Danny

@Dr. Gonzo @RondónEFC I wouldn’t say I think we’re out of the woods yet, there’s probably still a lot of waves being made from what was a very big splash. But logically that makes sense to me and I’m not sure what else is left out there to unite people in that way. You could say covid but anti-vaxxers are a small minority, which is part of why the Tories power is falling off a cliff because they are disappointing most of their fanbase.

There’s a thought process that prior to Trump and Brexit that we essentially lived in a progressive neoliberal society. It would seem at odds with each other as neoliberal is £££ and progressive is not really capitalist. But essentially we’ve lived within a wildly capitalist society whilst also socially leaning towards progressive tendencies such as LGBTQ+ rights, trans rights, BLM. What has happened is that the neoliberal side has left behind a solid chunk of white working class voters by outsourcing manufacturing jobs, relying on migration to pay staff cheaper wages and then the progressive side is that the white working classes are more likely to grow up around outright racism, homophobia etc and so are shunned by politicians and society in general. They felt completely unrepresented and so became this silent majority that we’re completely ignored politically. Then comes Donald Trump in the states, Nigel Farage over here and they force through two of the biggest election mandates in either countries political history. Well specifically more so in Britain, but Trump in himself is one of the most important Presidents of all time. What both Farage and Trump lack though is foresight, they were simply there to take advantage of unrest. Eventually in the States you had the insurrection and inability to accept democracy, and over here you have Brexit. There is nothing more really for people like that to gain in the UK, Brexit has happened, overt nationalism is here, and now pleasing those voters has become ten times as hard because you actually have to deliver specific, individual successes, not just a generic “Brexit means Brexit”. I think we’re on the slide from people like Johnson and Farage. Farage’s career has been reduced to nothing other than a soundbite for anti-immigration rhetoric, but no actual giant mandate that can unite voters. Johnson is failing miserably and really the ball is now in Labour’s court to do what they wish because Dominic Cumming’s has absolutely demolished not just Johnson, but the party as a whole.

Thomas Frank and Brian Reimer sign contracts until 2025, possibly the best business the club could do this window. Two phenomenal coaches who have taken us so far and look to be able to take us further. Lets hope we can top this off with a couple signings and returns from injury. On a side note the responses to this being announced on social media are hilarious, from he’s too weak mentally to keep us up to him needing to write a formal apology to Jadon Sancho. Twitter breeds some strange discourse.

Unless this turns into an election I don’t really see how much we’ll actually benefit from him leaving. Don’t get me wrong he’s a massive cunt but a cunt replaced by another cunt is still a cunt

Chelsea's problem is that they spend ridiculous amounts within 1-2 years of 2 separate managers being in charge and because of this no one can be given time. The only alternative to a manager like that is a manager like Conte who will win straight away and then fall off leaving them in a rehiring position again. It helps that Liverpool and City have two of the best managers in the world but longevity cannot be underrated.

That makes sense then, only reason I connected the two was cos of how much Everton had spent

Sean Dyche would be terrible imo, I don’t think he’d be terrible but there is no way the fanbase go for that. Do Everton not have the resources anymore?

This is why you need a DoF, now to go for another manager with a completely different style of play. Graham Potter would be a good option I’d say, used to getting the best out of an average bunch and Everton definitely need that now

These parties certainly aren’t the worst thing this govt has done whilst in power, certainly not the worst thing the Tories have done since Cameron and May, but definitely the thing that has united the entire country which is a bit sad it’s taken this long but it’s something. Equating it to British people wanting to party when people have literally had loved ones die alone and had to watch zoom funerals is quite frankly really fucking stupid.

First season spending is different to a lot of clubs though, when Villa went up they lost a large chunk of their team to loans/end of contract/retirement. It was a massive rebuild job just to get a squad together, let alone Prem standard, sides like Wolves and Brighton had already put together a core of their team that would keep them in the Prem. Agree with the rest though and especially this seasons signings, they should be looking to break the top 6 over the next year or two in the same way Leicester have done.

So you are going to potentially turn into a version of what everyone expected Wolves to do?

Doing some procrastinating as I'm writing an 3000 word essay due for tomorrow. Writing of the essay isn't that hard, actually writing is something else entirely. And then referencing. But I've just chucked out 1000 words and hopefully I'll be done by 4am (maybe?)

Not sure many people get that opportunity at work

That's what the extra ten grands for Plus it takes about 3 months to get fully settled into a new role anyway, sure you'll have the hang of it by then

Well done matey, new job for the new year is always a good way to start. Can't like though 12 hour shift watching netflix/youtube is right up my alley

Some big news for us and that is Josh Dasilva is training with the first team finally. Out and out the best midfielder at our club and integral to how Thomas Frank wants us to play. Ivan Toney will benefit from this particularly as the injuries we’ve suffered in midfield has stunted the creation of goal scoring chances for him. Josh is exactly the type of player our midfield needs and to have him at full fitness alongside Norgaard, Janelt and/or Frank Onyeka will be a big boost for us. It should particularly benefit not just Ivan Toney but Bryan Mbeumo as well, Dasilva likes to make runs down the right wing and draw players out which will open space up for Mbeumo to work in the final third. Yoane Wissa too. Lets just hope we can get him fit and keep him fit after such a long injury.

Not seen anything from this lad but everyone’s getting excited over him

@Rick I get your frustration but as a fan you really need to find some credible sources to suggest they’re being tight. Not for me or for an argument but for yourself, simply saying they win something so they have to spend shouldn’t be enough to form an opinion on how underfunded you are. All I have seen so far is credible work done to explain your finances and a manager who has always felt backed by the club. There really isn’t much evidence to suggest that available funds aren’t being spent or that you’ve continually missed out on transfer targets.

I think they’d be open as soon as they can recoup the money they spent on him initially

I think to understand Liverpool’s finances you should read one of The Swiss Ramble’s articles. Highlighted in a lot of detail why Liverpool don’t spend a lot on transfers as regularly as they maybe asked to and it comes down to the bulk of their money going into wages and bonus’ to keep their best players and to keep them performing. What is important to remember about Manchester City is that between Grealish, Sterling, Bernardo, Mahrez, Foden and Jesus there is about £400m+ worth of attacking talent there. Obviously Foden is academy grown but otherwise City have gone out and spent big on transfer fees of the time because they can afford to. They’ve gone from spending £50m on a forward to £100m now as the market dictates, because they can afford to. They’re still in the hunt for Harry Kane, another £100m+ player. One argument I don’t get from you @Rick is that you say if anyone other than Klopp was in charge you wouldn’t be winning, surely what he has achieved with Michael Edwards and the board is a testament to all of their work combined? Not having the money City have isn’t being a cheapskate and as far as I’m aware there really isn’t any financial analysis of Liverpool that would suggest the owners aren’t trying to use every penny the club has to improve it.

People working from home isn’t benefitting from a lockdown, it’s just having the privilege of not falling into poverty during one. There is a reason that the government literally paid people to go out and fill up restaurants and pubs and it was because a large amount of our economy relies on people going out and spending money and in turn creating a profit for corporations around the country. Even back during the first lockdown building sites were left open originally because Tory donor’s didn’t want derelict sites and a lack of £££. Of course the poor struggle the most because of lockdowns and of course there have been some companies that have benefitted massively because of how they’ve managed to innovate their business to be successful online and in a remote setting, but by and large the pressure has always been on the government to open up the country because of the amount of money in person shopping, chain coffee/fast food/restaurants, tourism, theatre, football, cinema + more brings to our economy. Plus the government cannot afford (or appear to afford) to continually having to furlough a large chunk of the workforce to keep the economy on life support. They need people back out working, earning and back to day to day spending habits so that normally resumes. Either we will eventually run out of money/get thrown into too much debt to keep furloughing, or people will realise that when the govt say they need to tighten the belt they’re actually saying the cash is here but we’re not gunna use it for you. Neither is a great look for elected officials.

Yeah companies that thrive online really benefitted, but there are a shit tonne of businesses that thrive acting as support systems for people leaving the house and going to work. They’re the ones who want away with WFH too

We live in a capitalist society, lockdowns do not benefit societies elite as it restricts their abilities to make a profit, they need people buying anything and everything, especially a society governed by Tories who will have plenty of external influences related to turning a profit. Genuinely baffled when people suggest this was all to gain control over us, as if we were not already being controlled as a consumer society. Your phone tracks your face, your voice, your conversations, your location, all of your data, your interests, everything. The only real benefit lockdown has had other than the government handing out dodgy contracts left right and centre (classic Tory behaviour let’s be honest) is to put through anti-protest laws as a reaction to BLM, Insulate Britain. But even then lockdowns we’re not put in place to push those laws through, they were pushed through to benefit from a needed lockdown.

The issue seems to be (just what I’ve read, not my opinion) that it being less likely to cause severe illness doesn’t negate the fact that the large amount of people who will contract it in this country could cause a pile up in hospitals. I think the main issue is that no one really knows what the impact will be, but that there isn’t any data to suggest hospitalisations will definitely stay low, so whilst the data we have suggests hospitalisations increasing is a worst case scenario, it’s one we should be prepared for based on the sheer volume of people who will get the new variant.

It is still a threat to the NHS though, as the early leaks have suggested that whilst it maybe milder it isn't mild enough to prevent large numbers of hospitalizations due to the large amount of people in the UK who will get the virus. And those who do become seriously ill are at high risk of death. https://nypost.com/2021/12/22/omicron-is-milder-than-delta-uk-study-finds/