Comrade 86

Artur Beterbiev vs Callum Smith fight has snuck up and Smith is talking a good fight. I keep waiting for old father time to catch up with Beterbiev and he surely cannot retain all of the power he had a decade ago, but it's hard for me to see how Smith wins. If I were laying, I'd have it 1/5 the Russian, 4/1 Smith and 20s the draw. My guess as the outcome is a not terribly original, Beterbiev hunts Smith down and stops him mid to late rounds, but if I'm right about the book, I'll not be playing at those odds. That said, I am really looking forward to seeing the Russian again. He's somehow moved under the radar most of his pro career, similar to Inoue and Bivol and this fight would guarantee he meets Bivol in what would surely be the biggest fight in Russian boxing history and an absolute fookin belter IMO. Fingers crossed Smith doesn't get in the way!

Well this is interesting! Andy Farrell named Lions Head Coach for their next tour (June 2025). Pre-empt to the England job thereafter? In any case, well done to him, thoroughly earned and deserved. Had my doubts when he first took the Ireland job but boy has he set me right on that score. Seems I'm a shyte judge of an international rugby coach 😂 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67935698

I think this pretty much nails it. I love Gunther, but he's not up to the job. It's a sad day, but to be honest, he's had his chance. I do think SKY or someone should be banging his doors down to get him involved in their coverage though. He'd be funny AF, probably drop grenades left, right and centre and would provide insights the current mob simply don't. I really hope he's not lost to F1 completely.

And this is why nobody except NR ever bothers posting on this thread 😂

Can't see it, sadly. Maybe a few weeks in a Cat D somewhere, but I can't even see it going to court, more's the pity. Hard to imagine Vennells in somewhere like Holloway anyway. She'd not last a day. Used to try to raise this point on the old politics thread and then the first Covid one, ref PPE. Got shouted down most often. I have done any amount of work involving Government frameworks where procurement contracts are are put out to tender and I've seen elements of corruption on pretty much every single one. People would be outraged if they knew the true extent of it.

It not yes and no though, is it? The facts are there for all to see. The lad said the market would bounce and it has. That's inarguable. Eh? Mate, I can buy or sell in about 5 clicks on my phone. Have you ever traded Bitcoin, or any other altcoin? If not, what are you basing this on? Market liquidity is not even an issue at the bottom of the curve and midst bear market and the current market cap is still nigh on $1Trillion. The only 'burden' involved is tax planning, akin to liquidising any other major shareholding or asset. This is very confused thinking, I'm afraid and I sense you're not for turning, so...... I'm going to duck out at this point and leave the other fella to try fight the good fight as I'm nowhere near as charitable, nor patient as he is.

I think folk are a bit dismissive of @NottsRam77 and I don't really understand why. Had anyone listened, they'd be able to cash out, right here, right now at a @£26K gross profit on every £13K traded and this in a bear market too. If tripling your nut in 12 months without doing any work at all isn't for you, fair enough, maybe you just don't like money, but let's not try to pretend he wasn't right about the market's short-term future, at very least, as the facts clearly say otherwise.

It was the lure of the sausages on offer. Ooh err, matron.

This has been my hunch since the last window. I;ve been wondering whether this is where the enforced business plan might not be helping us. It's no use having the wherewithal to buy the players we need if we have an effective salary cap that prevents us paying the £10K +++ they are demanding. I suspect we can offer some hefty promotion bonuses though, so trying to look on the bright side, perhaps the players we CAN land will be more up for the fight than mercenaries who choose instant profit over longer-term prosperity and the chance to play in front of 30K not 15. I understand folks' frustrations, but the way they direct and express them a little less. Clowes will take an absolute clattering if expectations are not met, as will Warne, but are we in possession of the facts? I don't feel like I am to be honest. General comment btw mate, not in any way directed at you, just you raised an interesting point which I think rings true.

Were we not told that the 'business' is still losing money? Are we certain that against this background, the enforced business plan makes us as competitive as we might be? Also, what confirmed targets have been lost to date this window due to short-funding?

It's not a perfect system of course and some players get hammered, that's for sure. In this case though, Rooney had very few appearances but was rated on what we saw and what we saw was excellent. Have you forgotten how good the lad looked? Nyambe should definitely be higher, so should Collins IMO, so the figures require a little 'interpretation' though, I do concede. Let's see how they look end of year.

Thank you for your service! I was actually going to be at the game, but I feel like I dodged a bullet, even more so after reading your post 😂 As for the kids, not sure you're being grumpy. I've never understood people who harangue their own team, though tonight's performance would have had me inwardly seething, I'm sure. As for pondering your mortality, I'm sure that's tongue in cheek, but in any case, keep the faith mate, you'll be bouncing like a good 'un when we win this league and for many years yet. COYR

No violence on my part mate, just a polite attempt to qualify the comment, though it does rather appear I was wrong! 🙊

Yep I agree. Crappy luck to have lost both Wash and Waggy, both of whom would be very capable at this level. Warne clearly sought to mitigate that risk, but like a good few before him in recent times, best laid plans have been undone by injuries. I've not heard when that they're even back in training either! I think TJJ is a player, but he's played so little football in recent years. He's the one for the future, but I think he'll need 15 to 20 starts so I hope folk are patient with him.

Getting lost in the syntax here. I don't think G Star was implying the players were the cheapest available, so perhaps not the best choice of words, but he's correct in saying we effectively had a choice of paying fees for players who command manageable salaries, or trying to source better unattached players and meeting their salary demands through not having fees to pay. What we couldn't do is both, ie. pay fees for better players AND afford their salaries. Made that clear as muck, haven't I! 😂

Think @Returning ram means on the occasions he's not banging them in. Ie. that we are a bit lacking if Collo is not on his game. It's a fair comment IMO as I love Collo, but we do need someone else in as if he got injured, I think we'd struggle.

We were really poor tonight. Warne put out a strong enough team, they were just half-arsed in everything they did. I say this very rarely but the lads have let the fans down tonight, some of whom have given up time and not insignificant cash to support them home and away in cup games where we've at times scarcely looked fussed. Poor performances I expect from a third tier team, but a lack of heart and effort is harder to swallow. I'll watch the game again as perhaps I'm being too harsh, but right now I feel like this is on the players who have also let down Warne.

Easier mistake to make than not. I read it the same way as @On the Ram Page

Some might think this is why the likes of Bird and Hourihane start most games.

I'll DM you some simple troubleshooting steps mate. 2 mins.

I love Bradders. Paterson not so much.

Bless him, we're never going to let him forget that, are we? 😂

Feel better soon mate. I like it up there. I've friends in Bradford and a load of us trip up to Hebden Bridge every year or two, which is a beautiful little town with lots of great bars and places to eat. Talking of which, I've also had some amazing curries in Bradford. Serving me good curry is pretty much the easiest way to get into my good books, so Bradford's alreet with me.

If you don't like Vine, whoever he is, fair enough, but could you perhaps engage with someone who actually gives a f***. Unambiguous enough for you?

If you're still struggling you'll find a small clue in the title thread mate.