August 2011

[Bierzo Baggie]

Hong Kong.... Mexico City...... hope there'll be some travel dispatches to come...

[marathondan]

Until I got home and watched United score a fifth, RvP pull a second back for the otherwise hapless Gunners before the home side slammed in six, seven and, best of the lot, number eight.

Robbo sharp as a tack, as usual:

"Arsene, Arsene, Arse....

What the hell is going on? That’s the first time he’s ever selected a first XI using a tombola. I’m not sure what the team instructions were either... Let’s keep it shite for the first hour? Go out and depress yourself? It struck me that while United played a fluid 4-4-2, Arsenal played a 0-10-0 with everyone in the hole. Wenger had his head in his hands before the game started."

[marathondan]

Great running, BTW. Impressive how you can get the machine up from neutral to 4th gear in only a few weeks. Hopefully you can keep in good working order over the next few weeks, and then we'll see the engine redlining at JSJ. Looks like you've timed the P2P buildup just right.

[Sweder]

It was as ugly as it was brutal Dan. United weren't even that good. I genuinely felt for AW which is a sentiment that will sting almost as badly as the result. I could hear Brando's death-whisper over the jeering Manc hoardes.

The horror ... the horror ...

[marathondan]

Ah well, Arsenal normally start well and then fade. League leadership, when it happens, often comes as a short-lived Christmas present to the fans. This way, the only way is up.

In my own corner of the lower reaches of the pyramid, Maidenhead started with two successive 4-0 drubbings but have now picked things up and are sitting 5th. Come the end of the season I expect they'll still be hovering around the edge of the zone - but probably the one at the other end of the table...

[Sweder]

In my own corner of the lower reaches of the pyramid, Maidenhead started with two successive 4-0 drubbings but have now picked things up and are sitting 5th. Come the end of the season I expect they'll still be hovering around the edge of the zone - but probably the one at the other end of the table...

I'm pleased you mentioned non league - or what I now prefer to call 'proper' - football. I've just become an owner of Lewes CFC under their community ownership scheme. For the princely sum of thirty sovs I get to vote, am eligable to stand for election to the board and I get to wear a swanky owner's badge whilst downing a pint of Lewes Nectar at the interval.

I've taken up the position of in-match Twittentator, tweeting live updates from matches. This has coincided with something of a streak of good form - unbeaten in 4, joint 6th in the table - after a disappointing loss on the opening day away to 10-man Lowestoft. Since then the Rooks have recorded home wins v Met Police and Billericay Town, an away win at Horsham and, last night, a hard-earned point v league-leaders Hendon. As I'm currently in Hong Kong I covered yesterday's match via surrogate tweets from home and away fans, lacing together a 'balanced view' from the shouts of opprobrium, outrage and moral indignation flying in from both sides.

Covering matches in person is much harder. One has to rely on surrounding Pan-ites for audible clues to a change in the action whilst typing the next missive. A sharp intake of breath requires a glance up. With an almost entirely new team to get to know you're looking for shirt numbers, scanning the team-sheet and taking in the latest horrific slice over the bar all in one motion. You then make a split second decision as to whether this latest morsel is tastier than the banal fact you were about to launch into the ether or not, and away you bash.

It is, in short, terrific fun. Typo-strewn messages clog up the stay-at-home Sofarooks' timelines with occasional feedback and a half-time pint of Harveys your only reward. I could happily do little else for the rest of my days.

[marathondan]

Sounds like a perfect combination of your talents: spinning a tale, dropping pithy opinions about football, and quaffing Harvey's.

Are you typing on a phone? And I take it the press box you referred to is a virtual one?

[Sweder]

on a phone? And I take it the press box you referred to is a virtual one?

I invested in an iPad which works much better for those of a fat-fingered persuasion. Sadly no wifi in the very much real - replete with demonic, self-up-turning Hack-desks - press box. I kid you not, I am as a small person in an American confectionary outlet.

Last home game I showered the row in front in a combo of iPhone (on which I keep an image of the teamsheet), iPad and half-eaten (but truly excellent, home-made) steak pie as, in a moment of great excitement, I made to leap up, removing my girth from the edge of the desk. Happily the remnants of my half-time pint sat squarely on the adjacent terrace step. Some things are not worth taking a gamble on.

[marathondan]

Great stuff. I take it you've also bought a trilby with a press card tucked into the band?

What a strange and beautiful world we live in. This feels only a few steps away from the 1930s hacks, rushing to the public phone booths at the final whistle to dictate their copy down the line.

[Sweder]

Ah yes, that classic image from - lawks, what was the movie? Airplane? Argh! I won't sleep now - that fillum where the hacks all rush into the phone booths at once and the whole row goes over.

There is a certain timeless quality to it all in spite of the techno-gadgets. Sadly, watching the scribe from the local rag scribbling short-hand on his WH Smith pad on matchdays is as close as I'll ever get to my childhood dream of genuine reportage.

[glaconman]

Well done Sweder on cranking-up your running again; although it's still going to be tough for you with all this travelling.

I read a running moto that went something like "make every day count". And I suppose there's always something you can do even if you're unable to get out for a run. Like avoiding putting on weight, working on press-ups and 'the plank' morning and night etc.

I think battles can be won or lost by paying attention to the peripheral details; and just being mindful of at least doing what you're able. And psychologically this can keep you positive.

And let's hear about your crazy world of global-urban-running

[Sweder]

And let's hear about your crazy world of global-urban-running

Excentuating the positive, it's been a 'step-back' week so far.
I've avoided too many solid carbs and although there's been no running since I landed on Sunday I've walked around 10k each day.

In the minus column they serve Guinness on draft in my hotel.
OK, that's enough for now ...

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

In the minus column they serve Guinness on draft in my hotel.

Imposter alert! This can't be the real Sweder.