The Mantis

Awrabest Oz. Maybe we could send you over some snow, I'm sure you're missing it......

Some cracking images there. The Fly's right. The 450D is a great buy. I've actually got a 400D (superseded by the 450) and a 40D but I'm thinking of selling the 400D sometime soon and upgrading to a 5D :crazy03: I was very keen on Olympus but when I came to upgrade to a DSLR the Canon 400D was streets ahead at the time, for the money. Peter Paul used a 350D for ages (which came before the 400D) and he got some cracking shots at the matches- the lenses are what matter. He's got a posh camera now though.

What Fly said. Plus - what sort of photos are you wanting to take? Have you already got a compact and outgrown it? I have 2 DSLRs but you have to actively go out taking photos with all that heavy gear. Also you get a different reaction from people as they think you're a 'real' photographer, e.g. you can't get into gigs, and stewards at the football give you hassle. I actually bought a compact for my summer trip to Canada and used it far more than my DSLR. Also it's easier to hump it up Munros and suchlike.

'Fever Pitch' is about the only time in my life where I thought the film was better than the book ;) :D

If you're into stadiums then any of Simon Inglis' books are excellent. There is a British one and a European one and I actually got two editions of the British one as it was completely rewritten with new photos. He's an architect so he has loads of technical knowhow although his books don't read like a fan's perspective.

Starchief he talk heap big sense. I'd promote Bully to key player, I think he's come on a lot recently, and probably have Imrie as squad or even free to go. Georgeios he talk big heap of poo Duncan and Munro are 29 ffs (I see they were born on the same day). Tokely is 30. They all have another 5 years in the game at this level. The only oldie is Roy at 35. Yet you'd keep Eagle who has not proved he is any better than Barrowman or Rory or Darren Thompson. And Duncan goes from a man who plays in the team most weeks to, not even a squad player, but free to go Obviously you know something that Pele, Robbo, Charlie, Brew and Butcher don't.

Yes, Dunphy's book is a classic. I also read one by Hunter Davies where he spent a whole season with Tottenham - The Glory Game (1972) A really good Scottish book is 'We'll Support You Evermore' edited by Ian Archer and Trevor Royle. An anthology of Scottish fitba which really gets over what it means to support the national team but written by journalists and professional writers.

In that case you should read 'Football Against the Enemy' by Simon Kuper. A great chapter about the Netherlands v Germany. Also a chapter about the Old Firm and of course, Dingwall v Inverness. OK, I made the last bit up.

A good time for that wedding dress thing eh Julie?

Can't quite make my mind up but I think a state-run drug service for addicts would probably be a good thing. Mrs Mantis is a pharmacist and administers methadone to addicts so we've had quite a few chats about this. As for the dealers, if the thing was run properly maybe they would lose their market. Like most people I despise dealers and even on a 10 minute walk to work I can pass a couple of houses where everybody knows they're dealers. Not so sure about locking them up. Prison's been shown many times to be a failure except for certain crimes. I really like the idea that now some major criminals are having their assets seized. I think that could be extended downwards to even small time dealers. Anybody who's on state benefits but runs a beemer, etc. Interesting cop programme on TV the other night. In Hampshire they were seizing and crushing cars if the driver had no license/insurance etc. They had seized about 1100 cars since the initiative began. Same should happen with drug dealers. Just take their possessions away every time they manage to collect any. Take the plasma telly, the toaster, the electric blanket, the feckin lot.

Half an hour out of town here and it's been lying since Friday (or was it Thursday). Only a couple of inches mind, which is about 10 of george's inches.

OP = original poster

Caley Stan's a part timer. Interesting that a guy on the Pars forum started a thread about Duff wondering if they should move for him. Thought he was impressive compared to their two in the middle. I'm not saying much but wait till Naelifts gets here.

Including that wee sub that came on for Hayes. What's he called again, Inman or something :D

You can see in your photae he's just about to cement that poor guy from behind.

I thought this topic was code for something else.

I don't think on today's evidence that Duff is any better than what we have. Obviously I've stuck up for Duncan in the past so that's no surprise. We can't attract better players than Duncan and Roy and so on - so we just have to bring them on from young boys. Like Starchief I reckon we ain't got much to play for. We are well capable of beating Dundee next week but it seems we are just drawing games while others win. It's like chalk and cheese from the Pele days and even the Robbo days when you always thought Denzil or Baz or Peanut or Ritchie would pop up with a late winner. I actually got round to watching the final again this week and Dundee were no better than us, even in the second half, but they had belief, and the interviews seemed to back this up - they've got a good squad morale and the fans believe too. I've already decided its a good season with plenty happening, but it's mid table for us. Need to rebuild next year with new management.

Looked pretty much a 4-5-1 today. I was interested to see how good Duff was, as people said he was good last week. First five mins I thought we had ourselves a player, after that I thought he was poor and reminded me of Brian Kerr. No lack of effort though, but you can get that from Russeldinho anyway. MoM for me was Dani and Cox not far behind. I thought the Pars had better movement than us - great passing from midfield and ability to spring people down the wings, one or two cocky backheels and one-twos, but I can't remember Ryan having a save to make, apart from one that was going wide anyway. In comparison we had loads of possession in their half but we just ended up passing it sideways, nobody wanting to take a risk and run at them. Wee Johnny was beaten for pace and physique by the left back and never contributed anything - probably could have come off at HT. Anything we did create came through Dani. Pitch was very slippy, with signs that the Pars all had the right studs as our lot slipped more often. We were a bit more direct overall though and made more chances. There's just never any belief that Rooney can take one of these through balls and finish it. It's so predictable. Wee Stewarty would probably never hack it at this level, but he could show Rooney how to finish - he is so knackered by the time he gets the shot away he never lifts it, just aims to hit the target. Low and straight at the keeper every time. To be fair to Rooney he never got any runners supporting him today. Foran was busy looking for scraps in midfield or helping out at the back. Did anybody mention it was cold? It was cold.

If they've already got a 'Scotland' bar on your chart then why do they need a 'north-east' and a 'north-west' too :cold02:

Absent friend, you should be absent less often. A calm and reasoned voice amongst the hysterics of those who need to repeat themselves time and again, only louder :cold02: NJ, my apologies to you, too late I know. As a mod I should have kept your thread on track and who knows some people might have been interested in your link which you posted in good faith. Instead it was hijacked and developed into yet another pro/anti Gaelic thread. At four pages long it's been quite interesting but there have been two or three threads already covering the same ground and afaik nobody has yet managed to convert anybody else :D

Well, er, thanks Dan - I'll lay off the whooshy smiley just this once

Those County boys are good banter though. I wish they had their own website so we could carry it on more often.

:D

I hope you checked that date BTW

Oh come on Dougie, give it time! This thread only started a few days ago