suewhistle

I'd agree, but I reckon he's been thinking about his next England appearance. He probably doesn't want to be a one match wonder..

What was the reading when you moved in? Surely that's the critical thing? I moved back to my place in July and changed the key meters back to credit and since the reading on my new gas meter is 3(!), and 51 units for leccy. Probably helps having solar panels though!:-)

Well, I wouldn't have said that exactly , what with being so well bred n'all... But no, I don't believe Saints wouuldn't release Sharp to another Premiership team. I can't see any such team being a threat anyway and certainly they'd like to get the wage bill down. It just doesn't figure.

I'm not sure why people are so black and white about people coming back from injury and being on the bench. Perhaps Clyne said that after Barnsley he was ok but feeling it a bit, Shaw likewise. There's never an absolute cut-off when returning from injury unless you are so cautious that you hardly play anyway. It's all about the management of risk and it seems perfectly feasible to have someone on the bench who _ideally_ you would wish to rest but not play unless necessary. As it happened Fox didn't let us down and Chambers (and JWP) were caught out by raw pace and a little inexperience. I'd prefer Clyne but Chambers is a great back-up to have, and he'll have learnt from the experience.

..and we can't count The Ox as he was so slow..

I certainly won't be going. With a tenner you can just about convince yourself to ignore all the other costs by saying "It's only a tenner". You might even persuade a friend to come along on the same basis, or take a neighbour's kid as a treat. At £18 they won't see _any_ of my money, and I really hope the marketing people are reading. I think they'd be surprised at the growing sentiment against the cost of football, and how with current prices they really aren't recruiting the fans of tomorrow. As short-sighted as politicians.

What? The sailor's hornpipe?

"There"? Perfect English? Hmmm.

The plans, possibly? It was proposed at 24000..

Try The Platform before the game, down near the ferries and historic buildings: busy with a good atmosphere, good beers, typical English pub. Afterwards a number spring to mind, but The Guidedog meets similar criteria and you can buy the beer by the jug. Best not to be driving anywhere...

The main thing I got from it was that it confirms that pretty well everything will make Bearsy priapic. Wouldn't sit next to him in the pub, lads...

Never come across that verb (sbrocca) and it's not in my big dictionary but: "we need to see S-TH if only to know in what minute Osvaldo will [blow up/react] and beat up Lamela."!

FFS don't let Bearsy see this..

Anyway, I came on here to comment on captainchris's point which I think is a reasonable one. If you really, really want a ticket you'll probably be able to get one, but marketing is also about trying to persuade the undecided. You might be planning to watch at the pub or wherever, but if you knew tickets were available you might change your mind and make the effort. A ticker tape banner on the website for example, so that you know that a call to the ticket office is worth the effort of waiting in a queue or faffing about on the web-site: and there have been enough stories about problems there to put people off that route. It's all about making it easier for people and reducing barriers. I think the current pricing model is dangerous if it prevents a new generation of fans developing. Even with my age group there are mutterings in the pub from reasonably paid people about the cost. When I was a student a ticket was about 3 or 4 times the price of a drink in the pub: now I hate to think about it. It's also interesting that this subject re-occurs and I think it reflects the fact that we all like being part of a full house and the artmosphere it engenders. It also comes across better on TV as well, so perhaps some special offers for younger age groups (for example) could come out of the marketing budget!

I see Turkish is being a bullying **** again. Anyway, why would I need to mention those two subjects when Turkish seem to mention it every time I see one of his posts, and _far_ more than I ever have. He likes to give the impression that I do by constantly repeating the fact, but you've probably all noticed how unpleasant and repetitive he is on this board...

Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be along to comment on such threads. We can all predict the content of your contribution, and more importantly, the tone and style.

No reports from Kenya yet?

I liked this line: ‘He has been great,’ says Wanyama. ‘I have only been here a short time but already he has taught me a lot. He is a good motivator but knows when to pick out details that can change your game.’ Intelligent player, intelligent manager.

The problem with some chants is how repetitive and boring they are, and the manner in which they are chanted. The "does your boyfriend know you're here" is a bit unoriginal now, and is anyway only done to wind up the straight fans: don't think any gay guys could give a monkey's. Last season's opener at the Etihad on a Sunday we heard briefly the chant: "You're only here for the village".. I just looked across to the bay chanting it, gave a big grin and gave them the thumbs up. It was a good night out....

I don't deny it's expensive but I never pay for parking or bother with a programme. A day return from (say) Chichester is £12.50 (maybe cheaper in a group/railcard etc.). Then, of course, you spend more on beer!

You cruel, vindictive b*****d! ;-)

Good oh, teachers' moan corner. Parents and the students themselves blaming everything on dyslexia. I've taught a student privately who really struggled: I had infinite patience with him. That girl I taught English in a primary class was also lazy; I had a lot less patience with her.

Ooh, can I go? - Councils who design cycle paths deliberately to make them as unsafe as possible. Narrow, short (10 metres long anyone - the net is full of examples - http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pete.meg/wcc/facility-of-the-month/January2009.htm ). Worth a look actually, some are hilarious. - Councils who then don't maintain them so that they are an unsafe puncture heaven. - Motorists who are too unobservant to appreciate why people sometimes don't use cycle paths. - Probably the same motorists who park in said cycle lanes. - Motorists with anger management issues: should they really be in charge of a fast moving tonne of metal? - Motorists who talk about Road Fund Licence. Eh? It hasn't been called that since before they were born. It's called Vehicle Excise Duty. What is it based on? Go on, guess, all you motorists who don't know. The level of vehicle emissions.. -Motorists who think VED is a hypothecated tax. No it isn't, any more than any other tax is in the UK. - Motorists who think it's a good idea there shouldn't be other vehicles on the road. They want more cars? One would presume so. Even Osvaldo is going to find that it won't always be a good idea to go to London in his Ferrari. :-)

For some of those teams my opinion is best expressed by the sign in the back of one of the Saints coaches as we left Cardiff: "Cheer up Arsenal, you won".

Snorting with laughter here, and wincing a little...