Monday, dear reader, already. And what a wet one it is too, at least in this leafy alcove in Hackney.
After a couple of close ones on Saturday (Obe Gold especially), Laying System got its only horse of the day beaten (out of the frame at 7/4) for a good Sunday, following on from four out four turned over on Saturday. In fairness, this was much needed after a couple of decent priced winners in the week set us back a bit.
I chose not to play the footy yesterday, and rightly so. I fancied Manchester United, but they are a big toothless basking shark at the moment, and need to find their stride quickly, before its over for them.
As for Liverpool and Chelsea, the only word I can use for the refereeing performace of Rob Styles is ‘inept’.
In a game with a fair amount of huff and puff, but very little ‘blow your house in’, Styles barely had a decision to make. There wasn’t a bad tackle in the game (though there were a few petulant little kicks), and - happily - there wasn’t a dive in the game.
And yet, this became a card fest, with a fiesta of yellow and a touch of red that would have graced a Madrid derby, arbitrated by one of the Spanish League’s more finnicky middlemen.
After the farce at Fulham on Saturday, I am rapidly revising my opinion of video replays for goalmouth incidents.
The fact is that there is rarely much incident in a game that would require the ‘3rd umpire’ as rugby calls it. In a compelling end to end match, the video might be called for three times. Usually, it would not be required at all.
The main reason for my change of heart is not that I am especially in favour of technology encroaching in the beautiful game (rather, in this case, I am a traditionalist and believe that there should be some mistakes and grey areas to discuss in the pub).
However, there are mistakes and mistakes. The current litany of officiating howlers is unacceptable, and it is only the ineptitude of the men in black that sways me to suggest assistance for them.
Sure, the game is getting faster, and also there is more and more cash at stake, from the fans, from the clubs, and - of course, from us punters.
If I’d backed Liverpool yesterday, I’d be spitting feathers for longer than Rafa ranted.
My biggest worry now is that referees are trying to take their moment in the limelight. The days of a ref having a great game by being virtually anonymous are pretty much over. Step forward then, the cult of the referee ‘personality’.
It started with undoubtedly the best adjudicator of them all, Pierluigi Collina, a man whose bald head and Marty Feldman’esque stary eyes marked him out more for Hollywood bad guy roles than maintainer of the peace.
This guy’s credibility bestowed upon him cult status, as did his looks. Since then though, its been a slippery slope, with first the Spanish refs getting column inches for the issuance of ‘tarjetas’ (or cards as we like to call them), and then Graham Poll (a ref I actually like on balance) having that mare at the World Cup, when he gave one player THREE yellow cards before finally sending him off.
Lest we think its all doom and gloom, we should remember that Poll was only given that game (Australia vs Croatia) - acknowledged as the toughest group game to officiate, by a mile - because he was considered capable.
Indeed, a more satisfactory performance would have put Graham in Poll Position (duh!) for ref’ing the final.
But there are two many mistakes at the moment. Maybe its new season rustiness, maybe its the growing cult of the referee, maybe its just a comedy coincidence. Whatever the reason, it needs to change, and it needs to change very soon.
Until then, high on the cards market may be the play (although historically this has lost more than its gained).
Over in Fantasy Football Land, a better display from my boys saw me amass 56 points this weekend (would have been 60 but for Styles’ ineptitude costing me a clean sheet!).
However, for all of my good score here, I’m currently lounging outside of the UEFA Cup spots in 9th. Runaway early leader is Paddy Meagher’s Kicking Kings, whose team has amassed him 149 points and ranks him in the 5,000s out of 1,196,265 teams overall. A very fine start, Mr Meagher, but are you Wigan in disguise? 
Heading the chasers at the moment is ‘thin air’, Paddy being 18 points clear of the next best unit, Irvin Lim’s SmokinTree&Strokin3s (which I presume is a reference to golf, somehow?). Its then a further ten back to Darren Smith, with seven more teams within a further ten points.
A special mention for Danny Edwards’ team, who are currently the strongest in the league (i.e. they prop up everyone else!). Poor Danny has gone for Manchester United players, and has also been unlucky with a few injuries. I’m sure your boys will come good soon.
Back later with a review of Racing Members Club, and the full tale of the tape on that laying service.
Matt