cyrusr

2 hours ago, Davkaus said:

Polaris guitarist Ryan Siew gone at 26, only saw him play a few weeks ago  

26 is no age. Given the lack of details as to why, wouldn't be surprised if it is suicide which sucks  

13 hours ago, Davkaus said:

I've never really got the fuss about the foo fighters. They just seem like the blandest and most generic airtime filling, safe radio rock band

I think that they are one of the "gateway" bands so to speak for teenagers to listen to and done so for the last 20 years. Certainly later albums don't grasp me as much but definitely think that the Grohl effect gives them massive credence. When you take into account his hardcore early days, the years with Nirvana (themselves a big gateway) and the likes of Probot and his friendship with Lemmy; he definitely makes them a "likeable" mainstream band from the heavier end of the music spectrum. 

12 minutes ago, PeterSw said:

Anyone get Foo Fighters tickets for Villa Park? I couldn't resist.

Villa website showed the seating plan as having a golden circle area but these didn't show on the ticketing website. Does anyone know if these are reserved for certain ticket holders a la BST Festivals?

I got tickets but didn't notice anything about a golden circle. Think there has been some for the other shows at Villa Park but don't recall from the last time they announced (and cancelled due to Taylor's death). 

6 minutes ago, Jareth said:

I think most people are still in shock having watched that video. But you have to wonder why now, and I really want to know who released it. That's been sat on throughout the process, when it could have very much helped earlier. Whoever had it, and has released it is as poisonous to us all as the clearings in the woods who feature in it - it's one of them - and they are once again profiting from this as it serves their agenda. 

Like with everything that an associate of the Tory party does, because it suits them. They have tarnished the reputation of everything and will take years, if not decades to recover from. By which time the Tories will have sorted themselves out again so if anyone else makes an error, they can justify taking power again.

2 hours ago, villaglint said:

Out of interest if they were staunch Labour why do they read the Daily Mail? Presuming that isn’t the case do you know what changed their mind? 

2 hours ago, bickster said:

Tittle tattle, gossip and the rest just seeps in eventually by some sort of (lack of) intellectual osmosis. 

Think this and Brexit to be honest. Suspect some isolation as well and thinking the worlds against them (exacerbated by nonsense of the DM).

3 hours ago, Seat68 said:

But starmer had a beer

47 minutes ago, DCJonah said:

It will be that everyone was having parties and ignoring the rules anyway. 

I went over to the in laws for a drink last night and these 2 points were literally what they kept saying and how it was just as bad. Also that Labour have stopped the Tories from doing anything as they oppose everything and the immigrants come over and all claim benefits.

It’s actually really frustrating as probably 5 years or so ago they were staunch labour supporters without question and would be infinitely better off not being under a Tory government.

The damage that the Daily Mail (and other right wing papers) has done to this country is insurmountable.

On 31/12/2022 at 11:49, cyrusr said:

0 points last year. Going to change a little and make it a pseudo wish list: - 

Donald Trump

Boris Johnson

Nigel Farage

Vladimir Putin

Piers Morgan

 

Sadly I think only 1 of those is a real possibility but the world would be a far better place without these lot  

Still on zero, but hoping for Trump to be remanded in custody today and for the CCTV to suddenly stop working.... need to get some points on the board!

I suspect the report is going to be more damning than anyone could predict. He will happily snipe from the side anyone and everyone and will still cause problems, but at least he is one step further away from power.

Now the rest of them.

12 minutes ago, trekka said:

Breaking news on Sky: Boris resigning as an MP*.

*to start an affair with Nadine (maybe. Absolutely no facts behind this.  Just my opinion.  Maybe).  

 

Going down m’lord, going down. Oh lord going down!

2 hours ago, brommy said:

Rumours of the sell-on share of the profit (£60.95m) due to sha vary from 15% (£9.1m) to 5% (£3m) as reported in German media.

As ridiculous as £86m (100m Euro) is for any football player, Real will probably get good long term value from the deal, especially compared to the £100m Villa received for Grealish who was 6 years older when he moved.

Just wondering if Dortmund will retire his shirt number, having played more games and created much more profit than for his previous club.

 

I’m sure I read a few years back they had already cashed in on the sell on fee due to financial struggle? I might try and find out as it would by funny as hell if they had!

7 hours ago, MrBlack said:

I'd argue United do need one. De Gea has been awful this season,  and it's a trend that is getting worse.

Whether they can afford to spend so much on replacing him is another matter. 

 

Really? After he got most clean sheets in the league? Granted it’s not down to just him, but he does have to sometime contend with Maguire being in front of him. 

https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/players/clean_sheet

If De Gea does go then they will to replace but if they are looking at Kane then there is zero chance they could afford both.

8 hours ago, ozvillafan said:

Heh heh

I love those who are under-rating Ange. Comparing him to Gerrard is laughable.

Still, that's been the case for Ange his entire career - so it's not like he has to tread new ground here.

He'll do well - if he's given the time he needs. Yes - he has a preseason but that means little (how was our preseason under Gerrard?).

Strangely, I feel he'll do even better if Kane is sold and a bevvy of under-performing "stars" leave the club.

I think that’s the issue as to whether he will be or not. A section is already against him which doesn’t help; irrespective of whether he is actually good or not expectations will likely be for him to hit the ground running and pushing top 4. 

I agree though, if Kane and others are sold then the expectations of the fans will be lower and yeah he will probably do better. 

The Scottish league is definitely an odd one and it doesn’t mean very much if you won anything with Celtic/Rangers; but it’s doesn’t mean you are a good or bad manager; just that it is was it is.

3 hours ago, tomsky_11 said:

Unless I'm misunderstanding what you are saying, I'm pretty sure this isn't right, it's 8 teams that will be ahead of us in the seeding no matter what:

Lille

Frankfurt

Qualifier from Italy

Loser of Europa League qualifier involving Olympiacos

Loser of Europa League qualifier involving Slavia Prague

Winner of Conference 3rd round qualifier involving AZ

Winner of Conference 3rd round qualifier involving Partizan

Winner of Conference 3rd round qualifier involving Dynamo Kyiv

 

Then there are 10 further teams that could push us down the seeding rankings if they get past the 2nd qualifying round:

Plzen

Maccabi Tel Aviv

PAOK

Cluj

Fenerbahce

Gent

Basel

Club Brugge

Basaksehir

Midtjylland

 

The last two teams listed might still not qualify for the competition at all, in which case we'd be guaranteed the last seeded spot in the play offs.

Slight misunderstanding. Only 2 teams formally confirmed; wasn't fully sure on the Italy position but see that is now Juventus has got the Italy spot confirmed. Updated table FYI: 

My understanding is only the 3rd round is left to play before the draw so not necessarily all of the teams can/will qualify.

So all those that are in the 2nd round or before could be knocked out still (7 of the confirmed teams ahead of us plus possibly 2 more). The point is that there is a lot that can happen between now and then and we only need one or 2 things to go our way anyway. With Emery in charge I'm not worried whoever we face.

Updated rankings for conference league (and Europa league). 

Whilst a lot of teams now confirmed, still a lot of asterisks floating around. There are only technically 2 teams that are definitely qualifying for the play off round that are ahead of us. A lot can change and we only need 1 team to fall to move to the seeded side.

To be honest, whilst the stats/tables are fun, even if we do end up unseeded I am not too worried. We need to beat the best anyway if we want to win the cup anyway so it doesn’t matter too much when. I am also confident with Emery we will be massively prepared for whoever we face.

Also, if we are unseeded we can’t face Rapid Wein  

5 minutes ago, cheltenham_villa said:

 

I've  no interest in whatsapp banter, i just want people to have freedom to have open conversations without fear that they will become front page news.

I don't work in a political environment but I do work in a highly regulated one. I've been part of incidents where we were compelled to make whatsapp messages on personal devices available, it didn't sit right with me and I'm not comfortable with the slow eroding of privacy.

My issues are nothing to do with boris, I've heard he's making the messages available,  I'm just not comfortable with the precedent, I don't think it'd a good think for any future government.

But this issue is with accountability of those in charge of making decisions for the benefit of the country. I accept that the situation is highly testing and mistakes are likely to be made; the language would be perhaps a little looser than normal due to the format; but it is about understanding the decision making process. 

It also completely ignores that these messages are to go the inquiry and then the inquiry makes the decision as to wider disclosure. I am pretty sure them slagging off Hancock behind his back, whilst amusing, isn't going to add anything particular. They are trying to not disclose to the inquiry itself. That is showing a lack of accountability and respect for the country itself. Sometimes, you need to show your working. 

It is something that has massively eroded over the last 10 or so years in particular. Ministers who were caught out lying or doing something wrong almost without question resigned. The government now doesn't do anything because how can we hold them to account? Every 5 years, that's it. 

They will lose the legal battle, they will still need to disclose the documents. We won't see everything; nor should we, but we have a right to know whether they wanted to "let the bodies pile up." We have a right to know what the channels of communication were with the covid supply lines. Should the government use an alternative to WhatsApp? Quite possibly, but irrespective they should still be accountable. 

*Also, on your own issue, I am not entirely convinced you would have necessarily been required to disclose WhatsApp messages on a private device. With personal data it is still subject to GDPR so you should have some protection under that umbrella but obviously don't know the full picture/position.

I’m still going but definitely noticed a lack of energy in getting to them. So far this year I've been Dream Theater, Lamb of God, Napalm Death, Devin Townsend, Møl (plus various support acts etc.) but seen them all before. Got Carcass/Unto Others/Conjurer next week which will be good and then Maiden & Spiritbox in July. Its odd, gigs are either missing Birmingham/Wolverhampton and can't be bothered to travel much further. 

Have to say I am a little surprised by this.

When he came in I was somewhat pessimistic but I think it is clear what he has brought over the last 2 years. With Europe next season, the squad will need to be bigger and it is clear we would be looking at another Right Back for competition/improvement over Cash. However I did think that Young with his versatility and experience would be good to have around the squad, even if he was not playing many games. 

However it seems pretty clear the club knows what they want/have in store for the future. Emery will have a clear mind as to what he needs or doesn't need. 

3 hours ago, TheAuthority said:

Being famous is the last thing I would ever want.

I dunno, I hear your quite good at blowing your own trumpet  

45 minutes ago, Mark Albrighton said:

Unsurprisingly Sunak says Braverman didn’t breach the ministerial code on this occasion.

She must have some exceptionally juicy dirt on him.

9 hours ago, troon_villan said:

Struggling to get an answer online but will this be on TV?  I'm sure they usually show all the games on the final day somewhere?

Suspect we will get the answer today/tomorrow as they don’t announce the final day games until they know what is riding on them. Given a lot has been sorted there’s a good chance we will be but I suspect that the 3 relegation threatened teams are quite likely too.

On 20/05/2023 at 12:19, foreveryoung said:

Never felt guilt either, never apologised. Some parents of the children should have got jailed too though.

They did, one got 8 years and the other 10 years from memory. Basically the mums of the 2 kids at the forefront of it all… 

12 hours ago, Demitri_C said:

I think he is going to bw undee huge pressure next season.

Arsenal fans are not convinced with him. He totally bottled it this year. 

I always thought their last permanent manager was better anyway… 

The fact that it has taken them 15 years and only now they look inevitable that they are going to  win a Champions League says to me that actually they are not as good as they think they are. Given they are also just dull and massive cheats just sours it even more. 

Can't remember watching a Champions League game in a very long time. Don't really have that much of an interest in it unless Villa would be playing (2024/5 here we come ). 

1 hour ago, bickster said:

But if the warehouse is being used then it isn't. But I still don’t see why it pisses you off. It’s not your land, it’s not where you work, you have no stake in it. Why does it matter to you.?

To be fair, if that’s the case then surely it’s in the right thread?  

2 hours ago, HKP90 said:

Braverman: 

There is no reason why we can't train our own fruit pickers to keep migration down.

 

'Cos that's why folk come over to work in our fruit fields- training. I mean even if that codswallop were true, she is saying that we want to lower the number of foreign workers who come to our country with skills we don't have. That is crazy Brexiteer madness. 

But it isn't true, because they were and are brought in because no one in this country wants to work that hard for that little pay. If we pay fruit pickers what they should be earning to interest British workers, we would have to raise fruit prices enormously and admit that our farming industry is horribly uncompetitive. 

 

Bloody tories.  

Sue Ellen in the job centre