NJS

I've always thought that a very blind eye has been turned on the relationship between the press and the police - I remember years ago when David Pleat got arrested for kerb crawling and it was front page of The Sun the next day I couldn't help thinking how they knew - obviously a copper had tipped them off, presumably for cash.

Apart from the fact every single club on the planet does it to some extent. Transfer income is just club income like any other. I think its the implication that without selling, wages couldn't be met that is a bit unbelieveable as it would be reckless at best. Club A with mediocre league position and mediocre squad loses money after taking into consideration all money making revenue. Club A wants to challenge for Europe by improving its squad, which involves increasing the wage bill. Club A must surely lose more money? Cant understand how people still dont get this or what Im missing. I can see how a moderate at best transfer spend combined with championship revenues could equal a loss but there's no excuse for losing money in the premier unless you allow wagee and costs to approach or exceed 100% of revenues - paying wages at say 105% (which we aren't btw as far as In know) would require subsidy or sales.

I would probably do the same if you chased me with a bottle of tomato sauce.

Apart from the fact every single club on the planet does it to some extent. Transfer income is just club income like any other. I think its the implication that without selling, wages couldn't be met that is a bit unbelieveable as it would be reckless at best.

Classic Creationist faux pas it to point out how "perfect" bananas are for humans so proving design - not realising they are "designed" by humans as are all cultivated crops.

Cheers - I'm a lot more positive about it today. Continuing my tour of former enemies I'm going to work for the Russians.

Go back and read some of your threads about how desperate you were to move on. There is always the fear of the unknown and even sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward. If you applied for it you must have wanted it. Make sure its not fear of change holding you back...........Grasshopper I know being too settled is part of it - really I should have left long before now - its just that what they've offered though fine in itself left me feeling not wanted enough - they've offered me just more than my current basic + on call allowance as a basic with the promise of good bonuses - it's not really the money as such - I just wanted a sign at the start that they really wanted me by offering me a "token" increase in basic. I suppose I'm being a bit daft really. Not knowing what you do but thats probably right. I know enough to know you hate your boss and hate where you are so just make the move. Its more dosh and the fact they havent thrown down palm leaves should just fire you up to prove yourself. Go for it......(My saying in life....LTS.....Lifes Too Short) Well I've verbally accepted the job - now I can get on with the other life projects.

Go back and read some of your threads about how desperate you were to move on. There is always the fear of the unknown and even sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward. If you applied for it you must have wanted it. Make sure its not fear of change holding you back...........Grasshopper I know being too settled is part of it - really I should have left long before now - its just that what they've offered though fine in itself left me feeling not wanted enough - they've offered me just more than my current basic + on call allowance as a basic with the promise of good bonuses - it's not really the money as such - I just wanted a sign at the start that they really wanted me by offering me a "token" increase in basic. I suppose I'm being a bit daft really.

In a bit of a strange mood - I've finally been offered a new job but I still need some self-convincing to embrace it which is making me worried that deep down it's not quite right.

Or of course categorically refuse to accept that the club can ever lose money "what with the 3rd highest crowd in England".

I agree with the squad angle but my biggest unanswered question is a simple if Carroll hadn't been sold, does that mean we would have bought nobody at all this summer? If the answer is that Ashley would have been "forced" to spend pretty much as he did last year and all the Carroll money means is that he hasn't had to subsidise the club then it goes back to the old question of how stupid he is for not going out on a bit of limb spending wise.

I caught a bit of Channel 4 news last night where they described a case where a PI was murdered twenty odd years ago and a detective appeared on Crimewatch to appeal for help - the NOTW then targetted the detective with their team of PIs - probably aware that the whole investigation involved the PI industry. They thought they'd found a "nice" story of the copper having an affair with a Crimewatch producer but it turned out they were married - obviously not exactly Magnum levels of competence there.

You can also add that several people at Scotland Yard have known about the various hacking over the years - a good example why I just don't trust any of them.

I don't think there anything wrong with a sense of belonging/community as such though obviously only up to a certain point. I'd love it if everyone just thought of themselves as "human" but its a stretch for most.

Who the fuck are these sicko's that lap up shit like this? Those fuckers who congregate when alleged murderers are arriving at court and bang on the van etc are beneath contempt imo - and I don't care what the accused has done.

Probably both - I think there are layers of identity and I see no conflict between being English as a subset of British.

Well he fucking should intervene - as Prime Minister surely he has the authority (and in many respects, an obligation) to act in the best interests in this scenario? Telling time for Dave - needs to show if he has indeed got a backbone. He'll have no real authority in this case and that's exactly the way he wants it. He can distance himself from the decision and at the same time keep his mate Murdoch happy. I think his relationship with Coulson should be scrutinised further -I'd love to see the latter prosecuted properly as that would then mean Cameron would be in deep shit imo - of course the press would give him an easy ride on that.

Used their free bus in days of yore when matches were on metro-less holidays. I'm slightly ashamed to say I haven't been back to Shields for about 5 years.

Don't you pay a premium for being in NI anyway?

I disagree, we look in better shape than we did last season imo. We have lost Nolan and Carroll but gained Ba, Marveaux and Cabaye, also will have Ben Arfa and Gosling who weren't exactly available last season. Don't see how we haven't improved but maybe I just have my 'head in the sand'. If Taylor comes in and a decent forward, then Enrique leaves and maybe Best, Smith etc then I think we will be stronger as a squad and first 11. I think the midfield has been nicely improved but I'm gravely concerned about the attack and the defence.

Not a fan of boxing at all and I realise the macho pre-fight posing is part and parcel of the whole thing but I caught about two seconds of a PR event from a couple of weeks ago where at the end Klitchsko offered Haye his hand and he refused - I instantly thought what a wanker and I hope you lose.

The funding for which is coming from where exactly? The wide-boys who ran the Life and Pensions industry in the 80s and 90s have a lot to answer for - they signed people up on 13% growth rate illustrations which now surprisingly look like the con they were. Indeed they do. Still doesn't answer where the funding is going to come from today though. Unfortunately it puts the onus back on the individual to make their own provision.

Plus the usual lovely tactic of questioning her "credibility" as the report goes which I guess will either be based on her immigration status or sexual history.

The funding for which is coming from where exactly? The wide-boys who ran the Life and Pensions industry in the 80s and 90s have a lot to answer for - they signed people up on 13% growth rate illustrations which now surprisingly look like the con they were.

Actually I'd count them as fixed term contractors and make them all self-employed and pay them for their actual attendance and work. How you get a pension for life for what could be 5 years of work is beyond me.