Last on MOTD: Ever decreasing circles

A RECENT poll suggested that 84 per cent of people in this country believe you can prove anything with statistics. That’s certainly true when it comes to the achievements of Fulham manager Mark Hughes, whose career trajectory is increasingly coming to resemble the basic plot structure of a British sitcom.

Go fourth

THERE’S a feeling among Manchester City players past and present that the club are getting there. Colin Bell thinks so. Micah Richards thinks so.

Warming up

MAYBE it’s a sign that I’m getting old, but my first thought on seeing the scantily-clad female cheerleaders at Oakwell ahead of Barnsley’s match against Portsmouth yesterday was: “For Christ’s sake, put some jumpers on – you’ll catch your deaths of cold out there.”

Last on MOTD: Giles Barnes’ Fantasy League woes

THERE was a time when West Brom midfielder Giles Barnes was mentioned in the same breath as Gareth Bale. To prove it, here’s a quote from Glenn Roeder, then Newcastle’s manager, in early 2007, before either player got a chance in the Premier League:

“The only two players I am interested in from the Championship are Giles Barnes and Gareth Bale,” Roeder said. “They are two outstanding talents and the sort of players we should be looking at. A lot of top clubs fancy them.”

Last on MOTD: Just call me AJ

THIS may sound daft, given that I once went to interview Thaksin Shinawatra under strict instructions to ask him about his human rights record from my boss. But the most nervous I have ever been before an interview was when I spoke to the former Bolton goalkeeper Seamus McDonagh about six years ago.

One man from Argentina

I HAVEN’T given an awful lot of thought to poppy etiquette, assuming that you either buy one or you don’t, and that’s it. But Ken Bates got me thinking after appearing on the Elland Road big screen ahead of this afternoon’s match between Leeds and Bristol City.

Last on MOTD: I love 2009

REMEMBER 2009? With Gordon Brown and Jedward and Rory Delap’s long throws? What amazing times they were.

Last on MOTD: Chequered love

THE goal net, like the Wagon Wheel or ITV, isn’t what it used to be. There was a time, 20 or 30 years ago, when almost every league club in England seemed to have their own distinct style of net (and a lot of clubs in Scotland still had square posts).

Making a stand

BLACKPOOL’S ground has changed a fair bit since my last visit there seven months ago. So much has happend so quickly, it’s tempting to wonder if Bloomfield Road’s refurbishments have been done by the 60 Minute Makeover team. (Or 46 Minute Makeover, as Harry Hill calls it, because of the adverts.)

How to stop Gareth Bale, the Twitter way

IN the hours since Gareth Bale routed Inter Milan right-back Maicon for the second time in a fortnight, Phil Neville has become a worldwide trending topic on Twitter.

Believe it or not, there is a link between the form of Tottenham’s young wonder (now 6/1 with William Hill for the PFA Player of the Year award) and the surge in Neville-related internet traffic.