Something From The Weekend: David Stockdale, Gareth Bale

The Good

David Stockdale: Goalkeeping is a cut-throat business. Make one mistake and you can be resigned to a life on the bench at Swindon Town. So, when you are a reserve-team stopper and you finally get a chance to show that you're up to the task, there are few better ways to prove yourself than saving a penalty against Manchester United. Step up, David Stockdale – this is your time, son. Enjoy it. It won't last for ever.

Gareth Bale: There was a time when the Welsh wing-back couldn't buy a win at Tottenham. But, with Spurs missing all their forwards bar Peter Crouch at Stoke on Saturday, Bale's two goals proved he had firmly turned the corner in that regard. Afterwards, his manager Harry Redknapp praised the wideman as good enough to get into any team in the world. Lucky, then, that he kept his one-time bad-luck charm.

The Bad

British golfers: Before this year's Open in July, Justin Rose claimed that Britain and Ireland did not need the rest of Europe to take on the US in the Ryder Cup. "We could do it on our own," he said. Fast-forward five weeks, and that claim looks a little silly – now that one of Rose, Paul Casey, Padraig Harrington and Luke Donald will fail to qualify for the event at Celtic Manor next month, and indeed all four could miss out. Good thing our European brethren didn't get the hump at Rose's comments and refuse to play, then.

Goal-line technology: For critics of Sepp Blatter, this is the gift that keeps on giving. Another week, another legitimate goal ruled out. This time it was Stoke who were the unlucky ones. When will we finally get some word from Fifa about taking football into the 21st century?

The Odd

6-0 is the new 2-1: With four instances already this season, maybe pools coupons should be changed to predict the 6-0 whitewashes rather than score draws...