| From | Message |
calmrolfe
5/30/2007
07:22:44
[ report abuse ] |
 Subject: The English Defence page 30
Message:
Aw, come on Grobs, you know The Hammers have been caught bang to rights. They are guilty as hell and should be relegated in place of Sheffield United. Tevez does not belong to them, he is owned by an offshore consortium and loaned to West Ham to increase his valuation in Europe, which is against all the rules of The Premiership. The West Ham officials blatantly lied when asked directly about the status of Tevez, only later did they come clean, when their lie had already been unmasked.
Hell, I'd relegate 'em TWO divisions just to uphold the integrity and fairness of The Premiership !! You should desert West Ham and come and support a Whiter than White club, like wot I do, you'll never hear a bad word said against MY club.....
Good luck next season against Blackpool ;0)
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mercury_whyte
5/30/2007
09:57:42
[ report abuse ] | 30th May update
Message:
Greetings team mates!
1) Many thanks calmrolfe for setting up the new team page, jolly decent of you...
2) I have been trying my best to arrange challenges over the last 2 or 3 days, but the response has been even slower than usual. I think this may be something to do with the 'Team Ladder' system now in place. Unless I understand it wrong, if a team high up the ladder loses to a team who are quite low down (like us) the higher team tumbles down a long way. One team captain has gone so far as to type on his team's home page that he will decline challenges from teams a lot lower down the ladder than his.
It may be that quite a few captains are taking this team ladder thing seriously enough to decide not to play certain other teams An unfortunate side-effect if true, I am thinking of asking the Webmaster about it. On the other hand, I may have got completely the wrong end of the stick and it could just be coincidence. In any case, I do apologise to all English Defenders whose games have been dwindling away, I am still trying to get some fresh games in...
3) I am gutted to read Scott Parker may be going to West Ham. That really sticks in the craw of all Addicks fans, but it's Chelsea's fault at the end of the day. It can be a cruel game sometimes...
Will be in touch again soon, regards to all...
mercury_whyte
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calmrolfe
5/31/2007
01:21:07
[ report abuse ] | Team Ladders
Message:
Blimey ! These Team Ladders are nothing short of a National disgrace !! I had to scroll so far down the Team List to find the English Defence that I got eye strain !!
It hurts to see that we are languishing below such sterling Chess teams as :-
Wasskally Wabbits
Scotland Forever ! (WHAT !!!!)
The knights who say "Ni"
Golf Holidays Abroad (The final insult !!!)
I think we need a miracle recovery, and we need it soon ! if we are to overhaul these titans of the Chess Board.......
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bernardhgaskin
5/31/2007
11:03:01
[ report abuse ] | Team Ladders
Message:
I am not really bothered as to who I play....
I would like to play very rich people .... who need an architect..... u c I am architect. (as if u need not know).
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korvax
6/06/2007
22:19:15
[ report abuse ] |
Message:
yes we all like a game of chess casual or serious.. either way it would be nice to be higher than some of those teams i agree
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starkberlin
6/08/2007
10:33:13
[ report abuse ] |
Message:
In my humble opinion, it doesn't matter what the teams are called. I'd hate to think that I belonged to a team of Snobs!
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vulcan72
6/10/2007
15:00:42
[ report abuse ] | misread!!!
Message:
sorry for a minuite there i thought you said a team of SCOTS.... can you imagine!!!
i actually enjoy the odd game of golf......believe it or not i play chess better, so Tiger Woods can sleep safe, but you must admit 'wassily wabbits' does sound like something you need to have removed surgically.
i think the best idea to get higher up the chess team ladder is to win more games........radical thinking i know.
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grobler
6/14/2007
14:16:15
[ report abuse ] | lots more games please skip !
Message:
that way I wont have time to listen to loads of nonsense from notsocalmrolf :-)
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grobler
6/15/2007
15:59:07
[ report abuse ] | fixtures....
Message:
ahh....its a good day when next seasons dates are out....away days at Manchester and Liverpool......poor ol' Blunts are playing where...?...Worksop or something...!...shame....(tee-hee)
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mercury_whyte
6/18/2007
08:09:14
[ report abuse ] | Sorry everyone, will be back soon...
Message:
Greetings team-mates!
Something urgent has cropped up, it may take me out of the loop for a couple of days. I have put on a 7 day vacation just as a precaution, but I should have it all sorted within 48 hours. Hope to be back real soon...
Apologies to those awaiting games, I will return ASAP
Sincere apologies to calmrolfe as well, another blunder by me has cost him two time-out defeats. I know this happened last year as well, I can offer no excuses.
I will post again as soon as I am making moves once more, should be very soon...
Regards to all, mercury_whyte
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vulcan72
6/20/2007
13:35:36
[ report abuse ] | skipper
Message:
may i be the first to thank you for all your hard work over the years skipper and wish the next captain good luck
cheers mw
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vulcan72
6/20/2007
16:52:03
[ report abuse ] | new captain?
Message:
perhaps we should look at members that have left the team, it seems to have worked for McClaren who brought back golden balls.
i actually think stanc would make a great skipper he gets my vote
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jcwhu
6/21/2007
12:54:56
[ report abuse ] | captain
Message:
sorry 2 c u go good luck 4 the future and 4 the next captain
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mercury_whyte
6/21/2007
13:53:46
[ report abuse ] | Hugely embarrassing but...
Message:
I've changed my mind.
Please don't kill me, I will try to explain...
My first message to you all a couple of days ago was sent because I was being overwhelmed with demands of work, and what little free time I allowed myself was spent in a tired state, where nothing much (including chess and the team) held much enjoyment for me. As I have explained in my second message I have been heaping most of this pressure upon myself, as I work for a very small company, and have always been inclined to take on tasks I should be delegating.
Not only this team, but every other aspect of my life outside work has been suffering because of this, and recently it has come to a head. My friends and family have been patient with me, but I will not allow this situation to continue. Only I have the power to change it and that's exactly what I'm going to do.
I did not realise how much enjoyment and satisfaction I have got from looking after this team over the past few years, and I very much regret the harm that has come to it because of my unintended neglect. But I don't want to lose what I have so much enjoyed being a part of, so I am going to put things right.
Thank you for the messages you've sent, please forgive me for giving you the run-around with my sudden U-turn. This is a cross-roads for me, and I know which way I want to go for my own well-being. My work will always be very important to me, but there is more to life than work.
Please believe me, this whole business has not been some cynical manoeuvre. I have made mistakes, the last of which was my message two days ago. It made me realise that I really want to carry on doing this, more than ever.
I hope you can forgive my mucking you all about...
Regards to all, mercury_whyte
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anathema
6/22/2007
01:59:57
[ report abuse ] | Non-resignation
Message:
Dude,
Don't be embarrassed. I think most of us have been guilty of letting work get on top of us at one time or another. I know I have.
The important thing is that you made the right decision in the end.
Best,
Richard
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vulcan72
6/22/2007
12:45:06
[ report abuse ] | application for captaincy
Message:
well thats put paid to that then, i've bought a new hat and everything
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starkberlin
6/23/2007
04:53:54
[ report abuse ] | Captaincy
Message:
You're doing a GREAT job mercury_whyte! You don't need to bust a gut to keep ME happy and plodding along. :-))
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stanc
6/23/2007
16:38:19
[ report abuse ] | Hoops !!!
Message:
Phew ! I'm glad you've reconsidered Skip I for one think you are doing a great job and I'm sure the rest of the team would agree. I assure you that the work you put in for the team, organising challenges etc is very much appreciated by us all.
Having said all that I've taken my eye off the ball and have lost 4 team games by time out. I can only apologise to everybody, it is very unlike me, I don't know quite how it happened. The only mitigating circumstances I can give is that I have been busy myself on the work front and also It's my birthday today so the local took a bit of stick earlier on. Before I throw myself on my sword I would also like to say that I was down in 3 of the games anyway so they may well of ended in defeat... Here's hoping you accept my apology and rest assured I'll do my best to uphold the honour of the team...
For England
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mercury_whyte
6/25/2007
09:59:10
[ report abuse ] | Apology accepted for sure...
Message:
stanc you are a team member of long standing, respected by all your colleagues here including me. We're all human and time-outs do happen, I appreciate your promptness and candour on the matter. Happy Birthday as well! I'm sure this minor setback can be turned around in a week or two...
Many thanks to everyone else who has sent messages to me recently, both here and privately. As I said before, it is an honour to be counted in your number and I'll continue to do the best I can. More games should be on the way in the next 24-48 hours, please yell if you are getting very low on them...
Regards for now, will be in touch again soon
mercury_whyte
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bernardhgaskin
6/29/2007
11:57:41
[ report abuse ] | May Scores
Message:
Dear Captain
Are u going to post the scores for May...... not meaning to hassle you....... take your time... I am just interested...... not that i am counting and that I am 2nd highest on the team table just after you and all that etc etc... ... i am just wondering...
Regards
Bernard the Chartered Architect (as if you did not know)
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mercury_whyte
7/06/2007
12:42:46
[ report abuse ] | 6th July update
Message:
Greetings team-mates...
I will indeed be posting the team scores for May and June over this weekend, and I'll do what I can to whip up plenty of challenges before next week too, because I'll have to take a short vacation (4-5 days). I should be back by the following weekend though.
In the meantime keep on doing you best folks, I know our team score has slipped a little but I'm sure we can turn it around...
Best regards to all,
mercury_whyte (former student member of the Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers, proud holder of the Lighting Industry Federation certificate)
I also have a medal for running the GLC London Marathon in 1984, top that...
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mercury_whyte
7/08/2007
04:36:47
[ report abuse ] | 8th July update
Message:
Greetings team-mates...
At long last I have posted the top scoring player stats for BOTH May and June at the top of our team page, sorry the May ones took so long...
A fantastic performance in May by marxwax deserves special mention, a positive balance of TEN games. Well done to everyone else who made it to a positive score, especially those who do so almost every month. You're setting the standards the rest of us aspire to.
As I mentioned before I'll be putting up my vacation flag in a day or so, between now and then I'll try to bring in a few more games for anyone who is available to play. (I will be away for about a week). Special thanks at this point to wanttaja, captain of the 'Chess For Fun (CFF)' team, who sent in a large and well matched challenge which I was happy to accept.
Will post again soon, keep battling everyone...
Best regards, mercury_whyte
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mercury_whyte
7/17/2007
10:55:07
[ report abuse ] | 17th July update
Message:
Greetings team mates...
I have returned!
Not before time so it seems, for we have suffered a rather major slump in the last couple of weeks. I have looked at the team results since the beginning of July, and our poor showing is due to two factors;
1) A run of bad results, completed games well fought but on balance more lost than won.
2) No fewer than 17 time-out defeats from one player, whose holiday has taken longer than his vacation flag allowed for. A further 2 games will be lost in the next few days. Since he has been absent from GameKnot for almost a month, I have decided to remove korvax from the team. Naturally I hope he is OK, but so many time-outs is a bad blow for us, and I felt I had little choice.
As a consequence we are now down to 38 members, so I have decided to open the team for a few new applicants, should anybody be interested. A bit of new blood every now and then can't do any harm, and will perhaps help us to turn things around.
I'll be doing my best to arrange new challenges over the next few days, as I am aware some of you need new games. Hang on everyone, there's only a few weeks until the new season kicks off...
Best regards for now, will post again soon,
mercury_whyte
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markbehm
7/19/2007
13:10:02
[ report abuse ] | Reinstatement of games.
Message:
Hello team mates, just a quick note to ask a question of you.I have just been challenged to reinstate two team matches by Dollaup of the U.S armed forces team.In both games i am -1 pt and dont fancy my chances of winning.Is it unsporting to decline?
Best regards.
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bernardhgaskin
7/20/2007
13:16:05
[ report abuse ] | good question ??
Message:
depends on you..... i always allow for reinstatement....
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parrvert
7/20/2007
13:18:43
[ report abuse ] | Reinstatement
Message:
markbehm,
If you reinstate the games it will not affect the team. The team games are already won, reinstating will create new non-team games from the position at the point of time-out. Therefore it is your personal decision. I'd suggest if you would enjoy or learn from playing on then continue.
Chris
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mercury_whyte
7/25/2007
11:06:34
[ report abuse ] | 25th July update
Message:
Greetings team-mates
I have been doing my best to drum up some challenges, but it has been very difficult! Possibly because it's summer holiday time for many captains. I will continue to try...
korvax has contacted me and offered sincere apologies and an explanation for his time-outs. He also wished the team well for the future, a gesture much appreciated. Some of the harm done to our score has already been repaired I know, well done to everybody who has contributed to that.
Lastly, in the finest old tradition ofEnglish eccentricity I have decided to go mad for a few months, just to see how it feels. Can't be any worse than worrying about work, which I still do despite my best efforts to the contrary. So until next time, fish teabag ducking stools to the lot of you...
Arable pottage monk skewer, mercury_whyte
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bernardhgaskin
7/27/2007
02:01:24
[ report abuse ] | Running on empty
Message:
Dear Captain
I know its Christmas (sorry Summer)..... but I hope you have notived that I have zero, team games.....
Regards
Bernard
(hard at work writing my firms employment policy what a drag ..... zzzzzz )
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stanc
7/31/2007
18:22:04
[ report abuse ] | No gas in the tank.....
Message:
Hey Bernie !! I hadn't notived you are short on team games ... Get off the Skipper's back he does a great job for us all. Also, can anybody tell me what happened to the "red with a neg" ? Also, Tevez what's that all about ??? I reckon somebody somewhere is going to lose a few mill... West Ham are sitting pretty whatever happens..
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bernardhgaskin
8/01/2007
11:54:42
[ report abuse ] | No gas in the tank.... the reply
Message:
Hi Stan
I did not notice that I was on the skipper's back........... I just thought that maybe a few more games in my direction could help the team....... do you agree ??
Bernard
( just completed the employment policy....... thank god)
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mercury_whyte
8/01/2007
15:02:44
[ report abuse ] | 1st August update
Message:
Dib dib dib...
It's day 4,465 of the expedition and so far, not even a glimpse. Pretty dense jungle, but the extra arm is a great help. I have managed to send out a host of challenges but so far few have responded, I will keep trying.
As for Tevez, he should be preserved as one of our last great natural wildernesses. Millions of seabirds find safe haven among his more inaccessible crags. No man should set foot upon him or plant a flag in his soil without unanimous consent at the United Nations.
A few new members have applied to join our ranks, I will be accepting one or two soon if all goes well. Apologies to all who are getting low on games, it has been a slow summer.
Farewell for now,keep battling...
mercury_whyte
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stanc
8/01/2007
16:26:24
[ report abuse ] | Fair Play .....
Message:
Sorry Bernard I mis-interpreted your comment, I thought you were having a pop at The Skipper keep up the good work for the team matey and I'll send a challenge over as soon as I get a free slot.
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vulcan72
8/03/2007
14:08:59
[ report abuse ] | red who is no longer in possesion of a neg
Message:
greetings to all, glad to see the skippers medication has been doubled not a moment too soon.
also glad to see the toffies out of controll spending pre-season, not many clubs spend 10 mill buying back lads they let go from their accadamy.........elbow on the pulse stuff, still wait untill you move out of liverpool into your new ground? aparantly they are going to build it with a trophy room, yeh! i know, i couldn't believe it either.
vulc
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bernardhgaskin
8/05/2007
05:59:13
[ report abuse ] | Team table or Team ladder ???
Message:
ok probably someone can explain which is better ? team table which you find our team very low down, or team ladder which our team is doing well ?? I hope its team ladder..... not to say I am too bothered, but I would like to think that we are doing well generally.
Open Question anyone can answer
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vulcan72
8/09/2007
12:49:35
[ report abuse ] | dont all answer at once!!!!!
Message:
Hi Bernard,
i have no idea which one is the premier list, but if we are doing better on the team ladder then thats got my vote.
its a wonder we are still on any list with this score............-68 remember the days of + score? seems like a long time ago now.
vulc
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bernardhgaskin
8/16/2007
17:50:55
[ report abuse ] | Bernards recent game
Message:
anyone interested in this mate have a look: -> gameknot.com
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bernardhgaskin
8/22/2007
11:27:51
[ report abuse ] | I have another interesting mate....
Message:
-> gameknot.com
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vulcan72
8/22/2007
16:07:29
[ report abuse ] | too matey for my liking
Message:
two very nice finishes Bernard, nothing less than we have come to expect from one of our best players.
you might be getting a phone call from Steve McClaren as he needs a finisher asap.
regards to all
vulc
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mercury_whyte
8/24/2007
22:29:12
[ report abuse ] | 25th August update
Message:
Greetings team mates!
I've not posted for a long time I know, and many of you are getting low on games. This situation will be sorted out over the Bank Holiday weekend. I am grateful as ever for your patience, and will do the best I can over the next three days to top everybody up with fresh challenges!
July's overdue stats will also be posted at the top of our team page. Another message will follow shortly, in the meantime enjoy your holiday weekend chaps, I certainly will...
Best regards for now, mercury_whyte
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mercury_whyte
8/27/2007
10:19:57
[ report abuse ] | 27th August update
Message:
Greetings team-mates!
I have updated the team information at the top of our page, as you will see July wasn't a great month for us, but the figures are distorted somewhat by 20 or so time-outs from one player. That's history now though. I have altered the layout a bit, as I get the urge to from time to time. In about a week I'll add August's figures (honest!), I know not what they will show us...
Every available player received at least one pair of new games today, that's 40 games in total, with another 12 outstanding if team captains accept my challenges. I hope everybody enjoyed their Bank Holiday weekend, I'm off to enjoy the rest of mine now. In truth I was happy from the minute I walked out of the ground after we turned around a terrible 1st half and 2 goal deficit to Sheffield Wednesday. UP THE ADDICKS!
Keep battling everyone, will be in touch again soon...
mercury_whyte
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starkberlin
8/31/2007
11:32:01
[ report abuse ] |
Message:
I know you have a hard job skipper. I don't have either the time or the talent to do it!
Normally, on this team, I play between 4 or max 6 games, and I think I'm quite an old hand now. (No sarky comment from you other blokes please!)
We are, I think, all quite interested in improving our team performance. If we weren't, we wouldn't be playing in a team, right? Although, I must admit, I don't go swaggering around telling people "Oi. Do you know that you're talking to a member of the ENGLISH DEFENCE CHESS TEAM?"
Having said that, how is it possible that our team score has again been put down the crapper by someone who time outs about 20 times? I couldn't do that if I tried!
(Just a simple question really).
Eric
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vulcan72
9/02/2007
01:26:06
[ report abuse ] | timeouts #*@<>X!!!!!!
Message:
hi Eric great to hear from you again.
perhaps the answer is to limit the number of games any player can play at the same time to say six? and it doesn't need to be the captains responsability as we can all limit our game preferences ourselves.
the reason for having twenty on the go anyway baffles me, as, as soon as you finish two games your little green tab comes up saying your available for more games so six would give the skipper time to accept new challenges.
i know i know its genius
thats just the way i am
vulc
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vulcan72
9/23/2007
16:58:56
[ report abuse ] | QUIET!!!!!!!
Message:
For gods sake you can hardly get a word in on this message board nowadays......
I'm going to be serious for a moment.......................................phew! that's better.
i do wonder how many of the team actually read the messages as it always seems to be the same posters, I'd have thought that with fourty team members this place would be hugely active.
oh just one more point i used the spell check and it says that fourty should be spelt forty...........discuss
vulc
p.s apparently after spell checking my signature an alternative is vulva
(I've been called worse) (mostly on this message board)
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bernardhgaskin
9/26/2007
06:43:52
[ report abuse ] | QUIET ... lets talk then
Message:
Yes.... agreed...... the quietness is deafening
My only other issue is that I have not had any potentially rich clients come forward wanting a Nursing Home or a New Office etc....... or even an interesting house to design (of course local projects preferred, unless the client is happy to pay for travel. accommodation, time etc.)
Anyway back to the chess.... just to let everyone know that I am going to local (in Dulwich) chess club on Monday evenings (in a pub.... always good place to start I think) ....... and (wait for it) ........ they have asked me to be on the their team in the London League matches ......
On another point.... I am trying to get to 50 wins on the board..... but I do need to have more matches arranged in order to do this....
Regards Bernard (the Architect.... you never know)
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mercury_whyte
10/05/2007
11:56:12
[ report abuse ] | 5th October update
Message:
Greetings, long suffering team-mates!
Leaving this forum page untouched and this worthy team almost to it's own devices for the entirety of September was not a planned event, and I do regret allowing the team games to dwindle, leaving some of you with literally no battles to fight on our behalf. Had the team chosen to berate and harass me, I would have thoroughly deserved it. I very much appreciate your immense patience with me, a patience which perhaps many other teams would not show their captains in similar circumstances. Your collective attitude towards my failings is admirable, and your good humour and spirit in general make me proud to be a member of this team, and to serve it as best I can.
Our performance as a team in September shows a slight improvement over August, which again is admirable, bearing in mind the scant attention I have paid us of late. The stats are up now for September at the top of our team page.
Sadly two of our members close to leave us over the last few weeks, markbehm chose to leave after suffering a modest number of time-outs. The decision to leave was his and I respected it, and he wished us all well for the future. ahmad102 also decided to leave, for reasons which he chose to keep to himself. During his short stay with us he battled well, and I wish both of these ex-Defenders good fortune.
During the last 24 hours I have secured about 40 new games for those who are available to play, thanks to a couple of welcome challenges coming in, and several I have sent out. Regards to the captains of those teams whom we are now playing. Our team score is still pretty negative, and this ladder thing has my head spinning to be honest, but I'm inclined to take my own games one result at a time, which works for me.
Give me a shout if you still need new games, I'll try to help. Once again I very much appreciate all your patience and tolerance, it is a rare quality in these times in which we live...
Best regards to all, keep battling...
mercury_whyte
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grobler
10/12/2007
14:32:58
[ report abuse ] | new games please
Message:
as many as poss....im bored !
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stanc
10/14/2007
08:00:53
[ report abuse ] | And me...
Message:
I'm all out of team games myself Skip. I'd appreciate a few when you can
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bernardhgaskin
10/15/2007
06:55:56
[ report abuse ] | skin of my teeth
Message:
This guy had me by the skin of my teeth..... check it out.... okay it was a team match as well..... so i was going for broke.... i am sure he had at least two forced mate opportunities.... as they say that's chess .
-> gameknot.com
anyway now i need more games captain (keep up the good work)
Regards
Bernard
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mercury_whyte
10/16/2007
11:27:18
[ report abuse ] | 16th October update
Message:
Greetings team-mates!
Many new games are coming your way, GK has made it easier for me and other team captains to send/receive challenges, this is most welcome to me, as my time is at a premium right now...
We have suffered some time-outs over the past few days but I have been contacted by one colleague who wanted to apologise to the team and have a chance to put right what has happened. He is a team-mate of long standing and good reputation, and deserves an opportunity to battle back.
Another new feature I see here on GK is the option for me to appoint up to 3 'Co-captains', who would have the ability to send or accept challenges on behalf of the team! I'm not sure if there are any restrictions on who I can appoint (level of membership might be one), but if anybody is interested in becoming an English Defence Co-captain, I am happy to discuss it with them!
It may prove useful, especially during periods of heavy work-load, when I find it difficult to find the quality time this team deserves. Please get in touch with me here or by private message if you're interested...
Regards for now, will post again soon. Keep badgering me if you are still short of games...
mercury_whyte
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bernardhgaskin
11/14/2007
02:04:26
[ report abuse ] | Does anyone on this team play ?
Message:
Does anyone on this Team Play in a League ???
I need practice against people of similar ratings
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calmrolfe
11/29/2007
03:37:45
[ report abuse ] |
Message:
Please may I have a new game Skipper, the long nights are drawing in and my glass of red wine and chunk of Wensleydale cheese are currently being wasted on Coronation Street and not on expanding the horizons of my mind.....
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