edprice1984

The massive problem for Farage, despite some suggesting that this is a master stroke (Holmes and Watson), is that if he is only going to be challenged by Count Binface then the only tactic available to him is to laugh along with the joke. Immediately undermining the whole premise of Nigel v the Establishment. If he refuses to debate openly or starts getting annoyed then he is in effect, arguing against a bin. Realistically Farage is going to win very comfortably, but all of this in terms of optics makes him look weak. There is a very fine line he has to tread to come out of this with any credibility. There is a very good argument to say, when voters are angry or fearful about Farage and Reform it means that he still has impact and potency. When people are laughing at you, then politically you are in big trouble. If he had waited for the Standards commission to report, even if that meant a suspension and by-election, he likely would have won and he could legitimately argue that the issue was now resolved (although clearly the other parties would have a field-day and continued to use the corruption as an effective attack line). All he has done, is created a farcical situation where he will be back in the same position in 3-4 months but next time having to fight off Restore and Conservatives, potentially splitting his vote share. Whether it would be enough to allow someone else to win instead is difficult to see.

He thinks he can frame this as Farage vs the Establishment - but what this now does is give free reign to every paper, every opposition party etc the opportunity to find more and more dodgy dealings and skeletons in his closet. The major parties should stand down and let him fight against Lowe for the reasons you gave. The chance to make him look thin skinned, irritable, easy to anger will have an impact. Combine that with even a modicum of effective governing over the next few weeks and the contrasts will be stark.

If re-elected, the previous investigation resumes and if he were found guilty would lead to censure, a suspension and potentially another by-election. When David Davis did something similar all the major parties didn't bother, calling it a vain stunt. Difficult for them to do something similar here. What you need is a Martin Bell style candidate standing as an Independent. They would need to be sincere and serious, so unfortunately it would rule out Count Binface (although that would be incredible!) and someone that would be seen as a genuine alternative. Even running Farage close would be incredibly damaging for him and Reform. Particularly if the whole thing had to be run again due to the Standards committee confirming his alleged mis-deeds.

The US is a different country to the one that hosted in 1994. Back then, they were generally seen in a positive light with the obvious caveats of not having a fucking clue about Football. Now 32 years on, they have become an experiment in unbounded greed and the answer to the question "What happens if you let Capitalism run amok with no guard rails?". As soon as FIFA expanded the tournament to 48 teams, only a few countries were in a position to host the thing. Also the enforced rotation of tournament hosts between different Confederations means that the US was always going to play some part. FIFA have also become even more corrupt during that time. Looking back at the stuff that went on under Havelange and Blatter, it almost seems quaint. Just a slight side note around why these tournaments aren't quite as exciting as they once were. Back in the 1980's or even 90's, we didn't have quite the wall to wall football that we do now. Brazil, Argentina and other teams would still have some mystique. Now all the top players ply their trade in Europe, most in the Premier League. There will be 205 players at this World Cup who play in the Premier League, EFL and even one from the National League. Familiarity breeds contempt to some degree.

Like most World Cup's once the football starts, it will be ok. I agree that there are too many teams - 32 was perfect - but the decision to expand was all about politics and Infantino's re-election as FIFA President. Heat and conditions will play a massive part, far more than at any other tournament since S.Korea and Japan. Although if you compare to 1994 when kick-offs were at midday (to attract the European audience) it's not quite as bad this time around. England to the Semi Finals, Japan and Norway to do very well, and Scotland to miss out on the Last 32 due to goal difference. France to win it. I am hoping for the USA to crash out early, Canada and Cyle to sneak through and very much looking forward to the Pride game between Egypt and Iran. Once you get to the knock-outs then the excitement will ratchet up.

Of course - I am not criticising anyone who is full throated in their forgiveness here. For some it will take longer, for others it may never happen. I have always felt uneasy about sacking Tonda (unless the FA ban him, where we would have no choice). I am still upset that my daughter and father missed out on Wembley, we have been lucky in that the club have been there quite a few times over the past decade, but that is not a guarantee. The statement from Dragan and from Tonda have gone a long way to satisfying me and as I said, I am nearly there. Hopefully the players are on board too and we can start next season in the same way we ended last.

Clearly if the FA don't ban him then he will be our manager in August at the start of the next season. Regarding the potential want away players, if Dragan is offering financial compensation and the club are giving guarantees on accepting offers from Premier League clubs etc, then we will be looking to make a tilt at winning the league not just promotion. I know that the financial implications of not going up could be severe, but equally you do get the sense that Dragan is here for the long haul and that we have backing to go again if the worst does happen. Tonda made an error, I am not ready to fully forgive him yet. It still hurts that we missed out on Wembley and likely promotion with a set of players who fans had really attached themselves too. It wasn't quite 2012 levels of optimism but it was getting there. If he does stay and the results on the pitch continue to be positive, he and the team will quickly win round the supporters. Let's hope we play Boro early, we get to vent and we can get behind the club.

I am sure it's been referenced elsewhere, probably on the Tonda Stay or Go thread - but as Bielsa is leaving the Uruguay job at the end of the World Cup, we have the chance to do something truly amazing.

I have always thought we should adopt the Sash as our identity. This for example is almost perfect. River Plate's 125th Anniversary kit.

Cheating is bad. (Yes there are different levels of cheating) We cheated. Tonda apparently orchestrated the cheating. Tonda also was extremely effective as manager and led us to 21 league games unbeaten and a FA Cup Semi Final. The FA are investigating and may make a ruling on whether Tonda gets a ban. If he gets a ban, we will sack him - almost certainly for Gross misconduct, meaning a reduced or no pay-out. If he isn't banned, the club will need to understand the position of the players and whether he still has their confidence and trust. If not, we will sack him. Personally, I think he will need the vast majority of the players to actively want him to stay for us to keep him. There is a quite a bit of me that thinks we should keep him, get the supporters, players and whole club to develop a siege mentality and use that to go hard at the league next season. The question is whether we as supporters (and club more generally) can be bothered with all the additional attention and 'banter' from outside? Sports Republic have another option, sack Tonda, employ a high profile, experienced manager and give him a war chest - don't sell players (unless we get massive bids) and go out and buy Peretz, Larin etc. Explicitly state that we are aiming to win the league. No doubt it will be a total mess, drag on far too long and come August we will be a mess once again.

The statement is basically all the club could say at this point. I find it incredibly unlikely that they will overturn any part of the decision - particularly expulsion. I don't think we deserve to be reinstated nor should be. However, the little devil on my shoulder also thinks for those moaning about not acknowledging Hull City, personally I couldn't give a f*ck. We are bang to rights, deserve to be chucked out, but if there is any sort of possibility that we can salvage this and then somehow win, I will be an angry supporter watching a Premier League team next season. What the club have done is morally repugnant and it is incredibly embarrassing for supporters, but as others have said, plenty of other sides have committed sustained cheating on a much larger scale. Man City, Everton, Leicester, Forest, Chelsea, Pompey, Leeds, Derby etc etc etc. I am angry, disappointed, and frankly fed up with the whole situation. We will have to get used to years and years of abuse for this from rival supporters, it's going to be a stick that we will be beaten with for a long time. Rambling thoughts from someone who hates that there is even 1% hope that we get reinstated. Bastards.

This thread has been reliving the glory days of the old Pompey one, but without the forensic accounting.

Surely the bigger question is why is a bloke from Peru supporting Hull?

Average afternoon to be honest

I am off to Paris next Wednesday. Beach Volleyball (Mens (Sweden v Italy) and Womens (Australia v Canada) and the first session of the Athletics. Looking forward to it. Then a couple of days at Disneyland, followed by a trek around Bavaria.

From my point of view I always struggled to get tickets to away games due to not having a season ticket and also ones I could get to (generally further North) clash with Gloucester Rugby matches. I will be totally honest and fully expected it to be much easier this season, but due to our incredible run of form I have only managed Coventry away so far. Bought a ticket for myself and for my Dad. Only been to Anfield once before, to watch Liverpool v Sunderland with a friend in 2009. Looking forward to it as an experience I don’t generally get to have, regardless of the somewhat diluted atmosphere. Obviously the league should be our priority but sometimes it’s good to dream!

They have lost four of their best players in the run up to the tournament and it looks like Walsh is out now too. A Semi-Final would be a great tournament in my opinion with the loss of talent the side has experienced.

Moron that I am, forgot to change address on the Saints account and it went to the old home address. Managed to sort picking up a replacement at Reading on Saturday.

Anyone had their tickets for Reading through yet?

I have seen Saints get hammered in pre-season and win comfortably in pre-season. You do get some cues and clues into how a season might go, but honestly after two games I really wouldn't be too concerned. We all know we need new CBs and preferably have someone who stick it in the back of the net. Half the battle this season is that we don't necessarily know if three or four of our best players will be here in two weeks time. The market does seem particularly quiet but all it takes is one or two players to move and the whole carousel begins.

Haha - as someone who is guilty of this 'trend' myself, I console myself by the fact I don't have player names on the back of the shirts anymore... But to answer your question, I am going XL

Absolutely loving the away kit. The detail of the sublimated 'Waves' on the kit really looks good. It's clear the theme for the kits has been the incorporation of the elements of the club badge. Rose for the Home shirt Waves for the away Trees/Forest/Oak for the Third shirt For all the criticism of Hummel (and there is certainly some foundation to that) I don't think you would be able to do this sort of stuff with Nike or Adidas. The sizing is a bit off (probably go up a size to be comfortable) but I do like that they and the club are trying to be interesting. Clearly some will simply want Red and White stripes a la 1976 for all eternity - and that's fine - but I do enjoy a bit of variety

Someone is not happy with Osborne. I wonder how much of this will end up in the press. A little harder to publish this stuff in National Newspapers...

I will be at the Reading game. £5 parking I think too.

Leicester will be losing all their best players, their squad depth is shite and they apparently have no money. Leeds very much depends on whether the new owners want to spend the cash; they appear to have some daft clauses in some of the current squads contracts which means a few of them will be walking away for very little Middlesbrough have a decent side, with an up and coming young manager - but you wonder will he be tempted away when a Premier League club comes calling next season (Around Christmas) If we can keep the spine of the team and add in a bit of quality up front (for the Championship) I am actually pretty confident. A good start and a few early wins will get the crowd onside and away we go! (Don't be too harsh, I am fed up with feeling negative)