Kitman

Are we playing crap then?

No, you said the crime's irrelevant. If you meant that what Barton and King did is indefensible I tend to agree. Except I would say King's crime is much worse, since it was unprovoked, involved a woman and included sexual assault. However I thought at the time Barton should have been sacked by the club, I can only assume the club decided they had insufficient legal grounds to do so, or more likely it couldn't afford to write off the transfer fee. If a man goes to jail and cant go to work on a daily basis he can be sacked. And as for the transfer fee, I think wed be lucky to give him away the way hes played this season. tbh I haven't seen Barton's contract, but I suspect you're right we could have sacked him. However the issue of the transfer fee was relevant at the time he got banged up. Firstly if he'd come back and played like a demon, he'd have had a transfer value. Secondly, if he'd been sacked, the club would have had to write off all of his transfer fee in the accounts, rather than just amortising it. Obviously with hindsight he's been a total waste of space but I thnk they held out hope they could get something for him.

The World as Will and Representation. Is there any point in equivocating what for most people isn't a conscious choice? I bet Schopenhauer wasn't a happy drunk

No, you said the crime's irrelevant. If you meant that what Barton and King did is indefensible I tend to agree. Except I would say King's crime is much worse, since it was unprovoked, involved a woman and included sexual assault. However I thought at the time Barton should have been sacked by the club, I can only assume the club decided they had insufficient legal grounds to do so, or more likely it couldn't afford to write off the transfer fee.

No surprises there for toon fans. Gasps of shock and amazement from non-toon fans.

Of course the crime's relevant. Do you thin he'd be sacked for shoplifting? It's where you should draw the line that's the issue.

You're onto something there. I find grossly fat people offensive, I can't explain why

This incident reminds me of the alleged roast affair involving Titus Bramble and others a few years ago, only more public. The money and fame seems to go to their heads and anything goes. I bet King was more upset that the victim didn't know/care who he was than that she was rejecting his advances.

I think our only realistic hope of salvation is a white knight with bulging pockets who can make an offer too good for Ashley to refuse. No way is he going to shift unless he makes money out of the club one way or another. A mass walk out or protest might turn up the heat but will he take any notice anyway? I don't pick him as a man who cares about public opinion one little bit. In reality you won't get the numbers needed because people will drift away bit by bit rather than en masse, and if there's a little bit of success they'll probably come back. What you'll be left with is the mong brigade with tattered bedsheets and bad spelling gurning on Sky while the nation points and laughs. People must do what they think is best, including the NUST. As an OOT, I'm just a bystander watching with interest and worry. I wouldn't criticise anyone for going or staying away, it's up to them. But I sincerely think protesting is not the answer, unless it's in such numbers and with such backing from high profile politicians and celebrities that it has massive credibility. The "poor southern Mike Ashley is being victimised by those nasty Geordie types" is an attractive by-line for the press. It's depressing and horrible to feel so powerless. But my own opinion, FWIW, is that there's nothing to do but wait for the fat twat to go. I think things will get much worse before that happens, but then what's new?

31/43. Shite.

FYP

They need to tell China before they dream up more taxes for us. Bingo. If you took places like China, India, Brazil, former Soviet republics and the USA out of the equation, I reckon the rest of us would need to do very little. Of course that's not going to go down very well with those countries. Britain did its best pollutin' before the 1980s, Mrs Thatcher was a green visionary.

What did they expect him to say? "Brilliant, let me know when it's on"?

It seems common sense to me that human beings ought to modify their behaviour to reduce the effects of pollution and development on the planet. The question is how quickly do we need to do this, and who will pay? Emission reduction schemes proposed in NZ and Australia have been watered down in the face of lobbying from industry and farmers. That's before the costs have been passed on to consumers and inevitable political backlash ensues.

Joking aside, show me something terrifying a scientist says is going to happen that will bother the average joe in the street. (a nice northern hemisphere street ) Scientist: "Gerraloadofthis, baby!" * Opens raincoat *

Its gone up to 50% now Regardless of how scandalous footballers wages are, id be fucked off if the government was nicking £50k off me on a weekly basis Income taxes are relatively high throughout Europe though. Some countries have lower income tax rates (a quick google suggests Spain and Italy are 43% top rate) but they seem to pay local income taxes there as well. Then there are local property taxes and all sorts. I doubt most footballers even know what their tax rates are, their contracts are negotiated by their agents and as I recall the top players are guaranteed net (after tax) returns so it doesn't matter to them. That's why clubs were so keen on image rights deals involving offshore companies, because if they could pay income to the player tax free it saved them money overall. Collymore's point is because the income tax rate is 50% or whatever, this will deter players from coming to the UK because they're being penalised. I think they'll just ask for more money and the likes of Man City and Chelsea will pay them whatever they want.

Banned from the club altogether I'd have thought

Yes, you can spot them a mile off. Oh, the excitement.

I don't think top footballers are being penalised; not when they pay the same rate of tax as everyone else above the top rate threshold, whilst being paid obscene amounts of money that most people can only dream of. Greedy mercenary fuckers, most of their deals are negotiated on a netto basis anyway - what they take home, not what they earn. Collymore's views are a joke, I'd rather give tax breaks to a top brain surgeon than an entertainer. The self importance of these pricks is incredible.

I agree. However realistically I don't think he'll set foot in the north east now. Surely even he wouldn't be that stupid? Of course he will cos he knows fine well that nothing will happen. The local media dont give him a hard time. Nust are too busy dreaming to give him a hard time. Nothing will happen? I think if he's not surrounded by goons, he'll get attacked. Seriously.

Yes. I wonder if he even understands what a big deal re-naming the stadium is. It's probably been on Chris Mort's "List of Big Ideas for Mike" since he bought the club.

I agree. However realistically I don't think he'll set foot in the north east now. Surely even he wouldn't be that stupid?

You'd hope that if the Good Lord did return, he wouldn't spent a great part of his life as a mediocre actor in Hollywood before he started his mission.