Here I go. Through gritted teeth, I would like to say: "Well done Gary Gardner."

It was the EA SPORTS FIFA12 player tournament at Bodymoor Heath earlier this week.

A four-way battle - two semis and a final decider.

Darren Bent 1-0 Ciaran Clark.
Gary Gardner 3-0 Charles N'Zogbia.

That meant a winner-takes-all match and a replay of the final from the player tournament we held in Hong Kong on the pre-season tour.

Gaz beat me that day and five months on I can report I've got no better!

I will accept defeat gracefully like the gentleman that I am - but I'll be looking to brush up my skills and get a few rematches in over the next few months.

Joking aside, Gaz is terrific. He played brilliantly. Even though he beat me 1-0 in extra-time in the final, I think he could have upped it by a gear or two so he was a worthy winner in the end.

To be fair, I nearly didn't make it to the final in the first place. I had a nightmare in the opening game against Ciaran.

I started playing and I thought it was just a muck-around, a bit of a friendly game before the real tournament started.

Someone mentioned during the match that it was the semi-final and I panicked - but thankfully I pulled it out of the bag in the end.

I am sure I'll be getting a bit of stick around the place after the loss in the final. Some had me down as the favourite - and I'm sure Gaz will be telling everyone he's the champion!

I can take it! It's just great to be able to play FIFA12. It's the best football game ever! It's amazing. It's so realistic and the graphics are out of this world. It just seems to get better and better and better.

When you think they can't possibly improve EA SPORTS just pull it out of the bag. Long may that continue!

By the time FIFA13 comes out, Gaz will have been destroyed!

It's that time of year where the fancy-dress costumes come out of the bag for Halloween.

There's been plenty of celebrity outfits flying around on Twitter - some brilliant, some borderline and some just plain bad!!

There have been a few parties in the past where I've dressed up for the scary season although I'm keeping my choice of outfits to myself!

I remember one party I went to and one of the lads - can't remember who - wore the worst Frankenstein costume I have ever seen. It was horrendous! It didn't even look like Frankenstein! It was just some guy dressed in a raincoat - that was it. I can't remember who it was but I remember thinking: 'Put some effort in!' You've got to have a go, haven't you!

I do love Halloween. It's fun. You get all the trick or treaters coming round house to house. Saying that, I didn't get any this year. That surprised me a bit! I usually get loads.

It's also time to get the horror movies out. Stephen Ireland advised me to watch Insidious. Basically it came out last year and the plot is that a family try to prevent evil spirits from trapping their kid in a realm called The Further. I've got to say, it was horrendous. It wasn't even remotely scary. I'll be having a word with Stevie for his suggestion.

I think the Paranormal Activity movies - 1 and 2 - are frightening. They are fantastic. I know No.3 in the series is out now and I'll have to watch that at some point. If it's like 1 and 2 it should be thrill and chill a minute.

If you're looking to delve further back into the archives, I always get out Stephen King's IT, with Pennywise the Clown. Clowns are just plain scary. Fact!

In terms of general movies at the moment, I want to get out and see the Real Steal with Hugh Jackman. It's the one about robot boxing. It looks decent. That's about it at present. It's not like me. I'm usually well into movies at the cinema. I'll have to get involved again soon.

I mentioned it on Twitter the other day but I thought I'd share with you that I went along to X-Factor at the weekend.

It was a tremendous experience. In terms of excitement and tension, it's fantastic. I really enjoyed it. When you're there supporting someone - as I was - it's edge of your seat stuff.

I'm following The Risk. Ashford Campbell - Frazier's brother - is in the band. He joined up with them from Nu Vibe. I'm following them all the way.

The studio where it's filmed is different to what you'd expect, though. I thought it would be a bigger but it's relatively small in all honesty.

That's the thing that surprised me. It looks humungous but it's not.

I see the nominations are in for the Ballon D'Or.

For those who don't know, it's basically FIFA's world footballer of the year award.

Wayne Rooney is the only British player to make the shortlist. I'm glad to see him in there. He's started the season off on fire. He's been unbelievable.

But saying that I think Lionel Messi will win it, hands down. I don't think Wayne would disagree either.

He has been sensational this season. Messi is one of eight Barcelona players to make the list - and he's won the award for the past two seasons.

I think he'll make it a hat-trick!