suewhistle

They can employ whosoever they want who fits the role, they can give them a probationary period, but they must have adequate reason for sacking them. They can also employ agency staff if it's a temporary work peak. If they've taken enough care to recruit the right people it shouldn't be an issue, and if it is they will just have to take similar [or more] care in dismissing them for appropriate reasons. By the end of my time in a large company I was demoralised and depressed and more importantly bored: I probably wasn't very productive and didn't get anywhere trying to get a transfer. I was so glad to get out and now I'm an enthusiastic and (I hope) effective teacher. In a small firm I doubt the situation would have got as bad as my issues would have been more visible and I probably wouldn't have been as bored, what with the variety a small firm can offer. As people have pointed out bosses can be incompetent and irrational, particularly small firm owners. If you look at teaching forums you'll see plenty of case histories of good teachers really appreciated by colleagues, parents and pupils who were victimised in other schools on somebody's whim. This is altogether a bad idea and would be jusst another blow to worker and business confidence. If the government really thinks this is a major issue in what is already a flexible labour market in first world terms, they should think of other strategies than trying to become a second class economy. How about a small business HR advice service if it really is as big a problem as they say. Frankly a far bigger problem at the moment is the lack of working and investment capital, but the policy is all of a piece with the destructive, negative and self-interested policies of this despicable government.

How can't they? They've got to have _some_ players... All cheapies from the youth/reserves, and even if too late trying to do what we did.

I think it still is, I immediately thought of the man that Brett de Bank at Monte Carlo... I can't be arsed to google to see if he's real, but maybe that's me being cynical in the face of experience.

Yeah, I don't remember if you've said anything about 1, but yes, you answered exactly as I thought you would. It does beg the question about the trust guys: surely they know they're p**sing in the wind? When Saints when under it was in the face of a gale, but Pompey are facing force 11 or 12 and the boat was never seaworthy when it left harbour! As you realised 2 wasn't a wind up question, but your reply is quite interesting. What does constitute a club for us fans? It may not be Pompey, but there's not much of worth to hold onto there, and by that I mean the ethos, the spirit of the club, which has frankly been stolen.

By the way Mack - serious question - have you pledged to the trust? I think we [the hall of fame/shame] probably have guessed that you're actually far too sensible to do so, but I reckon we'd all be interested to hear your reply. Second question: would you support a phoenix club? I wonder if Corp is lurking...

Just to make it clear to some of you, I was joking/teasing...

That's cheating, you're just trying to get your post count up. Oh....

That Torres fellow is a bit unsettled and those German chappies Lahm and Schweinsteiger looked useful....

Looks like a pint for trousers, FF and a half pint each for Mack and Mero..Was thinking of a half for Corp for the sheer entertainment value and then I thought, nah....

Oi! Some of us thread nutjobs live abroad. Can you make it at the beginning of the season as I'll be over to try and avoid the Italian heat and to take in a few games. I'm sure I owe a few pints to Rallyboy and other people for the entertainment and I already know FF, so I'll bring quite a few devalued euros to spend, some spares in case I wet myself laughing... Look forward to it!

We're not really. Some of us have a smidgeon of sympathy for some of the people trying to _do_ something. But it's like The Dog and Duck FC XI against oh, I dunno, Crawley. They'll come off the pitch having given their all, but we'll all still laugh, wince and feel sorry at the same time. And they'll give all in keeping their self-respect: which is more that can be said of Pompey management.

Is the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra still going? I've got the Brahms symphonies from them from some years ago, and good performances too. The jewellery quarter is interesting and went to a great hen night at some gay/lesbian night clubs, but I think you'd better wait for some more local knowledge!

Yeah, but you know what those old recordings are like.

Some of it was useful information but the paragraph beginning "The Trust need Chainrai less than he needs them."....! I even feel a bit sorry for such delusion. If the 65% limit of turnover on wages is applied which couple of players will they choose to pay?

I'm sure none of us care what you shove up your a@*e, although an orange in your mouth might quieten you down a bit.

Crikey, what a thread, what a catch Bearsy must be or is he really Deppo back in disguise? Oh for goodness sake, won't somebody go round and teach him how to ****?

Sandy Balls - in/near the New Forest.

I reckon you either go for 2 year old ex-fleet cars which have been serviced properly or drop a few hundred quid on an old banger in which case you limit your losses. Apart from trade-ins where do you thing the motor trade get their supplies?

Gawd, as I'm now a TEFL teacher my first thought would be "imagine the next class after that"! Fortunately I'm freelance, flexible and part-time.. Now when we get to the Europa cup I hope we have a trip to Italy (even a pre-season friendly would do)...

I wondered if anyone would mention that - engraved in my brain dum diduddy dum. Went on a T145 flight courtesy of dad and did the posh bit of going to the museums beforehand. Had a few beers (ahem), but I wasn't with the rest of the drunken rabble [grin]. I can't remember details but remember resentment at the result and didn't Osgood lose the ball in midfield and they then went on to score?

To lighten the mood, these lyrics were written to be sung to the above and I heard the first performance at my local folk club years ago: (Eric, don't take it too seriously..:-) ) Mist on the runway; the morning Sun kissed the runway at dawning; Young men with hearts all a-tremble Waiting the signal to scramble, Men born to fly Reach for the sky; They wait At the gate; They wait and wait and wait and wait and wait. I’ve been at Luton Airport now since 1982; I want to go to Benidorm and who the hell are you? Club 18-30? Look mate, don’t get shirty; No can do; my I.Q. is nearly 32. I’ve been at Luton so long that I’m on the housing list And thanks to Carlberg Specials I have permanently missed The daily cancellation to every destination; you Can blame it on the Spanish air controllers Tracey likes Pina Colada; My Uncle Ron’s got a Lada; We will sing the Birdie Song, And somehow they will know we’re English; Tracey’s just got her pesetas; We both get laid by the waiters Then we sing the Birdie Song And we come home There’s a little tartan suitcase and it’s going round and round And a donkey with a straw hat and the owner can’t be found, She’s out in Alicante; some poor old maiden auntie’s Not seen Rosinante since 1982. I wish I had my suitcases; I wonder where they went; They’re coming through a curtain somewhere; proudly we present My T shirt and my underpants; to entertain a maiden aunt They’re going round and round in Alicante. Chorus: I went and asked that Tracey would she sleep with me in Spain; She kicked me in the goolies, which is where I keep my brain. We’ve just had our first quarrel; a kneecap in me morals; I wish I was Harold; he’s out in Benidorm He’s working as a waiter in a Benidorm hotel; His mother calls him Harold but he calls himself Miguel. It’s enough to make a grown man cry; he says he never has to try; They never let a Dago by, it must be all that Spanish Fly; They don’t know he’s from Ross-on-Wye; he’s out there but where am I? Una Paloma Blanca; Must say it fills me with rancour; Una Paloma Blanca; All Air Controllers are ******s. Men born to fly Come here to die. They wait And wait And dream of different places, different Traceys; Chorus: crescendo, dramatically etc…

Don't think anybody wants to soil themselves by registering with that rag. Edit; Hadn't seen Andy's post when I wrote that!

Brilliant, it worked! At least for all Firefox users I presume.. [i presume they all use Adblock...]

Interesting article in an Italian newspaper about good value Italian players. The reason I give the link is not because I think we'd be after any of them but it got me thinking about our scouting networks and whether any signing will NOT be on our list!:-) http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/notizie/2012-05-10/calcio-costo-valore-giocatori-163228.shtml?uuid=AbAA5faF