On the evidence of tonight the England football team still has a long way to go before it reaches anything like cup-winning form.

The first half saw our newer players (mostly) once again start things off and in many ways it was a nice change from the style we’ve been playing for countless previous years. We had a good tall and strong + small and fast, traditional forward combination and the discipline throughout the rest of the team was very evident; we held our lines and kept in formation. However, we completely lacked any flare and played absolutely by the book. Not only did this lead to a lack of scoring opportunities, as our lack of movement seldom broke the Spanish lines, but it also proved the undoing of our defence on a number of occasions, most notably the goal. Essentially, it’s all very well holding your defensive and midfield lines but if you allow the opposition to waltz straight through the middle of you then it’s no good to anyone.

Moving onto the second half and the gulf in class (whether it be from our newer players being nervous, inexperienced, or just not as good, is yet to be seen) was clear as crystal. That is to say, the class exhbitied by Beckham. He truly deserves all the praise he gets because he is one hell of a player; great movement, sublime passing (of course), surprising pace, a deft touch, he has it all. However, he was out of control, drifting all over the field needlessly collecting the ball from defenders when he should be making moves into attacking positions. On the evidence of tonight, he is still our star player (obviously Rooney, Owen, Joe Cole and Gerrard weren’t playing and they can all hold their own as well) and he thoroughly deserves to be a part of our future team but someone needs to tether him.

In conclusion, in our next match I think we need to play the team we had in the first half but with Beckham (after he’s had a good talking to by Fabio and told to stay in position more).

Slightly drunken rambling over.

Snow + picturesque setting @ work = woot!

We all have moments in our life that change us forever, whether for better or worse. It could be a death in the family or of a close friend, or it could be a glorious moment like the birth of a child. For many of us, though, the moment that can most change our outlook on life is seemingly much less significant, and certainly is often dismissed by many, but in truth it lies at the heart of everything we do in life.

Falling in love can be the most wonderful thing the world can offer and there’s certainly credence in arguing its pretty much the most important thing to live for. However, the breaking of our hearts is one of the most distressing things any of us can go through as those feelings of loss, rejection, and uncertainty all get rolled into one large cannon ball of emotion.

Putting into words precisely what it is that changes within us when we experience this is something I’ve always found difficult but I think Charlie Brooker finally got it. And I quote…

“Love can be genuinely awful. Worse than the norovirus on a coach trip. When it goes wrong - and it usually does - it kicks a hole in your ribcage and voids its bowels in your soul. Get burned badly and from that point on, falling in love is like inviting a werewolf into your home: you sit there fascinated, watching it eat at the table and admiring your curtains. You make conversation and share private jokes. But try as you might, you’re not quite relaxed and you’re not quite yourself; you’re on tenterhooks, aware that any moment now it’s going to turn round and bite your throat out.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/12/charlie-brooker-relationships

Thank god, then, for the even greater wisdom of Tennyson and his words of reassurance that in a roundabout sort of way sum up the whole temporary nature of our existence and, in so being, are perhaps the most important any of us can take to heart and feed our souls off. Just remember kids, ”tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all”.

Why you can never buy lettuce, except iceberg, in individual packs? I’m a single man, why would I want two Cos lettuce at once? It’s just a waste. Damn you supermarkets!

The BBC website has just posted a news piece about the solution to the problem of continued proliferation of Japanese Knotweed throughout the UK. What does the ‘team’ recommend we do? Introduce native Japanese insect predators of the Knotweed into the UK to gobble up the plant.

The Problem

The Solution?

Now does anyone else see any problems with this?

Let me give you a few clues:

American Crayfish destroying our river habit. 

Rabbits run riot in Australia

I’m sure there are a few more directly related and catastrophic examples of one species being introduced to tackle another (there’s definitely one in particular) but they escape me right now.  Point being, though, this is seriously risky!

Of course, I absolutely hope it works and that my worries are unfounded butI’ll be keeping my fingers crossed just in case.

Nothing particularly original here but fun nonetheless.

http://www.wegame.com/watch/Counter_Struck_CS_in_Real_Life/?ref=rv