KelvinsRightGlove

Is this why on page 3 we only get name age location?

I'm sorry, but linking a strange substitution to influence from above over team selection just smacks of paranoid conspiracy theory to me.

It's not even the jobs they were putting me for. It was more the way they did it. As I said, I was straight out of uni, all my experience & qualifications in politics or journalism. I accept that these aren't jobs the Job Centre are going to get through v often. But then they would pack me off to Poundland for an interview. I had no problem with that, went to the interview in trousers, shoes, shirt, tie & blazer. Answered the questions honestly, what have you been up to last few years "uni, working in politics, writing - published in magazines, newspapers, academically". I was then told I was on probation for deliberately trying not to get the job, as I was deemed 'unsuitable' for the role. Basically, I was over-qualified, and that was my fault, and I deserved to be docked payments for this. I was also told (on more than one occasion I should add) that I should lie and tell potential employers I had not been to uni, which would mean all the placement I did through uni would also be gone. Which would make me a 21 year old with no experience at all and no qualifications.

Can't say I'm surprised. With perhaps one or two exceptions, Job Centre staff are utterly clueless. Completely devoid of anything resembling compassion or empathy. They are not there to help people, simply to take benefits away at any possible moment. I can assure you I was told I responsible for these payments myself. Great when you are living on the outskirts of London, and travelling to an interview in Central, costing £9 for a round trip.

Ok, I can only speak form my own experience. As I said above, I was living on JSA & Housing for a year. I was struggling to afford bills, rent (housing was less than my rent) and food. I often went hungry, and eventually had to move back in with my parents, as I was getting deeper and deeper into debt. It has taken almost two years (I moved home in July 2011) to pay off all these debts, halt court orders and cease bank threats (within the last month or so). I'm not saying there aren't those that abuse the system, and live well off it. But to attempt to paint this as the general picture is wholly unfair.

You've been reading the Daily Mail way too much mate. When I was living on benefits I could barely afford to eat. Let alone any of the other things you mention. It's a complete fallacy.

They never once paid for travel to any of my interviews. I was told it is part of what Job Seekers Allowance comes out of.

Good luck, couple of mates did it last year, said it was hellish. That said, they have signed up to do it again this year, and got a few other people on board.

I agree. I think he has been good for the club. But I do also think he has made some errors, and got some things wrong. However, on the hole, I think over the 3 and a half years he has been here, it is hard to argue he has overseen a positive turnaround in the club.

It's not all that unsurprising. It's quite a Cortese type appointment. Especially if you buy into the idea that Cortese, and Cortese alone picks the transfer targets. Which as far as I can tell, is in many cases based on "I haven't heard of them, so it must be all Cortese". I'm not saying you wern't told something, just that it wasn't exactly beyond peoples imaginations to put the two together. Can you not see how people would question the truth in what you say when you also completely fabricate things like Guly's 15 min contract clause?

Really gotten into Grimes at the moment. Gave her short shrift when they were getting a fair bit of attention last year. But heard them again recently by chance, and thought to myself, "you plank, this is brilliant!". Not for everyone, sure, but I like this electro-y-pop stuff. Also yes, I am aware my music taste makes very little sense.

It will probably pain people to say it on here. But like him or loathe him, Cortese has certainly played his part in the journey.

I would imagine it would be in conjunction with Housing. As above, for the first year I was also on housing. Although this was less than my rent, so I still had to make up the short fall myself. I was on £52 pw JSA, which when you are making up £5 pw rent (not alot I know - but when you have so little, it does make a difference), by the time you pay your bills (which were always more than I had) and trying to eat, you basically end up in a black hole of debt. It didn't help that Halifax suddenly decided to start implementing daily charges on arranged over-drafts. Which obviously pushed me over my limit, which then meant I was racking up £5 a day in charges. How on earth are you meant to break that cycle?

I was out of work for 2 years after graduating, well, just under. The first year of which I was still living in Leeds, before having to move back in with the folks. I just could not afford it any more. It's nigh on impossible. Spent a lot of time hungry. Though it was a great way to lose weight. I was very skinny. It catches up eventually, bills etc still add up. I've basically only just put all the debts, court cases, bank threats etc to bed in the last month or so.

Must admit, I havn't actually checked eithers fixtures. As I said, going on gut feel alone. Think Wigan have decided they actually fancy staying up again. I always (perhaps just me being deluded) thought we would stay up. Can't see Newcastle or Stoke going down, though Stoke could be in trouble if they carry on being so poor. I wouldnt miss them if they did go, so bored of Pulis, his stupid hat and his philosophy of "let's have a team of giant brutes, that kick everyone and lump it into the box and see what happens." Possibly Norwich, though I would be surprised. That all said, I'm rarely right about this stuff.

Gut feeling for me is that it is between Villa and Sunderland. Could be way off, could change post this weekend. But just how I see it at the moment.

I find it odd that people on here attribute our rise through the leagues solely on spending - a claim levelled at Adkins as the only reason he was able to secure back to back promotions. In League 1 this may have been true. But in the Championship last season, there were teams such as Leicester & West Ham who were spending huge sums, and Saints out performed the pair of them.

Well exactly. I have internet. Just not when I am on the train. I am not paying £5 for an hours internet to get onto a game I have paid for. Not that it would even be able to update on crappy Eastcoast wifi. The most frustrating thing is, if I had downloaded a hooky copy that didn't need steam, it wouldn't have been an issue. Seeing as I never play online. What exactly is the benefit of Steam to me? Tempted to just use hacked copies in future.

Never thought then that we would be where we are now. It's been a fun journey really. Can't think of many teams that have had a better few years (during the same period) in terms of excitement for the fans, considering the position we were in previously. Not that you would know it from reading this forum sometimes.

Fair enough. I'm not saying Taarabt hasn't got talent, he clearly has. Can certainly be a game changer when he feels like it. I just think he has a rotten attitude. I couldn't really see him buying into MP's pressing philosophy, or at least actually doing it.

You rate Samba Bazza? I really don't get it. I really don't think he's that great. Would prefer we went for someone better - and I do believe for £12m & £100k pw there is better value to be had. Surprised you went for Taarabt. Given your misgivings about Gaston. In my opinion, AT is lazier, and more frequent to go missing. Just my opinion of course.

I really don't get the fuss about Samba. He's basically just a lump. Shown up far too easy last night. Debatablely at fault for all 3 goals. Over-rated and over-paid. Looks like the fall out at QPR is showing, Samba having a go at 'fans' today. Lulz. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21998297 Should keep the wait for the season interesting at least, watching the Loftus Road melt down.

Nice in-depth analysis from the sun there. Like it. Pretty sure I signed him for Saints on FM once. Must be good.

Looks like Warnock is gone. Should have waited for that one, in my opinion.

FFS, sat on the train, go to fire up FM13... Update required. Can't even play in offline mode. A game that costs £30. **** off steam. Useless piece of ****.