hypochondriac

If it holds and they got the hostages out I think a few people are going to have to start thanking trump. Whether his motives are self serving or not it doesn't really matter if the outcome is the same. Let's hope they get the remaining hostages back in one piece.

I agree. The problem is we already had a few players in most of those positions. In a fantasy scenario where we didn't make those signings we still could have lined up with the likes of Edozie, Aribo, Armstrong, Downes, Charles, Robinson, even Smallbone and wee man who have proven themselves good enough at this level. Up front we have a player with a very uncertain future because he's injured all the time and then Archer who isn't suited to this style of play or Armstrong who shouldn't be played up front. Getting someone competent up top was always the priority for me and so it is proving thus far. Can anyone honestly say that we wouldn't be doing at least as well as we are now with a midfield squad consisting of Fraser, Downes, Charles, Smallbone, Edozie, Aribo and Armstrong? I just feel we have signed some good players but we've prioritised the wrong areas. I honestly would have prioritised a new gk and striker and lined up something like New gk Edwards, THB, Quarshie, Jelert Charles Jander Armstrong Aribo/Matsuki Robinson/Edozie/Fraser New striker With Smallbone, McCarthy, whoever doesn't make the team at RM, Archer, Mads, Stephens and Matsuki You can't tell me that team wouldn't be at least asgood as the one we have now and we'd have probably spent a lot less.

100%. Look I understand most fans would have been underwhelmed by something like that but a club run properly with a decent plan would have done similar.

Of course he can be worse. My point is that even the coaches won't know for certain if he would be worse or not. What I would say is even just putting in 100% effort it wouldn't be easy to be significantly worse than that last Downs performance.

We don't breed success we buy it.

We don't know do we. It could be that they make the call next week to stick him on the bench for all we know. There's obviously an element of expertise from the coaches but there's normally an element of trust too and a desire to give someone a chance with that desire differing to a lesser or greater extent at different clubs. It may be that we think he could be good enough given the opportunity but the pathway as not yet been clear to give him that. Given how much of a flop Downs has been maybe they will cast a wider net.

His point is that you can't dismiss a promising youngster as not yet good enough until he's been given an opportunity to show that. Given the woeful lack of good options up front, the suggestion is he's given an opportunity in case he steps up and shows us something better than we have. If not then nothing much is lost given that the existing options aren't really working anyway.

The gamble bit isn't the money- although that is a sizable amount for this league- the gamble was making him our only signing in an area that required us to replace Adams with some actual quality. Absolute madness to make one signing with potential in an area that can destroy our season if not sorted correctly.

Looks like that mosque burning could have been a case of friendly fire.

I expect you're right. Main thing is to get the hostages out for me.

Real humanitarians are Hamas.

Was that the case with Thatcher ?

Hamas official in Tehran: “Our red lines include a ceasefire, complete withdrawal of occupation forces from Gaza, opening of crossings, humanitarian aid access, and rebuilding the Strip. After achieving these objectives, we will pursue political solutions and prisoner swaps.” - N12 They're having a laugh if true. Not sure what they're smoking if they think the can demand rebuilding of the strip prior to prisoner swaps.

Didn't read it but I'm sure it was fascinating.

I agree that's basically our major problem. I personally can't believe there isn't a way we could play that gets the best out of Archer and it probably involves Armstrong coming in from the right.

But we know that Armstrong and Archer don't really work up top on their own.

Don't get me wrong I would much rather drop manning I just don't think we will.

Without Stewart I think we need to play something like McCarthy Jelert Edwards/Wood Quarshire Manning Jander Charles Fellows Scienza Armstrong Archer I'm not sure there's space for Azaz.

I agree. I'm not sure what formation to play up front without Stewart. I'm not sure that aspect is entirely Still's fault.

He thinks I hate all Muslims, I'm racist, etc etc. Most of it stems from not agreeing with him on Israel.

Zero hindsight. Questioning spending that much on a young inexperienced player with potential as the main striker signing this summer happened when he was signed and certainly a few weeks into the season before the window shut. Saying it wouldn't be sensible to rely on Stewart given his injury record isn't prophecy either as most people would have said that at the time too.

We 100% need a keeper but we may get away with that because McCarthy is performing quite well. Getting rid of Ramsdale is fairnenough if he wanted to go but to loan him out and use that as justification for not bringing in a proper keeper for this season is madness.

I love how you think I surreptitiously put a qualifier in my condemnation of a mosque attack because secretly I thought that burning down mosques is alright in circumstances not involving a response to Jews being killed. If I thought that burning down mosques was acceptable I'd just say it.

Cute.

Read whatever you like. Why you think I'd want to save face at something you've posted is beyond me.