Renton

Shearer lost his pace, especially this last year, but in terms of committment and technical ability (yes, I do mean this), he was unsurpassed. If you're right with the additionof a so-so striker we'll improve. I hope you're right. But I fear you are wrong.

Yes, overall, but I feel that he played on too long. The last couple of years in particular he's been a shadow of his former self. There is no room for sentiment and if, for example, he'd gone to Man Utd, he'd have been peddled years ago. Quite possibly to us. 135259[/snapback] I agree, but the trouble is the shadow of his former self has proved to be more effective than any of our other options. 135288[/snapback] do you not think it was a self perpetuating problem though Renton? If the majority of support, the chairman/board and local press continue to think that you still have a top class striker, regardless of his actual performances, why would you look to replace him? Our other options were all support strikers, players who would play alongside Shearer or as an understudy. We never invested, until Owen, in another out and out goal scorer 135294[/snapback] I see your point but personally I think he only stayed on one year too long. You say the other strikers are supporting strikers but why should this be? Fact is they have in the main been poor, and the only decent one we flogged for peanuts. Anyway, I think Shearer had a positive influence on the team. With him gone, I expect results to suffer, unless we buy another top notch striker of course. The thought of Ameobi and Chopra fills me with dread tbh.

I didn't know he had lung cancer. Bollocks. Sorry guys but you don't beat that one. 135293[/snapback] Very unusual too. They did catch it early though, so there's a chance.

I was married by Dec's brother, who is a priest. Or maybe it was Ant's, I'm not sure. 135225[/snapback] I didn't know you were religious. 135236[/snapback] I'm not, and I was upfront about it. If you want to get married in a catholic church, you have to endure several painful meetings and mentoring sessions. The priest asked me if there was anything he should know - I told him I didn't believe in God. Caused an awkward moment. 135244[/snapback] Not having a pop but why did you get married in a church, was it for your lass or your respective families? I'm always curious as to why non-religious people do it. I know some people just like the idea of it. Personally I wouldn't do it (get married that is ). 135266[/snapback] Both our families are catholic. I didn't believe I was compromising anything as I still believe in the vows, and I believe it is a day for the family too. Next time I'll use a registry office though.

Yes, overall, but I feel that he played on too long. The last couple of years in particular he's been a shadow of his former self. There is no room for sentiment and if, for example, he'd gone to Man Utd, he'd have been peddled years ago. Quite possibly to us. 135259[/snapback] I agree, but the trouble is the shadow of his former self has proved to be more effective than any of our other options.

Difficult to say really, he didn't pose a thread to us and no one has found a credible link between 9/11 and him and no one has found any weapons of mass destruction. Given that, should we go to war with any regime that kills it's own people and doesn't allow democracy or decent human rights, i.e. in China, Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Sierra Leone, etc., etc. Or should we just tackle the ones with no army left and huge oil reserves like Iraq? For someone who is fond of callling others who disagree with him naive that's an incredibly simplistic view. Also, apart from leaving behind a horrible mess for the Iraqis, from a selfish, western viewpoint the power vacuum we would leave behind would create a country in which terror camps, Al-Qaeda, Muslim extremism etc. would thrive. That would make our own lives more dangerous and the risk of terrorism far greater. You were one of the people who wanted to wade into this war while people like me opposed it and now things have gotten tough you just want to walk out. Unfortunately, much as I would like to see this war over, it just doesn't work like that. 135254[/snapback] Good post. One thing Saddam did not tolerate was terrorists. Now he's gone ironically we are at much greater risk from them.

If you want rid of your unsightly wart do this: (my dad swears by it) Purchase a potato, slice said potato in half. Rub each half onto the offending wart area, bury the 2 bits of potato in your garden. Result - Your wart should disappear within the week. 135258[/snapback] Sage advice.

Personally I reckon you're a peadophiliac. 135252[/snapback] Well, this is at least the second time you've complained about pains. And it was nowt last time.

Personally I reckon you're a hypochondriac.

I meant to start a thread about scarf-whirling a while back, but forgot. I was up at Tynecastle at the start of the season, and they do it there regularly. Even in a small ground the effect is impressive. It'd be nice if we could do this at SJP occasionally. Bring back the scarf! Also I noticed that almost everyone does it in an anticlockwise direction. Odd.

I was married by Dec's brother, who is a priest. Or maybe it was Ant's, I'm not sure. 135225[/snapback] I didn't know you were religious. 135236[/snapback] I'm not, and I was upfront about it. If you want to get married in a catholic church, you have to endure several painful meetings and mentoring sessions. The priest asked me if there was anything he should know - I told him I didn't believe in God. Caused an awkward moment.

Is she bald? 135216[/snapback] Nah but she has the exact same 'do as his Southampton days. Or at least she did have. 135234[/snapback] Think I'd pass on that like.

I was married by Dec's brother, who is a priest. Or maybe it was Ant's, I'm not sure.

Sounds like you have a painful lump on the sole of your foot.

Aye but you're a student man, anything over 10st is classed as overweight - at 13½st you're morbidly obese! 134192[/snapback] And the bad news is.... I was 11 stone approx when I was 20 and I'm now 13 and a half stone at 51 ....... Theres no escape lads unless you want to live the life of a recluse, no beer, no kebabs, no curries 135061[/snapback] True. And having a desk job makes things worse. I was two stone lighter just 5 years ago when I had a manual job. 135203[/snapback] ..........and lets not forget the Muslims 135215[/snapback] They supply the kebab meat after all.

Is she bald?

That's spot on in my view. Plus, now isn't the time to decide about him getting a statue, especially given he is bound to be a future manager. Another example of is that of Robson getting a statue at Ipswich. It was well after he had left the club (20-odd years) that they put one up for him. Shepherd's got a severe case of Shearer Hysteria. 135208[/snapback] I still find the argument that Shearer has held us back unconvincing. He has been our top scorer for 10 years, including this year, where admittedly he has been too slow. But what does that say about our other strikers? Well, now we'll see. No doubt Sima will be looking forward to a much improved Newcastle side next year, but personally I think we'll go into major decline. You always know what you've got 'til it's gone as they say.

Was it? Champion, about time too. Although, I fear it's only being moved because they're going to start redeveloping around the brewary so this decision has probably been forced upon the club. Cynical hat on. 135198[/snapback] Aye, it's going back to the SW corner area, where it will be dwarfed by a 200 foot solid gold Alan Shearer statue with diamonds for eyes.

Aye but you're a student man, anything over 10st is classed as overweight - at 13½st you're morbidly obese! 134192[/snapback] And the bad news is.... I was 11 stone approx when I was 20 and I'm now 13 and a half stone at 51 ....... Theres no escape lads unless you want to live the life of a recluse, no beer, no kebabs, no curries 135061[/snapback] True. And having a desk job makes things worse. I was two stone lighter just 5 years ago when I had a manual job.

She's appealing isn't she ? 135052[/snapback] Not very, you can hardly see any of her in her outfit! But appeals are another thing wrong with our legal system. Once a decision has been made by the due legal process through a court of law that should be it, unless some new and important evidence or change of events occurs. Or else what is the point of any decision if you can then just waste more time and money appealing it when nothign has changed at all from when the original verdict was reached. 135055[/snapback] In criminal law, that is exactly the case - you can only appeal if there is reasonable doubt over the verdict or new evidence comes to light. In civil cases, like the muslim school girl case, I think you can appeal to a higher court until you get to the European courts? But once a precedent has been set here, that's it. It [the issue of wearing muslim clothes in schools] won't happen again, because no lawyer will take on a case which is essentially unwinnable due to precedent. Perhaps Isegrim can clarify the issues.

I'm sure it was annouced the Milburn statue was moving just two days ago. As for the Shearer statue, frankly it's an embarassment.

The one with the blond hair is the spitting image of her father. That's going to be freaky for some lad when she's older. The other one looks just like her mother.

I enjoyed it immensely in the end, probably more than most other matches this season. It was the patronising itinerary I objected to. But it was well organized and being slightly pissed helped. I feel genuinely sorry he will never play for us again - we have lost our top scorer for each and every one of the last 10 years. Oh, and I was in the platinum club so didn't have to hold a card. Shame on those of you who did though - the resulting message was almost unreadable because so many people let the side down! Actually I must have been pissed because I even liked the singer at the end.

It didn't need to go to court at all. Even ignoring the fact the muslim council had already aproved the uniform with regards to their religion the simple fact is a school can decide on its choice of uniform and you either abide by their rules and remain at the school or you ignore their rules and leave the school. You don't need all the time, effort and expense to taxpayers of a court case because one girl doesn't like her school uniform. You give her a simple choice follow the rules and go to the school, or leave the school and stop moaning about it. My school uniform included a tie, at no point would i expect to be able to take the school to court because i didn't like wearing one, i accepted their rules. And just because her argument was about religion doesn't make it any more valid whatsoever than mine whether she likes it or not. Religion can't (or shouldn't) be grounds to pick what you do and don't like about rules and regulations made by the state and fortunately the court agreed with this on this occasion. 135018[/snapback] If you want to live in a free soceity you're going to have to accept that people can challenge the interpretation of the law. The legal system clarified the last sentence of your post, and now a precedent has been set it can't happen again. It was a price worth paying imo. Or we could just have totalitarianism instead to save a few quid. 135028[/snapback] A fair point you've made there, though do you really think that will be the last and you won't see a very similar case or cases in the future allowed to go to court, i supect there will be. My main problem with it is probably the religous angle. Whatever religion it is people should never be allowed to use it to challenge the law as other people subscribe to different religions or no religion at all. And religion is nothing but unproven/unprovable faith and belief and why the hell should that allow you to dicate (or attempt to dicate) laws other people may have to follow when they share none of your unproven beliefs. 135033[/snapback] I agree comletely. Of course, this government is making matters worth with their support of faith schools, and even allowing a member of opus dei to be minister for equality! Jesus wept!

It didn't need to go to court at all. Even ignoring the fact the muslim council had already aproved the uniform with regards to their religion the simple fact is a school can decide on its choice of uniform and you either abide by their rules and remain at the school or you ignore their rules and leave the school. You don't need all the time, effort and expense to taxpayers of a court case because one girl doesn't like her school uniform. You give her a simple choice follow the rules and go to the school, or leave the school and stop moaning about it. My school uniform included a tie, at no point would i expect to be able to take the school to court because i didn't like wearing one, i accepted their rules. And just because her argument was about religion doesn't make it any more valid whatsoever than mine whether she likes it or not. Religion can't (or shouldn't) be grounds to pick what you do and don't like about rules and regulations made by the state and fortunately the court agreed with this on this occasion. 135018[/snapback] If you want to live in a free soceity you're going to have to accept that people can challenge the interpretation of the law. The legal system clarified the last sentence of your post, and now a precedent has been set it can't happen again. It was a price worth paying imo. Or we could just have totalitarianism instead to save a few quid.