Messages

No idea Sammy.  Yeah very sad indeed.  I've been at a few weddings in the Crystal and I couldn't fault them.  As you say there is very little ground around it but the food and service was excellent.

In slightly related news, the Cavan Crystal hotel has also gone into receivership.  This will also be announced tomorrow.

How did you get wind of that one mal?

They rang anyone who had booked their wedding there today and told them it was business as usual but that there was going to be this announcement tomorrow.  That's the Russel, Lough Erne and now the Crystal 

In slightly related news, the Cavan Crystal hotel has also gone into receivership.  This will also be announced tomorrow.

apparently liverpool are in contact with Atletico on the Aguero move...
Could do a lot worse- he's only 23

I very much doubt Aguero would want to move to Liverpool.  I'm sure he wants to move to a Champion's League team,

I really can't see Ferguson changing the system.  I think Rooney and Hernandez will play.  Rooney has been so effective in the last couple of months due to Hernandez's involvement.  Normally to defend against someone who plays in Rooney's position the defence plays a high line and squeezes the space in which he operates.  It's very risky to play a high line against Hernandez though because he's so fast and such a lethal finisher.

I can't see the lineup changing from the chelsea game.

The only doubt for me is whether O'Shea will play at RB instead of Fabio.  I think Fabio will get the nod.

Very quiet in here ahead of the big game on Sunday.  Unfortunately I can't see anything other than a heavy defeat 

Can anyone hazard a guess at a possible lineout?

The baby faced assassin.  Forever a legend 

It's another example of scouse decline.

A couple of years ago the wheels on the getaway car would have been stolen 

The two lads were jumped on by stewards when they clocked what they were onto

How did they get away then?

I don't think this league title success will feel complete until Minder,Mr Baloney,laoislad etc..offer their congratulations.

I imagine Feguson and the United squad couldn't care less what any of them think.

No, but they might have a laugh at a Liverpool supporting Laois lad who has a pop at United fans who aren't from Manchester at every opportunity.

I honestly don't think they'd care about that either. After all, their star player is an Everton supporting scouser who tried to get out of the club 7 months ago and shows his loyalty by shaving "19" into his chest.

You are correct, all a clubs players should be born within a mile of the ground and declare their eternal loyalty to the cause., I mean look at Galls own Rory Gallagher a true club man.

LOL gallsman merk'd   

[I also think jockeyship is more important on the flat]

Having tried (and failed miserably!) to be an amateur jumps jockey, I have to say my preference is for the National Hunt.

I personally find punting on the winter game is easier but there'll be many better judges than me who will disagree. Although the 8+ obstacles that a horse has to jump in a NH race might make it somewhat harder to predict, there are many if not more variables on the flat. Draw biases at certain tracks are a major variable and I think issues like pace and ground have more of an impact on the flat. I also think jockeyship is more important on the flat. NH race are generally run over longer distances, on bigger tracks, and have less runners so the fields tend to become more strung out. It is much easier for a horse (well a jockey...) to encounter traffic problems on the flat as a result.

You also have to factor in the horses themselves. Geldings running over jumps tend to be older and more relaxed than colts running on the flat, who naturally enough have other things on their minds! They are less highly strung and are much more likely to hold their form for longer.

I have worked for a handful of flat yards so I do have an interest in it (particularly the bloodstock side of it) but there's no contest between Punchestown in the middle of winter and the Curragh in high summer, as far as I'm concerned.

DH, im intrigued by this.  What I know about horse racing could be written on the back of a postage stamp, but surely it takes more 'jockeyship' to guide a horse over fences than in the flat?

[Big, big blow to Barca if found guilty.]

Busquets charged with racism by UEFA, case to be heard on Monday. Big, big blow to Barca if found guilty.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13381508.stm

Would it be? He's looked average anytime I've seen him. Maybe in comparison to whats around him mind!

I disagree Norf.  I think Busquets is a quality player.  He is essentially a spoiler but he's a good passer and playmaker also.

I suppose it won't alter Barca's gameplan too much if he is suspended though.  Abidal should be fit again at LB which would allow Puyol to go back into central defence.  Masch would then take the defensive midfield role that Busquets has.

Thanks very much lads.

@Bigfella, never thought about the insurance, will check that out too.

Yep AZ, its NI.

Is it fully legal to do this?

Bloody foreigners taking all our jobs.

I was expecting that response to be fair