johnh

Have been very fortunate to have a brilliant Christmas. We had all the family together for the first time for three years. All four kids plus their husbands/wives and grandchildren. (Grandson was the tallest male at 6ft 3. He is 15!) Her indoors did a grand job on meals, we have been married 55 years now and she is almost one of the family. Eldest son and family just managed to get back to Nottingham yesterday before the roads closed. Second son is still here, can't get back to York. Eldest daughter is at Heathrow at the moment flying back to Singapore. Youngest daughter lives locally. I sincerely hope that everyone on here had a great Christmas also.

Neil Warnock sacked by Palace.

Nice car but I would like to know how you keep the moss out of your block paving?

Go into You Tube and key 'edeka kassensyphonie'. It's had over 18 million hits in 3 weeks. Very good, not what you expect to come out of Germany!

Is that the Brazil that lost 7 - 1 to Germany in the World Cup?

My daughters back from Singapore for Christmas. Today we had to pick up her hire car from Heathrow Airport. Only 15 miles but M4 + M25 = nightmare. All the traffic from last minute departing fliers. Decided to leave early (7.30 am) but didn't get away until 8.00 am. Roads empty, got there and back in 35 minutes! Result! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.

URL4 again today.

Can't believe I forgot this! When I was at school in Liverpool, about 1949, Peter Farrell the Everton captain was invited to the school. He was asked to give a talk to the school team. He asked who was centre-half and I put my hand up. He spoke directly to me for about five minutes about centre-half play. I was totally transmogrified and my knees were knocking. No one else got the treatment and I was a hero at school (at least amongst the Everton supporters) for the rest of my time there. In those days Peter Farrell was revered as much as the top stars today. My Dad was a musician and was once playing at a do where Stanley Matthews was present. He got an autograph which said 'To Michael(my brother) and John very best wishes from Stanley Matthews'. We were about ten years old. Don't know what happened to it, wish I still had it.

When I worked in Windsor we used to go to a pub in Windsor at lunchtime. Peter Osgood was usually in there and used to join us regularly as his sister worked for our firm. I was once travelling back to Leeds from London by train when we were kicked off at some remote station due to a problem with the train. I found myself standing next to Alf Ramsey who was on his way to watch a game at Elland Road. As I would be passing Elland Road on my way home to Morley I offered him a lift but he said he had transport arranged. When we got into Leeds he sought me out to thank me again for my offer - top man. I may post some more if I can remember!

Met Bill Shankley when he was manager of Huddersfield Town in 1958. He introduced me to a young lad stood next to him and said 'let me introduce you to a future Scottish International'. It was a 16 year old Dennis Law. Met Dennis Law about 15 years ago and during a long chat I mentioned the above but he obviously didn't remember it. Got presented with a bottle of champagne by Bobby Moore. Met a lot of Leeds United players particularly big Jack Charlton. Once played against a Leeds United X1 which included Don Revie who was playing centre-half. I was playing centre-forward and the Don was giving me advice throughout the whole game. Brilliant experience. Played for a North of England X1 which included goalkeeper Bob Wilson (before he became famous) and also played against him several times when he played for Loughborough College. Played golf at the Belfry with Gordon Banks. The round took over 5 hours and we talked football the whole way round.

Lightweight.

In no particular order: Eddie Wainwright Jock Dodds Dave Hickson The worst: Albert Juliussen Once saw Albert (about 1948) put through with only the goalie to beat. Side-footed it against the post. It came back to him and he side-footed it against the post again. It came back to him again and he side-footed it three yards wide. I can still see it as though it happened last Saturday!

Yes, Google Chrome again today. I blame North Korea!

Got URL4 again today.

Don't see many live games, only if they are on TV, so maybe I am able to see the difference in the way we play against last season. Last season Coleman and Baines were like wingers, down to the corner flag at any opportunity. This season, Coleman particularly, reaches the half-way line, stops, plays the ball back or sideways. Baines gets forward more than Colema n but not as much as he did last season. Last season it seemed to be 'attack, attack, attack'. This season it seems to be keep possession, don't take risks. One example being the recent game where we had a free kick on the edge of the opposition penalty area and three passes later it went back to Howard.

Twice in the last two days I have selected 'Toffeetalk' under Google Chrome and got URL4. It seems to have reared its head again.

When ten man Liverpool took a defender off and put Lambert on I couldn't believe that Wenger didn't put Walcott on. There was masses of space for him to run into and Liverpool would have had to have a couple of defenders looking after him. If he wasn't ready to play he shouldn't have been on the bench.

I agree. The way we play. passing square. backwards and forwards outside the penalty area, keeps him with his back to goal. We need some sharp one-two's with through balls he can run on to.

Husband: 'How do you keep so calm when I get angry at you?' Wife: 'I go clean the toilet'. Husband: 'How does that help?' Wife: I use your toothbrush'

There is ANOTHER full, front page photo of Gerrard in the Telegraph Sport today, The only consolation is that the headline is 'Falling Apart'.

Never watch it. Embarrassed, self-concious (bored) audience. Inane interviews, stilted presentation, am going to bed.

In the Sunderland v West Ham game yesterday, Altidore had a completely open goal, goalkeeper not at home, and he missed the ball completely. Poyet, his manager, said 'I watched the replay as I don't know what happened, having watched the replay I still don't know what happened'.

You have to feel for Rodgers though. Having gone with Lallana who was not fit, his only options at half-time were Balotelli or Lambert. Both of them would have trouble getting in Tranmere's side.

And why I limp!

Matt, back in the 1950's we would put an elastoplast on and play the next Saturday.