um pahars

From memory they announced on the Thursday that tickets would go on sale the next day and they quickly sold out. Being at work all day Friday I never had a chance to get down there or give them a call and the short notice meant it was impossible to arrange someone else to do it for me. As with today's quick sell out I think the ticket office haven't communicated this very well, plus would thought it should simply have gone to a ballot rather than a free for all.

Are you sure you're not getting confused???? Wasn't the Denis Law backheel for Man City against United??? (and then didn't celebrat)

Just back from SMS and didn't bother queuing considering the queue went around the Northam to the Kingsland!!!! No idea how many extra tickets we've got, but reckon quite a few up there aren't going to get one.

I think there is most definitely a place in society to have a decent theological debate and for all opinions to be heard, but that is a world away from insulting people and being rude (as some have tried to point out in this thread). Given the part that religion plays in the history,culture and current way of life, politics and laws of this country I think it should most definitely be on the table with regards a healthy debate etc. One of the strongest atheist arguments is that organised religion does not have a monopoly on morality, respect, compassion and empathy, but I have to say some on this thread are letting the side down!!!!!

Although your reply was erudite and factually correct, when dealing with the Dinlo Dune, you would have been better off with the shorter retort above!!!!!!!!

As per my post last year, fox hunting is not a very efficient way of controlling the fox population, nor is it cost efficient (in fact the economic cost/benefit to the countryside of keeping a hunt going was one of the reasons used by The Countryside Alliance for opposing the ban). Lamping of a nighttime is an efficient and cost effective method of control. Done it for both foxes and rabbits and it's somewhat cheaper than keeping pack of hound and the trappings of a hunt ticking over. Fox hunting is primarilya social/cultural/sporting event, it's certainly not an efficient method of pest control. Arguing from that's angle only undermines the case for hunting.

Deffo west ham away. Stadium announcer said there had been a death (and a delay - no abandonment) and the initial thoughts were of fighting and maybe a stabbing. It was only on the drive home that we learnt of the full tragedy

Mum would be banished to use the last of her Green Shield Stamps in the shop on the corner whilst dad and I would watch the giddy printer. I reckon it's where Vodafone now is. Memories!!!!!!

Turkish, did you not see the Art Of Stand Up last night on BBC2 last night???? Answers quite a few of your points and provides an insight about what might be deemed offensive to some and not to others. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/bigscreen/tv/episode/b018scn0/

What about Sanchez Watt from arsenal?? Obika at Spurs is out on loan, Man City have two young forwards out on loan. Even Leeds allowed Paynter to go out. I'm not saying any of these would have worked or been available, not saying we werent going for broke to get someone in, not saying I dont have faith in Adkins, merely speculating on a message board that we're short up front and wondered what the thoughts of those in charge are/were??

To put a bit of meat on the bones of this one I had lunch with someone well placed in the footballing world today and he said that the FA had written to 300 players to see if they would be willing to play!!!!!!!! Nothing like spreading your net wide!!!!!

No they are not, just one person.

I'd have gone even further with new technology and brought in the text-a-sub thingy that some Scandanavian club has been doing. Fans get a chance to text in their substitution (player on and off) and our Nigel has to comply with biggest vote. FOTB, fan power and terrace managers all working together.

That's what they would want you to believe, but as is often the case this is substantially oversimplifying the issue and IMHO a red herring. The following article refutes this claim quite well (although I accept certain tax policies can hit the consumer at the till). http://liberalconspiracy.org/2011/10/12/why-stopping-tax-evasion-would-not-increase-prices/ And apart from that I think the main cry from people on this issue is the notion that we're all in this together!!! this just doesn't come across as being equitable or just. Having been involved with HMRC as both an individual and with a small company, I can assure you that HMRC at that level aren't quite as accommodating!!!!!!

What about if the deal was only for the Council to buy and own the ground?? Could it be justified in the context of owning a community asset for the benefit of all? Or would this be still too much for them to take on? What about when people were asking Southampton City Council to help us out and buy our ground?

Can presume the consensus is that whilst we apparently have another good batch of youngsters coming through none of them are that special to be able to make the step up at the moment. But not even worth risking one on the bench to either give us an option or to put on if game is already won (or heaven forbid, lost)??? What was the point of both Holmes and De Ridder on the bench Sunday (we really must be threadbare)??? And of course the other question is why we didn't get anyone in on loan?? No one available, right player not available, too much wanted, hoped others would be fit???

If I was FOTB then I would be pushing for us to strengthen in the January window. I would initiate a weekly quiz with all proceeds going to fund the increase in wages.

I'm sure he mst have put his periscope up somewhere at some point!!! Had an interesting time in Baltics in the summer. Vilnius was a wonderful place and younger generation were lovely, but food was terrible, customer service was non existent and older generation really rude and miserable. Then went on to siauliai and it was truly horrific (racist, xenophobic, drab). Beautiful countryside but wow the Russians left their mark. Ended up in Palanga which had a wonderful coastline etc but was full of ****ed up Lithanians and Russians going hammer and tong with each other!!!

Are you on a wind up??? Would have thought someone who had travelled so much would be able to come up with some well decent places to go to. Where's the best place you've had a stretch ashore???

So much depends on how old your lot are and what you're looking for. Think I must have gotten old as whenever I've seen some recently (at home and abroad) most of them made me cringe. The organised ones were the worst and couldn't imagine having to be led around by someone. Of the places you mentioned I would.say Barcelona and Berlin are best. Barcelona has a decent beach to lounge around in during the day and some good nightlife (can be a bit moody though in places). Berlin has more of a party scene and of course shedloads of culture (that said Barcelona has got loads as well). I think the problem is that so many places are just full of the Inbetweener gang!!! and are old hat.

We don't have that good a track record though do we??????? The last thing remember we got from there was Jan very Poortvliet!!!!

John, in total agreement with you on this one!!!! What they think they are doing is anyone's guess. It doesnt make any commercial sense whatsoever and seems to me to be way beyond what a local council should be doing!!!!!! The creating or saving jobs line just doesn't wash for me. I have no problem with councils supporting the Arts, sport or other "worthy" or "community" events and providing facilities, but this is way beyond that. As for Mr House, well I remember talking to him a few times around the time of Stoneham and couldn't believe someone as ignorant, ill informed and generally stupid was in such a position of power. I rememeber one good debate when he was arguing about how Southampton shouldn't extend past the M27 and I pointed out that a) Stoneham would be south of it and b) he lived on an estate that was north of the M27 and a few years earlier was farmers fields. Even back then he had a thing for the Rose Bowl and was saying it was a different proposition to the hooligans that Stoneham would attract and that was why he had no problem with a cricket ground!!!!! It's now a tens of millions problem for him.

A very funny, eloquent and insightful piece from Boris there, so thank you DP. Sometimes Boris is spot on with the things he says, but at other times it's as though he is from another planet (and to be honest given his background and upbringing he is from another planet to the majority of us in this country e.g. his £250,000 chicken feed for Sunday morning diary writing!!!). A good commentator, fine for the odd funny quote (not so good for his many foot in mouth moments), extremely intelligent, but not at all convinced he should be in charge of the London and definitely not up for leading the country!!!!

Why not just ban away fans? Or at least insist they must travel in official coaches under escort? Make all stadiums alcohol free? Out of town with no pubs nearby (like Colchester)? As you say, let's just sanitise the game.

Who would you have replaced him with?? We had no one on the bench