dubai_phil

I'm sure that was one of the bars I went into on NYE in Soi Cowboy. Or was it Aboob Agogo? Can't remember much for some reason of that evening

Lol are the Daggers Cheerleaders doing The Sprinkler Dance?

Nice move started and nearly finished by Guly, good build up, sounds like Guly found some confidence from somewhere

It's very very boompey on the pitch according to Dave

Ah a long lost friend is re-discovered. With me hols & travel for work seems like months since I sat and listened to commentary, possibly because it was. Magners on the rocks by the side Strong looking side on the pitch COYS

Now that is really sad. I mean you didn't even get sent a virtual something on Facebook? Man, in this day and age that is REALLY bad news

Wow, what a shocking and surprising piece of news. Many have pointed out many of his failings but IMHO we never had a real spine in the team and solid central defensive partnership. Wayne Thomas for 10 times more than Burnley expected. Sorry to Soggy, but the he IS a good manager stuff is rubbish - he WAS a decent manager but then something in his life went wrong, whether it was an internal DNA related switch or some other event I have no idea but as I reported in detail at the time and others alluded to, it was my firm opinion that his clarity of thinking was compromised. IMHO that caused him to become a ghost of his former self and he was living on his previous achievements and we were lucky to be able to get rid of him. I have nothing against the guy, BUT I was glad we found a favourable way to bring in change. His time with Scotland did nothing to show he had made a come back to his former abilities and I don't see that he has performed any miracles at Palace. So it will be up to the next desperate Football Club Chairman to find out whether he is capable of making a comeback or is really just the shell of a once could have been great manager.

I got a Book by Peter F Hamilton from my mum. (That I had to go to Waterstone's to buy) A set of golf club head covers to replace the ones lost by the local caddy shack. (That I had to explain on the phone to my daughter which ones to buy) And I got a pair of socks. They were a surprise, actually a nice surprise, they were Dry Fit golf socks so very useful for down here. The downside is that the pattern will look very sexy when worn with the shorts that I always wear to play golf.

yarp, OK semantics, 7pm is this evening, but 9 pm when we finish is certainly tonight, a lot better than the kick off at 10pm I had for last week's afternoon matches

Taking the GF to Glasto. Her first trip.... While it may not have the intimacy of or even (as much) music that I like of some of the other festivals, I think the whole primeval conditions of the event help bring us "down here" loonies back to reality. And of course the real reason to go is the Cider Bus

London Saints end of season party after the last game at The Dell. Had a GF over here who had been converted to Saints and who fancied Paul Jones "as he had a great bum". Guzzling loads of beer with all the gang and the whole team came in, we all bounced between different players & I ended up talking with Jonesey and mention that the GF would be really embarrassed if he asked her why she fancied him, so got out the mobile, called down here and got, habla habla chuchran - the mobile you are calling is switched off. Was then left with that whole awkward what to talk about now moment and an odd look from Jonesey who clearly wondered if it was all real or me wanting to discuss his bum. So, anyway, he heads off to the barwith a bemused look, and I get a tap on the shoulder and a "Are you that crazy bloke who flew back from Dubai just for this game?" Let me buy you a beer......... and my reward for an embarrasing moment with a player was to share a beer and chat for 20 minutes with..... Yep, Rupert. Although to be fair that was back in the days when he was moving us so that it was actually interesting to hear all the "behind the scenes, getting the stadium built" stories. Didn't help my street cred with the LS guys tho, and eventually made my escape in time to get caught by Doddsy to get him a beer (as if he needed another one at that point)

Love the confidence change on the build up thread from 10 days ago. Will be back online tonight listening into whispering Dave (seems years since I last heard him). Agree with Alpine though, big test tonight. Skanky grounds or skanky pitches were our undoing last year and (although I have faith in their groundsman after the banter story) I cannot see a Bowling Green pitch being on the cards this afternoon. If we turn up and play with the right attitude (ie BATTLE for the right to play football) then I think we are all going to enjoy the next few weeks. If we turn up with billy big bollo attitude because we've just scored 8 goals in two games we could get a good kick up the backside. Is NA the new AP in setting his side up for a gritty away battle or is he the real deal? Did I just dream those last two results in a daze of gogo bars, spicy curries, shopping & NY parties or was it all the real deal? Can I find another cliche or will I have to settle for 3 points?

NA has quite word with Millwall manager. Am I the only one who reads this as - "if a PL team come along and give us 10mil for Lallana we may need to have him back to play wide on the left for a while while we sign a replacement" I don't think that will happen but having a back up emergency plan may not be a bad idea

Hehehe. So the few all have a woo hoo "we've signed LL moment", there is hope, Chanrai really loves us, we're going up.... Followed swiftly by a magnificently aimed and timed kick in the nuts. Sweet start to the year. Oh and Happy New Year to one and all, apologies for being off-line for a week, but (not intentionally) I found a far more enjoyable past-time than few baiting... I was on my NYE hols in Bangkok.... Oh boy it was great - every bar held an Aussie Cricket fan and D_P just HAD to discuss the Ashes with them... But, interestingly, unlike the few, the Aussies seem to get it. I reckon I heard dozens of Holepuncture quality rants about their predicament, and unlike the few, they don't try and blame someone else.

Blimey. I should stay off line for 4 days more often. Thanks to Eric & the boys in the chapel for the txt updates. At airport now on way home normal service to resume 2moro COYS how many thought we wouldn'tr make the top 2 until Marh? HAppy Daze & not just the NYE hangover

Sitting in the departure lounge, the only ENglish Language paper they had was the Daily Snail. (It was that or Sudoko on-line TBH) It has an article on page 57 that caught my eye as it certainly covers a few on here And then it made me wonder, perhaps the research Scientists should come down to the Central South of England (ie our neck of the woods) to see how we can have such a huge cluster of negativity... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1341787/How-tame-monsters-mind-Experts-ANTS--Automatic-Negative-Thoughts-unless-learn-stop-theyll-ruin-life.html Thought it was less divisive to comment on this one rather than the Coach carrying 25 EDL members that had a small accident and yet 78 members of that esteemed organisation have submitted Compensation claims.... Oh and it was only a 57 seater coach lol Happy New Year one and all

Yep, total desperation by Bill Lawrie, Slater et al. And the other funny bit is they seem to have forgotten we actually have a decent spinner in our team! Aussies must be sick of the sight of Trotty by now, let's hope he can keep going and do what he did in the summer and get the remaining 59 runs for a double. They showed his batting average against the Aussies - at the moment it's around 90 something.

Well played England, and especially Trott & Prior with that record breaking Stand (at the MCG). You could see the life draining out of the Aussie bowlers. Keep it going tomorrow 346 ahead is good but it is still a good pitch, the longer we bat on it the more it will wear and bring Swanny into the game. Lol at the Aussie tater's talking about getting double tons and big contributions from Hughes & Smith setting England a tough target.

Two different stories today about being old. The horror of this poor Old Sod http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8225659/Grandfather-spent-three-days-lost-on-M4-trying-to-get-home.html And the Oh yes please, praise the Lord & pass the Viagra you lucky sod http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8225629/Playboy-founder-Hugh-Hefner-to-marry-girlfriend.html Clearly, the early 70's is a time to worry about as the early 80's looks like it ROCKS

This is all very well, but it isn't Boxing Day, it's St Szczepan's Day. (I have no idea what that means either my laptop just got hijacked by the GF) FWIW down here if a Public (ie bank holiday) falls on a weekend day then For Government Employees (ie Locals) they get 6 weeks off For Banks they get the next day off For anyone working for a living, tough sh1t you lost a day's holiday Christmas Day is not a holiday except nobody works, and Eid is a holliday but anyone working for a Multi-National has to work because their boss is working I preferred it when we just went down the pub at lunchtime no matter what day of the week it was Oh, and you have NO idea how many households of mixed Nationalities had massive rows on Friday because other countries open their presents on Christmas Eve Evening... You could hear the wailing above that of the Mosques. hell, now I'm confused, must be time for a Turkey Curry or a Sandwich or something

I don't often bother to look at the Tables for leagues other than ours, so I am a bit confused. I thought The few were walking the NPC this season with this hugely expensive squad of theirs. Or was I holding the newspaper upside-down?

On the subject of Tediousness, when do the ITK award nominations come out? (Leftbank doesn't count 'cos he's no longer with us)

I'm sure it all started with Edwina Currie, Salmonella Eggs and Something Must be Done campaign by the Snail, and ended with the Mysterious Case of the Moving Blow-Job Machine

Being a Saints fan I'm starting to think I had, as usual set my expectations far too high

Well, logically not so daft, they were all convicts after all and that lot down the road are the only Town in England with 100% Asbo's (allegedly I once heard) C'mon boys get them nailed tonight, I'm off on hols tomorrow for NY & not sure the hotel will have coverage on Star Sports