Ex Lion Tamer

The world should boycott the Daily Mail, it's a disgusting rag

He didn't say anything about continuously buying from the league below, just asked whether there are any options. Don't forget that J-Rod came from that league

I have just read a few pages of this thread and find it pretty odd that people were getting so wound up about this. Surely the point, as Manuel says, is that "Christian Country" is a vague and subjective term which you can argue for or against depending on how you like to see Britain. And if we are a Christian country, what does that then mean in practical terms? I can't see that anyone is suggesting that anything should actually be changed. The better question is whether it is helpful for politicians to be proclaiming that we are one, and here I can't see any benefit. Surely calling ourselves a secular country is far more inclusive, and really doesn't impinge on Christians' sense of "home"?

I'm not personally interested in leaving a message but this can only be a good thing. Its all very well saying he is paid millions but footballers don't think like that, they will just see boredom, pain and frustration. These messages will potentially increase his love for the fans, which could be a factor if one day he is thinking of leaving. All part of Katharina's vision for a friendlier, harmonious club

Are you saying Norwich won because they handed out paper clappers? I didn't realise football was that easy. Face it, it sounds rubbish.

I see Norwich fans are now using those fold-up clapper things. Embarrassing

People inevitably make mistakes though. And it's the state that ends up clearing up the mess unless it takes preemptive action

Watch PMQs some time and you'll see Cameron avoid answering simple questions again and again

Ok I guess we don't know about Shaw. If I was him I would stay. But if he wants to leave and we get a big offer then its best that he goes.

Let's be real, we have several very good players who have been with us for a good few years, and if they get the offer of Champions League football they would be mad to turn it down. Morgan in particular needs to leave, it seems, if he is to get international recognition. Lallana may well get a big move - if he stays it will be due to exceptional loyalty. Shaw appears to be as good as gone. If we can get away with losing just those three and replace them then we've probably had an ok summer.

But why couldn't he do a short pass to full back rather than playing it right down the middle? There were definitely better short options

Massive supposition but it felt like he was annoyed at being told at half time to play it short, so to prove a point played the worst short passes imaginable

But he doesn't play like that when he starts every game because he gets fatigued. And we were winning before he came on

A great performance, he dominated Norwich when he came on. However, I still feel he needs to do it against more of the bigger teams to prove he's worth taking to the World Cup. It's worth noting that his goals and assists this season have been against: WBA, CPL, FUL, HUL, AVL, TOT, CAR, FUL (again), STK, NOR, Scotland, Moldova

I love Rickie as much as anyone but if Carroll can stay fit then I think he will bang in the goals for WHM and book his place. Rickie is out of form and needs to start making more of an impact. I fear age is catching up with him though - we saw it with Grant Holt in his second Premier League season too. Sturridge Rooney Welbeck Carroll Would be my strikers, assuming Carroll puts a run of games together.

I suggest you brace yourself for that fact that we won't get much more than £20m for him. That is a lot for a player his age who isn't the finished article

I haven't watched these yet. A true legend of rock though, of course

Glad they saved BBC4, some of their music documentaries are really good. Does BBC really save that money by making BBC3 online only? Surely they'll have to cut the number of new programmes as well? Edit: Yes, they are cutting the programmes as well, it would help if I read the story first.

Demichellis is a huge weak spot for City and it's amazing he is even there

Can't remember if I read it here or not but Dean Ashton said in an a fanzine interview that Pardew was too easy going and friendly with the players, which affected their performance

I agree that VAT is a regressive tax and would reduce it, but my main point is that i wouldn't replace income tax with a flat tax. I don't know enough about the Russian example to know if that's what they did or not. I assumed they replaced all taxes. Tax take could have risen for any number of reasons though, and the imf report suggests the the flat tax wasn't the cause

You left out the next paragraph: "The Russian example is often used as proof of the validity of this analysis, despite an International Monetary Fund study in 2006 which found that there was no sign "of Laffer-type behavioral responses generating revenue increases from the tax cut elements of these reforms" in Russia or in other countries" And even if there was, what was the effect on inequality and the poorest?

Er ok, the answer to your question is yes, I do think someone who works 50% harder should get 50% more money. If we could measure the amount of hard work that, for example, a nurse does, and ensure they earn the same as a investment banker who works that hard, that would be great. But such a system is literally impossible, so I don't understand why you asked the question.

I take the point that it would reduce tax avoidance but I can't help feeling it would nevertheless lead to either far lower total tax revenues or a far greater burden on the poor, depending what level it is set at. Willing to see any evidence otherwise

Your question clearly implies that you think that people should be paid 50% more for working 50% harder. But due to all the other factors, such a system is impossible. So why ask the question? Also, how does someone work 50% harder than someone else? How do you measure that? Yes, you clearly take things very literally if you thought I wanted everyone in the UK to earn exactly the same amount of money.