egg

Yep, he's decent.

Decent half. Neat and tidy everywhere. Good shift from Walcott, but we don't look threatening from out wide. Not sure why Ings has been benched, hard to see that it's a footballing decision unless he's carrying a knock.

That I do. I've been at work for months, seeing clients face to face, mixing with family and friends. Life's very much back to normal for me. On the rest of it, the numbers you posted showed an increase week on week. Subsequent lockdown easing is irrelevant to that - that increase happened during a period when rules hadn't changed. Sure, the tickle upwards may have been due to increased testing, but it's an indisputable fact that in a week when more people were vaccinated, more people tested positive. It's obvious why that would concern the government.

Weston's post referred to a week on week increase...no idea if he's right, but that's what he wrote. Assuming he's right, it ain't going in the right direction - it's pretty obvious that increased vaccinations should equate to reduced cases.

There's the issue Weston. With the vaccinations we've done, there shouldn't be a week on week rise, cases should be going down. If people want to limit this, they'll argue that it's just down to more testing, but if you look at raw stats, it's an increase that shouldn't be happening. People can be as flippant as they want, but the trend ain't going the right way. The jab isn't 100% effective and the more cases in circulation, we'll see more vaccinated people coming a cropper. They'll also be less confidence amongst some of those vaccinated. Those are the issues. Aintforever is saying what people don't want to hear. He ain't wrong though.

Decent, but Leeds form over the last 8 games is more impressive. Gonna be a decent game tonight, loads of goals - I fancy us 3-2

Manic

JWP just ahead of Armstrong for me. His consistency just nudges it.

Spot on. Minamino and Redmond help our midfield big time. One or both of them tucking inside is even more important with Armstrong making runs forward from deep, and KWP pushing so high up.

I'd go with that starting 11. Interesting to see if we go with the tweaked formation like last time. If so, Armstrong on the right will be vital and I'd imagine very well suited to the role.

Nobody is advocating hand outs to stay here...but nobody's life is gonna be adversely impacted if they holiday in Cornwall rather than Benidorm...the cultural education may do them the world of good.

But what's the motivation for doing that? On the main part, I'm with you and Weston. If the vaccine is resistant to this strain, and the new strain not particularly harmful to the age groups who haven't been vaccinated, then there's no issue. No way should we have any restrictions to protect the divs who refuse the vaccine. It's on them if they get fucked up through their choice.

Yep, there's a reason life is normal in Australia and NZ, but not so here. We went to the Isle of Wight last year and will go again this year. I'd prefer Italy, but it isn't the end of the world and I'd rather focus on what we can do, than what we can't.

And why might the government welcome that "coincidence"? Do you think Boris gets all excited about the prospect of another round of furlough, grants, loans, and lost tax revenues? It's obvious to anyone sensible that he wants this shit over as much as the rest of us.

Are you actually saying you believe that there's no covid? I'm still waiting on your theory on the towers...you at least accept they ain't there anymore I hope.

Booby

My only point on this is why the hell have we kept an open border with India for so long, and allowed travel via the Turkish loophole. Crazy mismanagement by the government.

Can't agree with that. Ings comes deep to press and defend, but he doesn't drop off the front man to link up play like Adams does, or Redmond when he's played up with him. They play different roles.

Who?

I haven’t said it was, and to be fair to Collinsdic, nor did he. Our government didn’t tell us the truth is the point being made on that one.

Rice

To be fair, he's right about the "old school" approach. Adams and Ings is the like the old fashioned of way of playing 2 up top - one going long (playing off the shoulder of the last man - Ings) and one coming short (dropping deeper - Adams). No pony here Duck.

Sounds like you've watched from jfk to 911. An interesting 3 hours, but ultimately full of unsubstantiated stuff for me. I'm with you on the weapons of mass destruction, but can't see where you're coming from on suez or teh towers. What are your theory on the twin (or rather, the three) towers?

No way we can do that if Ralph sticks to the new 343 in possession system. Minamino helped that system work by tucking in or dropping deep and allowing KWP to get orward. Playing Tella on the same side as KWP in that system wouldn't work, and on the other side I think most agree that Redmond did well as a kind of LWB. The only role for Tella in that system, for me, is up front but Ings and Che did well.

Some saw the whole game, and other Swiss games, and u23 games. I’ve seen the kid play several times, and I haven’t seen a better academy prospect in a long time. I’ve been following and watching a lot of youth and reserve/u21/u23/b team footy since Shearer etc were in the youth team, and I can’t think of a central midfielder who’s stood out more than this lad. I can only assume that there’s a reason other than ability why he’s on his way.