dubai_phil

So, there you go, sitting at home running a working machine with XP and wanting to install Windows 7. And bingo, you have to go off and dig through the socks drawer, the cardboard box in the corner to find ALL of the old Applications disks for anything you ever loaded onto your machine, or if you want to go online because you are missing a CD, then you you have to find your tiny scrap of paper with your product code - lol like where did THEY go? And then you have to go off and spend about a month downloading all the applications and drivers you downloaded. Great. Not gonna happen is it.... This has to be Microsoft's revenge on all of us that simply refused to allow them to force Vista onto us. BTW watching their launch down here couple of comments. This whole GPU processing thing is going to change IT quite significantly MS had, without a doubt the most unprofessional launch presentation I have ever seen. In fact I would go so far to as to say it was one of the worst Vendor Powerpoint I have ever seen. The gave a geek a PC and when do Geeks ever listen when you tell them what to do? So this moron just stood in front of a huge crowd with no sound for his Video, the mouse on his laptop didn't work, the application didn't work with his version of adbode reader....FFS you had a powerpoint stick to it d*ckhead! Shame some of the features look really good especially when the 3D & Touchscreen stuff comes out around Christmas time

He had potential Many others in this world HAVE potential They don't get paid nearly 8 grand a week to have had potential Saw him against Rovers at SMS, overweight. If he wants it so bad then why did he get like that. Forget him, there have been hundreds like him over the years, some left and came good and other like Mark Paul.... Whatever button needed pressing in his head to get him to play for us hasn't been found by what, 4 managers now? So long and thanks for what exactly, a few good performances when he wanted a regular salary cheque. Whatever he may have possibly been on the pitch that bit says it all to me. Want to keep him? Then send half his salary each week to Ron Davis, IMHO we can now afford to buy players who PERFORM, not those who HAD potential

It is slightly more expensive but less than BA/Qantas/Virgin but look to book with Emirates on their A380 flights - they have a bit more space (not much) than others - their standard 777's are sardine cans, but you get a 4 course meal on each leg & entertainment is good. Etihad have wider 777 seats but less legroom than Emirates. (Cathay, BA & Singapore are ok though) You can also get a deal to have a stop over I think Singapore have one for $1 a night - VERY wise with kids, Dubai is also good for a stop over Do not under ANY circumstances fly on Gulf Air. Thai & Malaysian are stuck in the 90's on board (while cheaper) & Qatar are also OK Oh and let me know when you are flying - I'll avoid it - I HATE kids on long haul, especially the overnight legs:-)

OK I admit to the inside track on Sultan Bin Trump. I had to rely on Google and interpretation on Ali Al Faraj And it may be the case that The Graundiad got it wrong But BOY is it funny To every single one of them who welcomed Rupert back, to those who posted on here when they were "Excitely showing an Arab around" hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahaha Who cares if they sort it out, sometimes the Journey is so much more than the Final Destination (IV)

Oh dear Lord, how tragically sad for Ron. TT, again thanks for sharing this with us so eloquently and sadly. As a fan my thoughts are of course with him at this time, as a human, I now worry for him, things could be very difficult in the coming weeks and he will need his friends to be there for him. I know it is completely off the cuff and unusual, but with the interest in this story and the depth of feeling, could it be at all possible to ask if the "new" club and the local Media could help out and put together a benefit game. Money is not going to help him now, but the thought of years ahead with only the cats for company in his trailer saddens me almost as much as any loss he will feel now. Surely enough people remember him and could be bothered to help to at least give him somewhere where his memories are not so "claustrophobic". Best Wishes Ron, it may seem unfair today, but the Man upstairs has kept you here for a reason, find it and use it. RIP Chris and may you find your mum

Wow, there we go then, case proven I would also be willing to bet a pint that Southgate doesn't understand what he did wrong. (We know Lowe didn't when he insisted on staying on in admin to help!)

Agree with Wes's comment about leaders on the pitch, the parallel with business remains, a poor leader surrounds himself with weak personalities to avoid anyone "standing up to them". Some of this is attributed to fear of being found to be inadequate in your work (and elsewhere probably). Can we really be surprised that a "Dictatorial egotist" builds an organisation (or Saints) with no leaders... Also one other often forgotten point. Bad managers talk about leadership, or about being a leader. Bulls**t, a TRUE Leader doesn't Lead, he creates "Followership", he (or she of course) inspires trust and focused independence in those around them to get up and keep going on their own motivation, not because they are playing the party game of follow the leader. Now, let's go back to why Claus was Captain or why someone could imagine Gray or Wigley would inspire "Followership" This is THE single biggest and most positive change, having people in charge who understand people instead of showing them they are always right.

Just back from the last day of the IT show... Read this and have to say, it was a great last ditch effort by the skates to win the "Which crashes first sweepstake", but, to my despair, I have to report to our esteemed readers that in fact MS Windows 7 won, yep it crashed during the public powerpoint demonstration at the show to launch it, it dropped the internet connection, took out the sound and bless blue screened..... So shame the sk*tes are still going but then we get more fun out of their demise, MS we just expected it (Oh the presenter had an excuse worthy of Al Fahim - it was Abode Acrobat's fault) lol God Bless amateurs in all walks of life (Sweepstahe was won by a sales guy from Dell btw Aed 2731 I believe)

Thomas is on a lot of money. He's needed at the moment as cover, but if we are working to a "5 year plan" then a younger "Trottman" who CDAJF a couple of games while learning and improving may be a better and more harmonious bet. Certainly Saga has to go as does Molyneux (and Pulis of course) It could test the budget strings - which is more important, using funds to pay off salaries or bring in new players? Would be nice to do both and get a final clean slate. Think the actual decisions will depend on how long we continue this good run and whether there is a realistic chance of a playoff spot - then we can go for clean out and class rather than clean out and cover in January

Wow wanders more than an average DP post :-) In essence, Football is a team game. In business, bad managers TALK about team work and hold team building events. Actually understanding how to do it and creating the team is not something that gets learnt in a book or in a field in Wales. In work, new employees coming in to a job will upset a team ethic, their ego, their experience, even their levels of productivity - can be seen as a threat to the incumbents. In football with players treated as cattle by agents, team work is the last thing on most players minds. So with us, yes the "Chemistry" is important, us fans have been through hell, as in reality will the players. That gave a solid base from which to build. Using a forum analogy, the Stanley's have been banned (ie sent out on loan), the negatives have been won over and the optimistics have emerged from the woodwork and in reality we have become a more together "team" of fans. It shows with the attendances and the support at games. There are still some posters who don't quite get the programme but they tend to only get the occassional appearance on the bench these days. Much the same has happened with the team. Football is played by Teams, work is performed by teams, SO many egotistical types (be they Lowe or the "promoted above their competence line manager) fail to understand that creating a GREAT TEAM is very difficult - a skill that mixes understanding with experience with "feel". But in business, you create a great team then they will ALWAYS outperform a bunch of "Corporate A**holes" Good OP

More worried about Liverpool tbf.... No value for him in Boro, his roots are more southern anyway and would expect the Boro job to go to someone more "northern" in outlook... But Benitez's job comes up? hmmm any manager on the planet would look at that one even WITH their offfield troubles

The approach is wrong. The story seems to revolve around some fans causing trouble which provoked (an imcorrect) reaction. The issue should be to stop the Away fans doing this. To do that the facts need to be understood , so there seems to be many witnesses. Unfortunately the UK legal system doesn't work properly so this is about "statistics" It has to be followed through, it may have been "gobby Yeovil fans" this time but next time it may be another Man U fan style accident/tragedy Grassing out the fans as it is put on here isn't the answer, telling what happened so that the local cops go chase the Somerset cops and get the ones that caused this.. Which is of course total balls as it is blighty not dreamland, so never mind

And the last 3 league game results have been what? Yep wins. We've had years of rotations and tinkering. Even IF Murty was fit in my book he keeps his place unless he has an absolute stinker or we lose form and stop winning. How do we improve on winning every week? we can't, we can only mess it up... Even when he gets physically fit, it will take Murty 3 or 4 games to become truly MATCH fit, a minor matter which previous incumbents of the merry-go-round ignored for the past few years. Murty WILL get his chance, until then the THREAT of him being ready is enough, and something the first team haven't had for many years

He remarks that he is supposed to be a regular "football" fan, well in that case he's been even more of a twonk. Any football fan will tell you that if you take the mickey (or the p1ss) out of a steward there'd be nothing left.

Like Wes says, IMHO we have to differeniate the two - the pitch & survival For me, the approach to the lowest point had to be during the days when it slowly began dawning that Pinnacle may not be what they seemed, culminating in the horror when they finally pulled away. At that point there wasn't anything else "on the table" but a few straws to be clutched, it was about two weeks I recall before indications of the Swiss came to light. At that point we really were facing oblivion, we had no real idea why, or how or where we could get out of it. We still had some hope, but it was getting pretty damned slim Then came the surprise of the ML announcement, and the googling, and the start of the announcements. It still took time for the major surgery to take effect and many still wondered. We were a terminally ill patient, we underwent last minute experimental life saving surgery and it seemed to be touch and go for a while. Now, the REAL change is that we are starting to stop HOPING that it will all work out. We are starting to BELIEVE that it will all work out. On the pitch, actually I think it was probably Bristol Rovers. I think it provided the final kick to the backsides. Sure we'd been improving but I think that may prove to be our real turning point to becoming a really good team and fans finally back in tune with the team and the club

Latest update from my sources. Nothing, absolutely nothing, Meanwhile DP's birthday party rocked, EoA may not be too well tomorrow so anyone overflying here or en route via Dubai take out extra insurance as ATC may be dodgy... But it wa worth it for the 16 min version of Freebird by the band in the pub after the Oktoberfest Tent,,, magic moment EoA arranged OWTS played by an Ooompah band. Priceless but my head hurts, my fault no Bullfrogs

Oh dear, sorry to break the happy atmsophere, but seems we actually lost on Saturday according to a Polish web-site http://sport.interia.pl/raport/polacy-ligi-zagraniczne/news/polacy-za-granica-strzelaja-ale-w-iii-lidze,138406 Seems they'll try ANYTHING to give Polish fans hope that Saga can get back into the team! (And no I don't understand a word of the article either, just it caused some lol's apparently)

Never stopped Terry Curran from pursuing a career as a winger..... As well as Chicken George Papa's on loan, he develops well while here he may be out of our reach when the opportunity to buy him comes around, seems Antonio is a useful back-up/cover option as well... If Papa is injured or having an off day we don't have to change our style or pace of play too much by putting (for example) James out there Anyone else noted how we now have a RM player instead of the days under GB et al with "whichever CM was left over"

Entertaining debate. Opinions are why we are here, as nobody dare try and post snippets any longer. People are like glasses of beer, they are always somewhere between empty and full hence why this place is sometimes fun, it reminds us that we should read what others have said rather than simply react to what we THOUGHT was said. It also shows us that our own view is not necessarily the only one or even the right one. There is however subtle difference between knowing opnions differ and then posting something that you believe "should" be done "now" that is actually against the fairly publicly known Laws of the Game, or because it is something that happened in the distant past, it isn't REALLY going to change anything. That sort of posting comes out as either being extremely not very bright or being highly deliberate (in which case highly intelligent). As an EXAMPLE, you cannot sign a player contracted to another club during a closed transfer window period, no matter how much you may wish to. No club is going to "cancel the contract" of a player out on loan who is performing well as they are not stupid enough to forego a possible transfer fee. Likewise, if his contract is due to expire in the window, the agent of said player will ensure that he waits until expiry in case more than one club are interested and he can negotiate a better deal. So, are these posts aimed at debate or at reaction? The wording is the key as always, it may have been typed one way but is read another.... These "arguments" are no different from the repetitive insistence on bringing up the same topics where all of us know there is never going to be a soultion. The LM/MLT, the Lowe Wilde Execs Crouch. At least with those opinions it is more about the obsession in your life which that argument exists. As in MLT is the anti-Christ through to MLT did that for publicity for his book, stupid but it worked..... At least with Dalek it has become something like a standing joke, valid point but it always now makes us smirk. People don't need to like and love each other, they just need to engage brain before replying. ("Cos none of us it before typing the first time!)

Now now WSS, give credit to posters who's research leads to legendary moments!

Big week this week. Gitex - the 3rd largest IT & related products show in the world. Busy time for all of us down here. Economic reality is showing though with a major reduction in the number of large vendors exhibiting here. With the exception of Microsoft, who are using the event as their focal point in the Windows 7 global release. In fact, they are making a huge song and dance & PR push. The rest of the industry down here however are now enthralled by what hs become a massive sweepstake, attracting large bets even in this land. The Sweepstake is Which will fatally crash first Windows 7 or Portsmouth Football Club? Guess who's now odds on? Highest bet placed so far is 2,371 Dirhams

Million Legend Trading - MLT Serious - am at our Trade Show this week, the Hong Kong Pavillion had a huge banner on a trade stand stating There's only one MLT They didn't see the joke when I explained their name was wrong should read Million Legend Talent... Been a busy day and will get busier all week

Credit to Wotton for being played in the position which he is competent in. But don't under estimate the fact that we have basically had the same 11 players on the pitch (ex Torquay) during this run. It has been a long time since that happened, the days of GB and rotations & JP and the revolving door - 462 Academy players used in 8 matches. The holding role that Wotton has taken up is vital with the players he has around him, but the consistency in selection, fitness and lack of red cards/suspensions is a darned big factor. And a worry for later in the season.

Just one really important question left now.. How many points do the Sk8tes have?

Memory is not so good after suffering such a culture shock, but somehow I seem to remember we once struggled to score 6 away goals in an entire season in the PL. Bloody marvellous