That Bloke In The Big Smoke

This is why I love living in Europe. One of my best mates supports Blackpool FC. They play in the second division of English football but this was their last game of the season and their biggest in decades. The last time The Seasiders played in the top division was 1971. They got relegated immediately and as recent as two seasons ago were languishing in the third division. But since surviving by the skin of their teeth last season, The Tangerines have ripened just in time to qualify for the Premier League play-offs next week. Today's game was crucial because if they drew or lost and Swansea had beaten Doncaster, the Welsh club would've qualified instead. As it were, The Jacks were held to a frustrating goalless draw at home, unleashing a fantastic sea of emotion at the Prince of Wales pub near Victoria Station. Not only is it a Blackpool supporters pub but the pub landlord and his assistants are all lifelong supporters! The game itself was rather boring, even though Blackpool found themselves behind early in the first half. As the second half progressed, the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. But cometh the hour, cometh the man. Brett Ormerod's full-length diving header secured the long-awaited equaliser and calmed everybody down a bit. But the fans wanted a winner. As the match entered the final few minutes, bitten nails were flying everywhere.

Everybody with iPhones tried to find out what was happening at The Liberty Stadium, but as it happened, we all found out their result by the reactions of the fans on the telly! In the end a victory wasn't necessary and Blackpool now meet a certain Nottingham Forest in the play-offs. I know who I'll be supporting, and it ain't the men in orange ahem, tangerine. I got told off for saying that today! So even if Blackpool get through that, there's still the play-off final at Wembley to deal with in two weeks. Either way from what I saw this afternoon, whoever qualifies is probably going straight back down. I got home to watch the Man Utd-Sunderland game and it was noticeably three notches quicker and of much better quality. Oh and we did our bit to help Chelsea move closer to the Premier League title. But is it the end for Rafa?


Blackpool fans waiting in anticipation for the final whistle, and the result at Swansea.


Job done! Swansea draw, Blackpool through, best day in a long time. Long night of drunken revelry!

The BBC, Guardian, Times, Telegraph, Mirror, LFC.tv and Liverpool Echo. And that's just the ones I've uncovered. At least one journalist at each of these media outlets that's blogging the volcanic ash-induced journey over land from Liverpool to Madrid. It started a few hours ago at Runcorn Railway Station and will end about 24h later in the Spanish capital tomorrow, leaving us just over 24h to prepare for our Europa League S/F first-leg tie with Atlético on Thursday night. Thank goodness for this country's obsession with The Beautiful Game!

FUN SNIPPETS SO FAR:
--"Kevin [Gallacher] pleaded with me to bring out the wine gums, which were soon snaffled up!" -BBC Five Live's Ian Dennis
--"Five Live's Ian Dennis is going mad with the wine gums. The flash, BBC git. I bet they're on expenses as well." -Guardian's Andy Hunter
--"It wasn't Daniel Ayala who was sent out for Wine Gums, but BBC Radio 5 Live's Ian Dennis. The honey-voiced broadcaster has just passed a bag of taxpayer-funded Maynard's around, marking a dramatic shift in his fortunes on this trip." -The Telegraph's Rory Smith

--"This might not be so bad after all. On second thoughts, the man from the Times has declined a pork sandwich due to the presence of apple sauce and is now picking the spring onions out of a cheese butty instead." -Guardian's Andy Hunter
--"Most worrying of all, however, is the constant complaining from my predecessor, who now works for The Times. Those who know Tony Barrett will know he doesn’t eat anything green, so the cheese and spring onion sandwich he was handed was greeted with the kind of look that Edvard Munch based his painting of The Scream on. He isn’t happy – best get him a muffin." -Liverpool Echo's Dominic King

--"Controversy rages in the press carriage after it is revealed that a correspondent in today's Liverpool Echo has called a bottle of lemonade 'a bottle of pop'. As Liverpool natives know full well such phrases are only ever used by those from the city's hinterlands. Suggestions that this will be a long trip were clearly well founded..." -The Times' Tony Barrett

--"Just found out that Philipp Degen is on the train with the rest of the Liverpool squad. It must be a nice change for the Swiss defender not to be the only passenger in the team." -The Times' Tony Barrett

--"There are two certainties about travelling in Britain that never cease to amaze. One is the hordes who feel compelled to congregate around Easyjet boarding gates regardless of whether they are in A, B, C or D. The other is the continued inability of passengers to use the locks on Virgin Pendolino train toilets. And so it was this intrepid explorer's turn to press Open and..." -The Guardian's Andy Hunter

--"The Liverpool squad were bussed into Runcorn station from their Melwood training ground and herded straight into the first-class lounge. It all went a little Shaun of the Dead from there, as a crowd of roughly 50 supporters, trainspotters and professional autograph hunters pressed up against the windows for a look at Steven Gerrard and co reading Hotline magazine. "Please give the Liverpool team room to board the train," pleaded the PA announcer. Surely a first in the Premier League era." -The Guardian's Andy Hunter

--"Just arrived at the office in time to get a taxi to Runcorn station. Matt C already having a presenter's strop because I've not brought any playing cards. Also, just realised I forgot to feed the cat." -LFC.tv's Jimmy Rice (The Red's official website)

--"Found the cafe on the train - but really wish I hadn't. Six quid for a chicken sandwich and pringles. What a joke." -LFC.tv's Craig Jones
--"And just a minute after he spent six quid we were told anything from the cafe is free if you say you're from Liverpool FC. Ha ha..."

--"The realisation is now dawning that there will be no escape from this epic rail journey. Airports in the UK remain closed and Liverpool will have to go into Europe via the back door that is the channel tunnel, which is quite apt seeing as they entered the Europa League via a similar route, although not through a tunnel obviously..." -The Times' Tony Barrett

The Queen has been an Arsenal fan for over 50 years. Prince Charles supports Burnley, while Prince William supports another claret and blue club, but of a Brummie persuasion in the form of Aston Villa, as might interest drunkendeadcat. And Harry has taken his nan's lead and also supports The Gooners. So much for The Royles being out of touch and football being a sport of the working classes!

Fuck.Fuck.Fuck. This is the first time since April 1987 that we have lost four games in a row in all competitions. Our season has gone from bad to worse. Four defeats in nine league games and an European exit imminent. To make matters worse, Gerrard limped off midway through the first-half. Both him and Torres are unlikely to feature against Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday. And then there's Arsenal's toddlers in the League Cup next Wednesday, followed by the Halloween fixture that I'll be attending at Craven Cottage when we play Fulham. Sad as I am to admit it, by then the Rafalucion could be well and truly over. SO COME ON YOU REDS!!! YNWA