Ireland, Messi, Yaya Toure, Throwing, Simpson

We start with the news that Prat Blatter announced in his press conference yesterday, which was that Ireland have requested the chance to be the 33rd team at next summer's World Cup. Ridiculous. As I've already said on this blog what happened to Ireland was very very harsh, I don't think that there's a football fan out there who didn't feel some sympathy for them, but it's now getting very silly indeed and the FAI are turning themselves and their country into an embarrassment. One thing I must say is that it seems this request was made a while ago when the complaints and such were lodged, it just happens to be now that it is being revealed. But injustices happen left right and centre in football and in sports in general, that is frankly the way it is. Get over it. Moreover, had that now infamous goal not been given, Ireland weren't through anyway, so how do they deserve a place in the World Cup? The tie would have been 1-1 on aggregate, there would have been another 20 mins for both teams to score, and then possibly penalties. Ireland can't claim that they were in a winning position and it was cruelly taken away from them, they were in a DRAWING position and it was cruelly taken away from them. Not to mention the logistical implications that a 33rd team would bring to a World Cup, you wouldn't want to be in the group with 5 teams would you? Never the less Blatter says he and his army of shitfucks will 'discuss' it at some high powered meeting just in time for the World Cup draw on Friday.

Lionel Messi has been crowned European Footballer of the Year, or the Ballon D'or for short. This isn't any surprise, Messi was the favourite by a mile and if anyone else had won it, they would have been wrong. Not only did we see all the lovely Messi magic last season, his fantastic control, plenty of goals and more assists, but we saw that translated into winning and trophies - which is what France Football really love (Ronaldo with Utd, Kaka with Milan, Cannavaro with Italy etc). Barcelona's remarkable treble season was lead by the impressive Pep Guardiola in his maiden season, and Messi deserves the award and will also win World Footballer of the Year too.

Another Barcelonen in the press is the wonderfully named Yaya Toure, Kolo's kid brother. He's very upset at constantly being benched and is now 'considering' a move away from the Camp Nou. One of the teams allegedly interested is the Arsenal, and I'd bloody love to see us pinch him. He's big he's strong, can play the holding role well and has even done a job at the back, exactly what we're looking for. I fear he'll probably too expensive but maybe following Sunday's events it might just be worth a punt.

One of the more unsavoury moments from the big game on Sunday was seeing what turned out to be a camera (or a fake camera, depending on who you believe) being launched at Frank Lampard as he went to take a corner for Chelsea. Now, I hate Lamps as much as the next sane person but that is so out of order. If you saw the person do it, just tell someone because it's unacceptable and they should be banned from football for life. Do we really want our fans to get the reputation of being a bunch of thugs? Do we want to be penned in away grounds for hours before and after the match? Do we want to have to pick up our tickets at service stations on the way to away games? No we fucking don't so stop being a twat.

A man we might have done with on Sunday is young Jay Simpson who's loan spell at QPR seems to be doing the kid the world of good. Too often Championship clubs will bring someone in on loan and then there's almost an automatic prejudice against him because he's not really one of your own players, so the manager will tend to play the players he knows and leave the talented kids on the bench. Not Jay though, he's flying in west London and has said yesterday that he'd be happy to get recalled and come back to north London. While I don't think Wenger will go down this road just yet, it's one he really should consider. I said yesterday how similar Vela and Eduardo are, and with Bendtner still 2 weeks away it couldn't hurt to bring Simpson back as a bit of cover. Take her easy.