ariotofmyown

I'm not sure it's a jealousy thing really. I respect the ability, sacrifices and talent of professional footballers. They have also ended up working in a very popular industry and bring joy (and a lot of misery) to 1000s and millions of people. Whilst there are some phyiscial limitations on who can become a rich footballer, it's reasonably open to everyone to at try and reach that level if they so wish. The royals are totally different to this. It's a rigged system, closed to most people unless you fancy running the risk of having children with genetic issues due to inbreeding. Footballers have earnt their money fairly and whilst I wish we had a more equal system, capitalism is probably the best thing on offer for now. Royals are given their wealth by nothing but birth. Then they are also given power too, then still are given public money, even though their wealth is enormous. Victoria and Albert brough Sandringham as they petitioned the government for more cash as they could afford to carry out their royal duties! At least we could tell then to sell off most of their ill-gotten properites and use them to house the homeless?

I think we need to start looking towards other countries for inspiration, but just not the US. There are other models than just NHS and the US. The NHS was conceived when there was a much larger working population and older people died earlier, often immediately of things like heart attacks. Our population is aging now, people are living longer, but are needing lots more medical attention, let alone care. I think I was ok with how things were in the UK, when it seemed that private health just got you none urgent care more quickly. That seems to have changed though as NHS backlogs just become huge. Whilst the current government has been pretty woeful in regards to NHS, their main failing has been almost their total absence of future long term planning. We are spending so much money on the NHS already and more is needed all the time. Of course things could be more efficient, but the key issue is that there are loads of unhealthy and ill people. The hope must be that AI can massively improve efficiency so lots of work can be automated. It doesn't feel right though that a person can get much better health care if they have more money, especially when there is rarely a link between earnings and usefulness to society. But is it also ok for us all to cover the higher cost of medical care for people who are increasing their risk through lifestyle choices? Maybe it is, because there are huge tax incomes on smoking, drinking, junk food etc. Effective leadership would raise these problems and have a mature discussion about what we could do. It would also help if the people in charge had some concept of relying 100% on the NHS, rather than thinking of it as something the proles used.

Maybe they have not been beating all the teams they should be beating if they want to go up? That's right folks, other teams do this too!

We've gained 3 points on Peteborough in 1 match vs their 2!

Wish he had gone through the NHS system for this. Sacraficed his life of obscene, unearned privledge to expose the problems so many people face. Would have been a hero.

River Ale House on Woolwich Road

Great debut. Adams, Cash, Bradley and Nelson is a good defensive 4. Saying that though, Nelson got into quite a few attacking places too. Warne looking towards a Shef Utd style from 3 or 4 years back?

No, it was really great selection of beers all around 5 quid a pint or less. About 10 mins walk from Greenwich town centre. Amazing find.

Very nice. Solid 7. Under 5 quid too. In Greenwich.

Fyi @MackworthRamIsGod

Met my friend at Greenwich station around 12pm to walk to pub. Walking down the backstreets of Greenwich saw 4 blokes in Derby stuff and thought they had gone a bit over the top with the gear. Realised they were staff as saw Max Bird walking behind them. Gave him a cmon cheer and got an acknowlegement. Then spotted the rest of the Derby squad and got excited. Gave them another cmon and Cash flicked a smile. Legend. Got to pub to meet the Charlton supporter partner of my friend. He had saw a coach round the corner and joked about it been the Derby boys making all the noise everywhere they go. We confirmed. Had classic footy brekkie of Smoked Salmon, Eggs and Craft Beer. Charlton mate couldn't make match as he had to sort records for a dj set he had later on (true story). There are a few semi-famous music people going so fair play. Ran to train, got to ground 1 min before kick off. Sat in Charlton fans, NML got injured and spent 5 mins changing his boots, hobbled on, won us the game, then hobbled off. Walked to ale house about 20 mins away, chatting to some Derby boys whilst drinking Plum Porter and Biscoff Stout. Went to Gurka place for Curry, legged it back to Marylebone and just made train. Massive. Everywhere we go. 2nd!!!!

Still find this a slightly strange choice for Max. Bristol City never seem to be going anywhere. He's back on loan with us too, so misses half a season back in the Championship. It's not that unlikely that we get promoted and start next season on a similar level to them.

Did Bird actually go?

This is one thread I'm glad I never read! 150 pages!

It not much of a stretch to see us above Bristol City this time next year. Not even getting carried away, just both towards the bottom end of the Championship.

This is great satire of certain posters, right?

These enjoyment charts see a rather strong correlation with success.

The Post used to be a service. Now it needs to make money

Well we did at Oxford. It seems like we sometimes play like a team that deserves promotion. And other times we don't. A bit like all the other teams trying to get promoted.

We've had one promotion since the Bald Eagle took us up in 96 and we didn't "play good football" then under Wee Billy. In fact, I'm struggling to think of many seasons we played "good football" since we were relegated in 2001ish. Burley's Playoff season. Obviously the season we lost to QPR in the final and much of the following season until the meltdown. Some of Lamps season. So maybe 4 or 5 seasons out of about 22. We can enjoy the results this season, even though the football isn't always great at times. That is better than most seasons in the last 25 years. And it's a reasonable recovery from nearly going bust and still being under a EFL business plan.

All true, Wildsmith had pen in hand to sign a new contract but wouldn't put the date on it. Warne lost it and slammed an anvil down on his fingers.

No, no, it won't be like that. He'll say presented Paul Warne with all these great players over the Summer, but they all refused to join because they didn't like Warne/knew his style of football was not attractive enough/took everything he said in press conferences literally. Maybe they could get Wildsmith on too and ask him why he was dropped?

Maybe he knows players at Derby and they told him the fans often behave like spoilt babies, even when in the hunt for automatic places - who knows?

We should get on the pitch and protest in solidarity with the Reading fans. They'll get a points deduction and the game can be replayed.

2 or 3?