thank you very much for the encouragement, I’ll write it and get it sent to you in a week or so -I’ve loads on this week. I just hope I havent mortally offended Mike Averko!

Not fed up in the least. On the contrary. If you write it send it my way.

Well, Ger, I’m definitely not fed up! I hope to read your article about the 80s team some day.

in fairness, I didnt mean boring work -its just highly political and can be a bit tedious, thats all. Football is easier to write about and more fun. Its like teaching – I’ve got a class in drug analysis, which all the students love, and then I’ve physical chemistry, which puts even me to sleep. I wasnt trying to denigrate you.

***&*

More horseshit from the above quoted. Broad unsubstantiated comments, which are repeatedly stated in a troll like manner.

Very imature as well. Foreign policy, sports (besides soccer), history, reviews of English language media are of interest to some, with others finding what the above quoted writes to be boring.

sorry for the delay in writing, but I’ve no classes on monday, so I stay at home in my village, internet-less, and write up acetates for the students.

Kolya -you’re absolutely correct, there’s no doubt that Russia didnt ‘maul’ England in the truest sense, but I was just using the verb for effect – i.e. – lions usually ‘maul’ their victims, England are the Lions, but this time they were beaten. As Tim Newman has noted elsewhere, style is as important as substance. I just wanted an eye-catching headline. It will be hard for the Russians at Ramat-Gan, but I think they’ll do it. Hiddink will have a plan for Israel, and unlike a lot of coaches, he learns very quickly -he’ll have taken note of how Israel held the Russians in Moscow, and will find a way around that. But knowing the Russians, they wont do it the easy way, so be prepared for a lot of nervous watching. I’m thinking of writing something on the CCCP team of the eighties next, if Sean and the readers qarent fed up of football already. Dasaeyev was a big hero of mine as a youngster, and that team was awesome.

Chris, thanks for the compliments!! In fairness to Mike, he is writing about fairly dull stuff, and he does have a big slant, so its hard for many people to like what he writes, irrespective of style. But the thing about Mike is that he is convinced he’s the intellectual superiour of us all – and that his work is beyond criticism. When people question the content of his stuff, he says things like ‘I’ve already addressed that’ when he hasnt, of starts firing shit. Its a great pity. He doesnt help himself at all.

I hope Russia pulls through. Considering Russia’s past football history, I have to admit that I’m not totally confident about them winning against Israel. I mean, they should win, but….

Hiddink is a great coach and it certainly seems that, as you say, his magic is having an effect. I’m glad that Russia finally got on board with most of the world and got over their silly reluctance to hire foreign coaches when local coaches are not producing results.

You admit it then do you, that for you “sockpuppet” takes on a whole new, sordid meaning? Good for you, it is a step toward getting better.

Unfortunately, the psychological scars inflicted upon Andrew and Alexandra may never heal, you sockpuppet rapist. They were just a couple of innocent socks, man!