revolution saint

Doctor and the medics

People booed Ashley Cole because they read the tabloids or are Arsenal supporters. As I'm neither then I can't say exactly what their point was. If it was to point out how out of touch with the common man he is then they could have booed any player on the pitch. He made a mistake but as a senior pro he's done enough to outweigh that mistake. Anyone who pays to watch a game has the right to boo though. They pay the money and it's their choice. Football is a service industry and footballers are well paid - I doubt they lose much sleep over it. If you pay £50 for a meal and it's crap you don't thank the chef because complaining might dent his confidence. Until it becomes a reasonable price to watch football then people are always going to be more likely to moan....if you pay that much money then the very least you demand is entertainment.

There seems to be two different arguments here. One is should a professional footballer be treated differently to any 'normal' member of the public. The other is whether the punishment fits the crime. Neither are really connected. Personally I think the law should be applied equally and without prejudice to anyone found guilty of any crime regardless of their place in society. As for the second argument - I really don't have a clue. There's the whole argument about whether a sentence is punishment, retribution or rehabilitation. Would leaving anyone guilty of this crime rot in jail be worthwhile? Would the parents feel better? Would it ultimately produce an aged and worthless individual? Perhaps after a lengthy spell inside making him talk to other convicted drunk drivers would be more productive. I really don't know. Seems to me a fairly complex argument with no easy answers. I guess the people who work in this field are the best to judge.

I was going to reply but couldn't be bothered.....oh

I'd like to be a private eye in the Raymond Chandler style. If any scriptwriter wants an idea for a film then write a sequel to 'West World' called 'Noir World' - that's where i want to go on holiday. Failing that I found barwork to be the most fun but least paid and the hours were rubbish. In fact the most enjoyable jobs I've had were the least paid I've had.

Well there are a few I could mention but off the top of my head what about Barry Horne? Good little grafter prepared to do the hard work while Le Tiss, Wallace, Shearer and even Case took the plaudits.

I'd agree with most of this....except the pedant in me can't help pointing out he never helped Holland win the world cup. Apart from that spot on. It was a nice idea and there was a chance it could have been brilliant. Unfortunately that chance was maybe a 10% chance. Now of course we're left with a bunch of demoralised youngsters who will play worse not better, and a structure that even if we got someone else in would most likely need completely dismantling. We're mired in debt and understandably have dwindling crowds. You have to wonder how things can get worse but I think they will do.

I'd agree with most of this, except the designated driver. It's a crap night out if you're driving so I never do it but if anyone is prepared to ferry me around when I'm drunk then they deserve free drinks all night. I'd say watching TV in a pub full stop is bad etiquette unless it's for a specific sports event. This is a grey area though. Asking for a Guinness as the last drink in the round - clearly wrong. Jumping the queue - just about the worst thing you can do. Come on, we all know who's next even if the barman doesn't (it's not always easy to spot when you're on that side and have a long bar to check) but we can help them out. As an ex-barman one of the things that annoyed me was getting halfway through a round only for the punter to go back and check what someone wanted. It left me standing like a lemon while other people were waiting. There are ways around it but with new tills it made it harder to serve someone else. I'd add indecisive people to this. Getting all fancy about drinks - for example substituting 'ding dong' for bell's or 'low flier' for Grouse. Muppets, it's easier to say the actual words and you also don't look a prat at the same time. Tapping coins at the bar. Refusing to put the money into the outstretched hand of the barman. What's that all about? Chucking your money on the bar makes you look stupid and rude. I noticed that the people who did it were the ones who were complained when I did it back to them. To even things up barmen/barmaids who constantly chat and are completely oblivious to anyone waiting also winds me up.

I saw the documentary and bought my Dad the book on the strength of it. I haven't had the chance to read it yet but he really enjoyed it. I felt that the documentary could probably have been streched out over a series and been better for it.

I'd have to agree with 'girl like you' - I hated it and couldn't understand the attraction. I always lump it in with 'Because you're gorgeous' by Babybird (I think) probably because they were out around the same time. Anyway I hate both. Similarly I've never liked any Red hot Chilli Peppers songs either. I also annoy people by continuing to think Foo Fighters are just a modern day Bon Jovi. My worst song has to be 'More than words' by Extreme. Pretentious twaddle that makes me want to throw up over the lead singer again and again and again.

Not sure the question of Hoddle really comes into this......

I've been in a new job in Southampton for seven weeks now. There's no parking available so it's cheaper and easier for me to take the bus. I'd like to say it's hassle and stress free but it's not. There are lots of incredibly irritating people to put up with and never enough seats. What on earth happened to double decker buses? The annoying people would still be there but at least you could distance yourself a bit. I reserve my particular dislike for people who like to talk early in the morning, Why do they do that? No talking before 9 would be my rule if I had the chance.

It's either a pathetic attempt to get publicity for a film disowned by the author of the book it's based on or an incredibly naive view by a young actress with little sense. Irish Americans bloody annoy me anyway - they're not Irish...they're American and should stop claiming they're anything but that. That stands for anyone with American citizenship.....oh no, I sound like Norman Tebbitt! Here's a question though....why are there no English Americans? They seem to have every other nation American but not English?

I quite like our current badge so I'd like to keep it. I don't like anything with a crown in it.....actually I detest anything with a crown in it....take the crown out and I may consider it. That's my only criticism.

What annoyed me was Warren trying to say it was the wrong opponent and infering it was only the wrong one because he had a chance to win! Surely if you put a fighter on PPV then it needs to be a competitive fight? Khan proved what many have been saying for a while - he just doesn't have a chin. He may learn to defend, and he'll still have good speed but I doubt his punch resistance and his power. By the way I did succumb and pay for it so yes I can confirm the crowd were cheering for Harrison's opponent and quite rightly. Harrison fought in 30 second bursts for maybe two rounds against a lighter, smaller fighter who was a natural cruiserweight. Add Alex Arthur's apparent willingness to concede his title (forget his whinging about the judges - he knew he'd lost well before the 12th round) and it was a depressing night. At least Nicky Cook showed a bit of hunger and ring craft.

The choice of Palin is a strange choice (at least from the outside anyway). The only thing she has going for her is inexperience and being a woman. I doubt that'll sway many hilldog supporters and it makes the republicans look like they're aping the democrats - witness McCain's 'change is coming' speech the other day. I suppose she appeases a few right wingers in the party but so could a lot of other candidates for the VP position and anyway isn't the idea that successful parties move to the centre rather than pleasing the more extreme elements in their own party? To be honest I've still got a hunch that McCain will win.

I guess the argument boils down to who is accountable and responsible. Under a traditional structure it's the manager and he's the one out on the touchline and in front of the cameras. If he's the one who has spent money poorly then he quite rightly takes the blame. A Director of Football is more removed and from a fans perspective less accountable. If a team plays badly how do the fans know whether it's poor coaching or just a poor player? When Burley spent 7 million on what many believe now to be rubbish at least you could place a pretty hefty proportion of the blame on him. I honestly don't know what's better but as a fan I'd like to know who is responsible for a team playing well or poorly and a DoF muddies the water a bit. I guess there's probably no definitive answer - it'll depend on the personnel and resources as much as anything.

I'd agree with all this but you sound like my Grandad! Money's ruining the game, and yes he's right but what can we do? If you want to watch pure, proper football then you'd watch non-league stuff. Didn't work for Crewe though, or any of the other clubs that have great youth teams but are not big clubs. You bring players through, sell them, bring some more through and at best maintain the level you're already at. The proposal to have a significant proportion of the team coming through the academy would address that balance though and I think we'd all welcome it.

Exactly, we didn't really care then and I doubt the majority would care if we got taken over by some mega rich owner either. You could apply the logic to supporting your proper 'local' side and for many it's probably non league - I'm sure many of their supporters would welcome us. The irony of Le God's Second Coming is that whilst lauding local players the 1st Le God was anything but local (oh and don't you also come from IOW?). I'm playing devil's advocate here but if you followed this argument to it's logical conclusion then most of us would be watching amateur football.

Good post, unfortunately my local team is Blackfield and Langley though I'd imagine it's filled with local players. Guess I'll need to support them now, least the Totton lot get a trip out to wembley every once in a while....

It's definitely not OK, even if you're going through a pretentious stage.

Well it's quite simple - don't pay attention to it or reply to threads on forums. No one asked you to contribute absolutely nothing to the debate. It's definitely a problem and to be honest assassinating Obama would be the worst thing the weirdo yanks could do (that's not all americans, just the strange ones) ...but then I suppose anyone who contemplates assasination probably doesn't think rationally. It's hard to believe that anyone would mark a major player in either party down as a communist though - do they actually know what a communist is?

Saints 0 Blackpool 1 If only because I predicted a defeat to Derby and would like to keep my losing streak going. This will be a tough game. If we've learnt anything from the championship it's that any side can beat any other side. I expect Blackpool will defend much more than anyone we've faced and there won't be as much space for our passing game. We'll lose the ball a bit more than usual and the players will get a bit frustrated with themselves. I don't actually believe that last paragraph but I know it's the realistic thing to say. I actually think we'll outpass a pedestrian Blackpool side that is left chasing shadows for the entire 90 minutes. At some point in the game Garry Birtles will say, 'If this was a boxing match the Blackpool corner would have chucked the towel in after that third goal'. Pekhart will score with his very first touch, Schneiderlin will score a great freekick and Lallana will finish a sweeping move reminicent of that Argentina goal in the World Cup. Naturally I can't tell you any of that in case I jinx it though. Yep, a one nil defeat for me.

Well done, you're right I don't. Fail to see how that matters though.

Yeah, people who don't have kids don't have a clue do they? Morons! I bet some of them even vote. The fact you have kids has absolutely no effect on the validity of your argument.