John Boy Saint

Just watching Arse v Athletico and especially Diego Simeone burning through calories in his technical area. Made me think, given how precarious a football managers job “mad” Diego certainly has been in position a very long time. I googled it and was surprised to see he has been in charge there since 2011!!

As an aside After watching THB on the iPlayer interview after the Arsenal quarter final, its a shame we can't throw Tonda into the ring on this. THB was saying what Tonda has done for him since being in charge, most notably stopping him getting over excited, and over involved in his defensive duties which often resulted in costly mistakes. By the same token when watching Ryan Manning it use to drive me up the wall him more often than not when defending, him turning the wrong, and long, way round to track an oppo player thus giving him an advantage to beat Ryan - that seems to have vanished out of his game. He seems to have gotten Larin also looking leaner and fitter and in contention for a, probably to him unlikely 6 months ago, world cup place (even my Dutch work colleague said that he looks nothing like the donkey they had a Feyenoord). Watching the game from my sofa on Saturday we just looked so much more fluid than we had been in recent seasons. I am guessing that's down to Herr Eckert. Sorry for the interlude - please continue

My wife and daughter were two of those (I was working away) - Although like others have freely admitted they were partly waiting in hope that the heavy rain might ease up for the walk back to the car 😁 Back in 2003 when Graham Hiley (ex Echo) was editing the matchday programme, I had a full page piece printed in the v Chelsea programme inspired by the 85 minute exodus in the game at the end of August against Man Utd when it was 0-0, and we scored a glorious winner in the 88th minute. Under WGS the amount of goals we scored from 80 minutes was notable. Watching City fans leaving at 3-1 was amusing, seeing them all trotting back in and being caught on Sky should see them in the stocks outside the Etihad next game and have rotten fruit and veg thrown at them. 🤪

Chelsea in even more of a pickle 0-3

I thank you.

I’m in China working and managed to watch on my iPad - bloody paid for it today being 7 hours ahead of UK. I have to confess I did nod off like the poor chap pictured in The Sun at half time, and missed a little of the second half, “ooh still 0-0”, the evenings beer to it’s natural course and just got back in time to see that beauty fly into the net. What a strike!

Great result I’m working in China - so can go to sleep now.

Obviously not holding himself back for next weekend then - unless he doesn’t fancy playing city - I’ve loz5 track of who’s out and which offence is tournemen5 specific

Larin immense again hes playing for that seat on the plane in the summer

Taa-Daa Archer

Gosh

Daylight!!

Skates lead

If you do get to go to West Ham invest in some Opera glasses, especially if you end up on the upper deck of the away fans: you’ll be closer to your house than the pitch! 🤪

Bugger - come on Leeds keep them out