MKSC

That's standard William Hill procedure now mate. All the shops in London are open 8.30am to 10pm. Most are deserted after 7pm in the winter. It's all about machines now. They make up over 80% of William Hills in-shop profit. If idiots like Ranger are going in and spunking wads of foldy stuff then there is no way it'll close early. Guy in my wifes shop last week blew £7000 between 10am and 7.30pm. It's just completely wrong. Complete thread tangent here, should probably go in GC somewhere (feel free to move this admins), but what do people think about the betting shops these days? I used to be a shop manager for Hills, when I started there it was 10.15 till 6pm in the winter, 10.15 till 9.30 in the summer but only if there was uk racing on, otherwise you'd close half hour after the last race. Now it's till 10pm all year round and it's been confirmed that Betfred are opening up some shops in select locations till Midnight. They have also been granted a 4 hour Christmas Day licence, using the same rules that allow a pub to open up for Christmas dinner etc. The whole idea of the Gambling Commission, aside from allowing Bookies to advertise and make it easier to open shops, was to regulate the betting industry in a more sophisticated way and to increase their social responsibility. There's fuck all responsible about giving people even more time in the shop to lose their money. What's worse is that Gambling is a recession proof industry. None of the big bookies are struggling, in fact they are raking the profits in as desperate people use the last of their dole money trying to turn £50 in to £1000 on a roulette machine.

Me and the wife in that one.

My other half heard about this last week and asked me if I wanted one as it's my birthday next week. Not sure how she came accross it but it was definitely away end and it was definitely 177 euros. I told her to save her money. Fucking ridiculous.

I'm a horrible bastard and have no sympathy with anyone who gets stung using Wonga or the like. They know the risk involved and I seriously doubt a huge percentage can't get through the next week without borrowing from sharks like this. There's always another way. I can't speak for those on the poverty line in the North East, but down here it's almost a joke. They get free rent, free council tax, free school dinners, tax credits and child benefit and you see the horrible offspring loafing around the estate with their mobile, stupid beats headphones and riding a shiny new bike. That's if they aren't at home on their xbox playing fifa 13. Seriously, a bird round the corner from my house. Her son is in my boy's class. He's ridiculously fat, she claims she has no money and can barely survive, yet he has a fiver on the way home from school everyday to stop at the fired chicken shop. Me and the wife both work full time jobs and sometimes it's plain pasta or rice for the kids tea at the end of the month because we've got no cash left. Buy the kid some fruit and veg for his tea. It's cheaper and he might lose some weight. Anyway, this daft bint only went to brighthouse to get the little fucker an xbox. Oh shit, you can't afford the repayments, well you shouldn't have gone and bought it should you, should have told him he can't have it cos you are a slob and his dad's a layabout who spends his dole money on booze and in the bookies - this is factually correct btw, before you all start about me generalising. I grew up in a family where we were ok. My dad had a good job, my mum didn't have to work. We owned our own house and were relatively middle class. Did that mean I had all the latest computers and funky trainers. Did it bollocks. We couldn't afford it because we thought paying the bills and putting a good dinner on the table was more important. Plenty of the council estate kids were frequently better dressed than me and got the new SNES. I had to make do with my old Sega Master System. My ex is just the same, doesn't work, has 5 kids and has just moved her latest new fella in. He doesn't work either. She gets paid more a week than I do. If she went to Wonga it'd be because she wanted to get her hair done, not because the kids were starving.

Should really have done better against Anderson there. Nowhere near strong enough.

I'd really like us to put effort in to all the cups this season. We're in 4 competitions and the one we have the least chance of winning, or even obtaining one of the top placings in, is the one we'll put the most effort in to. I get the money issue, it's vital and in reality is the most important thing. But I'd like us to have a real go at at least getting to a final this season. I don't really care which one. None of us except the archaic oldies have seen us win anything of note and it's about time we sorted that out. Talksport where taliking about it being a long time since clubs like West Ham and the scum have gone without winning, and how they deserved a trophy. Well if those fuckers do, then we do x 1000.

330 pages and I'd imagine less than 10% have anything to do with his ability with a football. I was in the cafe when I read that in the old current bun, it was the least surprising story of the day. The only thing that got me was the headline, "football star". No. Just, No. Sack him, sack his people, bankrupt his company.

Pretty stupid idea from the belgians really, the policing cost of having to deal with anything between eight and fifteen thousand fans in Bruges - getting pissed and trying to find somewhere to watch the game - is going to be enourmous. I trust the majority of our fans to behave, but there will some who will let us down, and that could seriously damage the reputation of the club. I was always doubtful of getting a ticket but used it as an excuse to have a couple of days away with the wife, which I still will, but it could get a bit silly if things don't go well. I know it's not the clubs fault, but advising fans not to make travel plans when it has already been released that around 16,000 have booked to travel by varying means!! Are they seriously expecting people to cancel?

David Pleat came into my place today. Got to call him back tomorrow with a quote for a kitchen. This could not be more nwoat but I felt I had to share.

Bruges is gonna be some absolutely mint N-O meet up. By my calculations approx 70% of the forum are going. How many do you think will be in and around Bruges on the night? Could easy get to 15,000 if you consider how many people on here are going, and that we are just a tiny percentage of Newcastle fans.

I'm not confident of getting a ticket, but I'm going anyway. Me and the wife have booked up for Thursday and Friday night so we'll get a chance to look around the city. Obviously I want tickets, but if I don't get them I won't let it ruin the experience. The centre of Bruges will be full of Mags so it'll be a great atmosphere. I reckon there could easy be 10-12,000 make the trip. Really want to go to Bordeaux too, will probably drive there as well. My boss has rejected my holiday request though, I asked for Weds/Thurs/Fri but only the Weds/Thurs are approved. Supposed to have a regional managers meeting on the Friday so he's turned it down. I can absolutely guaran-fucking-tee that the meeting will either be cancelled or moved the week before. At which point, if he doesn't relent and let me have the time off, I will go to head office and do this.... http://images.wikia.com/glee/images/9/9b/Desk_flip.gif

I can see it being a scrap amongst 6 or 7 teams for places 4-10. Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd should be well clear of the rest. Arsenal, Spurs, Us, Everton and Liverpool will obviously be tipped to fight it out for the next few spots but I can see clubs like Fulham, Swansea, West Brom and, god forbid, Sunderland making a push for the European places. Obviously injuries and cup runs will play a part for every team. I think it has the potential to be a really exciting season. If I had to have a guess now, I'd have us in for 7th.

Booked two nights in Brugge for me and the wife. Will book the Euro tunnel next week. Really looking forward to this. I'll try and book up Bordeaux when I get paid.

I can get to Brugge for £58 return taking the car on Eurotunnel, hotel from £40. Flights to Bordeaux from Gatwick from £63 return. Hotel from £42. Just need to make sure I get the tickets now.

Hour drive to Folkstone, Euro tunnel to Calais, Hour and a half drive to Brugge. Result. Bordeaux is a bit of a trek mind, 8 hour drive from Calais. Might take the train/plane on that one.

Looks like the Mondeo will get to head to Bordeaux and Brugge. Very nice indeed.

I think the number one priority is no stupid trips to far away places, both for the teams and fans getting to the games. I quite fancy Udinese, only because it's my Nan's home town. Other than that teams in France/Belgium/Holland/Germany would be nice. Maybe Rapid Vienna, always fancied going there.

I was mocking my Fulham supporting employee yesterday after they went out. I jokingly commented we would probably get Man Utd away anyway. This season is going to be a long old drag. Hopefully we get somewhere nice to visit in the EL Groups.

I reckon there'd have been more chance of Carroll being allowed to go there instead of us Not too far from Lille either for Debuchy. They'll be disappointed not to have landed him actually.

I'd say even the Eastbourne Over 65's ladies team are far happier with their transfer window than we are with ours.

Good colour choice for our new euro kit then.

Anyone checked if they've started a thread on their being no NUFC players in the England squad while their new sewpastar gets back in.

Perch can cover FB, and CB. And DM. We only need a squad of 15 man. It was enough in the 70's!

Looks like Shaun has got a fanboy here.

I used to travel from London on my own, watch the game on my own, and go home on my own. I wouldn't speak to another soul aside from a couple of words with whoever was sat next to me or to order some food. I didn't mind because I was going to the game and that was all that mattered.