Messages

1

General discussion / Re: Brexit.

« on: February 22, 2019, 12:18:22 PM »

if a poll says a number and there is a choice which seems more 'liberal' and a choice which is seen as more extreme a certain percentage should be weighted towards the second choice.

e.g.  I conduct a poll

Would you be a happy to live next door to a non Caucasian (or someone of a 'funny tinge' as Angela Smith would call them)?

Just to clarify, you're not talking about Trump moving in  next door are you??

2

General discussion / Re: Sinn Fein? They have gone away, you know.

« on: February 21, 2019, 01:14:49 PM »

I read somewhere earlier that only 8 of the 68 top PSNI officers are from a Catholic/Nationalist background?

The percentage of catholics in the PSNI is around 30% I think so no great surprise

Plus serious catholic recruitment only really happened from early/mid 2000s onwards so you would expect that percentage to be even lower as you go up the age profiles in the ranks. The early recruits are probably only now considered experienced enough to be viable options for the really senior roles.

3

General discussion / Re: Car Insurance!!!!!

« on: February 21, 2019, 08:00:22 AM »

Car insurance does not get me mainly because its a larger amount and aware of when it comes out. House insurances get me everytime though!

4

General discussion / Re: The OFFICIAL Liverpool FC thread

« on: February 19, 2019, 03:42:24 PM »

Looking forward to tonight's game from an occasion perspective, the atmosphere should be unreal. However I am worried about us defensively as its likley that Fabinho/matip will be the centre halves. While Fabinho was impressive in the league games he played there it is a very different story if you have VVD alongside you against Glenn Murray compared to alongside Matip trying to deal with Lewandowski. I do think we will score but think we will concede at least one  which could make the return leg very difficult.

Sunday is the bigger game as far as I am concerned and it looks like we will be playing Utd with Rashford/Pogba bang in form and their defense playing half decent as well. A point would be a good result as it least it keeps things in our own hands (albeit with Chelsea/Spurs) still to play. I am resigned to the fact that before we play Chelsea Sarri will get the sack and a manager will come in who actually realises that if you play Kante as a DM you will not get hockeyed, making it much more difficult to beat them.

5

General discussion / Re: The Many Faces of US Politics...

« on: February 12, 2019, 12:08:52 PM »

Anyone do their taxes?
Defo eyebrow raising.

Yep. Ours increased quite a bit. Ended up owing the feds, after years of nice refunds for the exact same deductions and paying extra through the year.

How does tax work in the US? Does everyone have to do a tax return and most average workers "overpay" during the year and then receive rebates for expenses or is it like the UK where the average joe pretty much pays everything through their employer?

6

General discussion / Re: The OFFICIAL Liverpool FC thread

« on: February 11, 2019, 09:55:03 AM »

Thanks Chelsea.....

I was hoping at least one of Arsenal/Chelsea would take a couple of points off City but not to be. Chelsea's capitulation yesterday has more or less given City an extra point because of the Goal difference margin so it means Liverpool cannot lose again. Given we still have Spurs/Chelsea and utd to play I have a bad feeling we will be depending on a United victory over City. Really cannot see City dropping points anywhere else.

Good performance on Saturday but some of those misses were really poor and could have really boosted the goal difference.

7

General discussion / Re: The OFFICIAL Liverpool FC thread

« on: February 02, 2019, 09:25:57 AM »

Defensive problems mounting up. Gomez and lovern both have had set backs apparently and won’t be back for West Ham and taa still out.  Talk about Gomez needing surgery. Clyne decision looking ill advised now

8

General discussion / Re: Man Utd Thread:

« on: February 01, 2019, 12:23:17 PM »

Best of luck to big Felly as he departs for China, not everyone's cup of tea and probably never good enough for United but he never shirked or hid and always gave his all. He scored a few late important goals too

I'd have kept him until the end of the season, he might have been of use in the last ten minutes of a game. You could see the other night we put so many crosses in but didn't look very dangerous from the until Lindelof scored. Fred could do with improving as we're a bit short in that department unless he changes the formation and drops Lingard or Mata in the middle and he restricts Pogba.

Kept him? Only problem with this sale is that they didn't package that other Belgian shitebag Lukaku off with him as well.
As someone said he did well to outlast 3 Managers at OT given how limited he was. An Everton player and nothing more. The Belgian Duncan Ferguson.

None of that is the lad's fault, he wasnt going to turn down a move to United.

Cant fault his attitude or his effort level any time he played, he gave everything he had, we all and he himself knows his limitations. But he never threw the toys out of the pram or hid at any point.

So would have nothing but best wishes for him where ever he ends up.

United were glad of him more than once late on in games. Always put a shift in and put himself about. If a few of his more illustrious team mates had the same attitude for the last couple of years United would be in much better shape.

9

General discussion / Re: The OFFICIAL Liverpool FC thread

« on: January 31, 2019, 08:42:49 AM »

Unlucky with the penalty not being awarded but the players look very jittery, I think being top of the league is giving them vertigo.

That pretty much went as expected.  Salah and Shaqiri were not in the game at all and everything was very static upfront bar Mane. More worrying is that this could set the tone for most teams against us the rest of the season.  Thought Fabinho helped when he came on, very direct and you do miss TAA bombing on in games like these. I would have preferred to have started Fab and keep Shaq back as a sub. I think he is better in that role than Lallana. Worryingly we looked a bit unsure at the back and Leicester can count themselves unlucky not to have got another goal, they definitely had the clearer chances, Maddison in particular.

Was a definite penalty despite the BT commentators (and resident ref??) only getting there after about 4 replays.  However, can see how the ref missed it in real time and Liverpool have got their share of 50/50 calls in this regard lately. Keita was fairly anonymous apart from that. On the Maguire card, not a red for me. Ball was too far away and towards the side of the penalty area. Yes Mane would probably have got there and got through on goal with his pace but too subjective for me to warrant a red.

Anyway, if you had told me at the start of the City game on Tuesday we would be a point further ahead after the two games I would have bit your arm off so onto West Ham!

10

General discussion / Re: The OFFICIAL Liverpool FC thread

« on: January 30, 2019, 12:40:25 PM »

Taken from Football365-Liverpool lose tonight and you can expect another flip flop

Black and white
‘We are 15 games into City’s defence of the title and they have won 13, drawn two, racked up a goal difference of 38 and maybe, just maybe, they can emulate Arsenal’s Invincibles this season and go the whole campaign unbeaten – John Cross, Daily Mirror, December 4.

‘This was surely the night when Manchester City surrendered their grip on the title. The night when it all went wrong for Pep Guardiola as the champions blew it in one of the most unlikely results of the season. The night when they effectively handed the title to leaders Liverpool’ – John Cross, Daily Mirror, January 30.

From potential Invincibles to a ‘self-destructed’ title challenge in the space of just nine games is genuinely quite impressive.

Not every win has to mean that City ‘simply look unstoppable’. And not every defeat should leave their ‘title defence in tatters’. There is a middle ground. Find it.

 

Obit much
But that is nothing compared to the king of the U-turn.

‘[Sane] brought the house down, with 50,000 Manchester City fans daring to dream it is all on after his sensational winner. The title race is back on.’ – Neil Ashton, The Sun, January 4.

‘Manchester City, beaten by second-half goals from Salomon Rondon and a Matt Ritchie penalty, look dead and buried’ – Neil Ashton, The Sun, January 30.

City were ‘right in the thick of it again’ when they closed the gap to four points. Liverpool can go a maximum of seven points clear on Wednesday, yet Pep Guardiola ‘can expect a few obits’. Sensational(ist) stuff.


In terms of the odds Liverpool are rightly favourites at about 2/7 compared to about 13/5 for City. However, I do expect Liverpool to drop more points than City between now and the end of the season which is why a win tonight is crucial. United/Everton away and Chelsea/Spurs at home will result in lost points which is why they cant afford any dropped points before City get two of their most difficult remaining fixtures out of the way in the next two games.

Those games and the derby aside its entirely feasible City string a run of 7+ wins together.

11

General discussion / Re: The OFFICIAL Liverpool FC thread

« on: January 30, 2019, 08:46:37 AM »

Did nt see that one coming! Vital that Liverpool win tonight and keep the pressure on City for the Chelsea Arsenal games. Hopefully VVD is fully fit after illness.

City can feel slightly hard done by on the disallowed goal. Fair enough if the  ref told KDB not to take a quick one (and the Newcastle players heard this)  it was probably right to rule it out. However, as far as I am concerned he (the ref) had no reason to restrict a quick free in the first place given where the free kick was from. Booking KDB  harsh but that was evened out by not awarding the second yellow.

City had the problem that Liverpool have had this year in that it is very difficult to break down well marshalled defensive teams who get two lines across the pitch in their own defence and sit deep. Having a decent strong targetman who can hold the ball up is important to give the team some options for a long clearance.
 
Thanks Rafa!

12

General discussion / Re: The official Premier League 2018/19 Thread

« on: January 28, 2019, 02:38:13 PM »

A shocking 7 teams from the Premier League left in the FA Cup at the last 16 stage.. Yes I know the League is the be all and end all but feck me that's brutal. If any of the 3 big clubs draw each other over the next couple of rounds it could open up completely.

It would be great if the FA cup came with a Champion's league place as reward for winning it. Would certainly spice the competition up a bit!

Can the FA use one of their placings in the CL to give to the FA cup winners? I.E fouth place?

I think they could if they can give the winner a Europa league spot? I dont think the big boys would ever allow it though (and UEFA probably would not be keen either). Too big a risk of a "smaller" team getting in and taking one of "their" places. Although if you look back through the last twenty years winners that risk is probably minimal.

13

General discussion / Re: Things that make you go .....Hmmm, that's interesting.

« on: January 28, 2019, 01:32:53 PM »

What has been the UK’s most successful stock market company since the launch of the FTSE 100 35 years ago......

British American Tobacco

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/jan/26/the-best-investment-of-the-past-35-years-sadly-it-was-cigarettes

14

General discussion / Re: Who would have thought - Ian Paisley - Sri Lanka & The Maldives

« on: January 23, 2019, 11:01:55 AM »

Ian reckons he was only invited to speak at the event 2 days before it happened. The Irish news has emails from a few weeks beforehand listing him as a speaker and another one informing all ttendees that they'll cover economy flights. He tells that many lies I'd say he believes himself at this stage

You are giving him too much credit. I believe that about the likes of Trump, worryingly I think he actually does believe all the bullshit he spouts and thinks he knows better. I think Ian Og is just your typical,arrogant DUP representative who throws out any excuse and doesnt care how people react. 

15

General discussion / Re: The OFFICIAL Liverpool FC thread

« on: January 21, 2019, 12:33:31 PM »

How is Zaha still at Palace?

Milner badly exposed for pace, but hardly unexpected as he's a makeshift RB.

Klopp got away with that one, but Salah getting a lot of grief for diving. That may work against him later on in the year when referees are going to make doubly sure when pointing to the spot.

Salah needs to watch himself. While all of the penalties he has got recently, (with the possible exception of Newcastle) were fouls and if free kicks had been awarded in midfield nobody would have queried them. However he is far too quick to go to ground theatrically and that could hurt him later in the year. Referees don't help themselves as they don't tend to award spot kicks if the forward stays on his feet and gets the shot away, even if being impeded, so the onus is on the forward to go down. From a strikers perspective why would you take a shot with a much lower percentage of a proper contact because a defender is holding your shirt if you know you get a penalty  if you fall to the ground, even if the shirt pull itself is not enough to bring you down?

On the right back situation it looks like young Camancho could be an option  there against Leicester based on Klopps comments. Not sure about this. He seems highly thought of at the club but I thought he looked quite naïve against Wolves in the cup. Seemed to be caught infield an awful lot.