egg

I don't read papers mate. Judgemental prick.

Yep, and we then have people saying give the nurses a big pay rise, without any clue where the cash will come from, but without any genuine willingness to pay for that through their taxes.

I'd go the other way and have 8 groups of 6, the top 4 going through, then a round of 32. Have a quick turnaround of games. Groups of 3 would be rubbish imo, and I don't like the idea of 2 of teams from those group playing each other twice at the group stage.

In reverse order, primarily borrowing. You know that. The level of our borrowing is through the roof, and costs us a fortune. You also know that. Where's the gap between our tax revenue and spending to fund Billions on pay rises? Or are you advocating yet more borrowing?

What a daft answer! "Give the nurses cash" is too easy to say, but don't waffle on about Putin when asked where the money is gonna come from!

Being realistic means accepting that our economy is in a mess and that there's no money sitting around for these pay rises. It's gotta come from cuts or tax rises - look what happened when Kwarteng tried to magic money. The NHS needs reform for sure, but that's a separate issue. Regardless - how do we pay for reform, and big pay rises without slashing from elsewhere and/or raising taxes? Nobody has used the word greed apart from you - I've simply said the nurses should get more money, but that they need to be paid for somehow. If you're supporting big pay rises, how do you say they're paid for?

Doesn't surprise me. Then it'll be police, firemen, etc. People have got to be realistic.

I wander how many people supporting the nurses strikes are cool with either the tax rises needed to pay the £10billion or so that it'll cost, or cuts from elsewhere. Personally, they need to be looked after to some extent, but even labour are saying that what they want is unaffordable.

Those players didn't have good tournaments. Boufal did. I've seen the player at this WC that it was obvious he could be given the chance. Doing well at WC level against top teams suggests to me that he has the quality to play for a decent side. I'm not sure what's controversial about that.

Yep. Gout ain't fun. I've ditched the medication and hopefully won't need it. The thing is, we can be as fit as fiddles, lean, and have great skin etc at this stage if our life and beyond if we look after ourselves. I had fun for years, fucked myself up a bit, and deciding to not do more damage was the easiest decision I've ever made.

Err, what's that got to do with Boufal having a superb world cup?

Stevy can spot a player! Boufal always had the ability, that much was obvious. Let's see what happens next for him, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him back in the PL.

Yeah, but not as much as before - I like pubs and won't ever stay out of them. On your earlier point about needing a drink to have a laugh socially, I'm fortunate that doesn't apply to me but understand that's not the same for everyone. Giving up isn't a necessity - my missus drinks a bit, and I like the effect that alcohol has on her

Wise to cut back then mate. My liver became fatty and that was a trigger to knock it on the head. Also gout and a few other health niggles from the sauce. I had a long and distinguished career, but injuries ended it!

Not any more, and when I drank I always found lemonade more refreshing than beer, so never drank to quench my thirst. Alcohol's job was to get me pissed, and these days I prefer to be sober.

I haven't drank for years. I was drinking too much, so took a week off, then a month, then liked the lack of hangovers, improved sleep and generally feeling much healthier so haven't drank since. I know some people like having 1 or 2, but I don't see the point of that so gave up completely. Far and away the best decision I've ever made.

Slumped

Shearer smashed over 30 goals the season after he did his. Robert Pires was decent too.

Atlas

Girl

That's one perspective, but if we go down, I suspect that's a success most of us would like to see?!

Cowboy

He'd be decent, but I think he's still got too much to offer at club level to take that gig.

He'd be decent. Who would you like to see instead?

Gangster