Reluctant Striker

Boris Johnson really should step aside. But I suspect he somehow sees it all as some part of his character led sales pitch. I'm not sure the 'Brexit' thing is going anywhere any time soon. It is obviously a problematic aspect of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland. That was not entirely stable anyway. If anyone hasn't yet noticed & realised, it is all too easy to replace UK & EU with CoE or Protestant & Catholic. The Irish peace process is near 1 & the same with Irish reunification. I'm not at all against it, but it will always place an oddly unique burden on the Irish of the North who are of the Protestant, or UK line. With their most 'reliable' allies the overly UK patriotic English right & the who cares as long as it seems democratic American right. For the Irish who arguably have the longest recent history of being open internationalists. It is a mess. It is embarrassing. It is an unseemly spectacle that had just faded somewhat in recent years. But much like the Russia, it had never been entirely resolved.

I'm not sure how competitive Villa's finances are exactly right now. Just know it's the most that's been splashed around since 2008-ish. And the most potentially competitive on the field they've been since then. It does seem a slightly strange set of goings on with the assistants. Michael Beale off to QPR to be the manager. Yet Neil Critchley making the opposite choice.

Yes, if Coutinho is counted, then Boubacar Kamara, 22, French international squad CDM was 2nd & Diego Carlos, 29, Brazilian CB, is 3rd. Don't know too much about Kamara or Carlos. For certain, the aim within Villa is top half & a cup run. Top 6 does seem very strong. With a distinct 2 tier split within that. Then you have the question marks on West Ham, Leicester & Wolves. What can Newcastle do. Can Everton bounce back up. It does increasingly seem a tough division to move upwards in. But it is the genuine owners intent with Villa right now.

Sport washing is like the other side of the Olympic spirit coin. Often in sport people gain respect & admiration. In the Olympics, it is kind of the idea that everyone celebrates everyone taking part. The issue can be when it shouldn't be putting a false gloss on someone or some group. And if 1 group should not be celebrated, who else should not be. And who decides where it ends.

On one hand, every club with any ambition will be looking around wondering if this will open a vacancy. A vacancy Chelsea did rather obtain in mirror circumstances. On the other, you would imagine a new owner will take over soon. This is after the wheels had started turning for that to happen. It surely can't block that actually happening? Most ambitious owners have to start from much, much lower than recent Champions League winners & World Club champions. But, unchanged by this latest development, is that it must be questionable exactly how many can 'do a Roman'. Even Newcastle's owners down played how much they think they will achieve with the club.

Not sure the context El Professor was intending it, but many points do apply to how Putin is selling the war to his own nation. On 1 & 2, Russia are performing a special military operation as Ukraine is led by pro-EU Nazi's. Quite openly stated on Russian TV by Putin. And some part of that is working to some extent on the older generations. I did see one individual on BBC News describing difficult family conversations as the Russian based relatives genuinely believe Ukraine is causing all the fighting & is the one that needs to back down. The RT (Russia Today) News channel in the UK is finally off air. On point 3, they had started showing archive documentaries on the evils of the WWII Nazi's. I was losing my will to try to see what the Russian view was at that stage. WWII actually being used as a modern day reason for Russia invading pro-EU & pro-democracy Ukraine. On point 5 RT was also broadcasting a Russian expert describing how footage of a rocket impacting a residential block of flats was actually (quite clearly) a misfired Ukraine anti aircraft missile. The Ukrainians are also apparently guilty of using human shields around military targets. They are committing genocide on the Russian leaning citizens of Ukraine. etc. On point 10, it is now illegal in Russia for the Ukraine violence to be described as a war or an invasion on Russian TV. And the 1 independent non-state controlled channel has stopped broadcasting. Go back further before interpreters were a common thing, let alone the internet & much of this would have probably been the normal rhetoric around many wars.

BBC News scared the crap out of me the other day. On screen headline when I got back from work that Russia had made a nuclear attack on Ukraine. Then turned out to only be a power station when I double checked on Sky News. I'd certainly agree there are confused morals to see & contemplate. In fairness, it can't come as a surprise that some casual observers see the NATO nations, and USA & UK in particular, as arrogant with superiority complexes. But with Russia right now, there's no rhyme or reason at all other than Russian power & influence by sheer might. Yet if a similar 'civil' war had broken out in some middle eastern region, all the good people of all the NATO countries right now would be 100% against any intervention of any kind. And all the 'In Europe!? In this century!?' comments are total cringe. Pretty much saying 'in some lesser countries, yes, you expect it, who cares then' I think it is Russia's giant super power status & James Bonds fairly accurate perceptions that are hyping people. Hopefully many are just too stupid or in too much shock to articulate that.

Less than 2 years ago Putin was sending a support convoy to early Covid Italy. Now warning all us nations being 'unfriendly' to Russia the invading war bully, that they have nuclear weapons. 1 act was clearly bs. Only difference between now & Iraq--Kuwait in the early 90's is Russia's well known, long standing nuclear capabilities. I'm partly for sending armed forces into Ukraine, after Putin himself, with a statement that we have similar stuff..

Perhaps a slight mix of the 2? One of Putin's widely stated views long before this week was that he saw the break up of the USSR as a big mistake. So yes, many of the former states not keen for the reunion would seek NATO, European allies as strong as possible. It seems a perfectly natural & obvious path for them to be following. On the other hand, as others were suggesting toward earlier, if a historic (and current?) enemy of England was recruiting all the other 'home' nations of Britain & the UK, I'm sure there would be many being triggered by that. And yes, almost certainly the Farage, far right Tory type people & those that listen to them & their working class translators most keenly. The real test would be whether Putin's Russia would ever align itself to a new non-NATO defence agreement. He does say that Russia sets the red lines on NATO. I do doubt he would move from that stance on any entity. NATO, EU, any new entity yet to be conceived. And whether the current NATO nations could contemplate making it clear they would welcome Russia itself as an ally as equally as their former Union nations.

I'm not an expert, but I'd suggest a good place to start is the RT News channel, if you receive it. It does have a neutral to pro-Russian slant of anaysis, which I'd noticed during Covid. I have taken a few brief looks recently for the sort of reason you seem to be asking for details. Right now it has plenty of translated Putin rather Boris, Biden or various western world representatives. The leaders of Ukraine are, according to Putin, on Russian state TV addresses; drug addicts & nazi's. Which I think further translates as being pro Europe rather than pro Russia. Which I believe is opposite to the mutal neighbour Belarus leader & Ukraine's own political opposition. I have heard 1 brief mention on mainstream news channels that Europe or Russia leanings has been a key political divide for many years in Ukraine & similar countries. And Putin further accuses the Ukraine leaders of genocide. Which in the west we know to be patently untrue. It does perhaps seem a test of his grip of Russia itself. But NATO was Russia's cold war enemy. I guess to some portion of Russians, people wanting to join up would seem like they are on drugs. Or at least being offensively/aggressively anti Russia. And it is, purely pragmatically, a somewhat limited number of nations NATO applies to. I can sadly imagine Putins messages having some traction in a huge dictatorship that sees its past enemies attracting support.

I really don't see how the financial sanctions are going to have this medium to long term effect people are hoping for. I hate to use the word Brexit, but a certain group of people voted for a certain amount of less favourable trading conditions due to idealistic world views. Putin doesn't strike me as someone who places great value on open global markets. Certainly not above his apparent desire for a return to the Soviet Union era.

Horrible few days. Really feels awful that the best people are doing are financial sanctions. But intervening/war with Russia would surely start or end with nukes. Scary times. Closest to armageddon it's ever felt in my lifetime.

I think Frank Lampard is a good choice. If he is 100% confirmed. IMO, Everton need a manager who is fresh, enthusiastic, super keen to succeed & will instantly have the respect of players who watched him play when they were still kids. If Lampard had been in charge at Chelsea this season I doubt he'd still be there right now. I don't see it as huge point against him that it went 'badly' there.

Not sure what to make of Philippe Coutinho arriving on loan. He's probably got every chance to look a bit special in Villa's side at the moment. Kind of assuming Coutinho will be used as a wide man in a front 3 rather than a Number 10 behind a front 3. Especially as the later hasn't worked too well with Buendia. Or even further back Grealish. Trezeguet & El Ghazi are probably nearing the end of their time at Villa. Buendia & Bailey not producing week in, week out as yet.

Feels like a pivotal time for Liverpool. If the title win is not going to prove to be a 1 off. The front 3 are in need of being gradually or quickly replaced. To me it seems Jota has been a good addition. But it does feel like they need perhaps 1 more highest possible quality replacements each of the next 2 summers. We know all about what Man City have & what they'll throw around whenever they get chance to. Chelsea similar to a certain extent. And there is always that chance that Man United may start becoming much more serious again. It seems like it really could go either way. Remain a regular title contender, if not winner, or slip back to Top 4 being as good as it gets.

Yeah, ideally shirt sponsors should be things like electronic brands, paints, financial corporations, shops of some description, etc. Charities. Maybe even the sports brands themselves. The way so many random gambling companies have replaced alcohol & tobacco products is just swapping one thing for another.

I really do feel sorry for him, hearing & seeing so much of Wolves, it felt comparable to Rodgers & Swansea however many years ago. It really doesn't seem he'll follow a similar path now though. For me it does seem his approach perhaps is not suiting a side expected to dominate possession most games. And perhaps he's not used to working with badly motivated star names, which of course is quite different to kids barely out the youth teams, raring to get on the pitch. The punching of the air thing by Kane in the opener against Wolves, if anyone noticed that.. for me he becomes a smell in the room if he's playing at my club.. which maybe does also link on to some clubs just being very different from another. For all these sorts of reasons I think Spurs will show him the door sooner rather than later, while European qualification is still on the table. And Nuno probably gets to be Watfords 3rd manager of the season.

If we assume the Top 4 aren't selling. That Arsenal, Spurs & Leicester owners are all reasonably content. FWIW, Villa's are in early years of a plan... Newcastle kind of are very much a stand out name for anyone who thinks they have the cash to splash at doing a Chelsea or a Man City. Saudi? Russian? China? Abu Dhabi? Just a mountain of contributing multi generational global fans? Not sure I feel too bothered. I do have much more concern directly about controls over what they can & can't do. These guys first job is presumably to buy into the Top 8. That's how stacked & crazy it is right now. But it is what it is.

I think I've only just noticed a problem with Ole. He talks like a fan rather than a manager. His analysis of Saturday's match was that of a fan who thinks it would be improper for any other side to win at Old Trafford. If his slant was more toward how improper the performance was for Man United at Old Trafford, that may cut through more effectively. I imagine his team talks not being drastically different from his press comments.

From hazy memories of Liverpool's past, Henderson seems more comparable to Steve McMahon than Steve Gerrard. For a long time Gerrard was Liverpool's star man, not just captain & main CM. Henderson as an individual doesn't seem like he's at the same level as Gerrard. But this team is obviously the best it's been for Liverpool since Rush, Barnes, Hansen, McMahon, Grobelaar, etc.

It seems an odd topic for Pep to get involved in. I've heard the Empty-had taunts. But why acknowledge it? Why sound like you're suggesting fans could switch as easily as players do? They have in football terms gone instantly from Wolves, Middlesbrough, sort of status, to genuine rivals of any side looking to win league titles & Champions Leagues. Physical support may grow, in time, if it continues for a generation or 2. Not of players, but of fans. So realistically it's not something that Pep can effect & influence right now, so just shouldn't be drawn into it as a topic, IMO.

I think it's good that she won at the first attempt in a final. She wouldn't want a dose of English/British anxiety building. All looks & sounds like she could be a top name for a few years ahead. Crazy that she'll be representing Britain. How many sports haven't England or Britain won at in the last few decades? Now even ticking off Womens tennis after Andy Murray in the mens. Had to look into her Wiki page. Apparently born in Canada, to Romanian nationals parents & now live in Britain. Or Bromley, Kent to be precise. If anyone was wondering what the Brit-Romanian-Canadian thing was about.

Yes to most of all this. I'd liken WWE to McDonalds. It's woven into culture as an individual entity. Some people go as far back as Hulk Hogan. Others to Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart. More when it was The Rock, Stone Cold, Triple H. And The Undertakers never been away. Then there's the modern day which I guess has been Cena, Orton, the Shield. I did find WWE some of the most captivating TV in the early 2000's. Maybe it was. Or maybe I was just the right age for it then. Whenever I see any these days it feels like someone doing a bad HD parody of it. With less laughs. Less drama. Less rude suggestive side shenanigans. But WWE will continue as a global super brand for quite some time I would guess. Will kids today be watching the sparkly, shiny HD WWE & thinking if only it was way back whenever? No. And I doubt many teens have gone back further than 2010's on the WWE Network. So the nostalgia for future parents will continue on into future generations when the kids of today decide to allow kids of their future to start following it, because they did themselves, or everyone at school is, etc. WCW got seriously close to challenging WWE/WWF, but it was WWE's none American audience & income that helped it to win out. From what I've seen of AEW, it's not what the kids will be fascinated by. It is kind of dad's TV. Purists TV. The alternate seekers choice. etc.

I did notice how sidelined Bruno Fernandes & for that matter Jota seemed at the Euro's with Portugal. For me, Man United need to avoid that at all costs. Ronaldo needs to play his part in a team that are not in awe of him. It surely will be only a season or 2 before retirement or the MLS or a return to Portugal.

On Greenwood, his arguments for leaving Grealish out not too long ago were that others were ahead of him in the wing-attack slots. Seems like he's got Lingard in as Mount's CAM stand in. While Saka can play wing-back. And Greenwood has 3 other strikers ahead of him as his potential alternate slot. Not far off what I expected really. He sticks with the same team in a way not many other England managers have ever done.