adios

Yep, I don't think that's the only flaw with the mail, the thing is I don't think the originator is genuine, I think it's quite plausible that this originated in some advertising agency or other. The writer is up to date enough to realise that Shell are no longer one of the big two and yet seems to show a complete lack of knowledge in Economics in general and as you've pointed out, particularly in the oil market. I just wish people in general were this active about buyer power in general and not just when they're feeling a bit down about a minor issue. But then I'd be living in a utopia that'll probably never be.

28382[/snapback] :sing: :sing: :( :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: :woosh: Excuse me for that outburst.

I'm not a big fan of smileys but if someone makes a 'whoosh' smiley or even a little beardy, long-haired, weepy I'll use them, gratuitously.

Have you missed my point by any chance? 28362[/snapback] I guess my reply was more aimed at the person who wrote the email. They are targetting the wrong area, certainly in this country and expect the same is true elsewhere in europe. 28368[/snapback] I got the email from Ireland. I live in France. I'm going to take a wild guess you're living in England. Amazing t'internet isn't it?

Have you missed my point by any chance?

Just got this email, anyone else think this is a fantastic bit of free marketing by Shell?

know him do you? cos i have friends that do. maybe thats why my opinion is more informed than yours 27587[/snapback] A faint whiff of bull methinks. 28346[/snapback] You'll love my comment on knowing lads in the Ireland setup then!

Most footballers wants to play for their country, if that causes conflicts it should be taken up with the governing bodies. Oddly enough we've had far more problems with injury prone players playing for countries alot closer to home and causing far more grief than Nobby ever did. I'd be far more interested in regulations restricting the international appearances of injury prone players.

So there you have it, abstinence was invented in the 80's, cleared everything up for me.

Torrents seem to be the way to go at the moment. www.piratebay.org is good for getting comments on how good the quality of the download is. www.isohunt.com always seems to find what I'm looking for. Azureus is a decent torrent client, haven't tried that many though.

I think I'm lost...

You think Bush has got this one right then? Maybe the chip on his shoulder is justified?

Hang on, so if I form an opinion about Bellamy's effect on the other players that makes me gullible? That's the only option? Why don't we stick to the facts of the argument and keep from insulting each other. Robson has in his book a habit of toning down to the extreme any negative truths that could be used against him in an argument, that surprised and upset me, I still thank him for what he did for us but he has gone down in my estimation. He states that Bellamy was a horrible personality, speaking out of turn to other players, saying things he shouldn't have said. You won't get much argument out of me on Souness' faults, I think the man's a pretty fucked up individual. But leaving him aside for a minute there was a problem at our club before he arrived. I want to know what that was and I'm still searching for answers, one of the reasons I read Bobby's book. The players were not playing for him towards the end. What if there was a serious divide in the dressing room, what if there was one side taking the mick out of Robson behind his back, because I reckon he was easy pickings, and another side against this kind of behavior. If removing one player could clear up that situation it would be worthwhile. I agree Souness and his cronies did a hatchet job on Bellamy, a bloody good one by the looks of things. But what if it was justifiable to remove Bellamy, doesn't make Souness right but we could still be better off without Bellamy at the club. I don't see why it has to be so black & white - either you're on Bellamy's side or Souness' side. Maybe they're both shites and we're better off without them both? About on pitch/off pitch. It's all well to say all that matters is on the pitch but I can't agree. If we attract a better class of player next season because of Owen that has an impact, if we make more sales, increase our market internationally, that allows us to buy better players and they play better where it counts, on the pitch.

Actually if you'd said the things you said to me in person I would have a go at you. Try to stop making assumptions there for one minute, will you. Although in person you'd realise how much of a piss taker I am.

Christ, you really are dim aren't you.

You proper bastard! That's the kind of thing that'll keep me awake, so someone better figure it out today!

Bellamy's attitude was enough for me to be glad to see the back of him. Owen's twice the player Bellamy is with about a tenth of the baggage. In isolation, a bad attitude doesn't appear to do much harm, but the knock on effect of poor discipline on borderline players is huge. I think Ameobi and Chopra will benefit hugely from having Owen around. 27454[/snapback] by your own admittance - somewhere - you haven't seen too much of Bellamy. If you had, you would realise the only, and only, influence he had on that club and his team mates, was to be the player with the most desire and will to win, week in week out, where and when it mattered. Obviously you are one of those who has at least made the money spent on employing Terry McDermott worthwhile, you believe the shit that Souness and his cronies have spinned to get him off the hook for assaulting a member of his staff. 27624[/snapback] I read Bobby's biography yesterday and it had a big impact on my opinion about several people. You would expect it to work in his favour but it was quite the opposite. He comes across as a man who never made a mistake in his life and had the social nouse of a small child. He's very bitter, very often justifiably but it clouds his judgement in a hugely detrimental way. On the Bellamy issue I felt he was a big problem at the club off the pitch, weighed up with being as you rightly pointed out our most important player on it by a country mile. The question really is if we have replaced his impact on the field without his attitude off it. If we've done that then it's worth the 10 million odd, especially if you consider his impact on our profile.

so people who dont eat meat arent vegetarians? just people who dont eat meat? Straight edge is not a universally accepted term, vegetarian is thats cos you are cool If you think there's something cool about taking drugs that's your hang up. whos this random that told me too? it was my choice, i wasnt told. You know who coined the term. how come? Because by your own admission you like casual sex, which 'straight edgers' generally abstain from know him do you? cos i have friends that do. maybe thats why my opinion is more informed than yours I know a few in the Ireland setup, probably why I took it a little personally If thats some sort of dig at me, well done, labelling a decent bloke like me with a degree, and a beautiful girlfriend, whos just been paid to travel america for major league soccer. but i know im a total loser cos i dont drink or do drugs This bit really made me laugh, a pissing contest. I didn't realise she was your girlfriend though - maybe you should treat her less like a piece of meat. had away! ive thought long and hard and the only thing i got out of it is i realised you are easily riled and not very comfortable with people dissimilar to yourself. the straight edge cul....community and I forgive you my friend You have a hang up about drink & drugs, something you're accusing people in this thread of. The funny thing is at the moment I don't drink, smoke, do drugs or eat meat and I've been monogamous for over 6 years so I'm more 'straight edge' than you are, but I think it's a silly children's club and would never use the term. If you can't see the difference between just doing something because it's what you want to do and needing a badge to go with it I can't help you. 27587[/snapback]

No, people who don't smoke, drink and do drugs don't smoke drink or do drugs. I would fit into that category for large chunks of my adult life if it weren't for the drugs bit, and even so have fit into that category at times. Doing so because that's what you want to do, fair enough, doing so because some random people tell you to? That's something different. Funny thing is, you don't even qualify. You would have heard nothing from me if you hadn't labelled a decent bloke an alcoholic, especially in the manner that you did. I just found it amusing considering your own position, but then you seem to feel the need to label things. I guess it makes it simpler for you. I've come at you a bit hard because I'm pissed off with what you said but have a think about it, maybe you'll get something out of it.

Bellamy => Owen? Yes. Robert => Luque? Ask me again after 6 games.

I thought the fact you didn't drink was relevant to your labelling of him as an alcoholic. I've never heard these rumours you're on about - no one here seems to have. Cult? Maybe my choice of language was bad but there's a difference between someone who makes a lifestyle choice and someone who chooses to group & label themselves because of it. If it's not open to interpretation and debate why bring it up on an internet forum?

More classics from our man in Louisiana. I'm fighting the urge to email him to say it's his duty to take on the heavily armed looters armed only with a knife and his wits.

Good enough?

I think it's poetic justice to be honest - heart of Bush country, situation exacerbated by Bush's policies.

Britney Spears, Crossroads - shite actress, shite film. And in keeping with the tradition of all modern critics I haven't seen it.