Rayvin

Nice post - I wonder to what extent it'll change when/if we ever want to push on from upper mid-table. I suppose that might come about if we manage to fluke a CL spot in the coming years. I keep reading in the press that our team are top-5 material, presumably meaning that we're on a comparable level to the lowest of Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal - probably Arsenal in truth. I don't think we're quite there yet so your 6th/7th is about right. Liverpool/Everton level (though I fancy we're better than both in true reflection).

It'd probably shift things about a bit for Arsenal. I still struggle to believe that our wage cap is about £40k and that we get the players we do though... it's good talent spotting that, they're good and hungry. Furthermore, we were paying £100k+ several years back. Kinda weird that we've regressed so far in that sense (definitely good, just strange).

The article blames all of them. The thing I can't quite get is what anyone other than doctors stand to gain from this. I suppose you could make investments into private medical care providers as they begin cleaning up, but surely that's not enough for the country to head down that route. If Labour wanted this as well, what is the reason for it? The interviewee is right, you won't get an efficient market because the consumer will not be in a position where they can know the value of what they're getting. You get told what you need and have to trust that the doctor has your best interests at heart. It's like dentists now - I have a few friends within the profession and the frequently tell me how recommendations for dental surgery are made simply so that they can win a bigger fee and not because the patient needs it. With that said, it's disheartening to know that Sweden and Spain have given up already. I suppose the idea is that the state no longer wants to support this, and that it'll give an injection of life into the private sector somehow. Except that it won't I guess - what we'll get instead is a bunch of cheap foreign doctors being brought over and mass redundancies in the name of profit.

I was tempted to watch that some time back - wasn't sure how they'd be able to keep a sense of intrigue going with what is essentially a stationery character with no interactions. Are you essentially just watching his mind fall apart to the point where he becomes agreeable to be-handing himself?

Really interesting, that. I suspect this would make a huge difference to disaffected youngsters.

Fair point. Battle Royale is perhaps an extreme outcome but fair point regardless!

Perhaps as a compromise position, schools could take a harder, perhaps more militaristic disciplinary line while students are with them. I am not sure how this could be accomplished as such, perhaps summer camps or something. There is a lot of good that the military could give young people who lack discipline, but I don't think enforced military service is a good option, as has been pointed out earlier it's a bit of a waste for people who are going on to high flying academic careers - and if you make exceptions for certain groups it just breeds resentment. Schools should probably also be changed to allow a wider range of subjects to be studied, certainly with more of them practical (like maths could tie in with engineering or something, so kids are building things with the maths they're learning). These courses should not be looked down on, and should be given similar standing to conventional academic subjects. That way, people will be given more opportunity to excel, and will have more pride about their capabilities. Possibly being a bit idealistic here though...

You're not wrong about that to be honest, much of economic theory is based on past history. Maybe I've underestimated him.

I wasn't diminishing the degree itself - but surely an economics degree would be more appropriate for the man supposedly to understand the nuances of GDP manipulation and tax adjustments. To be honest, I think I'd want him to have a PhD in it...

I'm not Alex. And thanks. I am however curious as to what difference being Alex would have made? That's a really good example, glad to hear it worked out; I do think that more small employers should be persuaded to think this way, it's win-win. The fact that he had a long standing and capable employee for 9 years as a result of a six week trial speaks volumes. It also starts you off on the right foot, as you work hard to make an impression. There's nothing wrong with hard work as long as you feel you're a) appreciated and b ) getting something meaningful out of it, be it pay or skills. Something that you just wouldn't get from Tesco. I also agree with your later point though, perhaps there simply are too many people looking for work for this to be workable. I feel the government should find some way to efficiently manage this however, we're a nation predominantly made of small businesses, and something like this would perhaps mean they could out-compete bigger companies in some cases, if it could be made to work. Also, it's definitely true that constant rejection makes it much harder to motivate yourself for work, and I'm not sure why the Tories expect that this would not be the case. A lot of the language they've been using is threatening and aggressive, and it's just counter effective. They fundamentally misunderstand what it's like. It always gets me that Osborne was employed for something like 6 weeks in Selfridges before he made his career as a politician. So he's only had a real job for about 6 weeks in his entire life. He also has no academic or professional background in economics, he has a history degree.

Seems fair to say that Wales are stronger than Scotland by far now. Worrying for Scotland... San Marino might be about their level I guess.

Richard Wright is another good example. Only 240 games played in his career, 35 years old and was signed for Man City last year as a back up. That's his thing though, he goes from club to club as the reliable back up. We had that with Harper.

I can't believe I just watched England win 8-0 and was bored senseless through the whole thing...

I think it should be done differently to be honest, and probably only for young people who would otherwise be ejected from the school system into nothingness. I wonder for instance why big companies with seemingly endless resources seemed to be poised to make the most out of it - that shouldn't be allowed. Why not lots of smaller companies struggling to avoid going under. It could be looked at as internships - small businesses tend to require a bigger range of skills due to the variation in work, and you learn more as a result. For younger people, this might encourage them to go out and start their own businesses or have meaningful experience to show people instead of 'stacking shelves as Tesco'. Small companies are always hesitant to bring people in as another wage is a big deal; they're also really poorly informed about cheaper labour options like apprenticeships. But if you can bring in someone for nothing, give them skills, integrate them into a meaningful team - maybe you can employ them properly when the business becomes more competitive as a result of more resource at no additional cost. Even if you don't hire them, good experience for them to build on. With that said, I suppose this is what they're doing with apprenticeships to some extent. We hired 1 young lad and two girls on the apprenticeship scheme and they've been brilliant - really switched on and capable. Really eager to work and learn things, even for the crappy apprenticeship wage. I think this is what we should be encouraging in our young people. We hired them all full time when they completed their NVQ - not every business can afford to do that, but even if we hadn't they'd have been more employable at 19 than most graduates at 21 due to the skills they picked up. I reckon the same would be true for internships as well. When you're young, it's less about money and more about skills and experience. I think the opportunity to get that in such a competitive job market would be a reward in itself.

Er, not a song as such, but what do we make of this, clearly in response to the whole thing: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/mar/22/trouser-dropping-newcastle-fans-amateur-match I would kinda get going to an actual Wigan game and causing havoc, but I'm a bit unsure of what the point of this was? Makes us look kinda bad tbh, hope it doesn't dry up the goodwill we're getting from elsewhere.

Dunno like, my own preference tends to be for monochrome moustachioed men who smoke cigars... I guess I'd take the J69 experience if I get a home cooked meal at the end of it.

With 50,000 posts in three days, that statement wouldn't have been all that surprising. Alex then, cheers. 50,001's a good number to leave on. Thanks for satisfying my curiosity.

The avatars have always been consistently feminine in a reasonably authentic way - I don't know how many guys would think to post the sort of pictures Aeris has done. I'd give the benefit of the doubt I think, but then I lack the historical context. It's the previous one, the legend of korra avatar that makes me believe it. Anyway, I'm in no position to judge as a newcomer; I just lurked here for a while and read some of the LBT fall out stuff. I'd be interested to know, it's a bit like the Guardian's secret footballer. I also watched with interest the big fracas that everyone used to have with Leazes Kinda creepy aren't I?

I've just been looking at the highest posters board on the forum because I note many of you have posted into the tens of thousands - which is impressive to say the least - and I note there is a guy called Hank at the top with 50,001. I'm assuming that's some sort of plant by the admins, but what was that about? He was only active for 3 days, so either he's made up somehow, or he's some sort of maniac. I'm hoping it's the latter obviously.

They're in mostly in power. More in power than anyone else. Unless you count corporate lobbyists. Look, at the end of the day none of the main parties have a real vision for this country, they're only worried about the next election (and lining their pockets). Where are we heading exactly? I thought it would be into Europe where we could return to global prosperity and global relevance (highly controversial statement, don't worry, I'm as disillusioned as everyone else - seemed like a good idea at the time though, and I'd still back it if it could sort itself out). Now, we're just in terminal decline as we are outdone in global markets by emerging and emerged economies alike. We need someone with vision for the country, and there's just nothing. What disappoints me more than anything is that the people of this country haven't come up with a credible alternative to this dross we get from the main parties. I include myself in this also of course, but aside from radical and insane right wing parties, we've no alternative. I sometimes find myself thinking that benevolent dictatorship would be a superior option to the sham that is democracy. If your vote is meaningless because manifesto promises are discarded when in power, what difference is there anyway?

I'm not even sure how impressed I am with Neymar. He's hardly set the world alight against decent opposition. Even crap opposition like England have held their own. With that said, I know little about Aubameyang either, and that video URL has been taken down now. The French FA must monitor this site. We do need another forward though; if he's tall, maybe he can be used as a much improved version of Shola. If he's fast as well then he sounds bloody perfect.

Not sure I can see that happening if he's leaving at the end of the season. We don't have any non-important games... shame like, it's kinda like the end of an era. I've not a bad word to say about him, always been a model professional. Also always been impressed by his sportsmanship on the field - always helping other players to their feet etc.

That was it, thanks. Given Joe Hart's form recently perhaps that would be a fair option. Also given his propensity for being in the other team's half.

Ahhh I remember that term from school, but I can't remember what it means... anyone?