Ted Max

I was trying to summarise his likely attitude to the Forum influx on Friday - and asking if my interpretation married with the treatment you received at the time and subsequently.

I also don't think that Ronaldo sees this as an opportunity to better himself. I imagine he is motivated by money and his vanity. It's all about him and he doesn't care who's toes he stamps on in getting what he wants. In this case, I agree, really. I did say "maybe" he sees this as an opportunity to better himself :) The point stands, though, that players move around clubs for whatever reasons - lifestyle, money, veneration, vanity, trophy hunting etc etc. The depth of hurt fans feel when it happens still surprises me, though, given that all teams are constructed around similar moves, at whatever level.

Really, really wasn't trying to patronise. (Tell me how I did so?) I aplogise if that's how it sounded. Just trying to give a different view, is all. My team is (and it's a long distance relationship as I haven't lived near Edinburgh for 15 years) Hibs. Just because the club I support is successful and rich (for the time being) doesn't mean I feel any less passion or pain when they win or lose and when we lose world class players. I didn't say you did. At all. As for my "final statement". I should have said - I agree that football should be, and often is, about more than money and contracts. But, I happen to think for many that play the game professionally, it isn't.

How old was Rooney when he allowed his ghost writer to make libellous comments about his former manager, in his name? As I said - in times of difficulties the club stood by Ronaldo - and in doing so they helped create, and then reaped the benefit of, a great player for a couple of years. Arguably he won you the title and CL this year. I repeat - when is the debt paid? The vast majority of clubs see their best players, who they have nurtured, developed, stood by, etc etc move on to bigger clubs. That is what happens, and unless the deed is done in the most underhand of manners, or with the poorest of timing, that is understood to be part of the deal. Where did Rio, Carrick, Hargreaves, Rooney, and so on, all come from? Are they all ungrateful scrotes? No - they saw the opportunity to better themselves and took it. Ronaldo may see the same. Perhaps given Man Utd's position at the top of the market, you're not so used to it happening to the club you support. But for most fans it's a normal part of life, and usually one they can accept as part of the process. As for this: as we both know football is more than about contracts and a 'job' I actually disagree. To most of the professional athletes that play the game, it is rarely about more than that.

When Rooney was at Everton did he have respect for the club and the fans, or was he just greedy? Ronaldo's a skilled professional who can choose to work where he wants. Sure Man Utd stood by him when he was having difficulties - but they have a duty of care as an employer, and also stood to gain by doing so - to the tune of one Premiership title and a CL title. Does Ronaldo owe them his whole future for that, when is the debt judged to be paid off? So, if he fancies playing for a new club - why the venom?

There's a load of geeks from off of the internet that have been slagging my business off for years, suddenly condescending to pay me a visit - as if I should be all grateful, like, and doffing the cap. I'll take their money but I couldn't give a rat's ass if any of them come back, to be honest. Sound about right?

Monica - re: the disappearing bella Italia post. I think you are in the wrong thread. Try Euro 2008.

Yeah, OK, point taken, it's been big news. But the actual debate in mainstream media has been fairly crude. Here's yer man doing his stuff. Just for completion, like.

Sean, the speculation was that Cameron was looking for Davis to portray a more open position to allow the Tories to do just as you describe if they needed to - but that Davis overstepped the mark by outright saying they would repeal it. In other words, Davis wanted to up the ante in opposition to the proposed law - against wishes of Cameron/ advisors. I couldn't really care if this is about one man's principle's, a hissy fit or power politics. It seems sure to boost this issue up the news schedules and give it a proper airing.

(but his party will be doing the same if they get in) Amidst the blather Michael refers to was the speculation that David went off script/ further than agreed last night in stating that the Tories would repeal the 42 days if it was passed and they got into power.

Just heard his speech. Blimey. Protesting at the increasing and insidious erosion of civil liberties - the most intrusive ID card scheme in the world, largest DNA database in the world, the erosion of the right to trial by jusry, one CCTV camera for every 14 people, and now a threat to habeus corpus being made for political (and not security) reasons. He has confirmed he will re-contest his seat solely on this issue.

Oops. Good spot. Simon won ahead of boardroom suicide Katie Hopkins and, er, orange tan Kristina??

EDIT - first winner was Tim Campbell, good looking black guy off of the Underground. Second winner was Michelle Dewberry, was it? She went and betrayed SRalan by getting pregnant on the job - perhaps confirming his mistrust of employing obviously fertile women. However, the fact she chose the blue-suit-brown-shoed Narcissist Syed as her impregnator was much more damning evidence of her lack of judgement. Since then he has chosen posh serial bankrupt wet Simon Armitage over gobby Ruth Badger, and of course, Lee, over gobby Clurr. Still, Clurr will have noted that Lee has won a job to selling outdoor ad space on digital screens. I think SRalan knew what he was doing - and he was doing her a favour.

Thread lurker notes absence of CPT between Uplands and The Castle

Wanted, Offers,& Recommendations Offered: all that I am, all that I have - till death do us part. PM me if interested.

They're all garbage. SRalan should go for a "no-winner" final. Or randomly promote Sgt Simon and Raef from the returning candidates and install them in a live-in jobshare, doing his personal laundry and valeting. Now that would be a happy finish.

Am I right that the winner can only come from one of the winning team on the night?

I think Italy and Holland will both come through from that group. France = England if they'd qualified. Meaning the prevailing assumption that by just scraping through a poor group, they'll be fine once they get to the real thing, because they have so many world class players.

They'll meet the Dutch again the the semi final, if both sides progress.

I saw it. Italy and France are continuing the form that saw they only just scrape out of Scotland's group. Thought Italy were a trifle unfortunate - going a goal behind to a dodgy goal and then getting knifed twice on the break - but once ahead Holland gave an object lesson. Big Luca didn't really bring his shooting boots either, did he?

Yep, afraid we too are Sea Cow returnees. And it seems to be back on form. Codfellas offered hope as a closer, cheaper, quicker alternative when that was what was required.

I wasn't a regular but I got on a few times in the early days.

Belle I'm so sorry. I didn't realise I'd made a direct recommendation. We had fishnchips there once about the day after it opened. Perhaps they were making a huge effort with all new equipment/ fat etc.

How did that happen?

The Guardian OBO started all the japery. Before them Cricinfo was all "Left alone, no run" ad infinitum - and everyone else just did bare scorecards. Then when the other outlets saw the page impressions the Guardian OBOs were clocking up (often the highest in the whole Guardian Unlimited site) they started going down the same comedy, email us in your thoughts, riffs and routines. Pale imitations, all of them. An hour and a half of Jimmy and Broady this morning. Not good news for the Enzedders.