Ramarena

Wish my mirror was like that!

Another thing that I'm struggling to make sense of, is Putin's fear of Ukraine joining NATO
On the one level I get it - as it brings NATO to the Russian border
But then on the other hand - Russia already borders Latvia and Estonia (NATO members for nearly 20 years now)
And if he annexes Ukraine back into Mother Russia - then he gains Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania as NATO members on his border
 
 

But Saint Gibson of Mordorborough speculated he was still involved, so it must be true!

But Saint Gibson of Mordorborough speculated he was still involved, so it must be true!

It's a really interesting juxtaposition, the mentality of people from east and west. It feels like the distrust is almost equal. Without living in that culture it's impossible to fully see how the other group think. 
Western democracy is heralded as something to aspire to, yet I see plenty of problems caused by it. I still see it as a "better" system than Russia adopted, but if I'd lived 50 years in Russia/USSR I can imagine that I might have a different opinion. 
I can't accept Russian imperialism without feeling discomfort for the rights of the Ukrainian people. But I also can feel sympathy for the culturally Russian areas of Ukraine that feel more closely with the Russian state. 
I don't know what the best course of action is, but appeasement feels like a mistake. In the name of reducing casualties? Why did we not accept the Taliban in Afghanistan, that would have saved lives? 
I know the west is highly hypocritical in the way it deals with intervention into foreign affairs, and there's plenty of opposition amongst the people to invasions such as Iraq. I also see the double standards with regards to self determination for states when we can deny some groups autonomy but arm the population of others to defend theirs. It's not a defense to the actions of Russia to point out what the US have done in the past. 8
And the EU looks more and more appealing to me, as a solid safety net against Russian imperialism. Why wouldn't Ukraine apply now? Russia can't use the threat of invasion to prevent it. 

Please ignore last couple of posts from me if you weren't already!
I think I've done enough backing Russian opposition to American/Western threats/expansion.
Whatever Putin has done good in the world will be overshadowed by the bad. That's his own fault and he doesn't deserve the constant explaining on his behalf. 
I'm glad guys on here gave another perspective but ultimately that doesn't need constantly driving forward while there's a war on. Whatever threats there are to Russia are not as big as they are now thanks to him. Just going to pray now that some sense prevails.

it's all about her image. To be fair she is maintaining her image as a moron

Allsop 7 - generally good, couple of smart saves & fine in possession (including moping up some ropey passes back to him)
Byrne 7.5 - good tonight. Lot of involvement in our build up play & was able to fashion a number of openings. Had little to do going backwards
Buchanan 6.5 - not as effective as Byrne going forward & wasn't happy with his defending for Ralls' shot that hit the bar. Just backed off him
Davies 6.5 - he'll be disappointed with that winner. A possible foul but needs to be stronger. Was good other than that
Cashin 6.5 - some cracking headers but also a couple of poor passes & one attempt to control the ball 2 yards from his own goal that nearly let them in early second half. Was lucky Curtis bailed him out
Bird 6.5 - usual composure on the ball but was disappointed with lack of final 3rd delivery. Number of times Plange was looking to run in behind but was ignored
Bielik 6 - bit deeper than Bird, was fine but still lacking the dominance of yore as he gets back to full sharpness
Morrison 6 - mixed bag. Unlucky with his header & at least tried to get a couple of shots off. Still too ponderous & prone to passing slowly backwards when better options ahead of him. Want to see more intensity
Knight 6 - safe, energetic but ineffective
Ebosele 6.5 - our best source of a goal with his runs to the byeline. Variable delivery & was disappointed he wasn't getting into the box when Buchanan was getting delivery in from left side
Plange 6 - pretty thankless task given the lack of service. Worked hard but struggled to make much impact. Should have got a shot off shortly before he was subbed but instead tried to turn his man about 5 times

Ok, 3.5

19 year old kid in his first season of professional football, in a struggling team, goes through an inconsistent spell. Shocker.

My gut still tells me that yes, we will.
Letting Derby go under ultimately doesn’t help anyone, EFL included. 
I have a lot of thoughts about everything that’s gone on/is going on but it is probably best that I keep them to myself. 
All I will say is that the supporters & staff have been let down at every turn. 

EFL delivering statements for there own self-serving purposes. They are trying to recover some moral high ground, after a few weeks of being put in a high chair. As you say a meeting on Friday. Hopefully Q tell them very little that day too. This is war. Reveal on a need to know basis only. Duck em.

You still studying, or is this view as a result of a few months work/business experience?  How many times have you sang Duck the EFL in the last few months. I am all for Q treating them with total disdain.

If I was in the middle of sensitive negotiations with bidders, I wouldn’t be speaking to the EFL either, because Nixon would be reporting the conversation ten minutes later.

Amazing how the EFL are stirring things up after Rooney complaining last night about the way we’re being treated ?

I think you can somewhat suspicious of the administrators, or frustrated with how they go about stuff…but I 100% don’t trust the EFL

Maybe there’s no communication with the EFL due to the fact that any information given to them leaks out into the wider press and community almost immediately. 
 
Better to say nothing to them until there is an agreement to go public and move forward. 

This is deal to purchase a football club. There will be lots of particulars that need sorting out and there will no doubt be some caveats which require clarity. The administrators have to do the due diligence to make sure all the particulars are covered in the bids and that it is likely to meet the requirements of the creditors. There could be some leverage on Mel here as well, for example Mike Ashley may well be making a higher offer that would be better for creditors but a caveat could be Mel takes a haircut on the stadium. It is not a simple here’s what I’m paying make a decision in 30 minutes.
As @duncanjwithamsays we need this preferred bidder to be the right one, we can’t go through 4 like Wigan did. The way Quantuma has conducted the process by keeping it open for so long has been to (hopefully) ensure we select the right one that satisfies all stakeholders. We could’ve selected Kirchner in November and that falls on its arse, likewise Appleby in Jan and then be on our third and having the perception of two failed bids would further reduce leverage in the negotiations.
The only thing Quantuma are guilty of IMO is the communication at times and potentially being over optimistic at the outset. No issue with how they’ve run the process and who are we to really question it.

I think the EFL feel they've weathered the storm.  Whatever happens, we need to keep the pressure on the EFL.
Wholesale changes MUST happen to protect the game.....  Strating with:
Stricter regulation of the EFLs own rules is required, they are too slow to act!
Changes to loans - No loans at all unless they relate to purchases of Stadium or upgrades to Training facilities.
Player purchases need to be budgeted and paid for in full, during the current seasons books.  This will protect major assets thatbare owned by the club.
Stadiums should be barred from income when sold to stay within P&S rules.  
Points deductions must be reviewed, hammering a club twice, ensuring in  mamy cases you get demoted twice in 2 years should be scrapped, it will in many cases will lead to the death of a football club.  When demoted that should be deemed punishment enough.  Maybe place a 2 year ban on promotion back to the league you've been relegated from, instead shoukd be punishment enough.
Allow physical cash investment in playing squads, providing its not financed against the club or it assets in anyway whatsoever.  This stops the likes of rich owners, making soft loans to football clubs.
In the event of a stadium sale, it should not be too a business or an individual connected to the owner, family or friends thier of, nor sold on to any of the above for obvious reasons.  It could in theory make any Administration process too dificult.
The EFL is not fit for purpose, it acts like some kind of Victorian headmaster, there to ridicule and punish rather than guide.
We MUST continue to back the fan led review and dispatch these dinosaurs on rediculous wages.  A new professional regulator MUST be brought in....
Yes Morris to stop people like you doing what you have!

The beauty of football is we all see it differently. 
I can agree with your first sentence, I too thought Morrison had a good game, and Knight has had better. 
However, Jason just doesn't stop, and had he still been on the field I think he'd have been defending that flank rather than Malcolm, and would have made a better job of it. 
I have to disagree with the last sentence, I'd didn't think it was a foul on Ebosele, and Davies was as guilty of holding as their player as their player was.
 

It’s been a really tough seven days with three agonising results. But I’d be disappointed if we threw the towel in now.
Yes, we are running out of games and yes, it will take something extra special especially if Reading find a positive result or two from somewhere.
But we have to believe, until the very end.
The Barnsley game holds the key - a win and the return of Lawrence could breathe new life into the season.
I don’t like to talk about must win games but to be honest, that’s what every game at PP is now. The away form is a huge concern. Isn’t that five defeats on the spin since Reading away?
We have to find some inspiration from somewhere. Time for Wayne and Liam to see what they can conjure up.
One last push!

I'm sorry, but for all Rooney's bleating about the ref, the answer to tonight's defeat lies far closer to home. 
Bring Sibley on by all means, but for Morrison, not Knight! 
Ravel had a decent game, but as someone who hasn't had that much football recently he surely should have been the one to make way, giving Sibley the same position.
Knight having a 10 minute rest given his constitution was pointless, if he'd have been on the pitch that goal doesn't happen.

Can't fault the effort but we've left 3 points out there tonight.
Were much the better side throughout in terms of general play - controlled the ball & cut them open a number of times, especially right side. The problem was a familiar one though - lack of numbers in the box (wide players on receiving side particularly guilty), lack of urgency when on the ball & most maddening of all, a reluctance to actually take a shot on goal. In wet conditions like that, it shouldn't be rocket science to get as many shots off as possible - instead we had one header from Ravel as our sole shot on target with 64% of the ball. It's happening too often. The whole point of dominating the ball is to punish the opposition, it is not meant to be an end in itself.
Whilst its never over until mathematically so, the last 3 games have almost extinguished our hopes of a great escape. Three bang average sides who dug in, benefitted from our final third timidity & then nicked the points. Going to take a lot more than a win Saturday to get us back into this.

To be honest, Bradley Johnson was the least of our problems. Never get how some see him on here.

Brad's CKR's best mate, attends games whenever his schedule at Blackburn allows, and obviously still cares about the club. 
I don't see how having him as a pundit is trolling us.