dubai_phil

How tall is Messi?

Any one of those players may be needed to replace an injured current starter at any time in the next 2/3 weeks. It would be stupid NOT to give them the chance of game time and most of them played pretty much together as a team in pre-season. It's a big difference from last year or the year before when our "non-starters included the likes of SDR, Chappers, and the like. Pack the bench with star names just in case. Sorted

Heard them talk about that on the Commentary. Briggs hasn't actually pushed for inclusion - only taken 23 wickets this season I recall them saying. But at least Briggs had been involved in one day squads before so wouldn't have done the rabbit in headlights thing

Oh they're spending millions and millions on it all. Just they aren't STUPID enough to get sucked in themselves

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/10266957/Saudis-offer-Russia-secret-oil-deal-if-it-drops-Syria.html [/h]

The Arab Spring started in Iran. It was an attempt by "Younger Middle Class" to rise up against the Ayatollahs. They came up with the concept of using Social Media to stoke the fires. They got it wrong. They made mistakes. It was Bloody. Nothing changed. There were back in the day a number of Articles and Interviews on TV about a particular US University which actually ran courses on this - perhaps that WAS a CIA plan to inspire Revolution in Iran - it actually almost worked! I'm at work and am not able to spend an hour googling. but I am sure stuff can be found on this a good year before Tunisia. The Iranians were the spark, there were Social Media Courses and they were in America. So maybe The US provided the trainings in how to be an organiser? I like you will not commit on that - it's a Uni Thesis level of research. Back to your question. Did the West initiate it? Christ on a Bike, then IF they did it HAS to be one of THE worst Goddammed ideas The West or their local Cronies have EVER come up with. The world around Israel is now SO much more dangerous than it was before with all these splintered groups. I cannot comment on Tunisia but for Egypt (Mubarak) & Syria (Bashar) Countries TOTALLY unlike anything in the West. You cannot judge or view them through Western Eyes or with Western Ideals. In fact they were at one time one Nation and share a lot of Architecture. They both Survived with a very Odd mixture of Secular Communism. The Syrians (as in Iraq with Saddam) it was all about The Party. IF you had a contact at a high enough level then like under Communism you could have your own business and prosper. Enjoy a Western Standard of Living. The Minions then had to scramble their way onto the ladder. Egypt was more a clear case of Cronyism rather than having the concept of The Party, but again if you weren't in the game you would struggle. In fairness to BOTH regimes they then had to balance Shia, Sunni, Muslim Brotherhood, Coptics, Roman Catholics and a few others. It would be a good argument to say that they actually managed that integration FAR better than you Brits have the PROBLEM with Croneyism is that both parties built very strong Education Systems, and that allowed people to learn and find an eloquence to question. The West did not make Bashar, Mubarak & Gadaffi cling onto power for too long. Change NEEDED to come some 10 years ago. It is not as if people were not pointing it out. (Hariri Assasination anyone? Look up some of the interviews with the ex Syrian VP in Time Magazine etc once he managed to get his family out - The bstd still left all his employees in the lurch when he ran mind) No The Arab Spring might have been a dream for Israel, but IF they did it is has been an EPIC fail and will continue to get worse. Did the West HELP it? Blame Mark Zuckerberg - so yes it did. Would the locals have done it without Facebook etc? Possibly not, I mean that as in it may not have happened yet and a lot of people would have conspired in darkened rooms and got Shot against a Wall. However, without Social Media that slow but gentle approach MAY have allowed them to build up their own foundations for Opposition, foundations for some kind of policy Once the Leader is gone. because Trust me. There will be only one thing WORSE than Bashar in Syria That will be a Dead Bashar in Syria. Bomb him? Might as well stand there and say Release The Kraken

Take a Red Warning Triangle with you Long time since I did France but the number of people who told me that every 10 minutes before I went and doh I forgot. Did similar (Samur, Tours, Blois) about 20 years ago & further south about 4 times in last 10 Found it so much easier 20 years ago to take the ferry from Skatesmuff & then amble gently (ish) down across country depends what deal you can get in reality. Have done it from St Malo (nice place) Cherbourg & Le Havre but a long long time ago. More recently (Just an idea) I have done driving holidays by getting very early Ryanair/Squeezyjet 1.99 tickets careful packing and buy some stuff locally and getting a deal on a local rental car. It REALLY depends on the flight deals (may not work now with the new taxes) but at HT the ferry costs may be high IF you do this REALLY shop around on the rental deals though Argus, Vroom Vroom Vroom Car Hire 2000 all vary price searches on an hourly basis and are way better than the airline rip off deals Probably WAY out of date for you

Norwich managed to serve everyone who wanted beer at HT last season AND we had time to drink it before the game kicked off again. Double the number of outlet points in the Away Stand than in the sections at SMS. They also served a good pie. The OP is valid. EITHER the club supplies Food & Drink that is edible and earns revenue OR they shut the stalls down completely and let everyone go elsewhere. JBS has a point.

So how have they travelled up? Coach with overnight stop or an up and down again? Flybe to Leeds Bradford or something? We NEED to know (If it is gonna be worth staying up to 1:30am to listen on Saintsplayer!)

I like this comment

Although not as cheap as it used to be, they raised Duty on booze this year and most places now are around 1.50/2 quid a bottle of Singha. Never been a fan of AI holidays let alone 1 location. My advice is always something like Eurocamp and drive around a country/region specially with the kids but hey, not everyone likes that, some just want to plonk on a beach.

Poor lad even looked out of place in the celebrations I actually thought Sky had secretly filmed my last two overs for Coombe Bissett CC a few years back. Then I realised they couldn't have. My 24kph Moon Balls out of the setting sun took two (embarrassing) wickets. One bloke apparently still has Back problems after swinging & missing 3 times as the ball came down with Ice on it. Rest of the lads went for tea during my 2nd ball........

Well, at least he'd volunteer to write the review so us lot don't have to bother

Carbs in the Ashes squad as back up for Swann then.

Nothing new, I had 27 years of it. Then I got divorced. Tish Boom.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2375131/Jamie-Oliver-kicks-6m-food-revolution-Manchester-City.html IF Jamie Oliver can try in Citeh, why can't we find someone down our neck of the woods?

FA Cup, CL Europa League about a zillion other leagues etc 6 Nations and probably the US Masters & US Open Golf

And it's also the day Turkish joins the fat fingered club of D_P & Frank's Cousin in putting typos out there! Wow, too much to take in one day, time for lunch

Totally agree with you there. Warne was going ON and FARKING ON about "you need to be willing to lose in order to win" like he had a patent on it or something. Well, England showed they could scare the Aussies to death VERY easily playing PROPER cricket (Aussies tried to "Go Hard at It" and lost 6 wickets and scored at a rate of 4.82 an over. England came along and played (in the main) Proper Cricket and scored at 5.15 an over) Total coolness & confidence in their ability versus schoolboy level tactics. Clarke DESERVED to be booed, yes he is a fine cricketer and all that but HE made a decision and once it went against him he acted like a schoolkid wanting to take his ball home. England would have been CRUCIFIED by the press & public for doing it, so should he. Oh he went for it and it gave the crowd some Entertainment. Well what he FORGOT was that he could make the decision and end up having his whole Captaincy undermined and looking like an Idiot. That Run Chase has given England some real momentum instead of stuttering along for a draw. Also, a word of note for Chris Woakes. For all the mess that Kerrigan looked on debut, Woakes came out to bat in the 2nd innings in a massive Pressure Cooker situation, he looked calm, composed, aggressive intent mixed with a solid technique. Certainly now a candidate to give Bairstow & Taylor a run for their money as the "Novice" at number 6 (the bowling needs work though to be any more than Bopara-esque or giving the main bowlers a breather on long hot afternoons)

I genuinely think that the Authorities will notice this and will act as all big Monopolies eventually do,with a Jackboot to crack a walnut. There WAS a reason that Sky were not allowed to show EVERY game live and why Football Fans have had to cope with stupid O'Clock Kick-Offs. They WILL find a way to crack down, maybe not immediately but you can bet a few hundred k's in legal fees to get a solution will seem a solid ROI in Corporate Land.

Experts on here will probably pick two pretty damned big holes in that. First one being that we seem to sell out (almost) all of our Away Games. (I expect the midday Televised games would be an exemption) Second one being that BPL have just announced funding for Away fan travel (Granty will be along in a minute to have a pop ) For Saints that funding could no doubt be used to get fans to stupid O'Clock Televised games, but otherwise the laws of Supply & Demand mean that it would be daft to subsidise Away fan travel when we are selling out anyway before most games get to General Sale. And anyway Financially Selling Away Tickets is a cost to the club that they don't get such a good return on (even with the fees) On the PLUS side, it could mean that our Attendances at SMS go up with more of the Northern Clubs subsidising travel costs and allowing us to sell out the Away End more often. I have no idea what that all means, must stop posting while sober

In answer to the OP No frikking way. In deeper thought, it does raise the issue that MP will have to be very careful and will have to rotate players he MUST keep the squad happy. The spirit in the team is exceptional, we have all at some time talked of the likes of Cork Morgan & JWP as possible International quality (then sobered up) Someone like Cork is NOT going to be happy starting only 3 or 4 Cup Games this season (like wise the mix of SRL/Gaston/JRod/Osvaldo/JWP/Steve Davis) Rotation while still picking up points is key. Nice new problem to have after so many years.

Only one thing for it. Some of you lot need to Kidnap Delia next Saturday and hold her hostage until she donates free pies to us. Actually, come to think of it I had one of her pies up there last season. It had Wholemeal Pastry and was as dry as a Nun's Nasty Carry on. I'll be having my Fish & Chips as usual before the Wet Sham game thank you very much

Aussies did themselves no favours there. Had held the moral high ground on "The Way to play the game" and blew it all in that last hour. Rules are rules though and at the end of the day IF Trott had accelerated a bit earlier when going well with KP or IF KP had lasted another over or two the light may not have been an issue. Blame the groundstaff for taking an extra 15 minutes to get the outfield ready. Que Sera. A zillion excuses. BUT a great end to the series and a great way for England to put the Aussies onto the backfoot again. Bit annoyed that only Cook mentioned the likes of Swann & Prior this morning who catually got on with it and scored bloody quick runs instead of patting it away. THEY knew they wanted to lure Clarke into a dodgy Declaration and it NEARLY came off. England not at their best, but as we always used to say - Look in the book. 3-0 Move on Kick their Arses downunder this winter on pitches our Batsmen can play strokes on instead of these turgid puddings