St Landrew

Well the next tme I overtake a BMW, I won't ask if the driver wants to be in my gang. But then, I never ask anyway.

Come on, Supermikey. If we felt like that all the time, we would have begrudged the Brazillians every time they won the World Cup. The fact is, times come around, and it's a new turn. I was so impressed by the Germans I also hoped their endeavour would see them through. They played like I hoped an English team would play. To soak up pressure and then catch the unwary on the break. It's clever counter-attacking football, and it's a speciality of the northern game, when played at its best. Even Saints played it to good effect in moments last season, so it must be good..! But we can't deny individual skill matched with good tactics. Ultimately, as a neutral bystander, we must applaud the purity of the game, and allow that Spain play it well. I really can't decide who I'd rather have win the Final.

They take your £85 and say they've repaired your PS3, but have you considered that it might be the output, rather than the input..? Try it on another monitor/TV, and then see if it happens. Especilly if it happens on a monitor/TV where another PS3 has no problems at all. With the same game, of course. Just to be precise. Then you'll have Sony, or whoever you want to have. If it behaves itself impeccably, then it's a problem of you own monitor/TV.

So glad for him. I saw him many a time in the reserves, years gone by. He never seemed to do quite enough, yet his input was significant. He could easily have been one of those players that fell by the wayside. For his sake, I hope he makes a successful Doncaster Rovers career, and gives us a tiny bit of trouble when we play them. We cheer him, but we still beat them.

I've been hugely impressed by the Germans. They are not the most technically gifted, but they have been the best team to watch in every other aspect. As far back as I can remember, the British game has been about making the most of the talents that were available/selected and getting them to work as a team. It seemed they were always going to be secondary to the ball skill talents of Southern European and Southern American squads, yet their work ethic and strict resolve in good tactics would see them through. Well it doesn't seem to work like that. It's almost natural of the Germans [and good on them for trying], to take the northern game at its best and challenge the southern game, with its superior individual skills. Ultimately, you take tactics and you work them, hand in hand with your skillful players. But you have to account for your extra special players. The ones that can turn a game in a moment. We don't have them. The English modern day version is Rooney, and he's becoming the product of English coaching. I'm hesitant to mention Matthew Le Tissier, because he would be shouted down in this country, as complete poppyc*ck. But only in this country. His was a level of skill that is rarefied in an English player, but is rather more common on the continent. Perhaps it's time to take away some of those no-ball-games signs and realise that if England want to be amongst the best again, they are going to have to let their youngest flourish. And not over coach them either.

That Oracle Octopus got it right yet again. His correct-incorrect calls are now 10-1

Indeed, thanks Markus. Been more than I expected too, which is such a bonus. I shall raise a glass Thursday evening.

Top 2. I don't expect less.

And we won't p!ss this league. We'll probably win it, or come second, but either way it'll be close.

Whilst I would agee that Saints will, come the season opener, be the best team on paper, and potentially have much more money at their disposal than other League One clubs. I see no reason why we would be paying ridiculous wages compared to other clubs. The motivation for players is that they are with the biggest club in that particular league, and there is almost certainly only one direction it is heading in. For that, players are probably more than happy to take a little less than perhaps you think.

Just read a few of the comments. Dear, oh dear. By and large, they are not a happy bunch tonight.

2001 [A Space Odyssey]

[mad at the] moon

I hoped he would have been, but officially, he didn't cross the line with his machine. That is, he wasn't onboard, because he was certainly in close proximity and partial contact. In short, no, he wasn't classified as finishing. IIRC, he would have been 8th behind Kenny Noyes [the guy he ran into]. He actually laughed about it afterwards. Absolute nutters are bike racers. Morales Makes Light Of Crash

It actually did hit him.

Has any announcement been made yet..? Not that I've seen. As far as I know there will be a Ted Bates Trophy match in the close season, just as there was last close season. Will Saints be in League One this coming season..? I don't know, as there has been no formal announcement. But I assume they will compete, don't you..?

On the first lap, 9 riders went down, and there were a few in the middle of the race. But this crash just proves how high a price a motorcycle racer can pay for just a small mistake. Remakably, he's OK... Debutant Morales Crashes at Catalunya

No. You make the effort.

Here's a weekend fun car. Of course, I may have mistaken your idea of fun. Perhaps this is more to your liking..?

Fourth

To be honest, I don't give a monkey's fart that the sports comentators don't know who the acting celebrities are in the crowd. In fact, I'd rather the camera didn't stray to them. By all means have pictures of ordinary spectators, but let's leave it at that. At least they proably paid to be there, and were not invited. I can undestand that ex-players don't want to overly criticise their own. But managers are removed enough not to have that problem. I think it is time for a clear out of pundits, and bring in the guys who normally make the tactics and choose the players. Sadly, Shearer has learned at the school of Hansen and Lawrenson, although Dixon does seem to talk some sense, and doesn't talk in cliche or a series of soundbites. At the very least, the BBC should not renew the ex-Liverpool pair's contracts. They've been paid enough money by now, anyway.

That was just to put you off the scent, Steve.

While I was watching, the phrase did cross my mind too, David.

Really..? That's a bit of a stunner. I like the reasoning behind that. Better keep it to ourselves until an announcement is made.