CHAPEL END CHARLIE

http://www.qpr.vitalfootball.co.uk/matchrep.asp?a=250885

Dan Dan Southampton's man, An integral part of our master plan, Are they all forwards, or flying left backs ? But just being a Daniel makes them part of a pack. It's Cuthberts and Gilberts that we now sorely do lack, We used to have some, but they all got the sack, So it's a legion of Dans that must now fill the gap, Just playing for Nigel makes each a happy chap. But losing to Millwall would put us all in a flap ......

That's pretty much how I see it as well - good post.

Funnily enough, although I have yet to start on it, my copy of 'A Great and Terrible King' arrived in the post only yesterday - clearly a case of great minds (or not-so-great in my case) thinking alike. Really getting into medieval history now (I blame Simon Schama) and I may well seek out your Time Traveller's Guide' as well. Please let me know what you think of 'Agincourt' - I loved it. PS - does anybody know where the exact site of Southampton Castle is located ?

I'm half way through 'Agincourt' by Juliet Barker - and I can wholeheartedly recommend it to any reader with even the remotest interest in English history. This superbly researched book is much more than a dry account of the battle itself but rather a glimpse into that lost medieval world of chivalric ideals and how they become mixed up with a level of brutality that reminds the reader of the harsh realities of medieval warfare. I was fascinated to read that after the fall of Harfleur a French knight was captured by Henry V and because we were rather busy at the time he was released with instructions to turn up at Calais months later so that a hefty ransom could be extracted from his family - and he did just that. Can you imagine that happening today? That Lancastrian powerhouse Henry V comes across as almost the model of what the wise enlightened medieval King could/should be (by the standards of the day anyway) and it's almost impossible not to end up convinced of the justice of his cause and rooting for the success of his campaign. I know how this story ends but still I can hardly put it down anyway ! 1415 - so much more than a quarter past two.

We've got very good money for him to be fair but I'd rather have the player than the cash in all honesty. But if a player is really determined to leave in the modern game then in reality there is precious little any football club can do to keep them. Although it's not our problem it seems to me that AOC is exactly the type of player Arsenal do not need at this time - but far be for me the question the wisdom of the great Arsene Wenger's transfer policy. ... oops I just did.

For all the near universal praise he now (justifiably) receives it's worth remembering that there were more than a few on here who didn't rate Adam Lallana very highly in the early stages of his career. All young players have their ups & downs of course, but the natural talent and 'spot on' approach to the game this player displays in abundance was always there for all to see I would have thought. I won't embarrass the guilty by suggesting they use this opportunity to confess their sin's .......

Good win which I feel is more the product of a splendid team effort rather than any particularly outstanding individual performance. I must say I thought Leeds looked unusually toothless for a club of their standing - as for the reason for that you can take your pick from us making them look below average, or them missing important players. Despite the very healthy scoreline I don't think creatively we really got out of second gear - there may well be more to come from this squad. It has to be said however that (At this stage of his career) Arron Martin just doesn't look like a Championship standard defender - a observation so obvious I'm sure everyone present at St Marys today should have seen it. PS - I've just checked the record books and this is the first time SFC have won the opening game of the season since the Black Prince's famous '3 pointer' at the Battle of Crecy in August 1346 - everything comes to those who wait they say .......

Apparently as part of the defence cuts the RAF's dog display team has now been replaced by a performing goldfish called Colin. For some reason the club did not see this as appropriate half time entertainment. We have however put down a deposit on 'Amazing Grace' the last virgin in Portsmouth.

I have obtained a sneak preview of the next programme cover - two mystery new non-executives set to join the Don in the boardroom I understand.

[quote=david in sweden; when this deal was still in discussion stage ...I found a GERMAN football site that listed Euro clubs and De Ridder was valued at ........850,000 EUROS ...how much is that in real money? (£) 850,000 Euro = £740,000

On my wages getting promoted would save me a fortune as I'd hardly be able to attend at all. But look on the bright side, SFC's loss would be Dave Merrington's gain. In the meantime I'll just have to hope the team don't let be down and do something silly like getting themselves promoted.

I will warn you all now that anyone even thinking of moving to the Chapel in order to save a few quid better behave themselves and not disturb our sleep or upset my thermos flask for that matter. Yobbos, thugs, and Northam Stand refugees are most definitely not welcome. The Chapel - A local stand for local people. That is all.

Happier at this stage than I can remember for many years with both the squad and its manager - we should do well this coming season. With a bit of luck we could well finish somewhere in the top 10 I reckon - top 6 perhaps with a couple more quality signings. Mind you, preseason optimism does have a bad habit of dying young at this club.

I don't know what those who are calling for Bart's selection are basing that preferance on - on the odd occasions we've seen BB play you can count as many poor performances as good ones. Let him have a go in the cup games my all means, but Kelvin will start (and probably finish) the season as our main man again.

'From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs' - Karl Marx. Putting to one side for the moment the merits (or not) of communist theology, does any human being really need £600k a year to live on ? Can they even possibly 'deserve' such a vast fortune when so many exist in absolute poverty ? Well 'no' is the only possible answer to my way of thinking, but I've little doubt that immersed in our all persuasive 'greed is good' culture many will vehemently disagree. Just a general point, no a dig at any one individual in particular.

By far the most interesting aspect of the booming replica shirt phenomena is that the power of branding results in legions of fans being quite happy to abandon all common sense and pay £40 for a tee shirt that's worth £5. And yes I do have one myself - although it does have 'Friends Provident' written on the front.

My 'two pennyworth' is that it would be in both his best interest and ours for him to stay here for at least one more season rather than warm the bench at Arsenal etc, but if he really wants to go then conventional wisdom dictates you'll have to bite the bullet and let him. Most teenagers pay s0d all attention to what their parents say - just our luck to find the exception to that timeless rule. Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway) it would be extremely differcult to attract a replacement of the same potential/quality to any team in this division. If it were my call I'd do the deal now rather than try to keep a unhappy young player in the squad for a few more months - as good a player as AOC certainly is no one is more important than the team.

"Looks good on YouTube" I fear means very little as (like a cinema trailer promoting a film) you just get the best bits rather than the full picture. If you were to master the black arts of the film editors trade I dare say you could probably make any average player look sensational just by the careful selection what is shown. Nevertheless, all seems well and I'm looking forward to seeing this lad play in the fullness of time. It's obvious we're building a fairly young squad in the main, with more than our fair share of players in (or approaching) the prime of their careers - most of whom are still hungry for success. Not a bad strategy. I bet Kelvin and Jaidi are starting to feel like 'The Old Man of the Sea' in this company.

One of the very worst strikers in the PL in my opinion. Frankly we need him like we need a extra aperture in the cranium.

...... and impose a club fine so humungous that Roman Abramovich would struggle to pay it.

I have the inside story: This unfortunate NOTW reporter has been secretly assassinated by that notorious MI5 hit man, the Duke of Edinburgh, who is being blackmailed by David Cameron into this desperate measure because the PM has threatened to revel the real truth behind Princess Diana's 'accident'. Phil broke into his Watford property (note: conveniently close to Windsor Castle) in the dead of night (while his wife kept watch outside standing on a grassy knoll) and left one of those highly radioactive Honda Accord's they're not telling us about in his garage - a terrible fate indeed. The PM (AKA 'Big Dave') will certainly next seek to silence the Murdoch's before they can appear before the Parliamentary Select Committee by arranging for their apparent 'Suicide' at the earliest opportunity - watch this space. Meanwhile, an elite SAS hit squad will be sent into downtown Tripoli next week on a undercover mission to abduct Colonel Gaddafi and bring him back to the UK so that Liam Fox (the mastermind behind the entire phone hacking plot) can claim credit and emerge as the leading candidate to succeed Cameron as the next PM - its all a right wing plot you see. If I don't post anything tomorrow I fear it will be because by that time I will be appearing as a central tunnel support on the Jubilee Line extension.

Play Dune on the right and Alpine in defence.

I used Confused.com and found some low price cover - only to find when I changed my car those thieving bar stewards of a insurance company charged me a £50 'admin fee' for doing next to nothing. Needless to say I had to bend over and take it at the time, but they can stick their renewal quote right up their .........

The 1935 version of 'Mutiny on the Bounty' on DVD - the one with Clark Gable and the wonderful Charles Laughton. Good fun but historically inaccurate to a impressive degree. I understand Captain Bligh may not have been quite the monster depicted here (no Bounty crew member was ever Keelhauled for instance) and Fletcher Christian's band of mutineers most certainly did not live happily ever after on Pitcairn Island. I will have to seek out a copy of the Marlon Brando version - If I remember correctly the plumy 'British' accent he employs is quite extraordinary.