Eighties pop singer Rick Astley has become the surprise contender for best act ever at this year’s MTV Europe Music Awards in Liverpool.

A craze called “Rickrolling” saw web users unwittingly follow links to Astley’s videos. It led to millions of plays of Astley’s song Never Gonna Give You Up, which reached number one in the UK in 1987.

This is what the FA Cup is all about!

Let’s hope that the Boro don’t get upset tomorrow…wouldn’t that be a final…Boro v Barnsley at Wembley!

Case 1: You make a mildly dodgy tackle, that unfortunately results in a broken leg for another player. You should probably get a yellow card, but get a straight red – and because of the seriousness of the injury, you feel unable to appeal. No names – you know who this is!

Case 2: A player from Liverpool grabs your face, you slap him back. You get the red card – Jesus said turn the other cheek, and momma said “If someone hits you, don’t hit them back – come and tell me or you’ll be in trouble”. But in football, it’s one rule for one, one rule for another. Mr Aliadiere, for it is he, appealed – and was given an extra match ban for being frivolous! The other fella did just as much, but got away with it!

Case 3: Chelsea’s Frank Lampard pushed Luis Boa Morte of West Ham after another mildly dodgy clash, and received a red card – violent conduct, like Aliadiere. Mr Lampard appeals, and the card gets overturned for one of the top franchises.

See what I mean?

Still at least we are better off than Arsenal’s Eduardo, who suffered a broken leg 3 minutes in, after a challenge by Birmingham’s Martin Taylor. I’m not keen on either team, so I’ll be an impartial voice here – the tackle was no worse than any other tackle in any other game today. It was an accident, that’s all – Arsene Wenger’s call for Taylor to be banned for life was ridiculous. Yes, very unfortunate for Eduardo, but this is the CONTACT SPORT you play. This is why the player’s wages are so high and the careers so short – not many play after 35, so they make all their money before that.

I certainly sympathize as I sit here with my broken feet – but I don’t feel Taylor should be subject to any ban greater than that imposed for a single red card. He’s gonna get enough stick every time he plays against Arsenal in the future – that should last him a lifetime. In any case, all reports suggest he was distraught over what had happened when he went back to the dressing room – if it was intentional, surely he’d be gloating!

Best wishes to Eduardo (even though you play for Arsenal…)

Unlucky Barnsley, after getting Liverpool in the last round, now have to cope with Chelsea!