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Terrace Talk


KevieG
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I'm going to keep a record of the fantastic Terrace Talk article's by Steven Kelly in here for those that can't get to the Irish examiner.

 

Here's this weeks offering.

 

Panto season as Man City lurk behind us

 

IN my youth, school days would pass with the agonising crawl of a John

Terry train of thought.

 

You had to make your own fun, since displaying any desire to learn was

irrefutable proof of homosexuality and the precursor to a hefty

beating.

 

We lesser delinquents were eternally grateful to the biggest class

clowns, who occupied the majority of the teacher's attention. It meant

we could get away with other stuff while his back was turned.

 

These memories came flooding back as Newcastle and West Ham continued

their campaign to make the pantomime season last 12 months. Manchester

City also took centre stage, albeit cast in the unlikely role of

Cinderella. They all at least ensured that far less press ink was

wasted on Liverpool's muddled start to the season and the latest

stadium debacle.

 

There was a vain attempt to spin some controversy out of Carragher's

England remarks in his new book, but no one cares about that now

surely? He's made his choice and that should be the end of the matter.

 

No doubt the Americans were also grateful to Mike Ashley and whoever's

running Upton Park this week.

 

I predicted Keegan would be the first managerial casualty of the

season, which is unusual, as normally I couldn't even tip rubbish.

Curbishley had his flounce though and kept my previously woeful record

intact. As the Geordies marched and wailed with their usual insanity

and unparalleled talent for aggrandisement up popped the eternal

lament: "let the manager manage".

 

That old chestnut again. We've heard that one a lot ourselves in

recent years, usually from the same fans that moaned the longest about

Houllier's purchase of Diouf, Diao and Cheyrou in one career-crippling

spree.

 

If there were a plot to unsettle Rafa all it would take is the

appointment of a director of football. It wouldn't even reach the

point of resignation; he'd probably spontaneously combust.

 

But a manager can only do his job unfettered if he has proven beyond

doubt that he has what it takes to win the ultimate prize – and he

hasn't done that yet, or even come close.

 

The stubborn streak which managers need can often be their undoing.

For all their faults Babel and El Zhar had made a difference against

Liege yet neither had the chance to do likewise to Villa.

 

It's his fifth year and we're still having the same old arguments.

That just adds fuel to the flames since it's seen as his final chance.

 

As for the latest multi-million takeover there's a phrase in football

which even the true-bluest of Mancunians use; "typical City".

 

Getting your hands on limitless funds on the final day of the transfer

window was another great Eastlands comedy moment, but laugh while you

can. There's no use pretending not to look over our shoulder or that

we're unaware of the possibility of losing our seat at the table.

 

I claimed last week that only a miracle could take our top-four spot

away. When will I learn to keep my big mouth shut? You may scoff at

the idea of Torres being one of their future targets, but throughout

Rafa's winter woes his support for the manager was unequivocal. One of

the other foreign sugar daddies almost took Gerrard away when Houllier

was sacked and it was obvious we faced a long torturous journey back

to the top.

 

Should that befall Benitez it may be too late for the captain to try

his luck elsewhere, but not for the current golden boy – and with the

Yanks desperate for cash… As O'Neill (Eugene not Martin) said there is

no present or future, just the past endlessly repeating itself.

 

I may be taking the usual doom mongering too far. Perhaps it's the

thought of you-know-who coming to Anfield Saturday, and our appalling

recent record against them, which is weighing so heavily. 18/5 is

still the main weapon in our propaganda armoury, but it's become less

and less of a consolation as the years go by.

 

There is one thought even more terrifying; that it may soon cease to

be a weapon at all.

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Ste Kelly is planning on putting these articles in a book at the end of the season along with his superb diary, so I'm not to sure he'll appreciate them being reproduced on here.

 

I'll speak to him, but I doubt he'll mind as it's good exposure. I don't think having them all in one thread is a good idea though, but if they were posted in a seperate thread each week I think it would be good advertising for any future book, as people will have enjoyed reading them who maybe would not have known about them otherwise.

 

I do see your point, but by that logic he wouldn't want anybody to buy the paper either.

 

Like I say, as long as they aren't all listed in one thread as a big collection then I think it will do far more good than harm.

 

I'll ask Steve what he thinks though.

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I do see your point, but by that logic he wouldn't want anybody to buy the paper either.

.

 

Obviously ask him if its ok, but that paper is available online also, so they are out there on the ether every Wednesday.

 

As you say, its good advertising for the book.

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I'll speak to him, but I doubt he'll mind as it's good exposure. I don't think having them all in one thread is a good idea though, but if they were posted in a seperate thread each week I think it would be good advertising for any future book, as people will have enjoyed reading them who maybe would not have known about them otherwise.

 

I do see your point, but by that logic he wouldn't want anybody to buy the paper either.

 

Like I say, as long as they aren't all listed in one thread as a big collection then I think it will do far more good than harm.

 

I'll ask Steve what he thinks though.

 

No worries Dave, and I wasn't trying to rain on KevieG's parade as I agree the articles are always well written and deserve as big an audience as possible. I already read the articles myself on the Examiner website. The only reason I raised the point is that I saw Steve asking someone not to hot link the articles on his forum, due to the possible release of the book.

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No worries Dave, and I wasn't trying to rain on KevieG's parade as I agree the articles are always well written and deserve as big an audience as possible. I already read the articles myself on the Examiner website. The only reason I raised the point is that I saw Steve asking someone not to hot link the articles on his forum, due to the possible release of the book.

 

Yeah I can see his logic there, as everyone on that forum will be familiar with his work and are therefore more likely to buy the book. There will be people on here though who never bought TTW&R and who don't go on the website either, so it's introducing more people to his writing.

 

I'll talk to him anyway and see what he thinks about it.

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