Sheaf Saint

But they are not "miles off" are they. Depending on which polls you put your faith in, there is only a couple of percentage in it right now. It would only take a massive disaster from the Tory government (like, let's say, making a massive f*ck up with Brexit) to put Labour ahead. Yes, they should be doing better given how utterly incompetent May's government is proving itself to be, but to suggest they are "miles off ever winning power", is miles off the mark

If you bother to read my earlier post from yesterday, you will find that I am not a Corbyn 'supporter'. But then you always have been fond of using strawman arguments. I actually agree with you in a way. With the Tories being in such disarray and reliant on a massive bribe to an extremist NI party to maintain their majority, a better opposition would have them on the ropes. It is to the detriment of all of us that we don't have that better opposition. But I have to take issue with your assertion that Labour are miles ahead in the muppet/unsavoury type top trumps stakes. May, Gove, Johnson, Rees-Mogg, Hammond, Fox, Grayling, Patel... I could go on, but you get the picture.

But how exactly can you say that about the current incarnation of Labour/Momentum, when they are not, and never have been, in a position of power to do so? Or are you just lazily comparing them to other, historical far-left regimes like the Soviet Union?

Can you give me some examples of this? I'm not a devout follower of Labour/Momentum looking to defend them at all costs by the way - far from it. I'm just genuinely interested to find out why you think this way and why you presume that the problem is worse than it is in other parties.

Christ alive, you've posted some utter drivel in your time LD, but this just takes the biscuit.

All of this applies just as much, if not more so, to the Tories as it does to Labour. In fact, it probably applies to every political party that has ever existed or ever will do. The plans to re-draw the constituency boundaries to favour them is a prime example of your first point. As for not tolerating debate and looking to shut down opponents, remember "People have had quite enough of experts" anyone?

For once Hypo, we are in complete agreement. The entire political system in this country is completely outdated and no longer fit for purpose. We need sweeping changes to bring us out of the dark ages, like rules which prevent a party who only manage 24% of the available vote from gaining an overall majority, or which prevent elected representatives from standing up in Parliament and telling blatant, outright lies to the house and the public with complete impunity.

It's interesting that when you do a google search for 'Momentum bullying', pretty much the only results that get returned are some dubious, unfounded accusations of bullying, usually from people with an axe to grind (mostly Blairites who can't accept that their time in the party is over), and only reported in the usual suspect pro-Tory newspapers.

Can you expand on what you mean by that exactly?

In what way? Genuinely interested to know your reasoning behind this statement.

Yes, the Czech "spy" is a truly reliable source of information... https://evolvepolitics.com/the-czech-spy-linked-to-corbyn-has-just-claimed-personal-credit-for-launching-live-aid/ I wouldn't class myself as a "fan-boy" (as you put it LD) - I like him enough and I think he has a genuine empathy for people in a way that no Tory is capable of - but this "revelation" is a total non-story. It was 30 years ago and it's such an obvious smear attempt. At least he has admitted to meeting the guy. Compare that to Boris Johnson, the serving Foreign Secretary, meeting a top level Russian intelligence officer then denying he had ever met him, despite photographs emerging of them having dinner together. I notice that this wasn't splashed all over the front pages of several tabloids and discussed at length on news programmes. Which of the two events do you think were more likely to compromise British security?

I'm not writing him off. I remember how Yoshida always had a howler in him, which he eventually managed to eliminate from his game. Hoedt may well turn into a top player if he can do the same. But what we needed in the summer when we signed him was a proven quality CB to replace Fonte/VVD, not somebody who might come good but will cost us a fair few points before he does. That's why I don't believe he was a great investment.

In his last two games he has made two horrendous mistakes which have led directly to goalscoring opportunities for the opposition. He got away with it on Saturday because it was J-Rod, and not Salah this time. He can look like the most composed and confident player ever seen, but that all goes out the window if he is going to continue to gift goals to the opposition because of schoolboy errors.

On point 2 - Hoedt looks like a disaster waiting to happen, every game. Not a wise investment IMO. On point 3 - plenty to choose from but I'll nominate Tadic. Scored a beauty on Saturday, but give him a free shot in the area from a cut-back and he'll miss every time.

I feel a lot happier about one now that we have an apparently competent keeper.

More details about the 'incident' in Barcelona... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43089347

Is that likely to tip them into yet another administration?

Thirty years ago today, Red Dwarf first aired on BBC2. I have to say that, despite my skepticism, the recent new series have been excellent. Still one of the funniest things on TV.

Still waiting for a 'good guy with a concealed gun' to actually stop one of these shootings for once. I mean, that is the entire basis of the NRA's argument against gun laws isn't it?

Edit....

Wow. For once I actually agree with Lord D. Before writing him off, it's worth remembering that he had a slight injury prior to signing, and yesterday in only his second start for us he was up against the world's most expensive defender, who we all know is capable of bossing even the best strikers.

So you think our new owner is deliberately trying to get us relegated and therefore depriving the club of in excess of £100m a year in TV money, just to get rid of a couple of long-term contracts that cost only a tiny fraction of that. Riiiiiiiiiight.

I see the argument about playing Long for his pace on the counter, but one thing to consider is that VVD will know all about Long having played and trained with him for two years, and will know how to deal with him. Carillo will be an unknown quantity to him, which might give us a slight advantage. And yes, I do realise I'm clutching at straws here

Crikey, I had forgotten all about him. Just had to Google him to remind myself, and check out what he looks like now... https://www.dreamteamfc.com/c/news-gossip/257552/emmanuel-mayuka-fat-egypt/