Manchester City have appointed Garry Cook as executive chairman with the brief to turn the club into a Premier League superpower.
Thanks for all the messages, support and advice but , sadly, I am not the Garry Cook who is joining Manchester City Football Club.
I can confirm I have been to Maine Road several times to interview players, report on matches and see Sunderland get hammered. I have also been to the City of Manchester Stadium, though that was to see U2 (they played a 1-2-1 formation).
This Garry Cook who shares with me the ability to spell his first name with two 'r's is a Birmingham City supporter who has been working for Nike in America. Good luck to him.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Zenit St Petersburg 2, Rangers 0, City of Manchester –10
There were 100,000 Rangers fans in Manchester on Wednesday night for the UEFA Cup Final.
I’ll start again.
There were 150,000 Rangers fans in Manchester on Wednesday night for the UEFA Cup Final.
No, I’ll try it again.
There were 200,000 Rangers fans in Manchester on Wednesday night for the UEFA Cup Final.
It doesn’t really matter how many fans crammed into Manchester on Wednesday night. There were a lot of them, they didn’t have tickets, one of the screens broke down, some of the fans started a riot.
Interesting fact: Rangers’ Ibrox Stadium capacity is 50,000. So, at least 150,000 Rangers fans in Manchester were not regular visitors to Ibrox. Were they really Rangers fans?
Did these fans bring shame on to Rangers Football Club and Scottish football? Probably. Can you blame Rangers Football Club for the riots? Definitely not.
In a generous estimate, a cross section of the 200,000 Rangers fans in Manchester represents a (largely male) cross-section of British society.
There would have been quite a few fairly intelligent people in there, and quite a few fairly unintelligent people in there. And the problem is, you just can’t legislate for mass stupidity.
Politcians have to pussy-foot around when they are talking about chavs, scummers, dickheads and slobs for fear of bad press. But the reality is this section of society makes up an unhealthy proportion of the British demographic. Everyone knows it exists, but you’re not allowed to say it.
It’s these mindless morons and yobbo’s who caused the trouble in Manchester because they were drunk (no excuse) are thick (no excuse) and don’t think about the way they are behaving (no excuse). See Jeremy Kyle and you’ll see these people. They have no connection to Rangers, they are everywhere.
What’s the solution? I don’t think there is one. Invite them round, be as hospitable as you can. And pray your TV doesn’t pack in.
I’ll start again.
There were 150,000 Rangers fans in Manchester on Wednesday night for the UEFA Cup Final.
No, I’ll try it again.
There were 200,000 Rangers fans in Manchester on Wednesday night for the UEFA Cup Final.
It doesn’t really matter how many fans crammed into Manchester on Wednesday night. There were a lot of them, they didn’t have tickets, one of the screens broke down, some of the fans started a riot.
Interesting fact: Rangers’ Ibrox Stadium capacity is 50,000. So, at least 150,000 Rangers fans in Manchester were not regular visitors to Ibrox. Were they really Rangers fans?
Did these fans bring shame on to Rangers Football Club and Scottish football? Probably. Can you blame Rangers Football Club for the riots? Definitely not.
In a generous estimate, a cross section of the 200,000 Rangers fans in Manchester represents a (largely male) cross-section of British society.
There would have been quite a few fairly intelligent people in there, and quite a few fairly unintelligent people in there. And the problem is, you just can’t legislate for mass stupidity.
Politcians have to pussy-foot around when they are talking about chavs, scummers, dickheads and slobs for fear of bad press. But the reality is this section of society makes up an unhealthy proportion of the British demographic. Everyone knows it exists, but you’re not allowed to say it.
It’s these mindless morons and yobbo’s who caused the trouble in Manchester because they were drunk (no excuse) are thick (no excuse) and don’t think about the way they are behaving (no excuse). See Jeremy Kyle and you’ll see these people. They have no connection to Rangers, they are everywhere.
What’s the solution? I don’t think there is one. Invite them round, be as hospitable as you can. And pray your TV doesn’t pack in.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard, standing alone in the penalty area, waiting to take his penalty against Liverpool.
It was the second-half of the second leg of the Champions League semi-final and I’ve seen nothing like it before.
Lampard, an England international and Chelsea’s talismanic midfielder, was playing in one of the most high-pressure games of his career just days after his mother Pat died.
Scoring a goal, from a typical late surge into the box, would have been so much easier. Having time to think about everything that is going on off the field as he waited for the referees whistle to take the penalty was probably the hardest thing this player has ever had to do on a football pitch.
Lampard is one of the most composed finishers in the British Premier League. His penalty was dispatched with typical precision. It was only then that his composure disintegrated.
He immediately ran to the corner flag to his left, pulled off his black armband and kissed it as he collapsed to the ground in an emotional heap. By now, the tears were flowing.
His team-mates swamped him. By the time he eventually got to his feet, his head nestled in Didier Drogba’s chest, the tears were still flowing.
He kissed his armband again and pointed up to the sky with both hands. He blew kisses to his dad, Frank Snr who was watching in the stand.
It was one of the most heart-rendering moments I’ve ever witnessed in a sporting arena.
I watched it live from my hotel room in Tobago. But at that moment I felt like I was alongside Frank Lampard, sharing his grief. I think everyone watching felt the same.
Lampard has had some unfair abuse from England fans over the past few seasons. His mum can rest in peace now with the fact that he now has the respect of the nation.
It was the second-half of the second leg of the Champions League semi-final and I’ve seen nothing like it before.
Lampard, an England international and Chelsea’s talismanic midfielder, was playing in one of the most high-pressure games of his career just days after his mother Pat died.
Scoring a goal, from a typical late surge into the box, would have been so much easier. Having time to think about everything that is going on off the field as he waited for the referees whistle to take the penalty was probably the hardest thing this player has ever had to do on a football pitch.
Lampard is one of the most composed finishers in the British Premier League. His penalty was dispatched with typical precision. It was only then that his composure disintegrated.
He immediately ran to the corner flag to his left, pulled off his black armband and kissed it as he collapsed to the ground in an emotional heap. By now, the tears were flowing.
His team-mates swamped him. By the time he eventually got to his feet, his head nestled in Didier Drogba’s chest, the tears were still flowing.
He kissed his armband again and pointed up to the sky with both hands. He blew kisses to his dad, Frank Snr who was watching in the stand.
It was one of the most heart-rendering moments I’ve ever witnessed in a sporting arena.
I watched it live from my hotel room in Tobago. But at that moment I felt like I was alongside Frank Lampard, sharing his grief. I think everyone watching felt the same.
Lampard has had some unfair abuse from England fans over the past few seasons. His mum can rest in peace now with the fact that he now has the respect of the nation.
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