SuperMikey

Good choice for the short-term, but long-term? Parker will only really be in the England squad for around another 3 years. Who will pick up the mantle in 3 years time?

They're not as advanced because they don't have populations the size of Oz and NZ, and there isn't the level of industry in those countries that there are in others in the region. I respect your mystic powers to predict a guerilla uprising of the native people of Australia though. I'm sure if they hadn't been massacred they wouldn't have negotiated with the British on land rights under any circumstances. Definitely not. I'm sure they would've preferred that their families were brutally slaughtered. Who wouldn't?

Yeah, because Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and all the other countries around that region with native people still prominent in their population are all third-world fascist hellholes aren't they?

I think the clue is in the word 'extremist'. There are extremist elements of any culture, but they're not usually indicative of a culture on the whole. The presence of extremist Islam in this country is very minimal, but it's the focus and attention that it receives in the media which propagates the fear and worry that many feel about other cultures and people. You see headlines plastered all over the press about radical Islam, but when was the last time you saw a headline saying "Millions of Muslims practice their religion peacefully without harming anyone" ? As I said, it's the people who are afraid to change with the times and accept any alterations to what we perceive to be British culture that are a bigger threat than those actually of other cultures. There are white British people abusing kids, hitting their wives and raping and murdering people, but if anyone from another culture does the same it's obviously representative of their culture as a whole and a sign that we shouldn't have anyone from a different culture living here... I didn't say anything about the UAF. My understanding of their group is that they protest against reactionary groups like the EDL who propagate the needless panic felt by people about cultural change. To be honest, I don't know that much more about them. Altruism isn't a bad thing. I'm not saying people living in areas with high levels of migration have to change - it's not like i'm suggesting white Christian people living in Bradford should convert to Islam or anything. Our culture is expanding, but culture isn't a finite thing, it won't run out or burst if more elements are introduced to it. People should acknowledge that cultural expansion and make their peace with it imo. It's the people that bluntly refuse to accept others who cause tension in our society, not the people who are of those other cultures. Of course, i'm not saying the blame for cultural and racial tension lies entirely with one side - there are people who have narrow ideas about what is proper who spread trouble and unrest, but these people make up a miniscule proportion of those who are of other cultures.

Well, do you have a particular example you want to point out as to how our culture has been negatively affected, or are you just going to repeat the statement you made earlier? The only negative thing about culture being changed by people moving to this country is the people who can't change along with everything else. That's why you get groups like the EDL, BNP etc because they are scared of change.

Because it helps understanding in humans. Your average person growing up in a multicultural area will have more knowledge of other cultures if he has neighbours and friends from around the world compared to those who have no contact with other cultures when growing up. I grew up in a village in North Hampshire, and the population there is pretty much 99.98% white. Only in the last 5 years or so have there been more people living in the area from more diverse ethnic backgrounds, and I think that's a great thing. In my year at school, there were 2 pupils from non-white backgrounds out of around 250 pupils in the year. That's why I love living in Southampton - the diversity of the people that you meet and see is great. Also, widening the gene pool is never a bad thing.

Would you care to give an example of how a particular cultural group has had a negative effect on our culture? I'm not saying all cultural changes are good, but multiculturalism and diversity is something that every nation should strive for.

All we can do is win our games. Can't help anything else that happens. Although it would be nice if Cardiff beat West Ham this weekend - just to put a dent in their confidence going into this run-in of theirs.

Britain is a construct. It does not exist. We uphold the values of our country and control the culture we live in, it's not a fixed thing. Culture adapts and is changed by the people who experience it. It's people that come in from other nations that change our culture for the better - people seem to think that multi-culturalism is a bad thing.

Ah well. I'll be at the game anyway, so who gives a f*ck! We'd better get a good 15 minutes on the Football League show though - it's a huge game at both ends of the table.

Anyone reckon the BBC might be showing the game? They've got rights to show half a dozen Football League games a season I think, we've had a live game on the BBC this season haven't we? Getting my Donny tickets on Thursday, can't wait to see my first Saints vs Skates league game....

So who gives a f*ck? They're still humans, they still breathe and blink and eat and drink. Who cares if they speak another language?

Rickie, Lallana, Jos and Frazer. Consistently our best performers. Honourable mentions to Guly, Davis, Schneiderlin and Chaplow too.

In-'e-go Idiakez

------------------DAVIS------------------- FRAZER-----FONTE-----HOOIVELD------FOX CHAPPY------CORK-----MORGAN---LALLANA ----------LAMBERT-----SHARP------------- Subs: Martin, Hammond, Puncheon, De Ridder, Connolly Lee probably won't travel with the squad for this one because he's flying to and from Japan in the space of a few days as well as playing an international fixture. I reckon Guly will be on the bench instead of Steve, but I would take Steve because his enthusiasm and directness will cause a rubbish Leeds defence all kinds of problems, whereas Guly will probably just get seven shades of sh!t kicked out of him if he tries to play his normal short-passing game. If Lallana isn't fit enough to start I would have Punch on the left instead and put Steve on around the 70 minute mark to capitalise on tired Leeds legs. Steve will want to get a game now and he will be unstoppable out there if he puts all of his effort into getting his place back in this squad.

Are Rickie and Lallana going to be fit for this one? If Lallana has a groin strain he will probably be out for about 2 weeks.

Rob Green is a better keeper, come on. I love Kelvin, and he's been a fantastic servant to this club, but his game is not good enough for international football. He's easily one of the best shot-stoppers in the league, and his reflexes can be excellent at times as well, but he lacks height and strength to be dominant from corners and his distribution isn't amazing either. I think he'll make an excellent coach or manager in the future, and I hope we keep him on after he retires - or even give him a Player/Coach job next season if we decide to bring in a younger keeper to be 1st choice.

Had a flick through it at work yesterday - nothing special really...same old tat. The back pages were pretty good though, the Sun has always covered sport really well.

They're wearing an undershirt, so it's either Sharp, Fox or Fonte.

F*ck me, he looks knackered. Just a shame really that he's got such a bad reputation because of the whole student loans thing, he showed a hell of a lot of promise leading up to the election.

Great result for an away game played on a rubbish pitch against one of our bogey teams. Could've been so many excuses today but a proper professional and committed performance meant we didn't have to use them. COYR! WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!

Brilliant. What a f*cking mug he is!

I only saw him play twice, but he was very skillful and great with a ball at his feet. Quick too. One of our better players from that era.

I'd just like to chip in with this. After the bagpipes drop out, it sends a shiver down my spine.

Well prepare to be proven wrong