The Championship, Brighton, Sussex CCC and Gay Pride
I had two long conversations with Alan Tanner prior to the Fulham v Newcastle game and after our goalless draw with Derby and shared our views with Pargie anxious for tips. My view is that the chances of promotion are greatly enhanced by having someone at the helm with form in the Championship. Brighton have Chris Hughton who won promotions with Newcastle and Norwich and a play off with Birmingham : Derby have Nigel Pearson who achieved promotion with Leicester : Alex Hamilton won promotion with Norwich: Jokatonic with Watford: Ipswich’s MacArthy at Wolves. It’s true Karanka at Middlesbrough bucks this trend and Carvahal achieved a play off with Sheffield Wedenesday. On this basis of proven track record, I question whether BenItez, Di Matteo ( Aston Villa) or Walter Zenga at Wolves will achieve. The last two have new owners and these are all too often these are seduced by a big name. I can’t see The Albion replicating last season’s success without a 20 goal striker. The pre season friendlies did not augur well and much of the talk is about hanging to our best players, Kayal, Dunk And Stephens not bringing in new talent.
Unless Sussex can bowl out Essex this morning yet another draw seems on the cards. Much hope is placed on 21 year old Jefra Archer,a Bajan speedster recommended by Chris Jordan. Yesterday he and CJ performed with the bat in partnership of 140 for the seventh wicket.
It’s been a poor season the only success being the introduction to the first team of youngsters George Garton,a fast bowler selected for the England Lions, and Harry Finch is scoring prolifically. We are out of both the white ball competitions and yet to make an impact in the second division championship. .
This weekend is Gay Pride. Many of us residents find this an inconvenience as the march goes from Hove Lawns to Preston Park bisecting the city and making any sort of transport across it problematic.
This is not to say I’m homophobic ( how can you be if you live in Brightpink ?) or even anti Gay Pride but for me to participate as straight looks as daft as William Hague in that baseball cap at the Notting Hill Gate carnival. The revelry will continue in the Kemp Town area today and the bushes move a la Macbeth in Duke’s Mound. I mentioned to two gay friends of mine that I heard someone tell me he saw his bank manager’s backside emerge from the undergrowth there . What did he do , asked my gay friend ” give his card a swipe ?” To which his friend commented “it adds a whole new meaning to a hole in the wall. “
