hypochondriac

I don't see why someone would buy jwp. He would cost I expect close to 50 million and for that amount you'd want virtually the complete package. Jwp is a phenomenal free kick taker and incredibly fit but he isn't that influential of the pitch. Worth remembering that he was captain during some absolutely hideous performances. You wouldn't imagine someone like Roy Keane standing for something like that.

I think vestergaard will go this summer. My prediction is vestergaard out, one maybe two strikers in and a replacement CB.

He's under contract. I'd expect us to play hard ball if he's actually unsettled. No evidence yet though and he strikes me as the sort of person that would be professional.

I may be wrong but I would think the club would know that. Jwp will be off next summer in my opinion.

Agreed. He's seriously lacking in the mental department more than anything else.

I think it's great that we were so successful. I'd prefer that no one made an ossie out of the skin colour though because it just encourages divisive identity politics from both sides (which is why you saw some white nationalists celebrating that the white Italian team beat England at the euros.)

There's some footballers who receive racist abuse on social media, the majority of which comes from abroad. Many people receive all sorts of vile abuse on social media, much of which is personal and disgusting and it should be dealt with. The media clearly have an ulterior motive to exaggerate the problem for sensationalist headlines. The results of racist abuse from the euros showed the extent of the problem. Oh and please stop saying that you're "pointing out that racism exists". You're not doing that, you're saying that virtually every institution in the country is systemically racist which is something entirely different. No one would deny or argue with anyone if they merely pointed out the obvious fact that racism exists.

That's fine but we need quality for the ibgs replacement before we do that.

Your claims that every institution in Britain is institutionally racist is complete bollocks. I can't speak to your individual experiences of racism. Undoubtedly racism exists as I've already said. I've no doubt you've experienced some racism from saints fans and others. Unfortunately there will always be a section of the population that are prejudiced against someone due to their skin colour and where these people commit racist acts they should be and are harshly dealt with. The existence of racism is a truth that has never been denied on here ever. I'm married to a mixed race woman who has experienced racism herself and we both believe that despite this that Britain is one of the most tolerant and accepting nations on planet Earth (which it is). White privilege is a load of crap too so you're right on that one!

I'm sorry but it's difficult to have a discussion with someone whose view of the world differs so drastically from reality. You're clearly a fantasist desperate to see racism around every corner. Your claims are laughable and the fact you cite the guardian who spouts the same woke bollocks and then use the quote I've already mentioned as some sort of proof that all institutions admit they are racist speaks for itself: “If other people think we are institutionally racist, then we are. It’s no good me saying we’re not and saying you must believe me. [That would be] a nonsense, if they believe that.”

Why are you making things up? Just because you've googled institutional racism and found some quotes of someone saying they can't argue with the charge if someone says they are or a representative of a woke learning institution doesn't make your claims valid. You and the rest of the nasty critical race theory crowd are the problem I'm afraid.

Indeed and quite clearly racism exists. Most of the links that supersonic posted don't say what he thinks they say either. I asked for links from institutions that state that Britain is institutionally racist. Most of his links were from an individual not the organisation itself, didn't state that Britain was institutionally racist or included quotes like this which suggests to me he didn't actually read the articles he posted: “If other people think we are institutionally racist, then we are. It’s no good me saying we’re not and saying you must believe me. [That would be] a nonsense, if they believe that.”

To be honest I generally hate those and find them disingenuous. Whatever you think of ings at least he hasn't tried to be all fake and suck up to the fans. When Adam did that after he'd shat on the fan base it made me feel sick.

I was told a while ago that Ralph isn't the best communicator and leaves it to others in his team to do that side of things. Not that it really matters but there could be some truth that his management style isn't universally loved.

I will hold fire to see who we actually get but on the face of it that would be very disappointing to lose out.

Best of luck mate. My best friend at primary school was a villa fan so I've always looked out for your results. Ings is class and should do a good job for you although it's undoubtedly a blow to lose your talisman, if you're like us you will spread the money about and have a more balanced team at the end of it. Always better not to be relying on one superstar and I hope we can take that advice as well now we have lost Danny.

I'm fine with a bit of a haggle but we just need to do it in the right way. We have been guilty in the past of holding out for so long that we lose the player we want and get the less effective alternative. Our ings replacement will probably define our season and may well be the difference between safety and relegation. If we mess up the signing of a lb it is a pain but we would probably be OK but this is imperative that we get the right person.

I agree with you unless we haggle and then end up losing out and go for the cheaper and possibly not as good alternative.

I felt he was more likely to go than not this summer. Its not exactly a surprise I suppose the only real disappointment is that he's gone to a club like villa so suddenly just before the start of the season.

The point is that unconscious bias if it exists is by its own definition unknown. The tests that look for it don't actually know what they are testing. Results differ from test to test so the results aren't reliable and there's a fair amount of evidence that doing these tests actually increases any bias.

OK you did ask. So called unconscious bias is typically measured by an implicit association test. Any impicit bias test does not reach the test retest threshold for reliability. That means that results aren't repeatable with the same person to the degree that they would be useful and the results therefore aren't valid. I have seen many reports critical of these sort of experiments for having different results if they are repeated multiple times on the same subject and a number of studies that suggest that awareness of a bias- if that is what it is- actually has the opposite effect with higher levels of bias afterwards like this study: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229525058_Ironic_evaluation_processes_Effects_of_thought_suppression_on_evaluations_of_older_job_applicants So overall I'm not convinced that it's either a reliable method for establishing levels of bias or that it affects any positive behavioural change afterwards. The fundamental flaw in these tests is also pointed out here: http://www.hcdi.net/reliability-and-validity-of-implicit-association-test/#:~:text=Studies have found that racial,overall is just around 0.5.&text=In fact%2C studies among different,subsequent behavior than explicit responses And here the problem is addressed explicitly in children: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29251966/ I'm not convinced that unconscious bias exists and if it does I don't think it's possible to measure it with any degree of accuracy or to know if any supposed bias has any sort of negative effect on behaviour. The UK is not systemically racist as I said.

I'm perfectly calm thanks. It's just worth reminding people that the screaming headlines from the papers about how awful and racist we are is incorrect. Otherwise you get weirdos like supersonic making mad claims about systemic racism. At least we can agree on your first point. We should be proud of the fact that we are one of the least racist and most tolerant nations on Earth.

I can't see us losing jwp in this window. Imo he will most likely go next year.

Firstly you have no idea what racism I have or haven't experienced. Secondly what examples do you have of every institution acknowledging that Britain is systemically racist? Show some examples. You're a loon.

Our defence was absolutely awful last year. Losing vestergaard for a decent fee may help us to improve it. I'd sell him personally.