Wait or Date? {Redbrick Article}

I’m sat at home relaxing in front of the television and waiting for a text. I’ve been waiting for a good while now for the latest love interest to reply to a message I sent her yesterday. Am I beginning to feel more and more into her with every second that passes that she ignores me? Is it keeping me guessing as to whether she’s some kind of international woman of mystery and I should feel honoured when she eventually finds time in her day to text me back? Unfortunately not I’m afraid! Actually I’m just beginning to tire of the scenario and think she’s clearly either not interested or playing annoying games designed to impress me. In actual fact, I’m this close to just texting the girl I met last night and see how long it takes her to respond.

We’ve all been there, boys and girls alike and we’ve all got our techniques of defying the conventions of texting in order to make ourselves more attractive by keeping a safe distance. The only advice is you’re walking a tightrope if you think the constant gaming isn’t going to irritate people, and irritate them fairly quickly at that. So the next time you receive a text, write a reply, save it to your drafts and send it four hours later to keep him / her waiting, think about just how honest you’re actually being with yourself never mind the person who’s going to forget they’re even expecting a text from you after ten minutes without reply.

If you genuinely feel there’s a romantic flame with somebody why feel compelled to play them like a game? We all want the movie-made relationship but there’s nothing romantic about basically ignoring somebody for two days and then getting back to them with absolutely no apology or explanation. Do you want someone to fall for the you that grins and giggles a bit when they receive a text from somebody who makes them feel a little weird inside? Or do you want to trick somebody into thinking your some kind of unemotional machine who couldn’t give one about whether they’re falling into an infatuation or not?

To conclude I’d like to finish by saying that as a lad who’s confident and self respecting enough not to chase every girl that passes his line of sight (unless he’s had a few!), I won’t be waiting by the phone for you to text me back no matter who you are. I’ll think a lot more of you if you play an honest game and show me the same respect by replying as soon as comfortably possible. So let’s cut the games out and stop messing each other around. If someone doesn’t explain themselves after keeping you waiting for days, they’re just not worth your time or 10p for a text. If love is really a game, then we can use one of the age old principles of the beautiful game in saying that attack is the best form of defence in the pursuit of the winning goal!

Are you taking the Mick?

This was very much the question of over 2,500 travelling Wolves fans as they learnt in many cases less than an hour before kick off that the entire outfield had been changed from the victors of White Hart Lane who had secured the teams second away win against an in form Tottenham outfit. McCarthy certainly had his reasons for the extreme alterations as his injury ridden squad face relegation rivals Burnley at Molineux on Sunday, a game that only kicks off what is always a make or break Christmas period in the struggle for survival in English football's top flight. Despite McCarthy's dismissive tone stating that he was "not prepared to get injuries before the weekend." having lost Kightly, Keogh and Edwards already until late January at least - it has been suggested that his selection acted out of the spirit of the game and was most certainly seen as defeatist by the fans who had made the journey to Old Trafford.

The game itself (which I myself attended) did not reflect the hiding some may have expected the Champions to have handed out to McCarthy's second string and the United's own flaws were exposed by a backs to the wall half an hour in which the multi million pound attack looked hapless to break down a makeshift back pairing of loanee Michael Mancienne and unpredictable full back George Elokobi. The breakthrough was dubious to say the least with Rooney converting emphatically from the spot as Referee Steve Bennett spotted a handball by Ronald Zubar amidst the melee of players following a Darren Gibson corner that not one of the 22 players or 70,000 in attendence appeared to see themselves.

As the game wore on and the Gold and Black Army watched on as Greg Halford's long throw caused chaos in the United box and the lunacy of Thomasz Kuszack became a goal threat in itself - many began to wonder what might have been had the likes of Kevin Doyle, Sylvain Ebanks Blake and Nenad Milijas been on hand. McCarthy described in a post match interview to have already had at least 3 changes from the side that won at Tottenham forced on his through injury and exhaustion however many would argue this is no basis to all but surrender valuable points against an unconvincing United side on the premise that a win against Burnley is more important. Given the nature of inconsistent Premier League scorelines this year - the Molineux men were just as likely to steal a cheeky point at Old Trafford as they are to secure 3 points on home soil on Sunday.

On a more emotional level the team selection can be seen as an act of disrespect to the fans that paid to watch and the players that were denied the opportunity to play at the biggest stadium in the league. Surely ex United striker Ebanks Blake would have relished the opportunity to bite his former employers back, and childhood fans Karl Henry and Richard Stearman would have been honoured to have played for their beloved Wolverhampton Wanderers on the biggest stage of them all. As it happens the pressure is now piled on Sunday's game as in order to justify his decision McCarthy needs a fairly successful Christmas period starting with a win against Burnley that is by no means guaranteed.

Disgruntled fans voiced their disgust with chants of '40 quid to watch the reserves'; 'We want our money back' and 'Where is a first team.' There were still muffled renditions of 'Super Mick McCarthy' even on a night where many felt he had sold the loyal fans out. It is unlikely that Jez Moxey's merciless opinion towards the issue of refunding fans tickets will be ignored lightly on Sunday by a South Bank that has had no quarms about ridiculing the Chief Executive in the past for much more minor crimes than this. After Wigan's 9-1 pummelling at the hands of Spurs at White Hart Lane (ironically) was apologised for by refunding the humiliated fans tickets - at least The Latics faithful can take heart in the knowledge that their team simply did not turn up on the day and they met a relentless Defoe-Lennon combination at precisely the wrong time.

The Wanderer's away following have the added displeasure of knowing that the game was deliberately written off by their manager - who frankly should be appalled with himself for his ludacris suggestion of 'This is my first team' after he decimated the starting XI which beat the in form team outside of the current top 4 on their own patch. One fan who had taken his child to what he thought was 'the biggest day of the season' for his youngster told me that he had paid full price for a child ticket due to an administration error at the Molineux ticket office and that he had not been given a reduction refund as due to excess demand for tickets the club could afford to sell all of the tickets for full price.

In an albeit mixed season so far for Wolves having appeared to have just turned a corner I hope as a usually blindly loyal, optimistic fan that McCarthy's decision is proven to be wise and the fresh faced starting XI is back with a vengeance for Sunday's clash with Burnley - the team who first proved to the world that the Ronaldo-less United were anything but invincible with the shock they inflicted upon the reigning Champions at the fortress of Turf Moor. Let us hope and pray that this has not set the tone for all away fixtures that pose what is deemed as too much of a challenge and the energetic, attacking outfit that brought the Wanderers to the dizzy heights of the Premier League returns to pit their wits with the best of the best after yesterday evenings bizare events.

Where is the love?

I’m going to do my utmost not to turn this into a complete and utter rant however; this week’s topic is one which has been driving me a bit mental as of late. I’m in second year now and there appears to have been some kind of revolutionary movement in everybody’s minds that has basically caused them to have become obsessed with the idea of getting hooked up. Now I’ve been in relationships myself before believe it or not and I’m not trying to say that it’s a bad thing at all. With that said; is it really something that you want to live your life in constant pursuit of? What on earth has happened to the age old clichés of ‘There’s someone out there for everyone’ and ‘You find love when you’re not looking for it’?


As I’ve said I am in no way trying to discredit the joys and pleasures of being in a relationship with somebody you love because it’s one of the most enjoyable and secure feelings in the world. But there really are dangers of being over-zealous in your pursuit of Mr / Miss Right. Firstly you can end up scaring off potential partners with what they might perceive as a freaky enthusiasm to settle down and live happily ever after. How many times do you hear your friends complaining that a fledgling relationship is moving far too fast for their liking? It’s a big step to make and not one to be taken lightly by anybody. If somebody doesn’t seem hell bent on a practical engagement after a month or so of going out together it’s no scorn on you they may just need more time than you to adjust to the taken lifestyle. Lest we forget most of us have returned off the back of one of the worst behaved years of our lives regarding the opposite sex!

The second danger is that you dive headfirst into a relationship with somebody you don’t really know well enough and experience the sour side of love. Don’t give yourself away wearing your hearts on your sleeves just because somebody may seem compatible they might not necessarily be right for you. It’s a bigger commitment now than it was in high school and just because somebody’s quite attractive and likes the same music as you that doesn’t mean you should be writing your wedding vows after a week of knowing them.

For those of you that are a little the other way and are so scared of commitment that you’ll pick fault with the most perfect potential partner you’ll ever come across it’s perfectly normal to be a little confused. If you take things at your own pace and keep yourself at arm’s length until you’re ready to take dating to another level you never know how well things might turn out. Don’t beat yourself up about not falling head over heels in love with somebody straight away even, it doesn’t always feel right at first.

So to wrap up I think people need to just value themselves a little more. So what if a lot of your friends are settled down it doesn’t mean it’s a new fashion trend that you have to follow. Be honest with yourselves when it comes to how serious or casual you want relationships and dating to be and certainly don’t feel pressured into being convinced that somebody is your Mr / Miss Right. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Swings and Rebound-abouts {Redrbick Article}

We’re half way through the first term now which for some readers may well mean you’re looking back on the first half of a fast and furious fresher’s semester. Sometimes even students need time out to reflect as the rollercoaster ride of meeting hundreds of new friends; indulging in dozens of new experiences; relentlessly kissing your more attractive acquaintances and drinking your own body weight in alcohol can unbelievably leave you feeling a little alone. It’s not a unique phenomenon for young couples to be torn apart by the pressures placed on them by university, and some of you may have learned that it’s not necessarily the easiest place to handle a break-up.

Hopefully many of you have moved on, re-found yourselves as singletons and have rebounded your way into a ditzy carefree existence that will make you a blissfully ignorant student. There may be some however who have found that flying through Fresher’s at a million miles per hour has at times led you to crash into an unforgiving wall and left you crying for your mommy and wondering who you’ve become.

We all rebound in different ways and some admittedly can be more destructive than others. A common therapy is proving to yourself that you’re still attractive and it’s his / her loss by flirting and kissing every night away with whomever you see fit. If this has been your response and you’re now feeling a little regretful; you are not suddenly a whore; you’re not really trying to fill the void your ex has left as some will persuade you to believe. You’re reacting a little more impulsively when it comes to the opposite sex and merely taking advantage of your new found freedom, and sometimes taking it a little far. It’s really not that big a deal, but be mindful that you’re not leading potential partners on when you have no intention of requiting their interest.

If however the break up has affected you more severely; either due to a clingy ex, a completely uninterested one or simply a sense of utter disbelief, the excessive alcohol consumption will be the most lethal catalyst for the polarisation of emotions. One minute you’re on a massive high, enjoying a bit of a messy tear-up, the next you’ve had a phone call from an unwanted caller and your mascara’s dying your cheeks black with tears or your being restrained by your mates after attacking a wall. Everyone has a drunken tantrum, but to avoid it becoming a regular occurrence there are a few of things to consider. Is regular contact with an ex really healthy for you in your hours of vulnerability? Has student life been truly worth leaving someone you loved and if not is there a chance of re-building bridges? Finally, have you properly cleared the air with your ex partner, explained properly why the relationship had stopped working or listened to their reasons objectively as well?

Breaking up should be made easier by university but sometimes it really isn’t. You’re thrown into a world where you know no body and everybody at the same time, and you’re being asked to deal with a change in your life that you would usually do so with the support of your closest friends. You’re allowed to be upset, and don’t let the smiling faces around you feel you always have to bottle it up. Uni is a great place to be single, but it can be a bad place to become single.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

I dread to think just how many times I've watched the three sequels to this film but its soon going to be time to watch them all over again from Jack's first make of port in Port Royale to the epic Maelstrom battle between the United Lords of Pirate Cove and the British Navy fronted by The Flying Dutchman and its lovesick Captain Davey Jones.

Can Captain Jack Sparrow flirt with death only to evade it one more time? Will the new Ferrier of Lost Souls William Turner fulfill the thankless task with the temptation of the mother of his child on forbidden land? Could I get a lot more excited about this? I'd like to think not but the thing is... I can.

Let's kiss and make up {Written for Redbrick, Lifestyle}

There’s absolutely nothing sexier than completely hating the fact you love someone. That no matter how frustrated you get with them, how angry they make you and how volatile your relationship is, you still think their hot and after hours of relentless fighting the classic conclusion ensures. I am of course talking about the sordid violence and irresistible anger that can only be produced by make-up sex.

Now don’t misinterpret this article as a good excuse to go and pick a fight with your partner just so you can submit to their view an hour or so later and for want of a better expression do them into next week. That just really isn’t how this works. It’s more of a gamble, an epiphany of your adoration of someone even while their incessantly screaming at your for something you haven’t done. It’s amazing how reciprocate your lover is during the ten seconds immediately after throwing her GHDs at you. This is the time to strike, a tentative hug is a great olive branch to extend with, and take the standard slap that will most definitely follow. It’s only then the mind shifts, and quickly at that from the ‘I hate this idiot who the hell does he think he is’ mentality to more of a, ‘I’ve partially assaulted him, insulted his entire circle of friends and he’s still stood here smiling at me.’

It’s a fairy tale moment let me tell you and so worth saying the forbidden word (whispering makes the moment cheesy so try to speak softly but not like a Hollywood movie star.) One second the word ‘sorry’ is leaving your lips, the next minute their being joined by the same pair that were roaring at you a minute previously, and all of a sudden you’re on the fringes of a most exciting and dramatic sex scene. Not to be overly explicit but clothes may be damaged and bed-springs may well be broken.

Moving on now to the emotional side of this issue before we get too involved in more of the above. If any of you can relate to this scenario then you’ll all know that it’s kind of what being in love with somebody’s all about. Loving someone even when they’re the most annoying, evil person on the planet and riding the waves the sea of love throws at you. As often happens in more long term partnerships these scenes may become more frequent when a couple overcomes the stage of tentative, love making that might define the fledgling months of the relationship. That does not mean to say they are necessarily a good omen, even though during the heat of the moment it all seems pretty damn hot.

Love alone might not be enough to hold a hostile couple together, and if potentially home-wrecking arguments persist on a regular basis the overwhelming capabilities of make-up sex might not cut it when the straw breaks the camel’s back. It’s a short term solution even though it might not feel like it as you’ll feel happier than ever together during the post-sex cuddle wondering what you were even arguing about. The fact is, you were arguing about something and it hasn’t really been resolved, meaning that it’s bound to crop up again. So in order to make the relationship work: have all the angry make-up sex you like, but for the more delicate issues of interfering ex’s or irrational paranoia, the only remedy is compromise and communication.

The Lizards

Here they are. Bloody gorgeous ain't they. Maybe not the one front middles a bit of a looker mind. Well this is my team and one of the questions I'm often fronted with is 'Why on earth are you named The Lizards?' Oddly enough the answer to this very reasonable question is of course; 'I really haven't a clue.' It remains a mystery to us why we're the Lizards but we are and we're proud of it.

After our initial teething problems we've climbed the Edgbaston six a side league (excuse the climbing pun. Lizards. Climbling. Forget it) slowly but surely and were it not for the fact we've all had to return to our humble abodes ranging from Warrington all the way down to Norwich we might just have been promoted. Still we're quite satisfied with 1 loss in 11 or it may even be 12 now considering until October we'd never played a game together before. I'm not going to ramble to much on this one as there is actually an entire Facebook group dedicated to The Glorious Geckos ourselves which any of our Facebook Friends will be doubtless able to access via  the following link. I'm going to be honest its full of colourful language, uncompromising photographs and some rather borderline football banter. In a really non-sexist way this may not be for the females.  http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=157137476317&ref=ts

The Stadium of Europe

We've all seen the Horrors of Heysell; and British fans being effectively persecuted by batallions of Italian police officers in Rome and Milan alike. Atrocities in Turkey and chaos in Greece haunting the prouder moments of British club success. Moreover we cannot deny the madness at Eastlands in 2008 and at no point do I intend to pick fault with individual countries or club.

My point is this; in the annual competitions the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup a club stadium/city is selected to host a final prior to the participants being anywhere near decided. Yet we wonder why confusion arises with 2 sets of British fans travelling to Moscow; why carnage ensues when European super-giants collide at unsuitable venues or even when hostility materialises due to the host venue being home to one of the finalists. The answer although simple on the surface yet I'm sure complicated beneath it is this. For a neutral European super-stadium to be designed and built for the purpose of these huge games to be played in; policed properly and done peacefully.

No more Roma playing in finals at Rome or unfit stadiums being over-run by fanbases capable of fulfilling maximum allocations twice over. The Stadium of Europe concept should be entirely the responsibility of UEFA and FIFA and I will give a few possibilities as to how/why this could work.
1) Neutrality of Venue.
A common theme of European finals has been hostile hosts to hostile neighbours. Rightly or wrongly it is common knowledge that English football fans are victimised by Italian police in national and club meetings. This has been an issue even since the horrors Liverpool fans were subjected to in Rome 78.
Furthermore by circulating the major venues of Europe the top echelons of the the three super footballing leagues England, Spain and Italy are destined to crop up with high frequency meaning at any given time local footballing firms from the host city are greeted with the chance to make their presence felt to their European rivals. Should the final be played in Madrid between Barcelona and Milan for example a three maybe four pronged battle is always likely to take place on nationalistic and regional levels.
The answer is simple given the climate of football today. There are certain nations in Europe which excluding a minor miracle will never again produce a serious potential European finalist such as Switzerland, Austria or any Scandanavian country. These countries would be ideal for the Stadium of Europe as it would exclude realistic possiblity of the host venue being the home ground of a finalist club and also denies the meeting of clubs from all three super-league nations.

2) Policing
Policing would become easier and simply be easier given central planning from a Stadium of European committee and methods of policing would become clear during trial runs of the stadium and clear strategies could be outlined to address the issue of two massively supported clubs gracing the Stadium.
Also the neutrality of policing would prevent the carnage that ensues time and time again when for example British fans meet Italian police, which for many has become a matter of principal and a historical conflict, rather than a fight being fought on current situations.

3) Capacity
Many stadiums are venued despite the fact they are really incapable of hosting a large enough allocation for two massively supported clubs. It is because of this situations arise such as Athens 2007 whereby fans of the same club become rivals for tickets to the same game. By utilising space and location factors UEFA could invest in a stadium large enough to accommodate large amounts of football fans from Europe's most well supported clubs.

4) Economy
Simply put, such a project would be a provider of much needed jobs in whichever economy it would effect. Not only would mass-construction be provided for but the multiplier effect of trade in the local area and security jobs would be a boost for the surrounding settlements.

5) Comfort
I know real football fans who had hoped for the day they would attend a European final involving their team only to be confronted with a hostile location which put them off attending or at least made the experience hellacious rather than enjoyable. Geographical issues must be addressed as well. For the last five years at least now the European Cup finalists have been from England, Spain and Italy. And before that anomalies have only included Holland, Portugal and France; with Russia being the obvious exception. But in 2008 Russian teams coming to England and English teams going to Russia; could have been easily solved by this proposal.

Those who want to throw tradition in the way of this solution go ahead. The tradition of exclusive stadiums holding these excuslive events. So be it if this tradition did not cause theft, pain, chaos and death. The Stadium of Europe. Make it happen.