace and to slag off Martin O'Neill, the man who turned him into an England regular, is unacceptable. His handling of the situation, especially through his agent has seen any chance of him leaving with good wishes disappear.

It's like Dwight Yorke all over again. Now Gareth can expect the same welcome that Judas himself got when he came back to VP with United.

This time though, the Fat Spanish Waiter at Anfield won't be buying from Doug Ellis. We won't cave in when the second bid comes in and now we don't need the money.

Gareth Barry can rot now - he's become irrelevant to us. He can pine all he wants for Stevie G and the Champions League - unless Liverpool stump up the cash, not including add-ons or bench-warmers, he won't be going anywhere. What makes me laugh is the actual price - I've seen him play hundreds of times and many, many dreadful and ordinary performances. £18 million - we're having a bit of a laugh there too, but fuck Liverpool. If they want our Captain and England regular then pay the fucking asking price.

He's a good player, a good team player but nothing more. He's not our best player and he'll end up a very small fish in the Anfield goldfish bowl. If they think he's better than Alonso then good luck to em!

Witcombe Away

I played my second Wednesday night match of the season for Down Hatherley CC the other night. In haven't played a proper game since Daniel was born and it was nice to be asked back by Down Hatherley, last Club I played for when he arrived!

My knee's been pretty shit since the first game but held up enough to bash 13 Not Out at the end of the innings including a huge four back over the quick bowlers head that bounced once just before the fence.

I knew I still had it in me!

We played Witcome, and what a lovely setting it was.

In the first game I only managed 9 and was bowled by a very useful quickie who got the next 4 wickets after mine! I still haven't even had time for a net session!

Daniel Villa Goal

2008-06-16T01:03:00.001-07:00

The Best Goal In A Villa Shirt This Season?

Daniel actually asked to wear his Villa shirt today!

Lotus 7 Kit Car

2008-06-10T13:57:00.001-07:00

Lotus 7 Kit Car (Tiger)

My soon-to-be-married Sister and other half turned up at the weekend in a very cool yellow kit car based on the Lotus 7 (named "Tiger").

Going for a spin in it was pretty much like going on a thrill ride at a theme park - it was FAST! We raced down the dual carriageway and back which was enough to blow the cobwebs away, not that there were very many as I'd not long been back from three hours training!

..and Don't ever forget who I support!!

Daniel's Day With Thomas

2008-06-01T08:06:00.000-07:00

Daniel's Day With Thomas

Today Danny went to see Thomas and some of his friends at the Dean Forest Railway. Quite a few people had told me it was a nice day out and they were right - his face shone when he saw Thomas for the first time, and he met the Fat Controller as well as riding on Thomas, Oliver and Daisy.

The trains ran to Lydney and back while "Daisy" ran to Parkend. There wasn't a great deal to do in Lydney, the pub was shut, so we didn't stay that long. In between the main steam engines, Thomas went about on short trips and at lunchtime one of the naughty Diesels stole his carriages which he had to go and rescue.

The weather was reasonable and Daniel really enjoyed himself, especially when he had his face painted like a tiger at the end and when the engines went "toot toot". There was a bit of rain but to be fair it was very warm and nobody really noticed.

Daniel & Thomas

Daniel, Daddy & The Fat Controller

Daniel and his favourite "The Breakdown Train"

Daniel meets Oliver

Help - It's a scary TIGER!!!

I need a sleep - it's been a long day!

A nice set up and pretty well organised, obviously they're looking to hit you in the pocket once you get to the shop but Daniel only wanted a couple of books ("Cranky" & "Harry and Bert") for his collection and we got him a flag too which he hasn't let go of yet.

Daniel really enjoyed out - a well recommended day out.

Big Country - Ships

2008-05-29T11:10:00.000-07:00

It's just how I feel at the moment....

Look at him now
Another used man
Wearing the passing of his dignity
With all the courage that he can

He stood in the storm
Carved out in stone
He said I’ve worn my honesty with pride
In everything I’ve done

So where were you when my ship went down
Where were you when I ran aground
Where were you when I turned it around
Where were you when they burned me down

You see her now, All tired and worn
She never thought her life
Would come to be so cold or so alone
She walked in the light, Fought bondage for love
She said I cast off the chains that I was born with
But it never was enough

So where were you when my ship went down
Where were you when I ran aground
Where were you when I turned it around
Where were you when they burned me down

Silent souls washed upon the shores
Left to walk the sands, Evermore, evermore

Look at you now just chasing your life
Make like the savior of the planet
You’re just trying to get by

Now you may walk the line
You may see it all through
But I know you cry yourself to sleep at night
Just wondering what to do

And where were you when my ship went down
Where were you when I ran aground
Where were you when I turned it around
Where were you when they burned me down

STAIND - Epiphany

Your words they make just a whisper
Your face is so unclear
I try to pay attention
Your words just disappear

Cuz it's always raining in my head
Forget all the things I should have said

So I speak to you in riddles
Cuz my words get in my way
I smoke the whole thing to my head
And feel it wash away
Cuz I can't take anymore of this
I wanna come apart
And dig myself a little hole
Inside your precious heart

Cuz it's always raining in my head
Forget all the things i should have said

I am nothing more than , A little boy inside
That cries out for intention
That I always try to hide
Cuz i talk to you like children
Though I don't know how I feel
But I know I'll do the right thing
If the right thing isn't fear

Cuz its always raining in my head
Forget all the things I should have said

The Property Centre Gloucester

2008-05-18T02:57:00.000-07:00

The Property Centre Gloucester

You really should put your house on the market with these guys....

1) The honest salesman convinces you the agents you are currently using are not nearly as professional as them.

2) He agrees your selling price - "No problem getting interest with that figure"

3) He rings up a few weeks later after no visits and suggests dropping the price by £6000!

4) He continually phones the home address at lunchtime when there's nobody there.

5) He shows less than 10 people around in 6 months, some of whom actually stated they were not looking to buy a house in our area anyway.

6) Sends lists of supposedly hundreds upon hundreds of potential buyers asking for our property details as they're interested. We counted nearly 200 on one sheet of paper - yet THREE people came to view!

7) He sends a letter saying they're not going to market the property anymore and lists clients they've shown around the property - TWO OF WHICH DIDN'T EVEN EXIST AND WHICH WAS ADMITTED BY ANOTHER MEMBER OF STAFF.

Totally pathetic. If you want utter bullshit, lies and shite service then these are your guys. If you thought all estate agents were the same then give The Property Center a try - they'll change your mind.

End Of Season Review

2008-05-15T12:01:00.000-07:00

So What Went On This Season?

I think the Villa have had a really fine season finishing sixth, and of course any other year would have seen us qualify automatically for the UEFA Cup. I still think two games in July is a small price to pay to get us to the qualifying rounds.

From what is a small squad anyway we obviously lose Olly Mellberg - I've done a blog update about him alone, but once again - he's been a start through many rough times and many average defensive partners. I wish him all the best and we will miss him.

Scott Carson - well, who knows. He's done OK but I won't cry if he leaves - The Croatia game knocked the stuffing out of him.

Gareth Barry. As mentioned elsewhere, he can leave for Liverpool and be in and out of their side. At Villa he can lead us onto much better things and be a major player. However, an instant doubling of the wages and Champions League football will be impossible to resist IMO.

Patrik Berger - Go and play for Leicester or some other place where has-beens go. Typical David O'Leary signing - absolute rubbish, complete waste of time.

So four out and Luke Moore as good as gone - we've got a lot of buying to do. In previous years we've always failed miserably so let's see what Randy and Martin have up their sleeve.

Unlike Small Heath, Cheltenham Town didn't get relegated. Keith Downing achieved a minor miracle in keeping the Robins up and I willingly eat alot of humble pie as I thought his appointment signalled certain relegation. Well done to everyone at Whaddon Road.

Bristol City are at Wembley after a great 2nd Leg at Ashton Gate - I hope they beat Hull as this will be a great trip for Villa and I have a few friends down in those parts!

I'll look forward to hearing Sepp Blatter and his UEFA buddies give Glasgow Rangers all sorts of threats after their fans disgraceful antics last night. Oh, of course he won't - they're not English are they?

UFC 83 Review - St Pierre V Serra II

Setting a new UFC record with over 21,000 in attendance, UFC 83 had a distinctly different feel. After being knocked out by Matt Serra the last time they met in a huge upset, St. Pierre would likely benefit from that different feel for sure in his attempt to take revenge on his New York based rival.

First up was a match between Mac Danzig and Mark Bocek. The fight started with Bocek taking Danzig down and controlling things for the majority of the initial stanza. That said, Danzig was never really in any danger and toward the end of the round turned Bocek over to deliver a nice flurry of ground and pound.

A huge right knee by Danzig floored Bocek early in the second round. From there, a rather furious ground and pound onslaught followed that even involved Danzig taking his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt opponent’s back for a time. Still, with about 1:30 left in the round, Danzig stood up, letting his opponent to his feet. Even with this, Danzig shirked another takedown attempt by his adversary and ended up on top raining down punches before the bell.

The third started off with Bocek gaining a nice takedown. However, soon after Danzig kicked him off and got to his feet. From there, Danzig nailed his opponent with a hard right knee and later a terrific left jab, opening up a gash over the Canadian’s left eye. Later in the round, Danzig tripped Bockek to the canvas and then took his back. From there, he sunk in the rear naked choke.

A great showing for Mac Danzig. Still, Mark Bocek certainly showed some toughness.

Next up was a match between Charles McCarthy and Michael Bisping in the Brit’s first fight at 185 pounds. He looked good coming in. But would that mean anything?

Basically, this fight went like this. Michael Bisping threw punches early on and Charles McCarthy didn’t. Though McCarthy came up with a huge takedown and nearly pulled off the armbar on the ground in the initial stanza, the British fighter got out of trouble and to his feet. From there, he ended the first round with a flurry of punches and knees.

After the bell sounded, McCarthy continued to lay on the canvas, unable to continue. Not a great showing for Charles McCarthy at all.

Next up was a very interesting fight between Nate Quarry and Kalib Starnes. The first round was rather uneventful in that Starnes seem to be backpedaling for nearly the entire round. Quarry landed some good shots and clearly won the stanza, but it was all made hard by his opponent’s style.

The second round was more of the same in that Quarry landed several leg kicks to go along with some body and head punches. For a brief moment, Starnes caught his leg and took him down but Quarry was back to his feet before you could count to three. Thus, another clear round for The Rock. Starnes just wasn’t looking right.

In the third it was just more of the same. Not sure if Starnes was injured before this one or sick or something, but he just didn’t look right at all the whole fight.

Next up was one of the big ones. Rich Franklin vs. Travis Lutter. Franklin landed a hard right early on. However, Lutter grabbed a leg, eventually took him down, and immediately took his back. Franklin worked himself out to half guard before Lutter gained mount and lost the position to half guard again.

Lutter then gained mount again and went for a solid armbar that Franklin escaped from in astounding fashion before getting to his feet. Though Lutter grabbed his leg and looked for a takedown for the rest of the stanza, Franklin countered well and landed a knee before the bell sounded. Lutter won the first round, but Ace showed some prowess on the ground.

The second round was very different. Namely, Franklin connected with several hard knees inside and a big time left high kick. From there, the stand up pounding began, and it only ended when Franklin followed his opponent to the canvas and continually struck him until the referee pulled him off.

Finally, we came to the main event. The crowd boomed loud when Georges St. Pierre came into the Octagon to take on Matt Serra.

The first round was all Georges St. Pierre. Right off the bat he took Matt Serra down and from there the ground and pound onslaught started. Though the pounding started off slow, the intensity of it increased with time. At the tail end of the stanza, St. Pierre connected with a hard knee to Serra’s ribs. A dominant round for the Canadian.

The second round started with much of the same: Georges St. Pierre took his opponent down and began to dominate him. Later in the round, St. Pierre began raining knee after knee into Serra’s ribs as the man from Long Island stayed immobile on all fours. Finally, the referee had no choice but to step in.

Georges St. Pierre is now the undisputed UFC Welterweight Champion of the world.

In the end, UFC 83 was a really good watch for MMA fans. Georges St. Pierre once again showed that when focused, he’s the best welterweight fighter in the world. Rich Franklin put to rest all of those overrated chants. And Mac Danzig showed the world that he is truly a force to be reckoned with.

Cage Rage 26 Review

Cage Rage 26: “Extreme” came and went Saturday night from the NEC Arena in Birmingham, England, with Ian Freeman toppling Paul Calhoun via unanimous decision for the light heavyweight title in the main event of the evening.

Ross Pointon, also came away with a win thanks to a nifty fight-ending heel hook against Ross Mason. In addition, Paul “Semtex” Daley was in the house and revealed that he was not going to retire. In fact, he has a future opponent in mind.

Challenger Ian Freeman captured the Cage Rage light heavyweight belt by defeating Paul Cahoon with a unanimous decision. It was a back and forth battle, but Freeman inflicted more damage and scored more takedowns.

Matt Ewin vs. Mark Epstein for middleweight title

Ewin reclaimed his Cage Rage middleweight belt with a unanimous decision victory. Ewin had a slow start, getting taken down early and controlled for some of the first round, but battled back and dominated the later rounds with takedowns of his own and punishing strikes. It was a very decisive decision.

Ch’e Mills vs. Marios Zaromskis at welterweight

Mills was victorious with a first round doctor stoppage because of a cut Zamomskis sustained over his eye very early on in the fight. It was a good first round with a lot of action, both on the feet and on the mat. It’s too bad the fight had to be stopped — it could have possibly been the fight of the night.

Rodney Favorus vs. James Zikic at light heavyweight

Zikic wins via armbar in the third round. He maintained top position for most of the fight while on the mat and stayed away from Favorus’s power in the stand up game. Zikic looked much improved in his ground game and slipped in a very impressive armbar 25 seconds into the last round.

Ross Mason vs. Ross Pointon at welterweight

Pointon defeated Mason via submission (heel hook) first round. Pointon was actually quite impressive. His gameplan was to take Mason down and submit him and he executed to perfection with a heel hook 1 minute and 26 seconds into the first round.

Sooty The Cat - RIP

2008-05-04T13:45:00.000-07:00

Sooty The Cat

Sooty has been our cat for around 15 years.

On Saturday evening she was cruelly run over and left to die on our quiet cul-de-sac road. Some sub-normal bastard is out there, well aware they did something but didn't have the guts to report it or tell anyone.

It took two strangers to knock on the door to tell us. We also soon realised we've got some really nice neighbours around here we didn't know.

Sooty was old but this was no way to go.

I hope the spineless prick that did it gets a heavy dose of karma sooner rather than later. God help them if I ever meet them the fucking gutless cunt.

Very sad, and very unfair.

RIP Sooty.

Villa Thrash Blues

2008-04-23T13:52:00.000-07:00

Aston Villa 5 Small Heath Alliance 1

Everything about Sunday had been great, the whole day from start to finish. The match, the atmosphere, the drubbing the opposition got, the work that had been done to make the front of the Holte End look extra classy. Everything.

That was until I heard about the death of Christopher Priest, one of our own, killed in a road traffic accident not long after the match.

Brings it all into perspective as it could have been any one of us, dodging cars, running about in a rush to get home. Whatever rumours are being spread at the moment, this isn't the time or place - I hope the Police can do their job and bring the criminal to justice.

It's no consolation at all, but I hope it was over quick, and the last thoughts he ever had were of elation and joy as he saw his favourite team win with style. He'll have some great memories.

RIP Christopher Priest.

Derby 0 Aston Villa 6

2008-04-13T03:28:00.001-07:00

Derby County 0 Aston Villa 6

Aston Villa's biggest away win since November 1971. Only 37 years ago.

It was just about the perfect day. On the pitch, though slightly alcohol-clouded, I honestly thought we were second best until we actually scored.

Scotty Carson was getting plenty of grief from their fans over to our right, though by the end of the match it was Roy Carroll who looked the fool along with all of his Derby collegues. Quite honestly, they're one of the worst sides I've ever seen. I hope the home fans gave the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Bridge and equally hostile welcome - all far more responsible for England not being at Euro 2008.

That's taking nothing away from us, we did exactly what was needed and it was great to be witness to six different goalscorers including Stan Petrov belting one from 40 yards with his left foot!

He's fast as f*ck, he's fast as f*ck.

We looked quite clinical in front of goal, especially with the last two strikes from Gabby and Marlon. The latter of the two came over at the end of the game and left his shirt with a lucky fan at the front - he seems to be quite the favourite at the moment and very appreciative of it too.

Every player did a job. Laursen was excellent when needed, as was Freddie Bouma with a vital stop before we'd scored. I was really impressed with Nigel Reo-Coker who excelled in whatever he did and where ever he was being asked to play. Everything else ticked nicely.

Derby are a bit sad all round. I remember Dallas Cowboys fans being hammered on a local radio phone in for doing the Mexican wave in 2003. "Nobody does that anymore do they" was a continuous response. Then two years ago at the JJB, Wigan fans showed the sad trend was still alive - I thought I'd seen the last of it.

...Till yesterday. Derby County 2008 doing the Mexican wave. There is "Gallows humour" and there is sadness. You make your mind up which it is.

On the alcohol side of the day things went rather well. A few drinks on the train up and then we went to a "Harvester type place". It was totally packed and a much better option than the grim looking boozer opposite the Station. Everywhere around the ground is very new, and simlar to Bolton and Wigan - it was alright actually.

Anyway, several pints and Vodka's later we headed off with ten minutes to kick off. We did miss the first few minutes but hey ho.

A very, very good day out. Finding out that Fulham and Bolton had won was a bonus and leads is nicely into next week. Same result again please....

Birmingham Arrests

2008-04-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

Birmingham City Council have issued a statement:-

"As Birmingham City FC have brought the good name of the City into disrepute we have requested that they henceforth revert to their previous name of Small Heath Alliance"

Alliance & Leicester Plc have objected on the grounds of their name being besmirched.The club has been asked to revert to their previous name of Small Heath Town FC

Councillor M. S. Jaspal(Heath Town, Wolverhampton) has objected on the grounds of the reputation of his ward being besmirched.

The club will were to be known as Small FC until KFC also objected on the grounds of their trading name being besmirched.

The club will henceforth be known as Small. Statement ends.

If former Villa left-back Bryan Small, or Mr Small (of Mr Men fame) were to also lodge complaints then Small Heath as they were known would be nameless.

A further statement followed from the club:-

Shares were suspended in Birmingham City Football Club this morning amid fears of financial meltdown at the West Midlands club.

Birmingham have confirmed that, following the flop of the Rabbbitron Master Stroke 450i, they are unable to meet the players wages and an emergency board meeting has been scheduled in HMP Winson Green for later this afternoon.

A club insider said: "We all knew it was a shit product and to tie the future financial success of the club to it was dangerous. Hopefully Mr Egg Foo Yung will step in and save us".

Birmingham have yet to officially confirm the story although rumours abound that this is beacuse they are still trying to find a club representative with the power of speech. Statement ends.

Another statement was soon released by the West Midlands Police Press Assc:-

Police have been left in a state of dildo confusion after arresting Birmingham City Football Club co-owner David Sullivan and the club's minging director Karen Brady.

The pair have been questioned by City of London Police on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting.

Sullivan, who has amassed a fortune worth a reported six hundred million pounds, mainly from the largest chain of sex shops in the UK, is alleged to have brandished a dildo at officers who turned up to question him.

Sixteen dildo's were removed from his pockets before entering the police station.

Fearing similar behavior from Brady, who had apparently 'just got out of bed' and turned up for questioning in 'a foul mood' cops decided to body check the managing director for similar weaponary.

Although only two love eggs and a banana were found inside her jacket pocket, shocked cops managed to slide from her grizzly poontang what appeared to be a similar dildo to the one Mr. Sullivan had earlier brandished.

"You don't wanna be hit on the head with one of those things" said PC Richards, "I've seen a grown man knocked off his feet from the swing of a dildo".

To the cops surprise, the dildo began talking.

"We were shocked. You see alot in this job, but being spoken to by a slimy dildo was a first".

Taped to a chair in the questioning room, the dildo introduced himself as Derby County striker Paul Peschidildo, the husband of Karen Brady.

Investigations into the business dealings of Brady and Sullivan continue. The dildo was released without charge. Statement Ends

If this whole case goes to court, will Liam Ridgewell be acting for the defence? Bless em. I can happily say that I can't wait for April 20th now!

Drumming Danny

2008-04-05T13:49:00.000-07:00

Heading For Pride Park - Derby Away

The Bolton win was so important.

We have to finish in a position where we can get those two Intertoto games because European football is a must for next season.

After many, many years of never missing games I'm almost embarrassed to say that Derby away next week will only be my second game of the season. I'm looking forward to it, I need a break away if only for a few hours to enjoy Hatemanu's alcoholic company for the day!

I'm going to miss kick-boxing though. I've really enjoyed my time there and the last few lessons all round have been excellent. AFCMPT is a fantastic club, with instuctors who I respect massively and brilliant students with great ability that I'd love to have myself.

So between 11am-2pm I'll be getting bladdered instead of getting fit - but it's only for one week - I promise Sir!!

Daniel's Drums

Well, Daniel is not far away from being three now and it's been a little while since I documented his progress.

His learning skills have come on leaps and bounds, especially with letters and numbers and his memory seems like a sponge with little details being remembered all the time.

He can tell us when to stop and go at the traffic lights now too!

Still loves his music - his CD has been updated to include "The Wombats - Let's Dance To Joy Division" and "EMF - Children" both of which he likes on again and again. He sings along to the "So Happy" line from The Wombats and also mimmicks the Police siren on the EMF track.

He seems to enjoy everything on CBeebies at the moment. Lazy Town, Get Sqiggling, Space Pirates, Lunar Jim - he'd watch it all day if he was allowed!! His favourite film is "Monsters Inc" which again, he'd watch every day if he could!

He makes us laugh so much at times. Yesterday when I saw Cheltenham had taken the lead against Northampton I said "Yes, come on Cheltenham" - to which he replied "No Daddy - Come On Villa" - he's been tought too well.

Then later when Villa conceded the second at Old Trafford I mumbled a rather depressed sentence to which he put his arm on my shoulder and said "Oh Daddy what's the matter" - I said Villa were losing and he replied "Oh no, what we gonna do?" Martin O'Neill was probably thinking the same thing at the time!

So now his third birthday approaches.....

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Kickboxing Grading

Yesterday was actually an assessment wrapped within a grading.

Five of us stayed on the floor for around two and a half hours which involved three seperate standard gradings for all the other different coloured belts.

It was hard going (always is for me!) but still enjoyable all the same. The grading was taken by Mr Andrew Champion who I know very well from Taekwondo and who I respect hugely, like all the other instructors. He's great, especially with the little ones with the skill to make them feel at ease but still get the discipline and etiquette into them at the same time.

I think I did OK, probably only struggling with one combination which invloved spinning twice - after five of those the room had gone quite a pretty colour I can tell you! My left elbow and left foot were giving me a bit of grief (paralysed down my left hand side!!) but I wasn't making any excuses at all and could worry about a bit of pain after it was all finished.

Daniel actually tried on my head guard yesterday and then wouldn't give it me back! I can't wait till Mr Paradine and Mr Carter are teaching him and giving him the grounding I never had an opportunity to have at his age.

CT's Desert Island Videos!

2008-03-21T09:37:00.000-07:00

Here's Just A Selection Of My Favourite Tracks Of All Time

Streetlight Manifesto - We Will Fall Together

Big Country - Ships

Mad Caddies - Leavin'

Levellers - One Way

The Specials - Ghost Town

Stone Sour - Bother

The Bluetones - Head On A Spike

The Jam - A Town Called Malice

Depeche Mode - Enjoy The Silence

Goo Goo Dolls - Sympathy

Big D & The Kids Table - Shining On

Inspiral Carpets - This Is How It Feels

Oasis - Whatever

Def Leppard - Love Bites

Morrissey - I Have Forgiven Jesus

New Radicals - You Get What You Give

Avenged Sevenfold - Bat Country

Del Amitri - Nothing Ever Happens

Buckcherry - Crazy Bitch

Foo Fighters - Everlong

Big Country - Wonderland

Levellers - The Boatman (Live)

Staind - Epiphany

Madness - Baggy Trousers

Iron Maiden - The Trooper

Kirsty McColl (Billy Bragg Cover) - A New England

W.A.SP - Wild Child

Machine Head - Aesthetics Of Hate

Adam & The Ants - Stand & Deliver

Villa Fans Eduardo chants / arrests at Emirates

2008-03-02T09:44:00.000-08:00

It's Caused Some Lively Debate.....

Me and a mate were having a discussion about this yesterday. Villa supporters were chanting about Eduardo having a simliar walk to Heather Mills and the Arsenal fans close to our section reacted big time.

One Villa supporter who more than lilely wasn't even involved, ended up in hospital after being thrown down some stairs. When Curtis Davies ended up being stretchered off many Arsenal fans cheered - two wrongs making a right then?

There were Villa fans away at Wigan the season before last singing about Karen Brady having a tumour - Villa fans or not, they made me sick and I'd have happily gone over and taken on every one of them because they crossed a line which had nothing to do with football anyway. That wasn't a "football related injury" - that was a life threatening illness to a woman they decided to mock because of where she works.

The injury to the Arsenal lad was not nice at all but is unfortunately part of the game. The Spurs fans were already making up songs at Wembley just hours after it happened. The difference to me is that the player will be well looked after for the next 6/9 months, his life isn't at risk and he'll be back and scoring goals again before we know it. He hasn't got to worry about his job or where his next pay-packet comes from.

So yeah, the songs may be in very poor taste but it ain't the end of the world. Remember, 15 years ago this probably wouldn't have come up for discussion.

Times have changed and along with Sky - football supporters have changed too. Currently there is a mix of everyone, families, lads, women, singers, non-singers, those that want to stand etc. The song is bound to offend - some, like me will agree it's tastless but it's banter - the same banter that's gone on for the last 25 years I've been going to games.

...and while I'm at it, where was the wall-to-wall media coverage for Mark Delaney after Carlos Bocanegra's horror-tackle at Fulham a few years back? No great outcry for Bocanegra to be banned for life despite the fact his "challenge" was ten times worse than that of Martin Taylor's. Taylor can honestly hold his hand up and say it was an accident - Bocanegra can't.

Anyway, supporters always feed on someone else's problems - that goalie for Oxford United will never forget 90 minutes of torture at The Manor Ground when we beat them in the League Cup, and he'll never get over his baldness either!

Reading 1 Aston Villa 2

2008-02-24T08:22:00.000-08:00

Reading 1 Aston Villa 2

A world apart form the abject performance at Fulham - we really deserved this win.

In fact it was a decent all round game. Ashley Young's goal right on half time was so important as it was looking as if we we're going in level having squandered numerous chances including Birthday Boy's horrendous penalty miss. Everyone was playing their part including Martin Laursen with another class display at the back.

Big Marlon again came on and made an impact yet again with his strength and aggression. His goal was an absolute beauty - very similar to Thierry Henry's against Celtic except you'll see Henry's goal another 100 times on Sky whilst Harewood's will be forgotten by Monday.

Two footnotes to this game:

James Harper. You're a nobody. When you come up against a somebody - show some f*cking respect. A Jab in someone's back followed by mouthing off as you walk away repesents being a complete coward.

Stephen Hunt. You're a cheat. I hope one day you'll look back at the TV of this game and realise what an idiot you made of yourself. Blatant cheat - nothing more, nothing less.

Anyway, I don't care - we're still in there. Passport renewal forms at the ready!

Sis Gettin' Married!

2008-02-22T13:37:00.000-08:00

Bolton In Madrid

Unprovoked attacks by police. Fans scattered everywhere with no one able to tell them which part of the ground they're supposed to enter. I could have told you 24 hours before that this would happen.

All sounds very, very familar - it could only be our Spanish "friends" Athletico Madrid.

Madrid had the look of a worried, desperate club after their 0-0 first leg score by deciding to post all the Bolton team movements (hotels, flights etc) on their offical website. Will Sepp Blatter do anything about this - will he f*ck.

Once again the same old stories are surfacing but nothing will happen. The Spanish Club and Police seem exempt from any law or governing body of any kind.

One thing is for sure - Bolton Wanderers did a fantastic job of knocking them out so well done to Gary Megson and his team for that. Shame on the TV companies as well for not showing the game but drooling over Spurs and Everton in games that were already won anyway.

Well done Bolton.

Gazza On The Edge

This was really sad news, probably news we've all seen coming.

Paul Gascoigne was a truly brilliant footballer who would run rings round some of the pretenders in the Premier League now.

Unfortunately some of his friends and advisors have really let him down. The man needs professional help and the media need to leave him alone to get it.

I wish him a speedy recovery.

Good On Yer Sis!

My sister popped in to see me with some rather surprise news yesterday.

She's getting married - finally! The extra part of the news was that little bruv has to give her away meaning I have to buy a new suit between now and June!!

Congratulations to Sis and Kev on their news.

Praise For Sky? What?!

2008-02-17T13:45:00.000-08:00

NFL Total Access

I'm gonna have to do it - praise Sky two updates running!

This years NFL coverage was by far the best - it's been really good for many year now but with 5 games available on any Sunday and also the Monday night games it's covered everything.

Kevin Cadle and Nick Halling do a grand job - even if Halling clearly hates the Cowboys and especially T.O.

The best addition though has been NFL Total Access which they screen the day after it's shown in the States. In past years you'd have to rely on Fanzines before the internet - now there's a show with the latest news, interviews and highlights.

It's still running now though surely they may struggle to fill the time with the season finished! You can only talk about the draft for so long.

So another season over - we saw the first NFL regular season game at Wembley in October and witnessed the worst team (The Miami Dolphins) and also as it turned out the best (New York Giants) in the pouring rain.

...and it's another Miami Dolphins....defeat.

The Cowboys choked again when it really mattered having been excellent for most of their 13-3 season. They lost badly to the eventual Superbowl Champs New York in a pretty dismal showing. They really should be knocking at the door next season. Dallas took 13 players to The Pro Bowl and the Giants only one - maybe suggesting the Giants are a better team than one of individuals?

It's only 6 months away!

Ross Kemp In Afghanistan

2008-02-14T12:51:00.000-08:00

Ross Kemp In Afghanistan

Just a quick blog to say what a fantastic series this has been on Sky 1.

I've often said we've really got no idea what our brave soldiers go through over there and this series has backed that assumption up.

Contstant attacks, all manners of danger and of course the searing heat. Kemp is right there on the front line with a very brave cameraman and soundman. Every aspect seems to have been covered.

The scenes of ambushes and scrambling under fire, the confusion followed by sheer relief at survival, often expressed by a lot of swearing are amazing to watch. Also though the scenes from Helmet Cams and the aftermath when the "Friendly Fire" incident happened are pretty harrowing.

It's been excellent TV and there's still one Episode left.

...and good luck Bolton Wanderers in the UEFA Cup tonight against Real Madrid's poor relations "The Mattress Makers". Give 'em a spanking Bolton.

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English Football Greed

2008-02-11T13:06:00.001-08:00

Top clubs consider overseas games (From The BBC)

The English Premier League is considering the idea of staging some matches around the rest of the world. At a meeting in London on Thursday, all 20 clubs agreed to explore a proposal to extend the season to 39 games.

Those 10 extra games would be played at five different venues, with cities bidding for the right to stage them.

It is understood the additional fixtures could be determined by a draw but that the top-five teams could be seeded to avoid playing each other.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore told BBC Sport: "I think it's an idea whose time has come. It's an exciting prospect. We believe that an 'international round' of matches will enhance the strength of the Barclays Premier League as a competition

"When the league does well, other people in the football family do well in terms of redistribution. We feel it is a very positive thing.

"You can't stand still and if we don't do this then somebody else is going to do it, whether it be football or another sport. Therefore it's trying to ride the crest of that wave at the same as protecting what is good and great about what we do.

"Every time there is an evolutionary step, the reaction of the fans is not always great but I would ask them to take a step back and look at the positives."

The Football Association has given its provisional support to the plans.

"We understand the reasons for this proposals and the benefits it can bring to English football as a whole," said an FA source.

A final decision on the proposals will not be made until January 2009. The main aspects of the plans are: An additional round of Premier League fixtures, extending the season to 39 games, from January 2011

Four clubs to travel to one of five host cities, with two games taking place in each venue over a weekend

Cities would bid for the right to become a host, not for individual matches

Scudamore added that "there is much more detail to follow which we will work on over the next 12 months".

Cities in Asia, Middle East and North America are likely to show a strong interest in hosting the extra games.

BBC sports editor Mihir Bose says the Premier League's decision to explore such a move is a "logical" one.

"The growth of the Premier League has been impressive in the last 15 years thanks to the sale of television rights in this country," he said.

"But now the market in the United Kingdom is becoming saturated and it is the overseas market which is now the big target area." This is a chance for the Premier League to showcase its product around the world

The Premier League's income from the sale of overseas TV rights has already increased from £178m in 2001 to £625m for the current deal that runs until 2010.

Broadcaster NowTV paid around £100m for the rights to Hong Kong alone.

Premier League games are broadcast to over 600m homes in 202 countries worldwide, while an estimated 1bn people watched the Premier League game between Arsenal and Manchester United in November 2007.

A number of top-flight clubs already play matches around the world as they seek to capitalise on the huge global interest in the English game.

Manchester United are regular visitors to Asia, Middle East and America while other clubs are beginning to follow their lead.

"This is a chance for the Premier League to showcase its product around the world," added Bose.

"Some fans may feel aggrieved, but their concerns will be outweighed in the eyes of the clubs by the financial advantages. "The clubs will see this as a chance to make more money so they can invest in new facilities and better players."

There is also likely to be a big scramble for the right to host the extra games. Man Utd make regular visits to Asia and are proving a big hit in China

"It will be like cities bidding for the Olympic Games or the World Cup," explained Bose. The Premier League's proposal mirrors moves in other sports, notably American Football.

Miami Dolphins and New York Giants met at Wembley in October, the first competitive NFL game outside the Americas.

"Globalisation is a challenge for all sports because the whole world seems to be interested in the very best of sport wherever it comes from," added Scudamore.

"Through modern media exposure there is a globalisation and we need to do something to make sure we are at the forefront of that and making sure we turn that into positive benefits for the game at all levels in this country."

Scudamore also defended the claim that taking away the principle of teams playing each other twice, home and away, removes the league's fairness.

"There is a perfect symmetry to our league but that is not the same thing as saying it is fair," he said.

"The clubs will know in advance what the rules are, there will be a draw and these matches will not be anyone's home or away games.

"There are a lot of things that will be done to make it as fair as you can make it. This is not a challenge to the integrity of the competition."

My View:

It was bound to happen - just a matter of time.

Don't bleat about football "losing it's soul". It did that long ago when Sky started changing matches to every day of the week and moving kick off times at short notice.
They saw what happened at the NFL game at Wembley. 90,000 people paying top price for tickets, stripping the merch stands clean and spending virtually everything they had. That was for an average NFL game (even though one of the teams turned out Superbowl Champions!).

There is only one incentive. Money. They care about nothing else - they certainly don't care about us as supporters so we may as well accept it now.

I've got no particular problem with the idea, it's just that I wish these Chairman and owners would just be honest and say there is only one motive for doing this. They know the tills will be ringing and if there's any chance at all that Sunderland v Portsmouth might attract 65,000 people paying full whack in, let's say, Australia - they'll do it.

It makes me laugh how they've whined for years about having a winter break. Now they want to add a game at that very time of year and make everyone travel the globe in doing so. Hypocritcal twats. Money talks - every single time.

Don't worry though, Prime Minister Gordon Brown is on our side and as an honest politician who looks after the hard working law-abiding citizens of this country so well, we have nothing to fear with him on our side!

Daniel & The FA Cup

2008-02-03T13:03:00.000-08:00

Daniel & The FA Cup

We were walking through Cheltenham early on Saturday when we noticed a large security presence in the arcade, probably about 8 or 9 of them all looking very shifty.

Anyway, about 2 hours later we're wandering back through when we realised what the fuss was all about.

The FA Cup had come to town!

I hope Daniel remembers the time he touched this wonderful trophy - as a Villa supporter he may never see it again!

Martin Laursen Signs

2008-01-20T08:09:00.000-08:00

Martin Laursen Signs New Contract

This was better than a new signing for me.

With Olly Mellberg seemingly destined for pastures new, it was vital we kept Laursen especially as we're finally seeing what he's capable of now - at both ends of the field. Any goalscoring centre-half is worth his weight but when he's a great defender anyway he has to be held onto!

I remember one of his rare appearances last season away at Watford - he was immense and won everything in the air. He's always had the talent and now, touching lots of wood, the injuries are behind him, we'll see a top-class talent in the Villa back line.

Hopefully there will be more goals from set-plays on Monday night at Anfield. Thanks to Sultana Sports it was not only moved from Saturday but now I won't even see it on TV. I'll never subscribe to that station, ever.

Kevin Keegan Signs New Contract

I've got nothing against Newcastle personally.

Any team, Chairman and manager trying to break the monotony of the "big 4" is fine by me. I think, like everyone else the tag of "best and most loyal fans" is the thing that really grates with people.

I've been to St James Park for a top-flight League game with 20,000 people there so lets just explode the myth shall we? Newcastle are a big-supported club now - not a big club. The difference couldn't be any wider as they've won nothing.

I happen to think they've gone backwards by appointing Keegan. They clearly wanted others and couldn't get them so they turned to the next best thing that will keep the Geordies happy. Much like Graham Taylor at Villa, I think Keegan will find working with these prima-donna footballers this time around alot harder.

I do hope though that they make some progress to the top four, but obviously behind Aston Villa. A front four of Man U, Arsenal, Villa and Newcastle will be fine by me.

New Taekwondo Tattoo

2008-01-13T08:07:00.000-08:00

Snippets.....

Happy Birthday Hatemanu

The young man was 22 on January 10th. (Wish I was 22 again!)

Like most of us he's not been very well recently, everyone seems to have a virus or infection of some description.

Anyway, despite a very, very busy time for me over the last week apologies for missing the day - glad you had a good one and we'll make it up with a few drinkies very soon. At least I'm not like the Old Spanner who forgets completely!

The Floods

It was like deja-vu on Friday.

Sat at work, the rain pouring all day - the drivers starting to tell us how bad it was getting. Going out at lunch and seeing it for myself - then the customers updating us during the afternoon as to where was flooding and what roads had been closed.

Checking on the internet and seeing places just 10 miles away covered in a foot of snow. It was getting very worrying. Around 4pm it really started to batter it down and we feared the worst.

I didn't leave until 5.45pm and was dreading it - fortunately although the weather was terrible I was home in 15 minutes!

Villa 3 Reading 1

More more interesting than playing the "oh so mighty" Reds every year in the FA Cup.

This was a good win, allowing for the fact Reading are struggling defensively. A really positive three points and 2 more goals for Big John Carew as well. If we can keep hanging around that top seven we're not going to be far away from the UEFA Cup spots when it counts at the end.

I'm still concerned by the Mellberg & Laursen situation. It would appear Olly may well be off to Juventus - if he is then good luck to him, I wish him nothing but the best as he's been an excellent servant to this club and we've seen his best years without a doubt. A shame he's going to go just as things really look bright.

I'd certainly offer Laursen something - he needs to remeber he's been well paid for 2 seasons of doing nothing while injured and should respect that. I've always thought he was a class act at centre half and he's proving that fully this season - plus these goals from set plays are invaluable.

We can't afford to lose both. The idea of Zat Knight and Curtis Davies really doesn't appeal to me.

Ennui

What a fantastic word. In my ignorance I'd never come across it before but thanks to Mr Blog-Editor himself I'm now more educated in the world!

"A feeling of utter weariness and discontent resulting from satiety or lack of interest; boredom: The endless lecture produced an unbearable ennui".

Three Korean Symbols

Had my second tattoo today. Three small Korean symbols which make up the word "Taekwondo" on my right shoulder blade.

Definitely more painful than the one I had on my arm although the symbols were slightly thicker and needed some shading, thus more pain! It probably only took about half an hour and once again Stu did a great job. We nattered along through most of it along with the lady tattooist across from me who was extremely friendly - it made the whole thing much easier!

UFC 79 / Villa Lose

2008-01-07T13:55:00.000-08:00

UFC 79 - Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

I'd been looking forward to this one for ages, especially for the Liddell/Silva and Hughes/St Pierre fights. Instead, a heated rivalry took my attention, more so because there was no "after fight making up" and just for once in mixed martial arts, no respect was shown at all!

So, the first match pitted long-time rivals Melvin Guillard and Rich Clementi and the fight did not last long, as Clementi secured a rear naked choke that forces Guillard to tap. Fighters usually call truce once the fight was over, but not this one. After the fight, the two are still jarring at each other, Clementi accused his oppenent of talking shit and not backing it up.

The second fight is between Lyoto Machida and Sokoudjou, notorious for his victories over two top 5 ranked LHWs in the world, both under 2 minutes. This fight has become Machida’s breakout party, as he dominated in every aspect of the fight, and even winning in spectacular fashion via Arm triangle choke.

Then a big one! Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva. Heading into the fight, both fighters were on losing streaks, which means one of them was going to win.

It looked initially that Liddell seemed a little scared to get hit. Despite winning the fight via unanimous decision, he really didn't go after Silva as much as he could, but he still got the job done. He was blazing at times, especially in the second round and even took Silva down twice but backed off near the end, almost running down the clock.

Silva almost looked as though he were in shock after realizing he actually lost the fight to Liddell. I was able to catch Silva's training schedule on SpikeTV. No wonder he goes by the moniker "The Axe Murderer" Silva works out with a snorkel on so he can't breathe through his nose.

Obviously, neither fighter brought his A game, but someone had to prevail.

Last but not least, it’s the battle between GSP and Hughes for the UFC interim welterweight title, a title unable to be defended by Matt Serra who has a back injury. Right from the start, GSP showed utter domination of Hughes, and he even beats him at his own game, wrestling.

Eventually, Hughes succumbed to a flawlessly executed series of submission transitions. What started as a kimura and a possible triangle choke attempt then transitioned into an armbar that saw Hughes verbally submitting, and once again, GSP tasted UFC gold.

Afterwards during the interview with Joe Rogan, Hughes seemed to be suggesting that may be it for him as he was so well beaten.

It certainly was one of the best cards the UFC has offered for some time, and no doubt this will be remembered for a long time.

Villa Out In Round Three Again

It may be unpopular, I don't care - this was boring. It was boring from the minute the teams were drawn together yet again.

This isn't the magic of the FA Cup. That belongs to teams like Chasetown, Havant & Waterlooville and so on. Why BBC seemed so determined to cover it was beyond me - it was probably the dullest game of the round and from our point of view just another reminder of the gap that still exists.

I don't think United particularly deserved to win at all, but I spent most of the game wondering when one error by a Villa player would cost us.

When the ball was played up to Gabby and Ashley their defenders were always tight and gave them nothing, yet when United played it forward we seemed intent on giving them a three yard gap and thus room to play.

I wasn't even gutted - just bored by the whole thing. Despite how well we've done over Christmas, I knew we'd lose - it's just that mindset we seem to have. Here we are again, beaten by United.

I'm much more looking forward to seeing how we get on against Blackburn and Newcastle at Villa Park. The top four is desperately boring, protected by referees, constantly dribbled over by Sky and BBC - It's desperately dull. I think I know how fans who don't follow Rangers or Celtic have felt for the last 20 years in the SPL.

Same time next year for the Cup draw again? Aston Villa...will play.....

Chelsea Cheat Villa

2007-12-31T08:21:00.000-08:00

Chelsea 4 Aston Villa 4

I never really expected us to get a point at Stamford Bridge so to be so angry that we didn't get three might seem a bit strange.

Phil Dowd well and truly screwed us over on Boxing Day. We might have had a chance to see what Chelsea were really made of if the second half had been 11 v 11. But no, not content with seeing a top four side 0-2 down and getting outplayed at home, Mr Dowd rewards Ballack for his pathetic, embarrasing swan-dive with a penalty and, shock, horror - a sending off for Zat Knight.

Naturally the second half is a defensive battle as we have ten men against their twelve but what courage our boys showed in the face of all this hyped up "big club" crap. Can I just add that I've been to Stamford Bridge many times in the 80's and 90's when they had piss-poor (but honest) crowds, had one half decent stand and were always an average club - nothing more.

Well, they've had a rich owner for a while now - it doesn't make them a big club. No matter what Sky may tell you.

So we claw ourselves back with Martin Laursen's strike from the incoming free kick only for Dowd to try and win the game single handed by awarding another swan-dive with a chance for Chelsea to win the game. Watch Joe Cole very carefully - he falls to the floor as if shot dead, his head actually lies motionless on the floor. Then Dowd blows the whistle and as if by magic his head pops up and he slowly rises to his feet - mission accomplished.

What a surprise - Chelsea score. Many teams would have folded - we didn't. Ashley Cole then claims he's clearly headed a goalbound effort off the line. Funny that Ashley, that's the strangest of clear headers when your left arm comes round to help with the process.

Gareth Barry scored, some justice was done, but we were robbed right on half-time by another referee who is looking after the top four. It wouldn't surprise me if in ten years time we're reading about how Phil Dowd is being done for match-fixing and taking bribes.

Martin O'Neill was taking no bullshit afterwards either - it was great to see. Our players stood up to Chelsea all day and our "special one" wasn't being bullied by reporters seemingly suggesting the "bigger club" had been wronged in some way.

Average club Chelsea got f*cking lucky against a team with a history (which includes winning in Europe - try it sometime) and actual traditon they can only dream of. That Avram Grant must be a real hoot at parties - what a miserable twat he is.

They should do well to remember that - they are not a big club.

The FA have just rejected Villa's appeal for Zat Knight's sending off. Well, what an amazing surprise that is. I hope they realise the message it sends out to kids playing football - cheat, act pathetically and you're OK - as long as it helps your team - it's OK.

Ribs & Seagulls

2007-12-23T03:18:00.000-08:00

A CRACKED RIB:

On Saturday 18th of October 2003 I cracked a rib and bruised several others on my right hand side.

I was doing boxing sparring and by the end was really knackered as I was the only one who had turned up with the instructor and I was getting 2 minute rounds instead of one. The instructor is great and there is certainly no blame attached to him whatsoever.

At the end my legs were gone and one final hit knocked me down but I actually fell into some weights that sit round the room we spar in. For the rest of the day a rather bloody nose was my only concern but as the week progressed my rib began to hurt considerably - I had to wait 6 days to see the Doctor where he confirmed the crack and bruising.

Over the weeks I still can't sleep on my right side and the pain has moved around the rib-cage several times. Whenever I come off the painkillers it comes back again. The Doctor said it would be a month before the pain went and little could be done apart from painkillers.

I've been able to carry on doing Taekwondo, maybe at 75% and certainly not doing any sparring - the thought of getting a whack in the ribs is unbearable!

I found this link for any of you with rib problems - I know it relates to exactly how mine are reacting at the moment.

How people cope with a BROKEN rib is beyond me. It's a more nasty, annoying injury than I ever gave it credit for and unfortunately there appears that nothing can be done bar rest.

**W/C 27th OCTOBER**

Pain is immense. It hurts just to touch and is even worse with a sneeze or a cough.

**W/C 3rd NOVEMBER**

Being on holiday helps. Had a couple of swims and hot spa's which has helped no end. Still occasionally hurts with sneeze and I get very defensive if anyone gets close to my right side. I couldn't imagine taking a hit on that side at the moment.

*W/C 10th NOVEMBER**

Couldn't sleep on my right side on the long plane journey home. The overall pain seems to have eased but and jolt or prod is a reminder that it hasn't gone away.

**W/C 24th NOVEMBER**

General pain has gone but I still can't lie or sleep on my right hand side - I'm hardly taking any pain kilers at all now but pain does tend to come back now and again.

**W/C 1st DECEMBER**

Still can't lie or sleep on right and ribs started to hurt during a Taekwondo warm-up. The general pain is still pretty much gone but a sharp pain sometimes reminds me that the whole thing hasn't completely healed yet.

**W/C 8th DECEMBER**

Pain is now just about gone. It seems to have taken ages.

**W/C 15th DECEMBER**

It seems to be healed totally now. It's taken virtually 2 months to clear - TWO months of painkillers and no contact on the painful area.

Everybody will have a different recovery time - I kept very active but never did too much - it sometimes hurt more after inactive periods of time than when I was active.

Seagulls Are On The Attack!

Sunday morning off for a walk down to the shop, the last thing I expected was to be ducking seagulls like Mike Atherton used to duck Allan Donald bouncers.

Seagulls have been around our area for years but just tend to follow you for a bit as you walk around - they make a lot of noise but that's always been about it.

On Sunday though one decided to cirlce and then swoop straight for my head - so I ducked (no pun intened). Yesterday I saw a guy from the road opposite got swooped on from behind as the Gull dive-bombed him.

Apparantly it's the time when the chicks hatch and they got over-protective. Over the last two days I've read up a bit on this because I want to know what is going on. It's pretty interesting stuff and doesn't bode well 10 years on from now - I think I'll buy a Cricket Helmet this weekend.

There are 5 stages to watch for....

Stage one - starts with the bird standing upright and emitting loud calls at anyone approaching what it regards as its territory

Stage two - the seagull flies low overhead, still calling

Stage three - if a person continues to approach the bird's territory, the gull will launch into a swoop and bombard the intruder with the content of its bowels or its crop

Stage four - Determination to ignore the above warnings will result in an outright attack in which the gull will climb, lift its wings into a v-shape and dive straight down from behind.

Stage five - at a speed of 40mph it will strike with its feet, dragging them across the back of the target's head. Attacks are likely to be most vigorous where there are several nests close together. Colonies of gulls gain increasing confidence from a feeling of safety in numbers

The following report was from The Times newspaper in October last year.

Seagulls And You!

It’s got a 5ft wingspan, a sharp beak …..and the best defence is a stick with a hat on it!!! Read on because it does affect you!

THEY measure up to 5ft across, weigh more than 2lb and attack from above and behind at up to 40mph. They are also likely to be well-established in every town in Britain within the next 10 to 15 years, re-enacting scenes reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds as they terrorize urban communities.

Britain's first national conference on the menace posed by encroaching seagulls will be held in November 2003 at Gl*ucester - the inland city where, coincidentally, a car park attendant was attacked by gulls so frequently that he published a book about his experience.

But Gl*ucester is not alone. While seaside towns such as Ayr and Aberdeen and Bournemouth and Brighton on the south coast, have had problems for years, now the birds are moving aggressively inland. Here in Scotland colonies are well established in inland ; towns throughout the central belt, including Fa1kirk, Kilmarnock, Alloa, East Kilbride and Cumbernauld. The last named counted 430 breeding pairs this year. Aberdeen (3,350) Edinburgh (1,000), Glasgow (1,500), Dundee (290) and Inverness: (390) are already colonized by flocks of herring and black- backed gulls, attracted by an easier life in the urban jungle.

Andrew South of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said: "We have made town living an easy alternative to seagulls' cliff-top nesting sites. They can live in chimneys or on flat roofing and feed on our scraps and rubbish.

"The consequences are that they now have their young in urban environments and be- come very protective in the breeding season. They do not set out to attack people out of spite. They view us as a threat to their eggs and their young."

Attacks have become more vicious. In 2001 a dog was pecked to death in Brixham, Devon, and the following year gulls attacked a pensioner, Wilfred Roby, 80, who had, climbed on to his garage roof to dislodge their nest. He died from a heart attack. A hospital security guard in Edinburgh needed emergency treatment after gulls knocked him to the ground

This year Marie Munro, 65, of Weymouth, Dorset, was stalked by a gull outside her home. When she tried to frighten the bird away it began dive- bombing her and then attacked her face, causing her to fail, splitting the bone down the length of her foot and rupturing her tendons. "All I saw was this bundle of feathered fury in my face," Mrs. Munro said: “I put my arms up to protect myself and slipped backwards. Now I am permanently scared”

Experts suggest that the best form of defence against an attacking gull is to carry a stick with a hat on it above your head, or an open umbrella. Gulls will attack the highest point of their target

The depletion of fish stocks is partly blamed for gulls increased urban scavenging. Flocks maraud around landfill rubbish sites, and eat discarded takeaways in the city streets at night. Peter Rock an ornithologist and visiting fellow at Bristol University who has made a study of urban nesting seagulls for the past 25 years, will tell he Gloucester meeting that Urban seagull populations are increasing exponentially".

"They have become a serious problem which will affect more and more of us," he said. “I believe there will be a colony within every town and city in Britain within the next 10 to 20 years."

Seagulls On The Attack II

There really are some amazing stories to read about these "flying rats". One revealed that Seagulls in one area were only attacking certain people while others could walk around without a problem! One woman could happily sit in her back garden but whenever the boyfriend or Dog came out, the seagulls dive-bombed them.

In one story a woman set off her personal attack alarm whilst being swooped on but his only served to make the gull even more mad. Strangely enough when I had my gull encounter last Sunday, a house alarm just down the road had been going off all night from 1.30am until 7.30am. Maybe they were just as p*ssed off as I was?!

The gulls are still flying around here although I haven't had any problems myself - apparantly the nesting time is virtually over so hopefully they'll f*ck off soon.

It's clear that my local council (Tewkesbury) doesn't give a f*ck, but the local papers certainly are interested - people need to be made aware of the problem and educated to stop them nesting in the same places and by using "zero tolerance" when it comes to litter.

I never realised the problem Gl*ucester had until I saw it for myself today - there are simply loads of them, although they were just flying noisily around and certainly not swooping on anyone (I was in disguise!).

Maybe if I wore a Brighton shirt....

Seagull News

More and more stories are making local and National press.

This year more than ever has seen these birds get more agressive but local councils are doing nothing, despite talking a good game as most politicians do. Cheltenham Borough Council has been active in dealing with the problem while it's still small, but Gl*ucester and Tewkesbury are sat on their f*cking arses - they'll be the ones with a price to pay....

Three of our little birdies were dive-bombing a woman getting out of her car yesterday. It's like having the Krays running our manor here - but what do we have to pay in protection money?!

**JULY 21 UPDATE**

Numbers seem to have increased over the past few days. Watched a bloke getting dive-bombed just walking along the main road yesterday. It's beyond a joke - I can accept Urban Gulls squawking and sh*tting everywhere but it's almost like they're attacking randomly and almost for fun. When I'm on my bike they just sit there and do nothing yet I've heard of attacks elsewhere where bikers get bombed big time.

EVERYONE ELSE - STOP FEEDING THE F*CKING THINGS AND IF THEY'RE NESTING ON YOUR HOUSE, ONCE THEY LEAVE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

Tewkesbury Borough Council Update: August 2004

We have recieved a letter from the council which gave us at least some decent information. It appears that there is one nest on an Old People's home on the main road. The male seagull is particularly aggressive and the home has suffered a number of attacks this summer (no sh*t Sherlock - they're right under the nest!)

Interestingly enough, the male has been calling other seagulls nearby to join in hence the growing numbers this year. The coucil have said it is up to the people who own the property to take the necessary steps but will be checking before next season that they have been applied.

**March 7, 2005 Update**

Another letter from TBC (credit to them for that) saying that the house where the nesting took place got a quote for £20,000 to make their roof Seagull-proof! These birds must be having a right laugh!

Taekwondo Page

2007-12-21T06:57:00.000-08:00

Taekwondo - Mr Martin Paradine

TAEKWONDO - WE ARRIVED BY ACCIDENT.

(Introduction written on 6th March 2003)

In August 2002, we went along to a local club/gym as there was a computer fair on and I was after some cheap CD's. On arrival, we were told it was £3 just to get in - just as we were heading off we saw a small advert for a Taekwondo demonstration.

This coincided with Manchester City visiting Villa Park so I missed it, but Mrs CT went along and came back with a very glowing report - so we decided to give it a try.

My only regret is that I never had the chance to start this 10 years ago. It is addictive, compulsive and gets you fitter. I've never been one for studying for any great length of time, yet this has got me engrossed - the black belts can teach you so much it's untrue.

Our teacher is Mr Martin Paradine, a 5th Degree black belt (who we were informed on Sept 22 2003) had just passed for that 5th Dan. He is awesome - If I can learn just a fraction of what he knows in the next few years, I'll be very happy.

Martin Paradine to you. Sir to the rest of us.

Sometimes he will hand off lessons to some of the other black-belts - all are excellent to learn various things from. We are always progressing - no two lessons are ever the same - patterns, sparring, kicks/punches on the kick-pads, self-defence techniques. When you see some of the kids doing it, it just makes me wish I could started then too, as I said before.

It seems very strange and uneasy at first when you call people "Sir" (including females!) but it something you get used to very quickly. It can often seem a bit like army-life, everything can be very regemented and have an order. It's all pretty much second nature now.

The gradings are very nervous affairs, certainly for some of us "beginners". The last time I had been that nervous was my driving test - 14 years ago! As well as the stuff listed below, you also grade on fitness, line-work and a grasp of the Korean language.

My Taekwondo Black Tag Grading

Sunday 3rd June 2007 was the date for my black-tag grading.

I'd been nervous for ages but had been training as hard as possible despite having a bad foot injury. If I had to hobble through this grading then so be it - I'd worry about pain afterwards.

We started around 2.15pm and "warmed up" while the juniors and lower grades did their proper gradings.

When it came to us we were given a thorough workout which lasted until about 4.40pm. Despite the fact I was knackered I got a real buzz out of this particular test and actually quite enjoyed it despite how tough it was.

Mr Sekulic gave a great, uplifting speech about "everyone making mistakes but the important aspect was to learn from it". He's well known for his tough gradings (he did my red-tag one too) but the fact you can look back and say "I really earned that" is very satisfying.

The following Wednesday I was told that I had passed along with a junior collegue. I am eternally grateful to Mr Paradine for getting me this far in my Taekwondo career - he's stuck with me all the way and hopefully I repaid him a little bit with the effort and focus I put into this grading.

Plus a huge thanks to all the other black belts, especially John, who have spent time with me working on certain things too.

My black belt grading is due in November. I have 5 big, big months ahead of me.

My Taekwondo Black Belt Grading

So here it was, stood very nervously in front of three of the top Taekwondo exponents around with three more sat to their right, about to show what I've learnt in the last 5 years. I'd been having headaches about this for the last week.

Six of us on the floor (two grading for 2nd Dan, John & Matt) we started off with some random patterns before turning round and doing some three-step sparring, the followed by two-step.

We were told the importance of one-stop sparring before we set into that, followed by some strong take-downs on the mat. I really enjoyed this section, especially as I was paired with John who I've worked on this with in training numoerous times.

Then it was on with the sparring gear and a few rounds of one on one, - then came the dreaded two onto one where it just becomes survival mode. This particular part of the grading always leaves me needing to catch my breath although I was just happy to come out of it with my nose fully intact!

After this the two grading for 2nd Dan had some "knife attacks" to see how they could dis-arm the attacker. We also had a go at this too. We also had some hand-grabs and lapel-grabs to get out of plus some head-locks - all things we've worked on a great deal and which I think I showed off quite well.

Some line-work followed and then more patterns - at the end everyone bar the two younger students had to break the board, fortunately my two elbow strikes broke first time as did my right side-kick. My left side-kick attempt wasn't so hot but I made up for it second time around. It was a jam-packed hour and three quarters.

At the end we had some questions, pattern meanings and also why we want to be black-belts.

I won't know any results for a while yet, all I can say was that I was determined to leave everything I had on the floor in the 2 hours and I felt I did that. Of course I made some errors but I think I minimalised that and in the main was pleased with what I showed - the main thing was that I came away with a soaking dirty kit so I know I put everything in effort-wise again.

I certainly didn't walk away from the Dojang with any regrets and that's as much as I can ask of myself. So that's it. My head's clear, my elbows, shoulder and hamstring are sore but that's fine - now I've just got to wait and see if I've progressed which I'll obviously update as and when I know.

The Night I Was Handed My Taekwondo Black Belt

December 17th 2007.

In my mind I'd accepted I wasn't going to find out the result until early next year and I'd played out all the scenarios of how and what I would be told. Mr Sekulic sat everyone down said a few words before handing one of the juniors their red tags. Then he carried on, his speech ending in me being handed my black belt in front of the class.

Initially it was very hard to take in and it was pretty overwhelming. I've seen quite a few students step forward and accept their belts but now I was one of two who would be accepting the honour.

Over five years ago stood outside a health club which was hosting a computer fair and deciding not to go in as the £3 was a bit steep. We noticed a Taekwondo advert on the door and Mrs CT decided to go along to the demonstration while I was at Villa Park!

She said it looked great so along we went, and that was it. Apart from a gap of about 8 months with my nose injury I've been there 2/3 times a week ever since. I've seen so many people come and go, trained with the some of the same almost all the way through the ranks and now have many of the juniors who are now as tall as me!

Ever since knowing the big grading day and also attending a seminar with 5th Dan Mr Champion, I trained even harder, going out running on my spare nights - even one night in a torrential downpour when everyone must have thought I was mad! I brushed up on the pattern & belt meanings and gave myself the best chance overall of passing.

I can't say enough about Mr Paradine for everything he's done for me. Saying thanks just isn't enough by a long way. The road from White to Black hasn't always been easy but thanks to Mr P and so many others, I've stuck at it and hopefully rewarded myself and more importantly them.

In that grading the most important thing for me was not to let Mr Paradine down no matter what.

Over the last couple of months Mr Carter has been helping me too down at AFCMPT Kick-boxing and all this extra training and advice has helped so much. With Mr Paradine's blessing, I'm going to push on with kick-boxing too and also my grappling and ground work with John every month.

Massive congratulations are also due to my two other class members who also passed and are now 1st Dan black belts. One junior female member who did superbly and one younger adult student who has trained for nearly 10 years to get to that point. Also to John, again, who passed and became a much-deserved 2nd Dan - massive thanks go to him too for all his help, especially on one-step and take-downs in which he excels.

This is my biggest sporting achievement ever and something I've still not quite got round to believeing! It may sink in by the new year!

What an incredible Christmas present. This is a position I never imagined I could attain, and the whole thing has made me very proud and honoured to be a Taekwondo black-belt.

ONE TO TEN IN KOREAN;

ONE - HANA / TWO - DOOL / THREE - SET / FOUR - NET / FIVE - TASUT / SIX - YASUT / SEVEN - ILGOPE / EIGHT - YADUL / NINE - AHOPE / TEN - YAUL

THE FIVE TENETS OF TAEKWONDO;

Courtesy / Integrity / Perserverance / Self-Control / Indomitable Spirit

FIRST GRADING - 15th DECEMBER 2002;

PATTERN TO LEARN - 4 DIRECTIONAL.

THREE-STEP SPARRING - NO.1

This grading was for ORANGE belt.

ORANGE BELT represents the Sun, which brings life to earth, signifying the start of Taekwondo training.

PASSED.

SECOND GRADING - 30th MARCH 2003;

PATTERN TO LEARN - CHON-JI (19 moves)

CHON-JI - Literally means heaven and earth. It is in the orient interpreted as the creation of the world or the beginning of human history, therefore it is the initial pattern played by the beginner. This pattern consists of two similar parts; one to represent the Heaven and the other the Earth.

THREE-STEP SPARRING - NO.1 through to NO.3

This grading is for YELLOW belt.

YELLOW BELT represents the Earth - a plant growing it's roots and that the student is now learning the basic techniques.

PASSED.

THIRD GRADING - 29th JUNE 2003;

PATTERN TO LEARN - DAN-GUN (21 moves)

DAN-GUN is named after the Holy Dan Gun, the legendary founder of Korea in the year 2333 B.C..

THREE-STEP SPARRING - No.1 through to NO.4

This grading is for "GREEN TAGS" on a YELLOW BELT.

PASSED

FOURTH GRADING - 28th SEPTEMBER 2003;

PATTERN TO LEARN - DO-SAN (24 moves)

DO-SAN is the pseudonym of the patriot Ahn Ch'ang Ho (1876-1938) who dedicated his entire life to furthering the education of Korea and it's independent movement.

THREE-STEP SPARRING - NO.1 through to NO.6

ONE FOR ONE KICKING EXCERCISE.

This grading is for GREEN belt.

The GREEN belt indicates that a student is growing as a Taekwondo student. The colour of the belt is compared to a plant growing its leafs.

PASSED

FIFTH GRADING - 14th DECEMBER 2003;

PATTERN TO LEARN - WON-HYO (28 moves)

WON-HYO was the noted monk who introduced Buddhism to the Silla Dynasty in the year 686 AD.

THREE-STEP SPARRING - NO.1 through to NO.9

This grading is for BLUE TAGS on a GREEN BELT.

PASSED

SIXTH GRADING - 18th APRIL 2004

PATTERN TO LEARN - YUL-GOK (38 moves)

YUL-GOK is a pseudonym of a great philosopher and scholar Yi I (1536 - 1584) nicknamed the "Confucius of Korea". The 38 movements of this pattern refer to his birthplace on 38 degree latitude and the diagram of the pattern represents scholar

THREE-STEP SPARRING - NO.1 through to NO.9

TWO-STEP SPARRING - NO.1 through to NO.4

ONE FOR ONE KICK SPARRING

HOLD BREAKS(BEAR HUGS, STRANGLEHOLDS, HEADLOCKS)

This grading is for BLUE belt.

The BLUE belt signifies the heaven towards which the plant matures into a towering tree as Taekwondo training progresses.

PASSED

SEVENTH GRADING - 14th NOVEMBER 2004

PATTERN TO LEARN - JOONG-GUN (32 Moves)

JOONG-GUN is named after the patriot Ahn Joong-Gun who assassinated Hiro Bumi Ito, the first Japanese governor-general of Korea, known as the man who played the leading part in the Korea-Japan merger. There are 32 movements in this pattern to represent Mr Ahn's age when he was executed at Lui-Shung in 1910.

THREE-STEP SPARRING - NO.1 through to NO.9

TWO-STEP SPARRING - NO.1 through to NO.4

ONE STEP SPARRING

BREAKING BOARDS - ONE STRIKE OF CHOICE ALLOWED

FREE SPARRING WITH HIGHER GRADES INCLUDING 2 ONTO 1

ALL PATTERNS, SEVERAL TIMES OVER WITH VARIOUS EXCERCISES IN BETWEEN

This grading is for RED tags on a BLUE belt.

PASSED

EIGHTH GRADING - 1st MAY 2005

PATTERN TO LEARN - TOI-GYE (37 Moves)

TOI-GYE is the pen name of the noted scholar Yi Hwang (16th century), an authority on neo Confucianism. The 37 movements of the pattern refer to his birthplace on 37 degree latitude and the diagram represents "scholar".

THREE-STEP SPARRING - NO.1 through to NO.9

TWO-STEP SPARRING - NO.1 through to NO.4

ONE STEP SPARRING

BREAKING BOARDS - TWO STRIKES DECIDED BY EXAMINER

FREE SPARRING, INCLUDING 2 ONTO 1

ALL PATTERNS, SEVERAL TIMES OVER WITH VARIOUS EXCERCISES IN BETWEEN

This grading is for RED belt.

PASSED

NINTH GRADING - June 3rd 2007

PATTERN TO LEARN - HWA RANG (29 Moves)

Video Of Hwa Rang Pattern

HWA-RANG is named after the Hwa-Rang youth group, which originated in the Silla Dynasty in the early 7th century. The 29 movements refer to the 29th Infantry Division, where Taekwon-Do developed into maturity.

THREE-STEP SPARRING - NO.1 through to NO.9

TWO-STEP SPARRING - NO.1 through to NO.4

ONE STEP SPARRING

BREAKING BOARDS - STRIKES DECIDED BY EXAMINER

FREE SPARRING, INCLUDING 2 ONTO 1

ALL PATTERNS, SEVERAL TIMES OVER WITH VARIOUS EXCERCISES IN BETWEEN

This grading is for BLACK TAG ON RED belt.

Passed!

TENTH GRADING - November 25th, 2007

PATTERN TO LEARN - CHOONG MOO (30 Moves)

Video Of Choong Moo Pattern

CHOONG-MOO was the name given to the great Admiral Yi Soon-Sin of the Yi Dynasty. He was reputed to have invented the first armoured battleship (Kobukson) in 1592, which is said to be the precursor of the present day submarine. The reason why this pattern ends with a left hand attack is to symbolize his regrettable death, having no chance to show his unrestrained potentiality checked by the forced reservation of his loyalty to the king.

Grading will involve everything ever covered over the past 5 years!

Passed!!

Septoplasty Recovery

2007-12-20T06:56:00.000-08:00

A Damaged Nasal Septum!

(Email: ct211070@gmail.com)

I've had to learn a fair bit about this over the last four months.

For those who may be unaware, the nasal septum is a thin piece of cartilage that separates each side of the nose internally. Normally it is straight, but it can be deviated naturally during growth or it may become damaged by an injury to the nose.

Well, four months ago yesterday I got (ahem) a slight whack to the nose during training. Initially it bled like a tap and didn't properly stop until six hours later. After a two hour visit to A&E and covered in my own blood, I was told I was "very lucky" it wasn't broken but there was some cartliage damage.

Anyway, after a Doctor's visit I was told I had a "hairline fracture" (Damaged Septum) and then had to see the ENT specialist at Cheltenham General and that corrective surgery would be required which will mean a stop-over in hospital.

It's not been the most comfortable few months to put it mildly so although it will initially mean some pain, I'll be happy to be able to breathe normally again sometime soon after the op. The op is called Septoplasty where the septum is straightened and also my turbinates will be trimmed.

I won't be able to do any contact sport for quite some time until everything has healed properly. Certainly for 2 weeks I have to take it as easy as possible, no lifting, excercises or being in smokey atmospheres or crowds.

I have read many articles from different people's experiences after the operation and I will be adding mine day by day here in the hope they will help others. Not all Septoplasty operations are the same and recovery times can vary quite a lot - this was just be my own personal account.

December 13 - Operation Day:

Had the operation around 10.30am in the morning and came round about 1.30ish not feeling too bad - a shot of morphene may have helped there though!

Back to the ward around 2pm with full nose packing in place although this wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as I thought it might be. Just a few hours later though, and much earlier than I'd expected - the packing was taken out.

This was by far the worst part. It seemed like two great canisters were being extracted from the nose and the blood didn't half pour out. The nurse pinched the nose for what seemed like an eternity and then I got very faint. Just a minute later for the first time in my life I was on the oxygen machine and stayed on it for 30 minutes.

The nose oozes blood for the rest of the day (which is normal) and it's not wise to move too much. It's hard to sleep at night - there wasn't too much in the way of pain (I suppose the pain killers did the job) but it was extremely uncomfortable.

Despite needing to go for a "No.1" it was very difficult. You can't strain because of the nose but nothing happens if you don't!

Shared my ward with 3 other guys who made the most horrendous noises - it was quite torturous. The guy opposite though was very friendly and had a similar operation to me.

December 14 - Operation Day +1:

Managed my first food for 36 hours in the shape of one piece of toast. Had my first actual look at the nose which is obviously swelled and quite bloody. The registrar came round and explained everything had gone to plan and that I would need some saline nasal drops to use straight away - the NHS didn't provide them though - Mrs CT had to get them from Boots!

Left hospital in the morning after being told I wouldn't even need a follow up appointment - I assume that was positive! Just told to take normal pain-killers and have to mandatory 14 days rest.

It's difficult to speak above a whisper - it feels very uncomfortable like the most massive head cold you could imagine. Spent most of the day in bed, nose continues to ooze - feels weird when you have a drink as it seems to enlarge and go pop inside (tried with a Lucozade and couldn't finish the bottle). Did manage a few hours sleep but still completely blocked up.

December 15 - Operation Day +2:

Got my first few tiny amounts of air through the right nostril today. Didn't last long but it's a start. Hopefully the Saline spray is starting to help a bit as it still feels very tight and crusty. Still got the blood ooze - actually feels like the nose isn't there sometimes as it's swollen and still a little numb. There is also a very small numb part just behind my two front teeth on the gums.

For the first time the nose stings a touch and my teeth have hurt a few times too.

December 16 - Operation Day +3:

Managed some reasonable sleep last night which surprises me considering I'm still breathing through the mouth. Unfortunately the blood ooze is still there but with a combination of tablets and saline spray there is a small improvement in breathing through the right nostril. Nothing at all apart from some tiny airwaves yesterday for the left hand side.

I'm quite alert and OK although if i stand or sit up for any more than 20 minutes I find I need to lie down again. Some small improvement in the left nostril but not that much. Occasionally get a stinging pain - nasty little dried blood spot on the outside of the nose which can't really be touched - no picking or blowing the nose for at least a week!

Went for a slow walk around the block today. Just to get a small sense of normality back. Progress is slow but just at the moment it's better than I'd hoped.

December 17 - Operation Day +4:

Had another walk today - got some very small blasts of cold air in the right nostril but not much. Still very caked up with blood and goo, would love to blow the bloody thing but know I can't - the blood ooze is still going but seems a little less of the red stuff at the moment which is good because I can't have that much left to lose!

Had small airflow at the same time which is encouraging, not oo much but still some all the same. I feel the spray is helping and I'm also taking Lemsip tablets too. The nose still stings occasionally but generally there is little pain. 99% of breathing is still through the mouth - I'm sort of getting used to it now - half the battle with this is staying relaxed and patient (two things I'm probably not best at) so I'm doing my best.

I think recovery is going OK (says quietly) but it's slow.

December 18 - Operation Day +5:

An early morning walk today after not such a good night. Very stuffed up this morning but slight improvement near lunchtime. The urge to blow your nose is unbearable but I said I would heed the Medical staff's advice and not do it for at least a week.

Just by blowing there was a lot of bloody mucous and I've got rid of a bit (yes it's gross, but it's factual!) and breathing has improved through both nostrils - not great but better.

On the negative side I've definitely had a slight loss of taste. I can't taste things to a point so I know what it is but everything tastes a bit sour and not quite right at the moment which I believe is pretty normal.

Smell seems OK, I actually managed to smell my little boy's dirty nappy which was interesting!

December 19 - Operation Day +6:

Tried a few things today. Popped a towel over my head and tried to sniff up some steam with some Vic's Vapour-Rub which helped and later on just some steam - certainly seems to de-crust just a touch. Had managed a few hours sleep overnight, probably about 3 - but I'm used to that anyway!

The loss of taste was a worry but that has gradually come back this afternoon, not completely but it's better which is a relief. Still using the saline spray which I hope is helping although the nose is still very crusty - the blood ooze appears to have stopped today too - for the first time I haven't got through endless numbers of tissues!

Had another walk but seem exhausted afterwards - slept for 2 hours after a 30 minute walk this afternoon. Got a couple of banging headaches which I took standard pain-killers for, in general though a productive day - I hope it continues.

The breathing through the nose ebbs and flows. Sometimes on side is OK but it's still generally plugged and most breathing is through the mouth.

December 20 - Operation Day +7:

Wow, one week seems to have gone pretty quickly.

Signs of improvement today after a very bunged up start. Had another steam session for 10 minutes which really loosens up all the crusty stuff inside and I managed to very carefully pick out a couple of nasty ones in the right nostril which when dry were hurting quite a lot.

Picking when dry was not an option but it seems to have improved since I "picked when wet". A few times have has breathing through both nostrils but mainly still through the right. Headaches are still a problem but that's what the pain-killers are there for.

The sense of taste is continuing to come back slowly - a ham sandwich today which actually tasted a bit of ham! It's not totally back but it's better than a couple of days ago when I was concerned and my appetite is definitely back.

After one week the signs of improvement are good - lets hope it continues.

December 21 - Operation Day +8:

Had a walk in town today and had a first go at blowing the nose, albeit pretty tamely. It certainly doesn't feel so crusty and tight and I'm definitely getting better airflow through the nose although it's still on and off.

The nose still runs occasionally and feels very numb, just like it did the day after it got the initial whack. At night the airflow is only through the right while the left is plugged up so I still end up breathing through my mouth while asleep.

Appetite has definitely come back - ate 15 chocolate biscuits in the day!! It's taking time but I'd like to think it's all heading in the right direction.

December 22 - Operation Day +9:

Headaches were order of the day today. With the left nostril still blocked I've had a couple of real belting ones - it's strange that when I walk about in the fresh air that the left clears a bit and things improve.

Still can't really blow my nose. I've likened it to driving a Rolls Royce but having the engine of a Nissan Micra 1.0 - there's no bloody power! Most of the crusty bits have gone but not completely. Still sounds like I have a heavy head cold at the moment.

Speaking to someone who had the operation earlier this year, they said it was approximately a month before normal breathing returned. I'm certainly finding at the moment that only one nostril works at and that sometimes switches - similar to before the operation.

December 25 - Operation Day +12:

One of my first real targets, getting to Christmas Day and being able to enjoy it with my family. Most of the time the airflow is through the right (managed to sleep for the first time doing this too) and occasionally swops out to the left.

Definitely improves when outside and on the move. Quite a few headaches since but in the main after 12 days it had improved enough that I didn't notice it too much during the day - plus I could taste the food too which was a bonus.

It still feels very numb but the improvement is still there, albeit a touch slow at the moment. Still can't properly blow the nose but the crusty bits are starting to go with a bit of "persuasive picking"!

December 27 - Operation Day +14:

OK, so it's two weeks now since the operation. Breathing is much improved, still mainly on the right but the left is joining in gradually especially after I try to blow my nose. I say try because it's still very hard to do - let's say I've improved from the Nissan Micra to a Ford Focus but it's still not enough!

My sense of taste appears to be pretty much back intact and the numb part behind my teeth has virtually gone apart from just a very small area.

The nose is still pretty crusty and I found it hurting this morning as I never used the Saline spray yesterday. It's still tender to touch and still feels very numb but it's getting there slowly.

Will update this diary again in a few days.

December 31 - Operation Day +18:

So where are we now? Well the breathing is still improving if not quite there just yet. Tends to be quite blocked at night, still better when up and about, more so in the fresh air.

Crusty bits are all but gone although right hand side still isn't clear yet. The nose still feels numb and is difficult to move by itself although there is some more power when blowing it now - I'm probably up to a Ford Mondeo now!

I'm still using the Saline spray but not too much now if I can help it. Basically it's still getting better every day but at it's own pace - patience is certainly a virtue with a Septoplasty operation and generally I don't have very much but with this somehow I have.

I've played everything by the book - didn't blow nose until day 9, didn't excercise until day 18 and stayed away from smoky atmosphere's.

Happy New Year!

January 13 - Operation Day +31:

So one calender month on - doesn't time fly?

I would say things are 90% there now - my sleep has improved no end, getting between 6 and 7 hours easy although last couple of nights have seen the nose a bit blocked - had a dream it was sealed up!

The airflow is pretty good with the right hand side being 100% and left about 75% but it's much better. I can blow my nose pretty well now and there are no crusty bits anywhere. It still feels slightly numb but that is getting better albeit slowly.

There is still improvement to be made but I can safely say that one month on things are so much better and I would recommend this operation to anyone who suffers with septum problems.

January 28 - Operation Day +46:

Been blocked up at night recently, especially the left side although it will change as it did before the operation. Had a very slight cold which wouldn't have helped but it always seems to improve as soon as I'm stood up.

In general things are good, I can excercise, swim etc with no problems and my sleep times are much much better. The nose feels like it's coming out of it's numb stage which makes it itchy with the urge to move it all the time.

I would say even now that there is still room for improvement but I reckon I'm 90% there.

February 28 - Operation Day +77:

A visit to a local ENT Doctor today to check all is well.

I've been experiencing airflow through one side and then changing - especially at night although during the day things are generally (but not always) OK. This would appear normal as the airflow should change around every twenty minutes as otherwise the inside would become too dry.

Doc said it was still actually "early days" and that I should keep using nasal spray to keep the inside moist - he also mentioned that it's still inflamed but that this was common.

It probably didn't help that I've got a stinking cold at the moment. Anyway, Doc seemed to be happy and said unless I was worried about anything there would be no need to see him again - so fingers crossed.

June 13th - Operation Day + 6 Months:

Six months. I can't believe that.

Overall the nose is fine - I'd say it's 90% fine as the left nostril still blocks now and again, plus I spoke to someone who had the op 2 years ago and said it would take longer to get "complete breathing". I've found the use of the nasal strips Robbie Fowler used to wear extremely helpful, especially overnight.

What else can I say apart from it's so much better than it was and overall was worth the early discomfort of the operation.

December 13th - Operation Day + 1 Year:

One year! Wow.

Well, it's certainly no fun when you have a cold. In the main I tend to find that one nostril will block up when I'm in bed but will clear as soon as I'm up and about.

If I lie on my left side my right nostril will stay clear and vice versa, though I find the left one not as good.

Generally though, when I'm not full up with cold, it's so much better and breathing is absolutely fine.

Levellers & Mad Caddies

2007-12-19T13:27:00.000-08:00

THE LEVELLERS: ALBUMS SO FAR....

WEAPON CALLED THE WORD;

First album was Weapon Called The Word which spawned classics such as "Carry Me", "Together All The Way" and "England My Home"..

LEVELLING THE LAND;

I've been a big fan since 1991 and the Levelling The Land album. This was the album which grabbed me and never let go. My favourite Levellers track is on here - The Boatman. Other greats include "15 Years", "The Game", "Another Mans Cause" - just the whole album basically!

This album also included the anthem "One Way", which has been a Live favourite for years. "There's only one way of life, and that's your own" - never a truer lyric ever written.

LEVELLERS;

If you wanted lyrics that actually meant something, this was another album to buy. "100 years of Solitude", "Dirty Davey" and "The Likes Of You & I" stood out, but the whole album was again very impressive.

ZIETGEIST;

Zietgeist was superb. The singles "Hope Street" and "Fantasy" came from it but my favourites were "Saturday To Sunday", "Maid Of The River", "Forgotten Ground" and "PC Keen".. Yet another immensely strong album, lyrically and musically.

HEADLINES - LIVE;

The Levs released a live album from the 95/96 tour (which included a date at the Villa Leisure Centre - I reckon it's about time there was a another one. This one has all the "old" favourites on - "One Way", "The Boatman", "Liberty", "The Road" and "The Riverflow" etc...

MOUTH TO MOUTH;

Mouth to Mouth wasn't liked by some but I thought it was fine. "What A Beautiful Day" grabbed the public's attention but some top tracks included "Survivors", "Far Away" and the heart-tugging "Elation". It was at this point I had my first taste of the Levs live at Wolverhampton - and what a night it was.

HELLO PIG;
Just to prove I'm not completely One-eyed, THIS was my least favourite of all the Levs albums, and I'd waited THREE years for it too. The "real" Levellers got lost somewhere on here - some tracks stood out - "61 Minutes Of Pleading", "Sold England" and "Edge Of The World" reminded me of past greats - but the album lacked, and Mark didn't need to mess about with voice machines when he has a voice like he has.

GREEN BLADE RISING;

The latest album is Green Blade Rising, and for me, a return to a more "traditional" Levellers sound. The album is excellent - in my personal opinion, only "Not What We Wanted" is a bit of a let down - the rest is excellent. "Pretty Target", "Falling From The Tree", "Wild As Angels" and "Believers" are my picks of the album.

Seen them live twice now- they have such power that they can get people really involved in a gig - even when some of those people didn't really know much about them in the first place.

Levellers: Truth & Lies Album Review

So, the mighty Levellers are back with another studio offering and it's the best stuff they've come out with for a while. The Album cover depicts Uncle Sam covered in sh*t with blood dripping from his fingers.

They're not evolving into any new musical directions and certainly not appealing to any new fans (No.38 for the single said it all) but this album shows there is plenty of life in the old dogs yet. "Green Blade Rising" was the last album and was good - but this is definitely better.

"Last Man Alive" is a brilliant guitar driven start and the closest thing I've heard to "Fifteen Years". The single "Make You Happy" does just that and "Confess" carries on the standard with a catchy chorus and lyrics that suggest they boys maybe tired but they would do it all again.

"For Us All" will be a favourite on the live scene and "Knot Around The World" keeps the pace up with a topical current war politics theme. "Wheels" is another great track on the album and "Who's The Daddy" reminds us all that we have little control over what goes on in our lives.

Small negatives are that Simon doesn't sing on his own on the album (which is actually a big minus) and the record does tend to drift for the last couple of tracks in my opinion.

Overall it's a very, very good return for the Brighton boys and should keep the live audiences well entertained over the coming months.

GIG WATCH;

CHELTENHAM TOWN HALL - MARCH 4th.

Although I'd seen the Levs in Wolverhampton in 1997, this was the first time I'd got to see my favourite band play in my home-town.

Support acts were very good - Kovak (not sure of the spelling there) were quite Travis like and the lead singer did a decent impression of Matt Bellamy (Muse) during one track.

Next up - lone man and guitar (Nick Harper I think his name was) - boy could he play and wail! Managed to change a guitar string during one track - very impressive.

IT'S 9.20pm....

Fantastic, absolutely bloody fantastic. I didn't really expect anything else from The Levellers, but they proved that they still give a live show that few can rival.

The old songs were without doubt received best by the home crowd - "One Way", "The Game", "Carry Me", "Liberty", "The Riverflow" etc. Slightly embarrassing when most people thought "Dirty Davey" had finished when there was still one of the most moving lines in music still to follow.

The Levs gave the latest album , Green Blade Rising a good airing too, opening with "Come On" and then blasting out "Pretty Target", "Four Winds" and "Aspects Of Spirit". The band looked as if they were enjoying it as much as the crowd were.

Didn't get to hear my personal favourite "The Boatman", but that was a very minor point. "Another Mans Cause" seemed very apt with War just around the corner.

Surprised at the mix of people there - if some of those who went were going just to check out the Levs they would have left as confirmed fans - they are just THAT good. I left with very sore legs (to go with the Knee/Thigh injuries!) but I didn't care, it was well worth it.

Simply brilliant. Best £15 I could have spent (+drinks!). Don't leave it so long before coming back again guys!

They didn't leave it too long....

GIG WATCH II:

Cheltenham Town Hall - April 5th

First up was a four-piece called The Mutts who could obviously play but got pretty boring after four or five tracks. Didn't have a clue what the lead singer was going on about.

Next in line were the Stateside Hombres - nine band members on stage here playing ska/reggae stuff and it was pretty good. One of the guys was linked with our former local heroes EMF (you remember them? - You're Unbelieveable!) The third track sounded very Bad Manners and certainly got the crowd interested and grooving - this was a bit more like it - I quite liked it.

The Levellers hit the stage just after 9.30pm and rattled through seven tracks from the "Levelling The Land" album which was most definitely the best received by the crowd.

Most of the studio albums were represented by something, a few different songs had an airing and the mix was pretty good. Simon sang song solo "When Love Runs Out Of Time" but "Dirty Davey" and "One Way" were the pick of the night as the guys were on top form yet again. The old tracks are always the best in my opinion!

The crowd seemed less in number than last year, although it was apparantly a sell-out. Some people there made me wonder why they bother going at all - one bloke near us never moved or clapped the entire night, even during all the upbeat happy tunes, the miserable tosser.

The night finished with "Wake The World" which, while a good track, is a strange one to finish on as it's so laid back and slow. The 2003 tour used that as its finishing song so I was surprised they kept it.

Overall they still produced a live show few will touch and £16 to make your ears ring like hell for 24 hours seems an absolute bargain

Mad Caddies, The Irish Club, Birmingham 2004.

When we visited L.A. last year, Roger played us a tape in his car of a band called the Mad Caddies covering Abba's track "S.O.S". Roger also said not to miss them if you get a chance to see them live, so me and Hatemanu took that opportunity on Friday night. It was well worth every penny.

Second support band Belvedere were OK but very samey and it got quite boring near the end so the crowd were well up for the Caddies at 9.20pm.

They played a mix of all sorts of stuff including their well known tracks such as "10 West", "Drinking For 11" and "Weird Beard". They covered the Abba track and also a short version of R.E.M's "Everybody Hurts". Anyway, after a very sweaty hour and twenty minutes they finished with the fantastic "All American Badass" which just about finished everyone off for the evening. They were brilliant and everyone loved it.

The evenings fun wasn't over yet as we dashed back to New Street Station just in time to see our 11.04pm train moving off the track one minute early. We'd missed our train home! It was looking like we'd be stranded in Brum for the evening but Hatemanu's Dad and friend Marilyn (who drove) came to get us at 1.30am - something which we were very, very grateful for. We owe them one for that.

We met some very interesting people on the night, the helpful lady at the Bus Station, the guy in the Iron Maiden t-shirt, the barmaid who didn't know what "Monkey Brains" were, the two guys at the Station offering "round the world" advice on where to sleep, and the guy with dreads who pushed me and Hatemanu over and then shook our hands! Thanks to whoever it was who helped me up by the way.

Mad Caddies: ALBUMS SO FAR

Duck And Cover

"Macho Nachos" is easily the finest track of the whole album, speedy punk with an unforgettable horn line which you will be singing to yourself for weeks. "Monkeys" is up next, complete with banjo and "Road Rash" and "The Joust" are my personal faves. A real mix of everything on here.

Quality Soft

"Goleta" will make you skank till you drop, that's for sure, but more importantly this album should put you into a good mood whenever it hits your CD player.

The Holiday Has Been Cancelled (EP)

Only 5 tracks on here, starts off with the excellent "Falling Down" and finishes with one of the best cover versions you'll here - Abba's "S.O.S".

Rock The Plank

Some classic stuff on here. "Mary Melody", "Days Away" and "Bridges" get the album off to the perfect start. Maybe less horns on here than normal but any album with "All American Badass" on it cannot be criticised at all. It just has to be one of my favourite tracks ever!

Just One More

The latest studio offering has everything the Mad Caddies can musically offer. "Drinking For 11" starts it off slowly and accoustically but "Contraband" changes the tone completely going into all out thrashing guitars. "Villains" is another highlight, along with "10 West" and "Wet Dog". Song of the album for me though is "Leavin".

Live In The Key Of Eh

Unless you've seen them live then you may not appreciate this as the album doesn't capture the "live" experience enough for me. This was pretty much the set list we saw on that night in Brum - a mixture of everything they've ever done.

The Toronto crowd seem pretty quiet during a lot of this but I'm sure they were jumping away getting extremely sweaty - as you do! All the old favourites are on here and it all ends with "All American Badass" - the only way possible.

But Why Are They So Unknown?

If it hadn't have been for meeting up with Rog in L.A. , I would probably still be blissfully unaware of the Mad Caddies today. Fortunately just 14 months and one gig later I'm a big fan - but talk to many in this country about the Caddies and you just get a blank look.

Getting hold of the live album "Live In The Key Of Eh" was difficult which obviously wouldn't attract too many fans. Amazon sub contracted it and it was imported in as no shops were interested in stocking it here.

Why though? These blokes play music and have a great time doing it but there's no compromise in the quailty. I love the guitar and horn mix - always have, and the drumming, bass guitar and vocals are excellent too.

If you want punk it's here. If you want Ska it's here. If you want Reggae, we'll it's here too and if you just wanna skank away silly then look no further. Probably the only band of it's type hyped in my own special way - on our hold music CD at work.

Fortunately I'm in charge of burning CD compilations for our hold music but I have to be a bit careful what I put on there. We listen to it all day but the customers also get to hear it while they wait so "All American Badass" and "Bridges" are off the menu - brilliant tracks though they are!

"Drinking For 11" is there though, as is "S.O.S" the Abba Cover, "Spare Change" and "Just One More" also features. I feel we have the best hold music in the country!

Hatemanu came with me to the gig but had been converted anyway, so go on, give em a try, you know you want to!

CT Info!

2007-12-18T13:36:00.000-08:00

THIS WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN ON 17th FEB 2001

I've been a season-ticket holder for twelve years now (also now a shareholder too) and followed the ups and downs of this wonderful club. I am a firm believer that Mr Doug Ellis should stand down, and we MAY only progress when he does.

FAV PLAYERS - Tony Morley, Gary Shaw, David Platt, Paul Merson, Paul McGrath, Paul Birch and Alan McInally.

FAV PLAYER (CURRENT) - Olof Mellberg

MOST HATED OPPOSITION PLAYERS - Alan Shearer, Ian Wright & Dw*ght Y*rke

FAV MATCH - Tranmere (home) - League Cup Semi-final 1994

WORST MATCH - Oldham (away) FA Cup & Chelsea in the Cup Final.

FOREIGN GROUNDS VISTED - Banik Ostrava, Inter Milan, Deportivo LC & Athletico Madrid.

WORST REFS - Ellary, Rennie, Danson & Durkin.

BEST REFS - Clive Wilkes - Only because I know the bloke through work!

UP THE VILLA!

Favourite Albums (Wow - The piece above seems so old now!)

Levellers - Levelling The Land

Goo Goo Dolls - Dizzy Up The Girl

Foo Fighters - The Colour & The Shape

Mad Caddies - Just One More & Keep It Going

Streetlight Manifesto - Everything Goes Numb & Somewhere In The Between

Slayer - Reign In Blood

Big Country - The Crossing & Steeltown

Catch 22 - Keasbey Nights

The Killers - Hot Fuss

Guns & Roses - Appetite For Destruction

The Bluetones - Expecting To Fly

U2 - The Unforgettable Fire

EMF - Schubert Dip

Oasis - What's The Story (Morning Glory)

Billy Bragg - Must I Paint You A Picture?

Editors - The Back Room & An End Has A Start

Pink Floyd - The Wall

Iron Maiden - Number Of The Beast

The Feeling - Twelve Stops And Home

The Ordinary Boys - Brassbound

New Radicals - Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too

W.A.S.P - Inside The Electric Circus

Athlete - Vehicles & Animals

Muse - Absolution

Poison - Open Up & Say aah!

Soul Asylum - Grave Dancers Union

Worst AV XI

2007-12-17T13:17:00.000-08:00

WELCOME TO THE ASTON VILLA XI FROM HELL!

It's your worst nightmare. Doug and his puppets have created the cheapest, nastiest and most talentless XI you could imagine.

Picking the worst was slightly easier than picking the best. No room for sentiment or for the players who "really tried".

The tannoy man announces the team to the 7,500 inside Villa Park.

No 1 Micheal Oakes

No 2 Earl Barrett

No 3 Bernie Gallagher

No 4 Steve Foster

No 5 Alpay

No 6 Sasa Curcic

No 7 David Ginola

No 8 John Fashanu

No 9 Tony Cascarino

No 10 Steve Hodge

No 11 Nigel Callaghan

And your subs for todays game.....

No 12 Chris Price

No 13 Mervyn Day

No 14 Simon Grayson

No 15 Gary Penrice

No 16 Warren Aspinall