Saint Mikey

Apparently Harding and Fox spit-roasted Fonte's missus...

So what about Storrie then? I thought people were intimating that they knew he was guilty? Surely his verdict will be able to be reported now?

I'm sure the Skates will squeal about this, and claim they should be afforded the same treatment. However, did Kettering also screw the Taxman out of £30m just a year ago or so? I know it's all OldCo. NewCo bulsh!t, but surely this has to be taken into account?

Is this because of the Jeep & Surfboard image you had in the 90s?!

What's better than all this, is that they were singing his name! Not questioning the dubious spending that was going on...

FFS. I'm going to have to change my username, if people keep thinking I'm the Uni dropout...

You must be mistaking me for the kid, who has nearly the same name as me. Not sure I have aired my political views before... However, I am a socialist at heart and have always voted Labour. But, socialism requires everyone who can, to contribute. These people don't and just take, putting nothing back. It's the attitude that annoys me the most, 'I'm so poor, and the Gov isn't being fair'. Get a job and don't have 7 kids = problem solved. People have been allowed to shirk their responsiblities for so long, it has become ingrained to become a lifestyle choice. That is not socialism.

Agree with this. With the technology available these days, you should be able to load a card with credit that can then used for certain items. Anything that isn't fags, booze and fast food outlets - that would be a start. Giving cash in the hand to these people is mental. The kids don't see the money and have a underprivileged upbringing due to their irresponsible parents. Then hey presto - by the time they are 16 years old, they are enlisting for the ‘have a kid, don’t work and get free cash’ programme. A vicious circle of producing unintelligent, selfish, lazy, scroungers…

To be fair, having got ourselves into this mess over a succession of government's Welfare decisions - not just the last one. You can't just cut off the 'lifeline' like that. Just watch the petty theft, mugging and burglary rates shoot up. A slow squeeze on the scroungers and idle is what most people would want - not, the people that do need help and deserve it, having paid into the system.

A good article on the BBC here, about the capping to £26k: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16812185 Matey reckons he'll have to choose between eating and heating his home. Errr, no: 1) Lose Sky TV (Freeview is free) 2) Lose Internet (Use the Library) 3) Don't spend that £20 a week down the pub 4) Give up smoking & drinking 5) The whole family doesn't NEED a mobile phone each If you think all this is unfair, then: 1) Don't have 7 kids and expect someone else to pay for it 2) Don't expect someone to pay your way, when you or your wife haven't worked for 10 years. If you look at his justification in the article, it points to where attitudes are all wrong. There is no basic HUMAN RIGHT to entertainment, technology or luxury items (fags & booze). Expecially if you've been completely irresponsible in your family planning, or haven't worked for such a long time. These things are LUXURIES! Benefits should pay for the basics first, if there's money left over, then great - fill yer boots. The priorities are all wrong, even down to the quality of food they are buying, but spending on luxury items.

To be honest. That's one of the most ridiculous things I've read on this thread, and that obviously takes some beating. The Parachute payments are there for a very good reason, to enable a club to be competitive in the PL. Otherwise two things would happen. One, no promoted club would never spend any money and would not be able to compete in the PL and be relegated making the league uncompetitive. Two, established PL clubs reliant on PL money would go out of business the day they were relegated, or a complete firesale that would render the club completely uncompetitive in the league below (that would have happened to us, without any parachute payments). The income of clubs in the PL is so distorted due to TV money (particularly Overseas rights), and the Parachute payments help to balance this by providing a safety net. I don't particularly agree with the recent deal, as I think it makes the Championship distorted. However, if we manage to go up and then get relegated, will you be championing this?

I suspect, that his behaviour had mightily f*cked off Cortese and he has been waiting for an apology. Being a man of principle (or, is that petty?!), Cortese has still been waiting for that apology. It's taken 18 months and Puncheon has realised he has to swallow his pride for the sake of his career.

No, he just clearly is not up to the job. I wanted him to do well as anyone, but he just doesn't look good enough at this level.

Massive surprise. Just hope he can do the business on the pitch. Potentially can be a very good player at this level, and is a far better option than Holmes, De Ridder, Forte and for the moment Reeves & Falque. Would love him to do well, for the team and to prove without doubt, the fickle nature of the footy fan - after I hear his name ringing out for scoring the winning goal to secure promotion....lol.

That'll teach you. Incidentally, I need to get to the Maldives after the game. Can anyone take me there for free?

Must have been recent? I went to Lisbon in Summer 2009 and loads of shifty mateys were trying to flog 'hash' to tourists - on the quiet and no cafes.

Who are these countries, and what are the stats? I'm interested to know, as I thought Holland in particular was backtracking (although thinking about it, that maybe more to do with tourism).

Good discussion, and some valid points made. IMO, whilst it seems a 'no-brainer' to introduce laws to legalise or de-criminalise, certainly some drugs. As with most things like this, it's massively complicated and the ramifications are pretty much unknown. There is a massive argument that if you take something like pot, than you will go on to try recreational Class A's and could move you on to Crack and Heroin etc. I know that this is true to a certain extent (certainly taking the step between hash to speed to E's/Coke). However, I think that many many people don't consider crack or heroin in the same league. Everyone knows that this is hardcore stuff. This is just one argument to keep ALL drugs (socially accepted drugs excepted) illegal. The majority of people would point to a society hooked on crack & heroin, as the hoi polloi go on a relentless quest for the better and better buzz. This would never happen, but the argument is there. Take Amsterdam as an example. I'm not sure of all the facts here, but they are now backtracking on their de-criminalisation of marijuana. I don't think that there is any evidence that the road they have taken has reduced any Class A drug addiction (i.e. Crack & Heroin). Having been there myself, I'd like to know what it was like before, if it's an improvement now!!

Lol. Where are your 'Larssons' now? You can't afford them anymore and you lose your best players to the Championship. The SPL all time top goalscorer went to 'Boro and was sh!te. Says it all really...

This may need a thread on its own, but I'll ask here anyway. At the moment the Pompey game is Sat, 7th April - 1pm KO and isn't on TV. Surely this has to change? If the skates have to endure the bubble, there's no way they can pull that off on a Sat, surely the roads will be too busy? Hoping it'll be on TV, as I have to go on a Stag Do and relinquish my ST...

Exactly. Chinny's got himself into this and like a gambler with huge debts, he's hoping a big win (or, a f*cking loopy individual) is round the corner...

To put this in a bit of context. Leicester spent £5m on Matt Mills this summer!

Guilty!

Exactly my thoughts. Jeez, this forum is bloody dramatic. You'd think the majority of posters were middle-aged women...

Lolz. If you (or anyone) can have a look at a player on a Club's official TV channel, then I'm sure plenty of scouts and any of the top clubs know all about him (if they rate him). I think I read somewhere that teams like Utd, Arsenal, L'pool etc, know all about all youngsters in the country down to about the age of 11, or something ridiculous like that. There is no keeping any young player 'under the radar' now.