England continue learning curve
Scroll down to read my answers to your questions
It鈥檚 fair to say the didn鈥檛 go to plan and the has been disappointing 鈥 a 3-1 defeat is hard to take.
We went into the game really revved up as a squad, thanks largely to a .
Again, we got off to a fairly decent start, but it wasn鈥檛 the easiest pitch to score on and in the end we were probably 20-30 runs short.
The key for us was probably to take early wickets but Brendon McCullum smashed us to all parts, took the attack to the bowlers and really made it tough.
It was always going to be hard to rein it in after that and despite our best efforts 鈥 and a great spell from Ryan Sidebottom 鈥 we couldn鈥檛 do it and the Kiwis won through to seal the series.
It鈥檚 a setback after series wins against India and Sri Lanka but, as Peter Moores said to us after the game, we are a team on a journey.
We鈥檙e not anywhere near as good as we want to be yet but we鈥檙e still learning as cricketers and as a unit.
We鈥檝e played some great cricket at times so far on this tour but obviously we鈥檝e also played some very poor cricket too and that鈥檚 what we鈥檝e got to iron out.
When everything clicks for us - batting, bowling and fielding - we're a force to be reckoned with already.
The challenge every game is to get all three clicking at the same time and hopefully that consistency will come. When it does, we are going to be a very, very strong side.
Personally, I was obviously disappointed I wasn鈥檛 able to do my bit for the team as I was left out of the last three matches.
I spoke to Mooresy and asked if I was close to being selected and he was very honest and just said that he and the selectors just weren鈥檛 sure how the pitch was going to play and so opted to go with an unchanged side.
He said it was a tough call 鈥 and it is comforting to know that it鈥檚 not something I鈥檝e not done or not doing that is keeping me out of the side, only the conditions and the fact that the grounds over here are so small.
My turn will come and I, just like everyone else, have already turned my attention to the Test series.
Our schedule is pretty hectic and there isn鈥檛 much time to reflect on the one-day series as we look to hit back in the best possible way in the longer form of the game.
We have all the tools to win that series and I think the Kiwis are wary of our seam attack 鈥 Sidebottom is looking really good and we have some brilliant guys coming in like Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison.
That鈥檚 in addition to James Anderson and Stuart Broad 鈥 it鈥檚 an awesome line-up.
That might mean New Zealand producing a few slow pitches in attempt to combat their strengths 鈥 but that will open things up for me to do my bit and then they will be sorry!
It would be great to be given a shot in the Tests and I鈥檒l be doing everything I can to show I deserve a place 鈥 I鈥檒l make a case for batting at three if it gets me a starting place!
Either way, most of the guys will have had a month acclimatising to things out here and we owe the Kiwis one now after the one-dayers. Bring it on!
Thanks again for your questions. I鈥檝e tried to answer as many as possible.
Swanny, what has been the funniest thing so far on tour? (Roderick Howlett)
There have been quite a few comments from the younger lads 鈥 Luke Wright stepping out at Christchurch, drawing breath and then exclaiming, 鈥淎h, it鈥檚 all about Auckland isn鈥檛 it!鈥
Or Phil Mustard pointing to the floodlights at Hamilton and asking if they were there to dry the pitch.
But Stuart Broad鈥檚 the one who鈥檚 forever being stuck into by the lads 鈥 he鈥檚 a very precious lad and has just had his hair done in a bob, which has led to us all referring to him by our ex-girlfriend鈥檚 names. Still, he鈥檚 a pretty boy. Whack him in a skirt and I鈥檇 give him a second glance!
What is the best and the worst thing about being away from home with so many lads? (Nessa)
Best thing is the banter, camaraderie and chilling out together all the time 鈥 and the worst is the exact same thing because you get sick of each other!
What Oasis song title would best sum up the tour so far? (J)
Good question! I鈥檇 have to say 鈥淪ome Might Say鈥 I guess because we are looking at the positives from this series but obviously there are two ways to look at it and some will take a negative view. If that鈥檚 you, go and tell it to the man who cannot shiiiiine.
Do you agree that Oasis have not produced anything better than 'pretty average' since the first two albums? (Jon Roberts)
No, I don鈥檛 agree with that at all. Definitely Maybe was obviously the bees鈥 knees but they鈥檝e had some absolute belters since then. I鈥檓 sorry but you can鈥檛 argue with Oasis, it鈥檚 not allowed.
I was intrigued by your claim that 95% of the squad listen to rubbish music - who's in the 5% that don鈥檛? (Sarah)
Me, Jimmy Anderson and Tim Ambrose. That鈥檚 it. Timmy鈥檚 got good taste 鈥 and is actually a bit of a gem on the guitar secretly too 鈥 while Jimmy鈥檚 taste is improving. He still likes the occasional rubbish R&B track but I鈥檓 doing my best to drill it out of him. If I can, an England supergroup won鈥檛 be too far away 鈥 and we鈥檒l be killer!
Mate - following the continued demise of Newcastle United I look forward to taking 拢10 off you and your brother! (George Doors)
When Kevin Keegan took over, I was the happiest man alive. The stuff we were playing under Sam Allardyce 鈥 all that long-ball nonsense - was intolerable.
The trouble is Keegan has come in and we鈥檙e trying to play football 鈥 we鈥檙e just not very good at it! Still, I鈥檝e every faith they鈥檒l come good 鈥 and the sooner the better because Paul Collingwood has been giving it large of late and, from a Maccam, that can鈥檛 be allowed to continue.
Graeme Swann was talking to Sam Lyon
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Swann you have no chance of playing in tests over Monty as he turns the ball more, has better varitions and bowls more consistantly and therefore conceeds a lot less runs.
It is only early days for you and I do think that you have a chance to maintain a one day place but you will have to improve immensely to become a fixture in the side.
Your batting shows promise but your shot selection shows a lack of development and often gets you out.
Your bowling lacks enough effective variations and you seem afraid to put much flight on the ball.
Sort these things out and you will be back in the one day side in no time...
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Who in the team gets the most fan mail? and Have any of you received any whilst in New Zealand?
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I thought this was a good blog until I saw the word 'Mooresy'. This reminds me of the over-familiarity that cost Steve McClaren his job with his referrals to 'JT' and 'Becks'. Peter Moores is supposed to be your boss, not your mate!
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When will you stop learning and start playing?? This phrase has been used far to often by the England camp over the last few years.
I love the England team and there is more than enough talent to win...as we saw recently. With the likes of Collingwood, Bell and KP we should be winning more than we do. After all, you are the so called best "XI" the country has? I never see the Aussie's using the "Learning curve" excuse.
You all just need to put your hands up and admit defeat? It can quite easily all be turned around
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As a Sunderland fan, I have to say firstly, it's Mackem, not Maccam. And just think how much you'll get from Colly is Newcastle lose to Blackburn next week and Sunderland beat Derby, they'll be above you in the league. Haha.
Now Steve's there aswell, he'll have even more fun. Are you sure you wouldn't prefer to change teams?
And Phil was making a joke right? I didn't think he was that stupid.
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who in the squad uses the most beauty products? eg hair gel, moisturizer..
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I've been reading the same nonsense for years and years. Presumably the other teams are learning as well, otherwise 'Swanny' , 'Mooresy' and co would'nt be the perennial losers they are. Never mind Graeme, you can put your feet up for the next few weeks and watch 'Monty' learning .
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鈥渨e are a team on a journey鈥..we鈥檙e not anywhere near as good as we want to be yet but we鈥檙e still learning as cricketers and as a unit.鈥 G.Swann.
What a preposterous statement and one which I am quite frankly very fed up of reading from most of the England players.
How long then does it take to learn how to play cricket Mr Swann? I accept that it takes time to build a team but most of this squad has been playing together for some time now (staying with each other and training most days on long tours).
If I鈥檓 honest I think that there are a lot of players in this squad that are simply not good enough to play international cricket. I must add that this does not apply to you at the moment as you have not been given the chance to show your worth which incidentally I feel is a poor decision by the coach.
In fact Mr Swann I must congratulate you on not using the phrase; 鈥渨e are young and have an inexperienced team鈥 which I have heard so many times from your colleagues.
Overall I am very disappointed with the way this England team plays cricket at the moment. People pay good money to watch you play and it is such a shame that they are rewarded with such embarrassing and inept performances.
What are you and the rest of the England team afraid of when you take to the field?
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You are dreaming another 20 or 30 runs was no where near enough. The Kiwis are about 100 run ahead of us with the bowling attack we have.
Our bowling is in-mature and nieve, why is Chris bowling short and wide and Anderson ? Neither are that fast, so they are an do get tonked! We only have one real bowler playing and asking Ryan to do all the work is mamouth. Colly was a star with the ball but we have no attack that worries the Kiwis at all. This was a poor performance by England, there is no otherway of describing it - this Kiwi team who have been put together at the last minute and have put you guys to shame. They were there for the taking - and we couldn't do it. We belong at 7 in the ODI's.
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Graeme swann please stop deluding yourself as it is getting embarrassing now.
Apart from Vaughan, Cook, Collingwood, Pietersen, and Broad england are simply not good enough to win matches and competitions on a consistent basis.
Us fans know this and so do you deep down inside so stop pretending and just admit your limitations.
As fans all we really care about is that you show some desire,passion and bravery in the heat of the battle. If your not good enough to defeat your opponent at the end of the day but display the above attributes we will love you and applaud your endevour. But you don't.
Prove me wrong.
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You're obviously a massive music fan. What do you listen to most (apart from Oasis) & what is the best gig you have ever been to?
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We could have a team with a 1000 caps between them and i'm sure we would still here the usual crap about "young team" "journey" it's boring and i wish the English team would anaylse their performances more and be more honest.
The truth is simply we are not good enough (mainly bowling) and haven't produced any bowlers recently with the X factor - No Lee, Warne, Steyn, Morkel etc. Our bowlers don't even have a stock ball or set plans. Jimmy bowls 6 different deliveries an over!
I'm not sure what we have got in reserve though? i'd like to know from fans of county cricket if they have any names of youngsters tipped to come through? Rashid is mentioned a lot but any others??
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Swannie - EVERY English side since Hussain's days have been saying the same thing and giving the same reasons/excuses.
You guys are just not good enough.
Face it - and knuckle down to positive play and a positive mental attitude and you might get there one day, but I doubt it
You blokes say you are aiming to win the World Cup. Why not aim for the next game instead?
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Hey Graeme,
I'm sorry but this is less of a question and more of a request.
Last October, for my seventeenth birthday I received the best present EVER...a personally signed photo of Paul Collingwood! (my sisters boyfriend is a relation to the main man himself) I was so happy I actually started crying, even if he did forget what my name was! However it is now the pride and joy of my room.
So I was just wondering if you could please tell Colly that I said thanks for the worlds best present! I wish I could say it personally but I can't so I hope you don't mind being the 'middle man'. I would love it if you could get back in touch with me, perhaps by email but I understand if you can't. You must have a very busy schedule.
I just can't wait to see what I get for my next birthday...a Stuart Broad in a box would be much appreciated! Although I doubt you could find a box big enough!!
Lots of love and good luck,
Sarah
xxx
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Hi Graeme!
Best of luck for the upcoming test series. I hope you get chosen to play!
Just a quick question.
Do the england cricketers know that there are many videos up on youtube about them?
And also tell Suart Broad that I love him!!!
Love Lily xoxo
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Which football manager does Peter 'Mooresey' Moores most resemble - particularly in defeat? Is he a teacup throwing Fergie, an emotional Keegan, a detached Sven or none of the above?
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Swannie,
Whats the worst OASIS track then?
Ian
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These blogs are quite amusing.
Trouble is that talk, talk and more talk doesn't disguise inadequacy.
English fans expect more of the team than predictions as to how great things are GOING TO BE.
Speak with the bat and the ball first.
If you must write - try a bit of:
a) realism b) self-analysis
c) balance d) description of 3 areas to improve.
Meanwhile play music, make jokes but also, examine carefully how successful teams achieve at ALL forms of the game.
We have thousands of cricketers in this country. Many, many more than the likes of Sri Lanka. You 15 in NZ supposedly represent the best we have! We're all supporting you and hoping things will improve. Yes, you might be in the team in 2011. I hope you are. We desperately need a consistent spinner who can also bat a bit.
Train hard, model yourself on the great spinners, read as deeply as you can about tactics, variations of angle, loop, speed. Above all remember that the best spinners were not always the ones who spun the ball the most.
Mostly, they were able to apply guile and deception!
I was going to say" good luck" but actually successful cricket has very little to do with luck - in the end.
Enjoy the tour and come back a better cricketer because of it.
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Graeme, by referring to your coach by his nickname only re-inforces the lack of discipline and direction that exists within the current set-up.
Can you imagine one of the Man Utd players referring to Alex Ferguson as Fergie? It just would not happen and should not happen.
I think moores should be released of his duties after the tour. It is obvious that there exists an amatuerish cosy exclusive club environment where the players are under no pressure. This has to stop.
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I have to echo what Mike wrote. Whatever the attitude about Fletcher, he ran a tight regime that expemplified a disciplined approach to WINNING. There was depth of strategy and study of opposition that seems to be totally lacking right now. This 'positive thinking' approach of 'taking positives' out of defeats whose positives from a spectator POV are pretty much invisible, is not conducive to a professional and purposeful look to the team right now. Swannie, you're a great talent - I hope this coaching setup doesn't ruin it for you. We don't lack talent, we lack attitude. "Moorsie" and this abysmal coaching setup is responsible for this decline - and some great careers are being thoroughly damaged by it.
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I'm sure Broad is quite used to wearing a skirt being an Old Oakhamian.
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I have to echo what Mike wrote. Whatever the attitude about Fletcher, he ran a tight regime that exemplified a disciplined approach to WINNING. There was depth of strategy and study of opposition that seems to be totally lacking right now. This 'positive thinking' approach of 'taking positives' out of defeats whose positives from a spectator POV are pretty much invisible, is not conducive to a professional and purposeful look to the team right now. Swannie, you're a great talent - I hope this coaching setup doesn't ruin it for you. We don't lack talent, we lack attitude. "Moorsie" and this abysmal coaching setup is responsible for this decline - and some great careers are being thoroughly damaged by it. Our Sir Lanka win was against a side without Murali and opened with a score of 104 all out! It's wake up time. If we fail in these tests, the finger of fate must surely point at "Moorsie" and his muckers.
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"moorsie" OUT
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Swann dog,
How do the team greet Ian Bell when he constantly returns to the hutch having stroked an elegant 20, only to hole out to some nuffy?
P.s quid was crazy last time you were down.
D Hum.
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Swanny, I like your perspective on life.
I know international cricket is serious and of course I want England to win every game, but at the end of the day it's sport. Win, lose or draw we'll move on to another series and give it our best shot.
Best of luck in the Tests, I hope "Moorsie" realises that Monty's one of the most over-rated players in history and gives you a game!
Monty could indeed be a good bowler but he bowls too flat, doesn't flight it and doesn't actually spin it all that much. If you show a bit more patience in your bowling (and indeed batting sometimes, although I like a good biffer!) then you should be given a shot.
Best of luck mate.
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Good innings today swanny, at least you got a chance to show what you can do ay!
Good luck for rest of tour, hope you get a chance in tests.
jt
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How can James Anderson and Stuart Broad justify their selection when they struggle with basic line and length? Surely there's village cricketers out there who are more accurate than those two.
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who in the squad uses the most beauty products?
also please give my congratulations to paul collingwood on the birth of his new baby daughter!
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Judging by the remark about young Broad - "which has led to us all referring to him by our ex-girlfriend鈥檚 names" - the England team appears to share a possibly hypenated ex-girlfriend - is this part of team bonding we haven't been told about yet?
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Some great replies there people; just what Graeme and the team need, more negative comments. The one day team has come a long way since the world cup and this is the first hiccup we've had. The way we slate our sportsmen and women really does make me angry at times, surely encourgement is the key and not constant critisism. Yes, I do believe we were outplayed by NZ in the one-dayers, but they are a better ODI team than us, and I seriously expect the result to be similar, albeit to us, in the tests, as we are a better test team. The result is dissappointing, but we are heading in the right direction with regards to one-day cricket, and New Zealand is a difficult place to come and play one day cricket. The biggest problem with English cricket is the selectors in my opinion; they are too stubborn and will not hold their hands up when they've cocked up; why Vaughan and Strauss aren't picked for one-dayers I'll never know; yes, I know they are test batsmen, but they're good batsmen nonetheless and will score us runs. But its a shame some of you are quick to forget the excellent victories against India and Sri Lanka especially, and are all too quick to jump back on the slate England bandwagon. I hope you get a chance in the tests Graeme, I felt you deserved it in the test series in Sri Lanka, either yourself or Owais certainly, ahead of Mr Bopara, and hopefully the old farts (as so well put by Sir Ian) will see sense sooner or later.
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Have to disagree totally with you Ian Smith. Our team is answerable to its fans - and they've let us down. Supporting England means something and playing for England should feel like the pinnacle. Imagine joining this squad right now. Bopara, a great all round talent in the making being unmade because there's no support, no success to help build him - Graeme Swann, a far superior bowler and batter (no question) in my estimation than Monty (who has been sussed out by all the opposition and has no answers), in this situation if he doesn't perform a miracle to bail out the failing team gets sidelined, Broad is struggling. Mascha, SHah, all with the pressure on them while Cook and KP fall to pieces, Strauss has been shot, Prior and Mustard - all good players...getting thumped by this regime. My fear is that Ryan Sidebottom will just go into decline being the pivotal seamer, but with limited stats due to repeated failures in the field. This is a crisis of team confidence - not talent - confidence. We're not just seeing a failing side, we're watching potentially great players being destroyed. Strategy, planning, straight talking and disciplined coaching support that makes a difference, not taking 'positives' from a totally unacceptable situation. Moores will have it all to answer for at the end of theis test series, and there will be no pleasure at all in saying 'told you so'. As the great J. Christ said - "The truth will set us free". There is a point at which positive thinking becomes lying while your world falls apart.
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A newcastle fan!! You must be mad! If you want a season ticket when ya get back from the NZ tour then I have one going spare, I just can't take it anymore - its driving me to drink!
I guess for these tests there is a good chance you might get a bit of sub fielding duty if you are unlucky enough not to be selected. Having watched you stand on the boundary for a whole day in Kandy I felt a little sorry for you as I was slipping back a number of beers. Is it hard to mentally keep focussed when you know there is no chance of you bowling and its just a lonely day on the boundary?
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"I spoke to Mooresy and asked if I was close to being selected and he was very honest and just said that he and the selectors just weren鈥檛 sure how the pitch was going to play and so opted to go with an unchanged side."
Well, that gives me confidence. Real confidence in the coaching side.
"Hey coach! How do you think the pitch will play?"
"Haven't a clue to be honest mate. Don't know much about cricket."
"So what about the team? Got any ideas?"
"No. No ideas. I guess we'll go with the team we picked last time."
"What? The one where the bowlers conceeded 340 runs?"
"Yeah, that one"
"Alight then. What about playing a spinner?"
"What's one of them?"
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An acquaintance, and MCC member, has emailed me today:
Went on a tour of the SCG yesterday. They are successful at cricket
because everyone is taught the game at primary school, including girls.
Thereafter, it's the clubs not schools that oversee your development as a player. The indoor nets at the SCG have 13 pitches and five of them are set up to match the pitch conditions and light levels at Lord's, Oval,Trent Bridge etc etc. And all states have cricket academies as well as the national scene.
With this kind of set up we have no chance and having seen a little bit of England's dire performance in the final one day game in NZ on TV it looks as though we are going backwards not forwards.
Interestingly, the second highest TV audience for cricket after India is
the US because there so many cricket loving immigrants now living there.
There are also more people playing cricket in the US than do in Aus and NZ combined. There are plans to take 20/20 cricket there which I think will do really well."
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Some very interesting comments there guys and gals, and I agree with many.
HOWEVER, and I hate repeating what has already been written, HOW CAN PETER MOORES EXPECT RESPECT IF HIS PLAYERS CALL HIM "MOORSIE" or somesuch rubbish. The manager needs to lead by example, set the ground rules early. See Capellos actions - we may not agree with his appointment, but who was delighted when he expects people to wear suits, ties, no flip flops! I know I was and if the rest of you dont agree then I'll be surprised. It is early yet to see the effect of Capellos actions, but I would bet that if Moores did the same, we as fans would have far more respect.
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how unsual!
an english cricketer going abroad, getting beaten then claiming that they are "learning". these guys have been "learning" for the last 10years!!
is it me or does this line get rolled out everytime we get beaten?
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Swanny,
What are your feelings on the Kolpak ruling that effects county cricket? Do you, like me feel it is limiting the opportunities for young English cricketers in the county game and do you feel the ECB who keep the county game afloat with huge injections of cash, should have a firmer stance on counties having 5 or 6 Kolpak鈥檚 to get around the one overseas player per county this coming season? E.g. Northants aka the Steelbacks or as they should be called this season, the 鈥楰opaks鈥.
P.s All the best and I hope you get a gig in the test series.
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what do you guys do on your day offs?
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This is about the 4th time I've tried to post this. Theres something wrong with this blog!!!! Anyway here is my question AGAIN.
You stated last week that you sat next to Liam Gallagher on the flight over but Alastair Cook has written that it was Noel Gallagher, so please can you explain which one of you doesnt know his Liams from his Noels.
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