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There are powers at work in this country about which we have no knowledge. What dark forces are responsible for our injury
time demise? What foul unspeakable horror
connects Gerrard, Heskey and James? We know...
England should have killed them off; we threw it
away. Taking off Wayne (who was awesome) and
having no other outlet was a mistake. Cole was
exposed on the left; I would have taken Thompson
from Celtic (or even Gareth Barry) to Portugal. Scholes should be a reserve for Lampard.
Later on
we defended too deep, let them come onto us. The
ball came back into our defence, every time. We lost
concentration. "It wouldn't have been zee penalty at Old Trafford"
says Sylvestre as he accidentally kicks over his
chair. Lampard must now take our penalties.
There could have been two red cards, good ref,
only showed yellow. Beckham and Zidane hit the
same spot — nice height for the keeper. Barthez
went one way and saves; James the goes other way.
The free kick. At this level any decent side will
more often than not score from just outside the
box. Cracking strike from Zidane, despite the
silver ball. The way this ball behaves, I would
tell our boys to keep any shot low and have a pop
from 30 yards. You might hit the keeper in the
face or even score. Nice free kick and header
from Beckham and Lampard. Blue team won, Everton
player was man of the match. Ledley King and
Campbell also did well. We will still get through.
Switzerland v Croatia. Poor game, poor stadium
(special differently coloured painted seats so
you can't tell it was actually empty, too many
fans miles from the pitch for such a small
capacity), poor ref and two poor teams. I think
we will still get through. Prso scored all those
champion's league goals — how? Radzinki's mate
Moreno huffed, puffed and dived but to no avail.
Yakin or Frei look as though they could score. I
thought Henchoz should have been sent off.
Trouble in Croydon, Birmingham and Boston? Nothing else to do there.
Not long to go now... The five-day forecast says it's 34
C in Faro. Must e-mail Uefa about the
Russia v Greece ticket. Get some Euros. Think about
packing.
It is my dad's birthday, will go and see him. Took me to my first games. Thanks dad.
Tonight: Group C. The Italians have so much class, I think they
will beat Denmark, especially as Mad Dog is not
playing. If Moysey could find and pay for someone
to play with him, I think he and we would
improve. Toby's team should beat Bulgaria. Toby
is an enigma. He is only 24 and has played 35
times for one of the form teams in Europe. We
don't really see it when he plays for us.
My story continues...
Italy v Sweden, Holland v Latvia and Croatia v Engerland. They have moved the England match for
me, it should have been France v the Swiss. Dear
God, thank you for moving the match, please don't
let us be thrown out before this match. Yes, yes
yes yes yes yeeeeeees.
Fans look to courts as Euro 2004 switches games but not tickets -
writes Vivek Chaudhary of the Guardian, Saturday December 6, 2003. Sem (no) problem, I have faith in Euro justice. The case won't start before June. Rooney's season gets going.
February 5th, I get a job interview. Not until
the 16th though. 7th we play Man U. Stefan comes
over for the game; next day we go to Man City v
Birmingham. He is very nice, says the 3-4 was a
crap game. Takes pictures of plastic Ronaldo for
his Portuguese relatives. City of Manchester
stadium, OK. Just one problem, a large proportion
of the seats are miles away from the pitch. Shouldn't happen when the
capacity is 48,000.
February 16th interview in Chester. I am early. I
meet Nick - we worked together at the Royal
Liver. Er, yes I am here for an interview at
16:00. Are you sure? No I'm here for 16:00
protests Nick. I argue with the receptionist and
anyone who happens to be passing by. Just at the
right moment I present exhibit 'A', a print out
of the interview e.mail. Why does one argue most,
when one is in the wrong? Please present yourself at 15:00 on 16th. Oops,
so that is where I got the 16 from. I get the contract, will finish on 11th June. Perfect. Eight working days later the project is scrapped. Four working days after that I am given 30 days
(notice). Thirty working days later I am free,
but a pauper. I have not really made enough
money, but I can probably get to Portugal. Shall
I drive ?
April. I cannot afford to go. The flights are
full, it is £600 each for a package in the
Algarve, £29 for an infant. DWP condescend to pay
me 20p every two weeks. We (Everton) finish the
season badly.
April 29th, I get a letter from the bank, oh
dear. Its OK, it is from Legal and General who do
me for my mortgage, they want to know my new
address. I ring them up, they have had the wrong
address for the last 15 years. No apology, they
see it as my mistake.
I try Teletext — we are going. £341 for me, my
wife and baby self catering in the Algarve. What about the floor in the sitting room, do you care about our child? It is six days before my wife starts speaking to me again.
Just two main problems. Braga and Porto are miles from Faro. Where are they going to put us?
For a few days we will stay with Stefan's step
father (he means father-in-law) in old Lisboa. Our room is under the roof, the roof might get a
bit hot after 16 hours of 40 degree sunshine. We'll buy a fan.
Otherwise things are looking up. Work in Chester
paid off some debts, house prices have gone up
where I live, no more negative equity. I am going to Euro 2004.
Paul Watson
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