David Peak's Page

"An interesting item of news Gromit, that you might be interested in. Joey Barton is in talks with Marseille with a view to a season-long loan. He will, of course, have a 12-match ban to face as a result of being sent off in the Man City / QRR game…"

"About the 1998 World Cup final, here's a link to a BBC page that pretty much tells the most likely story. I think! http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/history/newsid_1749000/1749324.stm Like most conspiracy theories, there doesn't…"

"I'm afraid we're going to have to be on opposite sides with regard to Bayern München. I remember their victories against Leeds and Saint-Etienne as being extremely suspicious, and every referee's decision going the way of the…"

"And talking of Germany and the Netherlands in 1974, there was an item on our local news just last week that Jack Taylor had died in Wolverhampton. He was, you might remember, the referee who awarded (correctly) penalties to each side in that final.…"

"OK, here's an observation. It's taken a while to get round to it... but here goes. I watched televised games from last year's Women's World Cup. I not only enjoyed the games I saw, but I was really very pleasantly surprised with…"

"This is a difficult question. How to reconcile the strength and character needed to be the head of world football, and at the same time having the heart and soul of the game as his priority. Being left of centre politically (like Gromit) I view…"

"All the above comments regarding Blatter are pretty much correct. From a British perspective he is seen as both arrogant and corrupt – and who also appears to run world football as his own personal domain. Also from the British perspective…"

"I wouldn't criticise the French at all. They were the better team. It wasn't even close. The Canadian girls were very flat and just couldn't get their game going pretty much the whole game. The second half belonged totally to France,…"

"I'm really looking forward to this game (I've got a ticket and I'll be there). But as to the outcome, I haven't a clue. On current form I'd go for Canada – but historically it's France. Like you I just hope for a…"

"I'd like to add a couple of comments regarding the Canadian girls. In their group games Japan were superior, Sweden a little better and S. Africa much worse.  Canada crept into the later stages as one of the least-worst teams. That now…"

"I went to the Coventry stadium this morning to get a ticket for tomorrow's bronze medal match Canada v France.  I asked the ticket guy how sales were going and the answer was, "a bit slow so far". But, it must be said, this game…"

"Another point: Feelings are running pretty high in Canadian circles – quite rightly they have a strong sense of grievance and injustice. Would Fifa wish to alienate the Canadian authorities even further in view of Canada's hosting the…"

"I can't believe that Fifa would punish Canada. It would really be in Fifa's best interests to do absolutely nothing at all. Perhaps they feel they have to defend the referee, but in this case they would be defending the indefensible. If…"

"Hi Gromit: In 2007 Leicester City played Nottm Forest in a League Cup tie. Leicester City player Clive Clarke collapsed in the dressing room at half time and the game was abandoned. Forest had scored in the first half. In the rescheduled fixture the…"

"Well, I won't make the final... but I'll be at the Coventry Arena on Thursday afternoon, cheering on Canada in the hope that a little justice, and medals, might come their way. They really, really deserve it. "

"To say it was one of the greatest women's game I've seen would be an understatement – it was just one of the greatest games, men or women. I really feel for the Canadian girls, they did everything they could, fought hard and put…"