Comments on: A Weekend of Beautiful Music (Over to You, Nick Hornby)

By: Brian Phillips

Brian Phillips — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:33:47 +0000

Milan win it 1-0 to go top in Serie A. What a match. Napoli’s defending with 10 men took me to a Scotland-like place, by which I do not mean that the place to which it took me was like Scotland. It was all a mad scramble in Iezzo’s box from around the 65th minute on, one crazy save followed by another crazy miss, until Milan won a handball penalty…and Iezzo promptly saved Kaka’s shot.

A couple of minutes later Ronaldinho sent in a good but stoppable free kick which Denis accidentally knocked into his own net. Game over…except that Denis came within one Abbiati fingernail of saving a point at the other end a minute later.

Lavezzi was superhuman tonight.

I don’t know where Pato’s mind is, but he missed an excruciatingly makeable header and at one point looked like he was marking Seedorf.

I have no faith in Christian Abbiati.

This match may have been the pick of a really good weekend of soccer.

By: Brian Phillips

Brian Phillips — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:28:13 +0000

It’s halftime at the San Siro and the match has had plenty of bite so far. I only caught one Beckham mention on FSC, fewer than you usually get in a random Bolton-Fulham game.

Maggio picked up his second yellow card (deservedly, despite playing well) just before the half. Interesting to see if this will open up the Napoli defense for Kaka’s running-like movements. I don’t know; Santacroce’s playing like two people already, maybe he’ll just decide to play like three.

Is he injured? Scratch that.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 04:47:16 +0000

Enjoying the new look site Brian, although I do miss the moody graphics which used to accompany your articles on the old site. Kay Ewe Tee Gee Double-U regardless.

By: Linda

Linda — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 02:49:57 +0000

Malaga v Barca wasn’t a football game. What was that pitch about? Still, I’m never going to complain about 11 wins in a row.

By: Brian Phillips

Brian Phillips — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:45:27 +0000

HULL ARE BACK IN IT. It’s now 4-3 after a goal from Vidic, a lob from Mendy that was wheeled away in a straightjacket as soon as it crossed the line, and a penalty from Geovanni (won by Mendy) in the 81st minute.

Wayne Rooney is in the process of losing his mind.

PREDICTION: Alex Ferguson is going to go nuclear in the press conference after the match. Hull should have had nine red cards, etc.

UPDATE: And we finish 4-3. What a game. Hull certainly have nothing to feel ashamed about. In the meantime, Arsenal lost to Stoke City 2-1 at the Brittania, in a game that saw Walcott injured and Van Persie sent off. Serious times at the Emirates. I can’t see a clear path to the title for them that doesn’t include running the table against the rest of the big four.

By: Brian Phillips

Brian Phillips — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:47:54 +0000

…and there’s the Ronaldo brace I predicted. 3-1. The kitten is looking at me pleadingly, as if to say, “Please stop writing these frequent updates of the dismal last few moments of my life.”

By: Brian Phillips

Brian Phillips — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:34:18 +0000

Michael Carrick just kind of lazily made it 2-1.

Manchester United are so good on the counterattack.

Traffic roared past the kitten on both sides as she huddled, trembling, in the middle of the interstate.

By: Brian Phillips

Brian Phillips — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:26:42 +0000

HULL CITY EQUALIZE! Brilliant header from Daniel Cousin.

THE KITTEN JUST GOT CLAWS.

By: Brian Phillips

Brian Phillips — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:11:01 +0000

Ronaldo just scored against Hull, three minutes into the game.

The kitten mewed once, pitifully, as her owner dropped her on the cold highway and heartlessly shut the car door.

By: Brian Phillips

Brian Phillips — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:29:28 +0000

Yeah, that’s a little like registering for the wrong political party just so you can vote for their weakest primary candidate.

Should be interesting on TV, in any case.