Infinitely Content

I don't think Henderson is a bad goalkeeper but I'm glad we've steered clear of that transfer. In fact I'm a little bemused at some of the goalkeepers we've been linked with - none of which seem to me to represent substantial upgrades on Dubravka; who despite his occasional flaws and shortcomings is certainly up to the mark. The goalkeeper position would remain relatively far down the list of areas to address for us in my opinion.

Deary deary England are dreary.

Dubravka coming on for Real.

Best goalkeeper in the game imo. I hear much about the imperiousness of Becker, but it's misplaced. In reality he's not fit to strap the velcro of Thibaut's gloves. Elite.

To me it has to be deliberate; he moved towards the ball obviously with intention to challenge for it and it comes off his knee/thigh. They ought to look at that rule as that's a fair goal for Real Madrid there.

Nonsense. Fabinho plays the ball.

Benzema wasn't offside, the ball came off Fabinho. Liverpool lucky there.

That is sensational from Courtois.

In fact, I'm less certain but still slightly dubious, but having looked at other shirts I thought were using the template, the composition/framing of the photographs have slight variations leading me to believe they may actually be legit.

Pretty certain. As I say, this is a photoshop template available for anyone to buy for a few quid and place their design onto a separate smart layer (flat), and the template has in-built filters, adjustments and layers which make a very convincing, life-like mockup of a t-shirt. They're used to present designs to clients prior to printing. A good template will come with numerous different lighting conditions and creases of the t-shirt to create a more realistic presentation. Photoshop is a highly sophisticated tool. In the right hands, you can create something that is almost indistinguishable from real life. I'm not saying these aren't the real kit designs, I'm fairly convinced they are based on other leaked images. However these are mockups.

They're photoshop mockups. I've seen that template before when creating t-shirt designs for clients. The hanger, background, shadows, highlights and display of the t-shirt are templated and you simply add in the design onto a smart layer. A good attempt by someone, but these are not real images.

I passed him the other day taking a stroll on South Shields beach. Not quite Copacabana but I'm glad they seem to feel at home here.

In which case I take it all back sir.

That's very kind of him, although doesn't bode well for the usual occupant of the seat - as in truth I haven't much of a clue what I'm talking about when it comes to systems and tactics, I think I was just poring over Bruno Guimaraes' elegance and poise for 90 minutes. It's a fantastic seat mind. I'm usually around half way up the Gallowgate which is great too, but I felt far more immersed and in touch with the game from that seat. Much appreciated again

I think it was the dressing room team photo from a few weeks ago when the owners joined in. Thanks for sorting me a ticket by the way, I absolutely loved it and Francis was a gent!

Given that he also shared images of Wolves, Rangers and Aston Villa's shirts, I'd assume Castore must use a factory in Turkey for the kit production which he has some access to whether first hand or via someone else. Certainly seem like credible images.

They say very much about that yes, but that requires me to begin using words like forgiveness, love and surrender and begins to challenge the very place in our psyche where we seek out our sense of self and how we orientate ourselves in the world. And understandably people don’t tend to take too kindly to such a suggestion. It’s not really for me to say, as it’s the business of the individual to explore, but as you rightly suggest, the world and our relations have become so absurdly complex and unstable as we grasp at beliefs and ideas and struggle against our fellow man. My cherished attitudes and opinions not yours. And nothing ever seems to leave us satiated or satisfied when we seek to find our sense of self in passing, ever changing phenomenon. Yet all the while we sit in infinite simplicity if only one should become quiet and notice.

I think the argument of many would be that secular humanists and atheists share the same belief system as christians and jews because western society is constructed upon judeo-christian values. Those values helped shape and construct public morality since long ago, and continue to influence it today. That said having read the gospels again multiple times as an adult, it seems to me more concerned with transcendence and surrender than it is with morality. Particularly this kind of empty morality adorned like a robe everywhere you look these days; which is a morality based on the intention to be perceived in the eyes of the society to be doing the right thing, rather than actually doing it. The gospels were in many ways the absolute antithesis to that kind of morality. Anyway, nice kits.

Yossi Benayoun Nolberto Solano Mousa Dembele Dimitar Berbatov Tomas Rosicky Shay Given Jens Lehmann Thomas Sorensen

I’ve often thought that there’s a certain clumsiness or something awkward about Alisson Becker which leads me to think he’s perhaps not as good as what people think. But everything I’ve heard from players and coaches is on the contrary so I must be wrong and it’s just an unorthodox style which works very well for him. Trent is certainly one though, he’s very talented but the rhetoric around him for the past 3 years is that he’s the best right back in the world bar none, which I don’t believe to be the case at all.

I love that you refer to him as Billy Elliot It's wonderful to see one of our own go away on loan and gain such favour with the supporters through his contribution. Hopefully he can stay with Rovers next season as I believe that supportive environment and how integral he has become to the team is fantastic for his development. That said, I'd be very interested to see what he could do in a Championship team.

If Everton were to go down, I'd take Pickford. His distribution, primarily with his overarm throws is superb; and is as good as having an additional ball playing centre back such is the level of accuracy and awareness he offers.

Ederson dives early and Karim gives him the Benz.

This polarity of his in-game personality was best displayed in the build up to the Jorginho penalty against Italy. Probably the most high pressure moment of Pickford's career, certainly more than an outing at St James' Park or a derby at Anfield, and he was mouthing to himself "no problem, no problem" before pulling off an outstanding, crucial save. He clearly has it within him to handle the high pressure situations, and I think when in the right headspace he's one of the better keepers in the league.

At risk of being excommunicated by stating this, but I like Pickford. I always admired his talent as a goalkeeper but recently when we played them at St James' Park I saw what looked like some goodwill and well-spirited fun in his exchanges with the supporters behind his goal. I don't think he's as hostile and belligerent as what I once thought. Plus, as someone who grew up in the north east with dreams of becoming a professional goalkeeper, and having made it as far as Benton training ground before realising I was out of my depth in comparison to the new level of my peers out of a Sunday league setting, Pickford in some ways embodies my childhood hopes and aspirations that turned out to be out of reach.