Saintandy666

Almost

We're joint 5th (with Tottenham) top scorers in the PL this year so far. Not so bad really?

Pisa is nice, but probably you don't want to go there for more than a day trip. Sienna, Florence, Venice all worth the visit - as well as some of the smaller hilltop towns in the area - montalcino, montepulciano (particularly highly recomended), san gimignano - realise this is all in Tuscany - dunno whether apropriate for a shorter trip. Probably want a longer trip with a car for all the hilltop towns.

I don't think much can be gleaned by analysing the persistence of religion through a 'rational' lens. And I don't think it necessarily, in terms of ultimate motivations for belief and practice, overlaps with the role of science in society. I think religion much more than anything provides a grounding for lots of individuals, and a way to feel involved and be within the community. I reckon part of the decline of religion in terms of practice is down to modernity and the much more sparse, diverse and distrubted way in which people live today meaning churches can't be the pillar at the centre of the village that they once were. If religion wants to survive the 21st century, then it has to change and we see some of that in the churches which are growing fastest; 'strong' strands like mormonism, and then also churches which partake in the kind of set-up seen at so called 'mega-churches'.

Shame - Djokovic just that little better mentally today. Many more chances for Murray yet though. He seems to be getting back to his best after a tough last year.

Yep - the bits I caught he looked pretty impressive and comfortable. Djokovic-Wawrinka I just hope goes to 5 or something leaving Murray a bit fresher, but with how fit the players are these days, it seems to matter less and less. Murray will need to be at his best to win, but I hope he does, 3rd grand slam, and he'll have 3 out of 4 of the slams in the bag. With Nadal perhaps on the wain, maybe a career slam isn't out of the question?

I'm going to continue this conversation with myself. And he's smashed past Kyrgios in straight sets, Murray looks back to his best. Looked a lot easier than Dimitrov. Confident he can beat Berdych (although he has proved a sticky point in the past at times) - not so sure about Djokovic. Don't think Nadal will figure this season, and maybe Federer seems *finally* on his way down.

Anyone been watching any of this? Murray just played an entertaining game against Dimitrov. Came through in 4 and well deserved to. Australian teenager Kyrgios up next!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30927287 'She alleges she was forced by financier Jeffrey Epstein to have sex with the prince when she was a minor in the US.' - 2 days ago on the BBC.

In which case the entire press have been reporting it incorrectly by saying 'sex with a minor'. Although just as serious in the coercion allegation via sex ring.

Incorrect - the papers have been filed in Florida (where I presume it is alleged to have occured). In Florida, the age of consent is 18 (although it varies by US state)- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_North_America#Florida

I said 'alleged', and indeed, as ever 'innocent until proven guilty'.

What he has alleged to have done would be a break of the law as I understand of a couple of levels. Firstly, she is a minor at 17 (age of consent in US is 18), and secondly she was alleged to have been part of a sex ring which had Epstein at its centre and was as part of that coerced (read raped) to have sex with multiple men. So the allegations are more serious than 'private life'.

Major Forster issue?! There is no major issue, he's been great for us all season and a key reason why we have by some way the best defensive record in premier league.

This season, 69 should be enough for 4th place so I'll take that.

True - everyone has a price and we can't expect the players to be nostalgic like a lot of us are with him coming up with us from league 1. Is there no loyalty in football? If he is on £30k now though - I suppose he could more than double his wages at another club (although I suspect we could counter offer a higher wage, though not match the likes of Man U and Arsenal). Is there no loyalty or fondness from him though after all this time?! It's such a shame - I can understand chasing the big club or CL, but not just cash - hence I don't think he'll *definitely* move if we get CL football. I think we could twist his arm for another year or so on higher wages (hate how money driven it is - isn't £30k a week enough?!)

What if they are in Europa and we are in CL? What then? And as I just edited my post quickly - he is contracted until 2017 so we don't have to sell him off at all. I suppose Arsenal can offer bigger wages, but I suspect he is on a lot as it. Do you think he wants to be at a 'big club' or play in Europe foremost?

What if we are in the champions league and Arsenal aren't? I think him staying depends on us getting a European spot. Although he is contracted until 2017 - so we could wait another year.

http://www.sportsclubstats.com/England/Southampton.html This has been updated now - not *quite* safe from relegation - but get 8 more wins and we stand a very high chance of CL!

And we won't stand a chance in the champions league next year (*if* we qualify) if we have this kind of league or - mentality. We can have both! Especially against championship sides that we *should* easily beat. Taking nothing for granted though here.

i think despite what some people say, our team does have sufficient depth to make a *few* say 3-4 changes - and then subs later on - and still comfortably beat a championship side. I agree on playing Reed, Long, Targett etc, but don't think we need to overdo it. We can cope with a midweek game.

Quite - and remember - one of those wins is out of the way as it is not yet updated! Of course, stats like these do ignore how unlikely most of the scenarios are to happen, but still it's nice to know that if we got certain points level where we should be - probably safest to assume at the middleish somewhere!

http://www.sportsclubstats.com/England/Southampton.html According to this (not yet updated - but can infer nonetheless) - we are mathematically safe from relegation on 39 points. Bizarrely there is a chance of us being relegated on 41 points, but it is very miniscule. So Dalek - we are safe!

Evans is perfectly within liberty to be employed anywhere. But football clubs are private entities with customers, and sponsors. As consumers of the product, customers and sponsors are perfectly within their rights to to threaten to withdraw their custom or protest because of something a company does. That's the reality to boil it down to its core.

I'd say the big loser in all this is the rape victim. The rape victim whose had to move home 5 times already due to safety reasons. No idea why Gordon Taylor said what he said, makes no sense - a lot of people don't seem to understand what rape is, certainly Ched Evans doesn't.