PLANET FOOTBALL: Last week we hailed Richard Sadlier for his goal-frenzy carry-on at Millwall, form that prompted Mick McCarthy to say: "He just keeps getting better and better, but I knew he was capable of it.
McCarthy's men abroad
He hasn't suddenly become a good player. The difference now is that he has stayed injury-free and is getting games." And then what happened? Sadlier picked up a hamstring injury and missed the game against Birmingham on Thursday.
Little wonder, then, that Damien Duff would much prefer if neither ourselves nor McCarthy made any comment on his current form, but it's hard, because it's a bit good.
Man of the match in Saturday's 4-1 win over Charlton and Wednesday's English League Cup semi-final against Sheffield Wednesday, when he created both Blackburn's goals, Duff appears to be luxuriating in the fact that there is now someone at Ewood Park capable of converting his left-wing crosses, ie Andrew Cole.
His form hasn't gone unnoticed either by a man he may well meet in Japan next summer, Arsenal's Cameroon defender Lauren. While revealing that Niall Quinn is the biggest Irish football name in his country, Lauren also complimented Roy Keane, Matt Holland and Mark Kinsella - and "another player with a very good left leg", whose name he appeared to forget. The proprietor of this leg? Duff, of course.
(PS: A big welcome back to the injury-blighted Sean Devine, former Republic of Ireland B international, who started his first game in 20 months for Wycombe on Saturday).
A bad spell can work wonders
According to Onefootball.com Brazilian club Gama have taken rather drastic action in attempting to improve their ailing fortunes. Rather than signing a few half decent players or sacking their coach, they have changed their name to Gamma on the advice of a numerologist, consulted by club president Wagner Marques.
The numerologist promised that by having a double "m" in their name their cosmic balance would be improved and they'd start winning football games. If it works keep an eye on the form of Bohemmians, West Hamm and Parmma in the coming months.
White Hart-warming tale
Not since Planet Football half-read Romeo and Juliet for its Inter (note to young people: that's what they called the Junior Cert in the old days) has a tale of forbidden love conquering all warmed our heartsso much.
Darren "Montague" Dein, the son of Arsenal vice-chairman David, has announced his engagement to Sara "Capulet" Buchler, daughter of Spurs vice-chairman David.
According to the London Evening Standard both families "are said to be delighted by the news", but what else could they say? Darren sounds a bit of a contrary so-and-so, intent on incurring the wrath of the whole of north London - he used to go out with Louise Sugar, daughter of former Spurs owner Alan. We await with interest to see who Darren chooses to be his best man. Sol Campbell perhaps?
Quotes of the week
"We seem to be playing in two different leagues."
- Lawrie Sanchez speaking before third division Wycombe's rearranged FA cup clash with Premiership Fulham on Tuesday.
"His brains are between his legs. That is what has caused his downfall. He thinks it is fine to parade all over the place with ladies of dubious reputation."
- Trinidad and Tobago FA chief Jack Warner on the fall and fall of Dwight Yorke - and his relationship with Jordan.
"Find me the biggest nutter and I will change him. It is like a man with two sons. One is clever, polite and successful while the other is a criminal, a drug user and a bad man. He must love the bad son 10 times as much as the good son."
- Cardiff City Chairman Sam Hammam explaining why his minder was once a football hooligan.
"I am a prostitute."
- Ipswich chairman David Sheepshanks (in the Telegraph). It's not that exciting, he was simply explaining why he wants the UEFA Cup to include a group stage (ie money).
"He's a legend in his own head."
- Johnny Giles pays tribute to Paolo Di Canio.
"It must have been close, I could smell the beer."
- Les Ferdinand after a bottle was thrown at him during Spurs' game against Chelsea.
"I'm a footballer, not a tart."
Michael Owen. Indeed.
Rude health
WE were aware that there was no love lost between Jim McLean, former manager and chairman of Dundee United, and the club's current board of directors but, according to Jeff Stelling on Sky Sports on Saturday, the falling-out is a bit worse than we thought.
When McLean had a heart bypass operation recently, the club directors had to take a vote on whether or not they would send him a get well card. We never heard the result, but if the vote was split the card very probably read: "Get well soon-ish".
Juninho earns his salt
Middlesbourough old-boy Juninho has done a "Mo Johnston" by signing for Flamengo, loathed rivals of his former club Vasco da Gama. Indeed, fans greeted his arrival with a salt shower, designed to cleanse him of any impurities he picked up in his 18-month spell with Vasco.
Some Brazilian folk aren't overly impressed with the move, not least, we suspect, the priest who oversaw Juninho's wedding last week. "By the look of things, you haven't been very faithful to your teams," he tut-tutted. "In wedlock, you should behave like the supporters of a team, who are always faithful." Ow.
Trevor collared
OUR friends at DangerHere.com have mastered the art of extracting chuckle-inducing football quotes from the television.
Big thanks to them again for their email with these two curiosities: (1) "He went for the tug, didn't get his shirt properly, then they sort of locked arms for a Gay Gordons" - (Trevor Brooking ) no, we don't understand it either) and (2) "This could be their last chance because there was three minutes to go about two minutes ago" - (Alan Mullery).
Shot in the park
You know when a footballer dives and commentators say "he went down like he'd been shot?" Well, when Italian regional club Zazzini's goalkeeper and midfielder went down in a match against Canosa Sannita last week they had been shot. Ananova reported that the goalie suffered a facial injury when a bullet skimmed past him and the midfielder was shot in the leg. Whodunnit? Hunters in a nearby field, who legged it when they heard the players howling in pain. So, next time Emile Heskey takes a tumble, don't rush to judgement.
Football on TV
Wednesday: Chelsea v Norwich (FA Cup third round replay), Sky Sports 2, 7 .45.
Saturday: Aberdeen v Rangers, Sky Sports 1, 5.35.
Sunday: Leeds v Arsenal, Sky Sports 1, 4.0
