egg

So if labour don't sort a tory mess, we'll get torie's on steroids. The "how this happens" is kind of the important bit.

But the boats are a reality, and there's been more this year primarily because of the weather - nothing else has changed. Where we agree is that we need to become a less attractive proposition for illegal economic migrants, but it can't just be a 'house people in a less attractive way and they won't come' type approach, especially if you concede that most will be granted asylum anyway. We need to deal with applications quickly, properly, and look carefully at the criteria to succeed - we need to sort the needy from the greedy.

Then Duck's question stands. The concept can't become reality. I don't think even Farage thinks it possible.

I think labour will shift to less pleasant accommodation sooner rather than later. Putting aside that the Tories started the hotel thing, public feeling is strong, and Labour will have to do something to avoid rolling out the red carpet to Reform. I'd also like to see the detail on the Adjudicators rather than Judges idea for asylum applications. The Tribunal system is far too clunky. Although anything that speeds it up is good, the decisions need to be legally sound otherwise we'll get loads of people failing at Adjudication stage getting stuck in even lengthier appeals.

I thought he meant France. Equally impossible.

Master

Mental is thinking that a midfield of Charles, Fernandes and Robinson would be an improvement on a midfield of Charles, Downes and Fernandes. Sure, we've been crap, but let's be sensible.

I agree that's his best position, but Still doesn't play that way. He's not the man in behind in a 4231 or out wide in a 433. He's off another (Stewart?) in a 442, or doing a better job through the the middle than AA.

Downs, no, the others, yes. But played in the right way, and the right combination. I'd take Archer or Stewart up the middle, AA right, plus one other (JR on current form) on the left. We need to get a grip on the midfield though to supply properly, and give cover when possession is lost. 433 for me, with someone other than AA through the middle, and we've got a chance.

No. We can't have a society where people don't have the right to use the law, and access lawyers to do so. If the law or the process is the issue then address that, not people's right to access it.

If we played Smallbone this forum would go into meltdown. Personally, I like the lad, and I'd play him in a midfield 3, but he's far too lightweight to play as one of the 2 in a 4231. How do you suggest Smallbone be accomodated? I'm not sure when Edozie became the answer. Stepovers then nowt is his calling card.

Every one of those suggestions would lose the midfield. Fernandes plus Charles with Robinson dropping in is a shocker in particular. Also, any CB pairing with Quarshie in a 4 would get battered. Your suggestions show that Still doesn't have the right players. The squad isn't right, although I agree that starting AA through the middle on his own was/is stupid.

Cracking singalong, bounce along song. Gets murdered by some cover bands, but only disliked my miserable bastards.

Indeed, hence an extra CB ain't necessarily a bad thing.

Devils advocate...we haven't conceded, so it's working from a defence perspective.

Net

Fair point!

Hmm

Who? If he picked Smallbone you'd moan.

Stephens has been our best defender by a country mile. Of course he's being picked.

Not unhappy with that, although I'd have preferred any of the other 3 up top instead of AA. Wood at the back for Quarshie makes sense.

If a hazelnut is a cake, then yep.

🌰🐚

Yep. Bad advice would be to move to a PL who wouldn't play him. Good advice is to move to a PL club who will. Even worse advice would be to stay in the championship.

£67m net spend in the 24/25 season, after losses as below, with inevitable as yet unreported trading losses, and you seriously don't appreciate that we need to sell. We do and we will. Year ended 30.6.24 - loss £66.6m Year ended 30.6.23 - loss £49.2m