manc-mag

It was the best of times it was the worst of times etc.

Okay, tried sitting on my hands and chanting dont do it, dont do it. ......but I'll bite. My point about Ben Arfa was as follows. This was his big move, his chance to prove to all his detractors that he could still do it and do it consistently without all the bad boy antics. Obviously it hasnt gone well, he's had a year out and is struggling to break into a team that is doing very well. The scenario I was discussing was whether he would be happy, (given his ego and the ticking clock, point to prove etc ) spending the season as a bit part player. Or whether frustration would set in and he would engineer a move away, initially on loan, as he did to get here. A simple point that even a simpleton such as yourself should have been able to grapple with. With regard to Jonas, he's brilliant if you like having two left backs (which has been handy at times), but his attacking game has all but dried up, leaving the burden on Obertan's shoulders. His work rate is magnificent but he needs to get forward. If Pardew can somehow get him doing both (and we have end product , the he will be a great addition to the team. Aaaah, thats better. I guess I shouldn't reply, we'll end up with a cringeworthy thread like that one over at NO, but what the hell... "Obviously it hasnt gone well", WTF do you mean? He was great when he came here, then he broke his leg ffs! He's getting better and better, has shown some good stuff already. He's a unique player at this club, we have a lot of hard working players, Ben Arfa has the potential to be the icing on the cake. Our squad is paper-thin, sending out our most skillful player on loan, aye that's a good idea... I take it reading is a problem for you Reading is not the problem with many posters on here. It is more an issue with comprehension. Oh no! Not the c-word!

Chez and Dave btw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxCrSgPWmsk&feature=related

They didn't even look double glazed. I went there in 94 when they put us out the Cup, and straight up the door to get to the stand was like walking in someones hoose. Never been like although I remember that match. On Sky wasn't it? John Hartson only played because they had a load of injuries and he tore us a new arsehole and made a name for himself. Filbert Street was like that though, i.e. like you were going into someone's house. That was a dump. Barry Venison bicycle kick clearance off the line. One of those games you knew we were going to lose iyam.

Wasn't MSG banned between 1978-82?

CT's Christian name.

Chez, step away from the (toon-moving-in-the-right-direction) vehicle!

Aye and nowt else. Looked like a glorified allotment patch, all rows of greenhouses.

PS from Kenilworth Road

If you're looking for a football fixture which captured the essence of the 1980's decade, it was Liverpool v Luton Town.

Steve Foster They were all the rage weren't they, and Hansen with his wrist bands, I got toon wrist bands as stocking filler one year. Eric Young's head band was like camouflaged in to his head. Always looked like it was blocking his vision too. iirc he had to wear it as a result of some obtuse medical condition. Steve Foster syndrome.

In short, the FA are doing everything possible to display the poppy except wear it on the shirt. Up yours Blatter.... I was thinking of ways round it to get it on the pitch (lawyer in me) and they could all wear it embroidered onto headbands (ala Steve Foster) but then I thought that from a distance that might look a bit like a kamikaze pilot, which is a conflicting message on balance.

Not technically in the house though so no transgression on that score in fairness. Btw, wasn't he posting on here from The Trent House. Where does that fit in with the guidelines? Posting from pub: acceptable Posting from pub called a 'House': grey area.

Not technically in the house though so no transgression on that score in fairness.

Fuck me gently! He could have moments where he'd be entertaining (mainly inadvertently mind) but it's far nicer to have it summarised in a couple of lines like that than have threads shot through with thousands of posts of pure bullshit on here.

Fixed your typo. Is THAT still on here somewhere? Old board as far as I remember-the one before the one before this one (Toon Chat I think).

Fixed your typo.

Some class quotes on that site btw. Want to root out my old copies of Colemanballs now.

Incredibly powerful tbh when a raucous crowd just falls completely silent for a minute. Especially when it's a game that really matters and both sides (players and fans) are essentially about to 'go to war' (in a manner of speaking) but it gets put into the correct context by that brief shared moment before the game.

Wheres the league table? Bit short on data at the mo this thread. HF?

I'm not massively fussed about this purely on the basis that it's a recent phenomenon. ie the debate's only come about because we've now started embroidering poppies on shirts, which we never used to do. If it had been some sort of retrospective attack by FIFA on a longstanding tradition then it'd warrant a Daily Mail shitstorm but it's not. The poppy has never traditionally been an item for sportswear, but more a symbol for quiet reflection and is synonymous with minutes silences rather than blood and thunder sliding tackles. Players have worn it (and can no doubt continue to wear it) before and after matches so the tradition in as much as it applies to football wont have changed at all. Having said that I'd be equally comfortable with the FA taking the view that Alex expresses, ie fuck them and wear it anyway if it feels that important. I'm just not so sure it is on a personal level. That's said from someone who has a very deep respect for those commemorated by the poppy btw.

All the best with it Shints, particularly if it's one you think you'd actually like to have!

Stevie, can you sort your sig out please btw? I actually do find that offensive, joking aside.

People are generally polite about it on here but it doesn't alter the fact he isn't right in the head.

My problem with the Mail article started with the headline - "Outcry as England stars are banned from having a poppy on their kit"# It's misleading on several points.. 1. There was no outcry. Their story was the start of the outcry 2. There's not a ban for England, it's a ban for all international teams 3. It's not a ban of the poppy, it's a ban for any logos 4. There is not a star in the Englant team, every one of them is a c*nt.