Rayvin

That would be amazing...

Hahaha 370 pages!! in one month for a player who still hasn't signed yet! To be fair, at least a good number of them are aware of how mental that is. Quoting Borini's missus and everything - they're treating the guy as if he was Suarez (actually a lot of that looks familiar - they're approaching RAWK standards of crazy). He got 8 goals right? So this is a roughly 10 goal per season player we're talking about. Good God...

You're not wrong there - but they seem rich enough to strike an oil deal with the Chinese that runs at a loss... that's purely geopolitical, there's no economic benefit to Russia for at least 10 years (and even then it's tiny). Billions of dollars have gone on that. I dunno, I just think Israel is well positioned to fend off the West on this one. You're probably right that the US can influence things though, and I suppose it's just a matter of how long the Americans wait before acting. If they leave it to late, Israel will have achieved everything they need to. Which, come to think of it, is probably the perfect time for a climb down; Israel can demonstrate is responds to the international community and the US can look like it did something...

Can't say I read comics but I'm certainly a nerd by whatever standards the majority on this board operate by. That said, 'being cool' is a waste of a life. I actually believe you can reach a point where someone is so cool it's sad. Thus, cool and sad are two different points on a circular framework - and using that logic, I would then argue that I'm so sad, it's cool. It's not a great argument in truth...

Having a read of their message board, it seems that they have a belief that the owner wants to sell, but can't get anyone to match her valuation. As such, she's fireselling players in order to realise their value and take it off the amount required to buy the club. Seems like a false economy to me as the remaining valuation will still be 'too high' by the same factor it was previously, but there we go I suppose.

Is there any record of that having happened previously though? I'd like to believe you're right mind you. The reason I'm primarily sceptical about the US standing up to them is that Israel has been courting Russia recently - there was some kind or large scale agreement over gas supply that raised US eyebrows a couple of years back. I don't think Israel is beyond playing up to Russia, who, as we all know, will welcome it. I suspect the US would be concerned about pushing Israel too hard. What if Russia stepped in with the finance instead?

At this point, I'm not even certain that Israel would listen to the US. They're ignoring them quite frequently now. I'm sure the US could just about best them in a straight out confrontation, but Israel is a nuclear power and ultimately there is no way that would happen. I think Russia would be a bigger concern for Israel - much less predictable than the US - but Russia won't antagonise the US by directly pressuring a key ally so... There is a third option mind, which is that Israel, probably by accident, carries out something so horrific that the world stands aghast - much like the shooting down of that plane. That might force them to back down, but not certainly. And I dread to think what that event would have to be.

I think your points are valid ones in the overall context. Most people, and arguably Hamas itself, should look at this in the current context though. In the current context, Hamas are the aggressors - even if they haven't been originally. What you're saying more or less is that Palestine will inevitably hold a grudge here. And you're right, I'm sure I'd feel much the same way. The only way I can see to resolve this though, are: 1 - Palestine and Hamas let go of the past and start looking to the future, accepting where they are and making the most of it. 2 - Israel makes the idea of attacking it so horrifying that they're too afraid to do so. I'd say Israel is going for option 2 here. As right as I think you are about Palestine's position, they're no match for Israel. Their decision to continue attacking is getting more of their people killed. As such, I think they'll be forced to take Option 1 as a result of Option 2. The sooner they get there, the sooner Israel will stop. It's not fair, it's not right, but it's the only way out of this.

I read that he was haapy for 'any player who didn't want to be there, to leave', so he's brought this exodus on himself to some extent. Once a few go, others are going to start looking as well. Not sure I've ever seen such a wholesale dismantling of the squad.

Ok, in midfield I don't see the problem. I saw all the consternation on here about our defence in the MYM thread. I agree, that picture right there is a problem...

I always had the impression he was a deeper player as well... I thought he was supposed to be the more like for like Cabaye replacement actually, back in our January scramble. You have to say with Ashley, he does get the players he wants in the end. Usually several months after the point at which they'd have been useful, but even so. Anyway, I don't really see the problem here. Someone noted we're likely to be DJ up front - seems certain if this goes through. Meaning that we're going to have Cabella and Grenier in behind, and then Sissoko possibly playing in his actual position with Tiote and Anita...

This may have been said, but I'm looking at Southampton currently and thinking that we actually got off lucky this time...they've sold off half of their team already, with three others refusing to sign contracts apparently. And interested parties in another two... At least we're buying people.

Given his track record with player positions, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that Pardew is buying him with a view to him playing up front...

that is a brilliant article.

I was under the impression - and I'm very ready to be corrected on this - that Hamas was firing rockets into Israel throughout this. And that a ceasefire was called, and that they kept going. They have some responsibility here. Not that this would justify what Israel are doing. It seems they're taking the view that peace is failing, and now only horror and death can solve the matter.

He was the next big thing from Barcelona...if you played Football Manager around 3-4 years ago.

To be fair, we'll probably repay them with another 3 points in the next derby, given our past performances...

Hey, sorry I missed this. Am I now too late to support? Also, would you mind if I drop you a PM about your project, I'm genuinely interested to learn a bit more, especially given that I work in publishing (so it's close to home in a lot of ways)? Very impressed though. @@trophyshy

Just realised that Liam was in my year at school. Nice lad from the couple of times I spoke with him - some of my other mates were a bit closer to him and never had a bad word to say. Real shame. Nice to see the response though, from both the club and the Sunderland fans (and others).

The extent of your excitement over that is a little bewildering...

Rest in peace, Jon. Truly very sad news.

I would love to see Hummels in the Prem, even if it was for Man Utd...

Apologies, I was going off something Biden said.

I thought there were 20 Americans? And yes, I agree. The EU has a responsibility to stop this nonsense. It might even legitimise itself in the process...

It seems that the flight was routed over the location of the BUK missiles by the Ukraine... Don't really know what to make of that... they can't possibly have known that the rebels would shoot it down. Although you have to think, it's the Ukraine that benefits from this - no one else does. They're a lot closed to having allied forces involved now than they were prior to it happening. That said, I don't think they did it. Much more likely it was the rebels, especially given that they claimed responsibility. I wonder if the Ukraine expected it though...