Happinesstan

I disagree that it needs to steadily evolve. Somebody needs to lay out what it is intended to do, based on wat it actually can do, and fucking stick to it. Little tweaks, going forward, sure, but right now it's just a bunch of retards getting excited because technology.

Remember the national shame that haunted France for decades after the 2010 world cup?

Think we might nick a draw. Actually that's laughable. It's possible that neither team will do anything that resembles football but both get a point anyway. Still puts us in the bottom 3 if Fulham win. Would love to hear Bruce's thoughts on accumulating points after that.

I don't really have a problem with that. It happens the other way, where a player is offside when the pass is played but onside after it takes a deflection from the defender. It's just bad luck. Or good if you're spurs. Yeah, I dunno, there's just something about it which feels harsher, in that it wasn't an ill-timed pass or run; just effective pressing forcing an error and then capitalising on it. I mean, regardless of any of that, the bottom line is that there's fuck all in it and Aguero hasn't unfairly gained an advantage by being in that position. One of the major inconsistencies of VAR is that the 'clear and obvious error' thing seems to be applied just about everywhere except offside, where incidents are so seldom clear and obvious. They might review a clumsy tackle in the box and, despite there being evidence that a foul was committed, a penalty remains ungiven on the basis of some woolly and subjective metric around the ref's ability to make the call in the first instance. Yet offside calls, based on meaningless inches in either direction, are being scrutinised and enforced with the fullest extent of their shite tech. If the lino misses a stray kneecap it's a clear and obvious error is it? Total bollocks. I agree with most of that, but I don't think that incident can be blamed on VAR. He was in an offside position when his teammate touched the ball, so he's offside, thems the rules. The lino should have given it as offside. Just had a closer look and it's a lot tighter than I first thought but I still think it's offside. Without VAR we'd be discussing how Spurs were robbed. Yeah but I'd far prefer that to the soul being sucked out of every goal celebration. I'd prefer a fair result. I feel people complain about VAR sucking the emotion out of celebrating goals like realizing the linesman raised his flag after celebrating your ass off wasn't something that used to happen before VAR. Exactly. Can't celebrate because technology.

A shit joke when you see the punchline coming a month in advance.

I don't really have a problem with that. It happens the other way, where a player is offside when the pass is played but onside after it takes a deflection from the defender. It's just bad luck. Or good if you're spurs. Yeah, I dunno, there's just something about it which feels harsher, in that it wasn't an ill-timed pass or run; just effective pressing forcing an error and then capitalising on it. I mean, regardless of any of that, the bottom line is that there's fuck all in it and Aguero hasn't unfairly gained an advantage by being in that position. One of the major inconsistencies of VAR is that the 'clear and obvious error' thing seems to be applied just about everywhere except offside, where incidents are so seldom clear and obvious. They might review a clumsy tackle in the box and, despite there being evidence that a foul was committed, a penalty remains ungiven on the basis of some woolly and subjective metric around the ref's ability to make the call in the first instance. Yet offside calls, based on meaningless inches in either direction, are being scrutinised and enforced with the fullest extent of their shite tech. If the lino misses a stray kneecap it's a clear and obvious error is it? Total bollocks. I agree with most of that, but I don't think that incident can be blamed on VAR. He was in an offside position when his teammate touched the ball, so he's offside, thems the rules. The lino should have given it as offside. Just had a closer look and it's a lot tighter than I first thought but I still think it's offside. Without VAR we'd be discussing how Spurs were robbed.

A few high profile English players that were famous for hating friendlies. Hmm.

I bow to your experience of specialists in Bournemouth compared to the North East. Anyway he didn't go so it's a mute point. Moot Every time people use ‘muted’ instead of ‘mooted’ a fairy dies And don’t get me started on what happens with the improper use of ‘peddled’ A mute point? Well what else can he do?

I don't really have a problem with that. It happens the other way, where a player is offside when the pass is played but onside after it takes a deflection from the defender. It's just bad luck. Or good if you're spurs.

Somebody should already be on that.

I think it's pretty clear what he meant. Bullying, or banter, has always been part and parcel of football. Not the nicest part, let's be honest, but if a player can't stand having the piss taken by his own boss/teammates, then he's going to struggle in front of 40k of the opposition. Was just watching a video of Michael Bridges talking about the level of shit you have to put up with as a pro, and they all made it seem like it was as right as morning dew. I'm guessing he's had to tone it down a little. He does specify [in one of the quotes] that the problem is he doesn't know what he's allowed to say. This implies he is consciously trying not to be a dick, which naturally has an impact on the fluidity of his interactions.

I reckon he gets a hefty bonus for avoiding relegation but a bigger bonus for avoiding finishing above 17th as that triggers the players bonuses. I would like to see the reference Charnley would write.

Never understood why when we were safe Rafa never brought Merino back for final few games. If I remember correctly he didn’t even bring him off the bench, think that’s what tipped Merino in favour of going back to Spain. Whilst I’d take Rafa back in a heartbeat in the current situation, he also had a few blind spots like most managers. When it comes to Rafa I'm happy to trust that he has his reasons. Was a shame it didn't work out with Merino, but a bigger shame it didn't work out with Rafa. I think it's always worth considering that Merino was affected by the uncertainty surrounding Rafa's future.

I'll tell you what he's not doing. He's not doing a Pardew. Didn't he go to Russia [or Ukraine] to manage somebody? There is no way this cunt with a face like a smoker's gums, is leaving the comfort of old blighty.

He'll switch wings at the last minute.

A loss would be the wall saying "Hey Steve, I'm over here you twat. You can try to ignore me but I'm not going away. I arrived with you remember? All that positive chat, on the way. Bigging yourself up. Heh? Good times, remember. Ya cunt"

I hate celebrating the demise of this once great institution, but fuck me I love that result.

As long as we keep 'not losing' we'll be right as rain when Bruce gets back his hand-picked band of brothers and can "FINALLY" do things his way.

Brighton have scored 2 today. Just sayin'.

Did you think this was the Brighton v Southampton thread there mate?

You never know, the gods might conspire...

Bruce is probably looking at the table, hoping for a Brighton win in order to drag Southampton into his "We're not the only shite" gang.

I do as I decided to roll my season ticket to next season... ...with regards refunds..how can they legally put a time limit on claiming? I don't know if they can, but [i imagine] If you've signed an agreement that states that, then they're protected by the cost of justice.

Mom ses stoopid is wot stoopid dus.

So fuck, he had a piss. Pathetic to film it and post on twitter tbh.