December 2, 2009
I haven’t said anything in ages
Mostly because there has been too much cricket on for me to fathom. I had a horrible dream prior to the second Test between India and Sri Lanka. I dreamt that there was a terror attack at the ground and people actually died. I think that’s mostly because I have this overwhelming paranoia about being late for work.
Our sub-continental shifts usually mean a 5:00 am start. It was weird.
In other news. Arsenal are probably going to miss out on everything again this season. We need a keeper. And a central back. Our keepers are OK but not world class. They concede five out of eight shots on target. Shocking.
Tillakartne Dilshan was given out unfairly today and he is very much in favour of the referral system. I’m in two minds about this. Poor decisions are part of the game. What would we have to bitch about if everything was right all the time?
Anyway. I think asshole dog ate my creativity.
November 17, 2009
People in Cape Town have no sense of humour
I know, I know. I was supposed to be back and write something ages ago. But let’s be honest: South Africa playing Zimbabwe was way predictable. And I had freelance work coming out of my ears.
Clinical as they were we all knew that the writing was on the wall. The Twenty20 series against England has been entertaining and Loots Bosman, fresh from injury, has been an absolute revelation at the top of the order. He made every appeal by the English stink of desperation. Playing yourself in? That’s something completely alien to Bosman.
I’ve got the India v Sri Lanka series to cover tomorrow (that means a 5:30am start) but it looks like it might be worth it.
On a different note, for those who are coming to South Africa for the soccer Word Cup next year, if you are the humorous type then don’t go to the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. I went shopping there for a few essentials, you know….Red Bull, cigarettes (I should get paid for name dropping) and chew toys for asshole dog. Since I’m trying to be all eco-friendly and I opted not to take a plastic bag and shove everything into my handbag instead.
The chew toy, which squeaks, was positioned in such a way that it would make a noise whenever I took a step. I was very amused but apparently the Trust Fund Kids, tourists and other mall dwellers thought it was not funny at all. I’ve never been looked at like I was a leper until today.
Asshole dog loves the chew toy, though. He has positioned himself underneath the couch, on his back and in full chew mode. I’d rather listen to the noise than have my brand new black on black Vans chewed up. Which he did already….
November 9, 2009
hello, I think I’ve kinda missed you
Okay, okay. Before I am crucified let me first apologize for the lack of blogging as of late. I’ve been on the only two week holiday I’ve ever had in my life (two weeks straight, that is) and since my job is cricket orientated and I’ve been maxing out on football since the mister got DSTV installed I really couldn’t be bothered to write anything.
I won’t lie, I’m not even sure what’s going on in the cricket world at the moment. I do know that South Africa take on Zimbabwe tomorrow, though, and I am covering the game. Great. No better way to get straight back into work is there?
I know I promised to break the news about Arsenal being linked to a pharmacutical company – here’s the deal. Reportedky the North London club have cut a deal with a blood pressure medication manufacturing company. Apparently they are awarded a precentage of sales thanks to Nicklas Bendter. I know that this sounds absurd but it’s a very feasible arguement…even my mother who knows NOTHING about football managed to say: “wow, that guy is terrible”.
In other football news. It seems that the trophy is coming to London. We just don’t know which part of London yet. I know that I should probably have a go at Didier Drogba for his little leg twitch but I really couldn’t be f***ed to care.
I’ll be back tomorrow with some more bits and bobs and probably a rant about South Africa’s performance against Zim.
xoxox
Ms Print
Now playing: Placebo – Blind
October 26, 2009
The Victory Delusion
Miss Print has been a lazy ass. I’m on leave so I really haven’t felt an inch of desire to write anything on here. And there is no Daren Ganga to coo over. So I’d like to introduce guest blogger: DanBan. I’m hoping that he’ll churn out some pearls of wisdom at least once a week…here is his first offering:
So Liverpool fans can smile once again, their team rising to the occasion and producing the goods when needed the most. The team put in a good display and came out on top, without doubt, deserved winners. Bravo. Even Carra had a decent game.
Question is, why does it take a visit from United to to put a spring in their step? Where was that display against Sunderland a week prior? Or against Lyon in midweek? And that’s just the thing about Liverpool, isn’t it? You never quite know which team’s going to show up, not least Rafa’s bizarre 3-6-1 formation, but in terms of actual quality. Some games there’s very little to speak of. If things aren’t going well, who’s the plan B or C on the bench? Babel? Voronin? Ngog? Come now. (To be fair the latter’s not half bad, though his name pretty much sums up his form really: touch ‘Ngog)
Thing is, the problems in squad depth are still there. Beating Man United won’t change much. It just means Hicks’ son can go out in public again. It’s easy to get spurred-up for the big games and it’s not all that tough putting six past relegation fodder. (Sorry you Tigers, but even you know you’ll be playing in the Championship next season. Come to think of it, Phil Brown’s karaoke number this year could be Fall Out Boy’s Sugar We’re Going Down) Where The Reds have failed this season, and in seasons past, is getting three points from the mid-tablers and until they take those points on a regular basis, they’ll always be there abouts the summit but never actually there.
Moving forward for Liverpool, there will no doubt be a huge sense of confidence around Melwood in the next few days. All the pressure’s off the gaffer, they’re on the back pages for the right reason and the players can take a welcomed sigh of relief. But how long will it last? Next up for The Reds are The Cottagers away and the smart money will be on Liverpool dropping more points, leaving victory over their rivals a distant memory.
Don’t forget the Carling Cup clash midweek with Wenger’s young guns, Dan!
xoxo
Ms Print
October 22, 2009
Holy water, Chelsea scare me!
There is only one club in London. And, although I have absolutely real affiliation with Arsenal, they are still the team I support. And I still chirp like a Londoner would. Funny, though. Most Arsenal fans don’t actually come from London. Don’t you just love branding and marketing?
Anyway, what I am getting it is….I have taken a fancy to the Chelsea pub in Cape Town. It’s a lovely little spot called Mitchell’s Brewery at the Waterfront and while they have awesome pints, they also serve awesome food. We went there last night to watch the game (which I didn’t really since I was pretty hammered by the time they kicked off) and I am really worried. Chelsea are looking like a bit of a juggernaut. Aston Villa showed that they can be beaten but then it just turns to a case of the walking wounded. I am really, really worried. I still hate them. Not just cause of the heartbreak they caused during the FA Cup last year but just because I hate them. Frank Lampard is a chav and John Terry is a mongrel.
On a differnt note, and I’ll definitely write more on this later, but the mister today referred to my take on Trinidad & Tobago as romantic. And not just because I’ve been cooing over Daren Ganga (so sexy!!) for the past few weeks.
No, it’s a romantic story. Beautifully romantic, it warms my heart. No talent in the Caribbean? Sodd off. Good on you boys for making it to the final.
October 21, 2009
What’s with the cat and mouse thing?
I can’t lie, I get bored very quickly. If I sit in the same position too long I get bored and have to change. I can’t walk or drive the same route twice. It’s simply too boring.
The irony of it all is that I came to be an Arsenal fan. Boring, boring Arsenal. How? Not quite sure, I think it’s that smooth, sexy passing style which is kind of like a cat with a mouse in its claw. Look here it is! Nah, we lied, I’ve got it now. But I’m not going to shoot, no, no. I am going to casually walk it into the net.
I dunno what it is but it’s pretty appealing to me.
That was evident last night in the first few minutes of Arsenal’s game against Dutch Champions Az Alkmaar. Then it all went to shit. They should have pummeled them, ripped them a new one, whatever you want to call it.
Instead they thought showing up will be enough for a win. The Dutch champs had won five and lost five in the Eredivisie, shouldn’t have been a simple task for Arsenal, right?
After the the first goal, fizzle, drizzling their way their Arsenal shut up shop and though that prancing around like fairies will be ok. If you’re a team that tends to leak goals due to your own stupidity you should have at least a 2-0 lead by half time. But not the Gunners. They never wanted it and they should have just lost, not just drawn thanks to an offside free kick with 45 seconds to go. 45 Seconds!
Being the favourites and pitching up won’t get you anything other than embarrassment.
At least Liverpool’s two man team managed to score this time around. But they still lost. Shame
October 18, 2009
Arsenal win a game they’d have lost…
…last season.
Arsenal have most definitely shown signs of brilliance this season. This weekend was great for the North Londoners. Last season the Birmingham game is one they would have lost. As the rest of the big four (barring Manchester United) slipped up and provided the opportunity for Arsene Wenger’s men to play catch up, they did.
Rewind to this time last season. Every time the “big four” slipped up so did the Gunners. Not only did they win, they won convincingly. They’re playing fast, organized, attacking football. And they look like team. It’s almost like Emmanuel Adebyaor’s exit has changed the whole entire mentality of the club. It’s true what they say then…you are only as strong as your weakest link. While there are still moments of madness and while they probably won’t win the Premier League – the Gunners have shown they’ve got the grit needed to win at least a Cup this season.
At the Stadium of Light Liverpool lost thanks to a beach ball. Which was full of Liverpool crests. Oh, the irony. Darren Bent’s strike took a deflection and boom. Rules of the game state that the game should have been stopped and restarted with a drop ball but alas. They were abysmal without Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard so the loss was warranted.
Chelsea are showing that the pressure of leading the pack can lead you to crack. Thank goodness. They were the one team I was starting to worry about…
October 11, 2009
But there is nothing on tele!
It’s true this and it’s also a complaint the mister has been echoing for the past two hours. Him and the JR have found solace in Summer Heights High. I’ve been listening with one ear and it’s something which could actually make me fancy the Aussies.
Speaking of which – I saw a very cool definition of cricket the other day.
“A game of gentlemanly conduct where everybody hates the Australians equally.”
You’ll have to chuckle and settle for this since the Sitter is still refusing to write anything. There’s nothing to write about, apparently. I have to agree.
Where is all the Test cricket? Somebody must hate me since the footballers are on international break and if I wanted to watch any sport it’ll have to be Champions League or Currie Cup rugby (eeeeuuw).
I didn’t watch this but I did see that Dirk Nannes is doing his thing with the ball in one of the Mickey Mouse games. Fine, I’ll admit that I just logged on to check the score for the said game and I am almost aroused by the fact that Dirka Dirka has got four wickets next to his name. It’s not quite as exciting as a run chase during a Test match Down Under but it’s almost got me looking forward to watching a Champions League game. Nah, I’m just kidding.
Slogging just doesn’t have the same appeal as driving through the covers or a patient, well-crafted innings with a strike rate that’s lower than your average. Or a four hour rain delay only for play to be abandoned for the day.
Solace lies in the fact that the England tour of South Africa is just around the corner. Or the English team coming home, or whatever. I suspect that the reason England pulled a bit of a rabbit out of a hat recently is because of their South African advantage and that they’ll probably pump their A-side.
Nonetheless, five days on the Newlands grass banks with beer and blasphemy, what’s not to look forward to?
October 10, 2009
The JR strikes again
This blog is increasingly becoming more and more about my dog. Here is a photo of Vasco – he would be Shane Warne if I were Daryl Cullinan. He is running around like an idiot again.
As you can see, he is an asshole but I absolutely adore him and he loves a cricket ball.
There’s been plenty of hype about the Indian T20 franchises performing well under par during the Twnety20 Champions League in India and I think it’s quite great and also proves that cricket will never be football.
Money bags Manchester City are doing quite alright in the English Premier League but money bag (insert cricket team’s sponsor’s name here) aren’t. Lovely. Go on Deccan Chargers!
Once again, though, I would like to reiterated that I really couldn’t give a toss about this whole shebang. I still haven’t watched one game. Go me!
The Sitter promised to write something tomorrow.
huh?
I haven’t watched a single game of the Champions League. That’s very much to do with the fact that I am currently without transport and I’m doing all my work remotely. I don’t even know what’s going on and I don’t even really care. Go Deccan Chargers!
I’m really chuffed the Wisden got it right and handed the top gong to Shakib Al Hasan. It’s awesome to see that you don’t have to be a Hollywood blockbuster of the cricket world to earn some respect. This boy has all the potential in the world to become one of the most sensational cricketers of our time. Good on you son!
My JR is currently rolling around on his back growling at the air. It’s 1am. I think he must have been dropped on his head.
The Sitter is in hibernation and is currently refusing to blog on any terms! I’ve pulled him by the ears and kicked him in, what I suspect might be his balls, but no luck. I’ll try again tomorrow.
There’s an India-Australia series coming up if I have all my facts straight. And the English Premier League is on international break. Well, the players are anyway.
Arsenal play Tottenham Hotspur soon. Nothing quite like a North London Derby to get me aroused.
xoxox
Ms Field
tales from the offside 