sadoldgit

I am amazed that Swansea are selling Shelvey to Newcastle. More playing time for Cork now though.

I must have just woken up in a parallel universe.

I know I am sad, but it would be sadder still if anyone on here actually wanted us to go down! It is one thing worrying about it but another to wish it on your own team

But you said earlier that you thought we would go down? "Villa Sunderland Southampton"

Wayne

Don't worry, JWP will be in the running next year

I can only think that his agent is trying to hint that he needs to play for us more. Linked with Palace and Liverpool. Really?

You are a little ray of sunshine aren't you? Villa, Sunderland, Newcastle.

Apparently when he toured his greatest hits in the 90s he asked his fans what he should play and this came top of the list! He didn't play it though. I wonder why? Anthony Newley (those of a certain age us will remember that name) was a big early influence!

What I was trying to say, albeit clumsily, was that although he wasn't to everyones taste he was clearly up there in terms of influence and was revered by many. Michael Jackson wasn't my thing. I didn't have any of his records, never went to any of his concerts etc but I do recognise that he is seen as a legend. One of the reports last night said that he wasn't to everyone's taste (who is?) but do you get my drift? My wife said last night that she liked some of his music but wasn't a big fan. She did however appreciate what all the fuss was about. When you look at his ranking in Rolling Stone he doesn't come out anywhere near the top. He wasn't the best singer, the best songwriter, the best actor, the best mime artist etc (in my opinion anyway) but clearly he was a big influence and was loved by millions. I am not a Stones fan but when Jagger and Richards depart they will be rightly feted as "legends." Whether a fan of his or not, I think most people realised that he has played a huge part in the fabric of pop culture over the last 50 odd years. Yes, it is probably wrong to compare legendary status unless you don't thing that someone is a legend. But I think that there will be many like me, not my favourite artist by a long way but I can recognise the affect he had on others.

You could argue that 69 was a long life for somewhere who lived in a profession where many died at 27.

marley

Yes and it didn't cost me a penny as I was working for The Guardian. Great gig, I wish I had a recording of it.

Very poor goalkeeping there.

Probably feeling a bit chipper now that United are sniffing around!

So Messi wins the Ballon d'Or with 41.3% of the vote against 27.8% for Ronaldo. I'd love to have seen Ronaldo's face when they announced the result.

In which case we don't have to worry losing him to the Dutch National side, Chelsea or Manchester United then.

Woke up this morning to a text from my daughter to say that he had passed so have now had a day to digest the news. Although I wasn't a big Bowie fan I did have a few of his early albums and his "greatest hits" was a permanent fixture in my CD player for some time. Heroes will always be in my top ten fav singles. I was lucky enough to see him at Glastonbury in 2000 and could see what all the fuss was about. The bloke was awesome. He is also clearly a proper legend. Having said that some of the reporting today has been bizarre and well over the top. Yes he is one of the most important artists we have produced in this country but I would argue he is far from the best. Yes, he continued to reinvent himself in many ways, a number of which you could argue though were just pretentious b*ll*cks. He wrote some great music (much in tandem with Mick Ronson) but he also produced some rubbish. Like many artists I got the impression that he was up his own bottom a bit. Nothing wrong with that of course but it can often lead to the taste and discernment filter being switched off at times. Just read an obit where it said that he co-wrote Young Americans with John Lennon. No he didn't. he co-wrote Fame with John Lennon. In the rush to show he was up there with the best it seems no one bothered to check their facts. Was he up there with the best? His fans will say a big yes and certainly he did produce some wonderful music. Whether his complete catalogue of work puts him into the Lennon-McCartney league is another matter. No doubt there will be a lot more interest in his other activities now such as his acting and art (maybe not his mime period though ) and he certainly was a very intriguing character. As I say, I am not a great fan but it is a measure of his legacy that even for someone that has just dipped in and out of his career (and more out than in) I am feeling very sad at his passing. But whereas most of us will only live on in the memories of our loved ones, David Bowie will join those who will live forever through their art. How cool is that? RIP

It wasn't that long ago when Gary Monk was flavour of the month too.

What about the money spent on the training facilities, the money blown on Osvaldo, the day to day running costs etc.?

I would say that most of the latter players you mentioned have played better more frequently than just 30 mins every 3rd or 4th game.

Didn't he used to be the singer in A Flock of Seagulls?

1 and 2 could be answers to specific questions. 3 could be down to the situation changing at Board level after discussions with him? I don't know. You could be right but unless you are privy to the conversations that the club management have between themselves it is all just conjecture.

Having a strong team/squad is one thing. Having that team/squad play consistently is another. We managed it better last season but there have been a number of times this season where we have shown we are a very decent side - but we haven't managed to do it consistently. The recent runs of defeats has been frustrating but with the exception of the Liverpool game we have been very close to getting a result. Id be more worried if we were being played off the park in every game. The silly mistakes are a big concern as is the failure to turn periods of domination into goals. Work to be done but we are no where near being the poorest side in the Premiership.

Don't encourage him. Once he gets attached to you it is very difficult to shake him off!