Verbal

So you think that the cancellation of over 300 flood defence projects since 2010, as a result of the austerity, had NO effect at all?

Don't worry, the government has said that money is no object but there's no blank cheque. Now that they've stopped blaming others they've resorted to talking gibberish as a means of dealing with the crisis. That should help.

It depends - there's no simple, glib answer to such a glib question. Speaking from my neighbour's recent experience, you'd get full compensation from the local council. Trees blow down for all kinds of reasons, including local authority neglect. Flooding is the same. Lots of rain is one thing; why a particular place floods and not another is not wholly explained by it though.

As this well-argued blog from Oxford economics professor, Simon Wren-Lewis, says, this could be Cameron's Katrina. 300 flood defence schemes in England left unbuilt due to austerity cuts; a government rendered complacent because so many of its political supporters believe that climate change is a mirage; and floods are one issue where the government can't take the easy option of blaming the recipients of state funding. http://mainlymacro.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/are-uk-floods-camerons-katrina.html

Thanks for the advice. I'll make sure never to do that again.

The sound of this thread... http://www.sounddogs.com/sound-effects/101/mp3/142088_SOUNDDOGS__ki.mp3

*In the style of Camden Brett* yeah but no. who cares ? can't win anyway. ever. *Continues to suck a lemon*

Arsenal will fight back. They've done it before.

Noi, it's definitely at the Britannia Stadium. Try entering ST4 4EG into your satnav.

Gather round for another bedwetters' hoedown...

Awful, awful. My deepest condolences. Thank goodness Sam made his full debut when he did.

Oh, I'm sure - but I wonder how he'd deal with the massive egos among the players of one of the big European clubs, especially with his demanding training regimes. Southampton is in many ways perfect for him - not least in a mostly young, eager-to-learn, up-and-coming squad.

First Kinnear, and now this!

One reason is we no longer have a reserve league but a half-arsed 'development' competition. Many clubs want the reinstatement of the reserve league, not least so that they can get players match-fit, and keep squad players up to speed.

I doubt that he is, sadly. I remember this fixture last year, when we drew 1-1 in the pouring rain, and the Fulham fans beforehand were full of "we'll get a result against these no-hopers - we're a solid mid-table team and Saints are relegation fodder." We got a result and played quite well, but the way the team performs now looks light years ahead, even though it's basically with the same players (Boruc and first-half VW aside).

I live near Craven Cottage and we see the away crowd wearing that 90s clobber every time there's a home match. Such a relief when they're all gone and we can get back to looking like we're part of the metropolis in 2014. (We can also bring our speedboats back out of hiding.)

Sonar - although some of the pings never bounce back.

Of course it is. It's also why there are no own goals in Japanese football, because the player would have to commit hari kiri on the pitch.

Costa Concordia would be a better fit as things stand.

Of what?

And yet GDP remains below 2007 levels - the British economy is still smaller than it was almost seven years ago. Brilliant achievement!

I can't see Gallagher leading the line against Arsenal. The other conundrum is how to fit Wanyama, Cork and Morgan into the team. With Lovren's injury, one way of doing it is playing Wanyama at CB. I know he hasn't done it for us but he did occasionally for Celtic, and I can't help feeling he's a better option there than Yoshida. Probably won't happen, admittedly, but a defence without Lovren against the top team in the division is scary.

Please let's not. He's pulling your plonker and he has a quota to fill.

Our best bet is to stand well back and watch (not that England defenders need much encouragement to do that).