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Posted: 26-09-2013 21:21 Post subject:

The last day is shown here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03d0zvf/Sailing_Americas_Cup_Episode_12/

(This was shown on BBC2 at 1330 today, but it must have been a late change since it wasn't in the TV listings.)

Posted: 27-09-2013 15:46 Post subject:

Any bets on the AFL Grand Final this arvo? Hope Freo takes it. Culturally, a Sandgroper victory takes precedence over a Vic one.

Posted: 28-09-2013 14:45 Post subject:

The first result of the Premiership afternoon goes Arsenal's way
- a 1-1 draw between Spurs and Chelsea!

Posted: 28-09-2013 17:06 Post subject:

..and then both Manchester teams lose!

Good results for Arsenal, who play at 1730 at Swansea. An Arsenal win would put them top again, two points clear. Is that too much to ask? Please, pretty please...

But even a draw would see them top on GD, I think.

Another team to look out for is Southampton, who won today and move into 4th place...

Posted: 28-09-2013 19:41 Post subject:

Got back from the pub while the Arsenal game was still in play, the Gunners winning 2-0! Very Happy

But then Swansea got one back! Shocked

Despite a few more frights, Arsenal hung on for the win!

Posted: 01-10-2013 13:39 Post subject:

Neil Kinnock kicked out of seat at Cardiff City match for wild celebrations
Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock was kicked out of his seat during a Premier League football match after upsetting fans with his wild celebrations.
By News agencies
10:23AM BST 01 Oct 2013

Lifelong Cardiff City supporter Lord Kinnock "caused angry responses" by leaping up and down with joy when his team scored against Fulham.
Security staff had to escort him from his seat for "spoiling" the enjoyment of home fans at the West London club.

Lord Kinnock, 71, and his two grandchildren were among hundreds of Cardiff City fans sitting in the home stand at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground.
The former Leader of the Opposition jumped for joy when his team scored in the 12th minute of the first half.
Other Cardiff City fans said they saw stewards arrive and escort Lord Kinnock and his grandchildren from the Riverside Stand at the ground.

One fan posted on the club's fan forum: "Pleased to see Mr Kinnock sitting two rows in front of me in the stand.
"I am not sure if Neil has as much experience as me of sitting with the home fans but his celebration of our first goal led to him being escorted from the stand." Cool

Lord Kinnock, former Vice-President of the European Commission, was later spotted going "bonkers" in another part of the ground when Cardiff City scored their injury-time winning goal.
It gave the Welsh team an historic 2-1 victory - their first away win in the top flight since 1962.
Hundreds of Cardiff City fans bought tickets in the home end at the stadium after their official allocation sold out.

Sarah Brookes, spokeswoman for Fulham FC, said: "Mr Kinnock was located in the home stand on Saturday and caused some angry responses when he and his family celebrated the Cardiff City goal.
"He was relocated in The Putney End, the away Stand, where there were a number of spare seats.
"We would always relocate away fans found in home areas, if seats are available, to ensure that Fulham fans located in home areas enjoy their matchday experience."

Lord Kinnock's office in London said he had been expecting to sit in the "away end" with other fans of the newly-promoted Welsh club.
[Spin Doctor...]
Spokeswoman Jane Enright said it was just co-incidence that Lord Kinnock and his grandchildren were moved just after Cardiff City scored.

Lord Kinnock has been a fan of Cardiff City - known as The Bluebirds - since his coal miner father took him to his first match aged six.
He has previously been quoted before a big match saying: "Decorum will not come into it if Cardiff win."

etc...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/telegraphsportnews/10346461/Neil-Kinnock-kicked-out-of-seat-at-Cardiff-City-match-for-wild-celebrations.html

Posted: 01-10-2013 22:02 Post subject:

After tonight's Champions league games, rynner is going "bonkers" about the Arsenal result: - 2-0 against Napoli! Very Happy

The goals came within seconds (it seemed) of kick-off, and mean Arsenal lead their group with maximum points from two games.

Chelsea got a good away win (Steaua Bucharest 0-4 Chelsea), but are just third in their group.

But 10-man Celtic eventually lost, Celtic 0-1 Barcelona, after a good display.

Posted: 02-10-2013 21:23 Post subject:

Champions League tonight sees both Manchester teams in action.

But it's looking grim for City:
Manchester City 0-3 Bayern Munich

I was going to say 'Better for United', but not quite so good now :
GOAL - Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1 Manchester United - Taison (76 mins)
(But at least United have an away goal...)

EDIT: not long after, City got a consolation goal...

Posted: 02-10-2013 21:42 Post subject:

2135: FULL-TIME - Manchester City 1-3 Bayern Munich
The full-time whistle puts Manchester City out of their misery. The champions of Europe have been sensational tonight.

2134: FULL-TIME - Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1 Manchester United
All over at the Donbass Arena as Manchester United earn a hard-fought point in Ukraine.

So, London clubs winners, Manchester clubs not! Twisted Evil

(I shouldn't gloat - but then, it's been a while since I had anything to gloat about! Wink

)

Posted: 09-10-2013 10:33 Post subject:

Suddenly Arsenal has glamour and allure - even the old boys want to come back:

Dennis Bergkamp reveals he wants to return to Arsenal to work on the club's coaching staff
Former Arsenal icon Bergkamp has been inspired by the performances of Mesut Özil and believes he can play a role in helping the club to major honours
By David Winner
11:00PM BST 08 Oct 2013

This season just gets better and better for Arsenal supporters. They are top of the Premier League and their Champions League group, and playing some of their best football in years, inspired by the arrival of Mesut Özil. And now Dennis Bergkamp has revealed he wants to come back.

In an exclusive interview with Telegraph Sport, Bergkamp said that he hopes to come back to Arsenal one day, but as a coach and not a manager.
He also says it is time for Arsène Wenger to break his eight-year trophy drought and revealed his admiration for Özil, observing the similarities between the two.

“The feeling Johan Cruyff has had for Barcelona, I have the same with Arsenal,” says Bergkamp, currently assistant coach at his boyhood club Ajax.
“At Arsenal it was a good click. I always enjoyed it. I never had a bad day there. It is always on my mind. It is part of my ambition to come back at some stage.

etc...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10365349/Dennis-Bergkamp-reveals-he-wants-to-return-to-Arsenal-to-work-on-the-clubs-coaching-staff.html

(But no doubt next time we lose, some of the fans will be baying for Wenger's blood again!)

Posted: 10-10-2013 08:16 Post subject:

State of the Game: Premier League now less than one third English

English footballers account for less than a third of all the minutes played in the Premier League, a State of the Game study for BBC Sport has found.
The figure for home country players - 31.8% - is down from 35.25% in 2007-08 and is significantly lower than all other major European leagues according to football statisticians Opta.

In La Liga, home of World Cup holders and European champions Spain, Spaniards account for 59% of all minutes played. In Germany's Bundesliga, Germans make up 50%.

The minutes played by Scottish players in the Scottish Premiership has remained static - 57.36% in 2007-08 and 57.19% so far this season.

But Scottish (3.22%), Welsh (3.12%) and Northern Irish (0.93%) players have got fewer minutes on the pitch in the Premier League than French (7.98%), Dutch (3.94%) and Spanish (6.18%) players so far this season.

However, footballers from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are playing more minutes in the Championship and the Scottish Premiership than they did five years ago.

In total, 60.93% of minutes in the Premier League have been completed by foreign players so far this season, up from 56.92% in 2007-08.

Former England captain Alan Shearer said: "These are tough times for English football at the moment. Everyone is aware that English football is not as healthy as it should be and I'm afraid it is all going to take time."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said the figures were a "concern", but added: "There are only two ways you can see it - you have the opportunity to have the best players in the world in England, so let's see what they have and let's produce players who have the same qualities.
"Or you say, let's protect our players, keep the good players out and let's just play the English players. I believe that we live in a global world. The real question for English football is whether it can produce the players with the needed quality."

The study examined the minutes played by every nationality represented in the Premier League, the Championship and the Scottish Premiership so far this season, compared with the 2007-08 campaign, the last time all the home nations failed to qualify for a major tournament.

The findings come ahead of a crucial few days in England's campaign to reach for next summer's World Cup in Brazil, a tournament that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have failed to qualify for.

etc...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24467371

Much more on page.

Posted: 11-10-2013 23:44 Post subject:

So, how was it for you?

England 4 - 1 Montenegro
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24393746

The first half was so boring, and I was sleepy after a good meal and a few drinks, that I really thought I would nod off and only wake up when it was all over.

Technically England played OK, with plenty of skill and energy on display, but something was missing. That something was someone running with the ball at the opposition,which always gets the crowd going. Ironically, injured Theo Walcot was sitting in the studio with the pundits - we needed more like him on the field!

Luckily the second half was more lively, and I stayed awake to the end! Very Happy

Posted: 15-10-2013 10:01 Post subject:

Mesut Özil loves life in London after settling in at Arsenal
German Mesut Özil talks about driving on the left-hand side of the road, his responsibility with Arsenal and his 'X-Factor' initiation
By Telegraph Staff
1:41PM BST 10 Oct 2013

Germany star Mesut Özil has admitted he is loving life in England having been given the full support of the Arsenal players and staff.
The former Real Madrid midfielder, who joined Arsenal in a £43million summer move, is currently on international duty as he and his team-mates prepare for Friday night's World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland.

But much of the focus from the German media was on Özil 's new life in London.
"Driving on the left-hand side - I thought it would be much more difficult than it really is," he said. "But Per Mertesacker gave me some 'driving lessons' and they helped me, so I can drive there. London is an interesting city to live in. I have grown to love the place in a short space of time.

"The guys in the Arsenal team and the coaching staff are fully behind me. They have given me great responsibility and that's what I feel great about."

Özil's initiation included the traditional song in front of his team-mates, although it was an experience he admitted he did not enjoy.
"The singing bit, I didn't really want to do that because my voice just isn't up to it," he said. "I'm not an X-Factor contender by any stretch of the imagination."
Asked what he had sung, he replied: "The song was a Turkish song, to be honest. Of course, people didn't understand what I was singing." Cool

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10369648/Mesut-Ozil-loves-life-in-London-after-settling-in-at-Arsenal.html

Posted: 16-10-2013 08:28 Post subject:

Penalty shoot-out record: Brockenhurst 15-14 Andover
By Nabil Hassan
[Video: all the goals in 2m 20s!]

BBC Sport Players from Brockenhurst and Andover Town set a new record as they scored 29 consecutive penalties in a shoot-out. Shocked

The Hampshire Senior Cup match finished 0-0 after extra time, so went to spot-kicks.

And after 29 successful attempts - a total confirmed by the Football Association as an English record - Andover's Claudio Herbert missed.
"I didn't realise the magnitude, it was a bit of a blur, the keeper pulled off a great save," Herbert told BBC Sport.

The sequence of successful attempts is also thought to be a world record.

The previous English record for the most consecutive penalties scored in a shoot-out was set when Dagenham & Redbridge defeated Leyton Orient in a Johnstone's Paint Trophy Tie in 2011 after 27 consecutive successful kicks.

The record for the longest penalty shoot-out came in 2005 when the Namibian Cup had to be settled by a record-breaking 48 spot-kicks, with KK Palace holding their nerve to defeat the Civics 17-16 following a 2-2 draw in normal time.

Herbert, 20, who is a full-time student, says he never dreamed he would need to take two penalties in the shoot-out but would have no hesitation stepping up and doing it all again.
"I was excited but nervous," he said. "I never thought I'd have to take the 30th penalty in a shoot-out.
"I've been involved in penalty shoot-outs before, but nothing like this. There was not so much pressure.
"I would definitely take another one. I'd never shy away from taking a penalty."

He says despite the miss his team-mates attached no blame to him, adding: "I was just thinking 'oh no, it's going to be on TV - I'm going to miss a penalty on TV'."

His manager at Andover, Neil Benson, said the defeat was hard to accept at the end of a game which began at 19.40 BST and ended at 23:00 BST.
"It was a tough one to take," Benson told BBC Sport. "It was with some disbelief after the first set of penalties that we had to do it all over again. Every credit to the 11 players from both sides."

Herbert had the unfortunate task of trying to level at 15-15, but the keeper pulled off an astonishing save.
"He is an excellent player and will continue to be confident with everything he does on the pitch," added Benson. "It won't affect him and given the opportunity he will step up and do it again."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24535150

Posted: 16-10-2013 12:33 Post subject:

Extreme craziness marked the close of CONCACAF Qualifying last night, as the stoppage-time collapse of Los Canaleros leaves their team and crowd in tears, while El Tri find themselves in the uncomfortable position of offering muchas gracias to the hated gringos.