colin penfold

like when we were in Turkey during world cup 2006 every time my wife went to the loo, England scored. I kept trying to fill her up with liquid!!!!!! Can you have a dig at Wellbeck, we could do with a second )

1-0 Rooney!

surely as the player who scored was offside when the ball was played forward initially, but not ruled offside as he was "inactive", when he was given the ball he became "active" and therefore offside. Can't see how it was two different phases. Also, how can somebody in the centre of the penalty box be inactive - if he is, he shouldnt be getting paid £200,000 quid a week!

I'm off to Greece on hols in August, so hopefully they will all be boyed up by their Euro experience and Euro wont be such a dirty word after all )

Latest rumour today on Sky suggests AVB for Spurs. Yes the bloke who upset the entire squad at Chelsea and put them into free fall. Sounds an ideal choice for a chairman with his finger on the self-destruct button. I can just see it, they fight to keep Bale, Vandervaart, Modric and Adebayor only to have AVB leave them on the bench. Sky sources quote "AVB is interested in the job" Course he is, he's not fit to manage Accrington Stanley so if a big premier league club is dumb enough to offer him a job he will bite their arm off. (apols to any A.S. fans, no offence intended)

He's the Irish Craig Bellamy! Sadly the English version is Joey Barton and he's too angry to pick.

ouch - men against boys, poor old Ireland (

Funny, I heard it translated that he said there would be two different footballing philosophies on display (implying theirs was going to be more entertaining than ours) I don't think we were much more conservative than them. They certainly can't call themselves entertaining or adventurous based on last night. We were more attacking than I expected - we got in behind them very effectively several times in the first half particularly and better finishing might have seen us 2 or 3 up. If the ref had penalised any of the several professional fouls by french players that prevented english breakaways it might have been different. Messers Cabaye and Ribery would certainly have had something to think about. Is it me or has the refereeing been generally poor, fussy and inconsistent but without the major howlers (apart from the two missing Irish penalties)

I think if you watch the lamp post on the platform you'll realise it was the high winds that hit the country over the last couple of days LOL

went to the NNR today and they let me drive! Now that IS creative!!!!!!

Super shot - I like the opportunities RHDR gives for those kind of pics that fool the viewer into believing they are "full size" trains. Here's one of mine

did you call him Gordon?

That's why I was glad 'Arry didnt get it. He had no more chance of success than anyone else, and the press would have been after his blood within 6 months. I quite like 'Arry and wouldn't wish it on him. He's best off out of it.

Anybody see the England "friendly" yesterday. ITV don't think much of Hodgson's England, they could only find about 15 minutes of highlights for each game so far. Have to say I was appalled by that childish, petulant assault on Gary Cahill by the Belgian forward. Hope his jaw is OK and he does not miss out on the Euros. Lucky Joe Hart wasn't injured too.

Smashing concept, really well delivered. Congratulations!

do you remember schoolboy playground football and "goal hanging?" That's why you need the offside rule!

It's an interesting thing - totally out of normal economic theory when you think about it. The wages should only be marginally above those that a player could earn elsewhere, to tempt them away from other careers. So a starting salary for a pro footballer should be about £40k per year (being kind - Rooney would probably be working in McDonalds if he wasnt a footballer?) Local Authorities have recently been told by the governement that the top earners in an organisation should earn no more than 10 times the lowest (do as I say not as I do, obviously) so that means Messi and co on £400k PER ANNUM. Still way over the top for what they could earn doing anything else. So how do we get to where we are now? Can't see Abramovich paying staff 50 times what he needs to to in any other part of his empire so why in football? Could the clubs get together and reduce player salaries massively and say ok, if you dont like it, go and get a proper job? I don't have the answer either Kevin, but it's fascinating. As an aside, can I say how good this forum is. Given the hatred football can engender, and the vitriolic comments on some other posts in RM Web, we seem to have really good conversations here conducted in a realy good spirit. I really enjoy this and thanks everyone!

No wonder he's surly if you keep calling him common

I don't know for certain - you may wish to check if these things worry you - but I doubt this London bus had finished its first career and headed for semi retirement in the North until well after the time your layout is based on. Not intending to be picky, but to save you from making a purchase you might later regret.

I lived on a farm in the 80s with some really aggressive resident geese. The ringleader used to run alongside my car ( a rover P6 ) pecking the hubcaps so hard you could hear the clanging inside the car. One day it stood in front of the car and made me stop. I waited for several minutes for it to move away then drove forward dead slow (wasnt getting out of the car to check - it would have had me!) It was too determined for its own good and stood its ground. P6 is quite a heavy car ) The rest of the goose gang were much more amenable after the ringleader died and started laying eggs so the lady of the manor forgave me!

you're nuts

how about a replay two or three days later, on a neutral ground (sorry I'm an old git)

I remember what a treat it used to be when a 2 SAP turned up on the shepperton branch when I was a kid. The compartments and seats were so much more comfy than the SUBs or EPBs, plus the novelty value! Having just had my 50th Birthday treat of a 6 course meal in Pullman Barbara on the KESR Wealden Pullman, I think I will say any "proper" pullman carriage, preferably with food and drink brought to my seat (given that i will be 90 by then!!!)

On Drogba, I think he is not only an awesome talent but one of the most honest players out there (pause for laughter to die down!) Seriously, he treats his opponents with respect, you rarely see him out of order or trying to hurt people. Last night he was helping players up out of challenges , and his treatment of Robben after the game was amazing - comforting him about the missed penalty. I know he has a massive ego and likes to be noticed (tell me a player in the top league that doesn't) but that's where the rolling about on the floor comes from - he's just attention seeking. Rarely do you see him try to get a foul or an opponent booked, he just wants our cute girly physio to stroke his leg!!!! I don't quite understand the contract thing with Drogba. Chelsea want to give him a year's contract, he wants two. If we let him go now, we get no money for him. If we give him a year's contract he goes on a free next year. If we give him two and sell him after a year we get his service for a year and then what? £5 million transfer fee. I must have missed something. Roman, sign him up....... On the CL qualification - I see it quite simply. When they divvy up the slots for the competition, they should put one aside for the winner. Then divvy the rest up by country. That way at he beginning of the season, everyone would know for sure if they finish in whatever place in their league, they are in. It's no suprise there is a winner this year - there always is!!! Kevin, your crystal ball was working well - Alan Mullery just said on Sky we were lucky to get through and win it on penalties. Sour grapes or what? I thought he was a super professional as a player and would have expected better of him.