Messages

War Criminal Netanyahu and his thug Government won't pass any heed of what our leaders say.

Well that's for sure. But Israel consider Ireland the least sympathetic to their cause in the EU, and Varadker, Martin and Michael D are ensuring that continues. 

Comments by Tánaiste Martin in the last 24 hours:

- there is an urgent need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza
- there should be an unconditional release of all hostages
- there needs to be urgent safe and unhindered humanitarian access into the enclave
- long-term peace in the region can only be achieved through a commitment to a two-state solution
- recent comments by Israeli government ministers calling for the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza are utterly unacceptable and inflammatory
- Gaza is Palestinian land and is an integral part of a future state of Palestine

Extremists on both sides won't be happy and Benjamin may even give us another shoutout, but good to see our government being more outspoken than most in the EU. 'Utterly unacceptable' is strong words and we are pushing in the background for a stronger EU stance, which has been extremely weak to date. The fear of saying something that might be re-cast as being anti-Semitic is a weapon Israel use to great effect.

United are a bit hamstrung with FFP at the moment due to a 100m loss they made in year ended June 2022. But FFP covers 3 years, so that loss counts for FY22, 23, 24. Therefore, from 1 July 2024 that loss will no longer count, so I think a big summer transfer window is on the cards.

Is it a prerequisite for the majority of Dart players to be obese?

In the past would have been known to be, but there are now acadamies and that for younger players to come through(One of which was Littler) so you will probably see a change in the next while. 

Already changed hugely over the last 20 years. No requirement to be fit to play darts, but most of the younger lads tend to be. Humphries a prime example. Aspinal, van den Bergh, Price, Clayton, Noppert, Cullen, Dobey are all top players who aren't overweight. Most of the others just a little bit overweight. Only a few in the obese category.  I think Littler's bulging stomach is to do with fizzy drinks rather than the historic alcohol/obesity issues.

Was there a penalty call last night at the start of the West Ham game when there was contact in the box and nothing awarded, the commentators used the Liverpool penalty incident saying there is no consistency on the calls..

Didn't see it but on the radio the pundits said the difference was the ref didn't call it so VAR didn't it intervene . But had the Ref called it the VAR would have stood by the Ref's call!

Its getting harder to work out

It this stage VAR can be considered a failed catastrophe, any one moaning about Liverpool being on the right side this time seems two forget they have been robbed of 6 points this season plus the arsenal hand ball incident. The biggest winners so far this year on bad decisions is Man City, everyone else top 4 can have a grievance for sure.

Two terrible VAR decisions went against us against Burnley also in the previous game. Hopefully it evens out and Newky get some decisions in their next game!
(Also the ref awarded both the pens for Liverpool v Newcastle. With VAR the pens were awarded. If there was no VAR the pens would have been awarded).

He's the real deal. He'll dominate darts for the next 20 years whether he wins it tomorrow night or not.

Needs some good advice and could do with getting fit. Otherwise could well go off the rails.

But for this tournament he has been super, better every game. That was a top class semi final performance against a very good opponent.

Everton wouldn't have been awarded either of those two penalties yesterday.

100% correct. But then again Everton wouldn't have created such chances in the opposition box, so hard to be awarded penos in such circumstances

Nunez could have had a hattrick tonight. Team could be four or five up. This could be costly if they don't pull it out in the last half hour.

Darwin Nunez couldn't finish an ice cream.

Miss the screamer he scored in the previous league game? You should look it up.
Also put the opener on a plate for Salah this evening. 
8 goals and 8 assists this season (5 and 6 in the league) makes him the second highest score contributor in the team. Not too bad.

You can stat the shit out of him, he's possibly the worst finisher since big Andy, love his work rate but feck me, put the ball in the back of the net, he was bought to score goals, not miss them or lay them off for someone else

16 goal contributions this season. Only an idiot would compare that to Andy Carroll. But work away!

Oh I'll work away alright, he's Liverpools most expensive player ever and bought to score goals. He has the pace and team mates that gives him the opportunity to score many times in a match. He's young but a natural finisher is born with the gift. Hope he proves me wrong I'd love to see him go on a run.

He didn't decide what his transfer fee is. He is one of 5 good strikers at the club. It doesn't matter who scores them. He's second of the five this season in terms of goal contributions. Key opening goal v Burnley out of nothing in the previous game. He missed chances today, but he hit the target mostly and the keeper made some great saves (two in particular). He's an easy target that when keeper saved from him, commentator was calling it a Nunez miss. When keeper saved from Jones and Gakpo, commentator called it a Dubravka save.  But Darwin kept going and did really well to put the opener on a plate for Salah.

Never stops working, strong, fast, good in the air and can hit with both feet. He'll get very close to 20 goals by the end of the season.

Bookies don't get much wrong, 8/11 City 9/4 Liverpool

It's in Liverpools hands

Your odds have City raging favourites.

Ah that's too complicated for him! And if City win all their games they win. They have the advantage of having done it time and again, and coming back from further behind last year. But I think Newcastle will put it up to them next game. Great to be involved in the race. So far at least

Dolan getting absolutely annihilated here by Littler.

Bren can beat anyone on his day, but he's not the very top level type that can string together 3 or 4 such performances. Wide open now with MvG gone. Humphries favourite but beatable

Nunez could have had a hattrick tonight. Team could be four or five up. This could be costly if they don't pull it out in the last half hour.

Darwin Nunez couldn't finish an ice cream.

Miss the screamer he scored in the previous league game? You should look it up.
Also put the opener on a plate for Salah this evening. 
8 goals and 8 assists this season (5 and 6 in the league) makes him the second highest score contributor in the team. Not too bad.

You can stat the shit out of him, he's possibly the worst finisher since big Andy, love his work rate but feck me, put the ball in the back of the net, he was bought to score goals, not miss them or lay them off for someone else

16 goal contributions this season. Only an idiot would compare that to Andy Carroll. But work away!

Nunez could have had a hattrick tonight. Team could be four or five up. This could be costly if they don't pull it out in the last half hour.

Darwin Nunez couldn't finish an ice cream.

Miss the screamer he scored in the previous league game? You should look it up.
Also put the opener on a plate for Salah this evening. 
8 goals and 8 assists this season (5 and 6 in the league) makes him the second highest score contributor in the team. Not too bad.

Couple of awful decisions went against us in the last game v Burnley and you usually get a bit of luck when you are so dominant. Well deserved win.

I think that was probably Curtis Jones best performance in a Liverpool jersey in the league and Gomez had an excellent game at left back. Endo has been terrific the last 4 or 5 games, he's going to be a loss next month.

Be interesting to see if we can cope without Mo. He is such a fantastic player, best in the league, hope we can keep in touch while he's away.

Rice is better than Fabinho. Not as good as Kante, but Kante missed games thru injury, Rice doesn't.

More than one right winger in the league who causes Trent problems, but Anthony Gordon always seems to skin him at will. I would have preferred Gakpo to start rather than Diaz, but marginal call. Tripper out for Newky, which could well benefit them as he's had 3 awful games in succession. Haven't seen a huge amount of Livramento but he seems like a very good player.

I wish everyone who is working through health issues (for them or family) all the very best. And I wish solace for all those who have lost loved ones.

Otherwise life is for living. Economy / job is still going gangbusters, so have to make the most of it. Two holidays booked already, got to enjoy life while you can as things can turn very quickly and without warning. I had a big Covid related health scare, but pretty much clear now,  but wakes you up to this is our one chance. Kids are in Uni, working their asses off, but have so much opportunity out there for them. Mental health challenges to work through though.

Resolution is to eat healthier. Said to myself I am giving up crisps from today, so we'll see how long I can last.

Happy 2024 everyone