Music Feature

	Snoop Dogg and Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech get Czechy with it. Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images

The last week or so has seen Team Limey ditch the pipe-and-slippers, early-to-bed soporific stupor of Castle Limey in favor of a new flamboyant rock-and-roll lifestyle. We've been touring the smoky music halls and concert venues of the main EPL towns and cities of England in search of soccer-related musical influence. Here's what we found:

Manchester (or, translated in baggy-trousers 1990s speak, "Madchester"): They're all mad for it in Manchester with legendary English bands supporting both United and City. In the red corner, the Stone Roses, Morrissey and the Happy Mondays. In the blue corner, Oasis and Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr.

Liverpool: A short trip down the M62 motorway brings us to the home of the most famous band ever. Fans of both Liverpool and Everton claim that John Lennon and Paul McCartney supported their respective clubs. The reality is that the Fab Four had little interest in sports of any kind -- their closest sojourn was the Beatles' monumental concert at the New York Mets' Shea Stadium in 1965. A trip to the local hip-hop club revealed that American rappers Eminem and Dr. Dre are fans of Liverpool.

Birmingham: The City's most famous musical export, and the world's most famous live-bird-eater, Ozzy Osbourne, dons the claret-and-blue of Aston Villa (when he's not being paid multimillion-dollar sums of MTV money to wander aimlessly around his house).

London: In West London, it appears that millions of rubles can buy you the best players in the world and back-to-back EPL titles, but not a music-related fan base. On the outskirts of London, barrel-bodied rocket man Elton John is a huge fan and lifelong president of EPL new boys Watford.

Over lunch in Highbury, we nearly spat out our sun-dried tomato and oak-aged ham ciabatta when we found that in 2005, millionaire rapper and entrepreneur Jay-Z was allegedly on the verge of buying a major share in the club. At the time, a source said none too convincingly, "Jay-Z loves football; he thinks the whole scene is very bling."

In terms of the premier league of U.K. bands of the moment, and who they root for, you need to drop a division to the Championship: Arctic Monkeys support Sheffield Wednesday, the Kaiser Chiefs pull for Leeds United, Kasabian are Leicester City fans and Keane goes for Ipswich Town.

Letters

Colin from Canada asks, "Given the fact that goals and assists are really the only stats recorded, what is it that makes Ashley Cole or John Terry superstar defenders?"

In response to the first part of the question, successful tackle completion (in stopping an attack) and pass completion (in converting defense into attack) are the statistics used to measure a defender's effectiveness.

In response to the second part of the question, Cole and Terry are superstar defenders because of the way fans can appreciate a star player without turning to statistics. Abilities such as flair, skill, tackling, passing, speed, agility, ability to read the game, strength, stamina and consistency are all key.

However, there are statistics that show some of these attributes -- their tackling and passing stats are excellent and, in addition, the England captain scores more goals than most defenders, while Cole creates many goals through getting behind defenders and providing accurate crosses.

Tyrone from Cincinnati asks whether we think the injuries to key England midfielders Owen Hargreaves and Aaron Lennon will see ex-captain David Beckham return to the squad. Head coach Steve McClaren made a statement of intent to change things by dropping the old talisman, and we consider it unlikely that Beckham will return to the squad, even with the present injury situation.

Letter to America

Last time around, we asked which EPL player, past or present, you would most like to meet up with. Judging by some of the answers we received, a dark alley would be a most appropriate place for meeting. You named tough guys Vinnie Jones and Eric Cantona several times, and on-pitch brawlers Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer were also mentioned.

But the response that caught Team Limey's eye for banter came from Manchester United fan Paul McManaman of Toronto. He'd most like to meet ex-Liverpool player, European Cup-winning legend, former "spice boy" and his own cousin, Steve McManaman. Does the poodle-haired look run in the family, Paul?

With five rounds of games played in this season's EPL so far, we want to know which new signing has impressed you most.

Keep passing the banter underneath the table, sealed in brown paper bags, to thelimey@hotmail.co.uk.

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