Don't be a plastic fan

Despite the self destruct button being stuck firmly in the 'on' position and despite our relative lack of success in the last 20 odd years compared to Woolwich Wanderers, Spurs still manage to come third, above the Woolwich, in a poll on best supported clubs. A 30,000 waiting list for season tickets on top of the 22,000 that already exist is a further testament to this support. It's re-assuring in a way. "Plastic" Liverpool fans were everywhere when I was a kid and used to really get up my nose. The same thing happened with Man Yoo; most of their fans have less distance to travel when they play us at White Hart lane than when we play them at Old Trafford. The lack of noise at the New Library suggests that a lot of those plastic seats have plastic arses sitting on them. However, Chelsea still have a teeny fan base by comparison. Most people searching for a glory club realising that Abramovich and his cash won't be there for ever(sorry grandad!). I'm looking forward to the day that they re-join us in mid table mediocrity so that future brother in law has to change his club again

Percentage support by club
1. Liverpool – 14.3

2. Manchester United – 11.8

3. Tottenham Hotspur – 9.7

4. Arsenal – 9.6

5. Newcastle United – 5.8

6. Manchester City – 5.3

7. West Ham United – 4.9

8. Aston Villa – 4.4

9. Chelsea FC – 3.6

10. Everton FC – 3.1

This was taken from this article

Another interesting thing in it is that 6% say they support a club because they were attracted to one of the players. I'm guessing that's mostly women but who knows? They do say that Arsenal have the biggest gay following in the country. Maybe it's more to do with the gorgeous Theo than the name of the club or the manager.

I know someone who took a shine to Dimitar Buggerov. Her eyes would go all misty when he came down our end of the pitch. Did she switch her allegiance when he switched to man Yoo? No, of course not. She switched her allegiance to Frazier Campbell. Not a glory hunter, just a cradle snatcher.

The incredible shrinking striker

Poor Robbie Keane. Benitez was interviewed last night about the rumours that Keano would be coming back to the lane in January having been a monumental flop so far this season at 'pool. To say that Benitez was less than effusive in his assurnace that keane would stay would be a massive understatement.

I always enjoyed a bit of a josh at his expense with cheap gags about leprachauns and the like but judging by this picture he's actually turning into one. I'm sure he wasn't that short last year. Or maybe it's Benitez who is growing comensurate with Liverpool's success. If they win the league he'll be like the giant doughy man at the end of Ghostbusters. If you stare at the picture long enough it actually looks like he's expanding.

I'd welcome him back just so that I could do my crappy irish accent again and my son could wear his 'Keane' shirt.

Stereotypes

I know I made a cheap gag about Liverpool getting robbed on Saturday but sometimes I gawk (is that even a word?) at the way people reinforce stereotypes of themselves. If there's one thing that's guaranteed to make it into the press it's the burglary of footballers' houses while they're playing. This from football 365:

LUCAS THE LATEST LIVERPOOL PLAYER TO BE BURGLED
Posted 07/11/08
Lucas Leiva has reportedly become the eighth Liverpool player to be burgled while playing for the club in the last two years.
According to The Independent, the midfielder arrived home after Tuesday's match with Atletico Madrid to discover that the Olympic bronze medal he won in Beijing this summer had been stolen, along with Brazil and Liverpool shirts.
"Taken from the address was an amount of jewellery and some very distinctive football and sports memorabilia. These items have significant personal importance to Mr Leiva and they were associated with some very cherished memories" confirmed . Acting Detective Chief Inspector Peter Parry of Merseyside police.
The Brazilian youngster is just the latest in a long line of Liverpool players to suffer such an opportunistic crime.
Since 2006, Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt, Robbie Keane, Pepe Reina, Daniel Agger, Peter Crouch and Jerzy Dudek have all been burgled while on playing duty.


When Robbie Keane was burgled I think they stole his leprachaun magic goal scoring potion (that irish stereotype is part of the 'North and South' buy one get one free policy)

scousers robbed

Hudd congratulates Pav on his injury time winner at the Lane yesterday while Hutton rehearses for the remake of the thriller video. This game was 70 minutes torture, 20 minutes hope and 2 minutes rapturous disbelief. Of course we didn't deserve it but that made the celbrations that much sweeter. Harry's done some pottering for sure.

Anyhow, enough of the tabloidese; Spurs were outplayed for large parts of this game but the spirit to play to the whistle two matches running is something not seen for a long time. We got wet sat right at the front of the Shelf, we got crushed celebrating the winner (just like the old days) and it was bloody freezing but we didn't care. On top of that Stoke showed Les Arses up, Van Persie got sent off for committing the comedy foul of the season and we got seats on the train!

Li-Ver-Pool

I had to go to merseyside yesterday. I was expecting the city of culture to look a little less tatty I have to say. I was last there in the early eighties and the bit I saw didn't look like it had changed that much. The radio tower and the area around Lime Street are grotty and the buildings are grubby despite echoes of former grandeur.

What appealed to me though was that Knotty Ash is actually a place. Until yesterday I thought it was a place made up by Ken Dodd. I nearly crashed when I saw this sign. I also nearly crashed again when I attempted to take this photo.