DISQUS

I must have been the only person viewing the webcam at the start - the gaffer looked a bit down, wonder if it was the trauma of getting up so early, teething probs with ITVN, or just the effect of watching boring boring Liverpool.....

Similar 'dilemma' for those of us in Japan - ALL of the Saturday Prem games televised one after the other (as live, in effect) with the only choice to be made between the Arses v Villains clash and the Newcastle versus Wigan encounter which are being simultaneously shown live at 11pm! From noonish on the Sunday we have several hours respite before the rest of the live games kick-off late evening Tokyo time...

Just goes to prove he is much funnier in print than when you hear him on the podcasts - he really does sound like a curmudgeonly old sod! Gaffer, do you pay (handsomely or otherwise) your interviewees? Or even send 'em an EPL Talk T-shirt?

Agree with the last point especially - once all football is available live to watch on demand on our computers (like the Ashes cricket was last summer, perfect picture/sound quality) we won't have to worry about which matches the networks choose to show or local announcers ruining our enjoyment of games, like in this particular World Cup....

Wonder if that's his real name or just the reason he went to live in America. Reminds me of Ozzy Osbourne being interviewed just prior to the BBC Sports Personality of the Year bash, 'Ozzy, who's your favourite sporting personality?' 'Ali' responded the Englishman after some thought. 'What do you think of Wayne Rooney, then?' 'Who's Wayne Rooney?' he replied...

It's disheartening to note that the announcers issue is still being discussed in this forum and elsewhere several days into the tournament. Distracts and detracts from the World Cup. Ditto for here in Japan where the NHK chimpentators continue their uninformed non-stop chatter throughout the 90 mins of each game with the occasional pause to mis-identify players or quote their vital statistics or physical characteristics, but with none of the comedy value that you get over in the States! From now let's try and just concentrate on the football - breaking news: Wayne Rooney has been told he can play in the remaining group stage games if he gets a Cortisone Injection. David Beckham responded, "If that fat tosser is having a new car, then so am I"

What's all this about ESPN/ABC referring to Becks as "Michael" and England as "Germany" - wish we were! Watched the Ingerlund v Paraguay game at home with the missus (neutral, in theory)and sweated buckets over the performance of.....the appalling Mex ref who has never done a game involving a European team before! Flamin' idiots FIFA! M.O.M. Crouch was a particular victim of his fussiness as was Gerrard with his needless booking, the 2nd half was dire 'cause of the heat, lack of striking options on both sides & biased officiating. Watched 1st half of T&T; v Sweden in the bath (1.30 AM by now)but gave up hope when the red card was brandished. Should have had more faith in the plucky Tobogganners. Saw the Argentina v Ivory Coast encounter in my dreams - had it down for 2-1 to Argentina, was I right?