Coventry City Banter - Join the debate with CCFC fans, staff writers and club legends

Man Who?

2009-05-28T09:46:44Z

So the dream is all over
The euphoria has died down
Supposed champions of Europe
More like Circus Ring Clowns

For the first seven minutes
They looked up for the fight
They had a couple of chances
Was it to be their night?

Then Barca got the ball
And attacked down the flanks
Man Yoo's defence was too static
The looked akin to short planks

An Anderson mistake left an opening
Could they carry it through?
They're a team full of winners
1 - 0 it's Samuel Eto'o

Barca seized the momentum
Passes found team-mates feet
Man Yoo visibly wilted
Was it due to the heat?

Fergie altered the set up
Ignoring practical advice
But it made little difference
It was Men against Mice

There was still time for a second
Another perfectly weighted pass
With the champions elect
Providing a true Master Class

So its back home to Devon
Somerset, London, Lands End
Back to Essex and Surrey
To their wives and girlfriends

And the moral of this tale
As they all drown they're sorrows
Is support your own local team
They'll still want you tomorrow

This Block 14 Rigmarole

2009-04-03T18:07:39Z

Don't upset your Ultras!

That's the rule most clubs stick to, as they cautiously play down the influence of their most outspoken fans. In reality, certain sets of supporters can have more influence over the running of the club than is ever openly admitted. Barcelona know what I'm talking about.

Do my beloved Sky Blues have Ultras? In a way, yes. If you substitute the knives and criminal records for a lit cigarette and 3-month ban from Jumpin' Jacks. But they're just as passionate, mind, and, I'm told, mostly congregate in block 14 of the Ricoh.

Imagine the fuss when the club announced the closure of that block next season. And fuss has turned to a campaign as their mild vexation has seethingly foamed into anger. This has manifested itself in a Facebook group.

But that is it: they'll have to move seats, a few yards to the right. What on earth is all the fuss about? Am I missing something here? Is there more to this riddle than my naivety will allow me to see?

Now before I go any further, let's remember that this block generates a beautiful and inspiring atmosphere. Singing, dancing, the odd topless large-bellied hero, and some uncharacteristically witty banter with opposition fans. Block 14, we love you.

But now you're block 15, squeezed in with the others for a better atmosphere, and to save some money. Money, which is keeping this talented team together so that we can watch an FA Cup quarter final every now and then.

Look at Southampton. Long have they followed a similar path to ours, and now it looks like they're about to diverge into a black hole of doom. Oh, how that could have been us. Not only should we move seats when asked, if Mr Ranson requested that I shine his shoes one matchday, I'd give them a jolly good seeing to, then I'd crouch down in front of him and offer my back for their comfort over the next 90 minutes.

We don't own our seats. We merely rent them for an afternoon. Crikey, the football club doesn't even own those seats! Better pay our council tax or we could get turfed out altogether!

Aron Gunnarsson set for Scotland clash

2009-03-23T14:46:11Z

WHILE most of Coventry City's squad are enjoying a late-season break over the next fortnight, Aron Gunnarsson will be logging a new milestone in his exciting young career.

The midfielder is due to step out in front of a passionate Hampden Park crowd on April 1 as Iceland take on Scotland in a World Cup qualifier - another prime opportunity to demonstrate the development that has stunned the Sky Blues management team this season.

Boss Chris Coleman admits that he expected the 19-year-old to be a squad player this season while he found his feet in English football.

But having turned in some impressively muscular midfield displays, proven his versatility by filling in at right-back and unveiled the attacking potential of his prodigious long throw, Gunnarsson is now regarded as one of the Ricoh Arena's crown jewels.

He has also become a cult hero with the fans - that status reaching stratospheric heights during the midweek trip to Bristol City when he and mum Jona joined the Sky Blue Army in the Ashton Gate stands.

And his importance to the club's future was underlined when - along with Kieren Westwood, Scott Dann and Danny Fox - he was offered a long-term contract extension designed to fend off interest from Premier League predators after the usual speculation about possible suitors emerging.

But Gunnarsson insists he won't be trying to exploit that situation with some hard-ball negotiating.

"I've read that some big clubs might be coming in for me in the summer," he said.

''But I'm not thinking about that. I want to stay at Coventry.

"It's not all about the money. I can learn a lot here, develop as a player, but if I went to a bigger team I would probably be on the bench most of the time.

" I didn't expect to play as many games this season and the gaffer didn't expect me to either, but I've done well so he's kept me in the team and that's been great for me.

"I've worked hard to get here but I'm not going to stop and think, 'that's enough'.

''I want to go higher and get higher with Coventry - I can't wait for next season when we can progress as a team."

A player with a remarkably old head on his young shoulders, Gunnarsson showed his single-minded approach with previous club AZ Alkmaar in Holland.

"Iceland called me up for a friendly match," he explained. "That was on a Sunday but AZ had a reserve match on the Monday and they didn't want me to go because it wasn't an international break.

"I told them that I wanted the chance to get into the team.

''I was thinking about my career, because the game was a window for me instead of playing in Holland when nobody was watching.

"They weren't happy but in the end they let me go, and I think I made the right choice. I didn't really think that I would be able to establish myself in the Iceland team this quickly.

Gunnarsson is one of only three Sky Blues players on international duty next week.

Westwood has been called up by Ireland and on-loan winger Jordan Henderson could be in action for England's Under-19s - and Coleman admits he would prefer him to be staying at home.

"Ideally, for us, he wouldn't be going because he has only just turned 19 and I think he needs to rest," said the manager.

"He has played a lot more games than we expected because I didn't think he would hit the levels that he has until next season.

"But it has taken its toll and he is tired and was ill last week.

''He was on the bench at Preston and I didn't really want to put him on because he was coughing, but we were chasing the game."

Coventry City 1 Doncaster Rovers 0

2009-03-23T14:35:20Z

DAVID Bell capitalised on a howler from Doncaster's Neil Sullivan to score his first goal for Coventry and give them victory in their Coca-Cola Championship match at the Ricoh Arena.

Coventry had looked the better side in the opening stages. With 20 minutes gone, Sullivan came rushing out of his goal to clear Keiren Westwood's goal-kick - only for it to go straight to Bell, who finished superbly from 45 yards.

See all our action pictures from the game here....

It was no more than Coventry deserved.

Stephen Wright saw a shot hit the post minutes later, and at the other end Westwood made a good save from John Spicer as Doncaster pressed forward before the break.

Westwood had to be alert to deny Dean Shiels early in the second half, but Coventry held on to record their first victory in five matches and move nine points clear of the bottom three.

The defeat was Doncaster's third in a row without scoring and left them with work to do to secure their Championship status for next season.

The home side almost went in front with two minutes gone when Aron Gunnarsson headed into the path of Jordan Henderson, who cut the ball across for Freddy Eastwood. But his shot skimmed the top of the bar.

Doncaster quickly found their rhythm, and Wilson was allowed to stride forward unchallenged before unleashing a long-range effort which Westwood did well to turn around the post.

Shortly after Coventry's opener, they went agonisingly close to doubling their lead when Gunnarsson's throw was headed straight into the path of Wright - whose first-time shot cannoned back off the post.

The visitors began to come into the game late in the half. Spicer was played in, but Westwood was quickly off his line to block the shot.

Doncaster continued where they left off at the start of the second half, and a quick break saw Shiels get away inside the area. But once again, Westwood did well to save the shot.

Coventry did still look dangerous, though, and Guillaume Beuzelin's cross found Scott Dann - but his flicked header went just over the bar.

Doncaster's Mark Wilson fired a long-range effort wide, and at the other end Gunnarsson saw his shot well blocked by Adam Lockwood.

Doncaster tried to push for a way back in the closing stages, but Coventry held firm to secure a battling three points.

See all our action pictures from the game here....

From Top to Bottom

2009-03-17T22:12:03Z

Only Coventry fans could go from emphatic chants of We're all going to Wem-ber-ley and unabashed prognostications of reaching the play-offs to mumurs and grumblings of the lurid realms of relegation.

In just seven days.

Have we really changed that much in just three games? Have our Wembley-bound heroes been cosmically spellbound by some sorcerous means, doomed to a fate of (even) lower league football?

Of course not. We were, as we should have been, beaten by a world-class Premiership team, and have lost a couple of tricky league games that have left us... well, pretty much where we've been all season.

So, no need to panic then. Talk of the play-offs was inevitable, but premature. Not because of the points needed to reach one of those fabled berths, but just the sheer number of teams between us and the hallowed top six. So now that we can put a lid on all that play-off nonsense for this year, the talk switches to our other favourite topic: relegation.

Ben Turner has reassured us this week that "we don't need to worry about relegation and all that". Well that's a relief. Although one can't help think that his reassurance was not borne out of objective assessment, but more to gain impunity in the eyes of his fans after his little weekend faux pas.

I know Ben was being fouled, but if he'd only ducked instead of... oh, never mind.

Even Keiren "Who-says-you-can't-save-in-a-recession?" Westwood has shown his flappable side. Well, his feet have. Maybe he should pretend he's hurt his leg and let a defender do all the kicking. A role as pinch-kicker at set-pieces might have been ear-marked for Marcus when a contract extension was put before him. It's keeping David Beckham in the job.

As much as I'd like to dramaticise the last few weeks of the season with talk of potential voyages to the extremities of our division, I'm afraid there will be no such adventures. It's the steady waters of mid-table from here on in, a fate that I will share in welcoming after the traumas of last year.

There's always the sideshow attraction of seeing just how many friends Aron Gunnarsson can get on Facebook. Currently about 4,200 more than me.

Coventry City v Chelsea FA Cup Live Blog

2009-03-07T12:12:41Z

Our top team are down at the Ricoh Arena for today's sell-out clash between Coventry and Chelsea. Join in the live match debate on their live blog now:

Coventry City v Chelsea - FA Cup live blog

FA Cup 2009

2009-03-06T13:46:07Z

The perfect gift,
or so it seemed
a home 3rd round draw
against a lower ranked team

The Vultures had gathered
Kidderminster would be a stern test
but they where dispatched
with goals from McKenzie & Best

Then a trip to the seaside
a tricky tie was assured
but we saw Torquay of too
with a late strike from Ward

It was going quiet well
seemed a bit like a dream
as we sat and watched the draw
for the last sixteen

A trip up to Blackburn
wasn't anyone's first choice
but the travelling fan's
where all in fine voice

A draw and some credit
against premiership class
bring them back to the Ricoh
then we'll kick some *ss!

The Stadium was rocking
it finally came alive
Leon Best's glancing header
the "Ricoh Roar" had arrived

to see the stadium full
should fill the players with glee
and may just give us an edge
over the fancied Chelsea

If we cheer every tackle,
and somehow manage to score
just one goal more than them
we'll be in the last four!

Say 'No' to Robots

2009-03-05T23:00:18Z

I'm telling you it didn't cross the line. Spare yourself the bother and heartache of watching the TV replay, there's no debate or analysis needed. As frustrated as I was from the stands, I can only imagine how cross Keiren Westwood was.

Think about it: this guy spends his whole life trying to stop goals. His livelihood depends on it. It feeds his family, and keeps him warm and safe at night. So when he saves another good'un against Sheffield United, only to be told that he had, in actual fact, failed to do so, his incandescence must have only been the first movement of his symphony of emotions.

That he only got booked for being told he wasn't doing his job, when he bloomin' well was is a miracle in itself. Where was the fourth official this time? Don't they have monitors in those hideouts of theirs?

I think you know where this is going, but I'll stop you there, because I am not in favour of using 'technology'. It's such an ugly word in the context of the beautiful game. If 'technology' starts creeping into the game, who knows where it will end? Judging by the amount of money washing around the game at the minute, one dabble in this forbidden pool could end up with us watching some kind of footy-themed Robot Wars, between Daleks Athletic and Cybermen City.

Let's say for instance that after Wednesday's 'incident' the game was stopped and referred to an off-the-pitch official to study the replay, or maybe just see if a sensor had beeped on the goal line. The goal wouldn't have counted, but City may well have gone on to lose anyway, as they far from being on top of their game.

Then I would have trudged meekly home not cursing the officials but bleakly trying to fathom just why the City looked so tame against a rather average (but successful) Sheffield team. I'd much rather just go home with ref-rage thanks, and I'd get home a few minutes earlier without all the faffing around with 'technology'.

The point is, to take that subjective element out of the game would lessen its effect and, eventually, its appeal. I like that referees can have a bad game. It makes the game that bit less predictable, and just gives us so much more to talk about. If every decision was made by a computer (albeit correctly) the game would become clinical and sterile.

This is where cricket is headed you may have noticed. And are they still getting all the decisions right? Not if Nasser Hussain's carefully but hotly worded rant after England's third test against the West Indies is anything to go by. Nasser was such a cool bloke at the crease. One or two more dodgy third umpire decisions and he might start to have an inkling of what Keiren Westwood must be going through.

Coventry City v Blackburn Rovers: Live blog

2009-02-24T12:01:55Z

IT'S FA Cup time folks and Coventry Telegraph Online offering you a special service for tonight's game against Blackburn Rovers.

We will be reporting live from the ground in an online blog. We will have Coventry City reporter Andy Turner on hand to bring you the latest updates, he will be joined by two of our multimedia team Dave Higgerson and Martin Smith.

Dave will be alongside Andy at the Ricoh bringing you the action as it happens and coventrytelegraph.net website editor Martin will be joining in the fun to make sure you know exactly what's happening not only at the Ricoh but from around the grounds...

To follow our Live Blog click here...

Valentine's Day Heartache

2009-02-17T01:05:24Z

I was initially amused by the appearance of a Valentine's day-themed streaker at last weekend's FA Cup match against Blackburn. Not just for his dedication to the role (the bow and arrow, the roses he was giddily dispersing - those ain't cheap around Valentine's, y'know...), but for his sobriety in keeping his underwear on. A decision which spared us all, but failed to keep in spirit with streaking etiquette. Perhaps he felt he didn't have the necessary anatomic qualifications to belong to that crowd, or maybe it was just too cold.

His appearance was the prelude to Michael Doyle's refreshingly lucky goal that gave City the lead. But soon after the match, when the true despair that arises from conceding stoppage-time goals had truly set in, I realised that it was plausible, if not fair, to blame this impromptu character for our team being pilfered of a quarter final place.

Now, it's not that I think the whole psuedo-streaking episode gave Blackburn the extra few minutes they needed to score that goal. No, the match length wasn't altered. But there is a big difference when time gets taken out of 'normal time' and added to 'stoppage time'. Because when a fourth official holds up his board and it indicates 3 added minutes, that's pretty normal. But hold up the board with 5 minutes on it and it's a different story.

When the big 5 was displayed the dulcit and dreary Blackburn fans were suddenly galvanised and erupted in an orgy of cheers at this news of their team being given a lifeline.

"5 minutes! Cor blimey, we can actually win this thing!"

The team, on hearing their fans newfound belief, were all of a sudden of a similar mind that all was not lost, and that one final push might salvage something.

It bloomin' did. I won't go into details.

The closest thing to a comforting thought that I can cling to is that this team feels as peed off about it as I do. I knew when my head was down after the game, their heads were down with me, chewing over the cold determination that justice would be served in the replay. I know this because only a team that cared that much could give that kind of gladiatorial performance.

Next time it'll be at our place, and we don't indulge in letting morons onto our pitch.

James McPake loving Coventry City life

2009-02-16T11:23:37Z

JAMES McPake headed south because he was eager to test himself in a higher standard of football and the Scottish defender's Coventry City career could hardly have got off to a more demanding start.

He was pitched straight into a debut against Championship pace-setters Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, winning rave reviews from the management and the media for his performance against the potent double act of Chris Iwelumo and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.

And after the glamorous distraction of yesterday's FA Cup duel against Blackburn Rovers, he is facing up to two more high-octane league games in the space of four days, with a trip to promotion-chasing Burnley on Tuesday followed by Saturday's Ricoh Arena clash with derby rivals Birmingham City.

But it's a prospect he relishes and he's delighted that his protracted move from Livingston was sorted out in the last few hours of the transfer window, so he can face those challenges now rather than having to wait until next season.

"They will be tough games," he admitted, "but I prefer it that way. and I'm really looking forward to it.

"It has been an unsettling time for me, which is maybe one of the reasons why I haven't played many games since the start of January.

"I made it clear I wanted to come here - Livingston knew that and Coventry knew that - so I'm glad everything was finally sorted out and I was able to sign six months early.

"That gives me time to get some games under my belt and get a feel for the place before next season ."

McPake was flattered by the fact that he became a priority target for Chris Coleman, a top-quality centre-half in his playing days, while the manager was in turn delighted with his new recruit's exemplary debut.

"First and foremost, it was obviously great to start off with a win against the league leaders," said McPake, "but on a personal note I thought I did OK, especially as I had only played three games in six or eight weeks.

"Playing against two goalscorers like that was a massive test for Ben Turner and me and after the first ten minutes, I thought I was going t need an oxygen tank! But that was maybe down to a bit of excitement and adrenalin and after that I felt fine.

"The pace is definitely quicker and I'm playing against better players that I have been in the past couple of years, but that's what I wanted. It doesn't matter if people are saying 'he's this' or 'he's that' - I've got to go out and prove it out on the park."

McPake was mightily impressed by his first experience of his new home park: "The Ricoh Arena is a great stadium and there was a brilliant atmosphere from the home fans and the Wolves supporters."

He is confident that he has joined a club which has the potential to ensure a regular supply of high-profile matches.

"There's a good mix here," he said - "It's basically a young squad, with a lot of boys around my age, 24, but there's bags of experience as well. They're looking to build something here so it's very exciting to be able to come into a dressing room like that."

Off the field, McPake is rapidly settling in to life in the Midlands. "I was in a hotel for a few days which wasn't great," he said, "but I've just moved into a wee house with my girlfriend quite near here so that's a lot better.

''That will do us for now and we'll have a look round in the summer."

The family will soon be complete when he is joined by Rio, his black labrador and 'right-hand man'.

''He should be down here this time next week which is great, because he's been getting more publicity than me!" said McPake.

A Marathon not a Sprint

2009-02-09T19:04:00Z

A time of change is taking place
and a fan needs to show some faith
for the comings look very good indeed
as our club begins to take shape

The Deadwood is slowly drifting away
and the chancer's time has passed
no more passengers in Sky Blue
thank heaven's, at long last

The likes of Birchall, Miffy & Kyle
have all been shown the door
The hopes and dreams of City Fans
have turned around once more

The new boys all show lots of hope
for a future clear and bright
they play with lots of confidence
Fear of failure, none in sight

The likes of Westwood, Wright, McPake
Gunnarson, Morrison & Bell
show that Cookie has an eye for class
for youth with style as well

With Dann, Turner, Fox & Ward
A defence and a sturdy spine
the midfield will definitely start to gel
The whole team just needs time

So stick with them all and keep the faith
keep abreast of what's in print
because as the old adage says:
"It's a marathon, not a sprint!"

There's no rubbish from this chairman's mouth
no empty promises or trash
just the building of a good young team
And he's spending lots of cash

So in these days of overnight success
Some might want a faster pace
just take a look whats going on
The building blocks are all in place

So exactly what may lay ahead
No - one can be really sure
But the way that things are shaping up
looks a lot better than it did before!

Can I be your friend, Aron?

2009-02-04T22:03:11Z

Managers seem to come and go through doors: in through the front door or out through the back door. Players, it seems, come and go through windows. Transfer windows to be precise, and this latest one has just closed leaving players stuck inside gazing out, perhaps.

The two City players who made their exit through this last window had a helping hand from Chris Coleman who opened the window as wide as he good to get rid of these two misfits (Julian Gray and Michael Mifsud in case you missed last week.) In fact I wouldn't be surprised if Coleman opened all the windows, including the French ones to let them out.

Thankfully the rest of City's squad were kept well away from any windows. Danny Fox worried me the most. There comes a point where so many rumours fly about that they seem to amalgamate into some kind brothy truth.

In the end there wasn't even a bid for our left-back lieutenant and my fears turned into mere mild embarrassment at how worried I had become over his fictional exit.

Keiren Westwood and Aron Gunnarsson are City's other prize possesions and were kept away from the window by wise Coleman. Gunnarsson even got shipped off to sunny Tenerife. I think that was in case of this scenario:

*Ring ring*
Mr Ranson: "Hello"
Big-club Supremo: "I'd like to speak with Mr Gunnarsson about a possible move please."
Mr Ranson: "Sorry, my friend, Aron's off in Tenerife. You could go find him, but I guess getting a flight might be a problem with all this snow..."
*Dialling tone*
Mr Ranson: "Hello?"

Actually, all he had to do was get onto Facebook. You can find Aron there. I know because I, like many City fans, am officially his Facebook 'friend'. One of two-and-a-half-thousand odd at the last count.

How many other footballers would invite that kind of attention on themselves? Not only that, Aron even takes time to read and reply to messages (which, judging by the volume of messages, must take some time) as if he was having a chat down his local.

He says it's important to keep in touch with the fans. In doing so he's elavated himself from fans' favourite to fans' hero. Aron's on his way back to Coventry as I type. It's safe now, all the windows are closed.

My FA Cup Cat Dance

2009-01-26T22:00:36Z

You can't mess with the FA Cup. Few events can justify sweeping up your ladyfriend's cat off the kitchen floor and holding it aloft whilst spinning around around on the spot and cheering like a 5-year-old. But the FA Cup, I think, does.

I heard a radio phone-in recently where people came on and suggested ways of recapturing the lost romance of the competition. Like drawing home teams from a pot of 'little' clubs and away teams from a pot of 'big' ones. Thus engineering more potential upsets than if you were inviting a bunch of Daily Mail reporters to Ross-Brand stand-up show. They do it that way in France, apparently.

This genetic engineering of cup ties seems all too forced to me. It's gone that way already. As soon as a draw is made the pundits are searching for upsets like a pack of Stanstead sniffer dogs around Colombian man with a bright shirt and a cigar.

Is there any such thing as an FA Cup shock now? Shocks are so sought after, revered, and studied, that the shock of last weekend was that Fulham DID make it past mighty Kettering, when everyone was screaming 'upset!'. The best upsets are those that go almost unnoticed until they happen. Villa being held up by Doncaster gets my vote.

You can't mess with the FA Cup. The less we tamper, pre-empt, and wish for, the more enthralled we'll be with its romantic splendour. I'm usually edgy when my Saturday afternoon attentions are drawn away from the beautiful game, and onto something more girl-friendly. But last Saturday's jaunt around town was an acutely frenetic affair in which I WAPed more than any respectable man should.

The compromise: on our return I listen to the final stages of the match on the radio in the kitchen just in time for Elliott Ward to step up and nonchalently nod us into the next round. Cue a fist-pump, a slide onto my knees, a high-five with my less-than-impressed ladyfriend, and the lifting of the cat like it was the very cup I was cheering for.

It's not me, darling, it's the FA Cup. It's magic.

Malaga V Espanyol

2009-01-22T16:18:06Z

A Trip to Malaga (part 2)

Another day out in Sunny Malaga was penned in for the visit of Espanyol, on Sunday 18th January, with yet another 17h00 Kick - Off. The plan was to meet up in Harry's bar again, before heading into the City for a bite to eat at a "New Found" eatery, for some traditional Spanish food, before sending the Barcelona outfit back up the N340 with their tails between their legs.

On arrival at Harry's, it was noted that a couple of regulars were nowhere to be seen, this was explained by Jason, who confirmed that upon arrival at home around 03h00 this morning, Sean had bolted the door on his Fiance, who had taken the dog for a walk, before hitting the pit. On arrival back home, she couldn't waken the comatose Irishman, and spent 2 hours cuddled up to the dog on the front step, before he finally answered his mobile phone and let her in. But not before he had smashed the latch of the door, in his attempt to allow her, now freezing soul, into the flat. A bill of 280 euro's and the promise of years of undying devotion, plus a week off the drink, went some way to clearing the air.

And so we set off, arriving some 30 minutes later into deepest Malaga and our newly chosen Hostelry of choice. It was discovered by Pork Chop during the recent visit of Barcelona FC, when he went searching for a pre-game toilet break, and has since become a firm favorite, due to the quality and inexpensive food and drink on offer. The site of a "Lady of the Night" in pajama's and Slippers popping in for a "Tea Break" may give you some idea of the local area!

The drinks arrived, followed by a couple of plates of Squid, and we were in our element. Well most of us anyway, it was all a bit "Too Spanish" for Jason from Bedworth, who politely declined any more "Whelks in Batter". The main course arrived thereafter, which was a lovely dish of Paella for the 5 of us, swiftly accompanied by another round of drinks, plus a free drink from the owner, followed by another round. One more round of Mahou was followed by a Triple Brandy, before it was time to ask for the bill and head to the ground. The bill arrived to stunned silence, 2 plates of Squid, Bread, Paella for five, 25 bottles of Mahou between us, plus Brandy all round, not to mention the yellow looking liquor supplied by Jose the manager, for only 57 euro's?

We took up our seats in the ground and the eagerly awaited kick off, whilst Sean fell into a deep and somewhat noisy sleep and was awoken 90 minutes later, with the score at 4 - 0 to Malaga. And so back to the pub, it's a hard life in Spain, but someone has to do it!