saint1977

Have a look at the Twitter thread from this Fox News journalist - pretty clear it was set out to be violent, confrontational and with that volume of arms in a powderkeg situation frankly it’s a miracle more weren’t killed, although tragically 4 were. Ignoring the pointless whataboutery on this thread, because we all agree that violent storming of democratic functions belongs in failed states regardless of ideological intent, one point of difference was that BLM was in response to Floyd, dozens of other killings and a series of UK incidents going back to Windrush under May as Home Secretary, Lawrence and suss that still needed action to stamp out, and that’s just the police. That’s no excuse btw for anyone storming inside institutions violently. By all means, have a sit-in outside and be highly visible and loud in making your point. Yesterday was people who are seeing a white supremacist dream of a dictatorship fade. Thankfully, it looks as if America is moving away from the Russia, North Korea and China political models. I don’t ever want to see yesterday repeated and hopefully once McConnell expels the six Republicans who tried to carry on Trump’s farce, as he surely will to decapitate QAnon, everyone can rebuild and move forward, there’s a lot of mess politically and literally that needs sorting. The Trumps are facing the prospect of serious charges - incitement leading to fatalities, electoral corruption - if they don’t go bust first - and Twitter is finally getting its act together.

After yesterday’s dreadful scenes in America and the COVID death toll, something that warms the heart. Well done Spurs fans, that’s what being community spirited is about and helping a club that clearly does a huge amount of good in its environment. Will be a great day for Marine regardless of the result and is what the FA Cup should be about. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55412755

Grammar and typing a bit neat for TDD/Batman. Wouldn’t be surprised if someone like Dune. Whilst I don’t always agree with posters like LD, he has a perspective and there’s some nuance in that and a good discussion can often be had. Wes is more hard core than most on Brexit/BBC but a very good football poster that I enjoy reading. With this poster/troll, he has slagged off certain whole sectors 3 times now but doesn’t have any bottle to come back and respond. Joining VFFT putting him on ignore as a WUM and hopefully banned soon/pretending to be someone else on the UI. He would fit in really well there

In which case so does most of the private sector as well using your logic. Currently without central heating after gas engineers refusing to install the new boiler and flue we just paid a ton for until late Jan because of lockdown. Not good enough and firm concerned have been informed a significant amount compensation required due to this market failure for an essential service (and the guidelines deem it as such). Have other quotes to hand from different firms but you can tell where the corners cut compared to the more detailed current quote we went with and the others will keep coming back needing more money. Huge overhaul needed to make the private sector more accountable to consumers post-Brexit and gets standards of customer service right up, something I’ve put a big emphasis on in my own career. Hope you’ve taken on board the actual information on your OP from posters actually in the field. If vaccine programmes are going to work, government and social media firms need to quash this type of deliberate misinformation being spread with speed.

One of key Trump supporters, Leader of Neo Nazi Proud Boys arrested for burning a flag, and looks like Trump will follow at some stage. Cruz and others have disgraced themselves by backing Trump’s efforts at enforcing a one party state, let’s all hope for the sake of democracy that the Democrats win both the Georgia senate seats so the Republicans can focus on finding someone to clean up their party post Trump. Makes Kinnock’s clear up of Labour in the mid 1980s like a walk in the park

Great win and tremendous effort with the players we had missing, bench as threadbare as the later 1990s squads. For sheer hard work, up there with the WGS Cup Final side which I also loved watching, full of character. Forster got better with his distribution and good block on Mane, wouldn’t have known he was offside. Very few saves to make as back 4 were unreal, not least Stephens and KWP but all 4 fantastic as a unit. Diallo a big part of that as well, just edged KWP and Stephens as my MOTM. JWP and Armstrong superb, and such a clever goal from Ings, he 100 per cent intended that. Good cameo from Valery further forward, something for him to build on.

Positives - took 84 minutes for McC to need to do anything and even that was through a Jack special. Bednarek excellent as was Dawson for them. Jack OK but brain fart at the end, KWP very good. Berty better defending but poor offensively. Romeu played well, JWP off form, Ings rusty, Che off the pace. Theo bright but final ball has been better recently, WBA would swap it. Have a feeling there might a 2 week circuit-breaker coming up.

Hasn’t played since early October, would be a risk with a series of hamstring issues. Even the set pieces and crosses have been insipid. Better there from Theo and KWP. Contrast to Djenepo and Berty, not a happy combo. Djenepo now booked. Bowen on, that’s not good. Soucek - got away away with that.

Fucking VAR, unlucky Che

Didn’t expect Adams to be outplayed by Long, has been second to everything today. Diallo has looked decent bar the air shot. Nearly a KWP repeat from the Brighton game. Drat, Mitrovic coming on, Stephens plain sailing afternoon has a more physical end. And should have done better with that chance, bit of a 50p head there

Poor from both sides, 0-0 all over it. JWP very unlucky as was Adams with the spin but latter needed to gamble on the near post when Bertrand put a peach of a cross in shortly after. Long anonymous but did get a shot on target there, routine save. Walcott lively but poor decision making. Nearly an OG by Beds. Don’t think this handball will be given.

Probably fair, he has what, 2.5 years left on his latest contract and could probably get £20m or thereabouts if Ralph wanted to sell, so not been a bad signing at all. The timing of the signing was unfortunate in proximation to Mane’s sale, they are very different players, and also Claude’s foolish comments about him becoming a striker, which isn’t Nathan’s fault.

Yep, this. Cost a higher end Championship fee when we sold Mane and has won POTS. Can be very good for spells as first XI and good squad player which is about what you’d expect for the fee which reflected he had a year to go on his contact at Carrow. Decent signing, better than many of Les’s but not an outstanding one.

I’ve worked for both private and public sectors and good/bad in both. There is a strand in the private sector which I’ve been lucky enough to avoid to working for, but have come across the results of through commissioning and sub-contracting https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55349395 There’s a reason why hundreds of Conservative councils are taking services rapidly back in house https://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2013/08/nine-spectacular-council-outsourcing-failures You will never convince posters like Weston as he like others on here - Alex Law - is ideologically wired automatically to believe one sector is better than the other despite the evidence. Fact is there are good employees and contractors, I try to do my bit when delivering on quality but there are always people who cut dangerous corners in all sectors and that includes civil society as well. BTW, on topic for the thread, the firm that supplied the cladding for Grenfell and hundreds of private blocks where leaseholders face annual bills of £30k plus to protect death traps has been both a Boris and Tory donor, and his pick as chair was compromised https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/01/26/grenfell-inquiry-panellist-steps-link-cladding-firm/ and https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/dec/23/tory-donor-was-key-shareholder-in-grenfell-cladding-firm-arconic I prefer a capitalist system, but not the current crony driven one.

Two decent results for Saints tonight. Going back to the Burnley v Wolves game, has anyone else seen Nuno’s comments on Lee Mason? He is a poor ref overall and this forum has complained about him plenty, as have many forums but I can’t recall seeing anything in that particular game that warranted comments of that strength? EG Burnley didn’t get a very controversial penalty, fouls for their goals etc. Might have been a bit of previous from another Wolves game he has been on the whistle for but can see a hefty fine and maybe a ban on the cards for their manager.

Wonder if he put Forster’s boots on instead? Still playing well, Theo outstanding today, Romeu and JWP very good. Marshalled Sterling wide nicely there without giving a cheap foul away. Tella needs to drop deeper to join in, Adams a bit scruffy today. Another ref/lino shocker - apparently shoulder now handball - and then another obvious yellow card ignored. Why doesn’t Reed just shout ‘Come on City’?

Dean is dreadful, his Tranmere supporting hides his awe of Liverpool and the two Manchester clubs. No wonder Ralph fuming. Cancelo lack of a yellow card a pathetically weak decision, or lack of one. Brown-nosing Pep. Hope Ings just precaution, opportunity for Tella to counter at their back line. Adams should have scored and Vesty got his header on target although has a very good game so far. Get Redmond on for Djenepo, has been very poor. Walcott superb and KWP good game,

Would be like my first season I can remember -1983/84 - hopefully it’s Ings rather than Richarlison scoring a late winner in the FA Cup semi final this time at the Emirates

Agree but final ball will need be good quality to punish City if they push into us

Agree that harsh on Bilic. I’ve criticised Gao before but can’t remember him pulling the trigger like that remotely when people inside the club felt it was a poor idea. Pulled the trigger on Reed but frankly that was long overdue. We’ll find if Big Sam can keep them up as John Percy reporting in DT that expected to start in next 48 hours after COVID test and result. They have had Pulis and Megson, who are even bigger dinosaurs 🦕 so the football won’t be a total shock

Agree, but not sure he will take it this time. Been out the PL for a while now, limited trading options in January for players in. Would have to be an ever bigger turnaround than Ralph post Pellegrino, Hughes and Reed. At least SFC had some PL calibre players which eventually came good under a better manager. Most of WBA’s budget has gone on signing up last season’s loan stars. Hughes would probably take it, doubt if Howe would. Nigel Pearson most likely IMO.

Che deserves that for all round contribution. Blades should cleared that but Che anticipated. Danny buzzing about. Stu starting to find his pace and range a bit more. Second before HT would be good

Lively start - Stu still lacking sharpness though. Che a threat in behind. Danny! Flag was up. Great pass Che. Warning for MCBurnie late on Beds. Wilder audible. Vest like a playmaker today

It was a handy win in quite an even game. First 30 minutes was all Brighton, got into it a bit after that but Vesty’s towering header against the run of play. Second half much more like the form of this season and the better side although not firing on all cylinders. Vesty MOTM for me, great ball to put KWP away for the controversial penalty. Composed throughout and good distribution in the Brighton half as well second period. Romeu close behind. Danny made a huge difference. Theo did well, nearly a very good goal, Che a bit off his recent high standards. Good to see Redmond back, struck his volley from Danny’s juggle too well. Armstrong may need a break, lacks sharpness and off the pace since COVID. JWP slightly off form, great corner but odd penalty to give away. On the second penalty, I thought March committed two fouls, he is nowhere near the ball on either but probably a free kick first for the push. He should force KWP wide, diving in was risky. He was a bit unfortunate but from his post match comments can’t see the risk he was taking.

Better than what they alleged dumped in dressing room for the Palace play off semi, according to Poyet’s email afterwards