Jimmy_D

City getting shafted here. They’re good enough to win regardless, hopefully they do.

Four possibilities as far as I can see. Ukraine, Russian partisans that don’t agree with the war, Russian politics that don’t agree with, or want to discredit Putin, or Russian false flag. Ukraine, main benefit would probably be to try and get Russia to relocate air defence away from Ukraine, and possibly further exhaust their stock of cruise missiles ahead of the counteroffensive. Also creates political doubt and possibly instability around Putin, possibly gets seen as the consequence of Russia hammering Kyiv. Main risks would be alienating Western support, even with plausibly deniability, that’s one hell of a risk to be taking, risk reward doesn’t add up for me, but can see it may have been tempting. Not impossible I guess, especially as using extremely low yield ordinance could be passed off as acceptable and more sending a message. Russian partisans against the war, main benefit would be to possibly create political instability and hasten Putin going. Risks would be being sent to a gulag if caught, and having the opposite effect of causing Russian conscription to expand their war effort. Again risk reward doesn’t add up, and the means to do it are less likely for this possibility. Depends how far the Russian Free Legion et al actually got, whether they’re still operating unopposed in Russia, and how widespread the support actually is among Russians. Putin rivals (possibly Wagner or inner circle starting to splinter), main benefit again creating political instability and creating the conditions for a PMC to start a coup. Main risks would be having to buy a bungalow and start drinking coffee instead of tea with a very low chance of success. Russian false flag, main benefits would be attempting to erode support for Ukraine and/or quell domestic dissent against the war while motivating people to support the war effort. Main risks would be that it makes Russia, and especially Putin look weak to the people. Russia’s response has been… interesting… They’ve not used it to try to escalate. Despite Moscow itself actually coming under attack, a nuclear response hasn’t been threatened or even alluded to, just that Russia reserves the right to respond in kind. After three days of Kyiv being hit with missile and drone attacks, that seems underwhelming to say the least. Instead the focus seems to be on avoiding panic among Russians. None of these options are screaming out as being the only obvious answer. Russia’s response perhaps gives a clue, they’ve not reacted to take advantage of the most obvious benefits to them of either it being Ukraine, or a false flag (not yet at least). My bet would go on it being Russian partisans that haven’t necessarily thought through what they’re doing fully, but like I said, no answer is completely obvious here.

Not that it’ll happen, but would be quite funny if Everton got a points deduction for the pitch invasion…

Well that was actually fun to watch! Been a while since I came away from a game feeling like that…

Hell of a story for Luton, especially with Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu following them all the way up through from non-league. Sounds like a story from a football manager save.

What a set of regulation penalties that was. Into sudden death.

Extra time then. It’ll only change the entire future course of both clubs either way. No pressure!

1-1 Anyone’s game now!

Coventry far more in the game this half, time must be ticking incredibly slowly for Luton.

What a goal! Deserved lead for Luton.

Luton definitely getting the upper hand in the play-off final so far, not been able to take advantage of it yet though.

Dortmund equalise but it’s not enough, Bayern take the title on goal difference I guess? I don’t know off hand whether they use head to head record in Germany first.

Equaliser against Bayern, title back in Dortmund’s hands as things stand!

Shaping up to be a dramatic last day in Germany, Dortmund 2 points ahead after being 9 points behind Bayern at one point, looking to break a long streak of titles for Bayern, but Bayern currently 1-0 up with Dortmund 2-0 down and 35 mins left to save it.

Still no confirmation of whether that ship was sunk or not, but if it was, that’s one of their most advanced ships gone. Apparently it’s the Ivan Khurs, a spy/intelligence ship that’s got a lot of modern Western designed tech on it, they don’t have the ability to replace it or its capabilities, at all at the moment, let alone in a timeframe that will help them against Ukraine. They only have two ships of its class, and the other is in Russia’s Northern Fleet, unable to access the Black Sea due to Turkey’s control of the Bosporus Strait with the Montreux Convention.

Quite the dilemma for Russia here. Seems the separatists are digging in to extremely defensible positions and giving every indication they’re not going to leave. Occupied Russian territory is something that Putin can’t afford to ignore, it’s utterly toxic to him politically, but considering the time and resources they needed to sink into being able to claim Bakhmut was occupied, it’s likely to require resources that Russia won’t want to divert, considering the threat of Ukraine having intelligence of where that’s being diverted from, and Ukraine having the resources now to take advantage of that. At the same time, while they’re not officially working for or with Ukraine, any air forces that go near there will be within range of Ukraine air defence, and there won’t be any hesitation in taking the opportunity to hit Russian air assets. (Nor can Ukraine afford to ignore armed Russian air assets near their border, considering the devastation they’ve caused to Ukraine’s civilians.) Russia don’t seem to have any good options available to them just at the moment.

That awkward moment when you've been arming people against their will, sending them against an enemy that allows them to surrender, generally creating conditions that make rebellion more likely, and 90% of your military is tied up in a special military operation. Belgorod in Russia, near the border with Ukraine, being attacked by anti-Putin Russian separatist forces today according to reports.

Unusual throw in technique there, almost looks like a cricketer’s bowling action

Some goal that!

West Ham look way off the pace so far

Biggest risk to them is probably that Leeds have a half-decent chance of taking six points off of West Ham that will be concentrating on the cup now, and Spurs that have been really inconsistent away from home. That would take it out of their hands. Everton’s injuries mean that a result against Bournemouth is by no means guaranteed either. Whatever happens it’s going to the last day.

Damn. If we’d managed to get Gakpo over the line, or even if one of our backup options had fired a bit more, would have been hilarious to see Leeds, Leicester and Everton all getting relegated.

Annoying that Everton got the equaliser, especially as it seems like the final whistle should have long gone when they got it, but dropping two points does mean that their fate isn’t in their own hands at the moment, with their position threatened by two different teams. Admittedly in a relegation battle having the points on the board is more valuable, but they’re certainly not in a comfortable position.

Can’t think of any CL semifinals I can remember more one-sided than that was. City a ridiculous team this season.

I’d be amazed if that doesn’t end up being the case at this point. Looks like it’ll only be a win against massive odds that prevents the treble.