Christmas Tree

Aye, I was at an old uncles Funeral today. Good old age and a full life so not too bad.

put some clothes on, sea level is set to rise don't cha know! Loving global warming here in the North east. More the merrier.

In the garden, on the swing bench, under the patio heater, can of Kronie, curry on order, shorts and flip flops, chillin! Happy Days.

Nice boots Tom

Quite staggering that the Americans seem to have had so many problems getting the Bin Laden story straight.... To think this country would be capable of covering up Roswell / UFO's is breathtaking.

The bottom line is that its all gearing up nicely for a Tory landslide in 4 years time. The Lib Dems will be annihilated, The economy will be doing well with the deficit looking good and Milliband's adenoid operation will have gone wrong and he'll sound the spit of Stephen Hawkins. The next time Labour get in most of you lot will be Leazes's age.

for me on 02 it varies between slow and dead slow. The rest of the internet doesnt.

Yet the Tory votes remain strong. Maybe we should ditch the whiny fuckers.

Again you have to align your expectations to the resources available. We can't compete financially with Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd or Arsenal. That means Champions League football is a long shot. Whilst Champions League football is a long shot, we can't gamble the money to try and get there because the chance of a return (i.e Champions League revenue) is too small. The last board spent that money knowing that they could recoup it through Champions League revenue, because at the time other clubs didn't have the resources and a top 4 finish was more attainable. The only way we can do it now is to try and extract value for money in the transfer market and build that way. That's how Spurs did it. They sold their best players, Carrick and Berbatov respectively, for huge amounts and were astute and it paid off. Whether we're as successful in this approach I don't know, but to completely ignore the fact that the Champions League spots are held by richer clubs and think that we should be up there just because the last board were is naive, because the dynamics of football have changed. spot on No it isn't. The Ashley defenders like you will trot out this sort of stuff, but we are one of the biggest club in the country, it is no excuse whatsoever for accepting the selling of our best players to clubs like Liverpool and Spurs and competing with the likes of Bolton, Blackburn, Wolves, Norwich etc We are 5 times the club that clubs like these are, and always will be. No point arguing with you. Kruls curtains statement is still spot on.

Again you have to align your expectations to the resources available. We can't compete financially with Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd or Arsenal. That means Champions League football is a long shot. Whilst Champions League football is a long shot, we can't gamble the money to try and get there because the chance of a return (i.e Champions League revenue) is too small. The last board spent that money knowing that they could recoup it through Champions League revenue, because at the time other clubs didn't have the resources and a top 4 finish was more attainable. The only way we can do it now is to try and extract value for money in the transfer market and build that way. That's how Spurs did it. They sold their best players, Carrick and Berbatov respectively, for huge amounts and were astute and it paid off. Whether we're as successful in this approach I don't know, but to completely ignore the fact that the Champions League spots are held by richer clubs and think that we should be up there just because the last board were is naive, because the dynamics of football have changed. spot on

If my straw taxi poll is anything to go by then the turnout will be shite. The local polling stations have been dead and I havent had one person in the car all day who either had voted or was intending to vote. i really hate local elections. No fucker usually has any idea who they are voting for, whether the current lot have done a good job or what the local issues are. The sheep just turn up and mark x in the red box. Oh to live in an area that changed hands now and again.

an interesting debate tonight fellas with some interesting points. Particularly Mr Curtains points about failure under KK and Sir Bobby bearing in mind the money spent. While "true", it will never been seen that way by most who had had to endure the previous 40 years of dross. As you say though a club in that position today, with that sort of spend and with no success....... (I'd still take it all back in a heart beat)

Just been to pick Mohammedy up again from Sunderlands training ground and take him the 1/4 mil home. Find it strange that none of his team mates would run him home. Quite a few mackem footballers came out today but as I dont really follow other teams as such I couldnt really say who they were. This mohammedy lad though, like a racing snake. Was going to start whispering in his shell like about a possible summer switch to replace Enrique, but couldnt remember if he was left back or left wing. Seems a canny lad though (apart ofcourse from the dreadful footballer dress sense....Jeans with bright thick orange stitching ffs.

You being here yet? Would love t do something like that. Maybe when I'm older and the Bairns are doing their own thing and the lottery comes in. But seeing far off country's on some lovely (posh) old train sounds like heaven. *countries You do know I do it on porpoise don't you.

Aye Alex, in hindsight I thought your 25 minute and off review was a touch too much and just wanted to stick up for it a little. No Emmys, but definitely canny enough 2 hour Sunday night fodder with the added benefit of seeing me whizz by in my Taxi or fist dangling from a bridge etc etc.

You being here yet? Would love t do something like that. Maybe when I'm older and the Bairns are doing their own thing and the lottery comes in. But seeing far off country's on some lovely (posh) old train sounds like heaven.

Probably going to be the best summer in my (recent) lifetime.

Wonder if Barton did it in training as a reprisal.

I think the two go a bit hand in hand. If the grieving woman had been played by a whining cockney she would possible have come across differently to you. As it happens, the grieving woman is a very decent actress who has appeared in more stuff than your average bear. Maybe you should give the hour and 35 minutes that you missed a go.

Being and done my duty to keep the commies at bay.

Also worth noting that while myself and Alex may not be glowingabout this show, the critics have given it the thumbs up. I sometimes think we are more critical of a north east accent on TV because we live up here. I'm sure Liverpool fans hate brookside and Manchester fans hate Eastenders.

Aye I had a look at that walk online. It was one of the ones on that walk link I listed. I'm sure it's nice but to open sea front for me. Much prefer hilly countryside, riverside or Forrest type walks. I like not knowing what's around the next bend.

Don't know who we'll sign but really looking forward to the summer and the window opening. All the gossip, incomings, outgoings. Can't wait. Anyone know what date the window opens?

Had a quick google and it looks like Dunstanburh