Rayvin

So we lose 5-0 to City, as expected, and noises about not being mathematically safe resurface, along with the whole squad needing an urgent overhaul and Howe being shipped. Let's be real lads, we're not going to be the City overnight - we're just going to start to try to compete. They'll aim for top ten next season not Europe. And tbh, we could probably get top ten with these players and Howe for a full season.

Are we serious, this stupid beer gate thing is enough to take him down? I thought that was meant to be above board? If he goes it'll put pressure on the oaf, although he'll just ignore it and survive so that shouldn't be the reason to do it. Labour should have a female leader next. Cooper I think.

Weirdly, Louise Taylor and most of the mackems are going on as if this is a formality now. They won 1-0 at home.. I'd imagine S.Wed will get one in the away leg? Or was the gulf in quality evident?

If it stays 1-0 I fancy Sheff Wed to take the tie.

As much as you don't value it Renton, I think a lot of people do need a vision or a narrative to follow on with - and I think it's predominantly down to the fact that a large number of people's lives have been and remain totally shit, and that some positive messaging about a future to move into is going to be worth its weight in gold compared to the idea that the situation will remain basically the same but will be better managed. I've been saying it for years but we're crying out for some fucking vision from Labour - but at this point I don't think it's ever going to come because the party fundamentally doesn't know who it is anymore. And with that in mind, we need to get back to a position wherein parties can campaign passionately for issues they really care about and believe in the value of, without worrying about losing everything in the process. Coalition can deliver that, if Labour can just get their heads out of their arses long enough to see it. I also continue to believe Brexit will be a big factor next time out but I'm prepared to acknowledge that my own bias may be blinding me on that.

I don't think Labour are capable of a majority anymore, Brexit has irreparably broken them. Coalition and then electoral reform are the only ways forward now. You simply aren't going to get Remainers and Leavers sitting under one party banner while hating each others guts. And frankly, that's probably for the best.

It's not going to be an annihilation in the GE either. This has to be fought as if our side are the underdogs, or we're going to lose it IMO.

It's really hard to tell with this stuff isn't it. Same for the one Isegrim posted. We just don't know, and Ukraine has to try to keep this war relevant before it drops off the front pages into 'acceptance' -so I understand why they'd be motivated to run this sort of thing.

A German friend of mine said he would readily take him for Frankfurt (his team) but that they can't afford the fee. Since they're a Euro qualifying side who are presumably used to seeing him play, that sounds encouraging. But yeah, one good season does mean he represents something of a risk.

I think you've conducted yourself very well in all that. The person on the other end clearly just wants to draw a line under it, and this may well be because they're a disempowered office admin in the whole thing, but ultimately it's clear that you're not going to get anywhere with them. You could try to go over his head I suppose but I'd imagine they'll just close ranks. Well done for standing up for your players and for what's right though. Based on what he's said there, if it happens again, I would go to the police anyway mind. You can't trust the FA to do anything about it, clearly.

I know man, I know. Mental piece.

It's absolutely on the players, they just collapsed. Guardiola had set them up well, the game plan was working. That said, I do think club culture plays a part in this beyond just managers and players. Madrid very likely always believed that they could turn it around and go through, even in the dying minutes - because they've done it before and because they've won the damn thing so many times it could more or less be considered 'their' competition. City have never won it, they've never made it over the mental hurdles and each season that monkey will be on their backs. They don't have the weight of history to lean on that says they belong there, they remain pretenders to the throne as it were. I really do think stuff like that makes a difference, and that Guardiola - if he ever wins it for them - will consider getting them over that line to be the biggest success of his career.

You can target particular aspects of history fairly well if you approach it at a high enough level so maybe save it for later when you can be more selective? I did Chinese history as part of my degree and I found it fascinating because I genuinely knew nothing about it - but otherwise, when you're covering familiar territory, it can be a bit dry. Fully admire your desire here though, it's making me think I should be more proactive about my ongoing education myself. Good luck with whatever you take forward.

I mean.. this is just pathetic. Not even much more to say on it tbh, it literally is just pathetic.

This is the thing for me. Completely oblivious to his own failings. The sort of guy who blames immigrants for his life being shit instead of taking responsibility to do what he can to improve even within the surrounding limitations.

22 goals this season, which is good. Only 9 the season before with a 1 in 3 ratio, but he's close to a goal per game this year. 26 years old, would be getting him just as he comes into his peak years.

Tell them you will go to the press. You don't have to do it but see how they feel about the idea of such a flimsy statement being scrutinised. Beyond that, tell them that the next time it happens you'll just report it to the police and bypass them entirely. Everything you've set out basically, but just tell them you're doing it. It is abhorrent.

Let's not bring common sense into this mind, I'm not sure the Le Tissier style brand of it that seems to be all the rage these days is any better than the faith we're talking about here.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/who-scored-blog/2022/may/04/premier-league-signings-of-the-season-luis-diaz?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other The guardian ranks the best signings of the season. Bruno comes in at number 9 which is fine until you realise the garbage that they've put ahead of him. Has Coutinho done more than Bruno has?? Bellends.

I am very confused by that statement even at a general level. So she's saying that gay marriage is legal and people can do it if they want, but she doesn't agree with it. Ok. So what is the basis of its inclusion in her political platform? If she isn't campaigning against it, or raising awareness for some misguided fund, what has she even brought it up for? One assumes it's just virtue signalling for the right wing crazies.

Yes, I should add that it's not like the European versions are "right", it's just that they're less likely to shoot you for disagreeing Yeah the whole family thing is a deal for my mother too - she's actually very open minded on gay and trans rights and so on, and I don't actually think she does oppose marriage between anyone, but I've definitely heard her spout off about how it's a sacred bond between man and woman and the cornerstone of society. I'm anti-marriage full stop so I often get lectured on it.

This is particularly apparent in the US, where your average American Christian appears to be both hateful and psychotic. I feel like the European equivalents are less Hellfire and Brimstone. US Christianity seems very much focused on the old testament, whereas in Europe it's more about the new - but given that the most important, fundamental message that Jesus set out in the New Testament was "Love each other as you love yourselves" (honourable mention to "let he who is without sin cast the first stone"), you really do have to wonder how Evangelical America is squaring a lot of this away.

I think I've come to the source of this, by accident. Apparently they're willfully confusing abortion with euthanasia. Some poor child was born with serious birth defects and was judged by doctors and parents to have no decent standard of life possible - euthanasia was the preferred resolution, and the right have taken the opportunity to consider this a post-birth abortion. Which is sick, really.

Hmm. Granted on searching the rates now, they look basically identical with the England being better in 2020 and worse in 2019. I'm a bit confused what exactly I dug up the last time I searched for this but I can't find it anymore so whatever. Maybe the whole UK was changing the picture, but I can't find that now. At least it solves confusion I was having over it.