gazza ladra

No crocks, no unnecessary risks in this window. Ramsey and Dembele are both hard nos as far as I'm concerned. The club has maybe four incoming in January. Every one of them has to count.

I've been really good about avoiding RTG for a bit of schadenfreude. If the Southampton game is postponed, I don't think I will be able to resist taking a peek.

If you are only going to make two or three or four purchases in January, why take a risk on a player who is consistently injured? Ramsey is a bad idea.

What is Lingard's motivation to stay? He's not getting minutes, increasingly not even in the squad for Man United in the league. I nderstand that CL football is a draw, but he's not going to start for a CL side. And in any case, he just comes on as a sub to run down the clock. If he really wanted to be at West Ham, why didn't he join in the summer? Seems like West Ham would be his best option, but he's still cagey. I'd certainly have him, but I'd think WH is best for him. Why wait until the summer? Is he expecting a far greater payday?

Strange hearing/reading the comparisons. Socrates, Vieira, Kante, Batty, Mo Diame. Any one I've missed?

Would he start at either?

Really good news.

He played ahead of them. He was an AM. He wasn't a striker.

Played there for West Ham.

OK, five or six that's... Trippier Botman Ake Digne Kamara Lingard That's an improved spine.

Trippier. Ramsey. Spot the difference?

If are lucky enough to identify and buy a dominiant DM, he'll improve every one around him. We do need to replace our entire backline, but a DM will improve what we have and ensure that the new players can perform.

The one player we've been linked to repeatedly that I don't want.

When she turns around, the first appearance of those eyebrows... and then I thought she looked like Wayne Rooney. She doesn't. He's better looking.

Pointed out Milner to my wife and explained that he was a NuFc player the year our son was born. Quoted the Souness quip from memory. The state of this club.

Saxony, Bavaria, etc. were not independent nations, nor did they have a tradition of having separate national teams. It wasn't arrogance, it was a political fact. The composition of the UK is/was fundamentally different from that of Germany. A better analogy would be Austria-Hungary, which like the UK was a united kingdom, and which, prior to its dissolution, recognized the national sides of Austria, Hungary, and Bohemia. Austrian and Hungarian sides competed independently in the Olympic Games. Germany and Italy, Spain, and Russian Empire/Soviet Union did not acknowledge the independence of its constituent states or state FAs. It wasn't politically viable. I don't think France recognized or allowed for an independent Algerian side either. And the same was certainly true of any the newly (relatively) independent African nations in the 20th century. National identity was/is a preeminate goal. Nigeria was't going to recognize/allow for a Biafran national side any more than Spain would a Basque one. Independent national sides would be viewed (rightly, I think) as the first step towards independence. The Soviet Union was never going to countenace the existence of independent Baltic FAs (Lithuania, etc.) either. They had their own nationals sides prior to occupation. (or, at least Lithuania did, unsure of the others) But you do see that in Denmark (the Faroes) and, somewhat surprisingly to me at least, China (Hong Kong & Macao). And the Netherlands allowed for an independent Indonesian side: World Cup (1938?), Independence (1945?).

Probably says too much about myself: my age, my lack of tech savvy, my general disinterest in the modern world, that my immediate thought (hope) is that this really belongs in Not Worthy of a Thread. Feeling sick.

Lingaard would make a lot more sense in terms of fitting in with Howe's style. Will be a very interesting window. An opportunity to show that the club can 1) attract (buy) quality players, 2) attract players that have a future, 3) attract players that will have an immediate impact, 4) attract players that match the manager's style, etc., etc. The more I think about it, the less optimistic I am.

Pretty lame joke.

Think of it this way: his performances have been good relative to 1) what he did before and 2) what other NUFC players are doing now.

Is there a legal reason that the Premier League doesn't make vaccinations mandatory?

Absolutely, all the money spent and all of improvrments made would mean absolutely nothing if Wilson went out with an injury.

Positives: Joelinton Schar

Who doesn't grasp that?