Joensuu

Having cracked or not is not excusable for murder. 5 years is far, far too soft; a life sentence should be the starting point for sentencing.

Barry, unfortunately my phone insists on showing me your posts despite having you on ignore. Why would we need to finish above three of the 7 listed teams to get a Europa place? Surely we'd need to better only one of them to finish sixth? (or looking at the remaining league cup teams, 7th might well be enough.

Slim chances of winning the cup, even had we beaten Sunderland. Some on here are talking as if we threw away the cup, almost as if they think it virtually had our name on it already. Had we progressed, we would have started taking it more seriously in later rounds. Sunderland are crazy playing such an experience team, they're doubtful to progress far, and really should be focussing on the real competition, their league placement. I think we've sensibly prioritised the league, and IMO are far more likely to get a Europa place via league than cup. I do wish the more extreme on here would calm down.

Aye, put Turkish, Barry and Glasgow on ignore, job done.

Fans complaining about other fans being embarrassing is embarrassing IMHO.

The Job Centre seems to have given up on its primary purpose - matching people and jobs - and now instead starts with the assumption that people are all trying to get the dole and avoid work. I had a friend who after a couple of frustrating months at the job centre (being forced to apply for jobs far below her skill set) managed to find herself a suitable role by herself. When she informed the job centre that she had a job starting in 4 weeks time, the response was that 4 weeks was too long to wait, so she would need to apply for other jobs in the meantime. The stupidity of her having a job to move to, but being forced to continue to apply for jobs she was over qualified for and had no intention of ever considering seems crazy.

Aye

Genital tossed (Genuine ex player)

This story smells suspiciously of journalist BS.

I think this chart has far more merit than people are giving it. The 'projection' isn't accurate (no projection ever is), but it is better than many considering it is based upon your last 1-2 results against each team. As such this is a bit like saying this is what will happen if every team reverts to the form of last season. From a saints perspective that's pretty impressive, as half of our last season we were in the relegation zone. So essentially this chart tells us where we might end up if our recent form flags, and we spend 10 games playing like relegation candidates. In other words, because we've exceeded last seasons form, to finish in the 'projected' final position would actually need quite a collapse in our current form. To me that's both interesting and reassuring.

Why not just discount the corners and seats obstructed by the goals for the less attractive games. The discount doesn't need to apply to all seats.

We switch to a more hit and hoof style against hit and hoof teams. We press teams who try to play. So far this season we've only been able to press against Liverpool. That's why we've recorded more long halls than some others. I doubt we'll play too many long halls in the next few games.

orchard, this has been explained already. 'Does your boyfriend' obviously suggests that the oppositions fans are gay. This isn't in itself offensive. However, the implication that there is something wrong with that is offensive. It is only sung by those who intend (but almost certainly fail) to cause offensive. In response to your second question, might I direct you here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reappropriation. Although it isn't always acceptable: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/04/black-woman-n-word-court-case. NB, nobody is getting offended for the sake of it, and nobody is getting offended on behalf of others. I'm merely pointing out how stupid people make themselves look when they discriminate.

It's only offensive if offence is intended.

Yes, if you act like a prat, you're fair game for stick IMO. Although I'd still be against ever bringing race or sexuality into your arsenal (irrespective of the behavior of the other individual). You see the fat person almost certainly has some amount of choice in their weight, whereas the gay person doesn't (and how can you tell their sexuality anyhow?)

If someone has chosen to dirty, irrespective of where they live, or the promiscuity of they parents, surely they deserve to be laughed at for their lack of personal hygiene?

It has nothing to do with them being fat, but they have made a decision to single themselves out by fighting - so IMO they become fairer targets for jokes. It's simple, if you choose to do something stupid, like say support Pompey, you should expect some stick. If you are being given stick for something you have no choice over (such as being black, gay, ginger, female or having your wife cheat on you), then the chanting isn't warranted.

Fair enough, perhaps I've just caught you on a few of too many social issue discussions, and there haven't been enough threads about redistribution of late then.

I'm sure the intent of the joke is to annoy Brighton fans (it doesn't work btw - they are proud of how liberal their city is). However, the 'jokes' are still anti-gay, whether you deem them to be or not. The way the chants works is that stupid people feel that it is in some way offensive to be called gay, so try to undermine others by calling them gay. This of course only works if the person telling the joke, actually thinks that being gay is worse in some way that being straight. Hence, the chants are anti-gay.

Good question, that applies equally to any form of communication - and often people overstep the mark of acceptability. I think its perfectly fine to joke about things people have chosen to do, but not about things they have not choice over. For example, Westwood has chosen to be an @rsehole. Anyone with an ego the size of his needs knocking down a peg or 3. Whereas, chanting about someone having ginger hair, when they haven't chosen that fate, is, well not very funny. If you are singing about a fat person who is just watching the game peacefully, then I feel you are out of line. But if two large people start swinging punches, then they deserve a ribbing.

No, no, not one issue. Unless I'm mistaken your views have become more conservative over the past few years. You used to take a more liberal line on any debate, but over the last 6 months of so I've noticed you starting to side with the WUMs.

If showing support and solidarity 'will not help', what do you suggest would be a better way for footballers to try to encourage fans to be more accepting of people's sexuality? Should they do nothing (and ignore the anti-gay chants)?

Absolutely. Unimaginative. Probably stupid, and all in all rather immature. The chants just serve to make anyone singing them look like an embarrassing uncle trying to dance. BTW, Tim, what's happened to you. I seem to recall a few years back you were actually quite a good poster.

Are you being deliberately obtuse? [Examples include any song, comment or chant that makes reference to the sexuality of a player or set of supporters. This includes any reference to boyfriends knowing about the presence of their partners, or holding of hands being conducted, or use of any other offensive term such as faggot etc.]. The apparent 'joke' behind such chants is that being gay is in some way a weakness that others can look down on, laugh about or pick on.

Have you ever been to a Brighton game?