Can you count?

Have the BBC already made the cuts they are talking about?

They've noted that Mascherano is 23 years old, here. He is in fact 25.

And in this article, is has been 18 years since 1998 and that Michael Owen goal. Actually, it's only been 12 years... but I guess that's an easy mistake to make when you are working under the worry and stress of BBC cutbacks...

The Big Essay Push - Day Three.

Day three.

It has been a day of reading once again. Ben Witherington III has kept me company for a significant part of the day - and he was interesting company.

Tomorrow will be the first day of writing.

That's about it today - there really isn't much to write about when writing an essay, but perhaps my lack of ability to write here will stand me in good stead when tomorrow comes around and I aim for 2000 words in a day.

Oh, i did also play football today, on the LST mud-bath. Very good to be back out playing footy in the cold and wet again.

The legs will ache tomorrow.

The Big Essay Push - Day One.

I've just returned home from day one of the big essay push. Cup of tea is sitting next to me, BBC live text coverage of Transfer Deadline Day open on the tabs (where, incidentally, they have just reported that Robbie Keane is in talks with Celtic over a loan move - I can't help feeling that perhaps Benitez was justified to sell him back to Spurs last January, considering that he now cannot get ahead of Defoe or Crouch... just a thought), and I begin my little blog series on the two week run up to my own deadline day - 15 February, 4pm.

Today has been productive. I have over 1000 words of a plan plus notes written, plus read a bit of Jimmy Dunn. Also discussed the essay over coffee with Helen Morris, which was fantastic - quite a brain she has indeed, and immensely helpful in formulating my own thoughts. Thank you, Helen.

So, upon reflection it has been a remarkably productive day. And to add that magical touch, picked up some free books that included the BST commentaries on Isaiah and James. Can't argue with that.

Now it's time to catch by breath, perhaps have a little lay down, and then it's off to a meeting tonight. Let's hope my energy returns by then!

It goes to where it belongs.

Congratulations to Barcelona.  They were far, far superior than Manchester United.  In the end, it was the stringent discipline of Iniesta and Xavi that allowed Barca to grow throughout the game, and eventually lead to Messi (above) to play in his own devastating fashion.  BBC Sport will have seemingly unending coverage over the next few days, attempting to find out why Manchester United lost - but at the end of the day, it was because they weren't good enough.

It actually happened.

My hoping in the last post was not without some justification - much as even I could not bring myself to think such thoughts beforehand.

Good work, Benitez.