Sunday, June 29, 2008

Arshavout

Thursday in Manchester brought a deluge of rain. One month of rain in ten hours nearly brought the city’s drainpipes to their knees. Nothing compared to the tears that rained in Withington over Russia's exit. There were three clowns on Thursday night.

Firstly Hiddink, who had claimed that his own side’s naivety had lost the previous match to Spain, fielded and picked a line-up straight into Spanish hands. Then Arshavin, who had a history of sulking, sulked, when instructed incorrectly by Mr 'I Can't Get Past A Semi-Final' Hiddink to remain in the centre or midfield, despite his and Zhirkhov's damage when played wider. And how Arshavin sulked. Third and higher than anyone on ‘shits of the night’ came David Pleat. Beginning with 'Don't forget the Spanish went to extra time in their last match (Russia v Holland did exactly the same) and continuing with a barrage of ridiculous fawning over Torres and in particular Fabregas, Pleat ruined an ordinary victory with his embarrassing over egging that included 'Why on earth has he replaced Torres with Guiza? (Guiza scored within minutes of coming on) and his constant reference to 'Arsenal's Fabregas'. Let’s hope that the known and published racist Aragones, gets his just dessert. Either a comprehensive victory from our German friends or a straight right from our brother Senna.

The next morning and it's up early to BBC Manchester. The disappointment from the night before is shown only in my disdain towards Simon Rimmer's potato ramblings. A Quick Withington Salad is prepared before the last train from Stockport to London. When Steve and I arrive in London we're greeted with the celebrations for Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday. For me, the only person worthy of being there is Jerry Dammers, not Amnesty International, an organisation that turned their backs on Mandela for the whole period of his imprisonment, on the grounds that he was a 'terrorist'.

Saturday morning and it's off to BBC Radio Four for Loose Ends...

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