Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

OK, now that the computer is alive again I will begin. I had to smile when I read Rafa Benitez war cry about how his players team spirit has been roused because of their travel chaos. With their Europa cup game against Athletico Madrid going ahead, regardless of the volcano in Iceland, the Liverpool squad were forced to go a fair distance on a coach, travel on a long train journey, then take a short flight, and finally jump back onto a coach to their final destination, Madrid.
Rafa explained how his players were actually talking to each other now, as appose to sticking to their normal routine of playing with Playstations and having their own little cliques. Adding that the usual short flights to grounds and cities to play games often meant for a quiet squad this experience had actually brought the squad closer together. I don't doubt that out of adversity sometimes comes inspiration but I would have loved to have seen Rafa cope after a season on a coach with Elliot Benyon and his various 'habits' or even on a journey with old 'Marti' Rice and his 'splat the rat' demonstrations. A hundred years ago when I played for Grimsby we used to have some epic journeys around the country on an old St Trinians coach. If you won at cards it was great but if you were heavily down or beating the manager Alan Buckley on arrival at a ground your mood could be at best, tense!
Rumour has it that on an England coach not so long ago a very well known player was £40,000 down before he even got to the game. After a few tears he proceeded to have an absolute stinker in the game. I must admit that back in those black and white days the old 'fisty cuffs' spilled out a few times - in the tunnel before a game if I remember rightly, we were fine at the final whistle but it definitely helped that we had won the game. That is why cards are now banned on most team coaches en route to matches!!!.
Elsewhere and over the last week our true British spirit has shone through during these Volcano troubled times. With so many people unable to get back to Britain it was left to Battleships, private jets, helicopters, trains, ferry's, and good old buses to help the stranded return home and onto Terra Firma.
In choosing my next holiday location I am determined to find a hot spot of Volcanic activity so that my stay can be 'extended' by at least a month!

CH