All quiet on the Weston front - Part two

BROOKS MILESON LEAGUE CUP FIRST ROUND
DARLINGTON RA 1 JARROW ROOFING 2
By Ricky Butler at Brinkburn Road

IN WHAT is fast becoming the weekly Infoserve night out, I once again found myself at Brinkburn Road to watch Darlington RA face Jarrow Roofing in the Northern League Brooks Mileson League Cup. 

Accompanied once again by work colleagues, Eddie, Damo, Shane and, adding some much needed glamour; Nicky, this week we were joined by Gauchy and Nicky's two children; meaning that between us we made up more than half of the crowd!

With most of us there to watch another Infoserve legend, Mikey Weston, you can imagine the disappointment when we discovered he was only starting on the bench. In fact most of the team which had performed so well against Hartlepool last week were 'rested,' including young striker Harvey Saunders.

Jarrow have come a long way in a short space of time, largely due to the financial input of manager Richie McLoughlin. Now plying their trade in Division One, the visitors from Tyneside started this tie as clear favorites, perhaps explaining the RA team selection.

The first half went very much with the form book. Jarrow were the better team and fully deserved their 2-0 half time lead. The first goal was a great strike from Adam Rundle, cutting in from the left before drilling an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner of the net.

The general view from around us however, was that Mikey would have 'smashed him' before he had the chance to score. And judging by his foul mood at work all day, I'd say that may well have been the case!!

The second goal was a gift by RA goalkeeper Rob Gustard. At first deciding to come for a long ball, the stopper then made the fatal mistake of changing his mind, allowing John Campbell to beat him and roll the ball into the empty net.

To try and liven up a rather drab first half Shane was tempted to do a streak and even stripped down to his boxer shorts before thinking better of it. Being a chilly night he decided it would probably do him little favours, even though most of Darlington has already seen all he has to offer!!!

Late out for the second half, the RA certainly upped their game after the restart. The introduction of Saunders, who had originally been named in the starting line up but then withdrawn due to an 'injury,' certainly looked fit and gave the hosts some much needed impetus.

But the longer the half wore on the more we were resigning ourselves to the fact that this week we would not be seeing Mikey miss headers or score own goals. When the third and final substitution was made with fifteen minutes left we knew our night was ruined before it had really begun.

In the end the RA did pull a goal back, a fine header from substitute Jordan Hanratty, but it was too little too late. So a night that had promised so much ended in disappointment, both for the RA and the Infoserve crew who sloped off to the bar to drawn their sorrows.

In the overall scheme of things defeat in a competition they had little chance of winning  may not be the end of the world for RA manager Warren Moncur. But then again he does not have to sit next to Mikey at work tomorrow. The words bear and sore head spring to mind.

Still there is another match on Saturday as the RA celebrate 10 years since their first ever Northern League home match with the visit of Hebburn Town. With both Mikey and young Harvey expected to be in the starting line up, another Infoserve day out may well be on the agenda.

All quiet on the Weston front

DURHAM CHALLENGE CUP 

DARLINGTON RA 2 HARTLEPOOL UNITED 4

By Ricky Butler at Brinkburn Road 

FOR ONCE I was not at a Northern League ground to film a match but to just simply enjoy the football on offer. And there was much to enjoy.

The RA are a much changed side from the last time I saw them play just over a year ago. In fact the only players I recognised were Darren Kokes and Mike Colman from my days at Northallerton, and my work colleague, Mikey Weston.

To say Mikey is a no-nonsense defender would be an understatement. This guy was born to defend! Ironically the last time I saw him play was for Willington in the match that will be forever remembered for my infamous report!

Thankfully there was no such drama this time, although the game had been hyped up ever since the draw was made.

Well when I say hyped up what I basically mean is Shane from work running around telling everyone how great it was going to be!

Such a frenzy was created over social media that not only did the club employ a local security company to ensure the night ran smoothly but the BBC selected the match to be featured on a new series on grass-roots football. The local police even took down the RA website and Facebook page as a precaution!

But in the end the night passed off without a hitch, bar a flare thrown onto the pitch in the second half. The anticipated gate of 2,000 failed to materialise, although the crowd of over 300 was much needed for a club like the RA who do not have the cash of many of their Northern League rivals.

In truth I had only really come to watch Mikey. He sits next to me at work and having to suffer his horrendous banter every day this was my chance for revenge. Or so I thought.

But despite coming up against lads half his age, the big fella coped admirably. In fact I would go as far as to say he bossed it! The only ammunition I had for the following morning at the office was a late header which he put over the bar and even that was clutching at straws!

However, it was not just about a certain Mr Weston. Up front for the RA was a young lad called Harvey Saunders who completely stole the show. The way he took his second half goal showed the touch and composure that many of the Hartlepool U18 players would have benefited from.

The RA actually took an early lead when Saunders was fouled just outside the penalty area and Jim Wilson curled a wonderful free kick into the top corner. In fact the hosts were the better side in the opening period with the pace of Saunders and Wilson a constant threat.

But the young Hartlepool team looked much more dangerous after the break. They were level with a slightly dubious penalty (according to Mikey!) and then took the lead with a swift counter attack.

The RA were not unduly concerned and equalised soon after with an exquisite goal from Saunders. His first touch was to kill the ball dead and then when it broke to him in the area, he dummied the keeper before slotting into the empty net. And all this while carrying a hamstring injury that forced him off soon after. No wonder so many professional clubs are looking at him.

But almost immediately Hartlepool regained the lead with a superb strike from a tight angle before adding a fourth on the break. That was not quite the end of the drama as Kokes fired wide from a good position before Weston's late header ended up halfway down Brinkburn Road.

So all in all a good night's football. A thoroughly entertaining game which I am sure will make great viewing on BBC 3 later this year.

Having been a long standing supporter of Northern League football, and a former RA player myself (albeit for the Vets team) I have now vowed to pay a visit to Brinkburn Road far more regularly this season, if only so I will be there to see Mikey fall over the ball or score an own goal!!

On the evidence of this 90 minutes however, I may be waiting a long time...

Cech mate as Arsenal draw another home blank

ARSENAL 0 LIVERPOOL 0

By Ricky Butler at Emirates Stadium

SO IN THE END IT WAS A GAME OF TWO HALVES AND A TALE OF TWO GOALKEEPERS.

In a first period dominated by the Merseysiders, Arsenal stopper Petr Cech produced two world class saves to deny Christian Benteke and Phillipe Coutinho. But after the break, as Arsenal got on top, it was Simon Mignolet 's turn to shine; denying Olivier Giroud, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

So nil-nil but certainly not the bore draw the scoreline suggests.

While Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool dominated the opening period it was largely down to the ineptitude of Arsenal's play. Rarely has an Arsene Wenger side miss-placed as many passes as they did in the opening 45 minutes last night at the Emirates.

Poor Callum Chambers was the chief culprit. The 20-year old defender, in as a late replacement for flu victim Per Mertesaker, looked like a Sunday league player suddenly thrust into the Premier League limelight in a first half performance as poor as any seen at this magnificent stadium.

Looking ill-at-ease from the start, Chambers would have cost his side at least three goals had it not been for the inspirational performances of Cech and centre-back partner Gabriel.

One save from Cech, to deny Benteke from point blank range, was as good anything he has produced in a glorious career. Although when he later tipped Coutinho's curling effort onto the post; that was arguably an even better stop.

Cech denies Benteke a certain goal

And in between, Brazilian defender Gabriel got Chambers off the hook again with a wonderful block to deny James Milner, after the former Southampton youngster had gifted the visitors possession on the edge of his own penalty area.

Yet for all Liverpool's dominance it was Arsenal who should have been ahead at half time. Just eight minutes had elapsed when Ramsey finished off a lovely pass from Santi Cazorla. But for the second Monday night in a row the linesman flag came to Liverpool's rescue when TV replays suggested that Ramsey was clearly onside.

But whatever Wenger said at half time, and he is not noted for his hair-dryer, it certainly did the trick. Right from the off the Gunners carried the fight to their visitors but they ran into a well drilled defensive unit who are yet to concede a goal this season. And when they did manage to breach the black-shirted Liverpool wall, Mignolet stood firm.

The Belgium goalkeeper turned away a close-range, scuffed shot from Giroud before doing even better to keep out Ramsey's deflected effort and a late pile-driver from substitute Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Arsenal became more and more desperate as the clock ticked down, throwing on speedsters Theo Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain, but it proved to be in vain as honours finished even; the right result on the night.

Wenger, understandably, was disappointed with the disallowed goal. He said: “We scored a regular goal that was disallowed, I don't believe I can do something about it. 

"At the end of the day, the referee cancelled out a regular goal. Like it or don't like it, it is a fact. We had chances, but we couldn't finish them off. 

"When you play at home and don't win, people always find problems. It is not the result or the complete performance, but we came back in the second half."

Rodgers was delighted with his sides display. He said: “I thought we were very good. First half, Petr Cech was the man of the match. Second half, we were always a threat going forward. The players worked ever so hard."

Petr Cech and Benteke embrace at the final whistle

It may be very early days but on this evidence neither side looks like potential champions. Wenger's team are struggling at home, failing to score here for the fifth time in their last six outings, while Liverpool are also lacking a cutting edge, despite the presence of new signing Benteke; just one goal from open play in three games this season says it all.

With a week remaining of the transfer window it would not be a surprise to see both managers adding to their squad. Arsenal desperately need a centre-half and a goal-poacher, while Liverpool need more support for Benteke and someone in midfield to compliment the creative skills of Coutinho.

Arsenal – Cech 9, Bellerín 6, Chambers 5, Gabriel 7, Monreal 8, Coquelin 8 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 7), Cazorla 8, Ramsey 7, Ozil 7, Sanchez 6, Giroud 6 (Walcott 6).

Liverpool – Mignolet 8, Clyne 7, Lovren 7, Skrtel 8, Gomez 7, Milner 7, Lucas 8 (Rossiter 6), Can 8, Firmino 7 (Ibe 6), Coutinho 8 (Moreno 6), Benteke 7.

Referee: M. Oliver 6

MAN OF MATCH  - Petr Cech (Arsenal) - After a shaky start to his Arsenal career, the former Chelsea man looked back to his best to deny Liverpool all three points.

A draw is as good as a win...sometimes. An away day at Old Trafford

MAN. UNITED AWAY. For every football fan it is one of the highlights of the season. And even though we have rarely got a result there over the years, it still remains my favourite away trip.

Matches between the sides these days may lack the passion and importance of the days of Keane and Vieira but when the fixture list first came out last summer and this was down as the last away match, I felt we could be set for something very special.

In the end all that was a stake was the booby prize of avoiding the Champions League play-off. A win would guarantee us third place while even a defeat would not be a disaster with two potentially winnable home games to come.

For young Emerson this was to be his fourth trip to the Theatre of Dreams. As the previous three had finished in 0-2, 2-8 and 0-1 defeats, he was hoping it would be a case of fourth time lucky.

'Don't worry, Son,' I said. 'I have only seen win here three times in about 35 years!'

When visiting Old Trafford we always park in the Lowry Outlet Centre at Salford Quays, opposite Media City. Apart from being just a 10 minute walk from the ground, if you spend a fiver in the shopping centre you get four hours free parking. Much better than the £10 some of the car parks charge. So after a Burger King lunch, we headed for the ground.

Emerson soaking up the atmosphere at Old Trafford

Having seen us go off the boil since the FA Cup semi final victory over Reading; drawing two blanks in the three games since, Emerson and I were not confident of a victory. I felt it had 0-0 written all over it but Emerson, always the optimist, predicted there would be goals.

'2-1 to us,' he said. 'Just like in the FA Cup.'

Unfortunately we had been unable to attend that memorable FA Cup success due to the BBC switching it to a Monday night. Handy for them with their studio literally over the road but not so good for an 11-year old with school the next day.

Whatever you think about Manchester United as a club, and I personally detest everything about them, you have to say that watching football at Old Trafford is an absolute privilege. It is like a theatre or a cathedral and is one of the few classic stadiums left in world football.

Even though they have packed the seats in the away end so closely together that if everyone actually sat down you would literally be sitting on your neighbours lap, it has an air of grandeur about the place. Steeped in history, you can feel how special it is from the minute the stadium comes into view.

It does take you back to the old days of Highbury. That was also a classic old stadium where the history of the club just poured from every corner. And as much as love the comfort of the Emirates, it lacks the mystique of the old place and the club is all the poorer for it.

Many football fans criticise the atmosphere at Old Trafford but I have always found it to be electric, even for a game lacking in the dramas of the past.

As is usually the case here, we were poor in the first half and failed to even muster a shot on goal. Phil Jones' headed tackle on Oliver Giroud summed up our lacklustre attacking display. Meanwhile poor Hector Bellerin was being given the run around by Ashley Young, no less; surely the nadir in any footballers career.

When the goal finally arrived it was no surprise that it came from our right hand-side. Young skipped past the Spanish full back again and Ander Herrera was left unmarked to volley past David Ospina. Having been fairly quite until then, belying my earlier claims about the atmosphere, the United fans suddenly came to life.

To be fair I was relieved to be only 1-0 down at the break and as Emerson and I went for a half time cuppa, we both felt we would play better in the second half.

'We only ever play well in one half,' said Emerson, with far more perception than many of our fans seem to possess.

Father and son at the match

It did not appear as though as he would right in the early stages however as we were once again offering very little but we suddenly flicked the switch. Giroud nodded the ball on for Alexis Sanchez but the Chilean, who had been anonymous until then, volleyed into the upper tier.

That seemed to give us some belief and led to an exciting second half. Around the hour mark things appeared to be going our way as Arsene Wenger, usually reluctant to make changes so early, threw on Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott. Not for Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil as seemed likely, but for Bellerin and Santi Cazorla.

At the same time United goalkeeper David De Gea, who's incredible performances this season have kept Louis van Gaal in his job, had to go off, being replaced by Victor Valdes for his Premier League debut.

'We'll definitely score now,' was Emerson's confident response.

Walcott has never really convinced many Arsenal fans but Emerson and I have always loved him. If nothing else, his pace gets you up off your seat and we were sure he would make an impact on what was his 299^th appearance for the club.

His first action however was to be pushed off the ball by United substitute Tyler Blackett. This led to a guy behind me immediately getting on his back.

'Give him a chance, mate,' I said. 'He has hardly played for a year. Let him get into the game.'

Wilshere was having no such trouble, and with Ramsey now moved centrally, we started to gain control of the midfield.

Chances came and went, mainly through Giroud's lack of sharpness in front of goal. He is another player who always seems to get stick. Many feel he is not the sort of striker that will win you titles and while it is fair to say he has not been at his best in recent weeks, even here his hold up play was exemplary.

What he needs is someone with a bit of pace alongside him. A Walcott or a Sanchez. The Chilean has been employed in a wide-left position in recent months and has become far too predictable; constantly cutting inside onto his right foot.

It is no surprise that many of Sanchez' goals this season came before Christmas when he was playing through the middle in Giroud's absence. Playing the two as a pair may just bring out the best in both of them. But Wenger knows best and apart from in recent weeks, we have not been struggling in the goals department.

There is no better feeling than scoring a late equaliser, especially if it is at your end and against one of your bitter rivals. So even though it was not for the biggest prizes on offer, when Walcott's deflected cross went in off Blackett to bring us level, the away end went ballistic!!

Emerson disappeared under a sea of happy fans while I found myself hugging Baso, the fan who always comes to games dressed in a half-and-half home and away kit! Moments like this are the reason why we travel to away games. Sheer unbridled joy!

And in the end we could even have won it. Seconds after the goal, Giroud fired into the side netting following a flowing move involving Wilshere, Ramsey and Ozil. Some in the away end thought it was in which led to the typical mocking from the United fans but I think they were just relived it hadn't gone in.

Speaking of relief, there was just as much in the away end in stoppage time when Robin van Persie, who was booed mercifully by the travelling Gooners from the moment he came on, fired over the top from a good position.

I cannot for the life of me understand why the Arsenal fans persist on singing that disgusting song about him. Yes, he left us for one of our rivals but you know what, good luck to him. He got himself a title medal and after eight years loyal service to us we should not begrudge him that.

Personally I still admire the man and will never forget the great things he produced in an Arsenal shirt. During his final season with us he was one of the best players in the world and it is still a pleasure to watch him play. Even more so when he misses chances like this against us. So cheers, Robin.

So a draw, third place virtually in the bag and Emerson finally seeing his losing streak here brought to an end. Overall it was one of more enjoyable trips here in the recent years. A bit better than the 8-2 at least, and a draw when you have been behind feels almost as good as a win. Almost.

Of course the negative, Wenger out morons will be out in force moaning that we will now finish on less points than last season, even though we will have conceded far less goals, got better results against the top sides and finished one place higher. Not to mention a second consecutive FA Cup final on the horizon.

This squad is on the verge of great things. With the addition of a defensive midfielder, a fox-in-the-box striker and another central defender, we will be much closer next season. Who knows, we may even win the thing.

But for now we can look back on another decent if not outstanding season and look forward to Wembley in two weeks time. After a nine year wait for some glory these are the good times and we should all be enjoying them. Judging by Emerson's sing-along in the car all the way home, he certainly is. 

Now repeat after me, 'Alexis Sanchez baby, Alexis Sanchez oohhhh...'

The bizarre case of winning but losing - is it time to scrap the away goals rule?

I'VE SAID it before and I'll say it again; the away goals rule is the most ridiculous rule in football. What makes a goal scored in one stadium more worthy of one scored in another?? Simply because some men in suits at UEFA have said so??


For the second time in three seasons Arsenal have crashed out of the Champions League on away goals which makes my rants on the subject appear to be merely sour grapes. But I have thought this for as long as I have been watching football.


The reason this rule was introduced was to encourage more attacking play from the away side and to reduce the need for penalty shoot-outs. But at least penalties rely on skill. And if anything the away goals rule simply encourages negative play, especially from the team with an away goal to defend. 90 minutes of defence against attack. Otherwise known as a 'Chelsea.'


A two-leg tie lasts 180 minutes and the team which scores the most goals over the two games should go through. If both teams score an equal number of goals then extra time and subsequently penalties should be used to determine the winner. Simple but effective.


The other alternative would be to play all knock-out games as a one-off, drawn FA Cup-style to determine the home and away teams. As well as reducing the number of games, it would also make the whole thing far more exciting. Most first legs are usually boring affairs and even if they finish 4-3, it is effectively only half time. So you pay full price for a ticket to see only half of the tie. Imagine going to see a West End show and they sent you home at the interval asking you to come back in two weeks time to see the conclusion. And you have to pay again!!!


In fact the more I think about it the more I feel the Champions League is just a complete waste of time and money. I yearn for the good old days of the European Cup where just the Champions qualified. Yes it would mean Arsenal would not be in it, but so what?? We could instead pool our resources into what really matters; winning the Premier League and FA Cup. It might even make the League Cup a worthwhile competition again.


But if we have to persist with the charade that is the Champions League lets at least scrap the away goals rule. A goal is a goal no matter where in the world it is scored. That is what makes football what it is. What next? Deciding ties on who scored the best goals?? A 25-yard volley being more worthy than a 2-yard tap in? The team with the best haircuts to go through?? Have a celebrity studio judging panel, Strictly style. Why not?? Is that really any more stupid than the current system??


It has been suggested that I wouldn't be writing this if last night Arsenal had won 4-2 in Monaco and gone through on away goals but that is completely missing the point. For the record I would actually hate Arsenal to go through on away goals. It would be a hollow victory. Not really a victory at all in fact.


It was a bizarre sight seeing the Monaco players and fans celebrating last night. They had just lost 2-0 at home. In what world can that ever be a good result and worthy of such celebration?? Then in the post-match interviews it was suggested that the better side had gone through. Really?? The tie finished 3-3; they won at our place, we won at theirs. I would suggest that means that there was in fact no 'better' side. They were both equal.



What other sport is decided in this manner? Imagine if in tennis points won against the serve counted double?? 0-30, game!! Or in cricket if the away runs counted double?? No one would think that was a good idea. So why is it considered acceptable in our national sport??

Answers on a post card to M .Platini, UEFA.

Raiders of the lost arts - The dangers of instant fame

THERE WAS a time when to be famous you actually had to have a talent. Weird, I know. You needed to have something to offer. Then you had to work hard to develop your skills and if you were lucky you got your break and fame and fortune followed. But not any more. 

There is very good chance that a few weeks ago you would not have heard of Gordon Hill. Those of a certain age may have thought about the ex-Manchester United footballer. But no. There is now a new Gordon Hill in town.


This Gordon is a simple, middle aged man who likes nothing more than supporting his local non-league football team. But after he was recently filmed at a game, drunk and 'giving it large,' he has now become known as the Wealdstone Raider. You've heard of him now, right?


But just in case you have been living on Mars these last few weeks, or indeed on the off-chance that you actually have a life and do not follow social media, Gordon has become famous for his, 'Do you want some, I'll give it ya!!' chant; spat out, along with his pint of lager, in an almost incomprehensible drone.


He has become what the tabloid press now like to dub an 'internet sensation.' Videos of him have sent social media into meltdown and it is rumoured that Gordon is releasing a Christmas single and is set to appear on the upcoming series of Celebrity Big Brother. I kid you not.


We now appear to live in a world where everyone wants to be the next reality 'star'. If a video gets a few thousands hits on YouTube, agencies will be instantly on the phone trying to get you a record deal or a spot on This Morning.


I am of an age where I can still recall the days when celebrities were people you looked up to. In fact being a celebrity was something to aspire to as it meant you had achieved something; be it singing, dancing or comedy.


The old talent shows, such as Opportunity Knocks, brought us real celebrities who went on to have long and rewarding television careers. People such as Su Pollard, Paul Daniels, Roy 'Chubby' Brown, Little and Large, and Lena Zavoroni all started out there.


The losers on these shows usually vanished instantly without trace and there was a very good reason for that. They had very little talent. Most now work in McDonalds or, presumably, in the banking world.


But these days it is often the losers, the least talented ones; the Jedward's of this world, who go on to have the big television or music careers while the actual talent gets cast aside. Is this really the way forward?


With reality shows now filling more than 50% of all new TV programming, it is the 'stars' of these shows that have become the new celebrities. Gemma Collins, the least engaging of all the characters on TOWIE, was recently on I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. Never can the term 'celebrity' have been used so loosely.


The real nadir, however, was when White Dee, the lazy, dole scrounger from Benefits Street, was appearing on chat shows. Reality TV had well and truly eaten itself.


But it is far worse than that. The advent of social media, and YouTube in particular, has seen a whole new genre created. The Wealdstone Raider is the latest such example.


Andy Worhol once said, 'In the future, everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes,' and it appears as though he was right. But he didn't go into the consequences of that. What happens after your fifteen minutes are over?


Let's not forget that these are just regular people with regular jobs. They have no preparation for the pressures fame brings. When it so happens that the person in question also appears to have the mental age of a child, like poor Gordon Hill, then you really have to question the morals of the people thrusting him into the spotlight like this.


Yes we have all laughed along at his video. It was funny because we have all encountered someone similar at football, particularly if you frequent any non-league ground. They are the breeding ground for these kind of characters.


But that should have been as far as it went. Share it with your mates, have a good laugh at the poor unfortunate drunk guy, and move on with your life. But this is the 21^st century. It does not happen like that any more.


I actually feel sorry for Gordon. Mentally he does not appear able to cope with the fame suddenly thrust upon him. I am sure he is enjoying his 'fifteen minutes' at the moment but with it comes many problems. The abusive tweets, the comments in the street, photographers following your every move. Much stronger people than Gordon have struggled to deal with that.


But my worry is what happens when he becomes tomorrow’s chip paper. To think that he will just be able to go back to his old life as a slightly eccentric football fan is hugely optimistic.


What help and advice will be receiving from these agents who are only too keen to make a quick buck off him now? How are they preparing him for life after all this fuss dies down, as it inevitably will? My guess is that they are doing nothing. He is only useful to them while he can make them money. After that he will get thrown back on the street like an unwanted dog after Christmas.


'You want some?' 'No, mate,' will come the reply from the general public. 'We have moved on to someone else now.'


You see instant fame is exactly that. If you haven’t had to work for it, if it has been thrown at you, the likelihood is it will end just as quickly as it started,. Quicker in fact. And then what?


Charlie Brooker wrote a fantastic TV series called Black Mirror. It was a dark comedy about how social media has taken over our lives and the potential problems it can lead to. One particular episode showed a new reality show where the lowlifes of society were the main attractions at a Theme Park and the public could ridicule and mock them. This is basically what YouTube does now and poor Gordon is a victim of that. The line between harmless fun and Internet bullying has been crossed.


I really hope Gordon makes a lot of money out of all this and comes out the other side happy and content with his life. But I fear that will not happen. Once the hangers-on have ditched him what will he be left with?


So if you are one of those people who are so desperate to get noticed that you constantly post videos of yourself doing stupid things, just think about the possible consequences of being yesterday's news.


If you want fame and fortune, earn it. Develop a talent, study, work hard. Without the right foundations in place first it will all come crashing down and who will pick up the pieces?


One final thought. Gordon is not the first Wealdstone Raider. That honour goes to a certain Vinny Jones. The former hod carrier began his football career at Wealdstone and no doubt spent many an afternoon shouting, 'Do you want some?' at the opposition players. I very much doubt many of them did.


Of course he went on to have great success with the likes of Wimbledon, Leeds, Chelsea and Sheffield United and is now a Hollywood star. So Gordon, if you're reading this, there may be hope for you yet!!

Party like it's (not) 1983

I HAD NOT been to Leicester since the old days of Filbert Street so as soon as their promotion to the Premier League had been confirmed, this was one of the first away days I had pencilled in.

2014-15 actually marks my 34th season watching the Gooners and my, how things have changed. Back in 1981 football was a very different animal. Hooliganism was at its peak, grounds were in various states of disrepair and you never knew with any certainty if you would make it home from an away day in one piece.

But while many aspects of the modern football experience are so much better, it has been somewhat watered down. On the pitch the product is far slicker and it is perfect for the worldwide TV audience. Footballers are far easier on the eye for a start. Well most of them are; Leicester goalscorer Ulloa one of the obvious exceptions.

But it has lost its soul along the way. As the cries of 'Buy a f**king striker' rang out from the away end following this rather uninspiring 1-1 draw against a hard working but limited opponent, I began to realise that the biggest change has been to the people who now inhabit the stadiums. But I don't blame them. Not really. I blame modern society.

My first visit to Leicester was in 1983. The old Filbert Street ground was in a right old mess back then. The view from the away end was awful with pillars and fences everywhere, which was probably just as well as Arsenal lost 3-0. Yes we were all upset about it and I recall a few boos at the final whistle but it was no big deal.

We didn't have to suffer endless analysis on TV about where it had all gone wrong. We spend an hour or so on the train home doing that for ourselves. Yes, back in the 1980s we were allowed to think for ourselves.

'Charlie Nicholas is not doing it, is he?'

'What was up with Woodcock today?'

'Why is he playing bloody Colin Hill and David Madden.'

But by the time we had arrived back at Kings Cross the only things that mattered were McDonald's and the next match.

Luckily the game was not on MOTD that night so we could tell our mates that actually we were very unlucky and that we should have had at least three blatant penalties. I mean, they'd never know.

But in 2014 a 1-1 draw now feels like the end of the world. Even before the final whistle had blown, there were messages from all over the world saying things like, 'Wenger needs a striker,' 'Sanogo is not good enough,' and 'Arsenal are shite.' Yes, very original.

There is no hiding place now. Everyone has seen it. And even if they haven't they will have heard all about it through social media. Football is not just for the die-hard fan any more, it is for everyone.

And this has seeped into the stadiums. People who have known nothing but the Premier League, Sky TV and transfer deadlines in August expect us to win 6-0 every week. And if we don't then there is only one answer; spend some f**king money.

I left the King Power Stadium far more upset with the reaction of the Arsenal fans than the performance of the team. Yes, we were flat, and despite oodles of possession we were probably slightly fortunate to come away with a point in the end.

But listening to all the moaning going on you'd have thought we had just witnessed a repeat of the 1983 result.

Luckily that nostalgia was not lost on the Leicester fans to our left. Say what you like about the modern football fan but it is reassuring to know that the spirit of the 1980s is still alive and well in some parts of the country at least.

It took me back to one particular visit to Filbert Street back in 1984 when the Leicester faithful decided to throw bricks at us. This lot were probably their grandchildren and instead of bricks it was just banter and bravado being thrown this time. Still, at least it provided a nice distraction from the impending transfer deadline day and our inadequacies up front.

So a rather unsatisfactory away day in the end. It makes you wonder why you bother at all. But that flame, burning so bright back in 1983, just refuses to go out. A quick glance at the fixture list told me that Sunderland away in October is next on my agenda. I just hope that is better than the 3-0 defeat we suffered there in 1982. Give me Sanogo over Lee Chapman any day!

Grass-Roots Vs. Sky Sports - 'Soccer Saturday' should be spent at the ground not on your sofa.

YOU WATCH Gillette Soccer Saturday with the 'wonderful' Jeff Stelling, right? So you must be a football fan, right? Wrong. 

Real football fans do not spend their Saturday afternoon's glued to the TV listening to the inane chatter of Stelling and his motley crew. Real football fans are out watching a match, whether it be in the Premier League, Football League or, more importantly, at their local grass-roots club.

But Sky have produced a generation who rather like the idea of football just as long as it is beamed directly into their sitting rooms and they do not actually have to leave the house. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Armchair Fan...

So while the Premier League is thriving with billions invested in fancy new foreign players each year, earning the equivalent in one week that would keep a local club afloat for 10 years, grass-roots football is dying a slow and painful death.

Yet for the price of a Sky Sports subscription you could watch your local club six times a month and still have change for a pint and a bag of chips on the way home. So why are you all not doing that instead?

I recently had the misfortune of not being able to attend a match on a Saturday afternoon so I decided to turn on Sky Sports News (I get that channel free with my TV package) to watch the much heralded Stelling and co. And what an experience it was. I love a good bit of analysis and I have always been a sucker for an interesting stat or two but this lot took it to a new level.

Six hours it was on. Six hours!! Typical Sky overkill. And from 3 o'clock all you could hear were the constant screams in the background of Phil Thompson or Paul Merson. 'Oooh,' 'Arrh' they yelled like Wayne Rooney in an old people's home, while all we got to see was a blurry graphic of the crowd or Stelling's ugly mug.

It got me thinking; this programme is not made for football fans at all. It is made purely for the TV generation and gambling addicts. The same people that watch this nonsense will no doubt be watching X Factor and Big Brother afterwards. They probably never even leave their sofas at all on a Saturday.

Yet you speak to these people and they will tell you they are football fans. They will tell you how they have supported Manchester United or Liverpool all their life. 'I used to go all the time but I can't afford it now,' they will say.

Yet their local club, just two miles up the road, is crying out for their support. Sky claim to love football but you have to question that. They love people sitting indoors and watching football on TV, yes. But they do not actually love football. The crazy (peak viewing) kick off times tell you that.

But this coming Saturday is Non League Day so instead of watching the garbage that is Gillette Soccer Saturday, get yourself out and support your local club. Most are crying out for volunteers and would really appreciate your help and support. They will make you feel welcome and in return you will really feel part of the club.

I recently set up a small company with the aim of giving local, grass-roots football better coverage. At Butler Sports TV we film matches and produce highlights. We interview the players and managers. We make them feel as though they are on Sky. They love it and it makes them feel special.

Yet many of these clubs cannot afford our services. They can barely afford to clean the kit each week. So while Sky bore us with 15 hours of coverage from a drab 0-0 draw at Chelsea, the rest of us are missing out on the thrills and spills of a 6-6 draw at South Shields.

Come on, as a football fan what would you rather watch?

Welbeck and the missing defenders - The madness of Arsenal's transfer window

WELL that was a great transfer window for Arsenal wasn't it. 

In came one of the stars of the World Cup; Chilean international forward Alexis Sanchez. French right back Mathieu Debuchy replaced the outgoing Bacary Sagna, exciting young defender Callum Chambers arrived from Southampton and finally on Deadline Day itself, Danny Welbeck. Yes you heard that right. Danny. Welbeck.

Following the disappointing 1-1 draw at Leicester on Sunday, the visiting fans were shouting at Arsene Wenger to 'buy a f**king striker' and he certainly didn't disappoint.

So while front men like Falcao, Balotelli, Costa, Suarez and Negredo were all changing clubs this summer, Arsenal swooped for the prolific Welbeck; the former Manchester United 'striker' who scored just two goals in 40 appearances in the 2012-13 season. Yes, two goals in 40 appearances.

Of course under the guidance of Wenger, the 23-year old with just 39 club goals in 178 appearances, could blossom into the new Thierry Henry. But even if he does, it does not hide the fact that Arsenal are going into the season with just two recognised centre backs and no real quality in the crucial defensive midfield position.

And after spending the last two weeks insisting that Arsenal did not need to buy a striker, Wenger buckled to pressure and brought in the out-of-favour Manchester United man for £16m despite a genuine need to strengthen elsewhere.

Of course had the travelling fans at Leicester been shouting for a new defender or holding midfielder, perhaps they would have woken up this morning with something to really get excited about.

But instead there is just doubt. What if Metersaker and Koscielny are both injured? What if Gibbs is also on the treatment table, as he so often appears to be? Debuchy likes a card or two so lets say he is suspended. What if all this happens in the week of a visit to Manchester City or Liverpool. Who plays in the back four then? Welbeck? Steve Bould? Wenger himself?

A plethora of midfielders and strikers but not enough defenders. Incredibly short-sighted for a club who claim to be title challengers.

The frustrating thing for Arsenal fans is that they are probably just three players short of winning the title. Two centre backs and a strong, holding midfielder. If they had arrived yesterday instead of Welbeck there would have been a real feeling that this could be Arsenal's year.

But maybe we are all under-estimating Wenger. He has brought in new fitness coach Shad Forsythe this summer and perhaps this will mean the injury problems that have plagued the club for the last 10 years or so will be finally over.

You have to say that without serious injury to the first XI, Arsenal does have a team to challenge for the title. The bench also looks strong in attacking areas with players like Oxlade-Chamberlain, Podolski, Campbell and Rosicky. Maybe Wenger is going for the old adage; you score three, we will score four. You have got to admire his philosophy at least. Rather that then Mourinho's park-the-bus attitude.

So perhaps come May we will all be proved wrong. Perhaps Welbeck will score the goals that win the title and Wenger will be hailed as a genius. Perhaps.

There is a banner at the Emirates that reads, 'Wenger Knows' and maybe, just maybe he does. But after the events of yesterday, I am not so sure any more.

World Cup penalty shoot-outs - A potted history

WITH the knock-out stage of the World Cup about to kick off, the prospect of the dreaded penalty shoot-out looms large. So here is a potted history of the World Cup shoot-out.

The first match to be decided by penalties at the World Cup was the now infamous 1982 semi final in Spain between France and West Germany. This was the match where French defender Patrick Battiston was knocked unconscious by German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher in a challenge that would now lead to a nine-match ban but did even merit a yellow card back in 1982.

France, playing some wonderful football, led 3-1 in extra time before a typical German comeback saw it finish 3-3. Then, despite Germany's Uli Stielike becoming the first player to miss in a World Cup penalty shoot-out, it was the Germans who won 5-4 to reach the final. Thankfully justice was done when they were beaten by Italy.

The 1986 World Cup in Mexico saw three of the four quarter finals go to penalties. France and West Germany were both involved again; the French beating Brazil 4-3 after a thrilling 1-1 draw, while the Germans won again, beating hosts Mexico 4-1. Belgium then beat Spain 5-4 after a 1-1 draw to reach the last four.

But it was not until Italia 90 that the shoot-out first became a part of England's World Cup heartbreak. The drama had started in the last 16 where David O'Leary's penalty saw Jack Charlton's Rep. Ireland overcome Romania, before Argentina beat Yugoslavia in the quarter finals.

Both semi finals then went to penalties. Argentina became the first and so only side to win two shoot-outs in the same tournament by beating hosts Italy, before England faced newly-unified Germany. In what could have been the greatest moment in English football history since 1966, it was instead the Germans who triumphed after Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle failed to find the target.

The 1994 tournament in America saw the first final to be decided by penalties as Brazil beat Italy 3-2 after a dull 0-0 draw thanks to Roberto Baggio's miss, but before that Belgium had beaten Mexico in the last 16, while Sweden had overcome Romania in the quarter finals.

The 1998 tournament in France saw more England heartache. The last 16 match against Argentina was another thriller, but after David Beckham's red card and Sol Campbell's disallowed goal, it finished 2-2 and Paul Ince and David Batty missed from the spot to give the Argies a 4-3 success.

Italy lost on penalties for the third tournament in a row as hosts France beat them 4-3 in the quarter finals after 0-0 draw, before a superb semi final between Brazil and Holland ended 1-1 with the South Americans triumphing 4-2 in the shoot-out.

Only two ties in the 2002 tournament went to penalties. Rep. Ireland were sent packing by Spain in the last 16, while the Spanish then suffered themselves in the quarter finals, losing 5-3 to hosts South Korea after a 0-0 draw.

2006 in Germany saw the second final to be decided by penalties as Italy finally struck lucky thanks to David Trezeguet's miss for France, but not before yet more England agony. Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher all missed as Portugal and the winking Cristiano Ronaldo won the quarter final shoot-out 3-1.

Earlier, hosts Germany extended their winning World Cup shoot-out run to four with victory over Argentina in the quarter finals, while Ukraine had beaten Switzerland in the last 16; the Swiss becoming the first and so far only side to miss all their kicks in a World Cup shoot-out, losing 3-0.

And so to South Africa in 2010. Only two ties went to penalties; Paraguay beating Japan 5-3 in the last 16 after a 0-0 bore-draw, before Uruguay overcame Ghana 4-2 in the quarter finals in the now infamous Luis Suarez/Asamoah Gyan match.

So as we await the knock-out stage in Brazil it is worth noting that only 22 of a possible 118 World Cup knock-out matches have gone to penalties - less than one in five. Unsurprisingly, Germany have the best record with four wins out of four, while England have the worst with three defeats from three. The only other side to lose three World Cup shoot-outs are Italy, although they did at least manage to win one, and in a final too.

Of course England and Italy will be spared more shoot-out heartache this time as they are both already on the flight home, but after such an open and attacking group stage with very few draws, will this become the first World Cup since penalty shoot-outs were introduced not to actually contain any?

I guess the next two weeks will reveal all.