A WEEK OF TWO HALVES..
It`s been a week of two halves for Argentina. First they got stuffed in the referendum on the Falkland Islands, when only three of the resident population voted not to remain British. (No wonder successive British Prime Ministers, despite solemn promises, shy away from giving us a referendum of whether we in the UK want to stay British or be subsumed into the farcical parallel universe of Brussels.)
Now Argentina have their very own Pope at last. A wait of over 1,000 years finally sees the Pope hailing from outside Europe so there`s much dancing in the streets of Buenos Aires right now. But of course, events in the Vatican have exposed yet another parallel universe, one seemingly governed by hocus pocus, mumbo jumbo and smoke and mirrors.
My own religious views are well documented in these pages so I won`t go on about it out of respect for those who do believe in the fairy tales, the pagan myths and the arcane process by which His Popeness has been selected. But it has always puzzled me as to how God`s representatives on earth can bring the game into disrepute to the extent they have and yet still elect someone who changes his name, acquires the ability to never be wrong about anything ever and gets worshipped as though he was the real thing. Goodness knows what Her Upstairs thinks about it. Now, if the new Pope had chosen the name, say, Eric, renounced his infallibility and made Lionel Messi a Saint, then he might have got off to a good start.
Which brings me on to football and the plight of Southampton`s Argentinian manager, one Mauricio Pochettino, who took over the reins from the inestimable Nigel Adkins a few short weeks ago. Pochettino`s record so far has been `mixed` with just one win in seven games although he has achieved something I don`t recall ever happening before. The fracas at the end of last week`s game at Norwich saw a gang of Saints players along with Pochettino and presumably his interpreter haranguing referee Mark Clattenburg for awarding Norwich a dodgy penalty.
The fact that the penalty was saved didn`t deter Pochettino & Co. from their harangue which has resulted in the Saints being charged by the Football Association for `failing to control their players.` This is the first time in over 60 years of following the Saints that I can ever recall such a charge being levied against my club and it might say much about the new attitude prevailing at St. Mary`s.
I suspect, however, that the Football Association may have picked the wrong target as Executive Chairman Nicola Cortese has built up a reputation for odd decisions, with the sacking of Nigel Adkins not only the oddest but also one which could yet see the Saints drop out of yet another parallel universe - that of the Premier League. Maybe the Saints should be charged with `failing to control their Chairman?` Football - the one true religion - could yet point the way to redemption; but I`ve long since given up believing that dreams come true.
Now Argentina have their very own Pope at last. A wait of over 1,000 years finally sees the Pope hailing from outside Europe so there`s much dancing in the streets of Buenos Aires right now. But of course, events in the Vatican have exposed yet another parallel universe, one seemingly governed by hocus pocus, mumbo jumbo and smoke and mirrors.
My own religious views are well documented in these pages so I won`t go on about it out of respect for those who do believe in the fairy tales, the pagan myths and the arcane process by which His Popeness has been selected. But it has always puzzled me as to how God`s representatives on earth can bring the game into disrepute to the extent they have and yet still elect someone who changes his name, acquires the ability to never be wrong about anything ever and gets worshipped as though he was the real thing. Goodness knows what Her Upstairs thinks about it. Now, if the new Pope had chosen the name, say, Eric, renounced his infallibility and made Lionel Messi a Saint, then he might have got off to a good start.
Which brings me on to football and the plight of Southampton`s Argentinian manager, one Mauricio Pochettino, who took over the reins from the inestimable Nigel Adkins a few short weeks ago. Pochettino`s record so far has been `mixed` with just one win in seven games although he has achieved something I don`t recall ever happening before. The fracas at the end of last week`s game at Norwich saw a gang of Saints players along with Pochettino and presumably his interpreter haranguing referee Mark Clattenburg for awarding Norwich a dodgy penalty.
The fact that the penalty was saved didn`t deter Pochettino & Co. from their harangue which has resulted in the Saints being charged by the Football Association for `failing to control their players.` This is the first time in over 60 years of following the Saints that I can ever recall such a charge being levied against my club and it might say much about the new attitude prevailing at St. Mary`s.
I suspect, however, that the Football Association may have picked the wrong target as Executive Chairman Nicola Cortese has built up a reputation for odd decisions, with the sacking of Nigel Adkins not only the oddest but also one which could yet see the Saints drop out of yet another parallel universe - that of the Premier League. Maybe the Saints should be charged with `failing to control their Chairman?` Football - the one true religion - could yet point the way to redemption; but I`ve long since given up believing that dreams come true.
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