hypochondriac

I find it strange that Southgate would try to conflate monkey chants from Hungarian fans - if that's what they were- with anonymous racist abuse of high profile players in England as if the two problems are in any way comporable. It's a totally false dichotomy to compare cretins on twitter with open racist abuse and chanting in stadia. It's odd that Southgate and others do this.

I think there's a moral panic about racism at the football and that it's in the interest of the media to exagerrate a problem that-whilst very real- is not anywhere near as large as some would have you believe. I think the problem of anonymous social media accounts sending abuse to celebrities and high profile persons is a social media problem not a football problem but it suits the media narrative to conflate the two things. I am yet to be convinced that racism in English professional football is any greater than racism in society in general and the evidence I have seen is that it is mercifully rare to hear racist chanting or abuse in English football stadia and when it is it is roundly condemned and life bans are handed out sharpish. I don't think that taking the knee has seen more instances of condemnation of this sort of abuse. You could argue that it adds to the current culture of highlighting anything racial at any game of football and making it front page news-whether you think that's a positive thing or not- but I would suggest it's the result of this sort of thinking rather than the cause.

Personally I can see why a certain level of mistrust exists given the false narrative about hoards of English racists on the front of papers that turned out to be largely from abroad and the reporting of the mural graffiti that heavily implied it was racially motivated when in fact it was nothing of the sort. Again though I didn't watch the game so I have no idea but given that the England players and staff didn't hear it and that players or all skin colours were supposedly abused it's certainly possible that it's being exaggerated or the facts distorted by a media who have form. Could well have been some monkey chants though, there is a section of Hungarian fans who are sadly racist.

I can't speak for him but my guess is that he would dispute your assertion that British society is systemically racist and that his point about white people being abused suggests that its possible that the motive for aggression was not racist. I don't actually know as I didn't watch the game.

So knee taking before every game for the foreseeable future then? If stopping means the racists win then there's literally no time where it would be acceptable to stop.

Are you suggesting that prior to the knee that overt racist behaviour wasn't condemned? Has knee taking seen an increase in condemnation for racist chanting at the football?

According to Southgate monkey chants are "similar to what we have at home." When was there last monkey chants in a Premier League stadium?

Completely unrealistic right?

Well like I said I really am not an expert on the climate and you appear to know a lot more than me. I'd be pretty surprised if the likes of coal companies in China aren't controlled by the government though. Undoubtedly there's opportunities with green technology but I think some aspects are going to be a really tough sell for the average lower to middle class westerners who can't afford unreliable heat pumps for houses, electric cars and expensive carbon taxes tacked onto holiday costs, particularly when loads of countries won't be doing any of these things.

Yes and I guarantee that many of those companies will be fronts for the government so actually its just the nations who you aren't going to persuade to cut off their arm now for some nebulous benefit in the future. We might not like it but that's the reality. In 30 years time when the likes of the UK have hobbled themselves with a load of green technologies and fallen further behind those who have just ignored it then it will all seem a bit pointless won't it.

So what's the plan to curb things ib the timescale required. Let's say that the UK adopts all the recommendations of extinction rebellion. Then what? Threaten nations that have carried on as normal?

It's not about giving a pass, the point is that it doesn't really matter who is more or less to blame you're only really going to make real change if you can somehow persuade the biggest polluters to stop what they're doing and it's not going to happen in the timescale that some people are saying is required.

And the Obafemi fee.

Completely unrealistic.

Can't say I know much about climate change. I expect it probably is happening and even if it isn't, it makes sense to cut down on so much waste. I don't see much sense though and am yet to be convinced of the need for extreme and drastic measures here in the UK whilst the likes of China just carry on regardless. In terms of the world order its just going to handicap us and will make zero difference to global emissions. Personally I think it's a complete pipe dream to think you're seriously going to stop emissions from the likes of China at the level required. I think we'll probably just have to get on and adapt and face the consequences sadly even if that means loads of deaths. The human species will adapt and we will probably end up inventing stuff to help.

Yep. I reckon we will have some great performances but my worry is actually getting results.

JWP next summer surely? Should get us a fair amount.

I'd say it has at fullback. Not really anywhere else though.

Not a bad window but not a great one either. Our defence and defensive midfield is a bit of a gamble to leave it like it is and to hope that they can start getting some clean sheets. Seems like we've pulled some gems out of the bag at fullback and I'm pleased with the Armstrong signing to replace Ings. It's the centre of defence and midfield that will dictate how our season goes this year you would think. Let's hope that Romeu can play the majority of the season, that Stephens can show some consistency for a change and cut down on errors and that we grab enough points for lower mid table.

If we get relegated it will be because Lyanco isn't good enough, because our centre backs aren't up to scratch as a pair and because we don't have enough strength in DM. Let's hope not though eh?

I had an itk contact last year because they worked at the club which is why I got the scoop on the kit. Don't talk to him much anymore though so no hot takes I'm afraid.

I highly doubt that 6 million was our limit. Let's not rewrite history and pretend that Lyanco was literally our only option. No one on the forum knew who he was a couple of weeks ago.

It's not what we do? So peraud was someone we promoted from within? Kwp? Armstrong?

Absolutely laughable that you'd consider an upgrade on Stephens as completely unrealistic for the team who had the second worst defence in the league last year. Its not unrealistic and wouldn't be difficult to get an upgrade in Stephens. We've clearly made a choice.

I didn't say vestergaard was particularly good, simply that he is demonstrably better than Stephens which he clearly is to anyone with eyes and a working brain. Anyone can nit pick about an attribute where Stephens may be better but he's clearly an inferior centre back based on performances alone. If it true that we have brought in Lyanco as a backup option to the first team in order to learn his trade then that's a real folly that we may come to regret come the end of the season. Its vital that our central defence was improved significantly on the dire performance from last year and even if Salisu has improved, overall there's no evidence so far that it's better. We could look back on this with real regret.