Political Football

It's difficult to imagine a game that has stirred up more nonsense than the impending clash of Londons big two at the Bridge tomorrow. When Peter Tatchell feels compelled to enlist the assistance of the competing clubs, and of course the Metropolitan Police, in an ill-informed purge on the visiting fans, something is not quite right.

I wonder how Ash and his advisors feel about being 'rescued' by Outrage? I wonder why, when we have so many law and order issues to confront, that Londons finest wil be deployed in force tomorrow to prevent the carrying of offensive counterfeit twenty pound notes! Could I suggest the Met could reduce their massive wage bill by having a 'photocopied note and inflatable mobile' amnesty along the lines of their recent attempts to persuade real thugs to part with knives? How naive can I be?

There is of course one other option that has been considered by nobody, other than probably Jose Mourinho. Can you imagine what has passed through his strange mind in the days leading up to this game. Cole was ineffectual when subjected to relatively minor abuse at White Hart Lane recently. Spurs won, and the self-styled special one will have noted what happened.

He has therefore the option of removing Cole from the fray, and playing Wayne Bridge, who interestingly played in the midweek Champions League clash with Levski Sofia. What a move that could be. It would dampen the atmosphere from the visitors section in one fell swoop. Of course nobody, least of all me, can read Mourinho's mind. He may consider Cole would react positively to his tormentors, but the evidence doesn't support that particular theory.

Personally, I just hope Arsenal give a good account of themselves, hopefully nick a point or three, and Peter Tatchell is charged with incitement!