dubai_phil

beer is 5 quid a pint. Beer at Duty Free to take to the pool or beach is 50p a can. beach is 5 minutes away from my place. A curry at Ravis is about 6 quid for 3 people, but fish & chips in the pub is a tenner. Golf at Emirates midweek is about 60 quid, in Ras Al Khaimah about 30 quid but you are playing Championship quality courses Bucket of balls at the creek (off mats) is about 8 quid with a member (my mate) is free. Beer nights are Tuesday Thursday & Friday, should find some mates to keep you occupied all week Switch to pm if you wanna come. I changed my avatar so you understand why you ain't getting near the Ladies Masters (Anje Morkel) bless her, oh and check out a friend of mine Maria Verchenova on google. last post tonight PM & we'll swith to email or Skype

Why would it not be serious? We get a lot of stick on here (but we play up to it on purpose) but yes. Hotel rates are around 200 quid a night, as long as you keep your hands off the GF the cats & the Killer Attack Tortoises, and buy beers and maybe volunteer to pay for a round of golf if we get you onto Emirates (or IF you bring a really GOOD Chateau Neif & pay for me) onto The Earth Course We'll let you join our regular golf trip at the Creek and even (workload permitting) shuttle you up to the outposts of Ras Al Khaimah. What's the point of inventing an internet persona that "annoys" certain people and keeps saying COME ON DOWN if you don't follow through on it. I'm the "senior" on course & Media Marshall nxt week working with the PGA Tour guys how else do you think I get to meet so many "celebs". Desert Classic Week I can probably get you up close with one of the top 3 (you can't afford the cost of a place working with Tiger if he comes). (It takes a LOT of smoozing but can be done (But you AIN'T getting close to the Ladies Masters - that's for us regulars, not for the golf but for the after party.... ) No BS, you asked. Will make you the 4th TSF/TSW who did that. Oh, and you WILL sing at Karaoke at Rock Bottom, only fair to warn you

To quote a senior poster hehehe

You know, I think I preferred Dalek when he stuck to the Hoddle jokes

Watched a re-run of our "Goals on Monday" show just now, MLT in jeans and a SHORTSLEEVED shirt (Tommac alert!) They did a piece on that article and showed the Crossley save ( but also the Newcastle goal) He seemed actually embarrassed by it all, suppose he still hasn't worked out that there's only two people ever watch McAffrey et al down here and one was working nights this week!

Dr Who. It ain't just the music it's the memories of the whole hiding behind the sofa thing. Ski Sunday, Banana Splits good shouts as is Booker T & The MG's, but if you allow Sporting "series" then Italia '90 on the Beeb wins hands down memories of the boys in the pub, red in the face trying to hit the high notes of Nesum Dorum...

Not being a massive "Cop Drama" fan, I drop in on occassional episodes of CSI somewhereelsethisweek, but Battlestar - a truly great TV series, had a bit of everything, 24 style continuity, action, great effects for a TV show, even had a form of spiritual feel to it. And boy, did Xena Warrior Princess grow up well. Much enjoyed, went a little flat and original V ish when they first hit New Caprica but after that it just kept hitting hit the spot. On a trip back three or so years ago, I found a boxed set in a remainder bin at HMV of a series I had never heard of, sat down watched it twice straight through, as did my kids, and mates - Josh Wheedon's Firefly. What a waste that was, so close to a great off-beat sci-fi series and it was canned.

no no no take your punishment. We've kept EoA bashing for over a week now. Mods please merge this post :-)

What? I thought this was a thread about Saints Outfield players. What's Mike Oldfield or his band got to do with it?

Yep. Accomodation charge is a bottle of Zubrowka from Heathrow Duty Free, a case of Tsing Tao & a bottle of Chateua Nuef du Pape from Dubai DF, and you pay half the food and the bar bill at The Seaview. Not in the next 3 weeks though, I now have 7 guests crashing here for the Rugby, and 3 others in hotels so the only space left is the cat basket, and he gets pretty cranky being kicked out. If you'd asked last week could have fitted you in and you could have worked with a Real Golfing Professional next week. Yup, my old European Tour Buddies have been in touch and yours truly will be running around shooting cameramen and generally ensuring he appears in at least one National News Photo or on telly during DWC. (that's what everyone else things, but in fact I'll be out on course (inside the ropes) for about 8 hours a day for 5 days, clocking up between 12 & 16kms a day, and all for a free Polo Shirt while the GF goes off and gets plastered with her drinking buddies Lee Westwood & Darren Clarke (if he sneaks in) But yes, Dubai Ladies open will stll have 3 guests here but desert classic week not too bad

On behalf of Eric & I, may we offer our sincere condolences on the upcoming weekend. It was a getting chilly 29C today, and yep, unfortunately no humidity, no haze and not a sign of a cloud. We'll think of you on Saturday while we're our sipping ****tails on the Terrace at the Golf Club listening to MLT answer 19C's questions.... :-):-):-):-) (OK I lied - we'll be slurping beer and not mentioning our favourite poster)

:smt046 Can't believe it's real but still a :smt046

Just to clarify that, an "offer" could have paid say 50% off to Barclays in cash and 10% to Aviva, however a new agreement with (for example) Aviva COULD have been made to pay them say an extra 2 mil on promotion to the CCC, 5mil on propmotion to the PL and say a further 2mil a season for 3 years. In monetary terms, the "less cash offer" is potentially worth a LOT more MONEY to one of the creditors. The permutations were endless, what we do not know is what would the creditors have been preferring? Personally I expect Fry was pushing for as much cash now as possible but that could have led to other issues with his creditors.... we will never know

We're interested down here!! Simply because it's an evening with MLT... TV coverage of England Footie games down here is very scarce, so tbh unless it's a big competition we really don't bother. The sat provider who does coverage of the CL and some England games costs like 60 quid a month so it really isn't worth it, and with beer at 5 quid a pint, who wants to go to the pub and spend 40 quid on drinks for two to watch a meaningless friendly. Doha is like 45 minutes away by our version of Easyjet, but haven't met anyone who's going. However, in the greater scheme of things political it IS an important match. England were forced into the game because it's a reciprocal deal for having them play the first game at Wembley, and while they are here it is about getting the Asian FA delegate to support our WC 2018 bid (Qatar want to host the WC in 2022) so our overpaid heroes are down here doing their thing for the suits, not for the fans

Let's not get confused here, especially between "The Back Office Operations" and the "Free tickets for Footballing Legends" arguments. Suggesting that a Commercial Director be replaced with Lawrie is like THE most insane mix up of concepts of how a football business works I've seen.. The two issues are totally separated. Likewise, can't really see a DOF (ie a Coppell) travelling to China to meet manufacturers interested in supplying us goods to sell in the Mega Store... lol An old mantra - the right person in the right job. As an example, to get people into the Boxes you need a Salesman, the "Politician" is the one who adds value with the "meet & greet" service, but will not be the one scouring Google and banging on doors in the recession looking for up and coming companies who could AFFORD the benefits of a box The picture flashed into my mind of LM getting into his Ford Mondeo and visiting 4 or 5 local companies a day 4 days a week to get them to buy the boxes - lol, c'mon gang :-) I had no doubt when NC used the term Transition Team that he felt the need for somebody who knew their way around the club to help make it easier to get up to speed quickly. What I am now sure of is that he has learnt, understood and will no doubt be bringing in somebody that adds value to the business side of the club. From the way the statement is worded I have no doubt that the decision was taken for business performance reasons. The "front office/legend/freebie" debate is for a different day

Was in the US for a conference month or so back. They had a "Networking Day" ie a Golf Day. Big Corporate America at work.... It was a Texas Scramble (don't think they do that at Pitch & Putts so just for Hamster) it means your team all take a shot, you pick the best one, then all play your next shot from there. Now I'd done that before it's good fun and lets everyone have "a moment".. What WAS odd before we got going was the queue for some bloke selling cloakroom tickets and cutting up pieces of string. Apparently you could buy a "Mulligan" (that's the chance to have another go when you eff it up Hammie) or a length of string..... Which you use to extend your actual shot..... Now I'm thinking, this ain't the way to play golf but anyway once one team had made a purchase we all had no real choice so we all got round to it.... Already mentioned that one of our team turned out to be a Pro on the Nationwide Tour in the US - lol how good was HE - longest drive - 364 yards downwind on a par 5... so he's sort of explaining all these strange new rules as we bumble around. So we get to this Par 3, DP plays a luverly 8 iron about 4 feet from the hole - VERY rare for me to even get it on the green let alone close. The guys in the team hoot and laugh and tell me that was an expensive shot. They walk to the ball, measure from the marker to the hole, cut the string and tell me I now have to buy beer for the whole tournament as I just got a hole in one.... I'm like - You feckin Yanks are feckin weird, that's like cheating - but oh no, back to the pro shop, lots of slapping on the back a souvenir Golf Shirt from the club pro, and I'm like - but it wasn't a feckin hole in one I normally take at least 3 putts from 3 feet... Cost me just over $150 for the drinks. Ain't playing golf with no damned cheating Yanks again (Nice Dry Fit Golf Shirt though!) Golf, gaelic for F*ck. Greatest mind f*ck ever invented but the source of some wonderful moments for anyone who ever plays it (amongst the hours of temper tantrums and frustration!) I'll pop back up on the Sports Thread next week for you Hammie with some updates from behind the scenes at the DWC (Race To Dubai) another way to get great moments out of Golf

Over there? No way I'd eat a chicken these days - do you SMELL those things on display in Supermarkets - jeez. A few of the "Premium range" ones are ok but yikes. Was something I noticed about 2 years ago, and there's me a smoker could smell them - was so shocked I left Tesco's and checked out a Sainsbury's & Morrisons. Same stench - chemicals of some description Down here we have a different problem with Chickens, due to the whole Halal thing, they manage to make the local ones drier than the effing desert. OK sure they don't shrivel up like in Blighty as all the chemicals wash out but it's like chewing on a pair of old school plimsolls... Roast Beef & Yorkshire Pud with Roast Spuds & Roast Parsnips & Brussell Sprouts and a good Chateau Neuf Du Pape, followed by a nice snooze

Lol - didn't say it was QUALITY food, merely that the ability to have a Bacon & Egg McMuffin for breakfast is the key - they don't serve Pork down here you see :cool:. Perfect example? Fly overnite back to Blighty. Airplane breakfasts from here are AWFUL. Lufthansa actually had the nerve to serve a PEA Omlette. When I asked the Fraulein who's PEE it was she didn't understand... Anyway land at 6:30 collect rental car by 7:30, collect Bacon & Egg McMuffin on the A30 by 8:00 and can almost manage the drive down home! Another great example - we have Shwarmas (sic) they are sliced meat cooked the same method as a Donner Kebab. They are delicious and ALMOST made of real meat and cost about 50p. Yet I get visitors, take them to the best one in town and they stand there for half an hour demanding a Donner with extra Curry Sauce, it takes the shop staff an age to catch a dog, mince it and grill it, and yet the visitors then spend the taxi ride home telling me how sh*t their kebab was.. :mad: As for Mc D's in the past 5 years I've probably had two of their normal burgers. In Bangkok they serve a Samurai Pork Burger. Now it is still poo, but we always have one - why - because it's Pork! Anyway, once you've discovered Hardee's Spicy Chicken Santa Fe, you'll never eat another burger! But anyway, here's you all moaning about food and hopping in to M&S on the way home for a shrink wrapped pile of processed chemicals to Nuke for dinner :roll:

lol They soon learn it ain't about being wise, it's about having made the same mistakes a few hundred times before

Oldknow has left, I am shocked, wow, truly, amazingly shocked.

I think it's all about the right place at the right time for the right food. Example - I would NEVER go to Subway for a Breakfast. Simply because a McDonalds Bacon & Egg McMuffin is so much better. Now I eat those in UK or for example when I was on hols in Hong Kong - NOT because they are any good but because I cannot get them HERE So, you want a BREAKFAST - then WTF you doing going to Subway - that's a LUNCH thing, you're just being a media ***** thinking you will get a nice breakfast - it's crap you won't. You want a brekkie then find a Greasy Spoon or at the worst a Little Chef, failing that B & E McM It's really funny - we get loads of "mates/TSW guys" etc coming down here - we take them to a Curry House - we say - You HAVE to eat Chicken Handi & Chicken Tikka - they order a Meat Dupiaza then complain it tastes like poo. We take them to a place that does the best breakfast on the planet - they order Fish & Chips - it tastes like poo. We take them to the best Pub Fish & Chips place on the planet - they order a Rib Eye - it was overcooked and tastes like poo..... FFS peeps Food has it's place in the day and the timeline. A subway sarnie for lunch can be perfect. A donner kebab with extra chilli sauce for Breakfast when you're sober? Subway for Breakfast - WTF were you thinking? No wonder it was pants.

Ah - unfortunately here we see one of the main misunderstandings that are held by us fans because of a lack of clarity about the process and the events of the days when Fry was in charge. You comment is wrong. Simple, not because YOU are wrong, but because it paints a far too simple picture of what actually construed "an offer". The assumption we hold (because it is how our lives exist in the real world) is that an offer was all about "The cash" that was to be transferred from one bank account on the day of sale to the BT Client account. The highest OFFER need not have been from Pinnacle or for that matter likely to have come from ML. It could have been the magical Irish for all we will ever know! What the "focus" on the cash value does is to take out the myriad of ways and means that any bid could have been "Structured". So, as a REALLY simplistic example, it could have been possible to offer to only pay off the Footballing Debts to allow the playing licence to be granted, and then "as an EXAMPLE" to offer to pay the other creditors IN FULL, based on achieving certain "goals". The cash transfer involved COULD have been in the low single figure millions, but the TOTAL potential value of the sale for the Creditors COULD have been closer to the full 30+ million. This is a difficult proposition to comprehend, BUT it helps to explain some of the reasons behind all the ups and downs during that period. For example - perhaps Aviva MAY have preferred to have recieved 1 pound from the Admin, but a contract to be paid a bonus at each subsequent promotion making their "return" on their debt closer to say 100% than whatever they actually got. You had 3 different stakeholders at play, what was good for the "Overall Admin" - ie Fry, what the "club could have afforded in a brighter future" ie what the bidders actually had to get out of their bank accounts, and what the creditors could have actually squeezed out of the deal. At the end of the day Fry's award shows that he "stumbled" on the right balance, but there is a lot of information that has never nor will it ever come out about those days. There were a lot of fingers in a lot of pies before admin, don't imagine for one moment that they weren't around in some form or another. Whatever happened to the Council for example?

Eat Subways a lot when travelling. Have always thought the ones in the UK seem sad and tired and smelly, as did the staff. Standard white bread, extra Mayo on first, then Tuna, No I DON'T WANT EFFING CHEESE, tomatoes and a few I SAID A FEW FFS Jalapenos. Top off with some salt and black pepper (not their mixed up rubbish and certainly none of those sauces). Delicious. Anything with their Ham or Bacon or their toppings tastes pants

Well, the last experiment to remove/reduce the offside law worked really well didn't. Had a big impact and everyone remembers the names of the clubs that played with it. Heck even had a game at The Dell under those rules..... Nice sentiments FF, but it is the same as all this encroachment of technology into cricket, it's wrong, sometimes it goes for you and sometimes it goes against, just like Life in general

From what I have read, I think that much of their debt is related to transfer fees, agents fees, back taxes etc. With us, the biggest debt was the Stadium, and then the Bank Overdraft of 4 mil. From what I remember of the great admin debate, in any administration, the League hold onto to "The Golden Share" or similar wording and basically in order to renew the licence to play football, then the Footballing debts have to be paid in full. Now, if most of their debts are related to football and HMRC, I'm not so sure that simply going bust will allow them to reduce that exposure. It would certainly bring to light any "emergency fire sales of assets" as well. So the interesting question will be how much is the "debt which must be paid no matter what", then "how much will the new club burn in cash flow each month" which will set a price if they are to come out of admin. May be easier for them to keep trying to buy time and hope for a miracle