I've not been Benni's biggest fan for a while now ( cos of attitude and application) but he has played well against Chelsea and Liverpool in the last 7 days. The frustrating thing is why can't he do it every week. It's never been ability that's in question.

I had the pleasure of being at Newbury on Saturday to witness one of the great sporting moments. I've never known a horse be cheered home so loudly from the home turn all the way to the finish line. If Denman and Kauto Star turn up fit and well at Cheltenham it will be the biggest racing clash for decades. 2009 Hennessy Gold Cup

This competition is a complete crock of poo at this stage. United are getting beat but it doesn't really matter does it? The vast majority of the English teams generally coast through. Tonights Man U game is the first one I've watched this year and it reminds me why I don;t bother. United are going through the motions. Watch Gary Neville for the second CSKA goal as a prime example/ If he had shown any effort he'd probably have got a tackle in. This part of the tourney is just one big money making racket. I only tuned in because I thought it was Liverpool tonight and at least they've managed to get themselves into a position that's worth watching.

I like this, especially the Rivaldo one. Morten gets a mention.

He never proved himself anywhere near what we paid for him. However he'd probably improve our side if he started at the moment.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8225698.stm

I don't know. I remember a lot of people trying to play down the Rangers fans unrest in Manchester until the CCTV footage was released by the police. Some of the reports play it down but other don't sound good at all. I suspect that footage may eventually circulate showing it as being very bad by modern day standards. That's rubbish. During the 90's I used to go to about 6 or 7 away games a season. In that time I got a bit of a kicking at Chelsea (first day of 93/94 season) and punched at Leeds (5-2 loss one Easter). Both times we were in a group of three walking away from the ground.

Taylor won the Las Vegas desert classic tonight beating barney in the final. Rather strange interview Barney gave after, whereby he conceded that when he moved over from the BDO he thought he was better than Taylor but now he knows he's not. He's looked a broken man for the last 6 months.

Don't know a right lot about Saturday and I'm away with work from tomorrow until the weekend so doubt I'll look at it. I know that the excellently named 'J J The Jet Plane' runs in the big race. He's come over from South Africa and is meant to be a beast of a sprinter. Horses from abroad have done very well this week although he wouldn't be the first one to come over with a big reputation and fall short. That's more a tidbit than a tip though! I've never been to Ascot but the new stand is meant to be spectacular. Have a good day.

Complete stab in the dark today on Rowayton in the 3.10 at york. It's 65/1 on Betfair and 8/1 just to come in the first 4. Will probably get hammered but it's a decent long shot.

In that case why didn't Rovers sell Neill almost 18 months before he left in the January transfer window. He had repeatedly said that he wasn't going to sign a new contract.

A lack of respect? He showed more respect to the club than a lot of players by telling them 18 months in advance of what he wanted to do. He gave Rovers the choice of cashing in or keeping him. That alone was more respect to the club than the Shearers, Hendrys, Bellamys and Suttons showed. He reacted to the crowd after they booed him constantly through a game whilst he was still playing for Rovers.

LET full Ooijer article Can't see it anywhere else on this thread.

I've backed Big Fella Thanks, Can't buy Time and Offshore Account all E/W Going to back Kilbeggan Blade today. If you're having a bet each way check which bookies are paying out on fifth place instead of the usual just 4. National odds Good luck.

I've backed Big Fella Thanks E/W at 25/1 after it ran last time. However the form of that run was let down several times at Cheltenham last week. I've also backed Cant Buy Time at 240 on Betfair. Probably won't run but would be interesting if he did.

About 15 pints of Guiness on Thursday! Thursday was great as it was quite quiet and you could get around easily. Friday was a bit too busy as ever but a great atmosphere for the Gold Cup. Didn't have a winner at all Thursday but had Weapons Amnesty and Oh Crick on Friday. Still lost quite a bit overall but it's still easily one of the best weeks of the year.

I won the placepot yesterday and backed ForPaddyDeplasterer so did OK but, like Grizfoot, Chomba Womba was a let down. 1.30 Kornati Kid 2.00 Diamond harry 2.40 What a Friend 4.00 The Polomoche 4.40 Balzaccio and Indian Groom 5.15 Rite of Passage (backed this weeks ago)

Chomba Womba at 9/4 to place on betfair.

Big thanks to Abbey for the above post nearly 12 months ago. I did try them, liked them and saw them at Manchester Academy last Saturday where they were very good.

I see Paul Newman has died. Quality actor in many many films. The Sting is a big favourite of mine.

Hughes persevered for over 18 months with Pedersen doing very little. I wonder if Ince will continue to make the same mistake. He was awful yesterday regardless of position. No pace and no willingness to try and do anything to influence the play going forward. He has no ambition when approaching a full back to actually go past him on the outside to put a cross in. However he's been ineffective on the left for years also. His corners and free-kicks, which once were a weapon, are no longer producing. He still seems reluctant to get into positions to have efforts on goal, let alone be scoring at the rate he did in his first season. Treacy offered more drive going forward than MGP ever has yesterday. The young lad is still learning but I feel it's time to let him have a spell in the team. He might not be great but he doesn't have much to be greater than. Andrews is getting stick for his performance yesterday on the other thread, but he looked like a cross between Keane, Viera and Maradona compared to our 'Norweigan Beckham'.

Following its recomendations n the 'best Movie of all time' thread I've just rented and watched Crimson Tide. Excellent. Great build up of tension.

To be fair Ince was unlikely to come out and say "Benni's struggling for form, fitness and to lose the excess weight he's piled on so we're hoping Sunderland come in with a ridiculous bid to shift the lardarse out of here".

ABC News link

I know I've posted them several times before but it is that time of year. Thanks Jack!