What we have learned this weekend - 16th/17th Feb 08

Bit late this week so apologies for that. Four posts in one day? What’s going on?

Anyway, what did we learn at the weekend exactly?

The FA Cup is still alive: Bristol Rovers beat Southampton and Barnsley upset the apple cart by winning at Anfield to knock Liverpool out of the Cup. What price Benitez lasting the season now?

All good things must come to an end: City’s 13-game unbeaten run was definitely unlucky for some - the 3,000 or so who made the trip to the Walkers Stadium to witness the Canaries’ biggest defeat of the season.

Juan Velasco

City have signed Juan Velasco on a Bosman transfer until the end of the season. No, not the left-leaning Peruvian General who ruled Peru from 1968 to 1975 under the title of “President of the Revolutionary Government, the 30 year-old right back who previously played for Espanyol, Atletico Madrid and Celta Vigo.

Truth be told I don’t know much about our new Spanish import other than the clubs he has played for, that he has 4 Spanish caps to his name and has made 279 appearances in La Liga.

I also know that he used to have a wonderful mullet (pictured left), and he should keep Mr Otsemobor on his toes after Matthew Bates’ serious knee injury and subsequent return to Middlesbrough.

Welcome Mr Velasco, I hope you enjoy your time at Carrow Road. Try the cornish pasties. They’re to die for.

FA Cup Quarter Final draw

The draw for this season’s FA Cup Quarter Finals take place shortly. I hope, nay pray that Manchester United and Chelsea get drawn together. In fact, my ideal draw would probably be:

Man Utd V Chelsea
Middlesbrough or Sheffield United V West Brom
Bristol Rovers V Portsmouth
Barnsley V Cardiff

Not ideal for Barnsley fans granted, but I think that gives them a good chance of progressing. Let’s see what really happens…

UPDATED: Well what were the odds of that? The actual draw has kept the “big two” apart, but at least there’s guaranteed to be a Football League club in the semi-finals.

Full draw:

Sheff Utd or Middlesbrough V Cardiff

Man Utd V Portsmouth

Bristol Rovers V West Brom

Barnsley V Chelsea

The matches are to be played on the weekend of 8^th/9^th March 2008.

Northern Rock

This isn’t a political blog. Don’t expect any deep, meaningful insight into the plight of Northern Rock and the merits of taking it into public ownership.

I’ve just got one simple question about the whole situation:

If Northern Rock are now publicly owned and they sponsor Newcastle United, does that mean we the people now sponsor them? If so I’d like my freebie please.

In fact I think I might write and ask for them this very week…