Pilko

What an excellent day out. 12,212 was the attendance, I'd say at least 7,000 were Bay fans (although it was hard to tell as Glossops home colours were Blue and white as well!) You couldn't have picked a nicer day for a game of football, the weather was absolutely roasting all day long - the Glossop lot got put in the shade, we got the sunny end! Cold beers and shirts off were the order of the day. There wasn't any sign of trouble either, there were obviously some blokes who had far too much to drink but they channeled their drunken energy into chanting the Bay home opposed to starting any trouble. The match itself - After an even first twenty-odd minutes (both teams hit the bar), Lee Kerr robbed a Glossop defender, burst past another and lifted the ball over the onrushing keeper from the edge of the 6-yard box. Cue mass pandemonium in the Bay end! Bay quickly dominated possesion, and with the quick McFarlane scampering down the right flank and causing the Glossop left back all sorts of problems, Whitley could counter as Glossops decent passing game was blocked off and right on the stroke of half time, just after Glossop forced Terry Burke into a few regulation saves, Whitley Broke away, Chow and McFarlane played an excellent double one-two with their heads, Chow raced clear and blasted the ball above the goalie! 2-0 and the Bay end went mental again. After a few cold (pricey!) pints at half time, the second half was played out, Whitley hit the bar again, twice, and they continued to pressure. Both teams made a few subs and the game lost its high tempo a bit, although Whitley did look fairly assured apart from one poor call by the linesman that forced Burke into action. After about an hour, Lee Picton came to take a thrown-in next to the Bay end, he clenched a fist at the crowd and that got everyone on their feet again. With about 75 minutes gone, Glossop started to dominate, forcing a series of corners and almost scored when Burke dropped the ball on the edge of the area. Despite this, Whitley defended well and Kerr and substitute Bell provided great pressure up front and kept the Glossop players on their toes. By this point, shoes were off (if you love the Bay!) and mexican waves passed through the Bay end, into the Glossop end (our lot booed loudly as they did it ). It must be said the game was played in a good spirit by both teams, and there wasn't a single yellow card. The referee was decent (barring a few dodgy throw-in calls early on) and the linesman on the far side missed a few blatant offsides, but nothing to complain about there really. Full time whistle went, the perfect end to a near perfect day. Our lot were fantastic and applauded the Glossop players as they collected their runners-up medals, before cheering hugely as Ian Chandler and coach Gavin Fell lifted the trophy up in front of the triumphant Bay end. The players then got on their podium after going up to get the trophy and everyone afforded them the umpteenth throaty roar and standing ovation of the day. The stadium itself was lovely, very impressive. Must be immense when it's full. Stewards were helpful (and not a pain in the arse when everyone wanted to stand up for parts of the game) and fans of both teams mixed and drank together before the game. Funny chant of the day: A few blokes singing "You couldn't sell all your tickets!" when the 12,212 attendance was announced. Photos:

Excellent news!

I'm at Fulham/Villa tomorrow - does anyone know what the 'neutral section' is like?

Martins doesn't even know how to use his pace though.

Hughton seems to be a more than adequate coach to be fair, he clearly works very hard. He was shit as a manager but that's simply because he is not one. Can't really see what Calderwood has brough mind and obviously want Kinnear out, like.

As if there'd be any left for me. It would be like that John Goodman gag off Family Guy. "I've told you, you can have what's left!" "But there's never any left!"

This Sunday! Off to do my 'car shopping' soon - the best kinda shopping where you just buy all the nice stuff and don't bother getting milk, bread etc.

Were they holding hands? Or was Nixon rubbing his crotch on Dave's head?

I'm sure Barton got worst signing of the season from one of these last year, but there was no mention for Smith. Baffling list, I try not to pay too much attention to these things.

Haha, I just met with Stephen, Neil and Nixon in town a few weeks ago and we had a kickabout, it wasn't a proper "training session" as it were

He's not even in the top 6 managers in the hospital ward he's in Not bad.

As happened last time, here's my go at a "schedule": 3:45pm: Last of the money is collected in and we head for the pitch 3:50pm: Warm-up consisting of over-zealous hamstring tests from O-Nut and loads of shooting from everyone else 3:55pm: National anthems sung (I'm Blue, Eiffel 65 and Red Alert, Basement Jaxx) and team photos taken 4:00pm: First half kicks off 4:02pm: Whatever is left of Dave and Nixon is shoved into a matchbox and the game continues 4:45pm: Half time, where the Party Rings come out and the losing team does that bit from 300 where he shouts SPARTTAAAAA 4:55pm: Second half kicks off, with hopefully still 22 people alive and breathing 5:09pm: Jay Jay Sea arrives again smoking a tab on the sideline in a suit 5:40pm: The game ends and the losing team all round on their shittest player, whilst the player who scored the winner is carried off by the other team on a matress to the nearest boozer (11:32pm: stupeedo realises that he overslept and rues the red team's victory )

There's a picture this time though. You just wish that it was you who thought of it.

That must be the kid with the missing iPhone.

Glenn Hoddle has some sort of academy thing in Spain to give a second chance to english youngsters released from league clubs. That's not really with a new culture is it? A bit like going to Benidorm - different weather, same lowlife Brits.

I hear that Kinnear has gone on to write scripts for acclaimed comedian Danny Boon. Kudos to anyone who gets that one.

Manchester United will win. Not that I want them to, but their defence will be too good and I don't think Barca will create too many clear-cut chances against it.

Interesting. Remember there was a feature in 442 a while ago about British players who went abroad, was a good read.

A greasy haired old dinosaur who was stuck in a time warp.

That last line is spot on Dave. Something people will have to come to terms with. If we do stay up, don't expect a clear out to the degree people hope for, it's just not going to be that easy. redknapp style it'll have to be, a few strategic purchases and sales plus some good loans Redknapp style? The man who just spent £46m on a decent inherited squad having arrived from bankrupting Pompey? that's him yeah, the guy who assembled a quality team at pompey that tore us to fucking shreds at home and destroyed cacapa's career in the process and won the fa cup him You think Ashley's going to provide any manager we have with enough funds to bankrupt us? Why do you think Portsmouth is for sale for about £20m now? Taking the Redknapp approach of throwing loads of cash around would be brilliant, I won't dispute that. He's not done any of his famed 'wheeler dealer' activity for about 5 years now. It really irritates me when the media mention that at the open of the window. He's just as much a chequebook manager as anyone else in the league.

7/10 I chuckled.

I don't think he is coming back. There haven't been any soundbites in the media or anything like that from him in ages. Fwiw I think if he did come back, he'd want Barton in the squad.

Bollocks , he clattered me twice in the first half (the first time after about a minute), and I scored in the second half whilst we raced to get there first, in similar fashion. it just so happened my slight touch took it past him and then I just about hit it into the net without falling over and scuffing it.

http://i39.tinypic.com/2a7a3qv.jpg Ballack chasing cock.

This.