deiseach

Two of your five great-grandparents were Irish.

From the annals of unbeliveable-but-true: the City Ground has the biggest pitch in the division. I remember that vividly from an article in 90 Minutes from 30 years ago, but I can't remember where I left my phone. I was surprised Dave no-one mentioned Darwin's movement for the goal. Watching it from behind, the way he moves his own width across while everyone else stays static...Neco Williams wasn't so much out-jumped as out-thought. He was marking a man who literally wasn't there. Wonderful.

That first goal was filth. So much so, Dave won't be able to say he hasn't seen Dirty Dannsing any more.

I manage to be a little bit sad to see F365's take on things. They are clearly determined to die on the hill that the team Liverpool finished the game with was as inexperienced as Chelsea's. A little sad, because they always seemed to value joy over misery when it came to football. I'm guessing the latter is where the clicks are these days.

So that's the Arabic for "you bellend".

I've generally been fine with FSG. They're not particularly loveable, but I don't need to love the owners and if they had only set the ground up for the next few decades like they have done, it would be a job well done. I'll need some convincing though that Xabi isn't a slam dunk. Perhaps that's unfair, but if these guys are the Masters of the Universe that they fancy themselves to be, there should be no excuses.

Fixed that for you.

I think you are looking for John Brennan who, for reasons too torturous to explain on my phone, better keep away from anything Déise/Déiseach related. Though, if you end up reading this John, I drove past Daisy Terrace twice last week and thought of you each time!

Absolute cunts.

4p too expensive.

George leaving Conor Bradley's name until last when announcing the substitutions. Class.

Occasionally you encounter one with a sense of humour/perspective. From a non-football Discord server that I frequent (the reply is from a Blue):

The last game I saw Liverpool lose. They were a formidable challenge.

You're absolutely right, and I've been thinking that way since it happened. But walking out of the ground last night, the realisation that this nine-year long dopamine hit is about to come to an end...boy, the cold turkey is going to be hard.

Traditionally the biggest cities in America had two baseball franchises. New York had the Yankees and the Giants, Philadelphia the Phillies and the Athletics, Boston the Red Sox and the Braves, St Louis the Cardinals and the Browns... now, the eagle-eyed will note the second franchise in each city upped stakes in the 50's. Why? Because the natives voted with their feet and the loser franchise had to find pastures new. Maybe Everton should see if Milton Keynes needs a franchise.

There's not a day goes by - I mean that quite literally - where I don't think about the stupendous stroke of dumb luck that has led me to have a season ticket. They shouldn't exist, they're an absurd relic.

My father-in-law isn't the man he was thanks to a massive stroke. Still, when my wife heard cackling from the next room at about quarter-to-five yesterday, she knew they were losing. He hasn't changed that much.

That plume hanging over the city...

Evergreen post.

Nah. Tim Henman.

Got my dad's Christmas present back in the post yesterday. Not customs compliant, apparently. No idea what I did wrong, the post office seemed happy with it. I guess it serves me right for trying to send him the contraband that is *checks notes* a book called British Rail Design 1948-97. Another great Brexit victory.

Just when I thought this day couldn't get any shittier, my mother-in-law is coming home from hospital. I'm afraid the looming podcast will finish me off.

Athletic. And when he wins the title with them, we'll be able to say he did better than Howard Kendall.

All other things being equal, I think he'd have left sooner but for Abu Dhabi. He'd probably have had three or four titles by the fabled year 7, and he wouldn't have been so determined to try and beat the fuckers which caused him to sign that contract extension that took everyone by surprise. He might have realised that, in the long run, the house always wins. Either way, fuck them.

And lord, did we need one. Thanks, Ev.