Back to the Park

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Sophie

“So are you drinking this afternoon?”

Now there’s a question. Mr TLF and I are at the top of St Alban’s main street. We are about to follow our separate paths of destiny (well our Satday afternoon activities to be strictly accurate). He to PoundLand and me to Clarence Park. The sun is shining, the road is silent and for a moment it is as if the world has come to a poignant and momentous standstill in the wake of his question.

“Course I f****ing am. But only two pints.”

Apologies for the asterisks. I don’t normally self-censor but in the interests of protecting younger readers and some over-excited firewalls I’m minding my language.

Language couldn’t be minded during the game sadly. Yes Sutton are one of the few full time teams but I’m not sure that means we have to tug our forelocks and say, “NOO after you. Come this way through our defence.” and “Oh no we couldn’t possibly entertain the indignity of scoring a penalty against you.” Less Shakespearean on this occasion and maybe more Michael Bond seeing as my favourite moment was Steve exhorting our striker to greater efforts (via tone of voice not rude words) and getting the best Paddington Bear hard stare ever in response.

It wasn’t the only quality moment of course. An exchange of wit and badinage (generally his) with our esteemed programme editor (who is also now the glorious leader of Ember Designs and publisher of the club programme) both pre and during the match was very welcome. Yes he may have mocked me and my toes for dabbling in Premiership waters, but he knows his ‘worst Leicester City players ever’ almost as well as me and for that much respect…Plus I needed to be a little bit gentle with him as he had to live with a slight calamity by the printer of the programme (perhaps their name is Jane)….Although I have always had a hankering to see what adverts Braintree are putting in their matchday programme.

And then there was a first catch up with Skits, Hatboy and the Scottish contingent. A bit of punning, and some gentle mockery from said contingent, of my belief that Edinburgh is really part of Scotland (shouldn’t have told Glaswegians where I went on holiday). And also a bit of derision directed at those on the pitch (players and officials – we are very inclusive). And nobody does derision better than Davy Mac.

The fact is a return to SACFC will never be quite as emotional as a first return in 12 months to LCFC….But I tell you what. It’s a lot more fun.

Happy to be back Fox

Match stats
Saints Albans City FC 2 Sutton Utd 4
Attendance 511
Goalden goal losing tickets 2….like I’ve never been away
Lager consumed 3 pints (Ooops)
Pre match snack Consumption:1 not very luck packet of Bacon fries. One cheese and tomato COB

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I had a dream

Posted on August 28, 2014 by Sophie

And it wasn’t a good one.

Not sure if it was some sub-conscious Clarence Park withdrawal symptom but I do not see that I deserve a dream where I witness the mighty Saints lose 8 (eight)- 0. Opposition unknown (my dreams are quite selective in their detail). It really wasn’t pretty and even worse the post-mortem that took place in the bar was alcohol free. Spine-chilling it was and I am glad I woke up before things could get any worse (NOT sure how they could have got worse…apart from there being no snacks).

I’m not sure where this is all coming from. I know I have now missed two home games but this is ridiculous.

EITHER my body is reacting negatively to the excesses of the recent trip to the Edinburgh Festival with Mr TLF. It was a trial I can tell you:
• Free Stella on the train (only the 4% stuff!)? Oh if I must.
• Five star hotel with a free mini bar? Oh go on then.
• Several days of drinking, burgers and top notch comedy? Well someone’s got to
• One of the best meals ever, including gin and tonic granita on my pudding? (See. I can do posh) Just me taking one for the team

OR my vital signs are indicating worryingly low BF (bacon fry) levels thus proving the importance of the maize based snack in the average Fox diet.

In the interests of a better nights sleep and my own health I prescribe a home game on Satday where bacon fry and Stella (proper strength) levels can urgently be restored.

Nightmare Fox

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Football’s coming home

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Sophie

Or at least TLF was.

Yep after a mere 485 days since I last set foot in Filbert Way (or the King Power stadium if you must) the Fox was back. The expected fanfare with civic welcoming committee, brass band, balloons etc as I stepped off the train was notable only by its absence….they must have got the wrong day.

Of course it wasn’t just TLF making a return. No Lesta City were back in the Premier League after being absent for a decade. This change of circumstance does mean a bit more focus from the media of course; Five Live made us their 3pm commentary game, no doubt hoping for either a bit of ‘upset’ or an opening day ‘lambs to the slaughter new boys sacrifice.’ Plus a mere 6 out of 10 Grauniad football writers tipping the Foxes for relegation…never liked the liberal rag anyway.

Although it was the great return, it was not the return to my usual seat (I wonder how many people who used to sit near the sweary lady with the mad hair are relieved not to see her anymore. They’ll have a shock come the West Brom game.) Instead I was Fox in the Corporate Box. Let me assure though that no prawn sandwiches were harmed in the viewing of this football match. In fact corporate is not as dull as you think. There are advantages.

For one thing if you get there first then NO ONE can see you cry. Yep as I stepped out to the seated area I came over a bit teary, and at this stage no drink had been taken. Despite me being fairly neutral about the whole thing on the train, turns out that the place still really matters. Emotional investment hangs around apparently.

Anyway before I become a permanently soppy Fox, the other advantages of the corporate box.
There’s a fridge!
With beer in it!

My mate David (owner of box and long term Lesta fan) invites nice people, some of whom at half time were confident Lesta would pull it back and the game would finish 2-2; poor fools I thought.

There is space to pace so that when you have equalised against Everton to make it 2-2 and there are still 4 mins plus injury time to go you can pace and worry about not conceding another goal – am sure it makes all the difference.

And you can swear. OK technically you probably shouldn’t but hey shit happens. Plus my best moment, “Fookin book him ref!” seemed to convince man in baseball cap (friend of Helder Teli, proprietor of Spicy Handii restaurant – key stop off point of the new pre-match routine) that this woman with the mad hair just might be ok.

You see. Swearing – the universal ice-breaker.

Told you it would finish 2-2

Told you it would finish 2-2

At the final whistle there was much high fiving and hugs with people who 90 mins ago were strangers and were now best friends (ok drink had now been taken). A great way to come home, and the mighty Saints were not forgotten as regular checks kept with up to date with wot go on in Farnborough (1-0 to the mighty Saints thanks for asking).

Not forgotten either was the lovely Pete Briggs, a true footballing friend who sadly didn’t live to see LCFC make it back to the Prem. Pre-match I went to see his newly installed plaque in the memorial garden:
Peter Briggs, good friend, family man. Forever a Fox. He will be missed.

Yes he will.

Still a bit soppy Fox

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FC FC

Posted on August 13, 2014 by Sophie

You’ll be pleased to know that misery Fox who was moping around the parish of TLF last week has gone. Dumped en route to my sixteenth trip (the journey variety not drug related) to the loveliness that is a small music festival in Oxfordshire.

Things got off to a good and early start in the form of lost cousin and alcohol. (Technically that’s not very accurate. She wasn’t really lost. We just haven’t been very good at keeping in touch) Her idea of marking a family reunion at a music festival involves cracking open the Prosecco before the sun has even has even started to understand what a yardarm is, never mind gone over it. Normally my weekday monotony is broken up with an 11.30am trip to Pret for a flat white (other coffee emporiums are available) but last Thursday it was an 11.30 fizzy white, after which there was only one way that things could go – and that was a bit Lionel (messi).

But don’t be thinking that it was all Idle Fox, just sitting around enjoying myself. I put a shift in at the ambassadorial department as we showed our commitment to international relations, meeting up with our Swedish friends who make the annual pilgrimage from Stockholm to a small village outside Banbury. It was the usual heady agenda – an early assessment of the World Cup was essential, with the requisite mockery of the England performance (funny we didn’t discuss Sweden’s absence from Brazil). Then after that we need to drink a lot, review just how bad the wine is that they have bought from Tescos and why they still buy it every year, stop them from talking ALL the time, and tripping over flags, camping chairs, dogs & small children. Only one casualty this year as one of them inflicted a mortal blow to my mum’s umbrella. Their excitement knew no bounds of course once they spotted the St Albans badge on my away shirt, “It is the colours of Sweden!”

Into all this bonhomie and general brouhaha with a musical backdrop, a little rain had to fall. It came not only in the form of the news of a 1-0 defeat for SACFC but also in the form of a BIG cloud on Friday afternoon. And let me tell you, sitting in a camping chair under a big umbrella does not make a Fox impervious to rain. Oh, how my fellow festival goers laughed at my very soggy shorts and the look on my face that made it clear the sogginess went well beyond the shorts……

When we half drowned on the terraces at Clarence Park there was a certain camaraderie in our dampness; we were in it together. Not here though, at my nice civilised middle class festival (well I assume that Shot Friday, where you consume as many dodgy coloured shots as the family sitting behind you can provide is a middle class thing?)

Nope, All I got on this occasion was plain and unstinting mockery as the Fox squelched off for a change of clothes. On the plus side I did get to try out my two year old never-worn wellies. I shall be a picture of sartorial elegance come the monsoon season at St Albans.

The saviours of the Fox feet

The saviours of the Fox feet


Now it is fair to say that the gents of Fairport Convention have never seemed like the most football friendly of bands. Not anti. Just not a massive priority. So for one weekend those of us who like our football and our Fairport get our limited football kicks (there’s a pun in there somewhere) by wearing replica shirts in inappropriate weather, reviewing the previous and previewing the coming season and running down our phone batteries as we operate apps and wotnot to keep up with the opening games.

And then
BOSH!
The men of Fairport had spotted the bleedin obvious in the acronym department and prior to their Satday appearance put together a nice line in wry humour as Fairport Convention FC were presented to the crowd via the big screen in proper MOTD styley. The YouTube clip doesn’t quite do it justice but it’s not bad (bear with it for the first minute).
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oJZ_QlmKp9s

Happy days. Favourite festival, favourite sport, favourite band.
Festival Fox

Match Sats
England 4, Rep of Ireland 1, Sweden 3
Attendance: 20,000
Alcohol consumed: Mmm. A bit. A smorgasbord of StellaProseccoRedwineRosewineFestiveFivebrewTuborgSanMiguelDodgyShotsBrandy
Snacks: A lot, but no bacon fries; still hanging out with the veggies

A small corner of Cropredy that will be forever St Albans

A small corner of Cropredy that will be forever St Albans

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Minor crisis of confidence

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Sophie

One minute I am despairing that the new season will never arrive. The next I’m feeling a bit, well to be honest non-plussed (and not just because I like the word). I’ve got cold feet. I’m not sure where this is coming from to be honest. Worry that second season syndrome will mean I can’t think of anything to ramble about? That no one at Clarence Park will speak to me now that the TLF novelty has worn off? The hard cold reality of the military operation required to manage a diary once two fixture lists come out?

You know I never thought I would be grateful to SKY sports, but the change of several Lesta home fixtures (my spell checker just suggested ‘foxtures’ – nice) to a Sunday when the mighty Saints are at home on Satday is very welcome.

I’ve also got no rules. And I like a bit of order. Last year there were very clear rules in relation to having nothing, zip, nada to do with LCFC. And this year? Probably the only rule is don’t completely piss off Mr TLF by never being at home on a Satday again. Oh and of course the traditional rule which is that my attendance at the Cropredy folk festival will clash with an opening home game (step forward St Albans v Hayes & Yeading Utd).

If I was a footballer, experiencing this kind of pre-season angst I’d probably retire from the international game to prolong my club career. As it is I’m a slightly distracted and rambling TLF with two football teams who is in a grump for no particular reason. Tell you what, I’ll take myself off to a slightly rainy field in Oxfordshire for the next four days, drink my own body weight in Stella on a daily basis and follow the Hayes game on twitter. I’ll come back right as rain (BOOM!)

For those of you whose seasons start this weekend…May the footballing Gods smile on your teams, give the away team coach a flat tyre and cold water in their changing rooms. I’m there with you in spirit, and probably waterproofs.

Existential Angst Fox

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Summer in the City

Posted on July 30, 2014 by Sophie

My debut at Clarence Park over 12 months ago involved a pre-season friendly and 12 months later, as a result of a late addition to current pre-season fixtures it was the same start for Mum and step dad TLF (MSD-TLF). An act of (the footballing kind of) God meant that the fixture tied in with their planned weekend visit and BOSH, the weekend family entertainment schedule was complete. Pre-match pub lunch and pint, pre match clubhouse drink and post match BBQ (courtesy of Mr Stay-at-home TLF) and late birthday drink celebrations…..I mean late because my birthday was in May; not that we stayed up drinking late. Perish the thought.

Like last year Clarence Park and the climate were doing their best Qatar 2022 impression, which successfully added to that friendly game torpor, where it’s all a bit polite, no one does a right lot of chanting and you know you are more likely to get red in the face because you forgot the factor 50 than because you are really angry with the ref/opposition/your own players (delete as applicable).

Unlike last year when I watched men v boys as the mighty Saints took on a teenage MK Dons side, for MSD-TLF, the red (and yellow) carpet had been rolled out and Championship side Watford were in da house (innit). That meant a crowd of 1600 plus (as opposed to about 32 last year), and with Watford being a local team the home fans were seriously outnumbered. It also meant a bit of a drubbing for the mighty Saints (technically men v men or perhaps full time pampered men v part time fitting in their football with a real job men).

Not really a surprise result and so I would like to assure the overly pleased middle life crisis Hornets fans who stood behind me that beating a Conference South team 5-0 is not “like when Germany beat Brazil”, and does not guarantee promotion.

Swallows and summer gentlemen, swallows and summer.

Match stats St Albans 5 Watford 0
Attendance 1668
TLF family Pre match snack consumption 2 cheese & pickle, 1 goats cheese and roast veg sarnies. Plus chips (bacon fries off the menu due to vegetarian tendencies of MSD-TLF)
Pints consumed A heady mixture of Stella, cider, some very hefty porter ale.
Losing golden tickets 3
Flattering comments received by my 70 year old mum 2 (step forward Knocky and Lee…..you smoothies…NO not the fruit drink variety)

Family Fox

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Dr Fox

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Sophie

It is amazing how short-lived it was; the relief of not having to write a daily blog. Obviously when I say ‘having to’ that’s a bit of an exaggeration, it’s a bit like I didn’t have to stick rigidly to last season’s experiment vis a vis Lesta City, but while this Lost Fox is not cunning she is STUBBORN.

The Tuesday after the World Cup final I walked along the train platform with the not inconsiderable weight of the need-for-a-headline-and-a-bad-pun lifted from my shoulders. And very welcome that feeling was too. But by Wednesday night I was a bit lost; aimlessly flicking the TV remote searching for that non-existent Honduras game, staring balefully (like Gareth: BOOM!) at my completed wallchart and feeling very disorientated on the train as I no longer had half a dozen newspaper sports sections to rifle through. And at one point I actually had a hankering to hear from Robbie Savage and Danny Mills…..That’s when I knew it was serious. All the symptoms added up and pointed towards a definite case of PWCS.

Yes Post World Cup Syndrome had struck chez TLF, although Mr TLF seemed strangely immune. Time to turn to a range of remedies and cure-alls:

Fastidious review of fixture lists & insertion of all fixtures into every calendar, diary and wall planner that I can lay my little paws on. Heck if Mr TLF stands still for long enough I’ll write them on his forehead.
Feverish searching and following of every transfer rumour (so that didn’t take long)
Foolishly (that’s enough Fs) getting caught up in the, “new kit release” hype, which inevitably ends with me looking at the adoring tweets from fellow supporters and thinking, “Really? Are you sure we are looking at the same club shirt that seems to resemble a blue polo shirt for people with odd shaped necks who think button down collars are cool?” And then not wanting to be a churl thinking, “oh well maybe it looks better in, or possibly on, the flesh”. It’s early days on the shirt front but I think this could be one that the Saints win over the Foxes (and I don’t even like yellow).

If this fails to mitigate the worst excesses of PWCS then I would prescribe pre-season worrying:
WORRY about how I will juggle two fixture lists and the need to occasionally be in the house during the hours of daylight at the same time as Mr TLF
WORRY about the inevitability of choosing the losing team to watch when the home fixtures clash
WORRY about how often humiliating and hefty home defeats will be shown on SKY sports
WORRY about whether a new club transfer record of a mighty £8 million is going to be enough to keep us up
(those last two clearly refer to the blue team that play in The Void)

You see…It’s like Brazil 2014 never happened.

On the road to recovery Fox

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Gertcha!

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Sophie

Yes Mario Gotze the man who, every time his name was mentioned had me hankering to shout out the title of that toe-tapping tune produced by everybody’s favourite cock-er-nee duo Chas and Dave, won it for Germany. I’m grateful for the headline and I’m grateful we didn’t have to sit through penalties as I don’t think the nerves could have stood it.

Definitely a weary marathon not a fancy sprint, it was still a game to be admired, although I don’t think Messi or Higuain will want to look back at the chances they spurned. Worse though was making Messi collect the Golden Ball, for player of the tournament at the end of the game. Apart from the torture of him having to sheepishly collect some bit of tat while standing inches from the golden trophy he really wanted, was he really the player of the tournament? He carried his team through the group stage but his impact has lessened as the tournament has gone on. Balls indeed.

As befits the Final, the Beeb boys were suited and booted, although I think I would have preferred t-shirt and shorts to Rio Ferdinand’s double breasted, white buttoned little number, which was something of a crime against humanity. The biggest crime against humanity though (in a footballing sense before anyone thinks I am exaggerating) is of course Mark Lawrenson and so we made best use of the red button so that we could hear the dulcet tones of Mike Ingham on Radio5Live one last time. As it was his swan song I will forgive his, “They do explode when they counter attack. And that is very dangerous.” Yes Mike, exploding players would be dangerous and also a little bit messi (BOOM!)

Going back to clothing for a brief moment, it wasn’t just the team on the pitch wot won it. It was also the coolest manager with the best haircut and outfit (the golden wardrobe award is sponsored by TLF’s mum).

A little less cool throughout the whole tournament has been FIFA. When they weren’t imposing massive fines on teams for not sending the right number of players to a press conference, they were imposing very teeny-tiny fines for head butts, bites and laser pens and doing sweet FA (see what I did there?) in relation to official complaints about racist and homophobic chanting. Oh and getting upset about fans being drunk at games, after they insisted that the ban on selling alcohol in stadia be lifted because Budweiser is a main sponsor. And to show they are consistently stupid, it has just been announced that for the next World Cup, the Russians have agreed to FIFA’s request and will lift their ban on alcohol in stadia, once again to keep happy the purveyors of American fizzy, watery beer.

Talking of beer, I’m afraid it was excess of that plus some high octane table football which made me very much a fair weather oranje supporter on Saturday night. The TV was on, but my focus was elsewhere as a small gathering (NOT a party) broke out Chez TLF. When I wasn’t trying to be the hostess with the mostest (and failing dismally) I was doing my best to try and identify the tipping point where alcohol is no longer the performance enhancing substance it can be (reducing the tension and stress) and instead leaves me looking a bit England and Spain on the table football pitch. Some brave, van Gaal-like tactical changes by Steve did help us avoid humiliation at the hands of small children, but I knew it was time to gracefully retire and leave it to the not at all competitive grown-ups. So I parted with my football reputation just about intact, unlike Brazil who folded again, this time choosing to rely not on Neymar’s shirt as the talisman but by putting him on the bench in full kit like a little lucky and injured mascot. Taxi for Scolari!

Just like Brazil has to tidy up and get back to normal I too need to take a long hard look at the state of my study (yes, OK Mr TLF. And the living room). I am surrounded by post-its, newspaper cuttings and notebooks and before it all goes in the recycling bin, just one last look back. Best bits for TLF?

Thierry Henry, Holland v Spain, Chile, people at my party greeting him indoors with, ‘so nice to meet Mr TLF’, vanishing free kick foam – particularly when it goes over a player’s boots, the Mexico manager’s excess celebrations…the lowest paid gaffer at the tournament making it much further than some mega paid failures. And of course; my fantastic world cup keyring (the ball goes round!!!)

The worst? Not many really.
FIFA is clearly a given. Pundits of course, with a special mention for Waddle and Savage. The regular and obligatory shots of ‘bootiful laydeez’ in the crowd; either cut it out completely or even things up a bit with a balanced male to female ratio. Fallout from Suarez. Fallout from Neymar.

But these are a mere BAGATELLE (he plays for Italy…), a minor pimple on the beautiful face of a great tournament, which has shown that beyond all the nonsense and corporate excess players will still do amazing things on the pitch and fans will cry, laugh, hug, cheer and facepaint their way through anything you throw at them. Four weeks disappears in a blur of goals, great saves, penalties and early morning typing. A blog a day almost kept sanity at bay and there is something a bit worrying about not wanting England to equalise because “the blog is almost done and a comeback would ruin it.”

That’s food for thought…and so are these: My food XI
Joe Hart, Jan Vertong(ue)hen, Philip Lahm, Bacary (la)Sagne, Jorge Fucile, Edam Hazard, Danielle Di Rosti, Serge Busquets (great for dunking), Javier Maraschino, Georgios Spameras, Alex Oxtail-Chamberlain. Sorry; couldn’t resist.

It’s time for the wall charts to come down, for one last Mr TLF head-shake-of-despair inducing shout of ‘put it WIIIIDE!’ from yours truly and for the grimy not yet washed tournament T-shirt to slope off without human intervention to the washing machine. It’s been global, it’s been a pleasure.
Auf weidershen Copa do Mundo

A great while ago the world begun
With hey ho the wind and the rain:
But that’s all one, our Play is done
And we’ll strive to please you everyday.

The Low Fox

RESULTS
World Cup Final
Germany 1 Argentina 0 aet
3rd place play-off
Holland 3 Brazil 0

Last phrase German and Portugese
Sie denhen es ist alles vorbei. Es ist jetzt
Eles acham que esta tudo acabudo. E agora
They think it’s all over. It is now.

Webiness – Euro 2016…hmmm…France. I think it might be time for TLF to become a roving correpondent.
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/finals/news/newsid=2095949.html

And a spoof film to make you smile

Mad spoof ‘shows North Korea media telling fans team has reached World Cup final’

Posted in Brasil 2014 | 1 Comment

Good Lord

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Sophie

I’m not a big fan of the work drinks reception. The drinks bit is fine, it’s my pitiful attempts to network with people that depresses me. Once I’ve spoken to the people I know it’s a real battle to drag myself away from my colleagues and ‘work the room’ (bleaggh).

Salvation last night, when it came, was football shaped. I never imagined I would go up to a member of the House of Lords and say, “we are Premier League” but hey, sometimes you have got to live a little. Fortunately Lord Bach didn’t call security. Instead I got a huge smile, a great conversation about Lesta City’s chances (I think it is fair to say that our glasses are half-full on that subject) and a request for details of my blog. The universal language of football eh?

Anyway I digress, we need to wring the last drops out of the world cup before we return to matters domestic. It is the final weekend and before we get to the Final of the final weekend, there is the small matter of the 3rd/4th place play-off. I always think the teams involved would just want to hit the beach or the bar wouldn’t you? Not take part in some meaningless nonsense. Perhaps Brazil see this as their opportunity at redemption, but 3rd place for them is going to feel like being the host who threw the most expensive party in the world and then only got a go on the karaoke machine, a glass of flat fizz and the slightly soft nibbles when everyone else had gone home.

Will it bin ein Berliners on Sunday or Che(ers) all round? I know Germany just tonked the hosts 7-1 but cast your mind back to a few heart stopping moments against Ghana and Algeria and you can see some little gaps with, “Messi welcome here” written all over them. Too close to call for me and actually I don’t mind who wins. Mr TLF has had a small wager on Germany so I might bring a bit of balance to the living room and support Argentina. Don’t’ cry for me (sorry!)

Whatever happens let’s hope it’s a good ‘un as the next one is four years away. Have a happy finals weekend and I will see you for one last bumper global ramble on Monday.

The Lost Foxez

Saturday – 3rd/4th Place play off
9pm, Brasilia
Brazil v Holland

Sunday – WORLD CUP FINAL
8pm, Rio de Janeiro
Germany v Argentina

WorldCup ball
“I really hope Spain don’t go out on a damp squid.”
Tony Pulis, Radio 5 Live

Phrase of the day – German
Es ist ein speil von zwei halften
It’s a game of two halves

Webness – Sorry it is the The Guardian again (liberal lefty Fox), but I can’t resist this. I got a pants score…..
http://www.theguardian.com/football/quiz/2014/jul/10/world-cup-quiz-name-the-goal-diagram

And finally…a magazine cover that didn’t seem so silly a month ago….

Oh dear.....

Oh dear…..

Posted in Brasil 2014 | 1 Comment

Told you so

Posted on July 10, 2014 by Sophie

It was written in the stickers and it is the line up for the final that I predicted before the tournament started. But not the line up I wanted. Sometimes being right sucks.

My Holland shirts are facing the long trudge to the washing machine (not a moment too soon says Mr TLF) and most of us are wondering why we stayed up for a semi final that kind of choked the life out football. And to think I was fretting about whether I would get to see the map, being committed to an evening work event in Manchester. As it turned out it was all a bit more beautiful game related than I had expected with Manchester City’s in-house counsel being one of the speakers (and no he didn’t bring any cake) and all the attendees for the dinner afterwards being football fans so there was plenty of chat. Most people had to negotiate a journey to get home so it was an early one and I got the whole of the second half.
And the extra time.
And the penalties.

Louis van Gaal was all out of tactics and just a smidgen grumpy. It seems to be everybody’s fault except his that Wrongvlaar (wrong in every sense) took the first Dutch penalty.

Mr TLF has very strong views about penalties. It is as we all know an awful way to end a match but after some quizzing from me he accepted that a quiz, a lottery or a small game of tag would be not better. He does however have a great solution to refresh the penalty brand a bit and also take the pressure off the players. So no goalkeeper for the whole shebang; each penalty taker has to also face a penalty. And the penalties will not be taken by the knackered players but the opposing managers, a commentator from each country, each team’s physio, both mascots and finally (and thank you to Fran and Jo for this refinement) a WAG from each side. Spread the pain a bit.

This idea will shortly be forwarded to FIFA accompanied by the requisite envelope of hard cash. Over to you Sepp.

Di Lost Foxaria

YESTERDAY’S RESULT
Argentina 0 Holland 0 aet Argentina win 4-2 on penalties

WorldCup balls
“He’s looking at the wrist on his watch”
Andy Townsend

Phrase of the day – Vamonos Chicos
You’ll need to watch the Adidas advert…

Webiness – shouldn’t love adverts from major corporates but the Nike and the Adidas ones are great. I’d skip the overblown Dr Dre one myself
http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2014/jun/13/world-cup-tv-ads-nike-mcdonalds-adverts

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