Holmes_and_Watson

I only caught the first half, but this was clear. Much more solid at the back. And both are decent getting forward in different ways.

One of my "why use a sentence, when some paragraphs will do" posts. Needed to vent, I guess. 🙂

If you got your bell rung, it would seem rude not to give 5 stars. 🙂

After the final whistle, the camera zoomed in to look at a group of away supporters. A shout out to them for going that far this season, without seeing a win. The above reports about "perfect evenings", "nearly everything going right" and "turning point" are fluff. With the budget and backing they have, VA should not be seeing this as an "upset" or a "huge victory" These players, and this manager, were brought in to win the league. The manager has to instill those standards. It looks as though they've had their annual SR chats with the squad and made it clear who is in their plans for the remainder of the season. The squad appearing last night were the ones most willing to put some effort in, complimented by some of the new signings. A good win. VA did well with the few chances they had. As the game went on, the defence looked more solid. But they were still vulnerable. There's a reason the right back got man of the match. They, and Rouen, struggled to put any passing moves together at a higher pace. And, finally answering the question, they did win a game earlier in the season with some very nice passing. So, they can do it, and there should be more to come. The arrival of Abi, is the big change. It fills the massive gap in the first team, and gives everyone options. He, and the others are settling in. There's been some progress with the systems. So, again, this isn't out of nowhere. But more to come there too.

Presumably somewhere there should be groups based in the other quarters who think that of the people who ended up in the quarter we did. A peek at wiki had a criticism that the questions were biased towards you ending up more libertarian. But I've not checked out the sources. What is clear, is that when SOG and I answered "strongly agree" to "Do you think Diane Abbott is incredibly attractive?", it was always going to be a struggle to move from the far left. Oh, you had different questions? Ah, awkward...

It was the same last time. However, one of us managed to get into the top right quarter. Lord Duckhunter, I think.

Reminder

Last time, I was a diagonal closer to the centre.

You loved the team puns I made last season, and you know it. 🙂

Drama as the ref sends a player from each side from the pitch! But only as their kit didn't conform, and then they came back on. 🙂 I was going to say the ref had an excellent game. He didn't fall for any of the Rouen players rolling about. VA tried it a couple of times later with equal success. But the ref awarded the free kick that wasn't, when Fuss fell over going between 2 defenders. Fuss was then on the end of the free kick, with a good shot from outside the box. That led to an entertaining final few minutes. The home side upped their tempo, trying to get the equaliser. It was a pacier game than most. That shaped the proceedings, as it was quite scrappy as a result of the higher tempo. But where Rouen would normally have the job done, it was VA who looked to have the most energy. Moulin used his subs judiciously to bring freshness into midfield, and to replace Abi, from the mid point of the second half. While Courtet and Abi, playing a little wider, with El Hadary supporting, and often leading, could use work as a unit, it did stretch the game. Moulin at least now has an option to pin opponents back a bit. A scruffy corner in the first half, and a decent Courtet stretching shot at the start of the second had been VA's highlights before their opener. Niakate had just forced a save from a lovely, low, long range effort. He was then able to score from the corner. A minute of a player imposing himself on the game, made the difference. While Rouen had made Louchet the busier keeper, their best chance was cleared from going in, off the leg of a defender. They had broken through with pace a couple of times, past Passi, early on. But the VA defence was organised enough to be in position to get the blocks in, when it mattered. Leading, there was a bit of common sense when going forward. But when Appuah found himself in loads of space, when Rouen clumped together in midfield, he ran through and powered it in. VA took the chances they got, while Rouen never created anything clinical. VA deserved the victory, and will be delighted with it. But that is the baseline performance of a side looking to win their league. That is something they can look to improve upon each game, but not fall below.

No Tonda. I said "Watford have signed 11 Poles, we should get practice against". Not 11 poles we can amble around....

"We are here today to mourn Pamplemousse, who tragically passed away when >chuckle< medics couldn't stop the >snort< laughter when >guffaw< Leicester relegated >ha ha ha< Pompey, after the >wipes away tears of laughter< last day > Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha< oh no, I can't stop > ha ha haha ha ha< Breaking news: A call has gone out for mourners to attend the tragic deaths of all the mourners who attended Pamplemousse's funeral. Police say they should be fine, as long as no one mentions >chuckle< Leicester >snort< relegating >hee hee< Portsmouth > ha ha ha ha ha ha< oh dear, can't stop... More Breaking news: The UN makes an urgent appeal for people to stop mentioning >chuckle< what happened to Portsmouth >ha ha ha ha ha ha<...

He's tried to jump everything else. No doubt the Russians have a video of him trying that out. 🙂

Sadly, one of the wrestlers, The Ice Man, took it very personally. Are wrestling fans natural Trump supporters as they also believe in things that are rigged, as he does a out elections? Seems a bit sweeping to say about them.

A brilliant watch. Thanks @Gloucester Saint!

Anniversary

It's not as though we'd ever want to go back to the Lawrie's team building days shown in the programme @Gloucester Saint posted the other day though, is it? Excuse me, I have some uncontrollable sobbing scheduled in...

A little shout out to @iansums for batting away a post talking about not respecting those who hold a different view, and keeping the discussion an interesting look at the opinions.

That time when Trump's "You can do anything... grab them by the pussy," had unexpected results.

I dug out my Rainbow Laces for his Pride in Place programme, only to find it was for something else entirely. Starmer Out!

"Hyularonic acid injected into the penis can last up to 18 months" So, good value for money too.

His diary is going to need some hasty revisions, if he can bring himself to do it. His book The Third Man partly used diary notes. Funnily enough titled after a man who betrayed the interests of his country, facilitating untold harm indirectly on young victims. I'd be warning him not to go into the sewers, as it doesn't end well. But he's a politician, and sewers are where he's been spending a lot of his time.

Agreed. I don't think there was much he could do to get out of this. Nevertheless, watching him deflect and squirm just loses him more points. They sent out close ally, and sock puppet, Reed to front up for Starmer and take the headlines away from the anger. I can only conclude, that despite being giving amazing filing by SOG, Starmer was useless at the CPS. It seems that he shows no curiosity when given lies. CPS prosecutions must have been zero in his tenure. "Hang on teams. All the accused say they've done nothing wrong! Stop the cases!" Mandelson wasn't on the initial candidate list under Sue Gray. As soon as she got bumped after internal warfare, McSweeney puts mentor, and close colleague in previous positions, Mandelson on the list. They get the flags. Yet, are now blaming what they consider to be an established process, they just couldn't get out of, that from their 3 email questions. Not a chat. Not a moment to think of the implications. Reed says they might have to look at the vetting process. Duh. Perhaps not glossing over findings to appoint pals, over victims, would have been the better approach. Just a formality. No doubt Mandelson didn't incriminate himself in the answers. Why would he do that, with McSweeney ushering him into post, and asking if could get another one to go with it. The three questions were: Why has he continued contact with Epstein after he was convicted? Why was he reported to have stayed in one of Epstein's homes while the financier was in prison? And was he associated with a charity founded by Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell that the financier had backed? Since I'm sure we all stay at the luxury residences of convicted people we barely know, nothing Mandelson replied with raised any concerns. Mandelson got the job because he was close to McSweeney. He got the job as a reward for working to undermine the left of his own party. He got the job due to his shared position in the party with McSweeney and his front man, Starmer. His final qualification was that they wanted a sleazy manipulator to get on well with Trump's regime. It was a plus point. We'll see if he survives to the by-election. He's toast if that goes badly. And certainly come May, unless polls are very wrong.

Considering the specific part of the spectator sport that brought us here... 🙂

Nowhere near a road 🙂