Well that’s the first piece of silverware in the bag this season, and not a bad start indeed.

Needless to say I didn’t enjoy the first half, 2-0 down by half time was not an ideal start. But what a comeback! It was almost as though it was a different team stepping out after the break. Just six minutes in and Nani and Smalling equalised and we were back in the game! And thankfully the well-deserved man-of-the-match Nani finished up nicely with a spectacular goal in injury time.

I must say I was pretty relieved when he did, I was a bit nervous about our chances if it had gone to penalties. I’m not one to be a nay-sayer about new players but De Gea did not seem on form this weekend and I don’t know if he would have been up to the challenge after already conceding two goals. Then again, he is young and I don’t agree with all these calls to replace him; I say it’s too early to make the call and let’s give the lad a chance before we start laying into him.

One player I was particularly impressed with was Tom Cleverley, it seemed like his substitution really turned the game around. The boy’s certainly got guts for his age! I’m happy to hear his performance has led to his first England squad appearance, definitely one to watch over the coming season.

So that’s the warm-up over, now for the premier league! First match is West Brom this weekend, that is if it’s not been postponed due to the scum rioting in the city. Absolute disgrace. Come to think of it, I’ve got half a mind to ask Sally where that boyfriend of hers was the other night..

Last night, between unsuccessful attempts to win on an Australian casino online, I watched a film called My Kid Could Paint That about a 3-year-old prodigy abstract artist who may or may not have painted some brilliant pieces of art. The jury is still out as to whether the kid did actually create the pieces herself, or whether she had help from her father, but it got me thinking that maybe I should submit some of my own pieces online.

So here we go! These were all put together many moons ago, and follow other pieces I’ve put on this blog here.

This is a mess.

My state of mind when I was painting this was definitely “Shall I paint something? Yes.” Turns out my painting ended up a little bit like the above. I think this piece perfectly depicts exactly what happens when the mind decides to do something.

Paranoid?

I like to see this as my response to ‘Paranoid Android’ but in an androidless world………………………………

Directions

Where are we going? What are we doing? Do we go left, or do we go right? Here I have tried to ask the age-old question and answer it by painting the answer.

Looking for exhibition space!

Heading down to Sounds from the other City this weekend in Salford (my second home) and I’ll be taking little Eric7 with me.

It should be as good as the Green Festival in Chorlton last week. Even though it was right on my doorstep it wasn’t too rowdy and there was no rubbish lying around after (apart from a City scarf, and they will probably recycle that into something better anyway). I went through a stage of being a bit of a hippy myself when I was younger but that soon stopped when our Eric7 was born and it made me go balder than he was. I NEVER hugged a tree though, maybe the odd confused woman.

Anyway, festival season is in full force now and we can forget about Royal Weddings when some of the finest new talent will be playing live throughout Salford from the Old Pint Pot where I tasted my first pint back in the 70s, to Islington Mill right up to St Phiilp’s Church where I used to attend confession back in the day. I used to be a bit of a livewire when I was in my 20s but I’ve learnt how to calm down now by relaxing with a good United book, playing some roulette and drinking a good brew made by my son if he can be bothered to make it, the lazy get.

Never heard of any of the bands playing this year but I guess that’s because I’m getting on a bit. D/R/U/G/S are what I take for my Angina, Brown Brogues are what my old man used to wear and I don’t want to know where Willy Mason got his name. Still, it should be a grand day out.

I’ve heard there’s a bunch of people coming up to teach folk how to play Croquet, I dunno what that’s all about, the southern pansies. Pimms o’clock? It’s nearly always drinking time for me anyway..and mine’s a cider anyway!

Sir Alex has been in the papers again, but this time the drama hasn’t come from the FA or Arsense Wenger (he can leave that to Kenny Dalglish).
No, this time the 69-year-old Scot is fearing the wrath of his ball and chain (the trouble and strife, her indoors). Mrs Ferguson, whom he has been married to for over 40 years, has finally had enough of his ever-expanding trophy cabinet and memorabilia.

Maybe she was the culprit of the smashed Wembley wall afterall. Question is where does he keep it all hidden away from Fortress Fergie? I’d happily take a few medals off his hands, people say I look a bit like David May so I could just pretend that I am indeed him.

Also, when he says memorabilia, I doubt Fergie has a signed David Beckham poster knocking around in the pool room. So I’m guessing Chez Ferguson in Alderley Edge (where else?) resembles the Man City trophy cabinet, all clean and nice but ultimately quite empty. Maybe the happy old couple will make an appearance on Cash in the Attic (when he lifts his ban on the BBC) and get rid of their unwanted ‘tat’ for money to win some real prizes. Who wants two Champions League trophies lying around in the front porch anyway?

As well as all his Managerial awards, he has the freedom of Aberdeen but surely being free of ever having to go back there is worth so much more?
I wonder if Giggsy has some of the stuff hidden in his house nearby, and allegedly it’s not the only bit of trophyware he’s kept secret. Anyway, that’s for another day…Meanwhile, I bet Sir Alex draws the line at his missus throwing out the official Manchester United Scotch Whiskey.

He didn’t just say what I think he did….did he? I had to put my hands over the ears of young Eric7.
I didn’t learn my first swear word until I was 17. HONESTLY!

I will update on this drama as soon as I come back from my little weekend break.

Does anyone else remember when United used to play with flair? I’m pretty sure we didn’t always struggle to beat Bolton one-nil AT HOME. Yep, we did used to play a lot better. The proof is in the pudding, and predictably can also be found on YouTube…

Hey guys,

Just a quick post to let you know I’ve found the FULL UNEDITED version of the Football Focus interview with Cantona from last weekend. It’s as interesting as you’d expect, with Cantona (who admittedly does look like Zak Dingle these days!) opening up about his career and – more importantly for him, you get the impression – his future.

The link can be found here.

Enjoy your weekends!

Just a quick update this time, guys, to let you know that The Man, The Myth, The Legends, and the man my son Eric 7 is named after Eric Cantona will be on Football Focus tomorrow. Watch it, iPlayer it, but be there!

Here’s a nice interview from a guy called Dan Walker at the BBC.

Ta ta for now!

This weekend was my turn to look after the kids again. Eric 7 and Sally are doing well, but it’s a bit of a shame that they had to visit during my latest barren spell when it comes to my songwriting. I have a half-written opus called ‘I Don’t Like Lifts’ just waiting to be finished but I just can’t find the words! And since I had the kids this weekend, I didn’t have the time to find the words!

Sally has got a new boyfriend called Fang. I don’t like him. He has a skull and crossbones earring stud that just makes him look like a man Grotbags. And instead of saying hello to me he just said ‘Alright?’ as if I had inconvenienced him! Anyway, I have brought Sally up well and always talked about sex in front of her so I know she won’t do anything daft. If she does, I’ll kill her! HAHAHA

Eric 7 is doing OK, and is finally coming round to the idea of liking football. It’s taken long enough! I remember when he was two years old and I took him into the woods with a football and wouldn’t leave until he’d done five kick ups. Great times; he was crying silent tears of joy by the end of it, and was so shocked he did it he didn’t speak for a week.

I took the kids to my friend Dazza’s record shop this weekend. Eric had never seen vinyl before and said “What is this dad? Is it a big round plate made out of plastic with grooves on?” HAHA the things they say!

I took some classic Cream to the counter and only interrupted Dazza’ experimenting with his, ahem, Polycom SoundStation 2. Who had one of them first? Yup, it was me, the Barkman. Bark Simpson!

Typical!