OH KAY ON…GERRARD, NIKE COLOURS, MAN UNITED AND PENNANT

Pardon Steven?

“I think it’s important for us to remain humble, keep our feet on the ground and keep working hard.” The words of Steven Gerrard after his Liverpool side had beaten Newcastle United 5 – 1 to cement their place at the top of the Premier League. Twelve hours later, Gerrard and a bunch of his mates are arrested following an incident in a night club. He’s later charged with affray and assault. Gerrard is of course innocent until proven guilty but from the outside looking in, it doesn’t look like he’s following his own advice now does it? A huge shame for a player who has been, up until now, a model professional.

The colour of money

In these desperate economic times with people facing redundancy, repossession and staggering levels of debt, I found it particularly strange to come across a football web site glorying in the fact that Nike has released no less than 10 colourways of the Mercurial Vapor IV since its release on the market a little under a year ago. You’ll be aware of previous debates on the subject of club’s bringing out more than one kit over the course of a season and all the wailing and gnashing of teeth that has caused but 10 versions of essentially the same product in a year! That means that on average, each boot is out of date every 36 days or so. Not particularly a long life span for a product that costs in excess of £100. Indeed, anyone who has felt compelled to stay at the forefront of the Vapor fashion parade will have forked out about £1200 since January. Is that fair? Nike will doubtless maintain that the constant drip feeding of colourways isn’t designed to fleece as much out of us, the customers, as is possible. But if that’s the case, why can’t they reveal 2 or 3 designs every 3 months or so and let us choose which ones to go for.

Beware United

Liverpool may have a clear lead at the top of the Premier League as we head in to 2009 but Manchester United are just 7 points adrift with 2 games in hand. And don’t be surprised if United pick up 6 points from those two games by scraping over the line. The Old Trafford outfit have won an astonishing 8 of their competitive games this season by the scoreline of 1 – 0. A good team always does just enough to win. Liverpool better watch out.

Lancashire rules

The Plaza Mayor, Royal Palace, San Nicolas Church, Botanic Gardens and Teleferico cable car. Just some of the sights that Jermaine Pennant won’t be visiting next year after missing out on a move to Real Madrid after failing to agree personal terms. Pennant was also concerned that he wouldn’t feature regularly in Madrid’s first team. This from a man who’s appeared in just three top flight games for Liverpool this term.'  Talk about not wanting to better yourself, failing to meet a challenge and settling instead for the mediocre. Instead, Pennant looks like he’ll be ending up at Wigan. So he can therefore look forward to the A49, the Camelot Theme Park and Wigan Pier.