BigWalrus

Depends how you define intelligence. To me, a large part of intelligence is about self-awareness. You are aware of how quick you are, how far you can stretch, how well timed a tackle is, how hard you have to hit a shot, how heavy to weight a pass. This is all picked up by repetition and by learning. Nobody can do these things when they're born, they have to learn them and develop the strength and ability to be able to do it consistently. There's nothing instinctive or natural about playing football. Awareness and vision develops as a result of learning what your team mates are capable of and learning what sort of pass suits them.

The proposed "safe standing" areas are pretty much the same capacity as current seated areas. There would be negligible capacity uplift. There are a number of bottlenecks that would stop capacity uplift, one being the number of stairwells available and another being the availability of exits, the number of people allowed in the bar areas at once etc. Fire safety regulations would be broken left right and centre - it's not simply a case of converting seats to rails. This could change with new stands or purpose built standing stadia, but it's not as straightforward as it sounds.

Too much emphasis on that 48% stat. You're using it like a drunk uses a lamp post - for support rather than illumination.

This is superb. Mine is extremely well worn. http://www.kushibalti.co.uk/ You basically make a big batch of base sauce (which you can then freeze in smaller portions if you like) from which the curry is formed. It's based around how they do it in the restaurants, but it really is brilliant. Plenty to get you making some starters like onion bhajis, chicken tikka, lamb kebabs etc, as well as chapatti and paratha recipes. Direct link: http://www.kushibalti.co.uk/ukorder.htm

Aye, I'm not suggesting that his degree means he should be a better player, I was just supporting what was said above about him being educated / intelligent. Some of the things he does on the pitch make him look incredibly stupid. However, I wonder if a lot of it is just down to game time, as he went to Man Utd as a youngester and rarely played. He may have benefitted from playing more regularly at a younger age.

I know a handful of Arsenal fans who are all spot on. They appreciate Wenger for what he's done, and while they might not be chuffed to bits with how things are going, they recognise that they aren't bankrolled like Chelsea and Man City. They're realistic, but the realistic fans don't ring in 5 Live or make banners to hang out at the ground. Can you imagine someone holding a sign up with, "YOU'RE DOING A REASONABLE JOB, ARSENE, SO I'M PREPARED TO GIVE YOU THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT GIVEN YOUR PAST SUCCESSES"

Aye, Obertan has a university degree. His lack of awareness of his team mates is shocking the majoirty of the time, but every now and again he'll spot a brilliant pass (whether he pulls it off or not is another matter). This suggests that he's capable of it, but just doesn't give a shit.

He could spend the time skipping on the spot while the machine is working. He'd struggle to skip while chopping veg.

Obertan wanted a transfer in January, but nobody was interested. He will probably go back to France in the summer.

Coloccini is a very different type of player to Taylor. Coloccini plays the sweeper role better than anyone in our side, Mbiwa seems to have that aura of composure that suggests he would be canny in the same role.

How will it be healthier, if the same ingredients go in?

Don't forget that he's been in and out of the side due to injury (and a short spell out suspended). He must have only played in about half of our league games this season.

To be fair, as much as he's hit some stinkers from distance, he's also had some superb shots from distance. He's a professional footballer. There is no reason why he can't have a pop from distance if the opportunity arises. The worst that can happen is it goes wide. It's all about balance and making sure he doesn't try it too often and make it wasteful. At the same time, I'd probably happily accept 50 atrocious mis-hit volleys if the 51st was a repeat of the Arsenal goal. The only goal I've been out of breath from celebrating. It makes me smile just thinking about it.

I think you should take turns to bum each other. First one to push back loses.

Yep, I think that's all fair.

Real men don't wash their hands after "only" having a piss.

It always happens. Some fans have a very simplistic view of players - if they score goals and excite them, they love them. Tiote is never going to score goals and won't set up many, but watching him play in full flow is an awesome sight.

Once went for a quiet couple of pints at the Black Horse in Monkseaton on a Friday night. It somehow turned into an all night session, culminating in walking out of Aspers at 9.30am and being blinded by bright sunlight. Somehow stayed awake all day, including going to the match and a night out in town afterwards. Slept for most of the Sunday though, it ruined me.

Reminds me of the rants from the bloke who sits behind me at the match. Usually at half time when it's 0-0.

Neither of you can back up either point with any assurance. They're individual opinions. I think I'm somewhere in the middle. I reckon the yellow count will come down if he is playing in a stronger side, but I also agree that there have been a good 5 or 6 bookings that have been illogical and pointless. These have often been picked up when he's playing in a strong side.

I don't think men are becoming more like women. I just think there is more honesty nowadays. There's no harm in wanting to eat healthily if you feel better and live longer as a result. Hair straighteners are just weird though. A mate of mine went through a phase of using them and I couldn't help but frown every time I caught the sight of his ridiculous Andreas Andersson style hair. My grandad was a proper man. Did all the DIY but no hoovering. He also did the typical Geordie male thing of being too proud to go to the doctors, culminating in him finding out about his prostate cancer when it was too late. Contrast this with my mam, who is straight off to the doctors with the smallest ailment. There are certain aspects of the stereotypical womanly mindset that blokes could do well to take heed of. There are other aspects that should be ignored completely, as there are some bloody weird things that women do.

Grey Street at about 8-9am looks fantastic when the sun's coming up.

He's always been well built, hence his nickname "el toro"