"He always beat me at Subbuteo, 'cos he flicked to kick and I didn't know" - a line from the Undertones song My Perfect Cousin and possibly not one that has been used to start a football blog before.

I've got the Swindon Advertiser to thank for planting the punk classic in my head (replacing the annoying theme tunes from my kids' TV programmes) after they used Subbuteo figures to depict the action from their local team's Johnstone's Paint Trophy win over Southampton.

Swindon dumped the holders out after a thumping 3-0 win at St Mary's and the newspaper got round Southampton's ban on press photographers by "raiding their parents' attics" to find the little plastic figures.

In my case I'm old enough to raid my own attic for Subbuteo, Super Striker and other dusty gems from my childhood. In fact I used to be in a 'league' with my friend Paul Morson and can distinctly remember contesting the 'Subbuteo World Cup final' between Brazil and Dundee United in 1979.

I digress. The defeat for Southampton capped an extraordinary few days, which began when manager Alan Pardew was shown the door after leading his team to a 4-0 win at Bristol Rovers.

As my old mucker Stevo said when introducing the BBC's Transfer Deadline Day clockwatch: "There are unlikely to be many early deals, but let's face it, anything can happen in football, can't it? I mean, you can win 4-0 away from home and then two days later get sacked. It's not supposed to make any sense, is it?"

Incidentally, there was one Transfer Deadline Day story that stood out - 'Pele released by MK Dons' - a headline I must confess I never thought I'd see.

'Aldershotgas' on a Bristol Rovers forum had a slightly different view of Pardew's demise, stating: "I'm not surprised he was sacked - only 4-0 against a woeful Rovers team - I thought it would be six at least, and so did the Southampton board, obviously."

From Saints to winners, and Ipswich continued their fine start to the season with a 2-0 win over Bristol City, thanks in no small part to a howler from David James, which had the national newspaper sub-editors dusting off their 'Calamity' headlines.

The former England goalkeeper failed to hold on to a high ball, gifting Tamas Priskin the opener and putting Roy Keane in strong contention for the season's first manager of the month award.

The Ipswich boss was typically nonplussed, saying: "If you think I'm interested in individual awards, either as a manager or a player, you clearly don't know me."

The Tractor Boys are currently being kept off top spot on goal difference, but this time last year they were bottom of the pile, prompting Keane to add: "Football seems to be like life these days - either sugar or s*** and no in-between." Gotta love him.

While Ipswich prospered, Middlesbrough's poor start to the season continued as they were beaten 2-0 at Barnsley, but if he's feeling the strain, Boro boss Gordon Strachan sure isn't showing it.

After the match, the Scot was asked: "Any action before the transfer window closes?" Quick as a flash he replied: "I don't know, you'd better ask my wife. But if I come in on Monday with a big smile on my face then you'll know the answer!"

Doncaster manager Sean O'Driscoll was also in fine form following the 3-1 win over Hull. Martin Woods opened the scoring with a long-range header and O'Driscoll quipped: "It was a bit of a surprise to see him do that - he's usually got too much hair gel on to head the ball that far!"

Millwall continue to inhabit the top six, with Steve Morison sealing victory against Coventry from the penalty spot - his third goal of the season.

Morison's day was to end on a frustrating note, however, when he took an hour and a half to provide a urine sample. Perhaps the testers thought he was taking the pee - although it's fair to say they certainly weren't.

Cardiff joined QPR and Ipswich at the top of the table after a 2-0 win over Portsmouth, with Neil Warnock's men snatching a draw from the jaws of defeat with two injury-time goals at Pride Park.

As comebacks go, it was even bigger than The Libertines, who I caught at Reading Festival on Saturday night (how many Chelsea fans are there in Reading?!) and proceeded to have a mid-life crisis as I forced my way to the front, much to the despair of my good lady.

Talking of grown men trying to hold on to their youth, did anyone catch Robbie Savage's rant on the BBC's 606 after a punter called David from Bolton claimed to have seen the Derby midfielder buying up half a shoe shop? The (edited) conversation went like this:

David: "I live in Wilmslow and I've seen you go into a shop and buy seven pairs of trainers."

Savage: "Whoah, whoah whoah whoah, that wasn't me, that's a complete and utter lie!"

David: "Basically you bought them and you made this kid walk out and carry all your boxes for you while you stood there and carried nothing."

Savage: "I tell you what now, you're a liar, because that never happened! I get 'em for nowt anyway - I get 'em off my sponsor!"

Savage then turned to 606 host Chappers and explained: "He's seen someone with stupid big blond hair and stupid teeth in a shop."

Chappers: "I think it was probably Audrey from Coronation Street."

Edgar Davids, meanwhile, has been keeping it real after Crystal Palace fan Ben Browett sent in a picture of the Dutch legend buying his own train ticket for the trip to Scunthorpe.

Eagles supporters on the Holmesdale messageboard have been thinking up chants for their new hero, including: "He's here, he's there, got dreadlocks in his hair", and: "Who's that? He's not over the hill - it's Edgar Davids, Edgar Davids!"

But my favourite, posted by 'Metalhead' to the tune of the Inspector Gadget cartoons, is: "Da-da-da-da-da, it's Edgar Davids, Da-da-da-da-da, whooooo-hooo!" Metalhead, take a bow, son.

There was also a suggestion for another Palace player, to the tune of Guns 'n' Roses' Sweet Child Of Mine - "Whoah-oh-oh Nathaniel Clyne" - and this from Rotherham fan 'Desmo' for striker Adam Le Fondre, nicknamed Alfie, to the tune of the 'We buy any car' advert:

"Alfie's gonna score dot com, Alfie's gonna score dot com,

"With his head, with his boot or from a pen - Alfie's gonna score dot com, Alfies' gonna score dot com." Love it.

Best non-football discussion of the week came on the Charltonlife board from a user called AFKA Bartram, who wrote: "Bloke in front of me just ordered a bap with roast pork loin, cheddar cheese, tomato, mayonnaise and wholegrain mustard. Anyone else have unusual sandwich preferences?"

Among the replies were "cheese and marmalade" and Kit Kat and cheese and onion crisps", but the clear winner was Chizz, who wrote: "I worked for a bloke who, on Fridays, would treat himself to a toasted tuna and toothpaste sandwich. (He was a bit odd)."

Right that's it - I'm off for a bitumen baguette and a shoe polish bun. Have a good weekend one and all.

To contact Chris with an interesting story/quote/chant to share, then email him on chris.charles@football-league.co.uk or contact him via Twitter at http://twitter.com/chris__charles.