John Joe On Tyne

http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/localsport/3806700.Watford_midfielder_linked_with_Newcastle_United_switch/

The speculation has started. Unsurprisingly its the younger JJOT rather than Tommy who has become the first named player to be linked with a move away in January. But I don't reckon it'll be long before Tommy is being linked with a Wolves, QPR, West Brom or Stoke type outfit. Or knowing how they love our players Fulham.

For either we definitely want more than £1million. Especially for JJ if the likes of Newcastle are interested. Although one wonders who makes that decision with the club being sold and Roy Kinnear in temporary charge. I think the Sunderland option is far more likely especially with JJ turning out for the Republic of Ireland's Under 21's.

I feel so resigned to it that I'm already thinking I hope they are the only ones to go, rather than I hope they don't go at all. I just don't see how we'll hang onto them giving our much publicised financial state.

Prostitution

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7697201.stm

Even by the standards of football this series looks like prostitution.

I can kind of understand KP's gripes and I don't begrudge anyone the chance to earn a million if some stupid billionaire is prepared to give his money away.

But at the same time I've heard it argued by various cricketing experts that the players have no choice but to be there as they are contracted to the ECB.

However they seem to be able to decide for themselves on morale grounds not to go and partake in Mugabe's circus. Maybe next year they could get some credibility back by doing the same to Stanford.

'Arry

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7695590.stm

I can see why the Portsmouth fans booed.

"Arry says he couldn't pass up the chance to manage a big club before he retires.

But what is a big club exactly?

Okay I'll admit that in my own perception Spurs are a bigger club than Portsmouth.

But I can't imagine that Harry is going to manage to achieve anymore at White Hart Lane than he already has on the South Coast. I'm sure he isn't naive enough to think he can break into the Top 4.

So what does that leave? The F.A Cup. Unlikely even when the year ends in 1. Apart from this season the last 11 winners have all come from the big four.

The Carling Cup. Possibly, but having just won the FA Cup its not as prestigious for Harry. Spurs are fairly used to winning it and doing so again isn't really improving on anything.

The Premiership. Best either Portsmouth or Spurs can expect is 5th. And with the squad that Harry assembled at Fratton Park I'd expect Defoe, Crouch, Campbell, James and co to achieve it first.

The UEFA Cup. Both are already in the competition so Harry gains nothing by jumping ship and I reckon Portsmouth are far more likely qualifers for next seasons 'new' Europa Cup.

So why go? Especially when you already live in Bournemouth. Makes no sense at all. If he got the job at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or Man U I could understand it but I think the boo-ers had a point.

Sinking Feeling- Preston North End 2 Watford 0

Ho hum.

I always get a sinking feeling whenever the reporter on Sky Sports says we are playing well. Sure enough five minutes later we were 1 down.

This season seems to be about fluctuating between flirtation with the bottom three and getting ourselves into a position where if we win the next game we'd leap up to about 10th. But everytime we get into that position we never make the leap.

Oh well, I know I've said it before but so far its still heaps more fun than last season.

American Arses- San Diego Chargers 32 New Orleans Saints 37

I know how lucky I was to get this ticket. Half a million applied for some 80,000 available.

I used to go to see the London Monarchs back in the early 90's when they played at the old Wembley. I always enjoyed it and I realise now this was because I always managed to get a seat side on to the action.

Alas, for this point scoring fest I was behind one of the endzones and so realised a big difference between watching our football and theirs. You cannot enjoy a game in nearly the same way unless you are well positioned in the middle of the pitch. With the position of the ball being everything to understanding and enjoying the game you can't see anything if you are constantly looking for it through 11 enormous American arses (or in this case I guess the correct term is asses).

One small benefit was that early on when the Saints kicked a field goal the ball missed the large net which is supposed to catch it and the bloke next to me caught it. He was generous and maybe a foolhardy in that he then passed it round for everyone to see and I am pleased to report he did manage to get it back.

We all spent most of the time watching the game on the not big enough big screen opposite. Why in these days of widescreen tv's do stadiums still have 4:3 screens? At some crucial points people turned round to the big screen behind (which was much closer) and took pictures of the action. I found this very weird. You wouldn't sit in your front room taking a picture of the telly. So if you are at a live event take a picture of the thing happening live rather than on a screen. Weird.

Also the acoustics were rubbish. Again I'm sure it was where I sat but it was impossible to hear what was being said by the officials which is a big part of the game as the sound echoed from every speaker making it inaudible.

The match was a good one. Exciting and on a knife edge until the last minute. Far better than last years clash between the Giants and Dolphins. Just a shame the Chargers didn't manage to make it go into overtime. A bit like Watford yesterday they seemed to play really well when they were behind but never quite got it together to get in a position to win the game.

The cheerleaders performed exactly the same routine they had at Vicarage Road on Tuesday night. But they made up for it by still being just as gorgeous.

The stadium was good, but as an old traditionalist I didn't find it as unique or enticing as the old Wembley. You are much nearer the pitch for sure, but aside from the arch you could be at any big stadium in the world. I wouldn't even say its as good as the Emirates. The seats haven't got that special padded bit and whilst the legroom was good it wasn't as impressive as 'longer than in the old royal box' sounds. Even the toilets of which there are meant to be many many more still had long queues at half time.

The worst aspect of the day was the merchandise. There had been problems last year apparently and I'd read an interview in which it was promised these problems had been ironed out. Yet when I arrived at the stadium an hour and a half before kick off all the merchandise stands I visited had sold out of every article of clothing commemorating the day that might have fitted me.

They still had plenty of gear for those supporting either team, and some stands even had stuff for all 32 NFL teams but this completely missed the point. Almost everyone you saw was wearing stuff from one team or another. We already had the stuff on sale. They wouldn't sell Man Utd or Chelsea shirts at a Man Utd-Chelsea F.A Cup Final. It would be like selling snow to eskimos. But this is what they tried to do on Sunday

What we all wanted (and I spoke to a few people whilst we pointlessly queued up to be told they'd sold out) was a t-shirt, sweater or baseball cap that told the world we'd been to see the International Series game. Next year, if there is a game at Wembley, someone sort this out! We wanted this stuff and would've paid the ridiculous amounts charged. Someone (the NFL I guess) would make a fortune.

Fatal Flaws- Watford 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3

I made the mistake of getting tickets in the Lower Rous as I took my Dad to the game as a birthday treat.

I'd forgotten how shallow the LR is and it didn't help that the people in front of us were up and down more frequently than a whore's drawers (the bloke in front of me's words, not mine). However revenge was gained when one of them tried to climb over into our row (heaven knows why) and got his foot trapped in the seat. He was stranded there for at least a minute like a beached whale whilst his friends tried various ways of rescuing him.

If it had been a boring game this would have livened the proceedings but as it was a game you couldn't take your eyes off it was just annoying.

The team did nothing to change Aidy's opinion that we give away silly goals when we allowed Iwelumo to chest the ball in after less than a minute.

As with Tuesday night we seem to have certain fatal flaws that ensure we don't get three points. Today's was that we never seemed to play well until we were behind. Twice we wrestled our way impressively back into the game but then didn't really look bothered about getting the winner.

Even Tommy Smith got in on the act blazing a penalty over the bar. It feel wrong to criticise Tommy given how he has easily been our best player for the couple of seasons but if you are going to take a pen at least getting it on target. He did kind of make amends with some dazzlingly play once we were 3-2 down but we never managed to get the crucial third goal, and even if we had Wolves probably would've found a fourth.

All in all a frustrating afternoon.

Joey Barton- Role Model?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7685293.stm

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

Especially the kids can't relate to Beckham and Owen bit. I thought he was stupid before but a word hasn't been invented for what I think about him now.

Charmed- Watford 2 Cardiff City 2

I was just thinking how we hadn't had a game this easy or uneventful in ages. Ahead in the first couple of minutes through JJOT and then 2 up courtesy of a dodgy deflection and everything was happy and serene at Vicarage Road. The referee appeared to be giving the majority of decisions our way and neither linesman had done anything stupid. The only notable thing about the Cardiff side was there right back looked like he was about 103 with his Philip Schofield style grey hair.

I was just starting to look around the ground to see if the promised New Orleans Saints cheerleaders were warming up for their halftime routine. Then Priskin raised his arm to a Cardiff defender in their penalty area whilst awaiting a free kick and suddenly the game reverted to that which we have become familar with this season at the Vic (and is precisely the reason why this season is soooo much more enjoyable than the last). The sending off seemed justified in that no-one complained too much and Priskin didn't receive the usual standing ovation of other recent red carded 'orns.

After that it became interesting. Not that being 2-0 up wasn't great but we kind of looked like we would have cruised to the 3 points fairly easily until then. Afterwards it was as if someone had clicked on one of the scenairos you can find on certain PS2 games, where the aim isn't really to win but to come through the situation you're placed in.

The trouble was we reacted as if we'd had two players sent off. The game became reminiscant of the infamous Styles Blackburn game seven years ago. We defended very very deep and reverted to a kind of 4-4-1 formation.

We reached half time okay (during which Jobi McAnuff and the majority of the males in the stands very much enjoyed the cheerleaders) but the second half was all about Cardiff. Richard Lee was, yet again, superb. The penalty save not even being the best of the night. Having said that our goal did seem to live a very charmed life. Even after watching the replays on the big screen it was difficult to explain how a couple of their attempts hadn't gone in.

Alas, the charm lasted until 70 minutes rather than the 90. Having thought our luck was in by scoring earlier from Hoskins very deflected shot, the luck evened out by Jay Bothroyd scoring in the same way. He then blasted another past Richard Lee and we looked like we'd be lucky to hang on.

We did however and whilst coming away this felt very much like 2 points lost, in the cold light of day a draw against a team in the playoffs when we were down to 10 men for 60 minutes wasn't bad at all.

Not Caring- Wycombe Wanderers 1 Darlington 1

I wasn't at St.Marys yesterday partly because it's my wifes birthday weekend but partly because my son had tickets for Wycombe v Darlington, which he got through after school football training (we live in Bucks) so I said I'd take him along.

I've been to Adams Park a good few times as shortly after we moved here the whole Vialli debarcle started. There came a time when I decided I'd had enough. As I'd moved to a new area with a new local team, I'd leave Vialli to it and start going to watch the Wycombe.

I went around half a dozen times even watching them play Brentford one very chilly night in the Auto Windscreens Shield (now Johnstone's Paint Trophy) when the crowd numbered barely more than a thousand. But the trouble is, they just weren't Watford. No matter how hard I tried I just couldn't get into supporting a team that wasn't wearing the yellow, red and black.

Maybe its the lack of history. When you've watched a team for a long time you can always refer back to other games, or other seasons where similar things have happened.

Maybe its the players. Even in my most concentrated period trying to follow Wycombe I could never remember the names of more than a few. And they meant nothing to me. Whereas I've always been able to recognise most of the Watford reserves, never mind the first XI.

Maybe its the familiarity. I just don't appreciate Adams Park in the same way that I love Vicarage Road. I know the Vic has a lot of flaws but I don't see them. I even love the old East Stand, in fact, its probably my favourite of the lot. Its sad to see it empty but its still nice to see it at all. Whereas going to Adams Park I can see every flaw. For a start its possibly the only league ground actually in the countryside. Sure its just in High Wycombe, but only in the sense that it is the first or last point you come to before endless fields, hills and woods. During a boring bit of the second half I watched three riders on horseback disappearing off into the distance. Because of its location it is THE coldest ground in the country. Also there is only one road in and out so getting to it and home again is a nightmare. I live 6 miles from Adams Park and about 13 from the Vic. Yet I arrived back home at 5.45pm, exactly the same time I usually get home from Watford.

The mascot is stupid. Whereas Harry is clearly a caricuture of a hornet, Wycombe is a caricuture of, um, a person. Yeah, it works really well. Really cute. Think, kind of Its a Knockout crossed with the Adams Family and you've got the idea.

The queues for the loo and food stalls are long, much longer than ours at half time.

I could go on (and on and on). But basically the 'til I die' chant is spot on. Probably I think its in the genes. Trying to support anyone else just doesn't work and I felt no connection for the Chairboys (stupid nickname) at all yesterday, just as I'd failed to do 7 years ago. In fact, I felt more connection with Darlo having seen them once already this season. Their goalkeeper was still in his endearing illuminous orange outfit. And they battled hard and well taking the lead with a nice move in the first half.

The second half provided entertainment of a different kind when there was a punch up and a Darlo player got sent off. In the fall out of this, for no obvious reason, two Wycombe players squared up one hitting the other. He got sent off too. It was the best bit of the game.

We left early. Something I would never ever do at Watford. I can't even understand how people can do it at the Vic (unless maybe they're fans of other teams supporting the 'Orns for the afternoon). But my son was too cold and was asking to go home and not feeling any connection with the team I agreed. Therefore we missed Wycombe's last equalising penalty but I really didn't care.


The Darlo keeper still hasn't quite got the hang of camouflage.

No More If Only's...Southampton 0 Watford 3

What a shame we couldn't start this excellent winning streak against Southampton back in 2003. I can still see Helgussons header from the first few minutes of the FA Cup Semi Final and remember that leap of delight and then crushing disappointment as we realised it had been turned just the wrong side of the post. If only...

But no 'if only' anymore when we play Southampton this being our 4th win on the trot. To cap it all the luck finally went our way with Richard Lee not getting sent off and then saving two penalties. Any 'keeper should be rightly praised for saving them and for Rich it couldn't have come at a better time. However it must be said, having seen the evidence, these weren't exactly the best taken penalties ever. Especially the first one which looked more like an old fashioned pass back to the keeper.

The same could be said for the Saints defending. It looked like they made the same mistake three times and found themselves 3 down. Great for Priskin to get what was coming to him after so many matches. In Will Hoskins we finally found someone who can bring out the best in Tamas. His back-heel just rubbed salt into the Saints wounds.

Having been threatening the bottom three a win on Tuesday night and we could be in striking distance of the playoffs again. As with last year the Championship is going to be THAT sort of division again.

Al

http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/localsport/3744631.Bangura_in_hot_water_with_Aidy/

Is this a smoke screen?

Al being called up was on the Official site in positive terms for a few days before being taken back down.

However the one person I do still believe at the club is Aidy and he clearly isn't happy.

The whole Al situation seems very strange. He always came across as very humble and grateful for everything. What is now being reported goes completely against all of that.

Sent home from the Austrian pre-season trip when he should have been challeneging strongly for a place in the first XI. Not turning up for a reserve match and then going off to play International football.

Now, fair enough, International football is a big thing. But something about Al playing for the country he was so fearful of returning to just doesn't add up. Granted it was meant to be his Dad's cult he was most concerned about and also he is only playing away matches for Sierra Leone. But I still think if you'd been through what he's been through you'd want to avoid the whole set up completely.

The club stood by him and supported him so willingly during his battles with the home office and, of course, pay his wages, whereas his country couldn't even protect him when he so desperately needed it to. Who would you rather play for?

I think he's being very badly advised by someone. Maybe an agent who sees the current financial plight of the club and fancies getting some of the money from our January sales.

Either way, Simpson must be grateful for the diversion.

The Gloves Are Off

http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/localsport/3744679._We_have_potential_buyers_/

"...we would like to reassure all our supporters yet again that the club remains financially stable and there is absolutely no danger of a 'catastrophe'." Club Statement, 2nd Oct 2008.

Sorry Graham but this time you've lost me. Kind of like I grudingly went along with Vialli for the good of the team until THAT team selection at Hillsborough. Up until now I've always been grateful you helped rescue the club post-Vialli and believed most of what was said about our affairs.

But I cannot except that a week last Thursday you stated we are financially stable and then eight days later come out with the following points...

Simpson confirmed the club do have an overdraft facility which they are likely to need to dip into within a matter of weeks

“The world has changed, but I’ve been pointing out that’s going to happen for some time now, and it’s my job to make sure this club remains as a club and doesn’t disappear off the face of the earth. And I think perhaps, for the first time ever, you may see clubs disappearing.”

Turning to the money required to build a new East Stand, Simpson, who has previously admitted that the money ring-fenced for it “was spent last year,”, said: “Do we have the funding to build the East Stand at this moment in time? No we don’t."

“The fact of the matter is... we are trying to find somebody with deeper pockets than mine – I haven’t got the funds – but people will speculate and everybody has got their point of view,” he said. “But fans need to get real."


Okay, for a start, we are about to go into the red. So we're not financially stable then Graham?

The world has changed, by that I take it you're blaming the 'credit crunch' for our current plight. Yet, you go on to say you forecast it! So why have you allowed us to get into this situation? Why spend any money trying to get back to the Premiership? Because if you ask the fans we'd rather have a secure club than have another depressing season getting beaten by the likes of Middlesborough.

We might see clubs disappearing. Is that a veiled threat that if someone doesn't come in that will be our fate?

You previously said the East Stand money was ring fenced. Now, its been spent. So why should we believe anything you've said either previously or in the future? If you'd come out and said at the time 'the situation is dire, we need that money' then maybe fair enough. But to admit it months later makes it look like you were about to be caught out (possibly by Elton) and so have been forced to tell the truth.

Yet after all this, its the fans that should get real???? If you'd done that in the first place Graham we wouldn't now be in this mess.

And I still can't help thinking where did all the Premiership money go?

Ownership

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7660347.stm

For the second day in a row, someone is speaking some sense!

Remembering back to the Vialli disaster I think Platini is spot on with his observation that clubs need identity.

However I don't think it applies to owners quite as much as it does the playing staff.

I'm not that bothered really who owns a club. It can be done well by a foreign owner (Portsmouth) and badly by a local owner (Newcastle).

Its when either a foreign owner or manager brings all his mates (Hearts) or a group of players the fans can't identify with (us in 2001/02) that it doesn't work.

Rio

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7659284.stm

I was never really a fan of Rio Ferdinand thinking he was a bit of an idiot (forgetting a drug test because he was moving house, for example).

However he has just 100% redeemed himself with this excellent swipe at FIFA's pathetic £15,000 fine of Croatia. He even speaks out against homophobic abuse, which is probably the least mentioned prejudice still heard on the terraces.

Football needs more players to speak out like this. Good on you, Rio. You've won me over totally.

If Football Managers Were....

...Pantomime villians then Phil Brown would make a great Captain Hook.


...Ventriloquists Puppets then Gary Megson is a shoe in as Orville hater, Cuddles the Monkey.

Multiball

http://www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10400~1413265,00.html

I'm not a fan of multiball.

Its meant to speed things up but if the bloke in the stand throws it back onto the pitch or has a bad throw then it has the opposite effect. We haven't quite got to the stage of the budweiser ad from a couple of years back but we're not far away!

Also, I think leaving a vital bit of the game in the hands of kids, some of whom look no older than primary school age, is just not a good idea at all.

However, it makes a change for an opposing manager to be complaining about us having an unfair advantage. Funny how he didn't mention that the ref was a Lilywhite in disguise.

Damo

Always sad to see a footballer retire in this way.

It must be all the harder for Damain considering he was playing in the first team back in August.

Whilst we never saw the best of him at the Vic his contributions were greatly appreciated, especially in his first season. His debut which saw us go wild when he scored against Everton to give us unrequited hope in the last few minutes at Goodison one of his best moments, even though it was eventually given as an Alan Stubbs own goal. Also his goal against Ipswich was the only high point of a very lacklustre FA Cup 5th Round win.

All the best for the future Damo whatever it holds for you.

Bias- Watford 2 Preston North End 1

A guy I work with is the son of a former Premiership ref. His Dad supports a big club up in the North. A recent conversation with him went something like this...

'Did your Dad declare his love of his team when he became a ref?'

'No.'

'And so he refereed this team?'

'Yes'.

'Did he go easy on them when he got them?'

'Yeah!'

Not that this conversation in any way referred to Mr.K W Wright who was in charge of todays game, but I think the only conclusion one can draw from his abysmal biased handling of the second half was that he's a closet Preston fan.

I reckon Preston must have got 9 decisions in every 10. Five minutes injury time. Are you sure? Tommy Smith lunged at as he races down the wing less than a metre from the linesman and probably less than 10 from the ref and nothing given. Even some of the fouls we did get given merited more of a GBH charge than just a free kick. But Mr Wright only saw fit to get out his book once for the men in white when the fantastically named St.Ledger tried to impede us taking a throw.

He, and the linesman at the Rous end, really tried their hardest to beat Attwell and Bannister as worst officials of the season. They didn't quite succeed but came as impressively close as you could to the title without awarding a ridiculous ghost goal.

So, for the second home Saturday in a row our display was all the more impressive for the fact we were playing 13 men rather than just 11.

We started the game with our impression of a team that doesn't know each other and allowed Preston a soft goal where the defending was woeful. Young Mariappa felt it was so bad he even seemed to have a go at captain DeMerit. Maybe this was unwise because Mariappa then went on to have one of his worst displays of his career which must have warmed the cockles of Lloyd Doyley's heart.

Jon Harley got us back into the game, playing so much better in midfield than when he covers at the back. Tommy Smith then made it 2-1 and it looked like we were in for a goal-fest with neither teams defences or goalkeepers looking particularly robust.

But surprisingly thats where it stayed. However that shouldn't detract from excellent displays from Hoskins who set up both goals and will be difficult to leave out of the side when Raziak is back, and Priskin who had his best game in a yellow shirt. He played as if he thought he was playing for Hungary and was very unfortunate not to end up on the scoresheet. The fact the Rookey sang his song spoke volumes. Maybe Hoskins is the partner Priskin's been looking for these past three seasons.

Williamson had another good game and O'Toole was immense as ever. I think we play far better without Eustace playing his Gavin Mahon type of role in the middle of the park. It was good to see Darren Ward back in the heart of the defence and I'd rather we kept him than Bromby. I'd forgotten quite how enormous Darren was or how much fun his fouls are (especially when he tried to wrestle a Preston player to the ground).

I don't normally take any interest in Harry's 50/50 half time draw but I did like Richard Short saying to Harry about 'having his magic fingers in a box'. Harry's response seemed to be the mascots version of 'wa-hey' to which Richard said 'ahh, those were the days'. And I thought we were meant to be a family club.

Up one place to 20th seems a bit of a mean reward for the afternoon's efforts but another win and we could climb significantly given that three points now only separate us and QPR (ha!) in 11th.

****

Nice bloke, Joe Kinnear.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/oct/03/newcastleunited.premierleague

Minds To Rest?

I was going to blog about how surprising it was that the club hadn't issued any response to Elton other than Simpson's words on 5Live.

However in the last couple of hours this has appeared.

http://www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10400~1410740,00.html

Usual points made about cutting of cloths.

Still wonder if Aidy and the board are singing from the same hymn sheet. Simpson's bits about backing Aidy's judgement and throwing support behind his team building plans in Autumn 2007 sound like a bit of a moan that it didn't work out. He didn't have to include those exact words in the statement but he chose to.

I still think Aidy should watch out. Simpson isn't afraid to wield the axe and with us in 21st I wonder if its being sharpened. A Carling Cup run didn't do Ray Lewington any good either. Simpson might think he's put Elton's mind to rest but not Aidy's.

Catastrophe

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/watford/7646988.stm

Odd one this. Odd timing, odd story. Is it just Elton mouthing off like he sometimes does about stuff (this was the man who fell out with Princess Diana and the nation of Taiwan).

Graham Simpson reckons the only person at the club Elton speaks to is Aidy. Has it come from him? After all he didn't seem to be quite saying the same things the club were around the time the Watford Obs had us going into administration. Is this his way of trying to alert everyone to what is really going on?

Has Elton got a point? Why do we suddenly seem to have no money? This was all explained after the WO article, although I can't really remember what was said other than less parachute money in second year, ground redevelopment, etc, etc. None of which sound very plausable. I mean, what has happened to the Shittu and Henderson money? £4 million and yet a month later we are funding loans by doing well in the Carling Cup?? We sound like a non-league club on a nice FA Cup run.

Whatever, I don't really see what anyone has gained out of this other than various supporters claiming Elton is only saying what we're all thinking. I'm not sure what I think.

As far as Elton's concerned I do find anything he's got to say or do with the club is a bit tainted now after the whole Vialli catastrophe. Don't get me wrong he is an uber-legend for what he's done. His investment in the club gave me and many thousands of others some of my best footballing memories.

But I can't forget back in 2001 with Gianluca sitting next to him he said he was as excited about the club as he'd ever been. Yet 12 months later he'd quit and we were met by people collecting money in buckets at the turnstiles to try and save the club.

Elton still isn't exactly badly off and if we really are heading for catastrophe he could at least help ensure our survival by dipping into his pocket. I'm not suggesting for a moment I expect him to fund us in the Man City, QPR or Chelsea sense. But I'm sure his bank manager wouldn't even notice him spending modest amounts to keep us from going down the same route as the lot up the road.

But as 6 years ago proved unfortunately Elt doesn't seem to love the club quite as much as he did back in the wild 70's and 80's. He's happy to criticise as he seems to do with all things he likes (George Michael, Madonna) but at least we're in good company.