tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9266204712853633402024-03-14T02:28:21.074-07:00Humble FootballArsenal and the worldReginald Ultrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08500046188442853264noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-28880344554125887292008-06-29T09:07:00.000-07:002008-12-11T09:43:48.832-08:00whatever happens tonight......stay clean<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1Ssnk9wEbUkaJIwjF3-Sj2yjjyqdwYqvcD0euFir0iV2Q6VHqS9e28ty-i3JyeZkNrBO2cD6951BvBlZavKqzjXU6W4MlxmiJMXuKwso-zQNDL3gkPS5d_C8jbUqJ77T2lKU_dZ1wUKT/s1600-h/PICT0711.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1Ssnk9wEbUkaJIwjF3-Sj2yjjyqdwYqvcD0euFir0iV2Q6VHqS9e28ty-i3JyeZkNrBO2cD6951BvBlZavKqzjXU6W4MlxmiJMXuKwso-zQNDL3gkPS5d_C8jbUqJ77T2lKU_dZ1wUKT/s320/PICT0711.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217336452540907410" /></a>Reginald Ultrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08500046188442853264noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-55351880390746731722008-06-27T05:40:00.000-07:002008-06-27T05:47:24.216-07:00Daft transfer rumours<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://wiki.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/05/23/nachos0.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://wiki.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/05/23/nachos0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">'Crouch is eating his...'</span><br /><br />Goal.com has an excellent editorial in which in lists the <a href="http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=753860">five stupidest transfer rumours of the summer so far</a>. These being:<br /><br />Ronaldinho to Boca Juniors<br />Del Piero to Inter<br />Samuel Eto'o to Marseille<br />Klaas Jan Huntelaar to Roma<br />Salvador Cabañas to Manchester United<br /><br />Though these are undoubtedly stupid, I can't help wanting to add a few more. Crouch to Arsenal, Vieri to Hull and Arsenal for David Villa (sorry dad). Question is, who can name stupider?Tan Copseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08003414613943953200noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-29814279207566275852008-06-27T05:30:00.000-07:002008-06-27T05:32:06.912-07:00Spain - the writing's on the...<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-qqSWyKqs8U&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-qqSWyKqs8U&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />Spain 3 Russia 0. Do you think that means they can rub it off now?Tan Copseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08003414613943953200noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-42987620249150574492008-06-25T14:12:00.000-07:002008-06-25T14:16:36.490-07:00The dream is over<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.isikgazetesi.net/haberresim/fatih_terim.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.isikgazetesi.net/haberresim/fatih_terim.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Bloody Germans.<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HkCfhNMfSqs&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HkCfhNMfSqs&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />For you. In your time of need.Tan Copseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08003414613943953200noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-34530701283443776502008-06-25T07:09:00.000-07:002008-06-25T07:39:47.186-07:00Kazım Kazım: tonight's the night<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FkOCoGcJLWg&hl=en"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FkOCoGcJLWg&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />A Brighton&Hove Albion reject he may be, as someone has pointed out on <a href="http://www.dissensus.com/showthread.php?t=7843&page=9">Dissensus</a>, but how can you not like Colin Kazim Richards? He's done the unthinkable for a British (as in, born in Britain) footballer, by gamely moving to a 'foreign' country where he doesn't speak the language, rather than letting his career dwindle in the Football League - and he is something of a hero (and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI071g4KVyQ">heartthrob</a>) at Fenerbahce already. Sadly this video won't embed but it's well worth watching:<br /><br /><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/7456038.stm">"They were singing some songs, I don't even know what they were singing, I don't know the words to it, I was just jumping up and down to the rhythm."</a><br /><br />And as if that wasn't enough he's a local lad from Leytonstone <a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article919720.ece">and a Chelsea-hating Arsenal fan to boot</a>.<br /><br />Even with <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/7363524.stm">so many players out</a>, it still looks like our Kazım is starting on the bench for Turkey tonight, but wouldn't it be wonderful to see a second half substitution when the inevitable comeback struggle begins. Make us proud bruv.dan hancoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14335192225001443427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-14236415827422624502008-06-23T08:08:00.000-07:002008-06-23T09:37:51.358-07:00Qazillians break Iraq hearts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/07_03/IraqFans_468x339.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/07_03/IraqFans_468x339.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />From <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/06/23/lions_tamed_as_iraq_crash_out.html">the Guardian</a></span> (the article is also available in our excellent <a href="http://del.icio.us/humblefootball">del.icio.us feed</a>):<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Iraq's World Cup ambitions were finally broken on a foreign field. As Qatar's multi-national squad formed a human pyramid of celebrating bodies and their coach prayed on the touchline, the champions of Asia slumped to their knees and cried into the turf at Dubai's Al Rashid stadium, their home for the past 10 months of qualifying. Just one year after stunning the world, and their homeland, by beating Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the Asian Cup final, Iraq's dream was over and with it the chance of perhaps ever seeing the country grace a World Cup finals again.</span><br /><br />Still remember <a href="http://humblefootball.blogspot.com/2007/07/tribute.html">the good times</a>.Tan Copseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08003414613943953200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-76587919763784942962008-06-23T07:23:00.000-07:002008-06-23T09:47:36.031-07:00Turkey 1 Croatia 1 highlights - Türkiye! Türkiye!<embed src="http://www.veoh.com/veohplayer.swf?player=videodetailsembedded&type=v&permalinkId=v14246343skBfp87J&id=anonymous" allowFullScreen="true" width="410" height="341" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><br /><br/><a href="http://www.veoh.com/">Online Videos by Veoh.com</a> <br />Absolutely astonishing. The fact that Turkey will now have to play a goalkeeper in attack, that Nihat has gone home, that Arda and Volkan are suspended, that there are only 13 available players, that even Tuncay won't be there to complain about, none of this matters. Turkey will now surely win the tournament after coming back from nine nil down in the Semih-final. Tuncay will return in goal for the final, with Rustu and Volkan upfront. The ghost of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustafa_Kemal_Atat%C3%BCrk">Attaturk</a> will inhabit the legs of the injured Emre to help him score a double hat-trick on crutches. <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=2KWNwULfw8k">This little man</a> will be happy.Tan Copseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08003414613943953200noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-62962331812210389822008-06-23T07:17:00.000-07:002008-06-23T07:34:27.938-07:00Russia 3 Holland 1 highlights - Kak!After last nights dulller than <a href="http://www.dulwichhamletfc.co.uk/">Dulwich Hamlet</a> Italy-Spain match, sit back and enjoy the following from the weekend. Arshavin and Zhirkov (insert crap joke here) were fantastic, Pavluchenko continued to wink and strange pseudo-tsarist banners were seen in the crowd. Excellent. <br /><embed src="http://www.veoh.com/veohplayer.swf?player=videodetailsembedded&type=v&permalinkId=v14254179WPd95GjS&id=anonymous" allowFullScreen="true" width="410" height="341" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><br /><br/><a href="http://www.veoh.com/">Online Videos by Veoh.com</a>Tan Copseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08003414613943953200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-78731669963076204682008-06-20T15:23:00.000-07:002008-06-20T16:38:23.189-07:00Chris WaddleAah a new addition to the myriad joys of watching Euro games in partisan venues: non-English commentary peppered with the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb5awdgutlc">names of forgotten footballer</a>s (0.37 and 0.41).<div>Tonight the HumbleFootballers again sat down in the hospitable Fenerbahce Sports and Social Club on Kingsland Road, this time to watch the Croatia v Turkey match (Turkiye! Turkiye!).</div><div>Among the largely unfamiliar Turkish commentary came the words "Pierre Van Hooijdonk", to the incredulity of the English-speaking folk who weren't exactly paying close attention to the commentary ("Did he just say 'Pierre Van Hooijdonk'?" etc).</div><div><br /></div><div>So why were the Turkish commentators speaking of the horse-faced Dutch master of swerve?</div><div>Was it his time spent at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APBU6p9F6hQ">Fenerbahce</a>?</div><div>Was it his <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooUOdDDtsac">goalscoring prowess</a>?</div><div>Or was it <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UojhK_xxR0Y">this</a>?</div>When I Go Deafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00274175125529592484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-72876675208224819052008-06-19T05:21:00.000-07:002008-06-19T06:19:46.421-07:00The Battle For South Lambeth RoadIt's Quarter-Final time, and tonight, ladies and gentleman, Vauxhall becomes the front line. And <a href="http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/bombing.shtml">not for the first time</a>. Kennington Park was the home to a shallow 'trench-style' public bomb shelter during the Second World War, a site that was <a href="http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/forgottentragedy.pdf">bombed in 1940, at the height of the Blitz</a>.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/images/kenparkshelters.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 212px;" src="http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/images/kenparkshelters.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span class="text80"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />The shelter was large enough to accomodate hundreds, and maybe thousands, of people, and it filled the whole of the south field in Kennington Park... [it] was an unpleasant place, and people only went there because the government stopped them going down into the nearby underground stations. One witness reported that "The public shelter was horrible, smelly. It had a mouldy slab of concrete for a roof. But you couldn’t go anywhere else - the Oval Station was full of barbed wire … they wouldn’t let you near it."<br /><br /></span></span><span class="text80"><span style="font-style: italic;">The direct hit on the shelter inevitably caused huge damage and horrible injuries. One witness reported that he "was 17. My job was helping to dig the bodies out. We put curtains up, so that people walking past couldn’t see in the pit. Eventually we couldn’t do anymore and we covered the remains with lime.".</span> </span><span style="font-style: italic;" class="text80">The chaos of war along with the need to keep up morale meant that no official toll of those dead and missing was announced, but historians now believe that 104 people were killed. It is said that 46 bodies were recovered but the majority of the bodies were left unrecovered when the site was levelled.</span><br /><span class="text80"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br />While lime-encrusted ghosts still walk the park, things are somewhat brighter in the area these days. Today, South Lambeth Road is famous for being <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2005/jan/21/britishidentity10">the most Portuguese place in the world</a> - Lisbon lags laughably behind in this regard. </span><span class="text80">And less than one mile away from the strip of Portuguese cafes, bars, bakeries and bookshops is The Jolly Gardeners, where the Germans are brewing something. And it doesn't come in steins. Nor does it have a reliable centre-back pairing.</span><br /><span class="text80"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3247/2590594697_b3906d0b44.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3247/2590594697_b3906d0b44.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VS1zHwUXe9Y&hl=en"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VS1zHwUXe9Y&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />That was London's small-but-vocal German community during their 1-0 win over Austria. If you think that got them excited, well... you didn't see the wolf-whistles they gave Angela <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDZx51UUSbI">Merkel</a> when she appeared on the big screens. The Germans are frisky, and the Portuguese will be all hopped up on salt-cod and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Portuguese_Lamprey_rice.jpg">lamprey rice</a>. And let's face it, if you're hard enough to stomach that, then you're definitely on a war footing.</span>dan hancoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14335192225001443427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-91475834995008196952008-06-19T04:50:00.000-07:002008-06-19T04:58:59.274-07:00Russia 2 Sweden 0 highlights - Russians put in quarters by sorry Swedes<div><object width="420" height="339"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x5tyh9" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x5tyh9" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="339" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object><br /><b><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x5tyh9">swdihs fish</a></b><br /><i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/cannonfuse">cannonfuse</a></i></div><br />Arshavin excellent. Immediately <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2008/06/19/ufnarsenal119.xml">rumoured to be heading to Arsenal</a>. Holland vs Russia shaping up as a classic?Tan Copseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08003414613943953200noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-19610103044258584302008-06-18T01:06:00.000-07:002008-06-18T01:12:25.802-07:00Italy 2 France 0 highlights<div><object width="420" height="258"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x5tjg4&related=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x5tjg4&related=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="258" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object><br /><b><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5tjg4_la-francess-azzuri_news">la francess azzuri</a></b><br /><i>Uploaded by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/cannonfuse">cannonfuse</a></i></div><br />Bye bye Claude and Lilian. Not taking Sagna and Clichy is looking rather silly now eh Raymond? Still, at least that cuckold Giuly wasn't around. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">I don't believe in astrology. The only stars I can blame for my failures are those that walk about the stage. ~Noel Coward</span>Tan Copseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08003414613943953200noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-37257713028808135622008-06-17T07:47:00.000-07:002008-06-17T08:01:43.210-07:00Eating Devil biscuits in the group of death<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.beppegrillo.it/immagini/Ceaucescu.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.beppegrillo.it/immagini/Ceaucescu.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Italy play France tonight in a re-re-re-match of the World Cup final of two years ago. The Italian players, however, are somewhat distracted by the possibility of Holland putting out a <a href="http://www.football365.com/gazzetta/0,17033,9404_3697001,00.html">weakened side</a> in their group C match against Romania, rendering Italy's match meaningless.<br /><br />The Romanians seem less than bothered after gaining creditable draws against both Italy and France. As it happens Romania news centers on the fact that their coach is <a href="http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/06/10/cunning_piturca_makes_light_of.html">the devil</a> and that they are being <a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/15/sports/EU-SPT-SOC-Euro-2008-Romania-Ceausescus-Son.php">endorsed by Ceausescu</a> from beyond the grave (OK by his son, but still...). All of which is the perfect excuse to post <a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,946103,00.html?promoid=googlep">this</a>:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Armed with a rifle, Ceauşescu went hunting in the craggy forest land of the northeastern Carpathians, home of the wild Rumanian brown bear. There, according to the International Council of Hunting and Game Preservation, Ceauşescu shot the largest bear ever recorded in the history of hunting in Europe. This month, the general manage? of the council, François Edmond-Blanc, presented Ceauşescu with a golden plate. He declared that the Rumanian leader had beaten the previous world record by 100 points, according to a complex formula involving the bear's size and the quality of its fur. A bit of East Bloc one-upmanship added to Ceauşescu's triumph. The previous record holder was the president of neighboring Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito.</span>Tan Copseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08003414613943953200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-86694252122864033702008-06-17T03:02:00.000-07:002008-06-17T03:03:53.505-07:00Germany 1 Austria 0 - Jolly Gardeners, South London<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1M1x1M8tLF4"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1M1x1M8tLF4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object><br />The game may have been Ballacks, but the Germans went home happy.Tan Copseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08003414613943953200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-32528823627905375042008-06-17T02:57:00.000-07:002008-06-17T03:26:32.652-07:00Türkiye in Dalstanbul<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/U4KZ3qtNnOM"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/U4KZ3qtNnOM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object><br />Immediate reaction to Turkey's winner. Notice Mr. Fenerbahçe social club at the back in the Fener shirt. Cool guy.Tan Copseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08003414613943953200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-28134097374016987522008-06-16T10:01:00.000-07:002008-12-11T09:43:49.938-08:00The cocks that crowed<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL9vA1o6rP5nmn0RxhWOZWqYFlZL0jcARrFLwadcq_XcVqri7sKGaOsYaA5O5CNYXEWXohRHW0VthOPLzZZzox2oxXmyg85VtLWyJp0k5maxUI7xNWN40id5quN5aIK0H_3gDjE77waqN/s1600-h/townsend.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL9vA1o6rP5nmn0RxhWOZWqYFlZL0jcARrFLwadcq_XcVqri7sKGaOsYaA5O5CNYXEWXohRHW0VthOPLzZZzox2oxXmyg85VtLWyJp0k5maxUI7xNWN40id5quN5aIK0H_3gDjE77waqN/s320/townsend.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212528762130170578" border="0" /></a>"I don’t want to reinforce stereotypes but…"<br /><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Words of imminent doom from ITV’s John Champion during last night’s game. <span style="">How do you end that sentence well? He didn't try very hard - </span><span style=""></span>“I don’t want to reinforce stereotypes but… Turkey do like a conspiracy theory”. Sidekick Jim Beglin immediately backed him up: “They like to find someone to blame. They’ve done it in the past”. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/giles_smith/article4152413.ece">Awful stuff</a> from both. 75 minutes of favouring the Czechs all the way and then an orgasm of hyperbole in favour of Turkey. Andy Townsend even went so far as declare them omnipotent – “They’re capable of absolutely anything those Turks”. <span style="">Special game though and I can see them beating the waiting Croats...<br /></span></p></div>Pumplesmoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05925848197311042029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-48612169365253184452008-06-16T06:05:00.000-07:002008-06-16T08:08:23.767-07:00Euro2008: Turkey 3 Czech Republic 2 - among the Turk<span style="font-size:100%;">"Cabuk parlayan cabuk soner," or as the proverbial Turk would understand, "What flares up fast, extinguishes soon." In Fatih Terim's camp of janissaries, they must be hoping that such old truths don't continue to ring true, after Turkey surprised everybody - including themselves - in scoring thrice in the last fifteen minutes of <a href="http://humblefootball.blogspot.com/2008/06/turkey-3-czech-2-game-of-tournament.html">yesterday's clash with the Czechs</a>. Longevity is what the Turks want, but with a difficult quarter-final against Croatia, the Turkish flame may soon be snuffed out.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3272/2583156911_2e9216ea45.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 249px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3272/2583156911_2e9216ea45.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Better living in the present. HumbleFootball crawled up the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A10_road">old Roman road</a> to the Fenerbahce Social Club, much fuller and more buoyant this time than during last week's doomed tie against Portugal. Yet, several bottles of Efes and seventy minutes later, the mood was still grim in Dalston. Two goals behind and not threatening the unflappable Petr Cech's goal , the Turks looked set for yet another rejection by Europe. Czech supporters sensed victory, including a Czech-heritaged HumbleDan, who quietly hid his glee in very British equivocation.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3048/2583985744_6abfc6edb2.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 341px; height: 255px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3048/2583985744_6abfc6edb2.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />But, as the Turks say, <a href="http://www.columbia.edu/%7Esss31/Turkiye/proverbs.html">"vakitsiz oten horozun basini keserler"</a> - "the cock that crows at the wrong time is killed." And that cock was butchered by Nihat Kahveci's sumptuous 89th minute strike, in off the crossbar and totally beyond the powers of an already disgraced Petr Cech. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Like a headless chicken, HumbleDan flapped about this way and that, spewing chicken blood up and down the high street. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Cue scenes of jubilation in the Social Club, with even certain non-Turk Humblers joining in the throaty Kemalist chanting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2583157489_a4a82c933d.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 261px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2583157489_a4a82c933d.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />As Turkish <span style="font-style: italic;">yoof</span> poured in for the last few minutes - joining their elder fathers, uncles, effendis, bashas, beys, pashas, etc - we had to survive a nervous finish. With Volkan sent off, Tuncay Sanli was forced into goal. He was worried: "suruden ayrilan koyunu kurt kapar" - "the sheep separated from the flock is eaten by the wolf." But the Czech wolf failed to materialise, and the final whistle blew, sending the Turkish diaspora into the streets of Europe. Cars honked up and down Kingsland High Street, Turkish <span style="font-style: italic;">yoof</span> and not-so-<span style="font-style: italic;">yoof</span> chanted on street corners, and HumbleDan's headless corpse was made into chicken kebab.<br /><br />Ah, HumbleDan, all will be well. The pain you feel now is but the pale shadow of pain you will inflict upon your villainous enemies. Remember: "ignegi kendine batir cuvaldizi baskasina" - "stick the needle into yourself (to see how it hurts) before you thrust the packing-needle into others."<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span>kvbthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07582049813269634185noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-81690269812774253822008-06-16T04:44:00.000-07:002008-06-16T06:04:55.727-07:00Turkey 3 Czech 2 - game of the tournament?<div><object width="420" height="258"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x5sn5k&related=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x5sn5k&related=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="258" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object><br /><b><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5sn5k_czechs-turksmania_news">Czechs turksmania</a></b><br /><i>Uploaded by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/Gretna2008">Gretna2008</a></i></div><br />More reaction from Dalstanbul and your Humble crew to follow. In the meantime, enjoy this. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Beep, beep, beep</span> - Türkiye!Tan Copseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08003414613943953200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-34633792924297695332008-06-14T04:16:00.000-07:002008-06-14T04:28:01.886-07:00Howard Webb in 'not very popular with Polish people' shocker:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://euro.kretyn.com/249.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://euro.kretyn.com/249.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://euro.kretyn.com/177.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://euro.kretyn.com/177.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://euro.kretyn.com/240.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://euro.kretyn.com/240.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />a ridiculous amount of images <a href="http://euro.kretyn.com/index.html">here</a>Reginald Ultrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08500046188442853264noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-59320125998434141102008-06-14T01:57:00.000-07:002008-12-11T09:43:50.458-08:00Picture, words, thousand - Holland 4 France 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56X-A4MQIjjv95rVfWrazCo9Y4486ZrwDTH4BvO9htuBu_zO2Ez7uNxVQ5wPqhF1NJurnQ-aZFq9ezEXRh3q3WjGrpV4nBgQFDJTY3jQaoPn-L_Y06swZ4AMtx2dGYvYutO3-XhSVpoc/s1600-h/Dutch+victory.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56X-A4MQIjjv95rVfWrazCo9Y4486ZrwDTH4BvO9htuBu_zO2Ez7uNxVQ5wPqhF1NJurnQ-aZFq9ezEXRh3q3WjGrpV4nBgQFDJTY3jQaoPn-L_Y06swZ4AMtx2dGYvYutO3-XhSVpoc/s320/Dutch+victory.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211659190796024226" /></a>Tan Copseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08003414613943953200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-70096086955195617062008-06-13T03:41:00.000-07:002008-06-13T03:49:19.333-07:00Smote the sledded Polack<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qBwD0oK2IMc"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qBwD0oK2IMc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object><br />MARCELLUS: <span style="font-style:italic;">Is it not like the king?</span><br /><br />HORATIO: <span style="font-style:italic;">As thou art to thyself: Such was the very armour he had on When he the ambitious Norway combated; So frown'd he once, when, in an angry parle, He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice. Tis strange.</span>Tan Copseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08003414613943953200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-62745138806758642592008-06-13T03:33:00.000-07:002008-06-13T03:40:56.006-07:00Wurst-brat leaves krauts sauer<iframe src="http://101greatgoals.magnify.net/embed/content/RM7X9BJQMJP18XPQ/FFFFFF/w400" width="420" height="389" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><br /><br />But at least the Croats are happy.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-RYg8Dy3xk4&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-RYg8Dy3xk4&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Tan Copseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08003414613943953200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-35554567761191373892008-06-12T07:35:00.000-07:002008-06-12T09:06:35.363-07:00Euro 2008: Sweden 2 Greece 0 - among the Swede<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3023/2572502009_f7c170411e.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3023/2572502009_f7c170411e.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>PRIOR to kick-off, three Humblers and a substantial blonde (collective noun) of Swedes are feverish with anticipation before a contest between the reigning European champions and Sweden's team of ageing ever-presents. HumbleDan approaches a Swedish man wearing full colours, speaking very slowly and carefully.<br /><br />"Excuse me my <span style="font-style: italic;">friend</span>. Can you <span style="font-style: italic;">tell me</span>. What you <span style="font-style: italic;">think </span>your CHANCES are in this GAME?"<br /><br />Swedish man: "Ah, nah mate, I'm English, I've just got a Swedish girlfriend."<br /><br />HumbleDan shakes this off, approaches another Swedish man wearing a Swedish football shirt, and repeats the question, once again s-low-ly and care-ful-ly.<br /><br />Swedish man II: "Ah, nah mate, I'm English, I've just got a Swedish girlfriend."<br /><br />Conclusion? There is no such thing as a Swedish man. Surprising but true. Due to a genetic quirk, the Swedes have only been producing female offspring for several decades now, which is the same reason the Swedish football team are all in their late 60s.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/2572499887_397db7297f.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 327px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/2572499887_397db7297f.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>THE GAME was absolutely awful. Sweden lacked ideas, and Greece don't have a football team, they have the inverse of a football team; like someone turned football inside out to see what was beneath the stitching and the pretty pattern: and just like a couch cushion, it's not good. The first half was so uninspiring that we spent the second half eating in Miso on Old Street. Full match report:<br /><br />*** Prawn Toast 6/10 - showed early promise, but left a bad taste in the mouth<br />*** Salt and Chilli Spare Ribs 9/10 - as always a consummate performer, delicate but full of panache<br />*** Roast Duck and Noodles 7/10 - did the job asked of it, no more<br /><br />Here, by the way, is our <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27453484@N03/">HumbleFlickr</a>. Feel free to add us as a friend to keep up with all our latest adventures.dan hancoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14335192225001443427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-76713055075564190332008-06-11T02:55:00.000-07:002008-12-11T09:43:51.125-08:00Holland 3 Italy 0 - A Grosso miscarriage of justice. But a funny one.Humble Football continued its crawl of London's European-flavoured boozers by watching this game in the Golden Lion in Soho surrounded by Dutch folk.<br /><br />A few quick points: 1) Of course, the atmosphere was awesome and the Dutch (including the Wolves lass in a Holland top) were on top form and in e(dam) good voice. 2) According to one Dutch chap before the game, Holland are analogous to England in being consistently dire in major Championships, with little-to-no detrimental effect on the masses' expectations. 3) Commiserations to the landlord of the De Hems pub on Macclesfield Street (by Chinatown), who, on the cusp of his most lucrative night of takings since July '88, suffered a powercut, sending his punters out to suckle copiously from the bosom of his nearby competitors. Doesn't that merit a minute silence these days?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34-we3qamYXjL_0OpWa74FtlwMO2t67xe4bmjFxzQfdnolhb0ZkA5jCVu2vkoZaoG4ba0leBjrXhrk-9Xzg6IcMog-CRaMYGr9hdVycmhyGKdvaMIpriyaGhfHHq3LFU29YRwtteurko/s1600-h/HFD2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34-we3qamYXjL_0OpWa74FtlwMO2t67xe4bmjFxzQfdnolhb0ZkA5jCVu2vkoZaoG4ba0leBjrXhrk-9Xzg6IcMog-CRaMYGr9hdVycmhyGKdvaMIpriyaGhfHHq3LFU29YRwtteurko/s320/HFD2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210582910661766738" border="0" /></a><br />The main talking point though was the newly-unearthed Unknown Rule of Football (URF). How many people before about 8pm Tuesday knew that a player lying injured, genuinely or otherwise, beyond the touchline could play someone onside? Sod all, but for a few swats.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXStE9prEzMPikzoI1yYwxzY9zMOkt8QWGxnJ81c0qZpnli3L6r9Ab8sRhDqwyV3kmtMP4UgL6uUGijZ2JlFBxo5bt7WnVUCkVgTE2WfY1eyClksOer5TO_iTagmGsJ3Pxdhxs0WlK3Y/s1600-h/HFD1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXStE9prEzMPikzoI1yYwxzY9zMOkt8QWGxnJ81c0qZpnli3L6r9Ab8sRhDqwyV3kmtMP4UgL6uUGijZ2JlFBxo5bt7WnVUCkVgTE2WfY1eyClksOer5TO_iTagmGsJ3Pxdhxs0WlK3Y/s320/HFD1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210582395265691202" border="0" /></a><br />For an essentially simple game that doesn't stand up to the weight of analysis and column inches it receives, in which the average fan can spot a foul throw from 100 metres, the URF is a truly phenomenal find; like when they find someone alive in the rubble 10 days after the earthquake.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEeAq7YPKChkQiEc686ZmtSCYtNZ9MkKSL0IBQcWzrubVK-feBjUv0xB46sWiLxJQuEObpK3VpXqHY9PA5hVpgdBhk16lwfsr_b1iC5vIR8ECqYXRSiQSQiqwIspKh-61igWu6Ysff2os/s1600-h/HFD3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEeAq7YPKChkQiEc686ZmtSCYtNZ9MkKSL0IBQcWzrubVK-feBjUv0xB46sWiLxJQuEObpK3VpXqHY9PA5hVpgdBhk16lwfsr_b1iC5vIR8ECqYXRSiQSQiqwIspKh-61igWu6Ysff2os/s320/HFD3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210583280028954210" border="0" /></a><br />Football is an open book compared to cricket, where there are whole chapters on 'taking the light' that remain unchartered by Aggers and CMJ, let alone Steve Bucknor.<br />So was the lino brilliantly aware of the URF, thus keeping his flag at half-mast? I reckon not; I think he fooked it up, making it a victory for the good guys, if not for common sense. Still, <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=SrxrPEXvI9c&feature=related">it couldn't happen to a nicer team</a>.Reginald Ultrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08500046188442853264noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926620471285363340.post-50270734013174260872008-06-10T02:30:00.001-07:002008-12-11T09:43:51.499-08:00Rambo to join Gunners<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-5zk84PNJPvp73wh7u8pYk2UnBpRCtLqAPMqEiDYSI5rvZb_ihqRb2R8YmRugg4JY3BwDbZcDBoU4DIwniejcubHaW_ePZsUMt3Olc1OlEgRgV63WisLlbKVK4hzg46HC4qJZcHVLFpc/s1600-h/rambo+ramsey.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-5zk84PNJPvp73wh7u8pYk2UnBpRCtLqAPMqEiDYSI5rvZb_ihqRb2R8YmRugg4JY3BwDbZcDBoU4DIwniejcubHaW_ePZsUMt3Olc1OlEgRgV63WisLlbKVK4hzg46HC4qJZcHVLFpc/s320/rambo+ramsey.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210183072721925826" border="0" /></a>A week ago, representatives of the junta hidden up north in a secret lair built with slave labour bleated to their state mouthpiece, the New Light of Old Trafford: “Manchester United is delighted to announce it has agreed terms with Cardiff City for the transfer of Aaron Ramsey subject to terms being agreed and the player passing a medical.” But like the statements of Burmese generals, the reverse is true. For Rambo, as this mysterious young Welsh warrior monk is known among his fellow disciples, <a href="http://www.cardiffcityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10335%7E1325841,00.html">is Islington-bound</a>. A meeting with the Dalai Wenger in Switzerland offered the former United supporter much needed Enlightenment and now he seems itching to don the red-white robes and hone those snake-lashing, bunker-incinerating skills on the Arsenal wing. With the aid of another newboy, <a href="http://youngguns.wordpress.com/2008/06/09/carlos-vela-on-target-for-mexico-in-rout-over-peru/">Carlos Vela</a>, Rambo hopes in time to channel enough applied righteousness to blow the slimy toads away. Failing that, <a href="http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=492450&cpid=703&title=Alexandre+Song+agrees+a+new+long-term+contract">Alex Song will come along and kick ‘em in the shins</a>.ishaanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15436997600764878574noreply@blogger.com2