Perch should be banned for 3 games, says Collymore

Posted on April 4th, 2012 | 107 Comments |

Stan Collymore comments on Perch headbutt incident.
Collymore - pundit, of sorts
Stan Collymore claims Newcastle United defender James Perch should be given a 3-match ban for ‘diving’.

Alleged pundit Stan Collymore has had plenty to say about the game against Liverpool on Sunday. First of all he said that Andy Carroll should be banned for his dive in the box and then says Perch should be banned for being headbutted by Pepe Reina. Collymore chose Twitty to express his views and said:

“Not many suggesting punishments for diving, so is it now with us for good? I say give Carroll/Perch three game bans. They won’t do it again.”

Whilst I tend to agree that diving should be punished and would therefore support the idea of Carroll being banned for 3 games, I can’t support the idea that Perch should be banned for 3 games too. Clearly I’m writing on a Newcastle United ‘blog and would expect cries of unfair bias, so I ought to try and justify myself before the tar and featherers dust of their tar and feathering kit and make their way to Somerset to try and find me.

In Carroll’s case the various replays showed that there was definitely no contact on him from Krul. I can’t say for definite that he didn’t merely ‘stumble’, as Kenny Dalgish claimed, but it looked very much like a dive. Make what you will of that but in Perch’s case there was contact between Reina’s head and Perch’s. He was nutted, basically.

Now, I do think Perch made too much of that, and I said as much in my match report, and I certainly don’t like to see players do that but I can’t see how Collymore can claim a 3-match ban is justified when there was indeed contact. And that’s the key difference: there was no contact in the Carroll incident, there was in the Perch incident.

Most YouTube versions of the incident have been withdrawn due to copyright, but I did find this one so judge for yourself:

So what do you think? Did Carroll cheat? Did Perch cheat? And should players in general be retrospectively punished for cheating even if the referee didn’t spot it at the time?

NUFCBlog Author: Hugh de Payen I'm a baby-boomer of the punk rock persuasion, currently exiled in Somerset for crimes committed in a previous life where locals keep trying to poison me with something called 'scrumpy'. Hates sprouts, coat-hangers, Cilla Black, ornaments, Steven Seagull movies and 50 Cent (he's not worth 10). Hugh de Payen has written 634 articles on this blog.

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107 Responses

  1. First and foremost Andy Carroll is a geordie who likes to drink in the Town. If you look closely, he lost balance, stumbled and fell – that’s what I would have done too – that’s all I’m going to say.

    As for Perch – he was given a geordie kiss. It was violent conduct by whatsisname in the Scouse goal and he had to go. How Perch reacted to that is neither here nor there.

    As far as the “national” media people go – Why is it always a case of frothing at the mouth and screaming “ban him” when it’s a Newcastle United player? As if something like possible over-reacting has never happened before?

    I can remember their darling Beckham going down like a sack of tatties when standing next to some johnny foreigner in a Manure European Cup game – the cameras from the side showed there was about 2 foot between him and the other player and no contact was even attempted, never mind made – the player got sent off. No screams of “ban him” for La Beckham’s “artistic impression” – these days some deluded fools are even calling for the little git to be knighted!!

  2. There is a big different…Perch exaggerated a wrong against him, Carroll made up a wrong against him.

    It will be hard to punish Perch, whos to say what hes pain threshold is, Reina did make contact with his face with his head.

    If the Perch incident happened against us, I’d be mad at Tim Krul, but scousers just like to blame everyone else.

  3. If we want to talk about perch diving take a look a saurez
    he makes a meal everytime hes touched

  4. Loving the fact that the southern media hate the fact that Newcastle are having a good season

  5. What a joke!

    They have suarat, not only a compulsive diver, whiner, cheater, cry baby, but a proven racist to boot.

    Would ya’ dare?

  6. As much as I dislike diving I will admit although he made a meal of it reina did put himself in the position to be sent off. Touching upon suarez, did any1 see that beaut of a tackle perch did on suarez n got the ball n suarez went down like he’s had a nuke to the nuts! Man up!

  7. “Whilst I tend to agree that diving should be punished and would therefore support the idea of Carroll being banned for 3 games, I can’t support the idea that Perch should be banned for 3 games too. Clearly I’m writing on a Newcastle United ‘blog and would expect cries of unfair bias, so I ought to try and justify myself before that tar and featherers dust of their tar and feathering kit and make their way to Somerset to try and find me.”

    Hugh, how many people can say that they really did go out on a tarring and feathering expedition once? I can, though I recall that we took some kind of treacle based compound rather than actual tar. I paid a terrible price for it later on.

    Slightly more to the point though, Collymore’s just a mouth on a stick.

    Happy 600th blog BTW!

  8. The Ref booked Andy Krul never touched him. Rena should know you can’t go around butting players in the face, it’s violent conduct. Had it been Tim Krul butting Saurez in the face we would have seen high swan dive followed by three backward summerssalts An olympic gold medal performance for sure. Get real Collymore.

  10. Good point in the article: no contact for Carrol, Reina did put one on Perch (who over-reacted). There’s a huge difference.

    Collymore – an “alleged pundit” indeed :-) A shining example of some of the five star tools paid to write ever-expanding quantities of utter sh++e these days.

    The media is definitely selectively blind – a blatant dive, falling over at the slightest contact or attempting to get a player sent off by one of the media’s ‘daring players of the moment’ isn’t really commented on, but the same from a player from an ‘unfashionable’ team gets hours of airtime and miles of column inches.

    Personally, I don’t want to see any of our players ever overacting (like Perch) or simply cheating (like Carrol).
    In reality, it’s so endemic in today’s game – just go to any junior match and see what the under 10s/12s etc. are doing after watching their premiership ‘heroes’.

    Can it be eradicated? Probably not. So, as much as I hate admitting this, if we don’t do it and all the others do…how many points and league places will we lose a season as a consequence? What price honesty?

    A sad state of affairs that for me is spoiling the game. But, until FIFA, UEFA and the FA stop seeing nothing but the pound signs in front of their eyes, it will never change…

    My dream: finishing 5th, qualifying for the Europa League (I’m a realist…)then re-reading the utter tripe written about us by so many pundits at the start of and throughout the season for a few laughs :-)

    Here’s to 3 points at Swansea!

  11. Here we go again. Collymore hates anything to do with Newcastle after all he said that at the beginning of last season that we would go straight back down to the fizzy pop league and at the start of this season he said the same bacause we had let all the big names go and we had nobody left of premiership class.

    Carroll dived – WHY? Could it just be that he thought he may miss the goal so it was better to cheat to get a penalty then someone else would take the responsibility of scoring, afetr all six goals in 15 months is tantamount to failure.

    Perch…. Hmmmmm he did go down but as already beed said there was contact between the players with Renia definately the aggressor so there can be no chance of a ban.

    Diving is now rife in the game, but there again is shirt pulling in the penalty area and if I can remember a certain Newcastle player giving a way a penalty for that sin and yet it goes on at every match unpunnished, why don’t we just accept that if we do anything wrong we get punnished but it is OK for other teams. We need consistency amongst referees and I think that shirt pulling in the penalty area if by a defender should result in a penalty it will cut it out if EVERY referee gave the same response.

    Also have you noticed that if we play a team off the park, it is because the other team are below form and not playing well, if we are played off the park it is because the other team are brilliant. I know we are biased but I am a bit tired of Southern bias against us, by Southern I mean South of the Tyne os course..

  12. The video tape does’nt lie !
    Loking at the vasious angles shown of Carrolls spill, it was obvious no one made contact and it was an obvious dive, so give credit to the ref.
    Whatever one sez about the headbutt,serious contact was made and only Perch can describe how paifull it was.
    Problem is, this kind of action is becoming more and more prevalent and in fact diving has been accepted by certain fans as long as it’s not called against anyone on their side.
    As for head butting, it’s the first thing that usually follows a set too between player, each going head to head.
    Some fans seem to think the game is not as physical as it was in the past, which is a fallacy, there were certain codes of conduct that players followed, a tough but fair challenge was acceptable.
    However in to-days game there are more deliberate fouls commited than in any time previous, with less goodwill between sides.
    Obvious the introduction of players from around the globe, has brought the cultures of their native leagues with them, changing forever the once accepted attitudes of English football.
    Mostly IMO a negative thing.

  13. UTD111 says:
    April 4, 2012 at 5:18 pm

    “As far as the “national” media people go – Why is it always a case of frothing at the mouth and screaming “ban him” when it’s a Newcastle United player?”

    I still don’t get this “national” media thing of yours, UTD111 (of course you mean that London again). Collymore’s from the Midlands, he even has the accent to prove it.

  14. workyticket says: “Hugh, how many people can say that they really did go out on a tarring and feathering expedition once? I can, though I recall that we took some kind of treacle based compound rather than actual tar. I paid a terrible price for it later on.”

    Can’t say I’ve actually been on a tar and feathering, although I have a mate who had a feather superglued to his bottom on a stag night once.

  15. Jaysus !
    I cant believe the old whine concerning ” The Suvern Press” has been dragged out and re-run.
    Folks the conspiracy is located in your heads.
    The result of some kind of provincialism, it’ a red herring for things that you dont agree with.
    Let it RIP.

  16. I hate cheats full stop. It does’nt matter if they play for Barca, Liverfools or us. It stinks and it’s even more annoying when its one of our own that’s play-acting.
    Not interested in the Carroll buisness, we all know he’s a dick head for leaving in the first place.
    Butt out Collymore, it’s got rock all to do with you or anyone else except the players concearned and the man in the middle, who it has to be said, got it all dead to rights.
    All this bollox about retro bans and fines, is ruining the game. When and if there is ever tv evidence passed by them upstairs, then fair enough. For anyone to impose bans or fines without the use of fourth official technology is unfair and untill the game is dragged screaming into the modern era, it will always be against the grain for me. HWTL.

  18. So contact now equals foul? This idea of “there was contact” is what is pedalled on a regular basis these days, often to justify a player’s cheating – yup, cheating.

    Consider this: a cross comes into the box, two opposing players jump for the header. On almost every occasion there will be contact between the two players. Either player could hit the floor and hold in agony whichever body part came into contact with the other player – and with the logic of “there was contact”, it would be justified.

    Contact will always be made between players – every header, tackle and piece of hold-up play. Are people suggesting that, not only should this be penalised each and every time, but the “receiving” player also has every right to writhe in agony? I’d say yes, you are (sorry, Hugh, Perch was not “nutted”).

    Watching an excellent defensive and attacking display on Sunday was a joy to behold, but the nonsense with Reina ruined the enjoyment of the result. And with all the progress that Perch has made this season, his actions have notched him back a few pegs.

  19. Collymore work for talksport a call in radio show. They say things on twitter to generate calls. And hes a brummy.

  20. I rather like the idea of retroactive bans and massive fines for diving. That shit shouldn’t be tolerated. In fact there should be an on the spot review. Would take all of 3 seconds to determine if anything really happened. Flagrant simulation (like Beckham or that Brazilian fanny from a few years back) should be an instant sending off with a massive fine to follow. It’s beyond pathetic and tarnishes the game.

  21. David Allison says: “sorry, Hugh, Perch was not “nutted”.”

    I think he was – look at the video.

    I’ll grant you he may not have been nutted particularly hard and I admitted I thought he overreacted.

    You mention crosses and such but this wasn’t game-play: Reina ran over to him, brought his head towards Perch’s and made contact. You can’t have players doing that – it was wrong. It’s nothing like a clash of heads in the box or whatever.

  22. I’ll go one better than a YouTube vid Hugh, here’s a photo of said contact between Reina’s head & Perch’s nose..

    [img]http://i42.tinypic.com/2yy1d0n.jpg[/img]

  23. Sorry, thought image would work on here but obviously not… just take out the (img) tags & it should show the headbutt clearly :)

  25. Aye,

    they can use tv/tech for retro-bans, but strangely, not for checking whether the ball went over the line etc.
    Funny that!

  26. Tripp,

    good idea mate, but that would mean the fa etc growing some balls.
    Mmmm!

  27. How about such fouls and behaviour being punished instantly by a spell in the bin as in rugby, except that I would binem for the rest of that particular half, not just 10 mins.
    Only a thought !!!

  28. Sin bin-powerplay is a good plan, it would focus a few minds. Especially for nonsense crimes.

  29. Yes, Hugh, from the supplied video’s angle, it looks like a headbutt, but other views tell the true story.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK4_E7Cgq5g (the replay at the very end)

    I’m not disputing the referee’s decision here; perhaps at his angle it looked as it did on the video in your post.

    The issue is, you mention contact again – Hugh, you must appreciate that this is not, on its own, going to cause harm or physical violence. If such gentle caresses of the human body caused so much damage, we’d be a far less sociable people.

    I agree that Reina was being aggressive in approaching Perch and that he came into contact with him, but this does not justify (and did not cause) Perch’s fall.

  30. Yea.. Talk sport pundits.. Let’s look… Andy Grey.. Richard Keys and Stan Collymore.. Hmmmmm… Says it all lads….

  31. The pundits !
    Stan Cullymore, regarded as a bit of a nutter.

    Andy Gray? Theres nothing Andy doesnt know about football and if you dont believe it, ask him.

    Shearer, the less said the better.

    Lawrenson, a Liverpool homer.

    Alan Hansen, a smug Knaas it all.

    Phil Thompson, not the brightest, disclosed the deal was done for Enrique, long before it happened.

    There’s a whole slew of these idiots voicing their smug opinions as if we fans were just a bunch of dummies, awiting the pearls of wisdom they were laying on us.

    On the other hand there are some pretty savvy match color commentators who can explain some of the games finer points and give an interesting analysis of whats taking place.
    So it’s not all bad, just use the half time period to get another beer or a sandwich and ignore our idiot Pundits.

  32. Clint (25)
    Exactly my point bud.too many prats at the FA with nothing to do but interfere. Take yr average golf club committee man, interfering busy body’s with too much time on their hands and no set rules.Just the same.!

  34. “Phil Thompson, not the brightest, disclosed the deal was done for Enrique, long before it happened.”

    Yes, i beleive he said for like £15 million, so he knew nout.

  35. porcie,

    aye mate,
    an auld boys club of know nowts & people that haven’t even played the game mostly.
    How does that happen?

  36. I don’t think this would be getting as much discussion from the press if Reina was an outfield player. It’s only because he is a goalkeeper and not missed a game in donkeys and Liverpool made all their subs that this is being discussed as much. For example, tiote, flopped like a fish when sessegnon swung an arm and subsequently was shown a red.
    I don’t recall as much interest from the press for that.
    I don’t agree with diving but unfortunately it is here to stay.
    Well done by the way to Perch for a (nearly) perfect game.

  37. We were never gonna get £15m for anyone in the last year of their contract like.

  38. Hey Collymore, seeing as you are championing the rights and wrongs of foul play in its many forms, just refresh my memory again about your gentlemanly conduct towards the ladies in your life ????????? Your a numpty, a brainless waste of space and a Brummie to boot . Not a lot going for you there son. Just keep your gob shut.

  39. David Allison says: “I agree that Reina was being aggressive in approaching Perch and that he came into contact with him, but this does not justify (and did not cause) Perch’s fall.”

    I agree with that last bit. I thought Perch overreacted. But in the context of the article, in which Collymore calls for a 3 game ban for perch, I have to disagree.

    Reina was the aggressor. I believe he made contact (see Toon69’s photo) and regardless of what Perch did he was the ‘victim’ of the incident.

    Contrast that to Carroll’s dive. There was no contact from Krul.

    “from the supplied video’s angle, it looks like a headbutt, but other views tell the true story.”

    I sense you may be bringing this down to the issue of whether or not there was contact with the headbutt and that could change the opinions of either of us (and others maybe). I think there was and my stance is based on that supposition.

  40. Clint,

    Headbutt: Nope
    Red Card: Nope (not what I was disputing, though)
    End of: Nope. If “end of” is your summation, the next time Suarez / Drogba / gets one of our lads sent off because of “contact”, please don’t come on the forum screaming shenanigans – and it will eventually happen, such is the nature of many of today’s footballers; even Perchinho.

  41. If it was Perch on reina we’d be keeping our traps shut, hopefully!

    Barton got sent off for less of a butt recently.

  42. For all those agreeing that the headbutt by Reina was not serious and Perch over-reacted, could you please tell me how you reached that conclusion, being it was not your nose Riena’s head made contact with?
    Is there a degree of force that has to be established before it becomes a foul ?
    Talk aboot splitting hairs.

  43. dave,
    i won’t be screaming anything mate.

    Headbutt-yes.
    Red card-Yes, that’s what he got.
    end of- it should be.

    suarez ‘won’ a dodgy as pen last season against Williamson, for eg, off the top of my head.
    It’ll happen again no doubt.

    If one of our players did that i’d expect what reina got.

  45. workyticket says:
    April 4, 2012 at 6:12 pm
    UTD111 says:
    April 4, 2012 at 5:18 pm

    I still don’t get this “national” media thing of yours, UTD111 (of course you mean that London again). Collymore’s from the Midlands, he even has the accent to prove it.
    _________________________________________

    Worky

    With respect to both you and Chuck (similar comment) – you have to live in God’s country to notice the bias – Scottish people see it clearly too…..

    Media coverage bias in this country permeates all of society – not just sport. Easy examples are where the London Mayor talking bollox is reported as “national news” even though he’s just the mayor of London – so why should the rest of the country be interested in what the idiot has to say?

    There’s a tube strike in London – yep you’ve guessed it – it’s “national news” why? Nobody outside of London is affected?

    2 inches of snow falls in London – National news as the cockneys slither, slide and grind to a theatrical halt.

    12 inches of snow falls in Northumberland – national news? – don’t be daft, it’s not London.

    Why do TV commentators know the first names of most of the London football teams and what colour socks they wore last Tuesday, but tim Krul gets called “The Newcastle Keeper”

    I can go on about this as long as you want – I am here in geordieland, I sense it, and so do many others

  47. “I sense you may be bringing this down to the issue of whether or not there was contact”

    No – let me say outright that there was definitely contact. Perch incident or otherwise, my issue is simply this:

    contact ≠ push/headbutt/foul/injury/assault/etc

  48. Guthrie broke someone’s leg-deserved red.

    Shearer boot to leicester boys mush-deserved red.

  50. David, if I did to you what Reina did to Perch, would you have reason to feel aggrieved? Not in the box where we’re both jumping for a ball or whatever but in an off the ball incident where I walk over to you and bring my head into contact with your nose or cheek?

    Would you expect me to get sent off?

    Would you think a 3-match ban is justified for you even if you overplayed the incident?

  51. Jordy Canuck says:
    April 4, 2012 at 5:53 pm

    “Had it been Tim Krul butting Saurez in the face we would have seen high swan dive followed by three backward summerssalts An olympic gold medal performance for sure.”

    Lol.

  52. “Guthrie broke someone’s leg-deserved red.

    Shearer boot to leicester boys mush-deserved red.”

    Agreed – but what relevance does this have to the argument?

  54. CLiNT FLiCK says:
    April 4, 2012 at 7:18 pm
    UTD111,

    you do have a point mate.
    _____________________

    Thanks Clint – I think it’s easier to see it clearly when you actually live here and are on the end of the bias mate

  58. Hugh, I’d feel aggrieved, but I wouldn’t be so aggrieved that it would cause me to completely lose my balance and experience shooting pains in my face. Given that the behaviour was aggressive (you only brought your head into contact, after all), a yellow would suffice. Had I overplayed it, my actions may have got you sent off. My cheating would have turned your yellow into a red. Now who’s aggrieved?

  59. “It has to do with me not supporting our players being violent mate.”

    I don’t remember challenging this stance.

  60. dave,
    mate,
    players who go to headbutt others are normally sent from the field. Sometimes whether they make contact or not. Intent is part of the deal. Perch could have had his nose broke. If it isn’t clamped down on it will persist.
    Just like diving isn’t clamped down on, therefore it persists.

  61. David, I do see your point. Had there been no contact I would agree that Perch should have been the one to be punished for cheating, in the same way Carroll was punished for his dive.

    The trouble is there was contact and even if that contact didn’t justify the reaction it’s somewhat irrelevant. If the referee believed their was any contact he had to send Reina off for aggressive conduct. We can’t just say that we’ll allow ‘headbutt-type’ contact if it isn’t hard and allow the referee to determine what’s hard enough. What about a punch, a light one that really doesn’t hurt?

    See what I mean.

    But, in the context of this article, I’m saying Perch’s reaction is irrelevant (even if wrong) and that as the ‘victim’ he doesn’t deserve a 3-match ban as Collymore claims.

  62. dave,
    you said earlier that i’d come on here screaming if one of our players got sent off for such behaviour.
    (violent behaviour) So i gave some eg’s of our players transgressions.

  63. Clint, I agree with most of what you say there. And, you may have swayed me slightly with the intent part – this does play a part. I seem to remember Roy Keane swinging for Shearer and getting sent off – no contact, but intent was there for all to see.

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2471991.stm

    Would it have been OK for Shearer to writhe on the floor, though? It takes nothing away from the intent, but are these simulated actions not just as bad as the intended action?

    I feel I’ve completely digressed from Hugh’s original post (my apologies, Hugh), so I’ll end things there.

    Except for this:

    “Perch could have had his nose broke.”

    Bloody hilarious, Clint. ;)

  64. dave,

    that’s an excellent example mate.

    &, How! divn’t laugh at Perchinho’s benk man, it keeps him streamlined & aerodynamic.

    :)

  65. “it keeps him streamlined & aerodynamic.”

    The secret to his recent success methinks… :)

  66. UTD111, On the flip side to this southern media thing, and a clear dislike from some towards anything to do with the south… I’m from the south and live in the north and have been subjected to ‘Cockney’ jibes even though I’m not even a cockney. Seems in Sheffield people can’t decipher accents very well unless you say “You alriiight duck” every twenty minutes :-)

    Point being I understand what you’re saying, but it does also swing in roundabouts.

  67. On the subject of Stan Collymore… I don’t think I’ll ever understand why anyone would care what he thinks… Average footballer, even worse pundit.

  68. JimBob @66

    Yep, I know mate – but that’s people, and people will be parochial wherever you go.

    My beef is with a media that claims to be “National” and cover national events and news, but because it’s based in London, it covers things from a London viewpoint.

    Simple example is listening to the weather people! Spout on about the “far north” – it’s a “national” weather forecast – so far from where?? When did you ever hear them say the “far south”?

  70. I totally agree mate. I can’t answer why that happens but only assume it’s to do with London itself being the capital, with national media being broadcast everywhere in the World, London is universally well known, and the main hub of Tourism in England… But that’s just a diplomatic view point! Personally I don’t think it’s a vendetta towards the north, but it could be. I dunno.

    It happens everywhere this north / south / east / west divide. I travelled all over Australia and Canada and the exact same thing was going on there as it does here.

  71. Well, in the instance of Somerset I tell them it’s because nothing ever happens here beyond “Farmer grows turnip in the shape of David Beckham”.

  72. Hugh de Payen says:
    April 4, 2012 at 8:06 pm
    UTD111, there are a lot of locals around here in Somerset that feel there’s an equal bias against this region.
    ______________________________________

    Yep – my mates in Cornwall say that too – and they’re right!! It’s not a “North v South” thing – it’s a London-centric thing. It’s also a political problem – with MPs spending too much time in London – and being too far removed from issues back in their constituencies to take a balanced view.

    Oh – and getting back to my “weather girl” example – yep, I’ve heard them refer to the “far south west” :)

  73. I think most countries have a slight capital bias. My mate in Australia claims the news channels don’t know you exist unless you’re in Sydney (Oh I say missus).

  74. Hugh de Payen says:
    April 4, 2012 at 8:06 pm

    “UTD111, there are a lot of locals around here in Somerset that feel there’s an equal bias against this region.”

    That’s true, Hugh. I follow this so called “national” media avidly, and there has been no coverage of either scrumpy related issues or the Wurzels for quite some time now. It’s a scandal.

  75. I spent time in every city in Oz Hugh and your mate is right… Weirdly nobody cares for their capital (because nothing really happens) and it’s all about Sydney and Melbourne.

  76. Actually the Wurzels played about two miles from my house about a year ago, which wasn’t far enough away for my liking. Just being in the proximity of a Wurzels’ concert upset me.

  77. Stan “who are you again” so called football pundit calls for three match ban for perch, yes he over reacted, but intent was there reina should know better, Ref had no choice red card is the only option

  78. Somerset and Tyneside have populations of around a million each. The whole area of London is more like 15 million, which is almost a third of the population of England. It is the country’s capital, and now the world’s foremost financial centre, so it’s hardly surprising that it dominates the news really.

  79. Indeed. But it’s more like quarter. I thought you lot topped 61M people recently.

  81. Hugh de Payen says:
    April 4, 2012 at 8:22 pm

    “Actually the Wurzels played about two miles from my house about a year ago, which wasn’t far enough away for my liking. Just being in the proximity of a Wurzels’ concert upset me.”

    So I take it you don’t have “Never mind the bullocks, ere’s the Wurzels” then, Hugh?

  82. Why is it players, or in this case an ex player seem to forget their own misdemeanors in their life time and deem it appropriate to talk about what’s right and wrong. I would find it embarrassing and highly hypocritical to do that. In collymore’s case, and looking into how he behaved as a footballer (fighting his own team mate twice, setting off a fire extinguisher and also walking out on his club) he regularly talks as if he’s the oracle and a saint.

    It’s like Rio Ferdinand tweeting about Perch saying it is wrong and cheating, when he himself seems to forget some of his own team mates actions and his own, like when failing to attend a drugs test.

    Listening to some footballers and pundits seems to be the ideal scenario to witness hypocrisy.

  83. workyticket says: “So I take it you don’t have “Never mind the bullocks, ere’s the Wurzels” then, Hugh?”

    lol, no.

    Someone would have had to pay me considerable money to attend a Wurzels’ concert. I think they’d beat ‘Ratt’ who currently hold the title of ‘worst ever band I saw’.

  84. Hugh de Payen says:
    April 4, 2012 at 8:46 pm

    “Someone would have had to pay me considerable money to attend a Wurzels’ concert. I think they’d beat ‘Ratt’ who currently hold the title of ‘worst ever band I saw’.”

    Aye, I’ve heard if “Ratt” through my interest in awful music and awful album covers, Hugh.

  85. As a general rule – albeit one I break from time to time – I don’t like musical mediocrity (think Springsteen or Billy Joel in terms of pop) and “Ratt”, when I saw them at Donnington Park, epitomised heavy metal mediocrity.

  86. Tripp says:
    April 4, 2012 at 8:37 pm

    “Indeed. But it’s more like quarter. I thought you lot topped 61M people recently.”

    It’s about 52 million in England, Tripp.

  87. Last ‘estimate’ (2010) pop. for the UK
    62.26m.

    So probably more like 65m.

  88. When the poll tax came in, at least 2m ‘young men’ disappeared off the electoral role.
    Only about 2/3’s (estimate)fill in census forms.

  90. Gazza used to punch his wife, headbutt her and smash her head on the floor by his own admission. Collymore hit Ulrika Jonsson (who wasn’t his wife, not that it matters) once in a Paris bar, and yet it is Collymore who is contantly described as a “wifebeater” whereas Gazza is the lovable idiot who is thought of with affection. It’s a funny old world.

  91. worky
    i think everyone knew gazza and his wife beating were due to alcoholism, which not being an excuse, is a fatal disease. collymore on the other hand was just an arrogant, thoughtless thug who if he had a heart at all would have put poor john leslie out of his misery and smacked ulrika even harder.

    poor bloke.

  93. Collymore hit Ulrika in a bar Steven so was probably drunk, just because he wasn’t an alcoholic he is a arrogant, thoughtless thug but Gazza isn’t ?

  94. if this is the case mr collymoe ever player who goes down after minimal contact should be banned for 3 games Suarez Gerrard Nani Sanga to name but a few would miss most the season this is just bitter bullshit

  95. worky says: Hugh, how many people can say that they really did go out on a tarring and feathering expedition once? – check out orkney stagg night humiliation – the groom is stripped, covered in treacle & feathers and driven around the island on a trailer by his mates!

    AND Worky says – Happy 600th blog BTW! – legend!
    I’ve only been on the blog for about a year – how long have you guys been going? Keep it up lads !

    I’ve thought of offering to do a postings a few time – but you may have noticed my spelling is dreadful so I tend to keep my head down unless I’ve got a goos spell checka !

  96. On the issue of pundits – they appear to be chosen on their playing reputations, not their footballing knowledge or insights. Do any of them have coaching qualifications?

    Pundits do have a valuable role – I appreciate the radio 5 team of a commentater who is skilled at describing what he sees in an exciting way – with a trained footballer next to him who can analyse & explain the flow of the game.

  97. Supermac says:
    April 5, 2012 at 10:26 am

    I’ve thought of offering to do a postings a few time – but you may have noticed my spelling is dreadful so I tend to keep my head down unless I’ve got a goos spell checka !
    ______________________________________________

    You’ve done it now mate!!! Once Worky sees your offer, there will be no escape – it’ll be like trying to get out of Auntie Wainwright’s shop without buying anything….futile!!

    Welcome to the team!! :o)

  98. i’m amazed that throughout the whole Perch/Reina issue – nobody has referred to it as a ‘Byker teacake’

    much better than a ‘glasgow kiss’

  99. Well it got the poor guy from MOTD2 in. Trouble.

    And Derek L my chum. You hit the nail on the head, collymore was in a bar, Gaza was at home. Either way there is no excuse for domestic violence.

    But what I was trying to get at was Gaza alcoholism was alot more severe than collymores but they both did have underlying mental health problems which dogged both of their careers. At least they are both getting over their problems and showing that leopards can change their spots.

    The only difference with gaza and collymore. Gaza got to pissed he probably forgot where he put his.

    Gaza in his playing career was very insulting. If you ever watch some footage of him humiliating other players because they may have big ears or a big nose. The type a kid you hated at school. I suppose you could say as far as karma is concerned Gaza has got everything he has deserved. Great player, funny guy, but overly insulting at times. I doubt you will ever see any of hid behavior on a football pitch again.

  100. Collymore claiming someone dived?

    he loved to do that more than he loved to shag other peoples wives in secluded carparks….

  101. Supermac says:
    April 5, 2012 at 10:26 am

    “worky says: Hugh, how many people can say that they really did go out on a tarring and feathering expedition once? – check out orkney stagg night humiliation – the groom is stripped, covered in treacle & feathers and driven around the island on a trailer by his mates!

    AND Worky says – Happy 600th blog BTW! – legend!
    I’ve only been on the blog for about a year – how long have you guys been going? Keep it up lads !

    I’ve thought of offering to do a postings a few time – but you may have noticed my spelling is dreadful so I tend to keep my head down unless I’ve got a goos spell checka !”

    It wasn’t a Stag night for me, Supermac. We tried to tar and feather Jack Straw in the Houses if Parliament but, alas, we were caught and detained at the mercy of the speaker (Betty Boothroyd at the time). It wasn’t too bad, we were held for a few hours in their dungeon there, but it stopped me from appearing on Jay Leno’s “Tonite Show” in the US a few years later because of that war on terror carry on. I lost a friggin’ fortune there!

    This blog has been going since the summer of 2009.

    You can do a blog any time you like, Supermac. Just let me know and I’ll make you a contributor. I can check all the spelling.

  102. Gazza Vs. Cullymore
    Perhaps instead of beating up women, we could get them to put on a scrap, in the ring, find out what kinda men they are ?
    Obviously on a pesonal level, just a couple of moronic thugs.
    It’s laughable how Geordie-centric, some are on these blogs, sensetive to the fact, they are further from the countrys cultural, financial and political center and to be ceazy enough to expect equal treatment in regard to news weather, you name it, is absurd as is the premis, the suvern press is out to get us.
    Believe it the so called suvern press does’nt give a s**t about Tyneside, one way or the other.

  103. well i can tell you one thing the london press are starting to use the north wast as their base.

    sky news have a pioneering website the are testing out on us north easterners

    it seems we are going through some favorable changes.with property prices so cheap up in the north east how long will it be before more big names head north. bbc have packed up and left london so how long will it be before legends like clint flick and worky move back to the hot bed that is north east england.

    not sure the queen of cowgate would want Her Madge on her patch like.

    and worky how on earth did you deserve the accolade of the jay leno show?

    you know the ruote to the usa is via mexico when it comes to ESTA is a door wide open.

    certain rules only apply when you are flying directly into the USA, fly from france to mexico and then drive over the border.

    do you fancy giving him a ring worky? ill drive you. you political activist you.

  104. Oh….forgot to mention….Collymore is of course a total cnut (anagram) – why would anybody give a flying fart about what this bloke thinks??

  107. If there was any contact between Reina and Perch it certainly wasn’t enough to knock a grown man to the floor and therefore it was a dive to influence the referee.

    We saw Tiote do it against Sunderaland when he went down clutching his face about 5 seconds after Sessegnon slapped him on the chest.

    Barton also went down holding his face after Gervinho pushed him in the neck in the opening game of the season.

    I’m a Newcastle fan but it doesn’t make me blind when it comes to using my eyes to see obvious simulation….

    I’m sure players from other teams have been invloved in these incidents too but as a Newcastle fan I tend to remember the 1s involving our players.

    They should start issuing bans for these players who go down clutching their face after minimal or no contact. It’s just embarassing to the sport….

    When someone takes a couple of seconds before showing any reaction then suddenly falls to the floor and starts rolling about it’s pretty obvious they are faking / exaggerating.