"One reason why I won’t be watching the football World Cup in Qatar is because of the human rights issue, although I will watch England’s matches....."
Well said Ken and I feel the same way. I really don't want to watch any of it, but I am conflicted in that I want to watch England play - and hopefully play well with a modicum of success. I think we might also be watching out for Wales at our house, in their matches against the USA and Iran, but then again maybe not.
Trying to rationalise it all here and perhaps one way to look at it is that if we do totally ignore it, will all of those poor people have died and toiled and suffered in vain? It should never have happened, but it has and we cannot undo things.
I am delighted England will be wearing the rainbow arm bands, and is it Denmark that has adopted a black kit to make a point..
But honestly it is difficult not to feel anything but revulsion about the whole thing and maybe we won't bother watching England either...
Like I said, conflicted here.
Good luck with the radio therapy, John. Hope it makes a difference and allows you to lead your normal life.
I’m equally conflicted, Powmill. I’ll probably watch England’s games - and some of Wales’, as I live in Wales now. But I am disgusted that the WC ( such apt initials!) was awarded to a country with such abhorrent standards and such inhumanity to its guest workers. Ditto for Russia last time.
Apologies that I didn't send best wishes to you John as well as the others in here. I am suitably shamed.
Lets hope the commentary on Saturday will be a more palatable radio therapy for you and encourage you back out from behind the couch !
@john-richardson All the best f8r the recovery. Pity you will miss the match tomorrow. But health is more important than promotion (!).
I hope for a draw or a surprice win for the Boro! Up the Boro!
Many thanks for the good wishes everyone. They are very much appreciated.
I've just got back home from Norwich after a hospital visit for more Radio Therapy and enjoyed a cup of tea. No alcohol until December 20th I'm afraid, that's when the treatment finishes. Our daughter and her family are coming to us for Christmas and being a Master of Wine she's promised me something special to drink, I have to say I'm looking forward to it just a little but I also hope I can manage solid, normal food at that time. We'll see.
Once again thank you all.
UTB,
John
@john-richardson - A Master of Wine! Not many of those knocking about. The PERFECT daughter-in-law! Let's hope your taste buds and swallowing are back in action for Christmas.
I'm tempted to ask, when you next speak to her, for some recommendations as to wines (new World - USA, Chile, Aus, NZ and let's add S Africa) to look out for. Maybe a couple of examples of pinot noir, a couple of sauvignon blancs and a couple of fizzies. Christmas is coming, after all! NO - that would be TOO presumptious...
Kath is our daughter, even better, she knows people who own wineries in SA, Aus and California so I'll ask for you. needless to say we buy all our wine from her.
She's been to Australia a couple of times and loved it and South Africa has been visited many times. She works for herself through a website called Grape and Nectar. If you are in the Uk I can get you a family and friends discount. I think she was the 60th female MW when she qualified. her married name is Katherine Dart.
UTB,
John
I think we will win, the reason? Our Coach seems to have caught the attention of the players, and they are responding to being given clear cut instructions, which are working, the fluency of their play and the enjoyment in the game can be seen by anyone with eyes to see. It is a different game.
I think we will win, the reason? Our Coach seems to have caught the attention of the players, and they are responding to being given clear cut instructions, which are working, the fluency of their play and the enjoyment in the game can be seen by anyone with eyes to see. It is a different game.
Momentum is a huge part of team success and we would appear to be building that behind some very clear and sensible coaching. Is the world cup break a good thing or a bad thing for the Boro.
utb
John
Sounds perfect. Maybe she could give you a couple of Australian/NZ picks that I could go hunting for down here. In any case, keep well. My wife came through the same treatments and is doing very well and I wish you all the best.
utb
@john-richardson. John, all recommendations are very much welcomed.
Whilst the offer of a discount is very much appreciated it is not a material factor for me, I am more concerned about sourcing a regular and quality product.
Years ago we found a Tesco stocked South African wine by the name of Long Mountain. It was superb, needless to say within a few months they no longer stocked it!
At the time we were living in a small village just out side of Bury St Edmunds and I then managed to find a local village convenience store (similar to a Spar store) who stocked it and I used to take a detour on the way home from work to make a purchase until they eventually ran out.
At this time I was also travelling to Portsmouth every other weekend to visit my sons, who were living with my ex wife, and managed to find a vintner in Fareham in Hampshire who stocked said wine for a while but eventually were unable to supply.
Ps Despite the above we are not big drinkers but know what we like.
PPS. We wish you all the best with your treatment.
Whilst missing out on Saturday is undoubtedly a disappointment for you, it is for the right reasons and will hopefully mean many visits to Carrow Road in the years to come to watch Boro in the PL. 😎
A good read before the match today. A Ben Gibson interview and his take on Boro.
Up the Boro!
@john-richardson Belated best wishes going forward to a successful conclusion.
I generally tend to purchase new world wines when in the UK, however in Spain it is more or less Spanish in choice unless you find a specialist stockist.
In Spain I usually buy from the lesser known regions, especially the reds, certainly better value. Whites from Rueda and Galacia. The latters Albarinos are excellent (IMO)
OK wine lovers, I'll speak to Kath this weekend and give her a brief bas ed on your requests. maybe Werder could put the article up under a different heading if that is OK with Werder and the rest of you.
Now it's time for a glass of water.
UTB,
John
Still very busy trying to finish off some outdoor projects, which are now even more pressing after the first frost of the year this morning and a prediction of snow at the end of next week!
Anyway, onto the football and many thanks to OFB for hitting all the right notes with a brilliant preview with the added bonus of some great anecdotes - after Boro's walk on the Wilder side, I'm Waiting for the Man who can be a Transformer of the season and it appears Michael Carrick could well be that man! So let's hope a win at Norwich will give us all a Perfect Day...
Today will be a big test and the Canaries should provide us with early sign of whether we can breathe safely in the knowledge that Boro under Carrick are capable of surviving our early season plummet to the depths of the table. The team have looked better with each game played and a win today would actually give Carrick 10 points from his first 5 games, which at 2 points per game puts him on target to actually make the play-offs and heading off to the break on a high.
Quick best wishes to John as he starts his radiotherapy and hopefully you'll be raising a decent glass of wine to good health come Christmas!
For those who missed last night’s Rugby League World Cup semifinal between Australia and New Zealand you’ve probably missed the greatest sports event since the Second World War. I’ve written my thoughts under the cricket section, but one of my quotes was that it made football once named the beautiful game, look like an amateur sport. Sounds harsh, but many who saw the match will remember it for the rest of their lives and an equal to the Shane Warne’s ‘Ball of the Century’ that bowled Mike Gatting. Even BBC’s football presenter Mark Chapman at halftime was encouraging folks to drag people out of the streets to witness the second half as such a first half display will go down as the greatest sports event they’re ever likely to witness in their lifetime. Believe me it was that good.
Forgetting local prejudices about Middlesbrough FC and Yorkshire CCC, I have to agree with Chappers.
I turned on the TV yesterday evening planning to watch something else but the Rugby semi-final came on and had just started. I'm not a watcher of Rugby League but even I couldn't keep my eyes of the game as it was played with such power, skill and intensity that it was impossible not to keep watching. I'd have to agree that it was one of the greatest sporting encounters I'd ever watched and it was only luck that the TV turned on to the right channel that I ended up watching it - two teams at the very top of their game treating all those who saw it!
All the best John, take care and all Diasborians will drink a toast to your health and our other members who have health issues at present.
OFB
This has been a great thread to read, and to contribute. Mostly football, as one might expect, but also a few "by-the-way" references - wine, JR's health, other sports...
Just watching ManC v Brentford on BTSport. Had a discussion with son-and-heir before the game about tactics and I felt it was best to attack ManC, and that is what Brentford have done. They are one up after 16 minutes. I agree with my son that ManC are always dangerous and they MIGHT still turn it round and score several (my son was suggesting they score at least 4 today and that it would be an easy win for them) but my initial view is holding sway at present. I was telling him in Arsenal's Wenger heyday, lowly Bolton Wanderers seemed to have a bit of a thing against them, "getting in their faces" as Arsenal tried to play good football, and that Bolton quite a few times got results "against the odds". Thankfully football isn't played on paper or by pundits but by fallible players on grass in front of real people. It doesn't always go by the book, and any team on its day can beat another - were it otherwise we might as well award this season's FACup, and the Champions League, to Manchester City now. That is something we might think about when looking up the table at Norwich City's lofty league position, before Boro play them today.
We have now spent a few minutes looking at VAR replays for potential ManC penalties, one after another (refused), and it's now 33 minutes on the clock, but still 1-0 to Brentford. They have just a had a 3rd VAR exercise for a ManC penalty - again refused....
Equaliser by Phil Foden for ManC in First Half injury time....
Please don't give the PL scores as I like to watch Match of the Day without knowing the results 🙂
@werdermouth - Sorry! I hadn't thought about that. At least at this stage, the outcome in the game I mentioned was still in the balance.
On reflection I think that England should have pulled out of the World Cup finals, and have now made the decision not to watch any matches in Qatar and that now INCLUDES any of England’s matches also. Of course my decision will not make the slightest difference in the great scheme of things, but It will ease my conscience.
Norwich 1 - 0 After bright start by Boro, Sargent left unmarked to score. Boro having trouble picking up Norwich moblle forwards.
The starting Xi doesn't seem to have been posted yet - still no sign of Watmore:
Missed the first 15 minutes as was finishing off a piece of work but disappointed to see Boro were behind when I joined the action. From what I saw in the last 30 minutes it has looked a fairly even game with Boro having some neat approach play with that final ball being elusive - Hackney has looked impressive today and is growing with each game - McGree also looking lively but Akpom perhaps a little below his recent standards. I could see Boro scoring but so could Norwich - so I'd settle for a draw if you gave it to me!