Waylander

I find the Chinese stand off rather ironic. The Dems have historically been close to China and I think Biden wanted a face-off with Russia over Ukraine yet think their Deep State has interfered and said the focus is China. China needs to be reigned-in. Not sure the US will win this as I think they face their own problems politically, recent poll suggesting political forces on both sides in the US want to break into separare States. Perhaps just noise.........

It's political, here in the UK hundreds are arrested on charges of Islamic terrorism every year yet goes unreported. I think the authorities fear the potential kneejerk backlash. Some will say I am wrong yet recall the 'Islamic' rape gangs in part of Yorkshire where the Labour party interfered to stop prosecutions because of political concerns which did break into mainstream political debate a couple fo years ago. It is hard to say this without appearing anti-Islam. Yet I have heard it is known a lot of this comes from a smallish group with roots in a certain part of Pakistan.

It's strange this season with Reuben Loftus-Cheek, Barkley, Mount, Chilwell and Chalobah it is almost more than Frank achieved towards developing an English core. Though perhaps more down to circumstances rather than intention. Make you wonder what Frank L. thinks.

Climate change, suspect we have not yet heard the truth. When the Incas cut down the trees (tropical rain forest) they got droughts and a 20% rise in ground temperatures. I believe in the last 70 years an area of tropical rain forest equal to all of the Americas from Tierra Del Fuego to Alaska has been cut down. This has never been shown on a global warning map and tropical rain forest removes carbon dioxide much better than trees in Northern Europe. Another factor is rockets and planes in the upper atmosphere destroying the ozone layer that protects us from radiation and more heat. I'm not against BEVs or HFCs as suspect they will certainly improve air quality in cities. Yet the cost of change in a nation of 65m would be huge and who will pay for it? There is already talk that combustion car sales are being used to reduce the cost of BEVs, they are being sold at less than cost......... I can only see change happening slowly though more will go electric for vehicles after seeing these fuel queues and with hydrogen refueling stations being set up think more will consider that too. A lot will be cash strapped and reluctant to change and already they are paying more via heavy VAT on fuel and then by weighted car tax.

Reuben Loftus-Cheek and Barkley making important contributions, I didn't expect that at the start of the season. Nice to see Chilwell back too.

BBC carrying some comments from Tuchel who says the weight of expectation of being league favourites has negatively affected his team. Not sure on this yet though interestingly now he has mentioned it you expect some reaction. He added 90% of the time support works, 10% of the time discipline works.

Not that surprised. Same with a lot of the boat people coming from Africa - entrepreneurs or literally risk takers.

No was going to fill up on Friday only to find the roads snarled up, knew nothing of the shortage until on my way home saw the second garage was closed, no fuel. Then realised. So only been out one evening and am now below a 1/4 tank guess bordering on the red zone. Will use the train a bit and then one morning arrive early to refuel. Normally only top up once a fortnight so was already low on Friday.

How is Sancho fitting in at Utd, heard very little to date? Suggests he is yet to find his feet in the team.

I didn't know anything about it until 9ish am when my local road was blocked up and then realised it was the garage. Last night drove around all garages - no fuel signs everywhere (8 garages) except the one I saw earlier and the road was still blocked. It is an access road for a hospital, a little surprised no police around.

What's the fuel availability like near you? My way is absolute madness with major queues and roads getting blocked. I'm in South London.

I've been watching a program called, 'Find it, Fix it, Flog it.' Expect some of you have seen it and I'm playing catch up. Not very DIY orientated myself yet enjoy the Merseyside based duo and the Oxford duo exploring sheds and barns to find things they can work on with a view to sell. The relaxed banter between the two main protagonists can be a bit cheesy though is sometimes funny too. Learnt a few tips myself and repaired a small cabinet I was thinking of taking to the dump.

Yes my daughter was also told to do strength exercises too. I think she finds it too difficult pain wise. She lives abroad and will probably visit next year and I will ask more about it. I did gym work after my injury too though could play a bit with painkillers. Eventually got fed up with taking pain killers and just stuck with strength exercises.

I emphathise as I had a teenage injury that stopped me playing too. My daughter at 19 was playing soccer and touch rugby at county level. She twisted her ankle in a local friendly match. My ex insisted their was a great surgeon locally and I counted with try an osteopath first just to see if there is anything they can do through manipulation. I lost that one, she had surgery on the knee not the ankle and two and half years later cannot run, too sore. She does cycle, and does other exercise like press-ups. She is now working too.

Yes I agree he has been the best of our young players just hope he keeps his nose to the grindstone as one might say. Also hope he keeps learning too.

Under Frank, Mount seemed to be determined to make his mark on the pitch. I noticed towards the end of last season before matches he seemed to be laughing and joking around. Just wondering if Tuchel needs to have a word as technically he is not one of the best yet his hard work rate is one of the best when he tries. It might be an attitude thing if not Tuchel needs to work on the link up play.

Good to see Palace get a win, I'm interested to see how Vieira can progress as a manager. Also think his appointment was risky unless he pulls it off and keeps Palace in the EPl. Getting an early win should give them t the chance to build confidence under Vieira.

@Happy Blue What's your take on Pep? A lot of CFC fans think he only wins things with a big budget. Do you think that is a fair comment or just too simplistic? I personally think he needs the big budget yet also buys good players though the striker situation seems a strange one, Jesus for me is not top drawer and now that Aguero has gone seems to leave a void.

I thought you would have been older than m hearing about the gang fights, I'm 55. I guess 17/18 is about the time you start work. It happened to me about 16 and guess it was to do with exams and starting work.

What age are you? I had a number of fights at school and there was one gang incident where one of ours was picked on yet the claim was he had flashed at one of their mothers. He was crazy enough to do that too. The other dominant kid in our group told me not to get involved so I didn't. The police were called and later that week three of the other gang blocked me in a school corridor. I waited and then stepped forward and hit the one in the middle twice hard cutting his mouth. He looked at the others for support and they backed away and I went on to the next class unmolested. The worst I had was with a class bully trying to get money or food off of me, I offered to fight him instead. That got him and then he coerced another kid to agree for me to give him food or money or he would hit my arm where the BCG vaccine plaster was. I advised the other kid if he hit my arm i would hit him. He did it and I hit him and he looked at the bully for support and didn't get it. After lunch waiting for the class teacher and I see the bully with one of those old metal dining knives swinging it back and forth as though he was going to throw it at me as I watched I suddenly ducked and it hit the kid behind me cutting his head. He went to hospital and I was then thinking did he really mean to do it but what amazed me was the reaction of all the other kids who were insisting he must be expelled.

One thing i think is good is getting rid of the hard surfaces at playgrounds, I had a head injury at one of these very young and then about 14yrs after falling on some farm equipment (rotivator) I needed a lot of stitches and then started getting headaches and a lot of health symptoms as the injuries did not heal properly and brought up other issues. One other thing I recall was swinging on a rope suspended form a tree branch across a stream to the other side, one of our chaps must have been heavier as he swung lower and bashed his knee on the wooden planks holding up the banks. He had sliced open the skin just below the knee.

@Lucas Out of interest what was the castle in the photos?

Pulisic we had bought him before the ban and for him to move at the end of that season. Kovacic was already at the club though on a loan. Agree it was not about FFP though shows when they want to act they can.

There's always the unexpected like Chelsea getting the transfer ban. Also new money might come into premiership and launch a new big club.

Went there when I was about 19, camping with a couple of friends. Remember us going down to the beach there and walking out in the water just about to mid shin level when all of a sudden a freak wave knocks us all down. It also had a really strong under current dragging you out. I was ok yet didn't know the other two couldn't swim..... I got out after the second wave hit and then saw the others floundering a bit further out yet they got back a little shocked. After this can understand why some people do get into trouble at the coast.