Dolly Potter MD

Just a continuation of his business practices in the retail sector, and this is one his major downfallings in the running of the club as his negotiation skills [knowing when to give a little, in order to find middle ground] are non-existent. The man used to have his store carpark & storage wharehouse exits deliberately blocked [so his suppliers' delivery trucks couldn't leave his premises] until new & disproportionately favourable terms [for Ashley] were renegotiated. As an operator dealing with suppliers [particularly in his formative years] he really used aggressively take the piss, and that trend has followed him into realm of football club ownership.

It's there now/viewable, it's a gif file avatar. I'll leave it there for about 15 minutes. Tin hat has now been firmly placed backed on.

DEADMAN.

It was there yesterday until now, up until that last post a couple of minutes ago now. And it was set as my avatar pic, and it was viewable on the forum beside my posts as i checked it iirc. Wasn't there today big dog, stick it up again! I've just changed my viewable avatar [although it isn't me in the pic] again ie. i do actually know how to muck around with the avatar settings . The image of myself was a gif file.

It was there yesterday until now, up until that last post a couple of minutes ago now [after i removed it]. And it was set as my avatar pic, and it was viewable on the forum beside my posts as i checked it iirc. Nothing lost, i've probably dodged a few bullets anyway.

............... and it's gone.

Since a few of the lads & lasses have done so already, my ugly mug is currently my avatar. Since this will by only period of access to the net for a little while, it will stay up until some time tomorrow morning. Back story behind the shot: 30'something birthday party last year, blind/drunk as a bat and the lass bleached the mop on top for the party - i looked a bit like Canizarez on the night. Tin hat firmly placed on head

Unstoppable: Slick but otherwise standard formula action flick, featuring the old veteran & the young upstart as it's two principle characters. 3.5 out of 5.

It's CT outside weight watchers after a disappointing weigh in. CT after finding out that Mike Ashley lost 300 mill when spreadbetting on HBOS.

One of my favourite artists/bands [for a couple of years now] is HTRK. Really original. Minimalist in the way of lyrics, beautiful & interesting music though - the track 'Fascinator' fits the bill re: the beautiful tag. Their bassist [RIP S.Stewart] commited suicide last year, those moody bass riffs will be missed as they're the heartbeat of their best tracks.

Dr Gloom.

Two fish swim into a wall of cement. One says to the other...... 'dam'.

I guess it depends on the level of ethics adopted by the establishment, effort put into recreate an environment which mirrors it's natural habitat etc. Sadly though [this is more of a reflection on human predation, blackmarkets dealing in coats & parts used for herbal medicine, habitat destruction etc] first rate breeding programs in some notable zoos have made them a necessity in terms of being able to prevent the total extinction of some species. Disappointing to think that some species [Tigers especially] will only be viewable in captivity, in our lifetime as well.

Smells more of him being Carroll's cut-price & immediate replacement, or eventual successor should AC remain on the books come Feb.

In all honesty i never thought of Shearer as being the team's real captain/leader - an on-field communicator & motivator. For me Speed was the galvanizing figure in the dressing room, the one bloke who seemed to bridge the gap between the young upstarts [bellamy, Dyer etc] and the squad's elder statesmen/veterans. In the wake of Speed's departure there was an evident lack of leadership on the pitch, he could have well been an effective intermediary during the Bellamy/Souness saga if he'd still been around at the time. He compares with Speed a bit, but with the scales firmly tipped toward GS.

Hasn't KJ claimed that many players & clubs conceal their third party ownership of players.

With Tiote's suspension having at least one ball-playing outlet [in the defensive 1/3] for Collocini should alleviate the long-ball issue seen at the weekend somewhat. It's crucial this week especially. Our most important player this weekend, along with Jonas providing that he shows up. Without his inclusion our central defensive pairing would be inviting constant pressure upon themselves this weekend, against a attacking outfield chomping at the bit for some derby day revenge.

A babboon was executed for acting aggressively. Seems like they're attempting to take the 'wild' out of wild animals, and if it goes balls-up they'll simply chuck the toys out the pram, and adopt the attitude of 'what the heck - we'll draft in another'....... Wow. It's a good thing Sea World Florida didn't adopt such policy re-Tilikum the killer whale. In the case of Tilikum he's being relgated to the zoo equivalent of solitary confinement. BTW after seeing a few doco's [concerning the hunting & behavioural characteristics within an Orca pod] i'm against killer whales being held in captivity, dolphins i might add as well.

He's probably stepping into Jimenez' former role, as the club's advisory wheeler & dealer in the player market, and Jimenez was known to have alot of contacts [in Spain in particular]. The failed system [as it was under KK] is indeed alive & well. Apart from tha fact that it's [KJ's involvement in the club's transfer market affairs, in a now official capacity as 'Football Advisor'] a business related decision, but it in all honesty it also spells that of Ashley handing out the proverbial 'up yours' toward the ruling establishment, a pointed two fingered salute at the FA, at the new chairman/Bernstein [a noted enemy of Ashley] in particular. It's a pretty defiant move on the club's part to be in such close cahoots with a shady operator [KJ], whose previous & close involvement [way of conducting transfer dealings] with West Ham brought about the fall wrath of the FA coming atop of them & subsequent legal action. Admittedly the Tevez-West Ham transfer attracted sanctions under a previous chairman. Such is the stigma attached to this bloke it's a risky & defiant move, with Bernstein now at the helm it's all the more pointed. It's a relationship that's one part business [for the benefit of the club's balance sheets], and one part antagonistic/designed to take the mick out of another party. It's classic Mike Ashley.

If true thats all that matters. Let Ashley worry about dodgy dealings, we'll just enjoy any players he coughs up. ................... for limited periods. Kia engineers/instigates transfers [of those that are on his books] with the sort of regularity which is alarming to say the least. One just has to look at Tevez' track record to clarify this point - regularly cashing in on his tradeable commodities, as he is an owner of players, is how this bloke makes his living. So much for the notion of maintaining any sense of stability within the squad, by being able to keep key palyers. Also, what's to stop Ashley from selling our players' registration papers to KJ [or part ownership rights at least, for a short-term profit or quick quid], so that KJ [an adept mover & shaker in the transfer market] can further profit later as a player moves from club to club, in the case of a youngster as they progress. Ashley is an unconventional operator, a maverick of sorts, so i would place this type of scenario [or business arrangement] within the realm of possibility.

Pearl Harbour, Munich & the Harry Potter films.

Relieved actually [that it is KD] even if it is a more of sure-fire/safe appointment. I thought Coyle would have been a top choice, a progressive appointment - even with a hefty compensation package heading Bolton's way.

1. "The Sopranos" 2. "The Shield" 3. "Entourage", and "Dead Wood", a toss-up between these two. Like the top 3 film thread, it's a tough call coming up with a definitive three. "True Blood", "Rome", and "Twin Peaks" are/were all good as well. "Fawlty Towers" re:comedy.

This. Seriously will never ever trust the bloke. He wants to make a statement of intent? Accept a reasonable offer for the club, cut your losses and accept failure to win us over. Oh aye and take your fucking SD ads with you too. I used to think Shepherd Offshore and Cameron Hall took the piss but it's nowt compared to this clown's outfit. This. In reality though, and this is testament to the man's character. The man is a reckless gambler who has refused to underwrite his own losses as well. This is a pretty recent story. After England lost to the Croats in the European Cup qualifier he/SD tried weasel out of a contract by refusing to accept delivery [and thus not pay, i think it was Umbro - i can't remember if it was them, or Adidas after they bought out Umbro] of a bulk sized amount of replica shirts. Over 10 000 were to go Lillywhites alone. He simply got in early [before his competition did], ordered a massive quantity in bulk at a bulk/cut-price deal before England actually qualified. Basically it was his intention to saturate the market while savagely undercutting the oppositon. His problem was [and he is a gambler] the fact they he failed to carry out due diligence, re: ordering up before the qualifiers had run their ourse. The gamble blew up in his face, and he was determined to not to bear any financial losses relating to his flawed judgment/gamble in this instance. He refused to take delivery [as mentioned] and Umbro threatened to sue for breach of contract, for which they had an iron clad case. Ashley [shite Direct] reluctantly took delivery, but still had the cheek to demand credit notes for each unit/replica that were to be eventually unsold. The point being when in comes the ramifications of his poor business related decisions [where poor judgement is involved, thanks to a lack of due diligence] and the idea of accepting responsibility & accepting a financial loss [reluctantly taking a blow on the chin like a man of honour] doesn't compute where this man involved. I dunno you'd characterise that as a 'failure to do due diligence' like. That's just a commercial gamble. FWIW I imagine he doesn't ever do due diligence in his acquisitions. He probably can't see the benefit given the cost involved in doing due diligence checks only to be warned against a purchase. It wouldn't appeal to the gambler in him at all and tbf by and large the acquisitions he's made (I suspect without dd or with only the most cursory of checks) have made him an absolute fortune. We are obviously the noteable exception. He made his fortune through stockpiling of cheap brands during an economic boom period, and paraded them in what amounted to a market stall masquerading itself as a reputable alternative to classier establishments like JJB, and of course resorting to other unethical business practices. Fair play to him re: the piece placed in bold. As previously pointed out, and we are not are notable exception in his track record [via the scenario/case stated]. Where 'commercial gambles' are concerned there's risk involved, from the top end of end of town right down the mum & dad investor dabbling in the sharemarket. At all levels on the playing field they're betting on fluctuating markets, taking a shot based on a hunch where potential losses can be mimimised with a degree of due diligence as per the post above. When you're betting & playing with largescale amounts of money [where there is a 49% shareholding attributed to other parties, as Ashley's was a only a majority shareholder at the time] some degree of due diligence was warranted, a play-it-safe policy of some sort. It's all good & well to ride the highs, but the man is hesistant to cop a loss on the chin [by attempting to rip off his supplier - in effect forcing them to subsidise his poor judgement, and his company's paper loss]. By holding his early AGM's in a storage warehouse, away from the major metro centres & an hour away from any type of public transport, the man wasn't even brave enough to face up to the potential wrath of his shareholders in the wake of the company's drop in value & subequent failed gambles. This man has little regard to facing up to one's failings, even acting with a hint of transparency and being held accountable to the everyday punter. As inferred in the earlier post this is a man without honour, and acts with blatant disregard to facing any type of, or accepting accountability. He won't [as he should] admitt to his spectacular failings as the club's owner & primary string-puller, and hence not force any potential buyer of the club to subsidise his paper loss & poor judgment by slapping down a ridicilous figure re: his asking price. As another poster intimated, 'accept a reasonable bid & walk away'. On a different level playing field, and it relates to the football management caper. Once again it is a question of honour, argument holds water. Even Gullit knew when to walk away [on the back of a series of decisions, which apply to the transfer market and how footballers were/or were not treated with respect losing the support of dressing room in the process - decisions by which managers live & die by] at his own expense. For that Gullit deserves respect.

Notable exclusions, as top 3 lists are tough: "No Country For Old Men", "There Will Be Blood" & "Blade Runner" No Country saw the introduction of modern day film's coolest & most chilling villain, while There Will Be Blood lays host to the most ruthless bugger seen in recent times.