Southgate.. 

…must have read Englandtilidie and understood his selection mistake and has duly added teenage midfield pivot Mainoo to his squad.  As advised Declan needs a water carrier. Keep reading Gareth.

VAR – no-one likes us

Of course West Ham fans weeping into their beer having had a last minute goal wiped off may amuse some other Londoners but does any football fan want this nonsense to continue?

As the London Stadium held its breath for 5m and 17 seconds 3 or 4 or more “officials” made a decision about the “goal” scored or not scored by Soucek in the final minute.  A classic case of anotherlayer of management achieving absolutely nothing.  People pay money to watch a game of football not to sit around waiting for a committee of tedious individuals to decide who gets the points.  

Points of conflict – Everton had ten points deducted under some complex financial rules that now have 4 points taken off Nottingham Forest. Someone needs to remember it is supposed to be a football league not a competition between trickster accountants. 

And somehow none of this applies to Manchester City who many would accuse of being the kings of financial doping. As in all these things no-one really cares about the supporters.

And In Another World ..Many clubs are being destroyed by their owners. Up and down the country greedy and unpleasant individuals steal the football ground that has been the gathering place of football supporters and sell it to make little fortunes for themselves.  In this nasty business sometimes the committee men step in to help the bad guys and thats how 105 year old Southend United get ten points deducted.   

But You See …  It is the English football league and whatever they do they cannot break our traditions and our way of life.  They can try all they like but Wimbledon won the FA Cup and Portsmouth is sold out all season and however fearful it feels at Scunthorpe and Torquay you know they will come back.  Sharing the footballing fortunes of the young men who represent your town or city or country is bred into our bones.  It been like this for a very long time.

So His Majesty’s Government ..… can do whatever vote seeking they want with a Football Governance Bill or whatever is whatever but the game belongs to us.  Forever.  Simple as. 

Now  – winter has been long  ..  

… but Brasil are coming to a sold out Wembley.  It is what it is.  The game of sunshine and samba up against the grey and the damp of our industrial lands.  Contrasts and a friendship.

Pele and Moore.  

Come On England