February 2008

[Sweder]

Managed a doleful plod in the pre-dawn. Lewesian townlights floated on a sea of thick mist as the sun peeked over the eastern ridge. Another stunning start to a Sussex day. I listended ro Radio 5 Live as I plodded westward, all talk of the Oscars and a round-up of the weekend footie. Sporting triumphs were naturally shadowed by the horrible injury sustained by Eduardo Silva, the Brazilian-born Croatia and Arsenal forward. I watched footage (sorry) of the incident on MotD on Saturday night; the poor lad must fear for his future in the game. Best wishes to him, and to the Birmingham player who inadvertantly delivered the damaging blow.
I'm sure he's feeling just as sick just at the moment.

Wenger retracted his (in my view) outrageous statement that the Birmingham player 'should never play the game again'. I'm guessing this was after taking advice form colleagues at Arsenal, mindful of the storm of protest such a misguided comment would inevitably attract. The man has selective myopia; he singularly failed to spot a series of assaults against the Rowdies in the FA Cup the previous weekend yet apparently managed to judge that both decisions against his team on Saturday were 'blatantly' wrong. He'd be better advised to see everything, and, just like Lord Ferg with his pirate's patch firmly affixed, simply state that the facts as he wishes to see them. It may be one-eyed but its far more believable than this continued occasional blindness.

On Sunday the footballing Gods delivered the result that a good many of us prayed for; a Tottenham Hotspur victory in the Carling Cup final. I'm chuffed for Spurs fans. They've had little to cheer lately, even losing much-admired manager Martin Jol. Ramos however appears to be the real deal, focused, driven, looking beady-eyed for the next win. He has the sun-drenched squint of the successful gunslinger, the manner of a man for whom uncertainty does ot exist. His north London neighbours may have some serious local competition at last.

I rambled home at a gentle pace, enjoying the sweat and steam pouring off me as the temperature rose. After a week in doledrums it's great to be back out there.