manc-mag

It makes me think of 'motor boating' but then so do lots of things.

I've always just watched him to see how much he sweats. It's pretty impressive when you see it coming through his suit jacket after barely 10 minutes.

I can appreciate that stylistically he may be adept, he just doesn't entertain me - a bit like watching sportsmen I know are good but whose sport is shit. The only measure I apply to Howard is whether he amuses me - and he does to a semi-decent level - no Hicks but then again nobody else is anyway. I've heard of people who like his Good News show who found his standup show to be awful. I don't rate him personally. I get what you mean with Evans, and I don't find him that funny, but he's sustained a career for a long time and during periods when comedians didn't get half as much exposure, plus he doesn't appear on every show on TV like a Macintyre or Jack Whitehall. You have to be a skilled performer to pull off those slapstick routines and he can do that in large venues, fair play. Only a channel like BBC 3, which commissions shows where they send Lindsay Lohan to Bandgladesh or wherever, would give that bloke a show. As for Hicks, I used to find him funny, but now a lot less so. I think he forgot to be funny sometimes when he did the overtly political material; someone like George Carlin could be just as subversive, but would never forget to keep the laughs going. Hicks has some great bits though, like the Weed vs Alcohol stuff.

Doesn't negate the point at all. I'm speaking in generalities, and it's true to say that if your game is like Ben Arfa's (ie dribbling with the ball at pace), you are more likely to be on the end of tackles which can cause you injury. By and large, you're in possession more, tackles are easier to miss time and the impact will be greater. Messi is a much better player, plays in a much better team (passing options) and plays in a league where that sort of player is given much more protection from the type of tackles that have laid up Ben Arfa. Tbh like, when you're trying to expose flaws in an argument, it's rarely a good idea to use the world's best player as your point of comparison. Ronaldo, Taarabt, Jonas, Duff in his prime, Gillespie. You're still talking shite. The speed a player runs with the ball has fuck all to do with his succeptability to injury. Shola's like a cart horse and he gets his fair share of injuries. You're average CM will get tackled more than Ben Arfa, look at how hard Parker gets hit in the tackle. It's down to an individuals musco-skeletal make up as to how much they get injured. I don't remember saying it was the only factor, and as KSA rightly points out if the player is made of titanium steel, that also has a bearing. If you're honestly debating the fact of a potential heightened risk factor though I think you're making yourself look daft.

Doesn't negate the point at all. I'm speaking in generalities, and it's true to say that if your game is like Ben Arfa's (ie dribbling with the ball at pace), you are more likely to be on the end of tackles which can cause you injury. By and large, you're in possession more, tackles are easier to miss time and the impact will be greater. Messi is a much better player, plays in a much better team (passing options) and plays in a league where that sort of player is given much more protection from the type of tackles that have laid up Ben Arfa. Tbh like, when you're trying to expose flaws in an argument, it's rarely a good idea to use the world's best player as your point of comparison.

Thanks for that - best laugh for a while. You should watch Evan Davies's Made in Britain. Episode 2 was on last night, it describes where in the production process you generate the most value added. Its not in manufacturing. The example he uses is a $300 iPod and how that money is distributed. Its designed and innovated by Apple and made in China. Once all the parts suppliers have been paid, Apple gets $80 for its invention and the Chinese manufacturer gets $5. Do you invest $billions into manufacturing plants or into research and innovation? The UK was correct to move away from manufacturing but is not now well balanced, so there is a problem but its not fundamental, its more a question of needing a better mix. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012brrc It makes sense as an investor (obviously) and I know what I'd prefer to be involved in if I was punting my money about, but presumably manufacturing employs more people than design and innovation. Or at least more than design and innovation actually needs to. The counterpoint to that is obviously how much corporation tax ends up getting paid to the government by design and innovation vs manufacturing companies, but largely I'd say your point is of concern to the private investor rather than governments looking to generate sustainable employment for their people. As you say though, from a governmental point of view its probably a question of a better mix/balance. Will give that a watch either way though, find all that shit fascinating.

I have I saw that film actually, but I'd left the cinema by then as Kelly Brook had stopped flashing her tits.

I've never seen any films about cock gobbling piranhas.

Yeah, never buy skilfull players basically. I'm just saying its more of an occupational hazard in his case.

Anyone who carries the ball like Ben Arfa does is likely to pick up more injuries over a career tbf. Certainly in the Prem anyway.

Fop used to be bad for these before he was assassinated. 'Oftentimes' (or similar) was a common one.

You had a photo taken from the apex of the church roof/rafters, looking down on the congregation. It was just a joke, I didn't actually think he was up there in a harness.

How much extra did he charge for abseiling from the roof?

Nice one. Love hearing that sort of attitude. There's enough people would be put off even by £2500 so good luck with it old son!

What the fuck happened there?

Pinder is mint but she sounds like Frank Bruno sadly.

"I'm happy to talk about that...it's a good question...!" Fuck off!

Phil Jupitus on the panel for this one. Should be good.

What the hell are you watching it on? I'm starting to feel sorry for Murdoch Jr, looks like pops is referring every difficult question to him. I was watching Bridget et al on this. Then it went off.

Where is it on now??? I'm just getting an engaged tone on the link posted above?

Whoever's on line 2 to Portcullis House, can you hang up please?

They've fucked off and it's the speaking clock now.

Yates is a bit of a cock end irrespective of whether he's culpable of anything.