What's it all about then?

No, before you read any further, this isn't my half hearted attempt at working out why we're here.

I've decided (with pushing from a few mates) to start to air my views on various sports (but mainly Football) to the wider world. Not that they're necessarily any interest to anyone but it may allow the lads to get a word in edgeways.

I thought the best way to start a blog about football was to write something about what the world of football has offered over the last few weeks.

We're nearing the end of the European Championships already (anyone remember the 3 year long cricket world cup?) and I agree with many of my mates who say they've enjoyed it much more than we thought we would. Without the inevitable torment of an early England exit in the knockout stages, this major tournament has actually served up some great entertainment as well as a putting a few of the lesser known players in the global shop window (take a bow Mssrs Arshavin, Zhirakov, Engelaar and Boruc).

The only thing that has slightly spoiled the whole event has been the commentary and punditry (Cue rant number 1). We're all pleased the BBC and ITV continue to broadcast these tournaments even without England, but wouldn't they be better served getting some more incisive (by that I mean not braindead) co-commentators and studio 'experts'.

I've long held the view that being forced to listen to David Pleat for 90 minutes is what the American phrase 'cruel and unusual punishment' was invented for. A normally fairly calm individual watching a match in which he has no partisan views will be roused to a level of TV smashing anger by the stream of inanities that pour out of the man. Example - during Portugal's final group game Helder Postiga made an appearance. Having had him at Spurs you'd have waited for some insight from Pleat, perhaps "he likes the ball played in low to the front post" or some such. What we actually got was..."he's a nice boy". Fantastic. The prosecution rests.

We all know Alan "dressing room joker" Shearer has all the dynamic TV presence of the couch he shares with the sardonic Mr Hansen (who is usually worth hearing at least). It amazes me that despite all the rumours of a supposed return to football (Newcastle/Blackburn/Sheff Wed??????) the guy hasn't returned to the environment he obviously felt (and looked) more at home in. Come on Alan, do us a favour and go help out old Kelvin Koogan before his hair actually goes totally see through.

Finally, as a Manchester resident, I think it's about time we all forgot about Cristiano Ronaldo entirely. My one take on the whole subject is this; if a player wants to go, there is pretty much nothing a club can do to stop him. Ronaldo wants to go, so United should wait til he asks for a transfer. Thus saving themselves millions in loyalty payments, and ensuring the villains of the piece, his agent Mendes and the money men at Real get 10% of f*ck all and a larger bill respectively. Then sell the boy for £70million and buy 3 world class players to defend the European Cup.