scotty

Lionel Messi is in talks with Portsmouth Football Club about a potential deal. When asked, Messi replied, "I think this would be a great deal for me. I've been looking for someone to clean my house, cars and trophies."

Thats got him off to a tee.

Optimism is a wonderful thing.

....which is pretty much what MP said in response to fergies comments, kind as they were. Well, thats what his interpreter said he said. (I mean MP's interpreter, not fergie's.)

Can I have Sue Whistle? She's fit, lives in Italy, a female football fan (which is a rarity,) and she likes a drink. Plus she's bilingual,which always sounds filthy to me. Sorted.

Do you seriously believe that if any of it were true it wouldn't have been plastered over every sports headline immediately?

That was my reaction too, never heard of that site but its surely a spoof story joking about his nice-guy persona.

Three points dropped. I missed the first 30 minutes or so, still at work, but I thought we just outplayed them from what I did see. Very very unlucky not to get anything from that game, terrific stuff.

Where has anyone said that he's better than Messi?

The taters pointed out that theres a severe water shortage in that area, hence the awful pitch. Priorities, and all that.

I watched it on a stream, yes it was a eurosport one. One of the ads at half time was a joke airline thing, featuring kobe bryant and lionel messi trying to outsmart each other, and the final tagline was TURKISH AIRLINES. ffs, he gets everywhere. Mayuka had a decent game, I thought. Made one particularly good defensive mopping-up job in the 2nd half, as well as looking very useful on the break.

He's looked good so far today. Sharp, nippy, a few good passes and crosses and very good movement off the ball, hope he doesn't get crocked on this pitch.

Already booked for diving Pitch is awful, btw.

Agree about J-Rod, to me he is looking better and better. He was obviously bought in as a promising young player to be developed, and that looks on track. As for Mayuka, I tend to agree with the theory that he perhaps hasn't been used much due to the ACON coming up. Will be interesting to see what role he plays once thats over. Steven Davis is a hard call, I thought he looked really good at the start of the season, especially that scorcher against citeh, but he's never seemed anything less than solid to me whenever he's played.

People keep banging on about wanting to offload Chaplow. I disagree.

Thats a very good point. Somebody on here recently suggested that he hadn't been played much because the ACON was imminent, and there was no point settling him into the side before that. It will be interesting to see what happens when he gets back, he looks a really promising player.

You would probably need to be on the same continent. Old D-Phil would most likely count as in-continent.

So, have you had the heart attack yet?

I'm probably repeating myself here, but what the climate deniers always overlook in their argument is that the scientists putting forward the theory dont actually have to provide cast-iron proof. All they have to do is demonstrate some/any possibility of man-made global warming. We aren't gambling with something we can afford to lose, its not like dropping a few grand at ladbrokes.

It's sad to think of it, but the local papers are going the same way as the nationals, fewer and fewer readers and dropping like flies. This Echo feud wont be an issue in a year or two as the paper probably wont exist. You might be able to pick up a copy when you drop off your 35mm film for processing or post off your handwritten letters.

So, he was there as a guest, presumably pre-arranged? The Echo non-story suggests that in the case they are reporting, he just rocked up there, walked in, and was shocked to be asked to leave. I'm sure he's a great guy with many stories to tell, and a Saints hero for his part in the 76 final, but as others have pointed out, why would the current SMS stewards even recognise him? That was 30-plus years ago.

Well, Jim Steele wants access to the supporters lounge. http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?42861-Jim-Steele-story-on-Daily-Echo-website

Not any more, she was just on loan.

I'm slightly ashamed to admit it, but me too.

Astounding. And your prediction for finishing league position will be???.......