Today's Football

[greenmark]

A knighthood for Gareth Southgate, good grief talk about rewarding mediocrity. No question he's an honest genuine individual but so are millions of other people, you can't give out one of the country's highest honours for winning absolutely nothing. It's akin to awarding a Victoria Cross for rescuing a cat out of a tree while off-duty.

I suppose this is where we are as a society with all the DEI nonsense where meritocracy is completely out the window.

You're forgetting his influence. Moving away from abject and continual chaotic failure to positive professionalism.
And DEI is a good thing. The alternative is Trump and Farage. We've done populism (Boris and Truss) and it's s**t. Happy New Year!

[annuity]

A knighthood for Gareth Southgate, good grief talk about rewarding mediocrity. No question he's an honest genuine individual but so are millions of other people, you can't give out one of the country's highest honours for winning absolutely nothing. It's akin to awarding a Victoria Cross for rescuing a cat out of a tree while off-duty.

I suppose this is where we are as a society with all the DEI nonsense where meritocracy is completely out the window.

You're forgetting his influence. Moving away from abject and continual chaotic failure to positive professionalism.
And DEI is a good thing. The alternative is Trump and Farage. We've done populism (Boris and Truss) and it's s**t. Happy New Year!

It depends what you mean by DEI and how it's implemented. If it means giving everyone a fair shot then that is of course a good thing. If it means giving someone a shot over someone more suitable, then that's not good.

To put it in football terms. If it's 1-1 with seconds to go and we've got a freekick on the edge of area and Ronaldinho in his prime wants to take it. That would be good. But if the manager shouts from the touch line no let Harry Maguire have a go. That's not good.

[Euler]

A knighthood for Gareth Southgate, good grief talk about rewarding mediocrity. No question he's an honest genuine individual but so are millions of other people, you can't give out one of the country's highest honours for winning absolutely nothing. It's akin to awarding a Victoria Cross for rescuing a cat out of a tree while off-duty.

I suppose this is where we are as a society with all the DEI nonsense where meritocracy is completely out the window.

Bobby Robson got one for getting to one WC semi-final!

[greenmark]

A knighthood for Gareth Southgate, good grief talk about rewarding mediocrity. No question he's an honest genuine individual but so are millions of other people, you can't give out one of the country's highest honours for winning absolutely nothing. It's akin to awarding a Victoria Cross for rescuing a cat out of a tree while off-duty.

I suppose this is where we are as a society with all the DEI nonsense where meritocracy is completely out the window.

You're forgetting his influence. Moving away from abject and continual chaotic failure to positive professionalism.
And DEI is a good thing. The alternative is Trump and Farage. We've done populism (Boris and Truss) and it's s**t. Happy New Year!

It depends what you mean by DEI and how it's implemented. If it means giving everyone a fair shot then that is of course a good thing. If it means giving someone a shot over someone more suitable, then that's not good.

To put it in football terms. If it's 1-1 with seconds to go and we've got a freekick on the edge of area and Ronaldinho in his prime wants to take it. That would be good. But if the manager shouts from the touch line no let Harry Maguire have a go. That's not good.

Replacing Ronaldinho with Maguire is a funny concept. Imagine the jaw drop of both home and away fans.
DEI is the next thing after political correctness. PC is ok with me. DEI too, but we shall see.

[Michael5482]

A knighthood for Gareth Southgate, good grief talk about rewarding mediocrity. No question he's an honest genuine individual but so are millions of other people, you can't give out one of the country's highest honours for winning absolutely nothing. It's akin to awarding a Victoria Cross for rescuing a cat out of a tree while off-duty.

I suppose this is where we are as a society with all the DEI nonsense where meritocracy is completely out the window.

Bobby Robson got one for getting to one WC semi-final!

Bobby Robson had charisma and quite a few more trophy's in the cabinet

[jamesedwards]

Three games in here's my final placing prediction:

1 Man City*
2 Arsenal*
3 Newcastle*
4 Aston Villa*
5 Chelsea*
6 Brighton
7 Liverpool
8 Tottenham
9 Man Utd
10 Bournemouth
11 Brentford
12 West Ham
13 Crystal Palace
14 Fulham
15 Leicester*
16 Wolves
17 Notts F*
18 Everton*
19 Southampton
20 Ipswich

* (assuming no points deduction)

Ten games in. Updated prediction (assuming no teams suffer points deduction):

1 Arsenal
2 Man City
3 Chelsea
4 Aston Villa
5 Liverpool
6 Newcastle
7 Brighton
8 Tottenham
9 Bournemouth
10 Man Utd
11 Brentford
12 Fulham
13 Crystal Palace
14 Notts F
15 West Ham
16 Wolves
17 Leicester
18 Everton
19 Southampton
20 Ipswich

13/14 games in...

Not much change except at the top!

1 Chelsea
2 Arsenal
3 Man City
4 Liverpool
5 Aston Villa
6 Newcastle
7 Brighton
8 Tottenham
9 Man Utd
10 Bournemouth
12 Notts F
12 Brentford
13 Fulham
14 Crystal Palace
15 West Ham
16 Wolves
17 Leicester
18 Everton
19 Southampton
20 Ipswich

Half way point of the season. My updated prediction just for a bit of fun.

It seems Chelsea have thrown away a realistic title chance. How much longer can Liverpool's luck hold out at the top? The Scousers think it's in the bag. I'm not so sure...

1 Arsenal
2 Chelsea
3 Liverpool
4 Man City
5 Aston Villa
6 Newcastle
7 Tottenham
8 Brighton
9 Notts F
10 Bournemouth
11 Brentford
12 Fulham
13 Man Utd
14 West Ham
15 Wolves
16 Crystal P
17 Leicester
18 Everton
19 Ipswich
20 Southampton

[greenmark]

Ten games in. Updated prediction (assuming no teams suffer points deduction):

1 Arsenal
2 Man City
3 Chelsea
4 Aston Villa
5 Liverpool
6 Newcastle
7 Brighton
8 Tottenham
9 Bournemouth
10 Man Utd
11 Brentford
12 Fulham
13 Crystal Palace
14 Notts F
15 West Ham
16 Wolves
17 Leicester
18 Everton
19 Southampton
20 Ipswich

13/14 games in...

Not much change except at the top!

1 Chelsea
2 Arsenal
3 Man City
4 Liverpool
5 Aston Villa
6 Newcastle
7 Brighton
8 Tottenham
9 Man Utd
10 Bournemouth
12 Notts F
12 Brentford
13 Fulham
14 Crystal Palace
15 West Ham
16 Wolves
17 Leicester
18 Everton
19 Southampton
20 Ipswich

Half way point of the season. My updated prediction just for a bit of fun.

It seems Chelsea have thrown away a realistic title chance. How much longer can Liverpool's luck hold out at the top? The Scousers think it's in the bag. I'm not so sure...

1 Arsenal
2 Chelsea
3 Liverpool
4 Man City
5 Aston Villa
6 Newcastle
7 Tottenham
8 Brighton
9 Notts F
10 Bournemouth
11 Brentford
12 Fulham
13 Man Utd
14 West Ham
15 Wolves
16 Crystal P
17 Leicester
18 Everton
19 Ipswich
20 Southampton

The EPL is never in the bag half way. The worry for the oppoaition is LFC look unbeatable and have players that have won it before.
They won't lose it because it's a new situation.
I'm a bit stunned by Ipswich beating Chelsea. So anything is possible.

[firlandsfarm]

DIdnt know where to post this.

Sorry this failed - I did think Rory was gifted, thou never invested any money.

Its not easy.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... icate.html

I think it must be near impossible for one person to make a return on so much money in the betting markets. Either enough opportunities don't exist and/or opportunities cannot cope with such liquidity. It's not the same as a few people trading largish sums (to them) nor is it the same as a stock market. I would never give my hard earned to such a venture.

[firlandsfarm]

Not sure about too many games - except for mentally. Physically at any level a game every 3 days is easy. Most sporty people would do far more than that (probably to the detriment of their overall fitness). But mentally it must be gradually draining (especially being subjected to the full force of Pep's obsessive energy every day).
City for me has now become a top watch when available. And it does have to be live, highlights are no use at all for predicting the next game.

I always ignore the 'too many games' excuses ... when I was a lad they played Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday and the fixtures were arranged such that the same opponent was played home and away over the weekend which created some real grudge matches and teams could win/lose promotion/championship or get relegated because of those 4 days.

[firlandsfarm]

You're forgetting his influence. Moving away from abject and continual chaotic failure to positive professionalism.
And DEI is a good thing. The alternative is Trump and Farage. We've done populism (Boris and Truss) and it's s**t. Happy New Year!

Don't see anything wrong with Trump and Farage, particularly Farage. I keep asking for evidence of his 'racism' but never receive any. After all if he is as much of a racist as the LLs claim there must be hundreds of examples they can call upon.

[jamesedwards]

DIdnt know where to post this.

Sorry this failed - I did think Rory was gifted, thou never invested any money.

Its not easy.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... icate.html

I think it must be near impossible for one person to make a return on so much money in the betting markets. Either enough opportunities don't exist and/or opportunities cannot cope with such liquidity. It's not the same as a few people trading largish sums (to them) nor is it the same as a stock market. I would never give my hard earned to such a venture.

In the Asian markets there might be.

[greenmark]

You're forgetting his influence. Moving away from abject and continual chaotic failure to positive professionalism.
And DEI is a good thing. The alternative is Trump and Farage. We've done populism (Boris and Truss) and it's s**t. Happy New Year!

Don't see anything wrong with Trump and Farage, particularly Farage. I keep asking for evidence of his 'racism' but never receive any. After all if he is as much of a racist as the LLs claim there must be hundreds of examples they can call upon.

Farage is a liar. He claimed the Uk has nett migration of 2.5 million in the 2 years prior to the last election. That is total nonsense. It's disgraceful that isn't challenged.

[jamesedwards]

You're forgetting his influence. Moving away from abject and continual chaotic failure to positive professionalism.
And DEI is a good thing. The alternative is Trump and Farage. We've done populism (Boris and Truss) and it's s**t. Happy New Year!

Don't see anything wrong with Trump and Farage, particularly Farage. I keep asking for evidence of his 'racism' but never receive any. After all if he is as much of a racist as the LLs claim there must be hundreds of examples they can call upon.

Farage is a liar. He claimed the Uk has nett migration of 2.5 million in the 2 years prior to the last election. That is total nonsense. It's disgraceful that isn't challenged.

Let's not let the politics fun spread into the football thread please. There are several more suitable threads for Farage bashing.

[greenmark]

Don't see anything wrong with Trump and Farage, particularly Farage. I keep asking for evidence of his 'racism' but never receive any. After all if he is as much of a racist as the LLs claim there must be hundreds of examples they can call upon.

Farage is a liar. He claimed the Uk has nett migration of 2.5 million in the 2 years prior to the last election. That is total nonsense. It's disgraceful that isn't challenged.

Let's not let the politics fun spread into the football thread please. There are several more suitable threads for Farage bashing.

Good point.

[firlandsfarm]

Don't see anything wrong with Trump and Farage, particularly Farage. I keep asking for evidence of his 'racism' but never receive any. After all if he is as much of a racist as the LLs claim there must be hundreds of examples they can call upon.

Farage is a liar. He claimed the Uk has nett migration of 2.5 million in the 2 years prior to the last election. That is total nonsense. It's disgraceful that isn't challenged.

Let's not let the politics fun spread into the football thread please. There are several more suitable threads for Farage bashing.

I agree James, I just responded to Greenmark sneaking in a jibe where it wasn't required ... I have made a substantive reply in the Excuses, Excuses, Excuses thread