Good Day!

It was a quite a match at Anfield yesterday. The Carragher/Nani incident was great theater. Do you think if Nani had just stayed down and showed his sliced shin to Phil Dowd instead of getting up, running around and then falling down again, Carragher would have seen red? I think so. But since the Liverpool defender only got a yellow, Rafael was allowed to stay on the pitch as well following his Barton-esque two-footed challenge later. Regardless, the better team on the day won and Liverpool fans have to be optimistic about things going forward. Suarez was excellent and with Andy Carroll making an appearance the future looked a hell of a lot brighter than it did a couple of months ago. As for United, the return of Vidic will certainly help but if Nani is set for a prolonged absence things could get interesting.

Of course, Arsenal have their own injury issues and looked uninspired and limp without Cesc and Van Persie in their nil-nil draw with Sunderland. Over in West London Petr Cech reckons Chelsea can still win the league. They'll begin that journey tonight at Blackpool. I won't count anyone out at this point -- it's been such an odd season. Usually at this point one or more clubs will get in gear and make a march for the title. Not this year. It's more like a stumble to the finish line. The rigors of World Cup 2010 are certainly an influence.

The other big news of the weekend came from the brilliant minds at FIFA. No more snoods. I can just imagine all those clowns in a room debating the merits and dangers of a neck-warmer. Some things are simply too important not to address, I suppose. Unlike the white elephants left to South Africa and FIFA's $631 million profit over the last four years. FIFA are like SPECTRE. Where is James Bond when you need him?

Elsewhere today we've got a nice tribute to fat strikers (Neil Shipperley, anyone?), Martin Samuel on Kolo Toure and a look at the designs for Siena's new stadium. Mrs. SSN and I had the privilege of enjoying a raucous Siena/Roma match a few years back, and although the present ground is a fantastic little stadium right in town, the idea for the new place looks pretty cool. And that's pretty cool.

Onward!!