docblackrock

Errr, no they're not!

Nice. Do tell us about the strap - the gen 'leather-look' rubber () is a lot thinner but would be interested to know what base strap this is and how you got the shiney rubber look.

What??? You mean luxury goods companies in this case, a watch company, actually pay film producers money to enable their products to appear in shot??? You jest. Surely not? Pfff, next you'll be telling me actors/actresses are not averse to reading lines where gesturing at wrist jewellery, they ask in husky foreign accented English if that's a ***** to which the reply is "no it's an XXXXXX' to which the first actor/actress replies 'beautiful'. Yeah right as if that would ever happen...

Yep that was my thread from last year. Actually had more problems with the Merc than the watch Movt is a standard Asian 21j auto and was a below-the-counter item from one of our (now infamous) dealers Was inexpensive (less than 100 of US monopoly money) and I was considering buying the gen at the time, so worth a punt I felt. Still running fine too. The black datewheel, flush date window, and accurate 'automatic' dial outweighed the missing 9 crown I felt. Believe the quartz used the same spec case but with 9 crown so you could always swap the case if so inclined....I wasn't. Talking of the SLR, have you seen the new 'butch' version just out - below??? Apart from the rubber strap which is nice (although gives a PO look), the rest...well, me not likey, the subdials detail a bit too 'busy', the opened up date window (a design feature that is increasingly common, god knows why!) and the fussy bezel jut look a little too trying . Also not sure what's going on with that Breit-style bracelet??? Sheesh....

Err, sorry to [censored] on your parade here and for all Ultimate owners but I don't see no 22mm version listed on that site Of course, that's probably because this strap is the Hadley Roma Silicone Diver strap also available HERE and is not manufactured in 22mm. Sadly sometimes you've got to 'pay to play'...

Not sure if we're talking reps or gens or both here but anyway... Daily Beater : Black Ultimate PO on Rubber Dress Watch : Tag Heuer Targa Florio / Monza calibre.36 Smart Casual : PAM 192 (Tanti Chrono) / PAM 212 Sporty: Tag Heuer Aquagraph Vintage: Rolex 1665 DRSD

As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words... p.s. something about green 'n' white eh JTB

Klingsor, I see you lurking Are you a neriazzuri by any chance?

As I said, not exactly 'top tier' JTB Let's not forget that in a similar period (say from '76 to '85) British clubs won I think NINE major European trophies (Liverpool won 4 European Cups, one UEFA Cup, Notts Forest 2 European Cups, Aston Villa 1 European Cup, Aberdeen 1 UEFA Cup, have I missed any others?). Meanwhile, Barca were scraping the bottom of the 'Cup Winners Cup' barrel. Considering Barca's heritage, you've got to say that historically they've massively underachieved (before last year, just one European Cup compared to our FIVE, Milan's SIX, and Madrid's NINE). But therein perhaps lies the rub - for so long in the 50s and 60s, Barca suffered (literally) under the fascist jackboot of Franco's Real Madrid - just mention Alfredo di Stefano to any Catalan over 50 years old and then stand well back That's why I cheered when Barca won the CL last year (honestly nothing to do with Arsenal losing ) - not only did they fully deserve it on the night, but it was also great to see such a proud and well-supported club finally get their reward. Roll on Anfield, March 6th - two great teams, two great clubs, two great matches hopefully.

Ok you got me, first English team then Course you wouldn't that mistake about 1967 now would ya? Late 80's as you know were dark dark days for us, and anyway Barca sound like they were really Spurs reserve team in disguise with the likes of Venables, Lineker, Archibald et al Not exactly top drawer as their record shows during that period.

Ah well, in that case I should point out I'm talking about UEFA competitions. I believe DU beat Barca in a bygone time in a strange lesser competition called the Fairs Cup which was a forerunner of the UEFA Cup. To put things in perspective JTB, the city of Edinburgh was represented by TWO teams one year - Hibernians and Hearts (aka the Jam Tarts)! Imagine that! (cue Edge's bitter wrath )

So will WE my friend, so will we...... I honestly feared the worst after the first half hour but just kept - to come from behind against Barca and become the only British team to ever win at Camp Nou (never mind twice!) despite not firing on all cylinders (if only Garcia was not injured), shows immense character and spirit - and WHO'd have thought both JAR and Bellamy would be on par Still as Rafa said, it's still only half-time but sets things up nicely for a great match at Anfield.

No fix for my online woes anyone??? please??? Sod's law isn't it - will have Sky installed by the time of the return leg but won't need it anyway as going to the match. Grrrrrrr............. Ok a bribe, anyone who provides technical info that enables me to watch the game tonight online (with English commentary), will get his pick from my parts box (and there's some goodies in there, vintage 'n' all )

In your dreams Ape my fanciful brother...Wenger doesn't do expensive superstars with massive egos (unless they're French of course ) Sammy is Liverpool-bound, almost signed a few years back, and Rafa knows him from way back when he was youth coach at Real Madrid. He and David Villa will sign, mark my words Thanks for the link anyway - unfortunately couldn't get stream working, why for god's sake they make a Mac-friendly stream and make it have a WMP codec is beyond me! Real player, Quicktime, any of those would do the job, but nooooo they choose a Microsoft app. My WMP9 crashes (a bastardized Mac app) and the plugin doesn't work either.

Let's not forget Ronaldinho and Eto'o's "relationship" eh JTB? All is not happy in Camp Barca... "It really p****d me off that a team-mate should poke his nose in and say I need to think more about the team - especially when it's him who needs to think more about the group! We have the guy considered the best in the world but Samuel Eto'o is also the best in the world. I know he's slagging me off but he should have the b******s to say things to my face instead of stabbing me in the back." Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o after Frank Rijkaard claimed he refused to come on as a sub against Racing Santander and was backed by Ronaldinho. "People think that there is a time bomb in the dressing room, but that isn't true. Rijkaard has got the team under control. Samuel Eto'o has a good relationship with the rest of the group and the atmosphere is good" Barcelona captain Carles Puyol aka Comical Ali (he of Ryyanon's avatar )

Yes Alan, you're still in it...well at least until tonight when your team (2006 and 1992 winners) meet my team (2005, 1984, 1981, 1978, 1977 winners) on your turf (Camp Nou, amazing stadium holds about 80,000). On paper Barca are slight favourites, however that's just how Liverpool like it, we always play better when underdogs, and as we know nothing is played 'on paper' . Should be a very hard match, we will want to keep things tight at the back whilst try to score a valuable away goal on the counter-attack. You will want to win 1-0 or 2-0 but if we get an away goal you will have it hard in the return leg at 'Fortress' Anfield in a fortnight. Given that there's no one team elsewhere on fire right now, whoever wins this clash over the two legs I believe will be favourite to go all the way. There is also some interesting history at stake - Liverpool have beaten Barcelona several times in European competition, most recently when KOing them out of the UEFA Cup semi-final in 2001. Ironically, Barca's promising 18-year old goalkeeper in that tie, Pepe Reina, is now Liverpool's goalie. A year later in the Champions League group stage, the Catalans got their revenge with a well-deserved win. Liverpool's manager, Rafa Benitez, has a 100% record against the Spanish side at their home ground from when he was manager of Valencia a few years back, and was the architect behind Valencia's break up the monopoly of Real/Barca in winning the Primera Liga twice in 3 years. before leaving to join Liverpool in 2004 and winning the Champions League in his first season. Suffice to say he is a tactical genius who knows how to beat Barcelona, as do a lot of Liverpool's Spanish players and those with experience in La Liga such as Alonso, Garcia (sadly injured against his old club), Reina, Aurelio, Sissoko, Gonzalez, Arbeloa etc. There will no doubt be a personal battle in midfield not least between Ronaldinho, arguably the world's best midfield 'creative' and Gerrard, arguably the world's best midfield 'general'. It's also been good to see the media interviews highlighting the enormous amount of mutual respect shown between the teams, not just amongst the players but former players too (Cruyff, Dalglish etc.). Unlike the likes of Scum Utd and Chelsea (aka Chav Scum), both clubs have class and are fiercely proud of their heritage and traditions. Whatever the result there will be handshakes and congratulations all round as opposed to the unsavoury scenes like at Chelsea (Barca's players were racially abused by Chelsea staff) and against Arsenal in last year's final (Henry's and Wenger's attempts to outdo each other in the Worst Losers of the Year award). Excited yet??? I am, as you can probably tell. Whatever the result, I hope it's close to make the return leg even more tense and atmospheric. BTW since this match is only being shown live on Sky here in UK if anyone knows how to get get live footy stream on a Mac (Ape sent me a link but don't have windows media player plugin and nothing else has worked) please let me know . I can't go out to my usual haunts to watch it as I am supposed to be multi-tasking and packing as we're moving house next week cheers!

C'mon man, dear old Ken's having a hard enough time as it is without having to grasp the vagaries and complex nature of Spanish footballing politics. Outside of Spain, Real means Madrid and by your own argument re. Atletico, there's no Sociedad in the competition so Real can therefore only mean Madrid. Only in front of Xabi Alonso would I ensure I didn't make that faux pas. Anyway back on topic, like V said I really hoped the French would have walked off as it would have brought things to a head (i.e. dodgy ref and their cheating), rather than now they have got away with it. Whilst I grudgingly accept Giggs was clever and tried it on, it should never been allowed to stand and the fact that they had to resort to such tactics in desperation after playing so poorly against a poor team and THEN have the gall to complain about Lille's reaction shows why they are not-so affectionately known throughout the UK as THE SCUM. God I wish there was at least one of them on this board (c'mon, I know you're out there, lurking, and reading this ) - every thread needs a troll after all

3-2 Ken, so a 1-0 win for Bayern Munich means an aggregate score of 3-3, but the German team would then go through as they scored 2 'away' goals. And don't worry, we all know you don't follow this "stupid game" otherwise why else would you pick Real? Anyway, only 24 hours to go before THE BIG ONE....Liverpool vs Barcelona, Doc vs Offshore, Admin vs Thor....

Celtic 0 Milan 0 PSV 1 Arsenal 0 Lille 0 Scumchester United 1 Real Madrid 3 Bayern 2 So the 'Tic hold their own at home against mighty Milan (a game of catenaccio if ever I saw one). Still, sets up the potential for a famous win in the San Siro for the Bhoys, 1-0 another Nakamura free-kick and JTB could still yet dream of Athens (ok then the QF at least ). I for one will be cheering them on. Arsenal were poor and didn't deserve any more than they got from the unfancied Dutch team who to their credit played well, and could have scored a couple more. Perhaps the strain of all those domestic cup tie replays, extra time and penalties are starting to tell - Wenger's minions certainly looked drained and they'll need more a lot more va-va-voom if they are to progress - plus there's always the danger of the away goal. Worrying times for last year's finalists. Real Madrid - Ken's adopted team - got off to a flyer and despite having to resort to recalling Beckham (refuge of the desperate given their recent form) they looked like killing off the efficient Germans. Yet Real being Real, a late lapse of concentration and a former Barca player pops up with a second away goal, meaning a Bayern 1-0 win next time on German soil will spell the end for Real. Sorry Ken but you know it's coming..... And finally, Scum Utd ....Well putting aside my obvious hatred of the club and all it stands for, it must be said how incredibly PAINFUL it was to witness yet another amateur scrappy Sunday League performance from the Mancs. Appalling and uninspired against a very weak French side, they degrade this tournament by their very presence at this stage IMO. In the group stages they limped through despite losses to both Celtic and the mighty FC Copenhagen, yet still failed to step it up a gear tonight. Still cometh the hour cometh the dodgy ref - Lille had a good goal disallowed then walked off the pitch temporarily in protest (how very French ) when United's Giggs took an 'early' free kick into an empty net. The goal stood much to the disgust of the French side and their fans. The sheer relief and over-inflated arrogance on the faces of the Scum said it all. They had cheated and won, and they knew it. Of course they're still eminently capable of f**king it up big-style at Old Trafford, but regardless I look forward to them getting the humiliating spanking they so richly deserve in the QF, their exit stage of choice over the years.

Well said Pugs, I always took full grants (a paltry government sum that didn't even cover accommodation costs never mind books, skeleton, scalpels, living expenses etc.) and worked my way through university barely with the help of uncomfortably large student loans (which I am still paying off over 10 years later, almost clear though). However I still consider myself lucky to be afforded the opportunity. It's even worse for students now here in the UK what with tuition fees etc. and we have a situation where academically-less gifted students with rich parents are the only ones who can afford to study what are rapidly becoming devalued degrees (media studies? pfff ) at devalued institutions. Meanwhile, levels of basic education and even literacy in the inner cities is at crisis point whilst levels of crime are rising rapidly. You figure it out, I can't.

Hmmm, sorry but that last statement says to me you don't really get what the poster was saying, and that you are in no position to include yourself with those who have made this sacrifice - you have that luxury to fall back on. Anyway, it wasn't that long ago you were on here proposing to move to London (Sloane Square wasn't it?) and telling all and sundry about the exact size of your new salary So what happened? An epiphany? Don't tell me bean-counters have a soul after all?

I'll see that and raise you one (p.s. I'm jealous - if I had my time over again, Auld Reekie would top the list ) Yes, for my sins, I spent SIX whole years of my teens and early twenties somehow managing to combine playing hard (girls, beer, rowing, football in that order) with working hard (cutting up dead bodies, finding out where all the squishy things went, and then assessed every four weeks for years, somehow scraping 51% each time all the way to an MB BCh). As for where, let's just say Kruzer's alma mater and my first port of call have some traditional rivalry 'cross the Pond especially in terms of oarsmanship, and unlike our bitterest local rival, we at least didn't provide the KGB with some of their most feckless foreign recruits After that it was 'real life' and a London teaching hospital with studies at the affiliated 'college' that allowed me to attend lectures (and Gran will seeth with jealousy here) given by a certain helix-related Nobel laureate still amongst it's teaching staff (MW). I felt very honoured. However, despite my education I find that for every door it opens, increasingly there is always someone above you for whom it [censored] their own inferiority complex and wastes no time in letting you know that . I am not a product of my education but I feel like it has given me the confidence to strive to better myself in other areas of life.

Look on the bright side Ken, it looks like Harry Kewell will be fit again just in time for the Final in May

What you mean like Capello? Here's some happy reading for you Ken Madrid deny Capello quit reports (Last Updated: Monday, 19 February 2007, 19:21 GMT) Real Madrid have denied Spanish media reports that coach Fabio Capello was planning to leave the club this week. Spain's Cope radio station said Capello would sit on the bench for Tuesday's Champions League match against Bayern Munich before leaving the club. "We were very surprised by the reports that appeared in the media," club spokesman Miguel Angel Arroyo said. "It hardly contributes to the right atmosphere on the eve of such an important match as tomorrow's game." Arroyo added: "Reports like this only serve to destabilise the club and we'd like to express our surprise and dismay about this type of report. "In this world you can assure very few things, but I can guarantee that that the board has not received any resignation from Fabio Capello either verbally or in written form." Arroyo refused to confirm whether Capello would definitely be in charge for this weekend's derby at Atletico Madrid. "There are few things in this world that can be guaranteed," he said. "But I guarantee that the board have certainly not received any resignation." Capello has come under fire following a series of poor results, which saw Madrid lose three out of four games either side of the winter break, before suffering an embarrassing home defeat to struggling Levante a fortnight ago. Madrid fans called for Capello and club president Ramon Calderon to resign during the Levante match, but the board publicly voiced their support for the coach in a news conference the following day. The Madrid faithful were again left frustrated on Saturday when their side were held to a disappointing goalless draw at home to Real Betis. Madrid are fourth in the Primera Liga standings with 42 points, four less than joint leaders Barcelona and Sevilla.

Forza Lello! I have several crystals that need, sorry demand AR - first up would be my 187.