Surprisingly though they haven’t featured all that many footballers. Maybe because it is Radio 4 and their audience is more rugger and croquet than that association thing.

One of the two football-related podcasts they have made available is with the late great SIR BOBBY ROBSON.

You can still get grab this episode from the website but I’ve added it here in case they take it offline.

This episode was recorded in December 2004, four months after Newcastle had sacked him.
Graeme Souness took over and he took them to the giddy heights of 14th place.

In the programme presenter Sue Lawley talks to Sir Bobby about that and about his football playing career, as well as his achievements in management. Other subjects covered were about his recent cancer battle and about his upbringing and going down the mines when he was 15, something he never forgot.

Because of restrictions the full versions of the music selected by Sir Bobby not included in the podcast, so to fix that I’ve got four of his choices for your delectation below:

[See post to listen to audio] » Robbie Williams/Frank Sinatra – It Was A Very Good Year

Note: This is actually the 2nd time Sir Bobby was on Desert Island Discs, in his previous appearance (in 1986) he selected another Frank Sinatra track.

Always difficult listening to Nessun Dorma, I still break up… Still miss the man. We’ll meet again some day.

4th Sept 2008:

“Kevin Keegan has resigned as manager of Newcastle United after just eight months in charge…

… Keegan was furious to discover members of his already slim squad had been offered for sale during the final hours before the window closed, after he had reluctantly accepted James Milner’s £12m departure to Aston Villa.”

[See post to listen to audio]

» Busker – Thank You Kevin

At the end of the 2008-2009 season they were relegated.

9th Aug 2010:

“Martin O’Neill has resigned as Aston Villa manager with immediate effect…

…(Aston Villa owner) Randy Lerner had backed O’Neill in the transfer market during that spell but it became clear this summer that similar investment would not be forthcoming.

Lerner insisted that Villa would have to adopt a sell-to-buy policy and O’Neill was resigned to losing the services of midfielder James Milner to Manchester City.”

[Nobody at Villa sang about him, but when he was at Celtic]

[See post to listen to audio]

Derek Warfield-Ballad of Martin O’Neill

At the end of the 2010-2011 season… ???

I know, I know. They season hasn’t started. They haven’t kicked a ball yet. Plus the transfer window is still open and the prospect of managing a Premier League club, even if it’s now a selling one is very tasty for any candidate. Additionally they have a very decent squad – they’ve got Shorey …err… Heskey and um… that other swapsie from City from last season…

Aston Villa are a decent club who will probably finish mid-table now ? I mean… Stop me if you've heard this one... they are too big to go down.

James Milner. Tied in with both resignations.

But he wasn’t a part of the trouble with the Newcastle > Aston Villa transfer.

Oh wait he was:

“…Aston Villa have announced the signing of James Milner from Newcastle United – the England U-21 international has penned a four-year deal at Villa after passing a medical at Villa Park.

Villa have been after Milner for a couple of years now – and the youngster finally forced the issue by handing in a transfer request earlier this month.

But lightning doesn’t strike in the same place twice.

Oh wait. It does:

“I had a conversation with James before the World Cup and he intimated that he’d like to go,” said O’Neill.

“I’d imagine things will be resolved in foreseeable future.”

“City made an offer but it did not meet our valuation.”

“I’m sure matters will be resolved soon.”

As a long suffering (yes I know I’m not allowed to say that anymore) Man City supporter I’m very conflicted.

On the one hand I welcome the prospect of seeing Milner playing over at Eastlands, but on the other hand I question as to why Bob Mankini (and the liability that is Garry Cooke) are stockpiling all these players. With this restriction on a 25 named squad for this season you have to wonder if half of them will be sitting with Robinho up in the stands. Maybe a few will go out on loan, but many of these (very overpaid) prima donnas will immediately start to sulk and demand a move. Shay Given has already started threatening.

Plus when they do get on the pitch it’s not going to be a set line-up. Again with some of these “firebrand” personalities, some of them…most of them like to kick out and have seen a few yellows and reds last season.

With this embarrassment of riches comes the extra trouble and pressure for Mr Mancini and I wouldn’t be surprised if he isn’t the next to follow O’Neill if the club isn’t topping the league.

As I said I’m very conflicted. It used to be when I mentioned that I was a Man City supporter I got a nod of sympathy from the other party. But now it’s the Mercenary XI and a sneer at their wealth.

I’ll let previous Citeh boss, previously mentioned, to play us out.

Because…

… being a City fan right now. No seriously. Stop laughing. It really isn’t.

After only a one season dip Newcastle United are back to where they think that they belong…
But this time things will be very, very different.

A few weeks back I posed some questions for Teena (a friend of F&M) on her site Y I, Mum ? because sadly for Newcastle, they don’t have much time to dwell on celebration. Their preparations for next season have to be already under way before their championship title was even confirmed.

Harsh reality but as I said, things are different now.

Firstly – the Barcodes have to accept that they are no longer a “big” club.
Unless another billionaire sheik comes in of course, but at this present moment in time with their present set-up they have to try and ready themselves with a different outlook and a better view of what’s ahead for them.

The questions I posed to Teena were:

Another one to throw in there:

- What about the strikers ? Good enough for the Prem ?
How about signing that bloke who looks like he’ll be surplus to requirement at Man U… no not him… they don’t have that sort of budget to sign blankfireBerba, I’m talking about…

Ok, Ok, I admit. I’m taking the piss now. Well the post was getting a bit serious and you know that if you want to discuss that sort of thing there are many better places than this one.

BUT BEFORE ALL THAT… They should allow themselves a least a few minutes to celebrate.

Hey… let’s have a party. Gazza’s got the tunes:

Tempted to pun, but resisted.

Right that’s enough. Back to work.

Additional Tag: JackieCharlton

Extra Time:

[See post to listen to audio] » Mark Knopfler – Why Aye Man

Over in North America they have a pub-standard league known as the MLS, which until the arrival of a certain individual was ignored pretty much everywhere.

Now this league differs in the way that some players are signed for the teams. It is based on one used in another league – the NFL – and this is a draft system.

To shorthand it into one sentence: How this works is that new players are recruited from college soccer teams. So if you wanted to play in the MLS the route in first would be for you to get yourself into a college.

Now you are pondering on how a young chappie such as the one seen pictured above just before his Chartered Accountancy interview, would have done since the only route into soccer in the States is via academia. He would have got on very well actually. Because his talent would have been spotted and would have probably been offered a quote: “football scholarship” so that he could then attend a college to quote: “study” but everyone knows he’s there to split the defence with a pass and not infinitives.

I re-worded that last line about hundred times, I give up.

The perverse thing about that draft system is that the poorest performing team from a previous season get the best draft player first – and the best team get to choose last. This is designed so that there’s an even spread of talent, a level playing field if you will.
So imagine it like Walcott playing for Portsmouth – or Babel playing for Liverpool.   Oh.

That’s quite enough of the filler text. To the subject in hand:

Regarding a certain Paul John Gascoigne Esq, famous son of Gateshead, resident of the local nick as of late.

The year was 1990 – the height of Gazzamania – and it was a golden year for him*
With the single featuring Lindisfarne reaching number 2 in the charts, he followed up this success by releasing an album. But this was not your usual Long Player…

I doubt if we’ll ever find the reason for the curious choice of tracks on this album.

Reading the sleevenotes from the Geordie boy, he writes:

“When I was first asked to get together some special songs and very special friends for an album the difficulty was deciding what (and who) to leave out.”

One of the things he pretty much left out was himself. Choosing to include the singles, plus one additional song that he got his mates (at the time) to howl along with.

- And in the interests of decency names should be named: Kenny Lynch, Danny Baker, Anna Gascoigne (his sister), Michael Patto, Gary Osborne, Billy Laurie, Lem Lubin and Martin Kearney… but no Jimmy “Five Bellies”… Probably for the best.

[See post to listen to audio] » Gazza and Friends – All You Need Is Love

and because I’m feeling sadistic today have the 12″ version…

…. of Fog On The Tyne:
[See post to listen to audio]» Gazza/Lindisfarne – Revisited (12 inch version)

The rest of the album was filled with a medley from various artists including a soul, a Motown, an Elvis and finally a Gilbert O’Sullivan medley. Work that one out:

Away Man. Aw Ye Gan Oot ?

There is one individual in this football and music jungle who’s name, as it does with the back page headlines, keeps reappearing. [In fact he's been featured on here so many times that he's got his own tag.]

This person was recently in the news again when he piled even more misery on the owner of a certain club in the north east when this well known ex-messiah won a compensation claim to the tune of 2 Million – plus costs.

The above image changed to protect the obvious.

He seemed to have started a trend here because Curbs has just won a similar case against West Ham – another ailing club. – And these two big reasons why Hicks and Gillett will not even entertain the thought in regards to Rafa.

Back to the subject in hand though and again thanks to Stuart for another addition to the collection of KK tunes. This one was his debut single from 1973 and has some… interesting lyrics.

One part of it looks like a threat:

Whilst another, after that award for compensation, is very prophetic:

» Click for full lyrics

Sadly only a snippet and not the full song:

» K*vin Keeg*n – It Ain’t Easy

Ah what the heck, might as well repost the rest:

» KK – Head Over Heels In Love

» Kvn Kgn – Move On Down

» Keggie Keegle – In England

My quest for everything KK still isn’t over. Still have to find Do I Know You (the B Side to It Ain’t Easy) and Somebody Needs (the B side to In England) – as well as a telly appearance when the curly mopped one sang with Little and Large. » If you know of the location of any of these – drop me a line.

"Come here, there's more"

Some visual and additional musical treats for you.
I’ve gathered together and created a playlist of YouTube clips featuring himself:

- (The only information I have on the next vid clip) : This was made by a group called G15 around the time of Euro 2000 when Kevin Keegan was England manager:

» G15 – Self Preservation Society (Kgn Mix)

I think that’s enough for now.

I mentioned in a previous article that Sir Bobby Robson was on borrowed time. That was August last year.

He defied all the odds and continued to fight, but finally as everyone I’m sure now knows…

I loved that man, so easily likable, approachable and friendly. Which I supposed is all the same thing but I don’t care. When you are eulogizing someone you can get away with it.

He is part of history, of all our history.

He is Ipswich, he is Barca, he is PSV, he is Porto, he is Newcastle, he is England. He is football.

As the man himself said he won bugger all as a player, but as a manager he is unsurpassed.

You can pinpoint exactly where everything started to go wrong for Newcastle. It was when they decided to sack him (they were 5th at the time). But it was Fat Freddy and Douglas Hall, who like Mike Ashley, were running the place into the ground.

But this entry isn’t to dwell on that, it is to celebrate his life.

Newcastle made amends for their past mistake by hosting a charity benefit match for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, in which members of the 1990 England team took on a Germany team.

It was only last Sunday (July 26th) and the man himself was there (as I said, fighting to the end).
Before the match there was a ceremony to present Sir Bobby with the UEFA Lifetime Achievement Award:

Singing Nessun Dorma above was Tenors Un Limited.

When the sun is setting tonight go out and stand on your balcony or on your doorstep or wherever and remember when…

[See post to listen to audio] » Luciano Pavarotti – Nessun Dorma

(If you were going to ask. Yes I do have one song done about Sir Bobby, but it’s so bad that it should remain unknown.)

Further YouTubery:
- BBC Sports Personality Of The Year: Lifetime Achievement Award
- Eircom Soccer: Eircom International Personality of the Year Interview
- BBC Inside Out: Sir Bobby Robson’s 75th birthday
- ChronicleLive: Sir Bobby Robson’s Night of Knights

Lastly…
Donate to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation via the Justgiving page.

Update: The F.A has opened an online Book of Condolence.

…at least they beat Middlesbrough…

» Unknown Artist – Howay The Lads

The telling of this sad tale started from the very beginning of the season and a couple of weeks ago they added another farcical chapter with the appointment of the armchair pundit who has no qualifications to rescue them from their plight.

It could have been worse though, Mike Ashley could have gone for another Barcode legend who actually had more team coaching experience…

[See post to listen to audio] » Gazza & Lindisfarne – Fog On The Tyne Revisited (12″ version) » Music video » Don’t forget the Lyrics in which the first two lines of the first verse goes: "Sitting in a sleazy snack bar /Sucking sickly sausage rolls..."

* The young Mr PJ Gascoigne seen above just before his Chartered Accountancy interview.

» Previous Gazza coverage.

Ah such comedy… this is why the Premier League is the best in the world.

I’m still convinced that this is the BIGGEST ever April Fools prank being played on us by the Barcodes, but until proved otherwise…

Then again with their current perilous position I wouldn’t think they’d be in the mood for a jest.

But if you look at the headlines… even if it wasn’t April 1st it still reads like an unfunny jape.

Seriously ? Appoint a BBC sofa/chair pundit who can’t even talk a good game (but admittedly could play one), one with no football management experience (because that is working so well at Middlesbore isn’t it) and put him in charge of (ah who are we kidding here) a “big” Premier League club – and with the 8 games left – guide them to safety ?

I have to give props to this current Geordie messiah* and Keegan’s best mate (kidding !) though for finally putting the money where is mouth is… or something like that.. and taking this HUGE gamble on his reputation. We’ll know in a few weeks whether this is the canniest (ah here we go with the puns) move ever, or if he’s got a backup plan to leg it back to MoTD when it all goes tits up.
Which he probably has.

*Anybody who has scored at least 1 goal for the club qualifies.

- If it does happen and they find themselves playing Championship football next season and if they want to continue on this Geordie messiah (see above) telly pundit with no experience route then there’s always Warren Barton, currently filling the “experts” chair on the Fox Soccer Channel…

Hey what about Hughton and Calderwood though ? It was only a few days ago that the Tynesiders were putting their faith in these two – and that other Joke/innear – to save them from doom. (Thanks and don’t let the door his your ass on way out). 24 hours is indeed a long time in football.

» I had these lined up a while ago and fortuitous timing because of Mike Ashley’s last minute panic decision…

- Don’t know who is singing this. They use the tune from that bloody annoying “Heeey baby (ooh, ah)” song:
[See post to listen to audio]
» Unknown Artist – Hey Shearer

- This one is done by “Dingo” and has complicated lyrics: “Shearer, Shearer/Shearer, Shearer..” – repeat until fade:
[See post to listen to audio]
» Dingo – Shearer Shearer
- -

Update: It just gets better (or worse depending on how you look at it) – Quasimodo will be joining him as his Number 2.

I wish they would stop using “the Newcastle Revolution” in their headlines – this is the third Barcode “revolution” this season.

- This one then, courtesy of JC at the VV because…

[See post to listen to audio]
» That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore
(The Kinnear or this new Dowie one)