Michael

The UK has responded very slowly to this outbreak, considering there are nearly 600 confirmed cases diagnosed and 10 deaths. Many of the people back home, also seem to be quite complacent, with bars and pubs for example, still seeing plenty of customers. I think that some people aren't well informed, while others just seem to have a different attitude towards the virus and it seems like they are not letting it worry them too much. I personally always think that it's better to be safe than sorry, even if that does mean a little temporary change to my lifestyle. Also, I have to say that many of the masks that you see people wearing are useless. There are special masks that need to be used in order to protect oneself from this virus, but rarely do I see people wearing the required types of masks.

The war is still going on and there are usually several deaths a week because of it, but the war is only confined to a relatively small region(the Donbass region) in the east of the country. The rest of the country is safe, with no conflict.

I have to say that I agree with those saying that Europe has generally been slow in response to this virus. Italy have had to step up precautions in the last few days as people were dying from this virus like flies. Italy now have over 1,000 confirmed deaths, that's a huge number of people, relatively speaking. All succumbing to this virus in a very short space of time! In Ukraine, there are reportedly only 3 cases of coronavirus. But that doesn't necessarily fill me with confidence, as there could be many people still carrying this virus, without realising it. I also do not trust the authorities that much over here, as the government is extremely corrupt. I myself had to travel to Kyiv the day before yesterday for business and I spent a night there. My train journey took over 5 hours each way and there were several people coughing on the train. Confined spaces like trains or busses are the places where this virus can spread the quickest. I will personally not be travelling again for a while, at least until this virus officially dies down around the world.

Juventus defender Daniele Rugani has tested positive for coronavirus, I guess he will have to be isolated until he recovers. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/51844945

Well they are all going to be pretty much all fucked, unless they quarantine everyone in the country soon. Being such a tiny nation, they have little choice but to do so. Because if they don't take drastic measures soon, the virus will spread like the plague there!

Another overhyped young American footballer.

There's so much infighting within that large royal family, it's like a mafia gang, with so many power struggles between several leading members. Mohammed bin Salman clearly has a lot of opposition within his family, which has led him to being quite ruthless, all in order to maintain his power.

Well Di Santo did have his fans when he was at Werder, I wasn't sure if you might be one of them, lol. As for Sargent, LMAO! He's a decent player, but not even close to being one of the best prospects in the world. No wonder why I didn't realise that Sargent was the player that he meant.

Rashica is miles better than Di Santo ever was, but having said that, I wouldn't call him the best prospect in the world. Injuries have been cruel to Werder this season and it is a big reason as to why they are currently in the relegation zone. With the players that Werder have, they are definitely a club that deserves to be in the best league in Germany. I think that despite their injuries, Werder still have a decent chance of staying up. The signing of Selke was an excellent deal in my opinion, he and Rashica give Werder a hell of a lot of firepower upfront. Werder's biggest problem has obviously been their defence, the constant injuries to players in that position hasn't helped their cause. Despite this, I still think that Werder have a reasonable chance of avoiding the drop if they play close to their potential, in their remaining 10 Bundesliga matches.

I think that Werder's last 2 games away at Mainz and at home to Koln will be crucial, ideally they will need 6 points from these two games if they are to have any reasonable chance of avoiding the drop. They will also likely need to beat Paderborn when they play them. Even if Werder do end up finishing 3rd from bottom, they'd still have a chance to stay in the Bundesliga via the play-offs with the 3rd placed 2.Bundesliga side.

Yes and 16 million people have now been quarantined, it's getting unbelievably serious over there! https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-italy-to-tell-people-not-to-enter-or-leave-regions-worst-hit-by-outbreak-11952487

There are now 197 deaths in Italy because of Coronavirus. That's the most deaths because of this disease, in any country around the world after China. Italy are really getting it bad. In fact the first cases of this disease in Ukraine, came from Ukrainians who had travelled to Italy. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51777049

Yes, the youngest player ever to play for the Greek national team and with 9 international caps, 25 year old Kapino can't be that bad. Kapino was also chosen for the Greece squad which competed at the 2014 World Cup. Losing a goalkeeper of Pavlenka's quality and experience, is a further blow to Werder though. I think that Pavlenka is one of the most underrated goalkeepers in the league.

Ukraine has now had it's first case of Coronavirus infection registered. https://ukranews.com/en/news/687592-first-case-of-coronavirus-infection-registered-in-chernivtsi-region-of-ukraine-health-ministry

Yes, several countries have restricted flights from these two countries, as well as the other countries that have had many cases of this virus.

There are several other sources that have reported this particular incident. But it's not just Iran where things like this are happening, similar incidents to this have happened in other places where people have been ill informed. WTF, people licking the holy shrines!! "In another video at a shrine in Mashhad a man is filmed saying he is there to lick the shrine, "so the disease can go inside my body and others can visit it with no anxiety"." ……. This is just the epitome of ignorance and utter stupidity! A grand way to spread the disease even more rapidly than it is already spreading. For all their faults, at least the Iranian regime is cracking down on this kind of ignorance.

How do some Iranians deal with those who are suspected to have contracted Coronavirus? http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/02/29/Watch-Clinic-in-Iran-set-on-fire-believed-to-be-coronavirus-quarantine-.html BURN THE FUCKERS DOWN!! In all seriousness, misinformation is something that we should really attempt to avoid and the public should be made more educated about this virus. The rate at which it is spreading suggests that it will be with us for sometime yet, so we all need to be sensible and mature about how we deal with it.

Ok, I just read on the other thread that we are moving onto the Portuguese league next. That should be interesting.

Yes, they have had it difficult for centuries now, but especially in the last 100 years or so.

Erdogan's rift with Assad started during the Arab Spring, when Erdogan advised Assad not to react towards the protestors with force. Of course Assad's regime did react with force, they were brutal towards the Syrian protestors. Since then there has been a real rift between the two. Erdogan even called for the removal of Assad from power at one point. Turkey of course have also backed rebel groups within Syria as you mentioned. I think that Erdogan has beef, both with Assad and of course with the Kurdish groups within Syria, whom he classes as terrorists. It's true that the Kurds are hated by both Erdogan and Assad, so they are royally fucked in the grand scheme of things! It's ironic, because the Kurds were one of the main groups that helped to put an end to ISIS. I don't think that this kind of persecution is anything new to them though, they have had a history of persecution in both Turkey and Syria, as well as in Iran and Iraq of course. I reckon that ultimately, Erdogan wants to create a buffer zone between Turkey and the North of Syria, so he can keep the Kurds out of Turkey and also to keep Syrian forces out. I mean I think that Turkey could really ratchet up the fight against the Syrians after the death of these 33 Turkish soldiers. The Turkish public will be devastated by these deaths and lets face it, Erdogan is not one to hold back on retaliation is he? He will want to send a firm message to Assad, that there are consequences for such actions.

Nice touch by the Frankfurt fans who went to the ice hockey match. The atmosphere must have been electric and it must have been a great experience for the ice hockey players.

Pope Francis has cancelled Rome mass because he is ill! The cancellation comes a day after the Pope was seen touching masked members of a crowd at St Peter's Square on Ash Wednesday! It looks like the Pontiff might need some divine intervention to get through this one. https://news.sky.com/story/pope-francis-cancels-rome-mass-due-to-illness-vatican-says-11944729

33 Turkish soldiers have been killed in an air strike committed by Syrian regime forces. I don't think that the Turks are going to take this lightly and we could see a serious escalation in the fighting in Syria because of this. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51667717

I know, it's very strange how Arp has never been given a real chance. I mean even if it was a few minutes at the end of a match when Bayern are winning, that would have been good for him. I actually think that with Lewandowski out, the return leg in Munich against Chelsea, might be a great opportunity to give either Arp or Zirkzee a start. But Flick might have other ideas and maybe start Muller upfront.

Worrying times Nudge and this disease is spreading like wildfire. Thanks for the much appreciated updates, but you have Oman down twice, under both 4 cases each and 2 cases each. Northern Italy is the place to avoid in Europe, they seem to be getting it very bad.