The Left Back

I tried that line many a time with my mate and of course he was unable to offer anything. But his point was more in his guts than his brain. He is small business owner, allergic to external governance and regulation and just wanted rid of the feeling of being overseen by not one but two institutions. Agree with that. One of the problems was that neither of the main parties wanted us to leave. So the power vacuum that was inevitably left ended up being filled by the reluctant, the incompetent and the narcissistic.

Another thoughtful post and agree that the one you referenced from H&W was similarly insightful. My sister and niece both voted to leave. When I asked them why a year later they both said it was fear of unlimited Turkish people coming over. Both have since owned up to being misled on that one and having some regrets. One of my best friends was/is an ardent brexiteer (I was an equally passionate remainer and we've had some tricky conversations since but have survived the experience). His reasoning was that we don't need two layers of governance. It's hard enough holding Westminster to account, let alone Brussels. His point is one that I've more sympathy with. I suspect many of the people who voted leave were just dissatisfied with 'the establishment' and any chance to vote against it would be taken. I imagine that if they could have voted to scrap the Commons and the Lords in favour of more local power some of them would have chosen that too. I remember the day after the referendum hearing a very erudite brexiteer phone-in caller explaining that for him the vote was primarily a protest against years/decades of under investment in areas of the country and not so much about anti-foreigner sentiment (except where outsiders seemed to be getting preferential treatment to locals). I think people like this were exploited by hard-right agitators in the recent riots. By coincidence I got a text from my daughter today (see my post earlier for context) who said ministers are working on a plan to open up free movement for under 30s. See The Times for more details (you need to get through their pay wall). I'm imagining that's going to go down very well with her and her contemporaries but not so well with the fascerati.

Not me personally, but my daughter wants to go and live in Italy but she now can't. She's of a generation that won't easily forgive those that led us out of the EU. She's yet to see a benefit of Brexit. Perhaps you could help me enlighten her?

You're right sadly. I'm not suggesting it should be reported and no doubt it will grab attention. It's just the sheer amount of it that I noticed. Before delving into it I had assumed it was someone really famous or that it was murder. I suspect the people who decide what's going to grab our attention operate in these circles far more than I do and for them it's obviously more interesting than it is for me. BTW - top BBC headline currently tells me that the chef was saving money to restore his late parents' house - which I agree with you is new. I'm wondering if they'll do a feature on the wallpaper he was considering? (before anyone attacks me I'm not having a go at the chef - it's clearly a tragedy for his family)

I'm not diminishing the impact on family etc but there seems to be excessive media coverage for this. Boats are going down and people losing their lives every day in the Med. Difference is this was a posh boat with rich people on board. Small boats crammed with desperate refugees don't even warrant a line but this story occupies top three slots on BBC website currently and all over the papers. Current chart topping headline is they found the body of the chef FFS. Trying to think of a two-tier slogan to sum up my point but can't get anything to rhyme.

TBF it's been a pretty safe bet writing off all Southampton strikers since Ings - and even he received plenty. As for Archer, I'll do what normally do at this stage and imagine he's going to set the league on fire. I agree with this totally. We need one more keeper, ideally a starter, so that Alex can warm the bench. And I'd rather see Tyler getting loads of minutes than signing someone who blocks his path.

I would guess it's a straightforward case of having had enough of trying to fight his corner against an increasing volume and intensity of opponents. I hope he's not having any 'real world' reaction to the recent batterings. It's been sweet to see how much he has been missed, still featuring in various threads despite his absence. Perhaps we'll focus more of our attention on The Romans now the Judean People's Front have disappeared.

Confirmation bias

Very heart warming so far at least 🤞 to see the amount of people out in a show of strength against the rioters/thugs/right wingers. Could be that one of the silver linings of the dark cloud that has been hanging over us since Southport is that normally-silent majority of progressive citizens that make up this country become more united and active in opposition to the the angry mob. Seeing colourful, peaceful, defiant protesters out in their thousands is great. As someone who can be a bit cynical about the value protesting and demonstrating, it's times like this when I get it. When all this settles down we shouldn't overlook the genuine concerns that have been lost in the whipped-up orgy of violence and hate. And there are certainly lessons to be learned by authorities and all of us (particularly a few on this forum) about the toxic power of social media to turn fiction into catalyst. But make no mistake those who caused this rupture, on the back of the suffering of children and their families in Southport, have no excuses for their behaviour.

Not very good at posting links but here goes. https://www.in-common.co.uk/2024/08/05/southampton-condemns-racist-violence/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEew8xleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHRa2FkOoTLj7LjyurAQCTVlQkoTTZjzY4ojKLn4zmHnn-a7h1wpRSkfJww_aem_GxCchnGR8dxgolXB5Jk1Hg I'm only in Shirley so might wander out to get a personal opinion on the antifascist demo. Not sure where the other side are meant to be focusing their attention. There's lots of potential targets in town - but I don't fancy doing any research to find out as it will play havoc with my algorithm! Anyone on here prepared to share any intel they have?

Thanks for the reasoned view. I can see where you are coming from. I agree that Labour made a rod for their own back during the campaign by trying to seem to be as tough on immigration as the tories (as well as tax but that's another thread). I'm guessing they were paranoid of laying themselves open to 'opening the floodgates' headlines. Where I challenge you is on the idea that after 4 weeks in power they should somehow have got asylum seekers/illegals/refugess out of the hotels the tories put them in. The people orchestrating this could have picked any moment in the last couple of years but waited until now. They hijacked a mass murder of young children and used it to launch politically motivated violent attacks. I think it's too simplistic to say they're all 'far-right' (some seem to be there just hoping for the chance of a good ruck and others appear to simply want to protest with genuine grievance) but it is being stoked by those who, now that the tories are out, have less political influence over the direction of the country and so are resorting to type. As I say, it's helpful to understand each other's views. Shame this thread seems to have reverted again to the personal attacks, battle of the links, and oh so clever loaded questions.

Some lads over stepped the line did they? Massive understatement. Poured petrol on the fire eh? Massive overstatement.. It's not difficult to work out where your sympathies lie. Rather than trying to defend the indefensible you'd have more credibility if you come out and said what you really think. Your twitter algorithm seems to be working well. It's got you completely sussed out. As with LD why not own up to what you are really thinking rather than just hiding behind personal attacks on your fellow forum members, loaded questions and entirely predictable links.

I hope so, but haven't seen enough. Dibling reminds me most of a young Le Tiss - another one of those would be very handy this season And he had great hair

What Stu offered us that perhaps doesn't show in his stats was like an injection of energy and go forward. He was happy to receive the ball on the turn in a tight space in midfield and then run with it, effectively getting the whole team back on the front foot. I know nothing of O'Riley but hope whoever we get brings that. Charley Alcaraz is the nearest we have to that skill set.

I assume this is a joke comment. I'm struggling to see the relevance. This wasn't a protest was it? First it was a vigil, then appears to be a full-blown riot. Why the need for the comparison - it's not a competition! I'm surprised there's be no challenge on here over the last couple of hours to the apologists and the excusers. Unless I'm missing something it's pretty clear what went on in Southport last night and no amount of deflection will change that.

Completely get that, and I certainly haven't been in that situation. And agree that our police force seems on the whole far more restrained than many. If the villain had been conscious a little longer and got a good baton whipping I suspect no-one would have complained and also he would have experienced more pain. It's the fact he's been tasered and lying motionless that makes the optics not so defensible.

This is the point for me. All the officer has managed to achieve, apart from some instant physical revenge, is moving the spotlight off the real villains here and offer people who already have issues with police professionalism more fuel for their fire. This seems naive. We all enjoy wrong un's getting their comeuppance but if we give police freedom to give every 'cunt what he deserves' we end up in a police state.

He's been our manager long enough for us to know that's never going to happen. He's more likely to 'go mental' at them if they don't play that way. Completely agree with this. The froth and rage on here is something to behold. No denying they were crap penalties (but not the scale of Alcaraz last season nor Lineker v Brazil in 92). No denying Mara can appear too laid back (Martin has said as much). No denying Sulemana has struggled to play in the way the manager wants. And no denying Edozie could be doing more with what he creates. But for all that the hyperbole and bitter vitriol on here (again) is embarrassing.

Might be wrong but I think it took them around 12 hours to declare that view. Enough time I suspect to do some basic open-minded research and come to a relatively solid working hypothesis that they felt confident declaring publicly. If, as Weston mentioned, he was known to the authorities then I guess it may have been even quicker. Personally I was more interested in the reporting before the mental health thing came out, when Radio 4 seemed obsessed that the victim was wearing a uniform, without knowing if that was in anyway relevant. As it turns out, if they were known to each other then I guess the uniform might have been a red herring. So if anything, the uniform angle was leading listeners to the terrorist narrative without any real basis.

...new and a goal keeper

If I remember he said he was number 1 of current fit goalies we have. When pressed he said Alex’s position in the pecking order might be challenged, depending who we got in

This old chestnut. No manager has premier league experience until they do. Not Nige, not Poch, not Ronald, not Claude, not Ralph.

It was really a no-brainer to trigger the automatic clause in his contract and agree that not doing so would have been the stranger decision. He's always going to be a player that divides opinion, so no surprise the hyperbole on here. All views welcome of course. I can completely see why Martin wants him here. He's a bit like Martin was as a player, he's versatile, he does that inverted Stones thingy that Martin sometimes likes, he seems to have found his place as club leader on the pitch, and he's not going to throw his toys out of the pram if he's not picked. For me a good squad member vying with the rest for a starting 11 place.

And You Tube

I’m not seeing as much weakness in midfield as others on here. Smallbone and Aribo both improved as the season went on and will be better again this season. Downes is finally back in the house. Charles is still nowhere near his ceiling and will continue to develop. Alcaraz is back to potentially replace Stuey. I’d like to see one classy all-rounder brought in of course but would prefer we prioritise elsewhere (striker and GK).