Saint Mikey

Comments about his appearance are a bit harsh. The guy has Parkinsons! Clearly not good enough at Prem level. Did enjoy seeing us stuff City 3-1 away though...magic.

Does this have to come up everytime Bale (or any other young player we've sold) gets linked to a move in the papers? Yawn.

Well, I turn up to every home game wearing the full kit (under a long mac), so I'll be ready if called upon...

I have been mascot against QPR, both away (1986ish) and home (1990). Won both games 3-1 and 4-1. Matty scored a hatrick in the home game. Always liked going to games against them...

To be honest, I think there is something psychological in it. It's human nature to take your foot off the gas when you think you've reached your target. The players may think conciously or unconciously - 'The gaffer's won MOM because we've been playing so well'. The Mgr will also undoubtedly put some praise on the team, even with the caveat of 'we've won/achieved nothing yet'. It's easy for players to fall into the trap of believing their own hype... I'm glad we won so few on our rise up...

I agree with you on your first point, and it is what is fundamentally wrong with English football. I'm hoping (maybe naively) that a combination of the Homegrown Player rule and FFP will curtail the influx of foreign players after a few years. Allowing our younger players a chance to develop in the game. It's going to take a while though... Also to be fair to the clubs. English players just cost a lot more. How much would Charlie Austin cost? £5/6m? A gamble for someone who's soared up the leagues and not played at the top level. Borini has and done well in Italy, so 'appears' less of a risk. Two completely different players, I know. Also, Balotelli was a bargain compared to Carroll. Look at the fees paid for Henderson & Downing. You could even argue the £12m we got for Chamberlain was ludicrious for a Lge 1 player. Until there are a lot more quality English players, they are going to cost a fortune and we are going to be stuck in this vicious circle.

She needs to be a regular in the studio. Would make a good addition...

Before online dating was super popular I reeled in a woman at work who was always winding people up. I devised a dating email address sent a few 'contacts' through and started mailing her from a contact. Of course I was loaded and used to play for Aston Villa! Lol. Even got her phone number, but couldn't take it further than that.

I had loads of different usernames on S4E and wound a fair few people up. I also reeled a load of people in (inc. Steve Grant) on one decent wind-up, think amygate but with less consequences. I miss multiple usernames, it gave you the ability to tailor your character to wind-up a specific poster, should bring that back too... Had to post less since taking my job and career seriously - you c*nts should be grateful for that...

I thought of Ronnie Johnsen the other day, but seems he only played in a friendly for us. Why didn't he sign in the end? This was under Sturrock...

Clippable mat for mugs...

F**k all. You never won f**k all...

Wow, really?! I give up with this forum, posters are far too intelligent for me.

Skate alert...

Yeah, most millionaires buy their suits from M&S...

My Villa supporting mate reckons it was the worst away support he's seen in their 100+ year history...

Exactly. The christians hi-jacked it off the Pagans, as a form of control. Consumerism/Capitalism has hijacked it off the christians, in an effect to control our spending (i.e. make us spend).

So, seriously - you are not bothered what they can view then?

Don't parents worry what children have access to on a smartphone? Don't tell me things like age filters are going to stop kids, as they will get round it. I'll be worried for porn alone. Nevermind a whole raft of other unsuitable stuff.

Sounds like they've got their best men on the job:

Thought this was fundamentally against the bible?

Bet Berlin & Dresden look worse...

They get about £100k a year, don't know about expenses. Plus £5k for a Champions League match. This was highlighted with the Clattenburg affair and the potential loss of earnings he would have experienced. I think it's right they get paid this much. They are all now professional, i.e. they don't do anything else (unlike Ellery the Headmaster). Which means they concentrate specifically on their job and fitness. It was ludricous that we didn't have professional refs for years. I think the standard of reffing has improved, but the game has got quicker which has made their job and the assistants even more difficult. Also mistakes are put on the spotlight due to the explosion of social-media etc. A tough job though. I qualified as a ref when I was 16, but preferred to play and have no wish to try it now! Have a great respect for anyone who does it.

I agree with this, I've been to Lisbon too and there is a problem with drugs. People have also offered my old man and old dear (blatantly tourists in their 50s) drugs on the streets in Lisbon. I would call that a problem.

Has it? Have you been to Amsterdam? Why have they been looking to change their own laws there?