Brazil World Cup 2014: Why Rio's right to kick off about England hate mob

ENGLAND PASSION: The talented Rio Ferdinand   Wikipedia

ENGLAND FALL GUY: Manager Roy Hodgson       Wikipedia

ENGLAND are out of the Brazil World Cup 2014. Surprised? Well, no, of course not.
There are some great jokes flying around but the nation still finds it hard to hide the disappointment. Eliminated at the group stage for the first time since 1958.
But anyone who follows football realised Roy Hodgson had a good young, inexperienced squad with defensive frailties. And in view of this significant fact, it was obvious England were never going to be world-beaters no matter how much, how often or how hard we dreamed those sweet dreams of triumph. Roy's boys just weren't up to it and therefore did not earn the right to progress despite two tight games.
Even the drunken morons raucously belting out ancient football chants during my tedious train journey home from London last night, just a few hours after that Luis Suarez-inspired defeat which condemned England, would have known this.
So why the usual, sad, sometimes distasteful clamour for change, sackings, etc., and the hate mob's desperate need to blame in certain newspapers, on the web, TV and in social media?
I'll tell you why. Despite all the bilge about low expectations before a ball was even kicked in anger, some people just can't help themselves when it comes to any easy target, a rehashed story and screaming headline proclaiming the same nonsense that was regurgitated after previous World Cup exploits. Formatted rubbish. Shocking headlines are designed to grab attention. Read me, this is interesting, it's news, it's informative, it might even be amusing. But many headlines can turn out to be ill-conceived rubbish aimed at the lowest common denominator.
Some sections of the media treat the national sport with intelligence and adopt a different attitude - I include tabloids in this - by dissecting, thoughtfully analysing, coming up with constructive proposals and encouraging sensible discussions that may establish platforms on which to develop a stronger, successful national setup. But other sections - you know who you are - couldn't give a damn and revert to type. Same old, same old. Easy pickings.
The manager is building a new team, with a different approach and has probably made some mistakes. Not taking at least one very experienced defender, for a start. But give him time. And don't say the squad are a bunch of overpaid oiks who show no passion. Can't beat a good cliche, eh? See what the wealthy, but talented former England defender, Rio Ferdinand, has to say on that controversial subject.

Rio Ferdinand on Twitter: Loads saying no pride no passion....the boys didn't try, r u saying? Rubbish. We just wasn't up to it. Nothing to do with pride & passion.

Follow Fenman@harrysrus on Twitter

Farmers, firearms, dead Dachshunds and armed police - just another day in The Fens

Farmer threatened my dogs with a shotgun then left my Dachshund dead under wheels of his van: Financier claims his puppies were attacked in a row over trespassing.

THESE are headlines from the Daily Mail's website, Mail Online, the world's biggest news website. Fenland has been thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons - and all because of the actions of a man who has been terrorising villagers for decades.

The Mail are sometimes accused of getting it wrong. Not this time. They are bang on. Down the years, the farmer in question - referred to in an earlier post as Despisely - has verbally and physically threatened people; he has driven at them and some claim he has knocked them over; more menacingly, he has threatened to shoot dogs and basically tries to turn the clock back to medieval England every time he sees a dog walker on or close to one of the bridleways which crisscross his land. Land used for growing crops, not rearing livestock.

SURVIVOR: Mr Bojangles was the lucky to survive an attack 
by the farmer ... not so his sibling, Misty.  

I have no hesitation in making these statements without so much as an alleged because he has threatened me, driven at me and my wife and once even winged her with his car as he tried to run over our then Labrador puppy.

So to learn he had killed a Dachshund, not the fiercest of dogs, and injured another came as no surprise. In fact, even he is not disputing he killed the dog. OK, so people with dogs sometimes do stray into areas technically forbidden to the public in the village, but they do no damage, mean no harm and go quietly about their business. Unlike Despisely who completely loses his temper. Fortunately, this short-fused old man no longer has his deadly firearms.

I became aware of the shocking incident while walking my dogs when I came across several laminated posters. At that stage one dog had been killed and the other had disappeared in the fields, injured. It really was was a stomach-churning moment to read the harsh facts after all the run-ins I and so many other people have had with this farmer. Fortunately, the lost dog was soon found although he was slightly injured... nowhere near this spot.

Both sides of this sordid tale involving firearms, dead animals, police armed with TASER guns are told in the weblink below. Armed police arrived, an arrest was made but no charges were laid. Bearing in mind what I have already mentioned, please believe me when I say one person's story is complete tosh. Furthermore, please read the subheading about farmer's rights. Farmers are only permitted to kill dogs on their land if they have sound reasons for believing livestock would be threatened. This, by the way, is on arable land although to be fair, Despisely does have a pig-breeding unit by his house at the other side of the village.

However, I understand he has a piece of land the locals refer to as the reservoir, which he sets to one side for wildlife and birds, hence his claims that the dog walker was 'hunting for egrets'. Absolutely laughable. Presumably this well-meaning farmer, who looks like an amiable grandfather, receives a grant for this piece of land, a sort of mini reserve. No surprise there, then. So to be outraged when people walk along the reservoir with their dogs would be reasonable, you might think. But wait; the same person also allows trusties to fish there, to swim there and for relatives to party on the banks. Indeed, a jetty, a couple of canoes (and empty beer bottles) do give the game away somewhat. Wonder if he would be entitled to that grant if the authorities knew about such shenanigans?

The link is:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2609574/Miniature-dachshund-puppy-run-killed-pig-farmer-dog-walking-row.html

or simply Google pig farmer dead Dachshund etc.

The following is from a draft I began writing a year ago after several fresh run-ins with Despisely which forced me to believe his behaviour could lead to serious trouble. I haven't altered a word about this wretched man:

Fen-tastic fantasy football ... falls flat

Much of Fenland will be glued to the TV tonight [Sunday] as the nation's footballers, led by inspirational Steven Gerrard, tackle unpredictable Mario Balotelli and his Italian team-mates in Kiev. 

Focused: Steven Gerrard
Wikipedia

*See update at the bottom of this post.Come on Roy's boys, you just might beat them [if you play out of your skins]. Next step for Hodgson's heroes, for surely that will be their label if they win, will be to then beat Germany in the semi-final. Simples! We wish.

Well at least I'll be able to watch the telly in peace tonight. No worries about watering the garden after all the rain and no worries about mother-in-law who loves watching the games - even though she's not always aware which teams are playing.

"England are the team playing in white," I say, trying to be helpful.
"Yes, I know that," she replies indignantly.
Two minutes later ...
"Who is playing tonight, dear?"

alzheimers.org.uk/

She really gets involved in the action and hurls abuse at guilty parties when the tackles begin to fly and she detests the goal celebrations. Admittedly, that's not too often if you're an England fan.

"That was very nasty. Did you see that man kick the other one? He shouldn't do that. He's very naughty."
OR
"You're supposed to do that, you silly man [score a goal] so why are you going barmy like that? And all that kissing and hugging. Yuck. Horrible!" 


I started to write the previous entry when Germany were busy outclassing the Greeks in Euro 2012 with an impressive brand of football. 

You must be Joachim: it's Löw at a press conference  Wikipedia

The game panned out predictably despite all the pre-match hype from the Hellenic Republic - yes, they needed some sort of footballing bailout - so I thought I would turn my attentions to the blog instead of the game. 

However, when Greece equalised I went back to the TV and was caught up in the superb football from Joachim Low's men. Great coach, but what a poseur. 

So this post and the previous one has had to wait until today [Sunday]. 

German joy: Marco Reus (right) celebrates  with Mesut Ozil 
 Getty Images via @daylife

Germany thoroughly deserved their 4-2 triumph, with the Greeks "bunkering down", as Jurgen Klinsmann rightly predicted on the BBC beforehand. Unfortunate use of a phrase - or was it deliberate on the part of USA's famous and mischievous coach? I'm  not sure, but Gary Lineker, who was hosting the programme, let that one slip through.

Pick of four great German goals came from Marco Reus. It was a cracker.

On to last night [Saturday], and joint favourites Spain saw off France with ease - yes, the French drew a Blanc - and it is looking increasingly likely that they will meet the mighty Germans in the final. 

What a difference: Rooney playing for
England in 2006 Wikipedia

UPDATE: OK, our boys lost in a shootout yet again, but nobody can deny that the the best team won. England were outclassed and outplayed by Italy in the second half of normal time, and throughout extra-time. Congratulations to Italy, and commiserations to Roy Hodgson, who gave the team some structure and purpose in a short space of time. 
By the way, is it just me or do others agree that Wayne Rooney is not half the player he was? Judging by his size, I would say he's about double the player he once was. He played like a cart horse. He looks overweight, unfit, slow and his touch was pretty poor at times. Experience is all very well but it's time he knuckled down and proved himself again - or else Sir Alex Ferguson may well have to give him the elbow at Manchester United. Shape up, Wayne, your club and country need you.