Remember Leon McKenzie? No? Well he’s a former Norwich striker who’s now carving out a career in music as some kind of Craig David sound-alike…

Okay, so he doesn’t exactly sound like Craig David – but, you know, Garbage (sic) music is all the same right? Well apparently he has also covered King’s of Leon (like everyone) – and it’s alright – even if listening to a cover of KOL song makes you die slightly inside.

Anyway, his new song – featuring Harvey (or Cheryl Cole’s Ex. WHEY!) – is average. But hey, I’m not going to go into more detail about my feelings on the song because I’m just not that guy.And also  because he scored against Manchester United in a famous 2-0 win. #goodlad

Irishman Eamon Zayed scored an amazing five minute hat-trick as Perspolis came from 2-0 down to bag a sensational 3-2 win over Esteghlal in the Tehran derby.

‘Unbelievable’. ‘Sensational’. ‘Divine’. ‘Pre-destined’. These were just some of the back-page headlines running across Iranian newspapers as Perspolis won a fantastically contested Tehran derby away at their bitter rivals Esteghlal.

As the video shows, the away fans were already making their way home as the referee’s clock wound down.

Step forward Irishman Eamon Zayed who undid his top button, removed his shirt and displayed a very neat, yet large ‘Superman’ logo before taking matters firmly into his own hands as his five minute treble helped Perspolis overcome a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2.

Lionel Messi ain’t got s*** on him!

Real Madrid kept their 7 point lead ahead at the top of La Liga after a 1-0 win over Getafe as Barcelona beat Real Sociedad 2-1.

Sergio Ramos’ goal proved decisive at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez whilst at the Camp Nou, a youthful Barcelona side held out for a well deserved 2-1 win over Real Sociedad.

Keep calm and carry on isn’t just a greetings card company, it’s a quintessential English saying that Oxlade-Chamberlain adheres too….

In an interview with Sky Sports, The former Southampton Academy graduate stated that, “I have to keep my feet on the ground and keep working hard.” An attitude most 18 year olds may push aside after having just scored two of the seven goals in a  7-1 obliteration of Blackburn.

With a performance of quality beyond his years, critics are now calling for Capello to include the winger in his Euro 2012 plans. But Chamberlain quashed claims that a place is something that’s not set in stone:

“I am involved in the U21 squad at the moment, so that is what I am focusing on. Until that happens, I can’t really comment on that”.

So here’s to not to believing your own hype…

Carles Puyol pulled off an incredible double roulette during Barcelona’s 1-1 Copa Del Rey 1st leg draw with Valencia in a move which mimicked French legend Zinedine Zidane

Classy stuff from the Barca centre-back who put in a superb display for Pep Guardiola’s men. It was one of them ‘did I just see that?’ moments in football.

Lifelong City fan Celia Hodkin has been given an almighty birthday present from the folks in the Blue half of Manchester…

Celia, set to turn 88, has been given the opportunity to lead out the team she has supported since the age of 9 vs Fulham this weekend.

Her daughter wrote to the men in charge about her support over the years and the club have set up a fun filled day for the young lady. After meeting the team during their warm up, ‘Bitter Blue’ Mike Summerbee will give her a tour of the stadium and present her a match ball signed by the players, before she gets to watch the game from the players lounge and receive a birthday cake at the final whistle.

Despite being a Man Utd fan, I appreciate the fact that the folks over at Eastlands are doing a stellar job of connecting the fans to their team and this is a great example. Most of the team can now be found on social media and the club have a fantastic youtube channel, that I would recommend to fans of all clubs…

From what I’ve read from Mirrorfootball’s ‘exclusive’ is that an Arsenal fan group are planning to put bin-liners on all empty seats in the ground, in the next home match vs Blackburn, to highlight dwindling attendances…

One problem with that chaps – Arsenal play to a full house practically every game.

With a capacity 60,361, Arsenal have enjoyed an average attendance over the season of 59,972. Do the maths, that’s an average of 389 seats empty or if you wish 99.36% seats filled. The last 4 league matches have had an average of 59,977 and discount the fact that some of these will be executive seating, it doesn’t look like a lot of seats will be covered = drawing attention to absolutely nothing!

Back to the drawing board to think of another way to vent your anger at your team being a bit shit right now, as well as a feeder club to others, despite fans forking out some of the highest prices around. As for the bloke who thought of this idea, best stop him making any more decisions and put him in a room with no sharp objects.

74 killed and over hundreds were injured when politics mixed with football in violent fashion last night in Port Said…

I’m not quite sure what to say about this as it’s one of the most insane things I’ve ever seen, so below is what the Daily Mail wrote about the incident.

After Al-Masry beat Al-Ahly, the country’s top team, 3-1, hundreds of the winning club’s fans poured on to the field and attacked opposing players, supporters and security officers.

The fans chased the players and cornered their supporters on the field and around the stadium, throwing stones, fireworks and bottles at them, according to a security official. Although some players were injured, it is believed that none were killed.

Ahly player Mohamed Abo Treika described the violence as war. ‘This is not football. This is a war and people are dying in front of us,’ he said. ‘There is no movement and no security and no ambulances.
‘I call for the Premier League to be cancelled. This is a horrible situation and today can never be forgotten.’

 Read the full article

Manchester City lost their 3 point advantage at the top of the Premier League after a 1-0 defeat to Everton with In The Stands’ Rolly Pelovangu arguing that boss Roberto Mancini should bring back Carlos Tevez asap

It is a well known fact that most people have very short memories not least where football is concerned. When Jupp Heynckes ended Real Madrid’s decades-long exile from the summit of European football in 1998, he was shown the door and never asked to return even as a courtesy guest.

Likewise, the name of Vicente Del Bosque does little to get the Madrid fans (and management) hearts racing despite the great Spanish coach guiding a fabulously entertaining Los Blancos side to two La Liga titles along with two Champions League crowns in just four seasons.

Even in 2006 after three years without a major trophy some Manchester United ‘supporters’ called into question Sir Alex Ferguson’s ability to take the club further and whispers that the great Scot ought to step down began circulating!

 Read the full article

Queens Park Rangers have completed the signing of French striker Djibril Cisse whose crazy hairstyles are set to liven up the Premier League once again.

It is fair to say that Djibril Cisse does not do ordinary. He plays with a lightening pace (albeit with a lack of elegance and control), he celebrates wildly, has suffered two broken legs, dresses like he comes from the planet Mars and has been around the proverbial transfer block almost as much times as Nicolas Anelka.

Liverpool, Marseille, Sunderland, Panathinaikos and Lazio are some of the major clubs the 30-year-old has played for having emerged as a huge prospect from the much-lauded Auxerre academy and QPR boss Mark Hughes will be getting a player who knows how to hit the net, has played in big matches in the past and has lifted some major honours in his career.

What Cisse is best known for however is his very flamboyant-come-extravagant hairstyles which have raised eyebrows everywhere and left bemused onlookers thinking, “does this guy seriously think his hairstyle is any good?!”

 Read the full article

Arsenal have been hit with a huge blow after midfielder Jack Wilshere was ruled out for the entire season after yet another injury setback

The news also means that Wilshere is a major doubt for Euro 2012 which kicks-off in June with England boss Fabio Capello adamant that he will only be selecting players who have featured regularly for their club this season.

The 20-year-old, who recently became a father for the first time back last year suffered a stress fracture on his right ankle at the beginning of the season which needed surgery.

Having taken part in some light training just this week Wilshere aggravated the injury and a further a set of scans revealed that the PFA Young Player of The Year has suffered another stress fracture on the same ankle.

The news comes as a massive blow to coach Arsene Wenger whose side are involved in a scrap with Chelsea and Liverpool for the much coveted fourth UEFA Champions League spot.

A bizarre fan handcuffed himself to the goal post during Everton’s 1-0 win over Manchester City on Tuesday night thus stopping play for several minutes.

The protester the man was aiming his anger at low cost airline Ryanair’s recruitment policy after his daughter was denied a job by the airline.

The message on his T-shirt read: ‘Europe’s greatest training robbers. Ryanair. Lowest wages guaranteed. Stop. Recruitment scamming our children.’

Now, we at In The Stands are all for protesting but sometimes there is a time and a place. Still, at least he got his point across in what was a thrilling game.

Mahatma Gandhi will be proud!