Kingsland Codger

Whilst remembering and enjoying the football, what I recall most was their night of shame when they booed, jeered and whistled during the Minutes Silence for Ted Bates

A reminder from 18 May ... http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2051138,00.html "In recent days, there has been much speculation in some of the tabloid national and local press about the position of our First Team Manager, Alan Pardew. . Without exception it has been ill-informed."

If you choose to visit Japan I'll gladly tell you all I know (I lived there for 16 years); it's a fascinating place ... but be warned - it is extremely expensive and your pounds will go much further elsewhere.

Coming through my email system this morning is an page from Business Link about working from home ... http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=5001615953&type=ONEOFFPAGE&site=210

It's only a little *****. You won't feel a thing.

I lived in Japan for a long time (1978 ~ 1994) and was there when the J League first started in 1993 so I'm ****-a-hoop at this success. To get through to the last 16 is a massive achievement and it is truly good for the game that both Japan and South Korea have qualified for the next round. This fully vindicates FIFA for making both countries host nations in 2002. it is all the more pleasing to see them win with some style and to teach us all how to take a free-kick with this lighter ball.

David Ginola ?

Liam Brady, Johnny Giles, Jim Baxter

'O' levels were aimed at the brighter students. If it was thought a student would struggle with 'O' levels then that student would take a different exam called a CSE.

I took my 'O' levels in 1972 and also took a GCSE in 1995. The GCSE was in a Modern Language and back in 72 I took an 'O' level in a couple of Modern Languages. The exam I took in 1995 had three papers; listening comprehension, translating from the language into English and translating from English into the language along with composing a story in the language. The early questions in the GCSE were far too easy and should never have been included (such as how do you say 'Hello', that kind of very simple stuff) but as the paper progressed it became more tricky and by the end of the paper I felt stretched and my abilities challenged. Back in 1972, the entire exam tested my abilities to the fullest, right from the start. The early questions in the GCSE should have been at the same level as those at the end. So, yes, the GCSE was easier but in its defence I would say that eventually it became quite demanding. I understand the reason for the 'grading' of the questions was to allow those who were only ever going to get a low grade to sit the exam answer what they could and finish whenever it became tricky. But what sort of nonsense is that? A language is very unforgiving. You study it at school/college and then visit the country and you either sink or swim. Why settle for (even encourage) mediocrity?

That certainly seems to be a discernable trend - all the more reason, therefore, to ensure when you take a free-kick you keep it low and DON'T balloon it into Row Z. Given Lampard's awful attempt, the obvious conclusion one can draw is that he hasn't been practicing. Had he been doing so, he would have been only too aware of the ball's tendency to fly high.

I'd like to add Frank Lampard's dreadful free-kick to that list of shame.

Some poor results yesterday but the best game of the lot was Scotland defeating Argentina in a cracking game. I recorded it (Sky channel 990) and watched it after the England World Cup match and have to say the rugby was far more thrilling than the football.

The UK is no longer in recession. The figures for the first quarter of this year showed positive growth.

I doubt the sense and accuracy of some of the questions. The first is a 'true or false' and asks ... 'In the 1980s, the largest immigrant groups were from the West Indies, Ireland, India and Pakistan.' This confused me as they need to define the word 'immigrant' - does this refer to ethnicity or nationality? One can be a British citizen but of, say, Irish origin many generations back. And where would someone who is the child of, say, a UK resident of Indian origin and a UK resident of West Indian origin stand? To which 'group' (their word, not mine) would he/she belong? The third questions asks for the number of parliamentary constituencies and gives multiple choice options ... 464, 564, 646 or 664. Yet in the recent election there were 650 seats. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/ Question 4 asks another 'true or false' with both statements beginning 'Education in state schools in the UK is free ...' this is complete myth. Education isn't free at state schools at all as we all pay for it from the (very large) tax bills - either as income tax or VAT or any other kind of tax. The money comes from somewhere ... us all. I didn't bother going any further.

The above crystalizes things rather well. Perhaps Gary Richardson on BBC FiveLive might consider taking this up with AA. GR interviewed AA back at the end of February and now, 3 months later, it might be time for a follow-up.

When a club has been relegated from the PL to the CCC but then bounces straight back up to the PL, the parachute payments go to the FL rather than the club as the club is no longer in the FL. Were Portsmouth to be kicked out of the FL then what would happen to the parachute payments? Presumably they (the parachute payments) would remain within the FL and be divided up amongst the clubs as they have been in the past (Birmingham) and will be soon (Newcastle). A powerful incentive for the clubs within the FL to vote Portsmouth out.

When Mr Grant starts bleating on (and on and on and on) about how hard done by are PFC, it is beholden on the interviewer to remind him of the facts. Can you imagine a politician making a statement of his views to a professional political interviewer (Paxman? Marr? Humphries?) and not getting informed questions back? Yet football interviewers never seem to bother to say something along the lines of ... 'Hang on a second, Avram, you got in some loan players in January who have to be paid a wage, yet you owed HMRC, St Johns Ambulance, Cancer Charities (name your creditors here ... ) substantial sums. What on earth makes you think you should remain in the FA Cup? At least Colleymore is making all the right noises, shame he isn't asking questions to Mr Grant directly.

I find it healthy we find the time to celebrate the life of England's favourite Turk.

Promoted by Easter, preferably as Champions; and since Easter is a bit late next year (April 24) this is achievable. Whilst this might be a tough target, I have no doubt that we can do it. This season (2009/10) has been quite remarkable, AP has achieved an amazing turnaround and I am fully confident of his and the teams ability to deliver.

Dead right. There is no meaner an enemy than someone who knows they owe you a favour.

Is this more money for the relegated clubs or is it the same amount of money but paid out over 4 years rather than 2?

Sparticus?

A reminder of what Lord Mawhinney said 50 weeks ago when we were docked points. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11700_5228800,00.html Apart from the nonsense about an appeal mechanism being available to us (i.e. dare to appeal against us and things will be even worse), the rest of what he said could easily apply now to that lot 17 miles to the East. Consistency is all we seek.

If we take the number of Saints fans at Wembley on Sunday as 51,000, then I suspect this was the largest number of fans of any UK club away from their home venue in the modern era. I doubt if it will be surpassed any time soon.