However your Calvin And Hobbes panel is brilliant so spot on there.

EXPLAIN???

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Too often, we lose sight of lifes simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown, BUT, it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and bitch-slap that mother....pass it on.

the display pic, but yeah obviously i dont mean that, just expressing my desire to keep sven in my....strange..no...sadistic way

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How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?

Enjoy the path you take, after all it is the way the worlds coming to.

 

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Too often, we lose sight of lifes simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown, BUT, it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and bitch-slap that mother....pass it on.

" Though there has been a sense of resignation about Eriksson's future for City's chief executive, Alistair Mackintosh, and deputy chairman, John Wardle, the absence of virtually any contact with Thaksin made his precise views unclear until the weekend.

The key players in the move to oust him have been Thaksin's influential Thai representatives on the City board, particularly the executive director Taweesuk Jack Srisumrid. It seems they have minimal knowledge of football and have bungled attempts to appoint a new executive chairman to work on overseas commercial deals, but they do have Thaksin's ear. "If Thaksin had been at the club all the time things would have been all right," said one source close to the negotiations which brought Eriksson to the club in the first place. "It's well known that Thaksin takes bad advice."

The counsel of the Thais is understood to have been that as well as failing to maintain City's strong start to the season, Eriksson has lacked control over the players. They have failed to comprehend that his late-summer appointment made a coordinated buying policy impossible, despite him being handed £40m to invest.

In Eriksson, they have also found a manager unwilling to tolerate their interference which, in Taweesuk's case, has included declaring a policy of buying "older, famous names" as he put it. The Thais have been mesmerised by the way Ronaldinho has been touted before them. Eriksson admires the player but has insisted that a policy of buying superstar names to fill City's stadium is not acceptable to him.

It is unclear whether the events of the past 48 hours give new significance to the decision by the Thais advising Thaksin to appoint Roberto Carlos de Carvalho, who was on the fringes of the fabled Brazilian 1970 World Cup squad, as City's international youth academies adviser. The import of expertise from Brazil perhaps reinforces speculation that Scolari, who will step down as Portugal's coach after Euro 2008, may be on the City radar.

Eriksson has already been installed as favourite for the manager's job at Benfica, whom he took to the European Cup final in 1990. "I'm sure that Sven will get offers. I'm completely sure about that, but nothing before the end of the season," Grip said.

Removing Eriksson would cost Thaksin up to £5m – the cost of buying out the final two years on his contract – though there are suggestions that this could come down to £1m if he finds a new job relatively quickly.

In a statement, Eriksson said only that he and Thaksin "spoke at the weekend," adding: "The game with Liverpool on Sunday is most important and we are working very hard to prepare properly for [that] and our final game of the season at Middlesbrough."

Kevin Parker, of City's official supporters' club, said there was "nothing that can be done," despite popular support for Eriksson."

Worrying signs for the future.

CTID

Woosh, that comment went straight over my head. Probs due to waking up 5 hours ago at 4:30 in the morning to watch the CL semi final.

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How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?

The League Managers Association have expressed their concern over Sven Goran Eriksson's possible departure from laceName w:st="on">ManchesterlaceName> laceType w:st="on">CitylaceType>.

Eriksson has refused to comment on his position at the club after reports emerged that owner Thaksin Shinawatra had told the Swede he will not be retained at the end of the season.

Eriksson's agent Athole Still and his right-hand man Tord Grip have confirmed he is likely to leave the club despite an encouraging first campaign.

City are certain to finish in the top half of the Premier League after being in the hunt for European qualification for most of the season, and the LMA are unhappy with the club's 'short-termism'.

A statement released by the LMA read: "The League Managers Association is deeply concerned about the circumstances surrounding the possible departure of Sven Goran Eriksson from Manchester City FC.

"There is no question that Sven has made an immediate and dramatic impact on Manchester City since his arrival, winning seven out of their first 10 matches, completing the double over local rivals and reigning champions, Manchester United, and in line for their highest-ever finish in the Barclays Premier League (they are now ninth).

Growing trend

"Sven is one of Europe's most highly talented football managers with experience gained from working around the world. He is in the process of building a strong squad at laceName w:st="on">ManchesterlaceName> laceType w:st="on">CitylaceType>, he commands the respect of his players and has developed a strong relationship and fantastic support from the laceName w:st="on">ManlaceName> laceType w:st="on">CitylaceType> fans.

"We feel the current situation reflects a growing trend of football club owners having unrealistic expectations and not giving managers sufficient support and time in the role. Such short-termism is destabilising to the club, its players and its fans and is not the way to develop success on the field."

The LMA are also worried about the situation at Liverpool, where co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have been involved in a power struggle amid reports of a takeover by Dubai International Capital.

The All-Parliamentary Football Group plans to launch an inquiry into English football and its governance and the LMA have given the proposal their backing.

"The LMA is working with the game and all its stakeholders to address the issue of short-termism and encourage clubs to look to the medium and long-term with their management appointments," the statement continued.

"We are looking at all areas of football management, the training and development of young managers, the recruitment process, standard contracts for all LMA members and ways to improve the communication process between the club, the manager and the fans, setting clear, realistic targets and managing expectations."

Feliz Año Neuvo

What if Sven is playing us? What if he is doin this to clear his ass out of city and go to a top team in say italy!?  Sven is a clever guy. Even though i like him i can´t really trust him.