True.... Very True

Haven't had a chance in a while for a blog entry after the weekend of excitement. Still recovering from hiding behind the couch for the final moment of Ireland's Six Nations Grand Slam decider when the man from down the road dropped a goal with a few minutes left to secure the win which was followed by the entire nation/team going absolutely bannanas! Then United get played off the park by a Fulham team that included Olivier Dacourt and once again Danny Murphy proved their Nemesis by scoring against them. To top it all off Liverpool look like they are back in the eighties with a five nil trouncing of a poor Villa side who were playing Reo-Coker right back who is about effective as a confused Fraggle.

Now I was thinking that was all good but it was just about to get better.... Those purveyors of the eighties New Romantic movement are returning to the fanfare of a world friggin tour. Spandau Ballet return and its true so true (shocking use of dodgy lyrics). Anyways today's song brings back radio memories from my childhood, wandering around the kitchen and listening to this!

The Friday Sport Preview Post Yokey

Its almost the weekend and tonight we are going to be enthralled by the first ever Friday night Six Nations match when the flakey French take on those pesky Welsh. The French have Benoit Baby at outhalf tonight which makes absolutely no sense to me. The guy cant kick, so I'm expecting some serious kamikaze running of the ball. Its shaping up to be a cracker and unfortunately with that selection I can't see the Welsh Grand Slam bid being derailed. Livremont really wants his head examined in my opinion, just play Skrela for god sake.

Parry is also about to lose his job at Liverpool, it has only taken fifteen years of gross mismanagement for him to reach this point. Perhaps he should apply for a job in this basket case company. Liverpool are without doubt destined to drop more points away to Middlesborough this weekend after putting on such a good show at Real midweek. Logic goes out the door as regards this club.

Bet of the weekend would have to be the Arsenal to win to nil at home to Fulham (11/10) so I'm putting the house down on that one. Also I've decided UEFA Cup is far more exciting than Champions League football mainly because Man City just can't defend. On the music front I reckon this is the song to get us all through the current economic nightmare. If it works for Obama it should work for us... hopefully

Weekend Review

The trouble with committing yourself to a blog entry is that you can't really row back on previous predictions. You kinda put yourself out on a limb and stay there. So much for my insight into last weekends Ireland vs. France match which was supposed to be in my opinion at least a tight, tense affair that consisted mainly of aerial ping pong. Instead it turned out to be the match of the weekend with both fullbacks willing to run the ball back at every opportunity and Ireland producing a truly world class performance in turning over a valiant French effort. The moment of the match was the Kearney break that ultimately led to the Heaslip trip. The side step to finish the move and make Poitrenaud look like a bit of a fool was excellent.

In other news close to my sporting heart Rafa Benitez some how managed to grab victory from the despair of defeat in Fratton Park. This despite of a truly bizarre selection decision that saw N'Gog start upfront with Babel. On the plus side that purveyor of absolutely useless midfield play Lucas was suspended for the match but Liverpool stay on course for a title shot, well at least kind of anyways.

Bet of the weekend was Man Utd. winning to nil which was 7/4, according to most betting sites this amounts to more or less being allowed to print money, should Obama be allowed to consider this in his financial rescue package?

To finish off, song of the weekend for me was this, blame it on being on soul overload in between sporting events and also watching Platoon.

This Weekend Means Rugby

It's the start of the Six Nations this weekend and Ireland even though sporting a new coach and back-room team since the previous championship are carrying about as much optimism in to the series of matches as an economist in the current economic climate. The autumn internationals really did very little to increase confidence with New Zealand making short work of Irish resistance and a truly awful match against Argentina which Ireland managed to scrape through thanks mainly to a woefully under prepared third choice out-half for Argentina.

So it is with slight anxiety that we look forward to the visiting French this weekend in Croke Park. Marc Lievremont has also been struggling in the Autumn Internationals and he seems incapable of picking a team that is both coherent and reflects the best of French league rugby. With that in mind Ireland have decided to start Paddy Wallace in the 12 slot (he of the unfortunate traffic kone joke) with O'Driscoll outside him. Based on that selection expect a game that can best be described as aerial ping-pong with a premium being placed on set-piece execution.

This doesn't look like it is going to be a classic with a tight and tense affair to be expected. Winning this will really set the tone for the rest of the championship so an Irish win might just lead (dare we whisper it) to the mythical grand slam. Hopefully Ireland to shade it by about four but it does depend on what kind of French team turns up on the day.

I suppose for the day that's in it a sporting event deserves ultimate montage music to highlight either the glory of the agony of the occasion. So here is the soundtrack music, think sun rising, crowd arriving, team showing grit and determination to win, adulation guaranteed.