What a refreshing change this “minute’s applause” is.

I know it’s not a new thing but I have to say how much more moving and emotional it is than a minute’s silence.

Over the weekend clubs all over the UK paid tribute to George Best. Some opted for the silence while others went with applause.

Only a few fans at a few grounds failed to respect the tributes – notably a handful at Manchester City and another minority of Leeds fans at their match with Millwall.

Yet no matter how impeccably the minute’s silence was, it was somehow nowhere near as appropriate as listening to tens of thousands of fans clapping their appreciation of a legend.

In a way it is so much more fitting that a man who graced the football pitch so beautifully should be sent off on his way with a crowd saluting his ability rather than mourning his loss.

Obviously applause is not appropriate in all circumstances. You wouldn’t do it to pay tribute to the 9/11 victims for example.

But I think football has found a better way of honouring its own by ditching the silence and letting the crowd do what they would have done were the person alive – show their appreciation.

Crouch update

It is now 22 hours since the lanky striker scored a goal. In less than two matches that will mean the player has been on the pitch for the equivalent of an entire day without hitting the back of the net. Fantastic.

Milan Mandaric

I wish Milan Mandaric would make his bloody mind up.

Speculation is rampant that Neil Warnock will be leaving the Blades to take over at managerless Portsmouth in the near future and tripling his wages in the process.

But so far that is all it is – speculation. According to sources at both clubs there has been no official contact yet although Mandaric has said he wants Warnock.

The problem is the uncertainty is costing us dear. Since the rumours broke we have drawn two crucial games and lost one against Leicester at the weekend. That’s two points from nine when I would have expected at least five.

And with the biggest game of the season coming up this Saturday – the Sheffield derby – it is not exactly ideal in terms of preparing the players.

The whole saga has got me to thinking that there has to be a better way of clubs going about the business of changing managers.

If they are limited to buying and selling players during the transfer window, wouldn’t it make just as much sense to have the same sort of system imposed on managerial hirings and firings too?

I suppose there are arguments both for and against this particular idea but on the positive side at least it would allow managers to get on with their jobs without the constant fear of being sacked.

I suppose the down side is that were a team to have a horrendous start to the season and lose say 10 games in a row, the club would not be in a position to make a change.

Having said that, they shouldn’t have appointed him in the first place if he really is that bad.

I still say that Neil would be a mad man to swap a club on the up with one on the down but I suppose at the end of the day money is what really talks.

Hopefully it will start talking soon so the Blades can get on with the rest of their season.

Best quotes

Back to Georgie Best for a couple more quotes today. Despite his hard-living lifestyle he never lost his sense of humour or his ability to be superbly witty.

“I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars,” he once said, “the rest I just squandered.”

But perhaps my favourite of the Best-related quotes came from a young bellboy who was delivering champagne to the player in a first class hotel.

As George opened the door he revealed a nearly naked Miss World lying on the bed surrounding by thousand of pounds, which Best had won at the casino.

“So George, where did it all go wrong?” the young lad asked.

Excellent.

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