ponsaelius

Tbf of all the things wrong with hosting a world cup in Qatar not serving overpriced pisswater in the grounds at the last minute is basically bottom of the list.

I'm looking forward to it starting now, mind. I'm scum though tbf.

Couldn't care less who makes the kits. They're all a much of a muchness these days, producing bland crap with stick-on club badges, none of which I'll buy. Some of the smaller brands tend to make a better effort in terms of design - but fall foul of the same cheap production. Just get whoever gives us the most money.

Tbf it's not completely controversial to not sell proper beer in stadiums. UEFA only lifted their ban in 2018 - in the past CL/EL and major tournaments you couldn't get booze in the grounds. I'm more surprised they ever went with this in the first place considering the laws of the country. But doing an about turn 2 days before the tournament kicks off is ridiculous.

Do remember somebody posting on Twitter about a month back that his dad was at SJP as we were trying to sign him.

To be honest I had similar feelings in the build up to Russia World Cup (obvious reasons) and again to the Euros last year (COVID stuff, being hosted all over Europe) but once they got started the football was great in both tournaments so you quickly forgot. It will be interesting to see if that happens again - because there's far more issues this time than before. While I far prefer NUFC to England I do think international tournaments are better than club football. Love the concentrated nature of the games and the more chaotic nature of how the teams are assembled. It is an antidote to the money dominated nature of club football and squad building - which is ironic considering all the other issues with how international football is organised.

It is but it's a bit of luck too. He only ended up back in the Georgian league because his contract in Russia was annulled. If you're buying from oligarch backed teams the fee is always going to be daft. Shakhtar don't sell low usually - and especially won't want to now after they had to lose a load of players on the cheap due to the war.

They allowed to replace him? Maybe a reprieve for Diaby.

I agree with this. Personally wouldn't expect any South American teenager signed (e.g. Santos, Angelo, Perrone) to be involved in the squad from January for example.

Yeah he's basically never played wide in his whole career. That surprised me because watching him he definitely seemed to occupy those spaces often during games. Guess it's something that could be tried if he has the skillset to do it.

Good post. Wahhabism is the most destructive of ideologies and it is birthed and spread by the Saudi state. Enforcing it both in terms of ideology and laws is key to allowing the dictatorship to retain control over the populace. PIF is undisputably the direct investment arm of the state - with the dual purpose of diversifying their economy away from oil and gaining soft power globally. The idea that some kind of holistic cross-pollination of ideas through PIF's investment in global capitalism will lead to advances in KSA society is fanciful in the extreme. It is by design far more likely to tighten the regime's grip on power and further entrench the status quo. It is in most NUFC fans interests to turn a blind eye to the above because lets honest the last thing any of us want to do is 'scare' away such investment in something we love. My way of rationalising it is a combination of fully appreciating the involvement of those owners directly involved in running the club (Staveley, RB, even PIF employees) - and convincing myself there is actually little we can do as individuals to stop the cold hand of investment in a global market (if it wasn't us - there's no doubt it would be somebody else).

We've already adapted our playing style quite significantly from the end of last season to now. Yes the intensity is ever present ideologically but we're looking to get a much clearer foothold in terms of possession and dominating teams - particularly at home. One thing we do still lack in my opinion is technical creativity to break teams down from both midfield and wide areas. The dropped points to Bournemouth and Palace happened because we lacked game breaking players. I have my doubts about how Maddison fits into the current system and way of playing too but he would definitely give us something we don't have. And going forward I also think that the current intensity of our gameplan is probably unsustainable every single week - particularly once we're in Europe and start playing two games a week. We will need slightly different ways of playing and winning.

Yeah the guy protesting was very good tbh. Really good answers to all the questions and I have full respect for any fan not only willing to take a moral stance but having the balls to stand there on matchday and protest. It's not for me, but they have every right to air their views in public.

Yeah they were storing the materials there for that site

Was worst individual performance of the season by a long way.

One real quality midfielder/winger for me to give us a boost but not rock the boat. Only other thing would be a backup right back - as the drop off to Manquillo the other night was mortifying.

Schar and his heed man, it's every other week.

If Wood starts I'd snap your hand off for a draw now mind.

Some boy.

They've got a good pool of experienced CBs so it is not a huge surprise. Unlucky for him that it is clearly their strongest position. If he was a player of equivalent quality anywhere else on the pitch he would have waltzed into the squad. He will definitely be in the next Euros squad as a mainstay of the team.

I reckon not tbh. Van Dijk, de Ligt, de Vrij, Timber, Ake are all capped and played recent games. I think he should be in there but honestly a long shot for an uncapped player to make it in ahead of players a manager has relied on previously.

It's not that bad mind. Bayern midfield alone makes it a match for most other sides in the tournament. England really missed out on Musiala considering our options in that position. Werner being out is probably a positive overall. Biggest weakness is at CB.

Not a bad draw. My only worry is that Bournemouth's World Cup players will be well home by then I we might potentially be without Bruno (or the England lads if you're a dreamer). But otherwise it's a very winnable tie.

Will it be on SSN?

Making his debut tonight.