Elektronische - ART IMITATES

His generals looked at him in horrified silence...

Link to the You Tube video. From the EBN.EX Dub-plate - 'Dark edges of the dance floor'

That there football... (Part 3)

And so, another World Cup has been and gone. Was it the best ever? No, most probably not. That honour still goes to Mexico 70. With Spain 82 & Germany 06 perhaps running them close. However, it was certainly enjoyable, with the prima donnas ousted early enough for new heroes to be welcomed and championed.

England's performance was encouraging enough, Brazil regained some composure after the horrors of the last tournament (despite Neymar's histrionics), Germany's departure made for a little more jeopardy in the latter stages, France glided to victory, Croatia gave everything but came up short, Spain's pre-comp suicide most probably did not have much impact and Ronaldo's vanity still irked enough to detract from his sublime technique. Cavani looked a much better player than I've previously given him credit for and Japan proved shrewd tacticians despite themselves.

There weren't any real downsides, the stadia looked great, the promised violence just didn't kick off and the hosts weren't the no hopers they had been portrayed as. As for Australia, the hype and hoopla back home was always going to be impossible to live up to. The notion that Australia were shoe-in's to escape their group showed a lack of perspective of the world game that will continue to limit the national team's progress in major tournaments. They are still Championship challengers in a Premiership world. The major problem in Australian football is highlighted at junior and club level, where physicality is praised over finesse. It is all very well promoting a Dutch footballing model and imposing 4-3-3 on junior sides but until coaches, clubs and committees recognise that the world of football is ever evolving, they will continually be 20 years behind the world game.

That there football... (Part 2)

Well, all good things etc...

The reality of the situation is that we were lucky to make it as far as we did. We aren't really one of the best four teams in the world. Gareth Southgate isn't quite the tactical genius he was 24 hours ago (not that I'm being critical, he completely surpassed most expectations - especially mine). And yet, the England team performed way above expectations and more importantly behaved impeccably. I know that might seem an odd thing to be so immensely proud of but...

It was about time that a group of obscenely highly paid sportsman fulfilled the other key part of the bargain, which is to be genuine role models and not just roll around on the floor models!

Thank you.

In the meantime though, it is worth remembering the following...

I was looking for a job and then I found a job... #5

You wait for a few aeons for a job to come along and then 3 come along at once...

1. Dream role, mentally stimulating. Short term.
2. Longer term, eyes closed but pleasant enough.
3. Lifer but as dull as...

What to do, what to do.

I think we all know the answer!

That there football...

Once every four years and it is time to... get the Panini album, pull the England shirt out from the box in the loft, ignore the fact that you've been slagging them off for the last 3 years and 11 months, become an expert on the current form of the Saudi keeper and become very conversant with random time zones and inhospitable waking hours.

But now the fun bit is over and we have to start to brace ourselves for the knockout stages and the anguish that 90/120 minutes +/- penalties can bring.

It is wonderful but also so agonising....

Slow moving

I just popped back in to see how things were looking and there still seems to be a rather healthy appetite for the various different memories, moments and meanderings described here. I'm conscious that I've been ridiculously slow in posting anything new. I blame football, life & the weather.

However, look out for the following over the coming weeks.

• More bands that I wished I'd been in.
• More albums no self respecting gentleman or lady should own.
• Book of the week
• Film of the month
• How to make a million overnight
• The best way to rob a hedge fund
• MP's we have loved (in a series of 3)
• MP's we despise (in a series of 50)
• More strings of desire
• The five best parties ever
• The truth about David Icke
• Britain's favourite boxers
• Salad Cream v HP Sauce
• And a message from our sponsors

...Perhaps