The fruit is on the other foot

I like to think of myself as a chilled individual. Admittedly, I’m not as laid back as the wife, but that’s a result of her lifestyle.

Being cool, calm and occasionally collected, I’ve been stunned by the overreaction to the minor disagreement during the Carling Cup final. The term ‘handbags’ is an outrageous exaggeration; the wife throws more punches on a Sunday afternoon when I try to dislodge her from the mattress.

The sending off of Adebayor was particularly perplexing. Emmanuel appeared innocent, yet was punished severely; which coincidentally was the plot of the DVD i watched after the match. I’m getting stuck into the 8/15 for an Arsenal win over Reading.

I’m beginning to worry about the wife’s sister. Her infatuation with me is almost certainly a result of deeply rooted psychological problems brought on by low self-esteem. Sweet. I’m not passing up the chance to get on Wigan at 3/1 to beat Manchester City.

The Beatles may have told the world that ‘money can’t but you love’; but Wayne Rooney found the flaw in that romantic fallacy. The word on the street is that Wayne is set to marry Coleen, and the street people are certainly in the loop. I’m romantically involved with the 7/4 about Liverpool denting Manchester United’s title charge.

We all have our little quirks, except for Birds of a Feather. The wife’s sister has a foot fetish; I originally thought she was just pulling my leg. I’m dipping my toes into the 9/4 for a draw between Fulham and Aston Villa.

Unlike the wife’s sister, Middlesbrough have only tasted defeat on one occasion this year. You must back the Boro at 11/4 to win at Newcastle; i’m putting my foot down.

Andy Johnson is never far from a ‘diving’ controversy. The miniature hitman had the finger pointed at him again last week, which was more than enough for him to tumble to the ground. Sheffield United can take a point off the Toffeemen at an unsteady 9/4.

Frank Lampard should feel ashamed of himself for squaring up to little Cesc Fabregas. Lamps could have picked on someone his own size; but in all fairness, Pauline Quirke was rehearsing for a musical. Chelsea can turn over Pompey at a mammoth 3/5.

The last five matches between Bolton and Blackburn have either been goalless or settled by a single strike; this is a genuine clash of the tight-uns. I’m jumping on the 17/2 for ‘no goalscorer’ like it was a Russian tennis player. Preferably not Davydenko.

There’s an air of impending doom surrounding Alan Curbishley and West Ham. They say it’s never over until the lady of a fuller figure breaks into song; ‘Birds of a Feather, the musical’ opens on Sunday evening. Spurs can hammer another nail into the Curb’s coffin at 13/10.

The wife’s mother has asked to proofread my weekly betting preview to ensure that I’m not making any cheap digs at her expense. No matter how much she pleads; she’s not getting her hands on my column. Charlton can keep their survival dreams alive with a win at the Vicarage at 9/5.

Frank Lampard is not happy with this week’s accumulator. Apparently, it’s so mouthwatering; he’s struggling to concentrate on the upcoming ruck with Pauline Quirke. Last week’s accer obliged at 25/1; Arsenal, Charlton, Chelsea and Tottenham will follow suit at a beefy 15/1.


Copyright (c) Gerry McDonnell & soccerphile.com

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Japanese Soccer News

Xerox Super Cup

Gamba Osaka have won the 2007 Xerox Super Cup, comprehensively outclassing Urawa Reds 4-0, in front of 35,307 fans at the National Stadium in Tokyo.

Brazilian Magno Alves was the star for Gamba, netting a scrappy hat-trick as new signing Bare looked on from the bench.

The Osakans completely dominated this match, but it was not until the thirty-first minute that they opened the scoring, when Alves converted the rebound from Yasuhito Endo's blocked shot.

Midfielder Takahiro Futagawa then smashed home from the edge of the area, to double Gamba's advantage just before the break.

Missing several stars through injury, including 2006 J-League MVP Marcus Tulio Tanaka, as well as Satoshi Horinouchi, Makoto Hasebe and Takahito Soma, Urawa were second-best throughout this match.

Magno Alves scored his second after sixty-seven minutes, finishing from a tight angle to put the game beyond Urawa's reach. He completed his hat-trick after eighty-five minutes, before receiving a standing ovation from the Gamba faithful when substituted a minute later.

The result avenged Gamba's loss to Urawa in the 2006 Xerox Super Cup, which the Reds won 3-1. It was Gamba's first victory over Urawa since November 12, 2005, when Gamba beat the Reds 2-1, en route to claiming the 2005 J-League crown.

Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com