Two football stories

There is an excellent interview with new Wales team manager Gary Speed by Brian Viner in The Independent today. It probably helped that Viner is a declared fan of Everton, a team for which Speed played before being transferred to Newcastle. Ironically, Speed snr. is a life-long 'pool supporter.

I couldn't resist the political overtones of another Independent story earlier in the week: "Steve Bruce has had a tentative inquiry for England midfielder Stewart Downing rebuffed by Aston Villa, but is preparing to welcome another left winger to the Stadium of Light as David Miliband is set to join the club in a £50,000-a-year non-executive role". The parallel is more apt than the reporter, Jason Mellor, seemed to realise. Downing has a good right foot, too, and can play on either wing, something the Labour leadership has proved adept at over the last few years.