Ooh la la.

Just Follow The Floodlights by Brian Kennedy is a potted roll-call of the 2011 League of Ireland. The 21 Premier and First Division clubs are analysed by historical review and matchday details, along with a "Defunct Clubs" section that, sadly, has grown considerably in recent seasons. It would have been perfect if the author had included the four third-tier clubs, but hopefully these will join the 2012 First Division, and the volume will satisfy both LoI experts and novices alike.

Nearly finished 'Cups For Cock Ups" which concerns the carry on at Man City during the Swales/Lee era and immediately afterwards. You can see why it was the Theatre Of Comedy or whatever they were called.

Have two Martin O Neill biogs ready to start for obvious reasons.

After watching a few Round 3 FA Cup games this weekend, I realized I don't have anything on the FA Cup sitting in the pile of books to be read. I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations for some good books. I prefer intelligent fan-centered books/literary journalism (something akin to Tim Parkes' A Season With Verona) rather than a straight history.

Just read "Up Pohnpei" which spoke particularly to me as I could have been in it, I suppose.

As many people here know I lived on Pohnpei for two years in the 90s, and played football pretty much every evening there, on this crappy pitch at the high school. The standard was so low that I believed then that I could have got in any FSM national team (at least one that accepted all residents). (I am shit at football, but I know for a fact I was one of the best 11 players on the island, and I am pretty sure I may have been in the whole country. I told some long story about it all here: szekely.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-internat...football-career.html (coincidentally when I first heard about the mission of the writer of this book to go there)

Anyway, Up Pohnpei is the story of Paul Watson's trips to Pohnpei to try and coach the team there, and his successes and failures. I enjoyed it - though it may be because I'm familiar with some of the people and places mentioned. The review in this month's WSC is pretty fair I thought. I think I would have liked something a bit deeper, but perhaps I again am talking from the standpoint of someone who is unusual (having actually been to Pohnpei). Worth a read

That was the most half arsed review I have ever read, and I wrote it. Sorry all.

Anyway, thanks to the miracle of modern technology I have now spent my morning having a couple of conversations with Mr Watson.

That sounds right up my street. Actually, I have had a mission to play a game against a national team so may try and get PAul Watson's details from you