# SDMB Footie Focus: October **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 1, 2003, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885 "2003-10-01T08:28:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/61 "2003-10-09T12:48:24Z")
Last time I looked, Bridge was the Launderers left/wing back. Sir Mad Jock is all over this debacle as best I can see. It begins with the initial failure of ManUre as an organisation to get the fourth of the four tested – the other three were no problem. Then the weekend long negotiation behind the scenes as to what to do about it, culminating in ManUre, not the FA, disclosing Ferdinand’s name – ManUre breached confidentiality not the FA. Then ManUre blame everyone but themselves and the player for the failure to test. Finally, the phone calls from the ManUre players yesterday and the day before from the England camp to him for advice (as reported in at least the Guardian) in which he generally “advised” and told the players to make the FA “sweat”. On that reading, the man is a c\*nt, plain and simple. - If one were into conspiracy theories, it’s almost possible to think this entire saga was initially engineered and then steered. As for the stupid don’t-leave-me-out-I’m-important-really arsehole Gordon Taylor, I’m just embarrassed for the fool. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/62 "2003-10-09T12:55:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by owlstretchingtime \* > \*\*Good Idea. > > Bridge is saints left back. You may be thinking of their striker - Beattie, who is in the squad. \*\* Er, slight confusion - I meant striker in the sense of “person who is/was on strike”. I thought the entire squad voted unanimously, and that Bridge was in the squad. In that case I’d be dropping him. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/63 "2003-10-09T13:01:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by owlstretchingtime \* > > Parlour McManaman Barry Sinclair What’s the matter with either Sharon Anderton or Redknapp, especially for McGone-missing-man ? ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/64 "2003-10-09T13:07:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\*What’s the matter with either Sharon Anderton or Redknapp… \*\* I think my head just imploded. Are they actually mobile this season? ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/65 "2003-10-09T13:13:41Z")
Although it chokes me to say it, Sharon’s having a mini purple patch. Redknapp is, of course, injured at present. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/66 "2003-10-09T13:17:20Z")
There’s always the U-21s and recent U-21s - Prutton etc. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/67 "2003-10-09T13:22:34Z")
I was reading David Platt’s for the chop any day, only thing keeping him in the job is the FA not wanting to upset Sven any more . . . nonetheless, not a bad idea; mix a few of those young’uns in with some older heads - don’t like the look of Fatty Fowler and Zamora . . . ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/68 "2003-10-09T13:32:11Z")
Yes. I’d rather go with young 'uns, although a combo of (say) Defoe and Harewood might suffer badly from inexperience. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/69 "2003-10-09T13:34:49Z")
Confusion all round. I meant Bridge - ex saints now chelscum, who is , of course, i now remember, in the squad. Re: Ferdinand; I have heard a rumour as to why he dodged the test. Scurrilous I’m sure. Who would have thought he was a subscriber trunk dialler? In all honesty I suspect that he did just miss the test - he is notoriously “foggy”, however that isn’t the point. If you have a £33m Asset (that is counted on the balance sheet of your plc) you make sure that it works properly - ie you employ people to make sure that they are in the right place at the right time. What annoys me is the assumption that if you play for Man Utd (and to an extent Arsenal) you are above the law. Getting a bit off the subject here…It is not commonly known that most of the unannounced drug tests are carried out on Mondays - which is usually a day that the first teamers have off, thus the people who get caught are usually youth/reserve players who are expendable. Mark Bosnich carried a major charlie habit all through his career, he only got tested once he fell into the reserves. The test he failed was the first he had ever had. THis is why cocaine is the drug of choice for footballers. you can have a good weekend and be clean by tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/70 "2003-10-09T13:38:05Z")
…or even Ellington. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/71 "2003-10-09T13:50:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\*Although it chokes me to say it, Sharon’s having a mini purple patch. Redknapp is, of course, injured at present. \*\* Redknapp is in the United States (being completely unrecognised of course) trying to get his foot sorted. The prognosis is that he may be forced to retire. No wonder he always has a groin strain: [http://www.louiseredknapp.net/htm/photos/articles-fhm.htm](http://www.louiseredknapp.net/htm/photos/articles-fhm.htm) “Who’s got a lovely wife? Who’s got a lovely wife? Jamie Redknapp Jamie Redknapp He’s got a lovely wife” On terrace songs the Everton Fans had a brilliant one about the “rape” I can’t remember it all, it was to the tune of “I saw her standing there” and of course statrted “she was just 17…” ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/72 "2003-10-09T14:50:41Z")
Aww, leave Ma na ma na alone. Like Barnes and argueably Hod Himself, playing poorly for England does not a poor player make you. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/73 "2003-10-10T09:54:55Z")
Jody Morris eh? Who’da thunk a nice boy like that would be up to no good? ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/74 "2003-10-10T10:29:27Z")
Prohibited from posting a photograph, the Guardian lead their story with a picture of a Morris Minor. See what they did there? ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/75 "2003-10-10T10:42:16Z")
Why not include Alan Thompson and Chris Sutton? ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/76 "2003-10-10T11:13:54Z")
Thompson is injured. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/77 "2003-10-10T11:17:02Z")
sutton? thompson? WTF? ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/78 "2003-10-10T11:58:25Z")
How long is Thompson out for? He’s a fixture in two of my fantasy league teams. I think Sutton deserves a squad place on recent form. I’m completely unconvinced about Heskey (despite one or two good England games in his international career) and Sutton would seem to have the physical presence that we’d need at times. Did you see that two more have been arrested as part of the London rape investigation? I haven’t heard any names mentioned but given their ages (19 and 22) it would fit with some of the earlier rumours about those involved. Another - probably predictable - rumour doing the rounds is that Eriksson will resign after tomorrow’s game, and the players will then hold a vote of no confidence in Palios. I’d heard the latter was likely, but not the former. Who knows? Note: yes, I am bored and not particularly overworked today. Rumours ease the boredom. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/79 "2003-10-10T12:01:30Z")
Come, **owl** , this is surely only as fanciful as naming Redknapp, Zamora _et al._ in a Fantasy Scab outfit. All this talk of strikes takes me back to when TV-AM essentially comprised News with Gordon Honeycombe: Police beating the crap out of miners. Sports news with Richard Keys: Police beating the crap out of football fans. I’d love to see the Sealed Knot Society do Luton Town v. Millwall 1985. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885/80 "2003-10-10T12:06:28Z")
details on the arrest: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/uk/3180826.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/uk/3180826.stm) No names given. And I and many other English football fans would like to propose a vote of complete and utter lack of confidence in the current England squad. I never want to see that front-bottom neville in an England shirt again - he can fuck off to the most up themselves club supported only by foreigners, glory boys(and lemons) and twats who really like rugby\* and will piss of like the morning dew once they go through a sticky patch. He can discuss his principles with that mentalist baby-sitter knocker-upper Keane. - the rugby world cup is now underway. This means I cannot go to a single local pub for a month until the lumpies have finished boring one another to death. unhappy owl. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-october/204885.md?page=5)