Don't underestimate his ability to do it, but just don't feel he does it when it matters. How often have we watched him come out to the crease and said right just stay there for a while and then accelerate. We can't afford to have you out early because were already x wickets down only to find he's out after a few balls because he gets frustrated and goes for one he should be nowhere near. I agree it's great to see him hit big scores but that makes it all the worse when he gets out going for stupid shots. I had the feeling watching him towards the end of his previous test career that it was still always in his head all about him. Watch root galvanise an innings just by moving the score along at a better pace. Yes, it's about him and a good score but it's also about the team. I don't think Pietersen ever thinks about the team. It's still all about him, on and off the field.

personally, although I don't necessarily agree with the way it's all been handled, I don't really want Pietersen back. I think it's time to move on. He may be good at what the does although I often felt down watching him as he didn't appear to reach the level of consistency I'd expect of the truly great, but he's made it very personal. It's always all about Pietersen. I suspect that whilst our players are saying they didn't have issues with him and wouldn't have a problem with his recall, many did. I also suspect he could easily undermine the younger lads being brought into the squad and brought through. He certainly whinges more than most and I think the best statement about him came from Dominic cork. don't remember which channel or when but he was quite clear in his feeling that Pietersen's time for England is past. If Colin Graves (have i got the name right?) said to Pietersen that he would definitely be selected if he gave up the IPL contract and played county cricket, then he is guilty of misleading him and that is not right. If, however, he said what I thought he said, which was that the only chance Pietersen had of ever changing people's minds was to come back and play county cricket and then he MIGHT be considered then I can't see what anyone has done wrong. It's interesting that, considering youre all raving about him, only one county was interested in taking him as far as I have heard - I heard a list of counties who categorically said they didn't want him. He is no doubt a very divisive figure and seems to revel in that. I wouldn't be happy if he'd rocked up at my county even though we could have done with someone when half of the first team were bench warming in the Windies. All a bit of a pointless discussion now anyway since he's injured and missing out on going to the IPL instead of playing for England against NZ. He wasn't going to be available for that one anyway so how could he have been repared for the aussies?

Any credit or success for the club is welcome after the bad press we have had in recent years and there's nothing wrong with taking pleasure in good things that happen.

Did the commentator not also say we beat Newcastle and knocked out the holders reading?

Well the people round me were calling it the way bazza called it

Some people can multitask abbey

We watched White House down last night. so awful it was good for Friday night entertainment. all I need on Fridays is something to relax me after a tiring week at work. If I were taking over the world or whatever though I'd make damn sure my footsoldiers could hit a slowmoving target at 10 feet. Baddies are always such awful shots

Just a shout for the Spreadeagle at Sawley. Had our daughter's wedding reception there on Saturday. The food was piping hot; the service was excellent. They were very patient when photos took longer than expected and still managed to get the food on the table perfectly presented, hot and without any suggestion that there had been a problem when we made them wait almost an hour. 90 guests and total bill came to about 4000, which included drinks and an evening meal as well as a lunch with several choices and they even coped with an unexpected guest who made a mistake and turned up for the wrong bit of the day. Brilliant. Anyone with a function coming up could do a lot worse than look there.

Going to the assheton arms on Sunday for the big 60 birthday bash. Hopefully it will be good

Check bills carefully always. We do. Saved my son a fiver the other night when they charged full price for a dessert update and charged for an icecream they brought by mistake which he sent back. It's amazing how many bills are wrong . We nearly always send ours back for correction, even sometimes because they've undercharged us.

You don't have to pay the surcharge. They add it but if you say you're not paying it they usually take it off.

Also true

Can I just say that outside of the football threads, this is one of the few I regularly read. I'm not a foodie, but I do like to know of good places to eat for the occasions when i'm looking for somewhere different to go. I dont read the music association thread because I tried it once and it meant nothing to me. Thats what the rest of us do. We look, we decide if its worth a second look and if not, we dont go back. We dont comment on it at all.

Check she's likely to say yes. Otherwise whatever you think she'll like. My son did it in a restaurant on Christmas Day, down on one knee in front of everyone. My soon to be son in law did it on a bike ride on a French beach. No protocol, just say what comes naturally and make sure you know your woman. I'd have laughed out loud if my husband had gone down on one knee but some women love it.

is nobody eating out at the moment? Or trying anywhere new? I keep looking for a good recommendation so that we can try somewhere new but haven't seen one for ages. See the Feildens have got their early bird offer back.

I wouldn't judge him on this. I've known quite a few people who just suddenly realise they can't do it, whatever it is, any more. Happens a lot in teaching where a member of staff just realises that the cumulative effect of the job has become too much. They ring in sick and never reappear. He's out of form anyway and maybe part of that is just that he doesn't want to be there, hasn't wanted to consciously acknowledge it but it's been in the back of his mind for a while, and the current situation, with the ashes gone, gives the selectors chance to have a look at what they need to change, because results and attitude say we need to change something pretty soon.

Thought it was just me who dreads England winning a football game.

I would too. I read the comments by the other guy and didn't look closely but did think they were odd in the context of what you've said in the past. Only now realised it's not you!

Question is, do you see a queue forming for his services from any clubs in the upper part of the football league. No, of course you don't. Most football fans aren't begging their board to go out and get the guy because they've heard about his successes, have heard he might be interested and know he's going to be the next great thing. He's a no mark in football terms regardless of nationality, race, creed or colour. Bringing him in could be the final nail in the coffin for our fans, just when, even if we don't think bowyer is the greatest thing since sliced bread, we are beginning to be able to talk about the football rather than off the field antics, again.

Well they can look forward to a real backlash if they are stupid enough to appoint him. Oh heck - I forgot. They are that stupid and arrogant as to think that it matters not one jot what we, the fans, think

Lived in Somerset rather than Devon - 3 years in Yeovil and 3 in Martock just outside Yeovil. Going back 30 years though. My 2 eldest were born down there.

Unfortunately he died last year, but, as I said, did do quite a lot of other decent places around there with him. Somerset and Devon had loads of good restaurants that were very reasonably priced when we lived there.

Yes many years ago. They had signs up as you went up the drive saying "keep going" " you are still going the right way" the drive was in such a state although the place itself was lovely. I can't remember eating there - I think we just went to visit the I laws who were staying there for a couple of days ( we lived near Yeovil at the time) Did eat in quite a few posh places in that part of the world because my father in law fancied himself as a bit of a gourmet and would sometimes buy us a meal

Went to the Plough and Flail last week at Mobberley. Very good and because we booked online and it was our first visit we got 25% off everything. Definitely worth trying

The last few years have stopped the desire to chant anything but Venkys out or Kean out. Keep winning and the chants will start coming. You can't manufacture them unless you're Man utd and even then, they've had nowt new for years