Comebacks and drawbacks
Wed Mar 19 08:54AM
Comebacks can be a risky business. Just ask Bjorn Borg, Vanilla Ice or the bloke who made the Superman sequels. Bad news for all those concerned. There are occasional success stories - Martina Hingis, Led Zeppelin, Jesus and the 1970s to name a few - but generally the rule is that 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' (unless of course you've made some poor business decisions, been rinsed by a former lover or developed an expensive drug habit, resulting in complete desperation and the abandonment of any scruples that may once have existed).
Why? It's simple really - so as not to run the risk of ruining any of the fond memories your fans may hold. Early Doors can no longer bear to watch the first Superman film or listen to Ice Ice Baby without breaking out in a glacial sweat at the thought of what may follow.
Thierry Henry has the right idea. The Frenchman has been touted for a move back to the Premier League after suffering a few teething problems over in Barcelona, but he has stated he has absolutely no intention of doing so.
And rightly so. Henry has already succeeded in England and we all remember him fondly for what he brought to these shores. Even the arrogance he displayed as his time at Arsenal drew to a close is now fading into a distant memory.
His daughter aside, there are few reasons for Henry to return to England - he has already been there and done that and quite possibly bought the designer tee-shirt too, so why run the risk of spoiling all that by making a comeback?
Of course, ED could be giving Henry a little too much credit here. It was, after all, Manchester City who were touted as a possible destination - surely enough to scare anyone off.
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ED is well aware that Bill Shankly once said "football is not a matter of life and death - it's more important than that", but surely he was just having a laugh and only came out with it because it sounded funny.
It seems, however, that some people do believe in that mentality, not least those who have to sell the product of football, and from here on in until the end of the season, every big game is sure to be billed as a do-or-die clash.
Take tonight's match between Manchester United and Bolton for example. If today's papers - The Sun in particular - are to be believed, Old Trafford will resemble a war zone later on.
"We can fight dirty too, Kev" and "my boys will sort you out" are just two takes on how Alex Ferguson has been preparing his 'troops' for the game as Old Trafford braces itself for a Kevin Davies-induced bloodbath.
Davies is officially the Premier League's dirtiest player of all time and United know all about him after he ruffled a few of Patrice Evra's well-preened feathers at the Reebok earlier on this season.
Alex Ferguson is expecting Davies to "do everything he possibly can" to unsettle United once again, leaving ED, in its role as Eurosport fashion guru, to suggest red as tonight's colour - be that the colour of the referee's cards or the hue of Fergie's face should the official not protect his players quite as well as he would like.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Every time I go to his house, I check it is still there." Rio Ferdinand's mum on whether he still has a Looby Loo doll from kids TV show Andy Pandy. The answer is, sadly, yes. Rio, you've been merked!
FOREIGN VIEW: Thierry Henry might not be up for it, but Diego Forlan wants a move back to the Premier League, according to today's Daily Star. You'd think Roy Keane would have seen enough at Manchester United to put him off Diego for life, but the Sunderland boss is apparently keen on a reunion.
TODAY'S TALKING POINT: The old ones are always the best, as geelte proved yesterday: "Rumour has it that the illusionist David Blaine is p'eed off because Michael Owen has beaten his record of spending 44 days in a box doing absolutely nothing!"
Today's talking point - Who would you like to see make a return to action in the modern English game?
COMING UP: After yesterday's paltry offerings, tonight's bill is a veritable feast of football. Manchester United can move three points clear at the top of the table with victory over Bolton and if Chelsea beat Spurs 5-0, they'll take second place off Arsenal. So, all in all quite a bumper evening of football ahead (five goals at White Hart Lane not guaranteed). Catch live text commentary on both games tonight on eurosport.yahoo.com. Oh, we'll have some of that Serie A stuff for you too. Happy days.
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IM this storyI would like to see Jose Mourinho back in the English game (You didn't say it had to be a player!)
From akilesh_radhakrishnan on Wed Mar 19 09:07AM1st comment. Yas! Come on Chelsea too. Id like to see wee Zola back. always played with a smile.
From sav46e on Wed Mar 19 09:08AMIgor Biscan - best defender/midfielder the Kop has had to see the back of. Oh what a shame. Probably have to say.. Ruud Van Nistelrooy or Arjen Robben, but not playing for their ex-clubs.
From the_kop2003 on Wed Mar 19 09:08AMI want Jose Mourinho back in the English game (Well, you didn't say it had to be a player!)
From akilesh_radhakrishnan on Wed Mar 19 09:09AM1st comment Yas! Come on Chelsea. Id love to see wee Zola back! Always played with a smile on his face!
From sav46e on Wed Mar 19 09:09AMHow about Brian Kilkline, only because i'd love to see how his hair would have looked with an alice band - though he would also need 2 more for his tash
From lee_rome on Wed Mar 19 09:10AMHow about Kevin Keegan (maybe he will turn up soon!)
From lee_rome on Wed Mar 19 09:15AMHow about Kevin Keegan back in the premier league playing for NUFC then the team could come on to the pitch to the sound of "Say Goodbye To It All" by Chris De Burgh over the tannoy @ St James' park. Completely ambivalent about the Celtic/Aberdeen game last night - Sunday League stuff!
From geelte on Wed Mar 19 09:20AMHow about Patrick Vieira? Arsenal need a captain that doesn't sulk when they draw.
From yehia18 on Wed Mar 19 09:20AMfrance ligue 1 is greatest Bordeaux is playing 2 games in a day. According to football Latest on upper right corner
From lollpardik on Wed Mar 19 09:21AMIf Roy is keen on an unlikely reunion with Forlan, does that mean one will be seeing the aforementioned Sunderland supremo chowing down on a feast of prawn and rocket bagel in the near future???
From g_hine on Wed Mar 19 09:25AMles ferdinand, pat nevin, alan shearer, - and any other second rate ex-pro pundit just to get them off the telly
From lee_rome on Wed Mar 19 09:26AMAmbivalent or not, i'm an Aberdeen fan and we deserve some credit for being completely toilet in the league this year but reaching our second semi final (not to mention twice taking the lead against Bayern Munich) with a realistic chance of going out to Queen of the South. Bring it on!
Dan
From dangreavey on Wed Mar 19 09:28AMGraham Poll - a player just don't seem to get booked enough during a game these days...
From simondenham on Wed Mar 19 09:28AMBeing a Man Utd fan I think Jerzy Dudek should make a return to the Liverpool side for the game this Super Incredible Fantastic Sunday.
From stumpyfingers81 on Wed Mar 19 09:28AMlove the bit on kevin davies... bring back stan collymore! and stick him in the england side while you're at it!
From bjw_floyd on Wed Mar 19 09:28AMBest, Pele, Cruyff, Matthews - if we can choose from the best skills in the world; if it is to add fun to the game, how about Bowles, Worthington, Gascoine
From c.hawcroft on Wed Mar 19 09:29AMGraham Poll - a player just doesn't seem to get booked enough during a game these days...
From simondenham on Wed Mar 19 09:30AMComebacks are not always good,the movie nowplaying "NUFC-THE RETURN OF KING KEV" is tanking at a theater near you. It's not starwars. hehehe!
From crazy_pee_jay on Wed Mar 19 09:41AMOn recent weeks performance, I think Bryan Gunn could push Marshall for the number 1 jersey at Norwich
From g_hine on Wed Mar 19 09:49AMPaul McGrath....all the way! Quality Quality player. Didnt train, dodgy knees, quality defender.
OOH ARR PAUL MCGRATH!
From neo_booie on Wed Mar 19 09:49AMPaul Mcgrath? more like Rory.
From hometerryblue on Wed Mar 19 10:16AMVan Nistelrooy hands down!
From double_t_uk2002 on Wed Mar 19 10:26AMAll those spanish players that came to liverpool and went back home. always nice to have a laugh.
From benyoungs on Wed Mar 19 10:29AMCan't believe that none of you have mentioned the wonder that is David Beckham, would love to see him back in England, fit and motivating the England team to improve their poor performances, bring back Sir David!
From bevandtrev on Wed Mar 19 10:45AMJan Molby the Danish scouser & Micky (sumo) Quinn the fastest player over a yard
Sponsored by Fray BentosFrom carlmarley on Wed Mar 19 10:49AMJust got to be Faustino Asprilla.
Mind you, bringing him in this late in the season might wreck Newcastles title hopes again.
From paulchappell82 on Wed Mar 19 10:50AMI Would Like to see Adrian Mutu, because he was like Jimmy Page(god save him) always on drugs when he had to perform.
From gusic_1986 on Wed Mar 19 10:57AMBest, Pele, Cruyff. Um they didn't play in England c.hawcroft except Cruyff's younger half
Stan collymore for the news of him and some page 3 stunners. It's always a good read and will give ED something else to blog about.
From benbear76 on Wed Mar 19 11:07AMron harris, vinnie jones and john 'fash the bash' fashanu.........then throw eduardo in the picture.lol
From lifeisblu on Wed Mar 19 11:12AM
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