Us lads of former years are used to the cold of course, not a lot of central heating in the cemetery, but by jove, it has been parky, hasn't it? I must admit I was getting a bit depressed, what with the weather and no football and the January blues and what have you, but surely we must be getting back into action soon? Mind, from here Meadow Park looks like a duck pond, not a football pitch, but it might be an advantage to know where the puddles are when we get playing again; or plodging.
And so what is the football news around and about? Well, transfer deadline the other day, that Beckham doesn't give up easy does he? What a greedy B%4*&^*&. And evidently old Mido was touting himself about as well, just what you need in an emergency, King Farouk in shorts, and you can't say Pharoah than that...
And old 'Arry turfs out £12 million and a £20 million contract, of someone else's money of course, for that useful, but no more, centre half who used to be at Blackburn. He's a card is 'Arry, and no mistake. Mind this is quite restrained for him on deadline day. Of course as I write there are a good six hours until the window clashes shut, hopefully on someone's fingers, so he has time to really get mucked in, please don't tell me he bought Crouchy again?
Mind not that the transfer window bothers our stalwart manager, signing players is the best bit of the game he reckons. And now he's found an Irish link there will be no stopping him, friendlies in Belfast next year is it? Still young Patrick could be the new George Best and no one will be laughing then. On the other hand he could the new Frank Carson, and no one will be laughing then either. No, all joking aside I always trust our bold manager, he keeps it interesting no matter what, and he usually comes up trumps.
Blimey, was that the dreaded vote of confidence? Good job I wield no influence round here.
And finally, the Lance Armstrong saga, what a liar he turned out to be, but no surprise to many, you have to be on something to ride a bike up those mountains. Mind to be fair, when I was doing drugs, I couldn't even find my bike...