Toxic Web v4.0

…from the jaws of victory.

Then an England cricket team will do it’s very best to find it.

It’s quite possible the single thing England cricket teams are great at. Dominate a test match throughout, set up a record target for the opposition to gain victory.

They are the masters, as Carly Simon could sing to them…

Nobody does it better
Makes me feel sad for the rest
Nobody does it half as good as you
Baby, you’re the best - Carly Simon “Nobody Does it Better” from “The Spy Who Loved Me”

Well at least it gives Pietersen a chance to say “We’ll take the positives from this”…

…almost spot on this year.

Chris Hoy was the just winner of the B.B.C.s Sports Personality of the Year award last night. Not that I voted on it mind.

Yeah Hamilton must be a bit gutted as the last couple of British Formula 1 champions got the award, Damon Hill and the charismatically challenge Brummie Nigel Mansell but the youngster only just squeaked the championship in a sport that’s dipped in popularity since those last two were racing.

And that’s the thing Hamilton just one the title, had to rely on someone making the wrong tyre choice where as Hoy completely dominated his sport. There was no he could just finish fifth and be champion, he had to win and he did so in such a commanding manner, he destroyed everyone he was up against. In sport there isn’t a sure thing but during the Olympics the big Jock certainly looked like it.

Yes it’s hard to see a Jock win, but at least it wasn’t that weirdo Murray, and Hoy did piss on Alex Salmond’s chips when he mentioned it his success was achieved with money that didn’t come from Jockland.

And I noticed he didn’t say “you know” at any time during his acceptance speech.

I would have also placed Rebecca Adlington above Hamilton in the final positions, probably the only thing they got wrong major awards wise on the night – though who were the 7,677 who voted for Ohuruogu, must have a big family with a hefty phone bill. Lewis was expected to win in his sport, for some time now, where who expected a a female swimmer from this country to come home from Beijing with a gold medal never mind two.

The coach and team awards were spot on as well going to the cycling camp, I could see the Beeb bottling it and handing one of them to ManUre or the blue nosed whinge bag that manages them.

But they had their moment as that miserable bastard Bobby Charlton almost managed to crack a smile on getting his lifetime achievement award.

The main thing the Beeb got wrong on the night was the pairings to announce and hand over the trophies, they got it arse about as they seemed to pick the illiterate one to announce it and the weaker looking of the pair to carry the trophy.

…against the top four.

After all the loss to Villa happened under the new Real Madrid boss.

Again it wasn’t the greatest display by Spurs to get the nil nil draw with ManUre on Saturday, but is point with some pluses.

Again there was a lack of link up with the lone front guy who couldn’t be more alone if he was Mike Carlson at a Sadie Frost appreciation society.
Bentley apart from his attempt to recreate his goal against the Woolwich Pikeys and a free kick did very little good. Jenas was on the pitch for 62 minutes. Then there was Ledley missing, after failing a late fitness test which was compounded by Woodgate going off with back spasms after 10 minutes.

The thing is those last two being missing allowed for not only one maligned player to shine but two. Dawson and Zokora both were excellent. Dawson looked like the player he was a couple of seasons back, winning everything and not doing anything stupid, a revelation as ManURe didn’t get many chances. In that type of form he’s an ideal third centreback who is going to get plenty of games with the two injury prone first choice players. Also that exceptionally clean and well timed tackle on the spotty Ronaldo was good enough to get a petulant kick from the Portuguese that should see him done by the F.A.

Then there was Zokora at right back, as Corluka moved into the centre. The thing is Zokora has probably played his best for Spurs when he’s had to fill in at the back. I seem to remember a European game when it was a mass charge forward meant the Ivorian being the flat back one defensive formation and he was outstanding. Maybe that’s the solution play Zokora at the back and use Corluka in the defensive midfield role that he claims is his preferred position.

Another major plus was Gomes, OK he was really tested that much with crosses but he made some more outstanding saves from shots that kept us in the game and like Dawson didn’t do anything stupid. Getting Tony Parks in looks like another winning move by ‘Arry. Just goes to show you don’t have to be called Hans to be a ‘keeper coach, indeed probably better if you’re not after the last two Spurs have had.

And the final plus well there was three, firstly Jenas coming off after 62 minutes and being injured, then all the ManUre fans whinging about Berbatov upsetting the balance of their team – no doubt Judas Campbell would claim that booing was racist and homophobic – and finally something that didn’t happen in the game at all – Robbie Keane’s trudge back to the bench when he realised that even though ‘Pool needed a goal his manger would prefer to put some more midfielders on instead of the 20 million quid striker.

The aftermath of the game though does leave Spurs light for the UEFA Cup game against Spartak Moscow midweek. What with injuries, players being cup tied it would have been ideal to have certain individuals to fall back on except Junade Ramos decided he didn’t want them registered for the competition, so they are ineligible. Maybe he wanted to make sure they were cup tied so he could swoop in during January and take them all to Madrid, after all if he wants Lennon – a player he didn’t start and seemed to want rid off during the summer – and Bentley – a player who slagged off the manager, which probably hastened his departure – then why wouldn’t he want Taarabt, Rocha, Ghaly, Stalteri and KP Boateng.