The familiar sound echoes around this blog. It's emptiness, but for four short, simple, wonderful words. They are the words that reverberate ostentatiously, yet there's no reason for pride within them.

They think they own the place. They believe that with their meaning is a sense of power and direction that none can rival, and that all will follow quietly upon their conclusion.

Well they don't. They have no divine right over the rest of these words. The truth is, other commitments have taken priority in my life and until they're resolved, I must shelve this blog in favour of something a little more critical in my life.

Maybe in the summer I'll spare a night time to spill my guts and open up again.

Until then, I guess I'll have to feed the ego of the infamous words once more; "Long time, no blog."

Just a quick update from me because I'm in a funny old mood where I can't settle down and sit still right now - I have no idea why. We lost our match away to Cosford last week 4-0 but to be honest they were a very good team and we struggled to even get eleven players. Our manager, Ray, had to don the yellow kit and roll back the years to play left-back.

However, this week, a much better performance as we played Lion Priorslee and played some absolutely breathtaking football at times on a still pretty terrible pitch (in places). At times it was like watching Arsenal's youths playing against Wigan in the Carling Cup. Mesmerising. Well, obviously we're not as young, or talented as those superhuman kids, but we played good football. I came on at half-time to grab an assist, but should've scored as I messed up a one on one with the keeper (again!!!). That's the one area of my game I need to improve on, because I am seriously terrible at one on ones!

However, the rest of my game was pretty good and we went on to win 4-1 after comfortably having the better of the game. A terrific all-round performance was topped off by a scrumptious left foot strike from outside the area by Trig, who is not left-footed by any stretch of the imagine. Even Woody tried to get in on the action as he curled a freekick onto the crossbar which begs the question: who even let him take the free kick?!

In other news, the Spanish is coming on slowly but I'm more intent on looking for a job at the moment, which is tough in this economic crisis. Was turned down from a couple of Admin positions at the DWP most recently, but will endeavour to keep looking and see what comes up. My firefighter application came through the post but even if I got past all 4 stages of application for that job I still wouldn't start until sometime in September, so I definitey need a job in the meantime!!

Until then, ciao for now!

Bought myself a ticket to go and see Alkaline Trio at the o2 academy in Birmingham last night, and convinced Simon to buy a last minute ticket to come with me. (Actually, he asked me what I was doing that night and when I remembered I was supposed to be going to a gig, he asked if there were tickets still for sale). Having been a bit sceptical because of the last time I saw them (Reading Festival - poor setlist, poor drumming, bad technical issues with the mics and amps) I was a little anxious to see how they'd bounce back from it. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised.

The first thing I noticed was that Derek's drumming was a million times better this time, if not excellent. Dan's bass amps were set-up much better this time but maybe too much as sometimes Matt's guitar was drained out too much and left inaudible at times - merely just toneless noise. Also the setlist was a lot stronger than at Reading festival but one thing I've noticed lately is that they are trying to mix things up by playing different songs each time which is always nice to hear. They didn't play too many off the new record either which was pleasing because I'm not a big fan of the new record really.

These are the songs I remember (not in order):

Calling All Skeletons
Help Me
In Vein
I Found Away
Sadie
I Was A Prayer
This Could Be Love
We've Had Enough
All On Black
Goodbye Forever
Emma
If We Never Go Inside
Blue In The Face
Sorry About That
Mr. Chainsaw
Private Eye
Stupid Kid
I Lied My Face Off
Maybe I'll Catch Fire
Jaked On Green Beers

I think that was most, if not all of them. Perhaps one more off the new record (maybe Do You Wanna Know?, but don't quote me on that.) It's nice to see the refreshing change of some songs from the playlist. I mean, at Reading they had Blue Carolina, Armageddon, Mercy Me, Time To Waste, Another Innocent Girl (I think) and Take Lots With Alcohol (I think), so it's nice to see it being mixed up a bit, but I can't help but feel like they're cheating their fans by not playing Radio. I mean, no disrespect, I'm glad they're changing it around in lieu of the "same old, same old", however if there's one way to end a show and send your fans home elated then it's definitely by finishing with Radio. Though, I will admit, a solo performance of Blue In The Face and Sorry About That was a nice touch.

Highlight of the gig: Goodbye Forever, once again dedicated to the late Jerry Finn, instantly followed up with Emma. Fantastic.

I decided to watch from the back this time rather than get sweaty with a bunch of strangers: the gig seems so much more enjoyable this way, even if your legs do take a pounding from all the standing around. Definitely enjoyed the gig: 7.5/10

Support bands included The Audition and some other small band I've never heard of.

A much better performance from us this week saw us take a point from the game against top of the table White Lion Wellington. Considering that a win is only worth two points in this league it's most definitely worth working towards a draw for a single point. We started the game strongly but Dale had to come off after two or three minutes with a back injury. During the time that he was off and I was getting warmed up White Lion took advantage of the lack of a right midfielder by exploiting the space down the left to put a ball in which was converted.

I wasn't supposed to be on until the second half as part of Ray's pre-game strategy but after that I had to come on at right-mid and play through a long-standing groin injury. We had some good possession and played some good football and got our just reward when the ball was played through the gap and I took one controlling touch before putting the ball in the corner to equalise. FINALLY! I've been waiting 5 games to get off the mark but I'm really chuffed to make one count.

I came off at half-time because of my groin and hit the showers. As I came out I saw White Lion celebrating as they beat our offside trap and tucked it away. We really need to work on that offside trap of ours. We battled well and continued to push on in search of something when we won a corner with about 15 minutes to go. Tommy put the ball in the box and after some missed headers the ball fell to Dollie who put it away in the bottom corner to peg it back to 2-2.

After that it became a bit of a scrappy affair and we almost conceded late on as a quick counter attack from White Lion ended with two great saves from Monk and two or three clearances off the line before we finally got it away.

We almost won it with two minutes to go when Dollie won a free kick just outside the area to the right. Tommy went to shoot but got under it a little bit but it turned out to almost be a great effort as it bounced off the crossbar, onto someone's head, onto the crossbar again and then finally fell to someone's feet for a clearance.

All in all, the game was fairly even and we showed that if we just concentrate and hold our defensive line properly for the full 90 minutes that we can challenge even the best in the league. Hopefully this result will be the catalyst we need to go on a good mid-season run and pick up some more results.

Played again at the weekend, lost 4-1 after being 1-0 up at half-time... we really need to tighten up defensively in the second half! I picked up a nasty injury after falling and landing awkwardly on someone's studs, so I've got a nice wound on my back/side which honestly feels like I've been stabbed there. And my groin didn't much like my little runaround either.

In other news, here's a little scouse joke:


A new Primary Teacher explains to her class that she is a Liverpool fan. She asks her students to raise their hands if they too are Liverpool fans. Everyone in the class raises their hand except one little girl. The teacher looks at the girl with surprise and says, 'Mary, why didn't you raise your hand?'

'Because I'm not a Liverpool fan,' she replied.

The teacher, still shocked, asked, 'Well, if you are not a Liverpool fan, then who are you a fan of?'

'I am an Everton fan, and proud of it, 'Mary replied.

The teacher could not believe her ears. 'Mary, why are you an Everton fan?'

'Because my mum is an Everton fan, and my dad is an Everton fan, so I'm an Everton fan too!'

'Well,' said the teacher in an obviously annoyed tone, 'that is no reason for you to be an Everton fan. You don't have to be just like your parents all of the time.. What if your mum was a prostitute and your dad was a drug addict, what would you be then?'

'Then,' Mary smiled, 'I'd be a Liverpool fan.'

Okay, this is just gonna be a quick update about recently because I can't be bothered to rant anymore.
After last week's 2-0 win over Claddagh (how we didn't score more, I don't know) we entertained Edge Market Drayton in the cup. It was a thrilling game, I got a start and we raced into a 3-0 lead at half-time (and I got an assist, but perhaps should've had a goal too... it WILL come, eventually). We conceded shortly after half time but pushed forward and created a couple good chances but I had to come off with a groin injury on about 65mins. After that we capitulated and drew the game 3-3, forcing it into extra time. We then proceeded to concede a further 3 more as we dropped out of the cup, although it's probably for the best we're out because we can focus on the league now.

We do have to play them again next week, again at home, but this time in the league though. For one, I sure hope we don't have the same ref as today. He was fucking awful. I don't wanna go into it too much, but Edge were a dirty side and there were bad challenges going in everywhere and off the ball fouls and the ref just kept making poor decision after poor decision after poor decision. No communication from him to us for the most part and did nothing to cut out the bad challenges and fouls. It just goes to prove that anybody can be a ref these days. Terrible. Absolute fucking wanker throughout the game, and I'm not just saying it because we lost - he made awful decisions in the first half, when we were winning. I hope he never referees us again or I just won't play. Truly awful.

In other news, TV Presenter Tony Hart passed away today at the age of 83, and my mom's friend's husband, Eddie, passsed away the other day too at the age of... well, I don't know, but, old. So, R.I.P. to both of them.

Chelsea game back from a goal down to beat Stoke 2-1 with goals in the 88th and 92nd minute, phew. Unforunately, United beat Bolton in the last minute of their game too, so they move top of the table ahead of Liverpool by one point, but they both have a game in hand. Had Tottenham beaten Portsmouth today they would've moved from 20th to 12th - that's how incredibly tight the bottom of the table is. Instead, they drew 1-1 with Defoe scoring against his former club after Nugent broke his Premier League goal drought to score his first ever goal here. He's still shit though, Nugent. A championship player at best. Made one England appearance and stole Jermaine Defoe's goal-to-be by tapping his shot in on the line. Twat. It was going in but Nugent is a greedy twat and shouldn't be allowed in an England shirt ever again. The man expresses extreme satisfaction in being part of the "1cap/1goal" club, even though his stolen goal came against a pathetic Andorra side and was going to be someone elses goal. What a knob.

Apart from all that, things are good. Ciao for now.

Well, first off, happy new year - not that I'm a fan, but I know most of you are.
Secondly, yes, I had a great birthday and no, I don't remember much of it either - thanks to all the boys who helped with that!!
Thirdly:

FOURTH-ROUND DRAW
Liverpool v Everton
Southampton/Man Utd v Tottenham
Hull/Newcastle v Millwall/Crewe
Sunderland v Blyth/Blackburn
Hartlepool v West Ham
Leyton Orient/Sheff Utd v Charlton/Norwich
Cardiff v Arsenal
Portsmouth/Bristol City v Histon/Swansea
Chelsea/Southend v Ipswich
Cheltenham/Doncaster v Aston Villa
West Brom/Peterborough v QPR/Burnley
Torquay v Coventry
Kettering Town v Fulham
Watford v Leicester/Crystal Palace
Derby County v Nottingham Forest
Birmingham City/Wolves v Middlesbrough


Liverpool v Everton?! Derby v Forest?!
Ramsey against former club Cardiff and Fulham with a tricky trip to non-leaguers Kettering.
Some cracking ties there. Let's hope they live up to it.

Also, the winner of Southampton/Man Utd to Spurs? Classic.

And we got.... Ipswich... IF we beat Southend in the replay. Good times.

It is with great sadness that I am writing this short entry as this morning I found out that two days ago legendary playwright, actor and activist Harold Pinter died from cancer. This may not be much of a shock to most of you, but to me, it is. I studied Pinter for a few years during school but also outside of school as I read through some of his works and took interest in style of writing. Not only was he a playwright, but a screenwriter, a poet, a director, an actor and a political activist and I'm pretty sure he was president of the Central School of Speech and Drama. His political theatre was wonderful to admire and will come to influence us in the future for many years to come. To find out that he has passed away is a great loss indeed.


Rest in peace, Harold Pinter: October 10th, 1930 - December 24th, 2008