Just back from the World Cup

No, not in Qatar. Most of my World Cup was spent in the Halfway House, but then I was assigned the Arrowe Park Hotel for the round of 16. It wasn't exactly glamorous but at least you could have a pint and didn't have to pay through the nose for accommodation. Plus, Paul, the landlord at the Halfway, is a decent fella for a Burnley supporter. 

It's been an odd competition has it not? Germany and Spain out. England through to the Quarters without too many scares. I doubt that England will win it, but I put that down to years of supporting Rovers. It's been idea, training for watching England. 'Prepare for failure, success is a bonus'. 

I'm writing this before the England QF game. I reckon it will go to penalties and we will, oddly, win. After that we would be one match away from a World Cup final. The chance to get one over on Ronaldo in the Semi's is more appetising that a creamy pint of Doonbar. 

Meanwhile, back in the real world of football, Tranmere are expected to be in action in Grimsby on Saturday. It's one of my fave away days largely on account of the fish and chips. We might be able to build upon our clinical lack of finishing away at Northampton. We have been generous to defences home and away, in the same way that COVID awash generous to certain Peers of the Realm. Defensively we looked OK at Northampton, despite the make shift centre pairing. We looked out of sorts though, as if we had had a pint in the Arrowe Park Hotel. 

Just over a week to wait until we're back at the Mecca of Modern football. Having a World Cup at this time of year is weird. Stranger still is not having had a home game for so long. This should mean that the team will feel so discombobulated that they will play like they're away when we meet Crawley Town. The general consensus is that we have been performing better away than at home, so it will be nice for those who can't afford to get to away matches to see us play some decent football. 

Then, we have the Boxing Day match against Doncaster, which  is approximately the halfway point of the season. I can't think of any highlights. Hopefully, the remaining games will give us more to cheer about.