Leon Cort scores as Guyana progress

Leon Cort scored what was effectively the goal that put Guyana through to the next round of the CONCACAF qualifying for the 2014 Brazilian World Cup. Cort headed in after Ebbsfleet United’s Ricky Shakes got an early first leaving Trinidad & Tobago’s Kenwyne Jones’ late goal as just a consolation.

In the same group at the National Stadium Bermuda beat Barbados 2-1 and can finish 2nd if they beat the Bajan’s again on Monday and Guyana win in Port of Spain against Trinidad & Tobago, in a game that is now a dead rubber.

Gombey Warriors win

In front of 3,000 fans Bermuda beat Trinidad & Tobago 2-1 on Friday night to record a famous victory. Second half goals from Antwan Russell and the excellent Bradford City’s Nahki Wells (who I mentioned the other day hasn’t played a full 90 minutes for some while) helped them to a 2-1 win over the Soca Warriors.

Bermuda’s big World Cup night

Bermuda pick up their World Cup Qualifying for 2014 tonight when they host Trinidad & Tobago at the National Sports Centre.

A win is the minimum Bermuda require who lost away to T&T 1-0 a month or so ago but this time around the Trinbagonians will be without many of their best players including the injured Kenwyne Jones, Ipswich winger Carlos Edwards and LA Galaxy midfielder Chris Birchall, and the Bermudian FA are encouraging fans to support the team and fill the 4,000 capacity stadium knowing there will be plenty of noisy T&T ex-pats who live and work here on the island.

Road to Brazil

Whilst England and the rest of Europe are still concentrating on qualifying for the European Championships in Poland and the Ukraine, elsewhere around the globe countries have already started the long, long journey to Brazil 2014.

Qualifying matches have already started in Asia and the North, Central American and Caribbean region and last night in Guyana at the countries national stadium (mostly used for cricket) Bermuda were playing in a Round 2 Group B match.

Club before country

Let’s be honest if someone had told me before I went to bed Wednesday night that today Richard Murray and Charlton Athletic would accept an offer from a Peter Varney led consortium to purchase and invest in the club but England would not even make the 2nd Round of the 2018 World Cup host bid then I would have been absolutely delighted.

Peter Varney is what they call in London, SE7 ‘proper Charlton.’ A lifelong fan who in the past had worked tirelessly and unselfishly for the good of the club.

There is a strange but compulsive magnetism about being a Charlton supporter. Those that live far away or those that live across the street are emotionally drawn to the club in way that only those that have been introduced or inflicted will ever understand. Simply Peter Varney is one of us, as is Richard Murray.

One hopes that Murray and Varney can overcome any recent differences and can again work together with others to take us, if not once again to the promised land, then at least on a hopeful and exciting journey.

Today’s news is very exciting especially when you consider that dubious characters like Sebastien Sainsbury and Peter Risdale have been lurking around Floyd Road these past few months.

More will follow about the members of Varney’s consortium but you have to laugh that whilst BBC hacks like Dan Roan were derailing England’s World Cup bid, Sky Sports dropped into their coverage the Varney news.

I wonder how much blame will be put on the media after the FA’s embarrassment in Zurich today. The impassioned presentation from David Beckham et al sounded excellent but as I suggested yesterday I think Russia was already chosen. Sepp Blatter and the old duffers of FIFA will find plenty in common with the people of Russia I am sure and the African nations must be thrilled.

Following the same theme Qatar has been awarded the 2022 tournament. A November World Cup. Marvellous.

Sadly I will be almost 60 before England next get a chance to host the world’s greatest sporting spectacle. English football deserves better but then again we have probably got everything we deserve!

Nonetheless as the old conversation in the pub goes: “Would you rather England win the World Cup or Charlton the League title?” Well maybe, just maybe the answer to that might just become a little bit less of a pipe dream.

Birthday wishes

I felt better about myself this morning. When I looked in the mirror after another restless night’s sleep. Tired after another night out, suitcases under my eyes and more chins than a Chinese Yellow Pages I still looked a hell of a lot younger than birthday boy Parky, 43 today. Happy birthday Phil.

According to the local news Rochdale got covered in snow today and Saturday’s game must be suspect. With four games in eleven days coming up (including two televised) a postponement will not be welcome. Meanwhile the SLP is suggesting that Semedo and Racon will be offered new contracts. The Frenchman was widely expected to be sold in January to any suitors before the season started but from what I understand he is playing his best football of his Addicks career right now.

What I did miss last week was the loan deadline. The most surprising move in my mind, which appeared to go almost unnoticed was high flying Bournemouth selling their top scorer Josh McQuoid to Millwall. He’s on loan at the New Den until January when they will sign him permanently. McQuoid has scored 12 goals this season for the Cherries and with the FA still enforcing their transfer embargo on them, even the impressive Eddie Howe may have his work cut out keeping them challenging.