BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 21 Mar 18 - 04:38 PM

I agree about Gerrard. What a shame he couldn't lead Liverpool to a Premier League title though. He was their engine room in the same way that I think Robertson could become - smart, accurate, FAST passing, right to your feet even at long range, getting behind the defenders, making space for the attackers and wrong-footing defences. Had Stevie been five years younger he'd have revelled in Klopp's superfast passing game. I'm afraid Torres was one of those who flattered only to deceive...

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 21 Mar 18 - 03:49 PM

Hi Steve

Thanks for the comments. I agree entirely with you remarks about players having a honeymoon and then the roof caves in.

Liverpool usually manage to get good strikers and usually manage to keep them. There are more than I can mention but Roger Hunt Ian Rush, Michael Owen, Kenny Dalglish < John Aldridge, Fernando Torres Robby Fowler et aland not forgetting David Fairclough the first Super sub. All have excelled . I could go on but I do remember Albert Stubbins who was a handful for many a defence.

But for me the best Liverpool player I have ever seen is Steven Gerrard. This man was just fantastic and drove Liverpool to great things.

What a great Clubman !!! and we get Pogba !!! Sheeeesh.

Regards

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 20 Mar 18 - 10:10 PM

He's an out-and-out striker, Raggytash, unlike Messi and Salah, who will get back and forage for the ball and menace the opposition with positional play off the ball. Salah even gets back to defend. City have a great tactical manager and Aguero has had a good time under him for sure. But he does depend on service, and on the few lacklustre City days he can look very anonymous up front. I wasn't criticising him at all but he is a different kind of footballer. I'd have the bugger on my team any day!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 20 Mar 18 - 09:24 PM

Aguero?!?

Just how many goals has he managed to net for City this year, 30 ? !?

And before you start rabbiting about Salah I know he has 36.......... but 30 goals in a season is going some.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 20 Mar 18 - 09:11 PM

Trouble is, Mike, we get individual players who light up the planet for a while then fizzle. It seems to me that Hazard is fizzling fast. Sterling - can't see him being a superstar for long. Rooney's whole career went in fits and starts. Can think of a few others - Robinho. Balotelli. Sturridge. And Neymar hasn't exactly set PSG on fire, has he? Oppositions work out ways of neutralising individual dangerous players. Liverpool's current strength is their fab three up front. They have an amazing understanding with each other and their egos are firmly in check. They work as a unit and fully occupy defences, so when someone like Salah breaks away at pace he has space and is hard to neutralise. Klopp has a way of seeing raw potential and developing it. I can see Robertson becoming Liverpool's engine room in years to come. True greats such as Best, Maradona, Pele, Iniesta and Messi, Suarez even, are very rare and you can really only shut them up by playing dirty or by their having a manager so inept that his tactics starve them of service. We've seen a lot of that with Aguero, Rooney and Michael Owen, who, unlike Messi, can look a bit lonely and ineffectual up front when the passes don't come in.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 19 Mar 18 - 03:32 PM

Hi Steve

According to Metro United are planning to get rid of 11 players in the Summer.

I hope his replacements are better than the ones he made this year.

I know that this is only Press rumours but........

Sorry Neither Linard or Rashford are on the list....lol

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 18 Mar 18 - 11:19 AM

Hi Steve

Yes I did watch Liverpool yesterday buy for some reason I couldn't get into Mudcat earlier than this.

I agree with you about Salah. Fantastic player who jut keeps getting better. Definitely the best player in the Premier League and also most of them out there.

He has traits of Messi, Denis Law, George Best and Jimmy Greaves about him. He had the Watford defence in a complete trance, He even managed to get one defender to twizzle round and fall over without touching him.

I don't share your ( natural ) confidence about The City game and after if they go through.

We managed to win a scrappy game 2-0 against a Brighton team that made us look ordinary....which of course we are at the moment.

But as I said before a win is a win... it's not how but how many.

I believe that Mourninho has lost it !!! Such is my belief that I think had we lost.. Mourinho would be off up the road. And there is plenty of time yet. He's talking rubbish , like inheriting a poor side and needs to spend heavily next year. He's already spent over & 300 Million.!!! He's also criticising his team over the media. Not the best way to operate. He.s not going to get the best from his players that way.

Cheers Mike

Just Watching Wigan go out of the FA Cup.





you

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Mar 18 - 04:49 PM

Liverpool need fear no-one. Get past City and the cup is theirs. Did you see them this afternoon? They demolished Watford in the most beautiful, clinical fashion, we have the best footballer in Britain bar none and we have a formidable defence coming on. Robertson, Gomez and Virgil are the future. Klopp has some minor midfield issues to fix, but he's the Big Fixer if ever there was one! Be very afraid...

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 16 Mar 18 - 10:59 AM

Hi Steve

I have just seen the draw for the European Champions League.

I see that they have drawn Liverpool & Manchester City.

Not the best draw for either of them. But what a great match - can't wait.

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Mar 18 - 06:21 PM

Agreed!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 15 Mar 18 - 02:37 PM

Hi Steve

I am with you on time wasting. Another thing that should be stamped on is the players - and there are many who fall to the ground when their side is being attacked. They roll and writhe on the ground and the ref stops the game. The game is restarted by a dropped ball kickback to their goalie, so that the attacking team lose any advantage. The offending player then speeds around the pitch.

IMHO there should be a sin bin. Other sports use them effectively

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Mar 18 - 11:43 AM

It can be legit to play across like that if you're trying to settle yourselves down after an onslaught by just keeping possession for a minute or two, or to try to tire your opponents by making them run as you switch sides, but it can turn into a tedious and negative tactic, I agree. Good footballers (and managers such as Mourinho) need to remember that it's a spectator sport and those spectators, whether in the stadium or at home watching telly, are the people who make the game very rich. And they deserve entertainment, not half-hour stretches of negativity or bus-parking. I'd like to see a tightening-up of what happens at throw-ins and of how long a goalkeeper can keep the ball, two areas in which time-wasting is rampant. And I hate it when we get several substitutions in the dying minutes of the game. Interrupting the flow of the game in that way is completely against its spirit.   

And what's happened to Hazard? He doesn't turn up very often these days.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: peteglasgow
Date: 15 Mar 18 - 10:49 AM

i love to watch messi - particularly when he picks the ball up about 40 metres from goal. he can do anything from that point and without advancing a step he has already terrified every defender in front of him.

it seems almost every other player we watch is programmed to play a 15 metre pass across the pitch or behind to the full back who is cautiously taking 5 steps forward and another 5 back. this tactic can go on for a couple of minutes til clumsiness takes over or the ball is played forward towards a winger and usually goes out of play. at this point the opposition take their turn to do more or less the same.

this 'tiki-taki' style should only be employed by barcelona or spain when there is evidently a sometimes thrilling purpose.

any other team is just farting about and boring us.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 15 Mar 18 - 10:13 AM

Hi Steve

I watched the game too. Messi is out there on his own. His skill and application is fantastic. He has not just but about four changes of pace which makes him difficult to stop.

Watching this made me realise that United have a long way to go to do well in Europe.

I agree that Liverpool should fear no-one. Their style of play will make it interesting to watch but Clop will need to get his defence organised better.

I will be watching.

Cheers

Mike

ps On a football thread.....the other day on North West TV they showed a guy who had played keep up at Mount Everest. He took 8 days to make from the bottom of the mountain to the Base Camp. Keeping thr ball up as he went.

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Mar 18 - 06:12 PM

Chelsea played well but were ambushed by that man Messi, the greatest. So that leaves Liverpool and City. There are no restrictions in the last-eight draw. Anyone could play anyone else. I don't think Liverpool need fear anyone, though it'd be good to get either Sevilla or Roma. City v. Barca would conveniently get one of the Pep chaps, current or erstwhile, out of the way!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 14 Mar 18 - 03:39 PM

Hi Raggy

There is a rumour that United are trying to swap pogba for an Italian midfielder.

He doesn't appear the be trying , he lumbers around like a water Buffalo, occasionally spraying out a great cross-field pass.

Not good enough. I think he is a bad influence on some of the players.

Cheers

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 14 Mar 18 - 11:47 AM

I rest my case regarding Pogba ........... spoilt brat comes to mind.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 14 Mar 18 - 06:49 AM

Hi Steve you got it about right. This was about the worst game I have ever seen with United.

They appeared to have no plan they were hesitant and looked tired. Hardly any competing for the ball, no tackles etc etc They just left the field open For Seville to do as they wished.

Why they changed the side from Saturday is a mystery. Yes Sanchez, Pogba and Fellainie were appalling. The rest not much better.

They played two full games against ordinary opposition and manage only 4 shots. Not good enough. In one way I am pleased that they lost - imagine this shite playing against Europe's best !!

Sad though for my grandson who went to watch United for the first time.

No we will keep Rashford and you can have the rest for Ten Million.

Still that's football it happens to most teams.

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Mar 18 - 06:01 PM

Mind you, we Liverpool chaps would take Rashford off your hands. Ten million OK...?

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Mar 18 - 05:59 PM

That was a bloody disgrace. Awful tactics, scared stiff of the away goal, sloppy play giving the ball away all the time, giving Sevilla so much room at the back, totally static in the extremely boring first half, Pogba and Sanchez bloody shocking. Typical negative United, for once getting what they deserve. And who in his right mind would EVER pick Fellaini! Jayz!

Watched it on BT Sport mobile which is usually very good. But I must have had at least fifty interruptions tonight and I even missed the Man U goal. Tsk. Mrs Steve isn't keen on my swear words...

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 13 Mar 18 - 05:39 PM

Bugger !!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Mar 18 - 12:05 PM

Beware of the 1-1 draw!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 13 Mar 18 - 11:19 AM

Hi Steve

It was very bad decision, It was a typical Nat Lofthouse charge on the goalie. I liked Nat and the way he played, he wouldn't get away with those tackles today. The keepers get much more protection these days.
Yes I was unhappy for a while, but Football is is full of incidents like that. We have to accept them. We don't have to like them but hey, if you can't change them there's no point in moaning.

Got my system tuned up for tonight's game with Sevilla. My son is taking one of my grandsons to the game.

Que Sera Sera.

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 12 Mar 18 - 09:16 PM

Apart from the Munich disaster, the only time I ever felt sympathy for United was when Nat Lofthouse barged not just the ball but also the United goalie, Harry Gregg, over the line for Bolton's second "goal" in the '58 FA Cup Final. Bet you still haven't forgiven Nat for that one, Mike!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 12 Mar 18 - 09:08 PM

Billy Connolly once said that as a boy he'd always thought that the team's full name was "Partick Nil."

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: peteglasgow
Date: 12 Mar 18 - 06:59 PM

best liked (as opposed to biggest support) - partick thistle. i think the most hated changes in england - (dirty)leeds, (boring) arsenal, (fans in surrey, arrogant)manchester united, (too rich, john terry)chelsea etc ... but in scotland it is and always will be - rangers for many reasons.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 12 Mar 18 - 03:36 PM

Hi

I see that Jamie Carragher - ex Liverpool Player and football pundit -is in trouble for spitting at a woman when travelling home after the United v Liverpool game.

I understand he has been suspended by Sky and has apologised to the person concerned.

I have always liked Jamie for his commitment to Liverpool and to Liverpool Football Club. One of the best Defenders in the World who IMHO did not get the recognition he deserved nor as many caps he should have.

I hope this is soon cleared up. Football needs people like Jamie.

Cheers

Mike

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 12 Mar 18 - 03:24 PM

HI Steve

" Best-liked AND most-hated! "

Only by you Steve. lol

I have traveled to many countries and have found even in outlandish places The name Manchester United is valued very highly. United clubs appear in many towns and cities. We are always made welcome when we say that we are United supporters.

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Mar 18 - 01:42 PM

Richard Osman just said it it wasn't for l's Liverpool would be iverpoo

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 12 Mar 18 - 10:42 AM

Best-liked AND most-hated!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 12 Mar 18 - 10:12 AM

Hi Steve

Yes United have had some run-ins with top players. Kean for instance was a fine player, some say the best United have ever had. But Kean didn't just have problems with United. He had problems with his International Managers, and had personal problems with himself. Beckham was ( and still is ) a great clubman but his wife Posh Spice wanted him to get away to further her career. et al
not his !!! Most of the others left because they found it difficult to get in the team. Because of United's squad of players they can't all play.

It is true that they have a win mentality and this does annoy some people. They are ( have been the top crowd pullers for more years than I can remember so the must be happy. I think that many people are jealous of United's success and don't like them beating their teams.

Not only are United the best liked team in Britain but are best known and followed in the World. !!

Cheers

Mike

I do concede that since Fergie went the standard of attractive football has fallen. But Mourinho is charged with the job of building them up to their former status.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 12 Mar 18 - 07:37 AM

Man U have a habit of appointing managers who can't help falling out with the best players, then failing to get the best out of them or driving them away. Keane, Cantona, Nistelrooy, Beckham, Di Maria, Valdez, Veron, Pogba...

Sure, no player is bigger than the club. But the club doesn't apply that to their managers. You could say it started with Busby. It's one of the big reasons why Man U attracts so much derision from non-fans. That and a long-time insistence that actually playing exciting football that fans pay good money to see takes a poor second place in the priority stakes to winning ugly.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 12 Mar 18 - 06:28 AM

Hi Steve

Sounds like you had an interesting afternoon ?

The last three minutes were hectic for United but they just held out.


United played much better without Pogba. Sanchez was much improved. I think Pogba is headed for the door. He has been told if he doesn't
like it he can go. He is not a happy bunny. Still he can spend his spare time counting his money !!

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Mar 18 - 08:20 AM

I've almost completely missed out on this one. I was in the Coffee Sack on Scholes Lane in Prestwich during most of the match and caught the last frantic three minutes only, sitting in me car outside Prestwich M&S Food. Then I missed MOTD because I was driving home in the late evening. Sounds like Liverpool missed me!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 10 Mar 18 - 11:02 AM

Hi Raggy

Yes I know what you mean. !!

Just seen Clop interviewed; I think he must have been at a different game.

Cheers
Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 10 Mar 18 - 10:17 AM

Clear water between the teams ............ and I dread to consider what may have been said had Liverpool prevailed !

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 10 Mar 18 - 09:50 AM

Hi Steve

YES YES YES !!

In a feisty physical game. United just about held on for a deserved victory.

The Liverpool defence showed it's soft centre as United took a 2-nil lead early on. Liverpool pressed hard but did not really manage to pierce the United defence. Their goal came from a freak own goal.

I think Liverpool expected United to park the bus, but were surprised as they threatened to score a precious third goal which would have decided the game. As it was, the score was 2-1

Rashfords's two goal were excellent but The Pool should have stopped at least one if not both.

Nothing was seen from Salah who has been so prolific such was the performance of the United defence.

It was a good game to watch with lots of excitement from both teams.

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 06 Mar 18 - 06:50 AM

Hi Steve United managed to pull off a late victory. Shades of Fergie ??

It was quite a good game to watch . Crystal Palace dominated in the first half and blotted United out while they created chances on the breakaways. They scored a good goal and minutes into the second half doubled their lead. From this United got the kick up the a..e they needed. Some clever substitutions by Mourinho seemed to wake them up. Removing defensive players for attackers. Rashford and Mata created havoc in the CP defence. Goals just had to come and they did. Matic's wonderful strike from 25 yards in injury time saw United home.
Everyone took a huge sigh of relief.

That's one good thing about United. They have power on the bench to bring on if necessary. Sancez and Pogba were almost invisible - not what you'd expect from such expensive players. They have'nt yet to find a way ti fit Sanchez in and clearly Pogba is not enjoying where
where he has to play.

Still, at the end of the day we are still in 2nd place.

Now we will see what Sa turday brings. If we play like we did last night Liverpool will be out of sight by half time !!

Cheers
Mike

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 05 Mar 18 - 08:08 AM

For the sake of Liverpool I hope he gets 'em! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 05 Mar 18 - 06:49 AM

Hi

I watched the farce of a so called football match between Man City and Chelsea.

What a joke as Chelsea parked the bus and sat in it for the whole game.

City treated the ploy by playing keep ball for almost the whole game. I don't blame City. It was up to Chelsea to try to attack. What a shambles to see the likes of Hazard and Willian etc to be stranded inside their own penalty area.

We play tonight and expect Roy Hodgson to try to do the same.....but he really ne3eds the points

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 04 Mar 18 - 03:33 PM

Or give me an I

give me a n

give me a v

give me a e

give me a r

oh f*** it!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 04 Mar 18 - 03:29 PM

It was the same for the cheerleader of Borussia Munchengladbach, the most unpopular bloke in the stadium:

"Give me a B...!"

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Mar 18 - 01:56 PM

I always supported Hamilton Accademicals. Just so I could do the chant

2 4 6 8 Who do we appreciated

H-A-M-I....

Oh, sod it.

:D tG

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 04 Mar 18 - 10:35 AM

Hi
Sorry

that last sentence should have said We would like to see United take Liverpool on at their own game. but I suspect his defensive attitude will not allow it.

Cheers

Mike

PS Just watched Brighton beat Arsenal 2-1. I think this will be the end of Wenger. Sad really - he's been a great manager.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 04 Mar 18 - 08:41 AM

Hi Steve

You are right about Sallah he is something special. Yesterday vaery early in the game he hit a volley on the turn when running at full pace. It hit the side netting but was worth a goal in itself.

Sorry to hear you won't be able to watch. I am hoping No 1 son will have ticket for me. He takes me whenever he can. His company have three season tickets but they are often taken by his friends ( one is a City fan ) No one will want to miss this one so it looks as if I will be watching at home.

Should be a great game. We would like to see United tale Liverpool on at their own gain. but I suspect his defensive attitude will not allow it,

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 04 Mar 18 - 07:24 AM

Well it was a cast-iron free kick right at the edge of the box. Newcastle parked at least two buses all afternoon, even when they were losing, no doubt hoping for a chance to counter that they repeatedly showed they were too weak to execute. They managed to force Liverpool to play across the park for much of the time, making for a tedious watch as you say, but it speaks volumes for Liverpool's firepower that they broke through a number of times and got two goals. In the past they've often been frustrated by that tactic, most famously by Mourinho in his Chelsea days, but no team will be able to rely on that approach with Liverpool in future. A couple of long balls up to Salah is enough to get any defence panicking and going out of shape, and we have some damn good long passers. You're being a bit of an ould curmudgeon about the second goal, which was a world-class team goal. Great to see Hendo back on form, and Virgil is a commanding presence who has settled the defence no end.

It's a complete arse thst family matters are going to prevent me from watching the match next Saturday. I blame the Beast From The East for forcing us to put back our plans by a week. Grr.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 04 Mar 18 - 06:48 AM

Hi Steve

Watched Liverpool v Newcastle.
Not exactly a thriller.

Liverpool compared to their recent form were poor. They started very well but Newcastle created a grip on them that they found difficult to pierce, They did score two goals but there was an element of luck in both of them.

They were never in danger of losing but were pleased to win.



But as I have been saying three points is what you are playing for and sometimes you have the win by playing ugly.

I hope we do the same on Monday when we play Crystal Palace.

I like this time of the season when all games are important for teams at the top and teams at the bottom trying to avoid relegation.

Going to be a tough fight for the top four with with Man City having taken top place. On current performance Spurs and Liverpool will take two places, leaving Man United to compete with Chelsea for the fourth place.

I could'nt help but laugh at Clopp's reaction right at the end to the " penalty" that was turned down. I thought for a minute I was watching Swan Lake.
Cheers
Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: MikeL2
Date: 27 Feb 18 - 02:29 PM

Hi Raggy

I already have BT Sport on my TV and my son has installed Sky- Go for free.

Inreality I don't need anything else.

Thanks for your advice, I have filed it away in case I need it.

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 27 Feb 18 - 07:07 AM

That joke might go down better at the end of NEXT season...

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 27 Feb 18 - 06:37 AM

An explosion last week killed a wild-living navy boiler man and he found himself in hell. Being used to stoking fires and extremely hot temperatures, he found hell actually quite comfortable.

When Satan went to check out the new arrival, he found him sitting in his room smiling.

“You like this?” Satan asked.

“Yes, sir,” said the sailor, “this feels like a spring day to me.”

Not wanting the new guy to be too comfortable, Satan turned up the heat a bit. When he went back the next day to see how his new arrival was doing, the sailor was still happy; he hadn’t even broken a sweat.

“I like this kind of weather,” he told Satan.

For the next few days, Satan turned up the heat more and more, but each day the Sailor looked as comfortable as ever. By Sunday, Satan decided to try something different. Rather than turn up the heat even more, he turned it off and turned on the air conditioning. Icicles formed in the sailor’s room! When he checked on the guy, the room was icy and he was shivering, but he had a grin from ear to ear, bigger than ever.

Satan was exasperated! “Why are YOU so happy?” he demanded from the sailor. “It’s FREEZING in here!”

“Well, I’m from Liverpool,” said the sailor, “and evidently they have just won the Premiership!"