Rayvin

I think permitting Labour to move to the right by giving them our left leaning votes just because we are scared of the Tories takes us overall further away from anything you claim to want. Labour would beat the Tories here with a far more progressive agenda than it has the balls to go for, it is a huge wasted opportunity. This is not productive or pragmatic, it's fearful and the result of being conditioned to believe we can't win. It moves us further away than ever because not only do we need British politics in general to move left to achieve it, we need Labour to do so as well. And Labour I guarantee you, isn't going to turn around next time out and claim that since we won this time we can afford to be a bit more ambitious next time. They will take victory this time as an endorsement of their soft right leanings, and will double down on it as proof that they were right. This proof will be that people who lean left voted for them anyway. I'm not going to be part of that unprincipled mess, I'm sorry.

Well you let me know when you think your productive stance of voting for Labour as it moves away from the Scandinavian mixed socialist economic set up you claim to want is going to bear fruit then. I suspect Brexit comes good before we get to that.

I'll keep an open mind but Labour are meant to be the reason to be hopeful and more than any other political force in UK politics are the ones who make me despair.

I just disagree with your premise that voting for a right leaning Labour government is the path to a left leaning political agenda across the board. And if I can't get on board with that concept, I'm not sure anything else you've said is relevant.

It's not even just about that anymore though, as much as that is my historic line in sand. In general there are no solutions and nothing to actually vote "for" from Labour. Just things to vote to avoid from the Tories. Mind you when the time comes my ballot paper will simply say "Rejoin the EU".

I respect the view but there will never be a 'dealing with the replacement's weaknesses' moment. I'm done compromising for this shit, I'm too old for the fantasy that there is ever going to be a moment when it will be 'agreeable' for an actually productive discussion on how to help this country move forward. Every time we concede, Labour go to the right. Austerity, Brexit, the lot. I'm not conceding anymore, Starmer is going to have to bring his ass back this way if he wants my vote. I'm not being complicit in this slow motion car crash anymore.

This. No one is coming back to vote for round two of Starmer's nothingness. The one thing he has going for him atm is the Tories being total shite.

Apparently the handball rule is that for a goal to be chalked off the infraction has to be intentional (which this wasn't) OR it has to be unintentional but committed by the same player who then scores (also wasn't). This is a new rule for this season apparently. EDIT - beaten to it but aye, was the right call to permit it.

I reckon we lose this one and I'm not fussed if we do really. Means a bit less fixture congestion in a season where I don't think we've got the squad depth to handle all the games yet. If we do win it, I expect Liverpool/Arsenal away in the next round.

I actually respect that from him. It's a depressing indictment of the game (society?) that telling the truth is respect worthy rather than a bare minimum, but this is the world we live in I suppose.

That sucks indeed, he's going to miss loads of CL games. Bet he's gutted.

Howay man, that one was a more obvious penalty than the one he won against Brentford. He's tripped, he goes down.

Yeah I wasn't convinced on Longstaff last season because of his wastefulness in front of goal but I'm sold on him now. Vital player to the team, and frankly it's great to see given his background and affinity for the club.

Aye this one is going to be interesting to watch play out.

What changed in this one though? Was the other one post-Brentford only?

100% this.

Beautiful. Brings a tear to the eye.

Idk how you're resisting the urge tbh, whenever I maintain this sort of shit the second any new data point comes in I have to update it, followed by excitedly staring at it for a bit. Then I undo it and allow myself to relive the moment. I wish I was joking.

North London Derby I assume.

Gordon definitely shit mind. Hugely overrated... ffs.

Sunderland would torn it up though, the world, nay the universe, has missed out here. The delusional pack of fucking weapons.

Good half, great to see the local lads scoring and nice for Botman too. Gordon brilliant as ever. More of the same please!

Just because Sheff Utd are collapsing doesn't mean clear and obvious penalties can be ignored you dozy fucking cunt of a ref.

I think £100m is fair tbh - I also don't see anyone paying that right now so unless he returns to form we should be pretty safe. It'll likely be down to our wage structure more than anything, that we had to put it in. i.e. he's accepted a lower amount than he may have wanted and so has this as a back door. We might just need to get used to this sort of thing.

We should be winning this - I don't think it's actually all that crucial that we do, but the media will be all over us if not and that might dent the confidence of the players further. So for the sake of positive mindsets, it has some importance there. Joelinton coming back in would be huge for us if he's able.