dubai_phil

Well, that showed what a valuable player Steve Davis is to us. He is the metronome that makes us tick, has been under-rated since we signed him and last night picking 3 "strikers" instead of the extra MF to replace him back fired. No critique of RK in that, just our system needs that type of player. Shame as JWP is probably the closest type of player we have to that and none of us would have given Harry Read a try out in a tough away game like that. Point taken, move on, calms us down a bit

Bear. I DID offer to give full behind the scenes reports and updates and pictures but the Bletch told me nobody cared anymore. Dude, you shouldda seen the 30+ female Irish contenders, not one of them was over the age of 24 either. But no. The Bletch spoke so I am reduced to encounters with a skate tales on here. What REALLY hacks me off WG is that Mrs D_P had full access rights all weekend to take official photos of the event. The MONEY I could have made off The Bear & Tokes alone meant TSW could have bought nottarf and given the City the team they really deserve. Most annoyingly about the golf stick thingy is that Mrs D-P had an "All Areas Pass" for the weekend and had a Big Lens with her. She saw the geezer getting OUT of the lake but was too late to take a shot (so to speak) and the professional Snappers reckon that one alone would have been worth about 5 grand. Now IF I could only afford the fiver I could PM people the reason why "The Irish Kid & the Tennis Player" split up. That one IS worth some beer earnt me 5 pints last night.

Bad news I'm afraid. They may be saved... So, there's this young upcoming English Golfer. Eddie Pepperell. He finished 26th in this weeks DP World Championship - only won $100k for his efforts. (None of this has anything to do with the phew, it's just the background) On the Par 3 17th he hit a 7 Iron off the tee. landed an inch from the flag almost getting a hole in one but the ball then spun backwards and went into the lake. In a temper tantrum Eddie hurled his 7 Iron about 20 yards into the lake. As soon as he left the tee a lad dived straight in swam out, causing a delay to the next group, retrieved the club and dripped off before anyone could work out how the hell to call the (complete lack of) Security at the event. You'll be pleased to know 1) He had only drunk about 5 pints before doing this and 2) He's a Skate We found this out after he staggered past the Dubai Saints Massive who were chillaxing in Corporate after it all finished No doubt he will now sell it on Ebay and buy a whole new set of Wessex League quality players

"seen live" DM It was his first Saints game this season (David Cannon - one of the legendary global sports snappers) and yes he thinks we'll go all the way this year to the CL and do well when we get there. (Worringly a lot of the press share that feeling, it's been a tough week dealing with stupidly big crowds down here AND stupidly big expectations.) Clearly he 1) isn't a Saints fan (he's from oop north way and 2) doesn't understand why "we" all think we won't. HTH

Solid turnout by the Dubai Saints massive at the golf today. To our complete amazement we've been asked to show up en masse tomorrow in our shirts for a photobomb with Sky Sports to (depending on TV crew availability) annoy the hell out of you lot by doing a teaser ad for the game on Monday night. Here's hoping. If nothing else (and flights permitting) AussieSaints are gonna have a VIP day out tomorrow and then all down the Pub for the game. The Sky crew are convinced that we will go all the way pushing Chelski this season. I think that means we are doomed and so would put a tenner on Villa beating us 2-0 (IF we could bet) (Oh and the Getty Images Snapper says that Shane Longs' goal against Leicester was the best TEAM goal he's seen this season) For more annoying Saints related Golf news visit Dubai Saints on Facebook

I would like to comment but I need to continue living here.... In other news. Dubai's Real Estate & Leisure Industry received a major boost when Expo 2020 was awarded to the City. As such we have seen a revival in Construction and the building of many new hotels. Hopefully, the original plans to use QE2 as an entrance feature to one of the new Hotels here will be dusted off. Unfortunately in modern Cruise Liner & Hotel terms, too many of her original cabins are too small for modern "High Net Worth Tourists" so the cost of turning the cabins into a viable accomodation are too high and could cause structural issues. Meanwhile she's something we pass by and is there to make us long for home

What a glorious day to be a well known Saints fan at the Golf down here today. To have all the Sky Taters telling me that we are totally nailed on to qualify for the CL this season (as nobody else is good enough to catch us), to have them going on about 6 Saints Players in the England Scotland game. And asking me why we hated Liverpool so much to have sold them all our leftovers..... But the BEST line? Did you need medical attention after seeing the Aldershot result? No names but #nothingmorethantheydeserved was the consensus.

#itAllEndsHere

Big golf week coming up down here. We're working on a plan to get the Dubai Massive to Photobomb Sky Sports over the weekend. Meanwhile, because I know you all love Golf so much thought I'd share the # thingy the European Tour are using this year. It kind of seems Awful(ly) appropriate somehow

It's farking NOVEMBER. WTF are you lot doing talking about Xmas ads? Last I looked Xmas was in DECEMBER

I have 3 kids. The 1st two I brainwashed. The Ex Wife & her family were Scouse ST holder so I lost that battle. He now lives with us. My Son in Law is a Spud. I understand the "it own't last" theory. Also for the sake of family integrity I have the be careful what I post on FB & Twitter. But after the "knowing looks" I had for the past 7 years? Hell no. I am enjoying EVERY post & FB update of the tables and press articles. Revenge is sweet

https://www.facebook.com/SaintsFCPolska Send the guys a Message, sure they will help

Get ready to yawn. I was working with the Media at the Ryder Cup and spoke at length to the Sky 5Live Sun & Telegraph Journos. Basically they love what we are doing. The Telegraph guy - Oliver Brown basically said that we now have a story. He said (and I remarked in a post at the time) that our coverage would change. They had noticed something really was happening. The Sky Tater crew actually questioned whether WE as fans understood what we could achieve this year. Football has evolved, Jose has understood that with his team building but the likes of us and Swansea were now playing football as units. While some Galacticos could make the difference the team and organisation ethic had evolved and the spunking of huge sums on one or two players was a dinosaur approach. The Telegraph guy actually said to prepare ourselves for a lot more "sensible" coverage (think he was knocking the Mail type reports) Certainly since late September the Telegraph have been much more in depth. As fans we expect to blow up. SOME of the press are expecting us to keep rolling. The Sky guys actually believe we CAN go all the way and providing we get to January in contention are the most likely club to give Chelsea a real run for their money. I will bore TMS with updates in 10 days time when all the guys are back down here for the season ending Tournament, but Telegraph guys actually have a sneaking suspisciion we will keep it going They realise it ould be the biggest PL story in years.

It's nothing to do with you Yanks......... All week the local BeIN Sports were advertising Mancs v Palarce as the main game (with the full Studio Keys & Gray show). As most of you will be aware, BeIN got slammed by the EPL & Sky last year for allowing Pubs in the UK to buy decoders for $100 and show all games - ie no Geographical protection or encryption - as such for 18 months we lost access to "3pm Kick Off matches" when we USED to have every game live, even though WE had to pay $150 for the service while the UK Pubs ripped US off and made money selling beer & food and offering the games live illegally (no we ain't bitter at all) Well, Angry Saint (no, not me, one of the other members of our Massive) sent a letter to the National Paper (7Days) last week bemoaning the lack of Saints games on TV here which created such a storm, the EPL instantly rescinded the ban. http://7daysindubai.com/time-bein-sports-gave-fairer-coverage-dubai/ And kapow, Mancs were relegated and we became the main game. So sorry Yanks, it was all down to Saint Jacob here in Dubai

Never. Absolutely ******* NEVER. Mind you this Saturday afternoon buzz is really odd. It just ain't in our DNA as Saints fans.

So, I'm stuck late working at the upcoming Golf Tourney thingy down here, make it to Barasti 10 mins into the second half. Oh the relief in the Mancs pathetic cheer when Mata scored vs the Resounding, Confident ROAR when we scored. Then, in the car start the engine up and Lionel Ritchie is singing Everybody sing, everybody dance, lose yourself in wild Romance. We're gonna party Karamu, fiesta, across Europe, come on and sing along. Goal Shane Long, Shane Long, Shane Long, Goal Shane Long, Shane Long, Shane Long. Get in, 'Av it. Live for THESE moments and leave tomorrow's worries for? Well, tomorrow.

It was nice of Ralph Krueger to stand up in front of the World's Press and Publicly lay to rest of of the most boring poorsmyths yesterday when he so eloquently discussed the legacy of Markus and how his first actions were to address the small creditors in our Administration. That must have hurt the few as much as the fact that our Training complex is now worth more than their entire Club. It also came in a week when there was a stunning article in the New York Times about what it REALLY means to be a Community Club. A sustainable one at that, making a REAL difference to People's lives (not just painting a few fences) In fact the article is such a resounding description of what a Community Club should DELIVER (not just talk about in one line paragraphs) that it should be required reading for every PTS nutjob so that every time you see or hear that recycled garbage from down the road you can just ram this in their faces. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/05/sports/soccer/scottish-club-hamilton-academical-combines-soccer-and-sobriety.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=1 Just a snippet :

Ah, if only you guys were in to Golf stories. I could have gone along with my Big lens and taken some pics and given you an on the spot report. Hey ho http://7daysindubai.com/diary-extra-katerina-klausova-talks-beauty-golf-world-tour/

Meh, when it comes to welling up, nothing can beat Searching for Sugarman after about half an hour. BUT what that Video did is fill me with Pride. Pride that after 7 years of being the butt of jokes and pain, we can finally come #Togetherasone and #wemarchon. This club stands on the edge of Immortality, of Hollywood movies. Those like me who have supported this club for almost 50 years are so used to heartbreak to defeatism. Two bloody trophies in 50 years, coming to terms with what is happening is impossible. Every sinew tells us IT CAN'T LAST. And yet the players, the staff, all believe. Christ, the media are starting to believe more than we are. I (randomly blabbered) about talking to the Sports Media at the Ryder Cup and they the guys from the Telegraph especially said, they are starting to see a real story at Southampton. Maybe I'll start to believe in my heart that this is something special in late April. But until then I am firmly in the why the hell not crowd. Brilliant work by the PR team - now go get us a PROPER Global Partnership

Let him help Bompey annoy the skates by getting promoted. We'll have JRod back for our push for the EPL title thanks. Oh how that would annoy them. Bompey win the Championship & we pip Chelski. Think even Old Nick would have to concede they finally got their comeuppance. This post was sponsored by RoKo each game at a time and Bacardi Superior & the fact that even I managed to finish 3rd in a Golf Competition today.

We are currently experiencing a major Injury "Crisis" We have an England Striker out, we have his Young U-21 back up out. We have our World Class England Midfield prospect out. But we are 2nd. In the position we sit currently, the ONLY way we will NOT qualify for the CL is if the players stop believing that THEY can do it. We have Gallagher, JWP & JRod to come back from Injury. We can strengthen the squad for a final push in around 8 games time. Our confident composed football can take points off Uts Arsenal City and maybe even Chelsea. Then it is about Belief and our system when we play the other teams. We CAN do this, and the PLAYERS will take one game at a time and fight tooth and nail for 3 points EVERY game. They CAN do it. Worryingly this means that I have to believe they can do it. (It's just being a Saints fan I completely cannot understand how the fark this is actually happening, and like everyone else down deep inside it hurts not having to sulk and find excuses each weekend. We don't do this, this is not our DNA we're supposed to be the butt of footballing jokes not Scousehampton & Manure. But hey, the players believe they can so fark it - and anyways, we'd be so unseeded we'd be almost guaranteed a group with Bayern or Real or Barca...) Just have to ensure we don't need to go through qualifying so let's wait for Chelski to have their wobble and win the bloody League instead of a Cup

I'm kinda looking forward to USA SoccerGuy bringing out a hit single on ITunes for BWP as he overtakes Landon Donovan in the Great God of MLS stakes. It'll be up there with checking out the League position of the skates every season in the list of delicious ironies in life

Dr Evil wrote a Business Plan that lay hidden in a secret vault until found by a crazy Midget who knew some geezer with some money. Simples

After another particularly raucous night out with Alison I decided I needed to get my act together and annoy more than just a limited selection of poor old failed Lesbians. So I stumbled across this weird never never land. I must admit I was totally shocked that it took so long for people to realise where my name really came from. I'm quite proud that it took the combined efforts of a Ninja Warrior and one of the World's greatest Professors. In my other part time job as a marketing guru, when not writing rather good business plans that get stolen by Swiss Italians, I even managed to talk my Golf pals into using the same monicker. While penetrating the inner sanctum of the recent Ryder Cup (actually named RideHer D Cup - you guys didn't want the stories so can't tell you about the WAGS, sorry) it occurred to me that once again The Bear, Tokes and The Bletchmeister would again clutter their Browsing History as I ramp up to do my thing at the upcoming DP World Championship at the end of November. One Tweet and they'll be off googling and laying off bets on who will come first on the Opening Day. Maybe this year they'll see the true joy of taking part in the Pro-Am. So much more refined than creeping round Shiatsu or where-ever the hell Tokes used to park his LoveBox. Ah Japan. The memories. England v Sweden in the opening group game. An upgrade to a Skybox and being told we had to share it with 10 Swedish fans. WAGS again.. Even Alison could've scored that day. Anyway, keep well everyone, thanks for all the good times. Hopefully IF you guys are Up in time you can catch the DP World Championships on Sky at the end of the month. It's been great fun, love you all Rupert Lowe

I'd rather come 4th than win this. But we all know that won't happen. We're gonna finish 3rd