mockney piers

I think it's long been blamed on the influx of foreign players and to deny it is a factor is head in the sand territory. Fact is our young players, apart from the odd Wiltshire etc don't get a run out at the top levels of the game. I don't think with the current crop we can do any better than we are doing, but if we plan ahead and change some fundamentals of the sport/game here then we can become a contender. Germany keep doing it, Spain have done it, we can do it if there's vision, but the man tasked with that vision, the wonderful Sir Brooking is currently not optimistic, saying there isnt the will to think long term in the clubs or the FA. He's been trying to get youth investment going for ages and it''s not happening. Even West Ham's academy has a worryingly large number of prodigies signed for wonga at a young age from all over the world!!

There'll be no harsh words spoken about the lovely Katy. She's up there on a tier just below Ruth from Spooks!!

"When Engalnd finally wake up to the fact that they are no longer a force in International footabll" well, yes and no. We aren't, that's clear for all to see, but that doesn't mean we can't be. Spain were the perennial under-achievers and were even worse than England for a long time, and are now the best team in the world, and I genuinely believe England can become a world force again (as long as we put most of the FA up against the world....and the Premiership execs whilst we're at it). We've the passion for the game here, the grass roots participation and huge amounts of money in the sport. Unfortunately we've also got huge amounts of money in the sport.

Good point. Premiership pace doesnt necessarily benefit you playing against organised, disciplined opposition. I didnt think it was that bad last night. It was frustrating, Crouch should have done much better with his brace of chances. Rooney was awful then almost scored as I was screaming 'will somebody get him off the damn field'. I thought it was a great save, but the slow-mo sowed it was a pretty duff shot too. It was just one of those nights where things just won't go your way (Man U Monaco springs to mind in the days when I supported all English teams in Europe). Two stone wall penalties not given etc. Fate really should have decreed that superb Montenegrin effort go in, so we can actually count ourselves lucky!!

You may well have done DJKQ, but you also came out of it* a dangerous pinko leftie subversive and an enemy of the State!!!!! (as did I) *it being a (indefinite article) comprehensive school not a specific comprehensive school

Oooooh, you thought I meant Spain. Noooooo, noooo I meant Britain. I've been at school here since I was 5!!! I'd put Spain about 10 years ahead of Ireland, but much like that country it is politically hampered by the aggressively vocal presence of the church in politics. It ahs some very cosmopolitan urban centres but is still a divided society in terms of traditional/modern, religious/not so much, rural/urban.

here's a pretty little graph which will probably bring a whole load more questions up, but ones perhaps for another thread also that data on Ireland cant still be true can it?!?!

Is that words in mouth. 30% consider religion an important part of their lives. That's hardly 'shedding its religious past entirely', it's 1/3 of the country, which actually probably supports one in 3 schools being faith ones doesn't it? It does however put it right down the bottom of world leagues for religiosity.

Ooh, and well said moos. I read the linked documents and didn't see anything that specifically linked faith schools with a gang mentality, rather a faith school with a gang problem, of which i'm sure its inner city geography and a general trend towards demonising youth in this country will be much greater causal factors than anything to do with religion I'm sure. As a lettered economist I'm sure the OP must have done lots of work to make sure coincidence and causality weren't confused so I can only infer that it was deliberate misdirection rather than unfortunate misinterpretation; an analysis of past posts might support such a theory....or perhaps its just a coincidence ;-)

In all fairness, when I was growing up every school in the country was basically a faith school. Christian assembly was required by law and I doubt anyone under the age of 35 went to at least a junior school that didnt sing hymns, carols and teach us the whole gospel version of events, meanwhile senior schools were required to do religious education for pupils under 14. The result, one of the most secular populations in the world and a generation utterly uninterested in religion. Let em teach creationism, kids are natural rebels and we should credit them with a little more intelligence. That said I don't support the diversion of precious educational resources to institutions that are by definition divisive, if someone wants to pay that's fine, but my tax money, ih-uuuur*. *not sure how to spell the sound the family fortunes computer used to make.

I'm guessing the Jehova's Witness Hospital has dreadful A&E stats.

I have to say, something about the stylistic choices of DGW turned me right off it, it's irksome and headache inducing, and though I may struggle to think like a child (that's not to say I cant be childish) I can't see kids loving it; the mocklet for one can't stand it. It's also just a little bit too Primrose Hill, but that's just my natural inverse snobbery coming out and clearly my problem. It is shit though!! Actually there's very little CBeebies that I liked and luckily the mocklet seems indifferent to TV's charms, apart from Get Squiggling, of which we are both fans.

So MI5 software actually shows you the password as you're entering it does it when asterisking it is about as bog standard a first tier of security defence as exists. And they're really going to believe that man with high clearance logs on with his own name and transfers funds into his own bank account? Oh god, I know i know, I'm picking holes in Spooks...repeat after me 'don't point out plot holes in spooks, it's pointless' again.... and noone in the office is even batting an eyelid at Cold hearted Harry's little pep talks and arms on shoulders 'is wittle wuth ok, does wuthy want a hug?'

Is it possible to buy it for 500k then just live in it?

I haven't for a while but am keen to do the co-op missions at some point. Could do later in the week.

I should add I meant entertainment quality rather than singing ability.

Having said that, western hegemony is most definitely on the wane and peak x means we, or at least our children will meet the classic Chinese curse 'may you live in interesting times'.

Labour issues in China are becoming more prominent. There have already been murders of people coming to restructure factories. There is increasing evidence that the central authorities are treading lightly in terms of upsetting the workforce, and the third factor is that weakened central authority is giving way to increased local power. We're not looking at warlords any more but power is concentrating in the hands of local party bosses and industrialists, often the same thing. China has a long history of not fulfilling the fears/promise of the predictions made for it. Ive studied Chinese history, indeed gave a talk to the visiting head of history at Beijing university. It's always fascinating but it is most certainly chimerical and things rarely go the way of expectation. Sean hits the nail on the head, events are yet to play out that undercurrents are pointing to. I can't see it ever being the superpower so many claim it will.

I hate myself for taking any of this marvellous pant seriously, but for me tonight in norMal order 1. Aiden 2. Mary 3. Il Diva 4. Wagner 5. The hat fella And worst in no particular order Bel amie, Katie, the young boy band, the wild card lad. Good surprise, diva and the Italian Dissapointment, Rebecca and Katie. I'm feel sullied having done that, this calls for excessive scrubbing in a shower, out damned X spot.

That Cher girl, it's a joke right, she is a Gerry Anderson puppet of Cheryl isn't she?

Is anyone watching THe Thin Red Line on More 4? I'm convinced it's in the top ten films ever made. That Malick chap knows a thing or two.

is it aint half hot mum particularly offensive to gays or indians? Surely the camp man is the staple of much British comedy, is Panto offensive? And the targets of gentle mockery are almost exclusively the British characters, perhaps the Welsh should be offended as all being portrayed as buffoonish Sgt Majors? Really now, lets stop this all, it's silly. Plus The Day Today parodied it all perfectly some 20 odd years ago

When you think about it, some of the ruling classes almost bred themselves out of existence by sticking to very small gene pools. The Hapsburgs became big chinned or chinless idiots, the SaxeCoburgs and Romanovs with all that Haemophilia.

The night bus by Richard Purnell A bottle of water rolls past, Full of yellow liquid, Oh God, that isn't, is it? Two stops in and they're having a jimmy On the N68 night bus And what a bloody cheek! The girl sitting by me has gone and fell asleep Leaving a dribble of spittle on my retro jacket sleeve But I don't mind too much Because I know it's all about the love On the N68 night bus And the boys who haven't pulled are full of lust, A sense of duty and honour says they must Have a little word with the doner-eating birds On the N68 night bus And a chap in the back is chatting black, Going on his phone 'We need to fuck him up, blood, He ahksing for trouble, bruv, We need to fuck him up.' And the girls sitting by are like, 'You need to fuck him up, blood! You need to fuck him up!!' For the well-bred woman it's all too much On this rampaging beast of a bus Headphones on and she's dreaming Of rolling fields and clotted cream teas She wants no more of this polyglot scene On the N68 night bus And the atmosphere starts to turn nasty When a white man gets on and starts to do a whitey He's getting called 'fucking wanker' and 'prick' Because if there's one thing you don't do you don't never be sick On the N68 night bus As his effluence rolls down the floor Like an alien species on the march Or the soul of an Englishman after dark A big-haired man pulls out his guitar And starts playing Ooh, Baby I Love Your Way (reggae version) Wanna be with you night and day, yay-ay-ay, ay-ay-ay And the bus turns into a magical place Each addled face reanimates Every weary body starts to sway And the Christians praise Him above Because we've been reminded It's all about the love On the N68 night bus Yes, it's always all about the love On the N68 night bus On the N68 night bus

But if Simon Cowell employs them as his batman/maid/I'm not gay honest cover wife (allegedly) then I'm sure a visa will be forthcoming for the winner ;)