Here is a summary of activity over the last few months. It’s been ages since I wrote anything.

1. I am still trying to become a better Christian. Church this morning was really positive but I have had a rubbish day since. Ignoring God cos church was too hard and I’m lazy.

2. Please sign the petition to bring back Fantasy Football League for the 2010 World Cup! http://www.petitiononline.com/ff2010/

3. I just finished classes for my Masters, and now have to study Polish like there’s no tomorrow, write an essay, and write my dissertation. All will be finished in September.

4. Going to do a couple of weeks’ work at ASDA on Tuesday.

5. Have been working at Sports Direct in Glasgow.

6. Still obsessed with ultras (writing my dissertation on football firms). www.ultras-tifo.net is my current site of choice for looking at fiery things and getting all excited.

I should start writing this again. I probably have more to say than ever before.

God bless, Jenni xx

Church yesterday was unsettling in the extreme. On Friday I’d been to see the lady vicar, who gently told me that I needed to redevelop my idea of God as that of a loving God who isn’t so demanding as I think. However on Sunday, I’m in church and I start feeling like… I’ve got to pray like this, I’ve got to make sure it’s been answered, I mustn’t assume, I mustn’t relax…

And I can’t shake this off. I think I need to accept that I’m confused and that warm words, which I want to believe so much, won’t become real to me at the moment.

It has messed with my plans, though. I had a bad experience on Sunday afternoon. You know my last post? I posted it onto a football ultras website, expecting some negative feedback - after all, I need people to tell me if my ideas are stupid. However, I got the kind of negative feedback that made me feel like those who had read my post would never respect me again. This made me brood - I was annoyed with myself, had once again forgotten that I’m unique and that normal people think my ideas are wrong, had spent too much time on my own daydreaming, and too much time with other students and friends who think I’m great and so have become “yes men”, with the best of intentions.

I made a decision: I was going to get involved with redACTION, the Arsenal fans’ group which aims to increase atmosphere inside the stadium, and try and add my ultraness to the mix. I was aware that instead of trying to change things at Arsenal I’ve moved on a bit, and that if everyone did that we’d just all go to Dinamo Zagreb games once a year and nothing would ever change in the UK.

After church, as I got on the bus feeling a bit better, I had the strongest feeling that a) God didn’t want me to do that and b) God didn’t want me to pray about it, question, or argue at all. This put me off talking to God.

My friend Rachel would say this was therefore not God speaking, because it is discouraging. But the feelings are so strong at the moment that I can’t ignore them. This morning I asked God for permission to explore the redACTION thing, and to physically stop me if I wasn’t allowed. I then felt bad about it on the bus. I always feel spiritually terrible on First buses, perhaps because I know I waste time on them - I could be reading the Bible or praying, and rarely if ever do. Or maybe it was because I felt a little of the feelings I’d had on the 66 last night and felt guilty for ignoring what could have been God’s voice.

So I will see if I get any feedback on this post, and go from there. If you think you have some advice for me, please speak.

God bless, Jenni xx

My old friend Stef wrote one of these years ago, and it was great. Here’s my crack at the same sort of thing. If you like, please copy, provide your own answers and invite your friends to do the same.

Football survey

1. What team do you support and why?
Arsenal and I fell in love with them for no apparent reason 14 years ago. It was a dramatic penalty shootout against Sampdoria and a crush on Ian Wright that did it.
2. Any other teams you follow, and why?
Dinamo Zagreb - went to see them in 2007 and the atmosphere knocked me off my feet. I go to Arsenal for attractive football and Dinamo for the rush.
3. Which team do you hate the most and why?
Tricky one… I vacillate between Spurs and Man United. I think it’s Spurs atm. Not only are they local rivals, theyr’e actually winning sometimes. And they are accumulating players I used to like at an alarming rate. Gah.
4. Which other teams do you dislike and why?
Man U (annoying), Chelsea (rich and annoying), Hajduk Split (Dinamo’s rivals), Lazio (racist), MK Dons (plastic franchise football team)
5. Favourite all time player
Patrick Vieira. And also Ian Wright.
6. Favourite current player for your club
I love Gallas and Eduardo. They both push my buttons. I would have favoured Gallas until the last couple of weeks but the ridiculous way Eduardo’s been vilified has made me love him extra much!
7. Favourite current player not at your club
I think Artur Boruc right now. Also Patrick Vieira obviously, and Cristiano Lucarelli.
8. If your club had to sell one player, who would you sacrifice?
Almunia. We’d sign Boruc as a replacement.

9. Current favourite goalkeeper
Artur Boruc
10. Current favourite defender
William Gallas
11. Current favourite midfielder
Patrick Vieira
12. Current favourite forward
Eduardo
13. Current favourite manager
Slaven Bilic

Who do you prefer…

14. Arsenal or Spurs
Arsenal
15. Liverpool or Everton
Everton
16. Man U or Man City
City. JUST.
17. Real Madrid or Barcelona
Barca
18. Milan or Inter
Erm… I like both. Historically Milan but now Inter have Vieira!
19. Celtic or Rangers
Celtic
20. Rhyl or Bangor
Rhyl, having seen them play. I wouldn’t care otherwise.
21. Linfield or Glentoran
Linfield, because Stevie Baxter scores 26 billion goals a game!
22. Dinamo Zagreb or Hajduk Split
VOLIM DINAMO!
23. Legia Warsaw or Wisla Krakow
Don’t ask awkward questions! I still haven’t got to the bottom of my dilemma about Polish teams to favour!

24. Describe yourself as a supporter, in ten words or less.
Passionate, loud, community focused, pretty fearless ultra in training.
25. Favourite national side and, if it’s not your country, why?
Croatia, for similar reasons as why I like Dinamo. I fell in love with them around the same time, having visited the country.
26. Who will win the 2010 World Cup?
Erm…… England could actually do it, or Spain, or Brazil.

27. If you could watch any football game in the world, what would it be?
Dinamo v Hajduk. Hopefully I will, maybe as early as next May.
28. List some of the other fixtures you’re interested in.
Any Polish match; Galatasaray v Fenerbahce; Partizan v Crvena Zvezda; any Latin American derby.

29. Favourite… Championship team
Newcastle, for my mum. Also like Doncaster.
30. …League One team
Brighton and Hove Albion
31. …League Two team
Either Dagenham and Redbridge or Barnet. They can both be promoted this year! Also have a soft spot for Bournemouth despite almost getting hypothermia after a game at Dean Court!
32. …Non-league team
AFC Wimbledon. Community owned clubs are my thing.
33. Which is your nearest club, of any size?
Eastleigh. Saw them play AFC Wimbledon last season. 16 minutes of injury time due to an injury to the linesman!

34. Favourite… French team
Lyon I think. Glory hunting but they used to be an Arsenal retirement home so I had a soft spot for them then.
35. …German team
St Pauli. Like my sister, I tend to follow both Hamburg teams which is odd!
36. …Italian team
Livorno. Also have always liked AC Milan.
37. …Spanish team
Barcelona
38. …Polish team
Don’t ask me this, I’m still trying to work it out.
39. …Croatian team
Dinamo
40. …Dutch team
Ajax
41. …MLS team
Don’t know much about it but Adrienne would want me to say Colorado Rapids, so I just did
42. Any other teams you like from unpredictable countries or just those I haven’t mentioned yet?
A lot of teams capture my imagination. If there’s passion in the stadium, I’m interested. I’m also interested in teams with a left wing support base.

43. Best match you’ve ever been to or watched on TV and why?
That’s really hard… I loved Arsenal v Juventus in December 2001. 3-1. Also the 3-1 over Man Utd in the same season, about a month beforehand.
44. Worst match you’ve ever been to or watched on TV and why?
I didn’t actually go there or watch on TV, I listened to it on the radio and it traumatises me for life… Man U, February 2001, don’t make me talk about it anymore!!!!!
45. How many games do you go to per season?
As many as i can. Sharing a season ticket atm, expected to make 7-10 games.
46. Would you go to more games if you afford to?
Yes, if I also had time.
47. How do you think the atmosphere could be improved at football games (especially if you follow the Premiership)?
I’m for anything which doesn’t involve racism or people punching each other. Someone let off flares right next to me at Hearts v Dinamo and it gave me such a rush! Short of such behaviour, I think everyone should take responsibility to join in the chants and generate atmosphere.
48. Do you envy any other club’s supporters, and if so why?
Dinamo and every other club whose fans give it their all for 90 minutes.
49. Have you ever joined in a football related protest?
I used to launch them! I ran a football action group called GRODD as a teenager. Good times. I’ve been involved in the Free Michael Shields (yay, victory!) and Save the Vuvuzela campaigns of late. I am also in favour of safe standing and have argued for it often.

50. If you had a time machine, what football related thing would you do?
Go to an Arsenal game when there was atmosphere at Highbury. Maybe a north London derby in the 70s would float my boat? Terraces would be involved, of course.

51. Do you play?
Sometimes. Not for a year. Must get involved at uni.
52. What position do you play/did you play at school?
Selfish striker.
53. How good are you?
Erm… not very!
54. Who was your childhood idol?
Ian Wright. I’m actually better at playing up front than anything else, so I don’t think I let my idol sway my choice of position.
55. As a player, what are your strengths and weaknesses?
I’ve always been able to get a shot on target and I’m tenacious when it comes to winning the ball. Main weakness is too much time on the ball, hesitation, lack of confidence in what to do with it. I also struggle to get power behind my shots in a competitive situation because I’m over worried about accuracy. Basically I psyche myself out and don’t have the competitive experience to fix this problem.

56. What problems does the team you support have (i.e. money, administration, board issues)?
Finishing 4th over and over and over and over again. Not having a plan B on the pitch, thus being vulnerable to teams who only want to kick us.
57. What problems do your club’s supporters have (i.e. racism, apathy)?
Complete apathy and general silence, unless you’re in block 6.

58. Everyone answer this question, even the straight boys, for a laugh… if you had to date one player from your club, who would it be?
Just one? Hmm, that would have to be Gallas.
59. Same question, but with a player from another club?
At the moment, Artur Boruc. Players aside, Slaven Bilic pushes my button too.
60. Ever had a serious crush on a footballer?
I was in LOVE with Ian Wright for 2 years as a teenager, in a “crying when he handed in a transfer request and wanting to marry his wife off to my IT teacher so I could have him” kinda way. I get very defensive when I have a crush on a player and want to fight their corner! I also write songs about them!
61. Which club side has the most attractive players?
Tough question that. Used to be unquestionably Arsenal but they’ve sold a few hotties. Villa are quite interesting. Barcelona because Henry alone is worth half a dozen cute players at another team.
62. Which national side has the most attractive players?
Croatia of course! Because when Corluka and Kranjcar have Croatia shirts on, they’re not disgusting anymore!

63. What do you think of your team’s current kit?
Home kit is fine, away kits are rancid. White one looks like school uniform and blue one is Facebook blue, which is a Spurs colour!
64. Do you buy the kits? If so, how often, and how many do you own?
I don’t buy new Arsenal kits anymore, but used to and have taken to buying random kits. I’ve got about 10.
65. What’s the most random kit you own?
Dinamo home shirt (2008-9).
66. What do you think of your club’s current sponsors?
They probably pollute the environment quite a lot. I think there are further issues but not quite sure what they are, to be honest. Not keen on shirt sponsorship in general.

67. Funniest thing you’ve ever seen at a football match?
People singing “are you Schmeichel in disguise?” at some diving Wimbledon player in 1997, days after Schmeichel had been pretending to have been fouled by Ian Wright.
68. What would convince you to streak at a football match?
Artur Boruc.

69. Who will win… the FA Cup this season?
Man City
70. …the League Cup?
Villa
71. …the Premiership?
Arsenal would be nice. Real answer = Chelsea.
72. …the Champions League?
Arsenal would be nice and more plausible than the League. Arsenal, Real Madrid or Barca.
73. …the Europa League?
Someone who gets dumped out of the Champions League… I’ll go for Rubin Kazan. At least then I can stare at Savo Milosevic a bit.

74. What would you really, really like to happen in football this year, even though you know it won’t?
Dinamo winning the Europa League.

75. First match you went to:
Arsenal v Blackburn, 26/11/1995, 0-0.
76. Last match you went to:
Hearts v Dinamo Zagreb, 27/08/2009, 2-0 (2-4 on aggregate *yes*)
77. Favourite stadium visited:
Highbury.

I just found this thanks to the Famous Three Kings’ newsfeed on Facebook. I personally think the police force as a whole should be prosecuted, if anybody, as a lot of individuals were put under pressure to lie.

I’ve been having an interesting week spiritually. I didn’t go to church, but went for a walk and prayed instead, and so far this week have managed to pray every day except Tuesday. I think I am more spiritual than I think I am, but don’t really want to be. I don’t want to feel what God wants of me: I just want to be told. Except that I don’t really, I just want to do what I want. I’m sure Paul rants about this (in Romans?) and concludes that God is to be praised, because He saves us despite this mess. What do other people think? Any similar or different ideas? I also feel that I should become more a part of my church community - I do feel like an outsider, and feel as if I have created that situation because I like feeling different, but now I need people to pray with, and to straighten me out when I go wrong. I find prayer alone very difficult, but when I pray in company, people find me very difficult, as I get overemotional. Is there a solution to this? I know that God is always here when we pray. Maybe I just need to love Him more and want Him to talk to me more, rather than shoving Him aside and talking to myself/a brick wall instead.

God bless, Jenni xx

This is doing the rounds on the forums. I found it on the Placa de Catalunya forum on the FC Barcelona English Speaking Supporters website. Btw, if anyone’s planning to watch Man Utd lose and be happy about it tomorrow, and lives anywhere near Southampton, leave me a comment.

Got this from another forum,

Celtic fan signs up on a Rangers forum, makes a couple of posts and no-one is any the wiser he’s a Celtic fan.

Then he makes a thread saying

“If you want tickets for next week’s title decider away to Dundee United, read here…

Since the away allocation for Rangers fans of 5000 is long sold out. Tickets for the home end is the only solution.

But as we all know, if you’re not on Dundee United’s official club/supporter database then you won’t even be able to buy tickets for the home end.

Here’s what to do..
Phone up the club shop. And ask to buy a pair of Dundee United kit socks. Don’t even mention tickets for Sunday. They will become suspicious.
Then when they take your sock order, personal details and process your payment your details will then be stored on their system.

Give it a few hours until there’s a shift change, phone up again and order your home tickets for the Rangers match and because of your sock order, you will be on their system and you will get your match tickets. It’s perfect lads.”

Turns out, there’s no such database and all these Rangers fans have ended up with hundreds of pairs of Dundee United socks and no match tickets.

God bless, Jenni xx

It’s the sort of thing he does.

When he played for Arsenal he threatened to go on strike over the Iraq War, and according to Patrick Vieira’s autobiography, Pires is such a nice person that he trusts everyone and often gets hurt. I’d like to meet him.

Got me thinking about similar acts by footballers. Artur Boruc and Cristiano Lucarelli are well known to stick up for the rights of the fans of their preferred clubs (Legia Warszawa and Livorno respectively). Lucarelli pays the Brigate Autonome Livornesi’s fines.

I like it when footballers use their position to stand up for something important. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees. I remember when Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman were fined astronomical amounts for wearing “support the Liverpool dockers” T-shirts circa 1997. That made me really cross. Back to Vieira’s autobiography, it was nice to see that the back cover photo clearly displayed his Make Poverty History wristband. What happened to wristbands? They were part meaningul, part annoying, but it was all for a good cause

Finally, please vote in my poll. It’s the quietest one ever!

God bless, Jenni xx

Look at the bottom of the discipline stats.

That’s where I’d like to be

Sorry for lack of posts. I’m about to go and pray (really - have had a terrible few days of ignoring God and am going to try and turn things around). We must NOT let Man Utd win the title tomorrow! I’ve a feeling we’ll push it to the wire. At least it’s away so they won’t be able to sing about winning the league at the Emirates for 20 years.

Looking forward to Eurovision tomorrow - one of my guilty pleasures. Just found out that Croatia got to the final, so it will be interesting to hear their song. I’m often not a fan of their song, but support them cos I’d love to attend a Eurovision Song Contest in Zagreb List of the finalists.

Also I’ve just started reading up on the Croatian mayoral elections, because I got a message on Facebook from some Dinamo Zagreb fans telling me to vote for Josip Kregar. I’m now getting a lecture on the situation from one of my friends. Apparently the current mayor, Milan Bandic, is corrupt, but has done a lot of people a favour by allowing illegally built houses in the suburbs to remain. Over 5-% of people are saying they would vote for him, whilst a large minority say they won’t vote, and two per cent say they will vote for anyone but him. Javno has lots of information on the subject - use the search button (I couldn’t find a category).

Also, if any Facebook user is bored, try my Intermediate Football Quiz.

And finally… I’ve been singing this all day!

God bless, Jenni xx

The bit about what he was doing when his neighbour called just made me have kittens!

Artur Boruc’s Friday Rage List

I haven’t written in ages. I had a good prayer time on Tuesday and found myself telling God that I did want to be like Him, and that I was going to try and live my life to serve other people, since I’m not very good at the spiritual side. I’m also trying to talk to Him instead of being afraid of Him and avoiding Him. Work has certainly improved as a direct result. I picked 230 items by 9.15 today! Thank you God! Please pray that I will continue to become a better Christian and not just fall away again.

I still haven’t found anywhere to watch Wisla v Legia on Sunday, although I am hoping that the Polski Bar Sportowa on Green Lanes will come through for me. Help! I need somewhere in London that I can get to by 1.45 (not too difficult as I think I can get into London by 1). I also need to get from there to Emirates Stadium in half an hour. Googling this didn’t help. The fourth result was my blog! Doesn’t anyone WANT to watch this game?!

Must go - my sister is starting to wander around looking bored, I took her computer away!

God bless, Jenni xx

Do you remember that poem from primary school about stealing money from your mother’s purse for bubble gum? I remembered it just then because it shares the title of this post, but actually, I did a bad thing on Thursday.

I bought a Man U mug.

Obviously I wasn’t planning to drink out of it, and actually I don’t really want to tell the story, but now it is surplus to requirements and this is a “Need to destroy it, but how?” post, in the vein of Caroline’s essays about the Sheva shirt. (If you click the Shevchenko tag on the left, you will be able to see what we actually DID do to the Sheva shirt, but I would recommend that you do not eat at the same time.)

So, here are some ideas:

1) Smashing contest
2) Drive an ASDA van over it
3) Fill with explosive: ignite
4) Find out what the melting point of ceramic is

Please vote, and add your own suggestions below:)

Also, I need a new poll - any suggestions for that? You know the sort of thing I like: something random to do with European football, or anything quirky and probably football related.

God bless, Jenni xx

By a blogger who uses the site that my old one, which has mysteriously lost its lovely red trim, is on.

Memories of Hillsborough

Also, I need help finding a place to watch Wisla Krakow v Legia Warsaw on Friday 8th May, i.e. a bar in London. Can anyone tell me a good place? I might be better off in Southampton if the Legia stickers plastered all over every pedestrian crossing in the West Quay shopping area are anything to go by. Btw, my new favourite hangout to watch international tournaments, the Famous Three Kings in West Kensington (right by the tube station exit) has a Croatian TV card now so they are showing all the Croatian matches! Result!

I’ll blog properly soon, when it’s not 10pm. But here’s a question to keep you ticking over:

If your favourite footballers went to a fancy dress party, what would they wear? I can’t imagine Patrick Vieira dressing up. He’d have to just cover up completely and do something you have to be ridiculously tall for, like Frankenstein or something. He doesn’t fit any dressing-up stereotypes that immediately come to mind.

God bless, Jenni xx