People are amazing

People really are amazing.  As I write this (bar 2 glasses of red) I am indeed sober - this overwhelming affection for my fellow man is not substance induced, but born of the sheer respect I felt when watching the heroic, athletic display that was the final of the Australian Open. 

Oh boy, what a week!

Nothing can get me down at the moment.  Liverpool's dominance over the teams of Manchester has done wonders for my disposition.  Granted, there are still major cracks - evidently I'm not the only one to gripe at Carroll's lack of pace or the pointlessness of Henderson's general presence - but in this past week, our play has been much improved.  Most notably, the KOP is rocking once more.  Dare I say it, I feel as if we've turned a corner.  Boom.

The legacy of the games. All of them.

Things cranked up a notch this week on the topic of the old Olympics.  There seems to be an ever increasing presence of athletes in adverts, in the press and in the general day to day discussions that I'm having - helped out of course by the fact we discovered that 'Golden Balls' is probably going to represent us in the footy.  Anyone who really believes that his inclusion in the team depends on his form is an idiot.  It's a dead cert in my mind that he'll be the focus of team GB.

'I am not a man. I am Cantona.'

I feel it is my public duty to refer you to a brilliant article I came across this week about the wonder that is Eric Cantona.  Read it now and thank me later.

Let's be honest.  Cantona becoming the President of France, is by some way more of a joke than Arnie becoming Governor of California or Boris becoming Mayor of London.  Simply because it is also a bit genius.  All I can say is that if something as crazy as this happens, then I'm glad it was during my generation.

In any case, isn't France already run by a lunatic?  How bad could it really be?

All's fair...

I'll be the first to admit that up until Thursday, I was disappointed in Amir Khan.  I mean I actually even used the phrase 'he needs to man up and move on' at one point (no that does not make me a chav).  All I can say is I'm sorry Amir.  Really.  I've seen the replays of this Mustfa Ameen fellow (the one in the hat) and I completely agree with you - it is a #khanspiracy indeed.

I think in a funny way this whole mess could actually have done Khan a favour though.  During the fight it became abundantly clear that still, he needs to improve his strength.  Pace has of course always been his friend, and now he has a second shot at reinforcing this speed with an extra injection of power.  If he doesn't do it now, he never will.

Hello 2012, goodbye social life...

If the first day of 2012 is anything to go by we're in for a corker of a sporting year.  Even without the Olympics it looks oh so beautiful.  I cannot bloody wait!  

Magic needed in Mersyside

First things first, my thoughts on Liverpool FC.  Racist scandals aside, it is not a good time right now, we run a real risk of rendering ourselves a mid-table club for the forseeable.  It breaks my little wannabe Scouse heart.  This next transfer window is obviously crucial.

Already there are rumours of us making a play for Darren Bent.  He will of course be overpriced, but sadly our position is a secret to no one - we need help and our friends across the pond will willingly  throw money at the problem, in an attempt to do something, anything, to remedy our current mediocrity.  Even my Nan knows this, so Mr McLeish will certainly use it to his advantage.

Aside from caning our bank balance, I'm hoping that we start to showcase the strength of our youth too.  What can Coady, Sterling and Robinson really do?  They're famous at the academy (with good reason) and could put Kirkby on the map, but people need to see them.  At a time when our first team is fairly new to each other, it'd be nice to give these boys a chance.  It would also give us hope, something Liverpool fans are short of for the first time in my memory.

All eyes on Jan 31st...