Dr. Gonzo

Gomez out for the season & unavailable for the world cup (don't think he was getting a callup though).

Any particular field you're looking to getting into? Once you've found a field/industry you want to get into, the next step is just establishing a good foundation you can point to that can help you land an entry level spot. I know you're in the US, so something to consider is checking if the local community colleges have any "professional certificate" programs. I'd see if they do, see what those programs are, and email some professors/instructors for the required courses and ask them a few questions. With community colleges a lot of the professors actually work in the field as opposed to being full time teachers - you can explain your situation and ask whether the certificate would be useful to someone looking to break into that industry. And if it is, keep in touch as you're getting the certificate and pick their brains about how to best get the job. Keep in mind that who you know is just as important as what you know, even though it shouldn't be. And in that regard, having someone who's taught you & knows you are determined to break into the field, have a good work ethic, and are someone they like... it can definitely help you land a job (it did with me right out of school). And shit like that can help you break into a new field despite a lack of real world experience in the field. And the head of IT where I work got into IT despite no degree from a uni by getting a professional certificate from a community college. He started somewhere else at an entry level job and he's done alright for himself I'd say.

I'd just apply for them anyways, but I'm one of those people that applies to jobs thinking the "requirements" are mostly optional. I've gotten jobs I technically wasn't qualified for despite the listed requirements - if you've got enough about your CV/application to suggest that while you might not meet the criteria listed, you'd still be a good fit you might get an interview. At the interview just be ready to explain why the fuck you applied without having all the "requisite experience." For your situation, I'd point to other work experience you've had that demonstrates you've got skills that will cross over well to the apprenticeship. I'll ask my dad as well though, but I'm fairly certain the apprentices he's hired are all getting their first taste of professional baking with no prior experience. But it's probably good to double check that... and also to see if my advice is applicable to apprenticeships.

I haven't, but my dads a baker and has hired 1-year apprentices before giving them jobs as bakers. I don't know what you're looking into, like the job of the field. But if you've got questions about apprenticeship generally, I can ask him if you want.

You know I like you mate... but that's a poor way to save face. Better to just be embarrassed about calling Africa a country lol.

Lol how are you not getting this??? He is both. He is Egyptian and Egypt is an African country...

Egypt is a country inside the continent of Africa.

He's both... because Egypt is in Africa...

An Iranian finished top scorer... a sentence I never thought I'd ever see about any league in Europe.

It's hard to step in the way of a player who needs regular minutes to develop, and everyone knows it, when that player wasn't getting into the side (rightly) because of the depth ahead of him. Salah had to develop to get where he is today. That took his time at Fiorentina, where he looked alright, and Roma where he looked pretty good. At Roma he learned the confidence to use his speed and his skill to take players on - and he started getting into good goalscoring positions and created a lot of opportunities for other players. He took those skills and developed a more clinical shot with us, because our system puts him in a role that takes these very skills he demonstrated at Roma and tries to constantly utilise them and have him using his pace, skill, and shooting as much as possible. Our front 3 moves around constantly trying to have him run at the weakest gaps in a defense. But for him to get to be in the shit hot form he's been in this season, he first needed to develop and get the game time he got with Fiorentina and Roma. And then he needed to be put in a system that really allows him to shine. Chelsea managers are put in a hard spot when it comes to giving promising players time and chances to develop, because the pressure is well and truly on to get immediate results. And it's hard to give a kid who's new to the league and not looking great when you give him chances more chances, even if he does need more time to establish himself and to show what his potential can unfold into... because the evidence has shown they're not ready and when you've got players who aren't ready and players who are ready and you need results - who do you pick? I don't blame anyone at Chelsea for letting Salah go at the time. He wasn't looking like he'd establish himself and it wasn't safe for a manager to say "go on lad, prove yourself" because that manager doesn't have the time for that. The loans were fair to Chelsea and Fiorentina/Roma and all clubs got to see how the player was after that much development. The fact that Salah ended up with us and in a system that compliments his strengths really well is sort of besides the point. Who would have predicted Klopp would put that top 3 together at the time of the sale? Nobody. At the time of Salah's sale to Roma he was still honing his skills... and I don't think he's done either tbh, because we saw over the season he became much more clinical. At the time it looked like Chelsea selling a player they bought but didn't need at a fair value to Roma, who had used him and found him to be a good player at a good value price. Fair deal, nothing wrong with that. Nobody can predict the future. It just looks much worse when you consider Chelsea also let Lukaku, and KDB leave under really similar conditions... and it does make you wonder whether Chelsea should give managers a bit more time and a bit less pressure for immediate results (which are always important, of course, but not as important as following through on a long term plan that can sustain success for longer). As they could have developed the 3 of them and had an incredible attack. But at the time... and considering the way Chelsea operate, I don't think there was anything wrong with the decision. The fact that a promising young player you sell can potentially end up being world class or very very good is a risk you take when you buy these players and hope for immediate success. With Chelsea, the quest for immediate success and not giving managers has worked for them tbh. So there's definitely validity in their strategy. And the counterpoint to the risk of letting these class players go is, clubs that do try to develop players can sometimes go wrong and go on long barren spells. And that's true as well. Both strategies/viewpoints have pros and cons. Personally, I like seeing players develop at my club and it's cool when they really kick on. Like I remember Lucas Leiva getting absolutely slaughtered when he first joined, and after a while he was a cult hero with us. Jordan Henderson came to us as a pretty shite player on our right hand side. Brendan Rodgers almost swapped him for Clint fucking Dempsey from Fulham and he stayed and wanted to fight for his spot. Now he's captain and when healthy, almost certainly our best central midfielder, and taking us a CL final. And it's very cool to see a player go through all of that with your club. But on the other hand, chasing after immediate success has given Chelsea fans a lot more big nights more frequently than we've enjoyed in the past fucking decade. tl;dr - long post

So training in Rome was Lallana's first full training session in a while. Can is returning to training on Monday. Can we get them match fit and get some much needed midfield depth before the final? Being able to inject fresh legs into the midfield in the second is something we severely miss when we're barebones. So I hope they're able to get fit enough. There's plenty of time, but Lallana is so fragile now it seems.

Anyone else think we'll sign someone from a relegated club? We signed Wijnaldum after his relegation with Newcastle & Robertson from Hull (and VVD from Southampton... if they go down). Other than the obviously giant transfer fee for VVD, the other 2 have been bargains for what we paid. Anyone see anyone from the crap sides that might fill a bench spot/challenge our starters?

The Ox out for the season and likely the world cup. Gutted for him (and for us).

Anyone ever been to Dallas, Texas? Gotta fly out there on Sunday - Tuesday for work, if anyone knows any good places to eat/drink let me know.

Program these things to go after poachers and you've got yourself a really badass rhino protector robot. Pretty sad about how there's only 2 Northern White Rhinos left in the world. And they're both females. The zoo here has some of Northern White Rhino sperm frozen though, and they're going to take female Northern White Rhino eggs and artificially inseminate one inside a Southern White Rhino at the SD Safari Park to try to save the species from extinction. That's pretty cool, although it's a travesty they're so close to being wiped out in the first place.

I like how he makes a confident assessment of them after having seen them play just three times. But it was definitely an interesting read. I believe the '84 final was the Bruce Grobelaar wobbly legs special final - so interesting to read that Bruce was recommended to stand his ground on penalties... rather than have spaghetti legs.

I don't have a playstation anymore... but it looks crazy fucking good.

How's it a pathetic substitution though? You looked better without Rooney on the pitch from my eyes.

Bit strange, though when you consider 3 of the last 5 years the United reserves won that league. But obviously they don't give a fuck about the U23s when the manager they brought in for them is Ricky Sbragia.

Their U23s got relegated.

I just saw our lineup from the last CL semi final against Chelsea. If you took the midfield from that and put it in our current side the team would be incredible.

That looks like it would make for a good video game.