Ken

C'mon rain, where are you?

Correct, I refer to the Persian Gulf region (Qatar, UAE, Iraq, Bahrain, Lebanon, Yemen, Jordan, Kuwait) I apologise if I've missed out on any other country. But I excluded Egypt because technically they are a part of the African continent as others have explained, despite the majority having a diet, culture, and language being more arab influenced, and their football association is part of the confederation of Africa. I don't think one person's disputed Egypt's passion for the game, one just has to go through their results as a participant of the African Nations Cup to recognise just how serious a player they are in African football despite falling short in their attempts to qualify for the WC. They even have a proper rivalry with Algeria which makes people sit up and take notice. Anyway, up to now you've not made one fair point as to why Qatar deserved to host it over the other countries. You've now even tried to play down the climate as an issue, and you think money and belief of a country with a population of 1.5 million will make everything right. I'm sorry, but you've lost me completely.

that explains why you know fuck all about the football club. I didn't mention there that I was born in Newcastle though. Does that change your opinion on the matter? No of course it doesn't...

I deleted the post cause it was fatuous and playful. Relax bro. Ah, well I feel a little fatuous tonight tbh. Been a long day of heavy drinking and I shouldn't be trying to 'keep up' so to speak on these topics. I'll bid you good night right after I do so with Spike.

The question was, did I get my O Levels, was it Parklife? No. You've got to be in the UK to acheive that, don't you? My countries of education consisted the US, Australia and Japan (Japan being more work experienced based though as part of my education in Australia). I hope that clears things up.

Conveniently ignored the human aspect here haven't you? Who wants to stay in that state longer than a day, unless it's a stopover on a journey? Arab countries are shit regarding sport and in particular football and most aspects of life overall. I couldn't give a shit about their urban development, no one cares. No one cares for their infrastructure, nor their stadiums which they'll dismantle afterwards, nor their hospitality. Couldn't they have done all this without being awarded the WC? I've not heard one person make a positive comment about this. Fucking ESPN, Sky, CNN, BBC, you name it. The most dreaded WC to be held in history this is. I've seen it on the telly, Arab football, and I feel sorry for the world that they will have to endure this kind of shit in 2022. Education City, eh?

Qatar had the best presentation no doubt. Australia's wasn't so good. An animated Skippy stealing the WC trophy and taking it around Australia. Not the best pitch you'll ever see, not even mediocre tbh, but the execs had made their mind up beforehand anyway. $45 million down the sewer and an assurance bidding again will be a waste of time and effort.

The delegates aren't looking for substance though, they're looking for someone to make them feel important, to mix with 'celebrities'. IIRC we sent Claudia Schiffer to the final presentation for those reasons... That explains Elle Macpherson's appearance for us then. Until your post I was at loss why she was there, especially since she did nought.

Anyway I can't disagree with anything Stevie has mentioned there. How the fuck does an arab country get an opportunity to host the most important tournament in the world? A country with 1.5 million, most of them immigrants to do hard labour no less. Until they appreciate sport why give it to them? You've all been warned, expect a prayer-like chanting through speakers. Fucking worse thing I've heard in my life. I'd rather it have gone to America again than Qatar, at least they appreciate sport and fans can enjoy themselves.

Talking shite here, I understand, but without the WC held in Korea/Japan they wouldn't be credible players on the world stage as they are now. Shame we haven't been given the same opportunity.

This played a major part tbh. And the Premier League is a massive brand globally as well. Perhaps FIFA felt threatened by it?

Have a bucks party to go to tomorrow, which is why I'm home tonight (AEST). The man for the occasion is the biggest pervert in the world. A poker game is on the cards (pardon the pun), we each put in $100 and the winner takes all, group of 20 on four tables at a mate's home. 4 topless waitresses have been hired for 5 hours. Should be interesting.

A few lagers (not nearly as many as last Saturday mind) explains that.

I believe they remain nameless to protect FIFA's 'image'.

They are if you want a victory. And without a killer instinct to knock off 20 wickets in a match, like the Aussies tbf, but with England batting last, I definitely think you need a hero or two to step up.

It will no doubt be a spectacle because no expense will be spared, but that's hardly the point. How exactly this will be good for the middle east as a whole is beyond me, because the hatred amongst countries in the middle east is essentially ingrained in their people from birth. No doubt the Qatari elite will use this as bragging rights over their neighbours. Seriously the facilities that would be required to foster Football participation that's accessable to all Qatari's is excessive. What's next? Antarctica? Why not? The Qatar World Cup will essentially be an indoors event so the actual venue is more or less irrelevant. Likewise it will be irrelevant to the non-elite Qatar and general middle eastern population who won't be able to afford to go to matches. That's before you even consider the general feeling in Qatar towards women. I mean seriously, any Qatar women who wishes to work in her own country needs to register in order to be able to legally do so. Firstly though the company must make an application in order to employ a woman. Anyway, FIFA is beyond a joke, the corruption there is obvious. The whole selection process is ridiculous. Oh dear, without them who in their right mind will go, and will they be forced to cover themselves from head to toe in 50 degree heat? Fuck you, Blatter!

The track is good now but should be shite on days four and five. Glad we won the toss on this one. I don't foresee any fairytale innings by any Englishmen this time round.

Yes, I don't think this match will go the five full days tbh.

I have no doubt at all that Qatar are up for it, I mean the facilities and technological applications that will be on offer are going to be second to none. Climate aside, what is a worry is their sporting culture. I'll be honest, I don't like it. Over the last couple of years with Australia competing in the Asian region in football and watching games which are played in Qatar, Bahrain, UAE and so on, it irritates me with how they carry on. If you think the vuvuzelas were bad in South Africa, we've now got irritating, prayer-like chants on megaphones to look forward to during games, on top of the horns and drums which will reverberate through. It is bad enough hearing it from the telly, but imagine sitting through that inside the stadium. And I do not enjoy watching Arab teams play football. The carry-on with feigning injuries and being stretchered off to gain tactical advantages during a game sickens me. And being a weaker Arab football team, having Qatar participating is a waste of a spot imo. Yes, money does talk with FIFA.

Oh well, never mind. There's always 2030 or 2038 for us. FFS. It was also nice to know, through Al Jazeera mind, that Qatar had won the hosting rights an hour before the announcement was made official from that fat French cunt who dribbled on and on and on... What was all this bollocks about the decision being delayed because the execs were still locked away going through the voting process?!? And finally what I want to know is, how are Qatar going to fill their stadiums, and who the fuck, outside of the middle east, wants to go there and stay for a month. What is there to do and how do you cope with 50 fucking degree heat?

I wouldn't be disappointed, although I wouldn't advocate it. Nothing wrong with disclosure at all, it's been pointed out no lives are in danger. Nothing has shocked me yet, but they'll be releasing stuff bit by bit won't they? The best is yet to come I think...

Work day man. Plus, with the wicket the way it was, people knew it would be a draw. What about Mitchell Johnson's wide ball, you lot must have given him so much stick. Worse than Harmison's four years ago. He has to go.

England definitely with all the momentum going into the second test. The official result will be draw but the moral victory is certainly to the Pommies. Mitchell Johnson definitely deserves some criticism, he's been struggling for almost a year now, in this test match he's bowling stats have been terrible, he's dropped a sitter in the field and he's got out for a duck. Michael Clarke should never have played as he is a passenger with his bad back. We lack any serious spinning options which will not bode well in Adelaide starting Friday. Looking at England the top and middle order are all in form. Peterson is one good knock away from a big score. Strauss, Cook and Bell all look very comfortable playing in our conditions. Steve Finn's gaining a bit of confidence and Jimmy Anderson has been real unlucky not to pick up a few more wickets, but he certainly looks dangerous. Graeme Swann may come into his own on the Adelaide turf.

Entertainment for you, but it is frustrating the hell out of me!

Aye, as I alluded to in an earlier post in this thread. Not sure what missiles/weaponry you are thinking of here but this Dong Feng anti-ship ballistic missile sounds the real deal. US military strategists admit to its lethality and the fact US carriers would be helpless against them, even under the umbrella of their AEGIS ships which I've read in other articles. Note the date of this article, before NK upped the ante in the region; click here Chinese operated only - and mainly hidden well inside China itself. if they use one against a US Carrier all bets are off China have a base closer to their south-eastern border operating, obviously with Taiwan and the sea surrounding her as their interests there (China claim ownership to it all). But they also have mobile launching applications. Nobody knows if these missiles, the newer versions that is, are in service. Some claim they have been in operation now for two years, while others think it'll take another few years. You won't get that sort of information from the PLA, only what it is capable of; and that is that it has a longer range than that of attack aircraft taking off from the deck of a carrier, the missiles are able to manouvre midflight and change trajectory which makes the pac-3 missile defence system of the US obsolete, they are precession-guided and are able to hit moving targets, and if you stick an electromagnetic jammer into each of those missiles launched you are stuck with fire and hope methods to take them down. I agree though, China wouldn't trust NK with them. One would assume that they are a deterrence-only weapon for China (although you can't trust what the intentions of the PLA are for the future), whereas NK would probably try and blow up a few SK ships in order to stir up more nationalism and keep safe the future of the regime and the crazy man's kid who'll be taking over the reigns soon.