Rayvin

I don't disagree about Hamas. I think the fact that we are being asked to accept tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths here and that we did nothing about the tens of thousands before this, show that some lives do matter more to the mainstream consciousness. I agree with your final statement in full.

To my eyes the left wing position (attempting to summarise charitably) is: Israel is a terrorist state that routinely executes and oppresses Palestinians, having made them second class citizens in a legal sense, in their own country. Israel essentially strives to become an ethnostate and imposes apartheid to be able to deliver this. The Israeli government rations electricity, water, food, medical supplies to Gaza as a mechanism of control. It prevents people freely entering and leaving Gaza, essentially transforming the region into a prison for 2 million people. Israeli settlers frequently commit acts of terrorism against Palestinians, with many more of the latter having been killed through terrorism than the former. The IDF has a long history of murdering children both in Gaza and in the West Bank. Palestinian people are routinely and violently evicted from their homes as Israel seeks to effectively take over the land upon which the people of Gaza now live. Israel's ultimate objective is total ethnic cleansing of the region. Hamas are terrorists who committed some unspeakable atrocities on October 7th, but that this didn't happen in a vacuum, and claims that this is motivated somehow by a dynamic entirely apart from everything laid out above are fanciful. That the above crimes by Israel could absolutely result in this sort of a response by militants in any other part of the world, and that the path to ending suffering for everyone concerned is for Israel to stop brutalising people. Israel discontinuing the oppression of Gaza would be a path towards safety and security for Israelis as well as Palestinians. I don't think you have to hate Jewish people to believe the above.

So I'm going to for a moment try to set out what I think the current position is here being taken by people who think what Israel is doing is ok - I will be as charitable as possible: Prior to October 7th Israel was a subjecting Palestinians to sporadic displacement and occasional acts of violence were committed unlawfully as part of disputes and so on. Palestinians in Gaza were governed by Hamas who were responsible for ensuring basic utilities and functioning of the state. People in Gaza otherwise lived fairly normally. On October 7th, Hamas killed 1400 people in a terrorist act that was motivated only by irrational hatred of Jewish people and the desire to impose an Islamic caliphate, and Israel consequently had to 'invade' (unsure of the right word since Gaza technically belongs to Israel) Gaza in order to eliminate Hamas altogether. Over 5000 civilians have been killed in this process so far, including 2,300 children, but this is an unfortunate consequence of the pressing need for Israel to defend itself. Ultimately in Israel's position, the lives of Palestinians are worth less than the lives of their own people - this is simply how it is, and any other country would behave the same way. Is this a fair characterisation of the non-left wing position?

I would have to talk to them to know that. I think there's a worrying incursion of a set of right wing narratives into this to discredit the left and I'm not endorsing that until it becomes clear that we have left wingers hating Jews rather than hating Israel. EDIT - actually I suspect given the videos that the left has little to do with this element and it's more an Arab world response. I think the question remains the same though, although the right wing narrative is arguably more insidious for this one.

The most charitable interpretation I can come up with on this is that these people are offended or upset that these hostages are being given more visibility than the thousands of Palestinians killed both before and after the Hamas atrocity. Or they think it's propaganda designed to justify more death? I find it very sad that this is what it's come to, we're all human and none of these labels actually do matter in the end (IMO). I share your outrage at this.

I agree with that but it's worth considering that this is more or less the position that the UN has just taken up with respect of Hamas, and Israel has just banned all UN delegates from entering the country as a result.

Yeah my portfolio just shot up too. We'll see I guess but the timing is about right considering what lies ahead.

So that's effective immediately right? Disappointing for him and us but hopefully he learns from it and repays the faith shown in him. Am curious where the conspiracy mackems land on this one, is 10 months still proof of Saudi corruption?

Yeah but Keegan was somehow the spirit of the football club made man. Idk, I think there are exceptionable variables in all of this. Distinctions are important. Maybe we could agree to establish a new tier like "club deity" if Trippier wins something with us.

It's a tough one tbh. And I want to set out very clearly that I think he is absolutely world class and everything that everyone is saying about him being transformative for the club. But that said I feel like there have to be levels. If he leads us to a league title or a cup win, surely that has to be a tier above where he is now? Those successes have to mean something.

You put him in the same category as Shearer, not me I mean top of the top for this club. Half this team could justify club icon status at this point but I mean genuine club legend.

I love him but I don't think being here less than 2 years gets him that. If he left in January for instance I'm not sure he's quite Shearer level. I do think it's probably like he needs to retire here. I really do think he's one of the best players we've ever had, just not sure yet about 'legend'.

Totally agree. The only sad thing about Trippier is that we got him relatively late on in his career - maybe 2 or 3 years earlier and he'd have ended up a permanent club legend IMO. Mind you if we actually win something he could still get there.

Aye that is a weird one tbh. How is supporting a player with a gambling addiction and showing them they're still loved "a disgrace to people who seriously struggle with gambling addictions". Surely they should feel encouraged by this, as well as the potential knock on effect of thousands of people having a reason to find some compassion over the issue. Seriously people are just twisting on for the absolute sake of it on this and yet again it has nothing to do with the issue in hand, and everything to do with being emotionally feeble and insecure about the rise of our club.

Exactly. The only reason I'm aware of that this is even an offence is because of the potential for match fixing and inside knowledge to come into play. In the absence of those two things, this is literally just engaging in an action that the rest of us do plenty of times throughout our lives. Yes it's an offence and he should be punished, but that's because of what could end up happening if it's not curtailed quite strongly, not because it is morally wrong in and of itself.

I'm really enjoying seeing Wilson succeed for us and it'll be great to have watched one of our current crop of players surpass a number of players I watched over the years, feels like a healthy sign of progress. One thought on him that interested me recently was that we signed him for £20m in 2020. Based on what he's gone on to have done since, I think we got a really good deal out of that - but if we would have known he'd end up being this prolific back then, what would a fair price have been? (I'm asking this specifically because to simply ask his present value would be affected by his age - back then he was going into his prime).

The only reason I said it tbf

One of my mates' mum knows Murphy's mum. Goes to the same church or something She gives out tickets to the game from time to time, sounds like, dare I say it, a really good family.

Great result, really well done. Dare I say these drubbings are starting to feel routine?

That thread with a welcome committee for all those people from the blog was the warmest welcome this place has ever given anyone as well That is quite literally the best we are capable of.

I almost mentioned this but the reality is I'm in the very dry managerial side of it rather than content decisions. Mind you if HMHM is ever interested I daresay I could look through the old contact book.

Also think this btw.

Aye but after the charade of Chelsea last year and Liverpool's bid to rerun games until they get an outcome they like, I think I'm done with the idea that we need to be playing with a straight bat personally.

It's exactly this like, the idea that people on the dole are living the high life. Crackers tbh. You see the same about prisons - "they've got a ps4 in there, what the fuck is that about?? wish I could sit around all day playing ps4, we're too soft!"

Really sorry to hear this mate - I understand the need to get back into work quickly but I think all I'd say is not to put too much pressure on yourself if you're able, you can only do the best you can. This sort of shit happens - spent 2 years in the wilderness myself and had to move back home for a while. It'll come right.