Marka Ragnos

On 17/04/2024 at 17:45, PieFacE said:

Love the new Fontaines DC track
 

 

Quite excellent.

I don't think I'm authorised to post something so Brummily hip, but here goes ...

General reminder about the potential horror of avalanches. This may be behind a paywall, but you get a few free stories, I think. Tragic but also eye-opening, for me at least. I don't ever do off-piste (backcountry) skiing, and probably never will, but I still find this fascinating.

Quote

 

The day after their world crumbled, Sue and Reg Franciose arrived in Switzerland to search for their daughter. It had been 24 hours or so since the phone call — “There’s been an accident” — and ever since, they had been sprinting through the fog, each frantic step darkened by questions with no answers.

 

They knew the likely outcome but had to come see for themselves what happened on the Wellhorn, a rocky peak that towers over the Reichenbachtal valley in the Bernese Alps.

A dash through multiple airports, a race through the mountains, and now they ambled through a small mountain village. That’s when they saw him, sitting in his car on the side of the road. Sue stopped, unsure what to do.

 

5 hours ago, est1874 said:

PGMOL and VAR have conspired to make a mockery of the offside rule.

Even if you could make an argument that he was clearly offside (which would take a United fan or a PGMOL employee, but those are the same thing anyway), surely the whole basis of the offside rule is that an attacking player shouldn't have an advantage over a defender when the ball is played.

Please tell me how an attacker turned away from goal has an advantage over a defender facing the goal at full pelt?

It's a total joke. Drawing lines (which doesn't work anyway, as anyone can see from that image) is not what the rule is **** for. 

The **** goblins.

Very well said. That totally cuts to the core issue: What is the purpose of rules? How can these negligible, microscopic after-the-fact determinations about lines on screens really have anything to do with protecting against some practical disadvantages on the pitch?

52 minutes ago, Mantis said:

Well well well. Seems 4th wasn't as gone as people thought.

We need to go for third. 

Speaking generally, I think we need to get past the idea of thinking of “who is best?” in this or that position, and think always about pairs of players. We absolutely will need two superbos for every position. 

11 minutes ago, Davkaus said:

As much of nobhead as Martinez plays during the game, I loved that shot of him and Solanke at full time, they're clearly talking about the penalty and about how he knew which way he was going and he's violently gesturing to his eyes  

I also like that theater late in the game when he was “slain in action” during a save, and then he lay down with the ball cradled in his arms, … but then he cheekily lifts up his gloved hand and waves at the crowd to make more noise whilst holding his fetal position.   
 

And the north stand roared  

10 hours ago, romavillan said:

Ollie is totally irreplaceable as well. Who would you conceivably buy with the return Watkins gives us in terms of goal involvement a that is 27/28 years old that would not cost £100m+?

I feel like all of our players are irreplaceable at different times -- but none of them really are, we all know. I guess I am more smitten with this cast of characters on this squad than I have been with any Villa squad. I don't want any single thing ever to change. 

And while I do hope we hold onto this charmed squad and manager as long as possible, intellectually, I know football seasons are long and short at the same time, and change inevitable, awful, and yet redemptive, too. It's like love. Enjoy what you have while it lasts, because in the end, it will always change.

When I see the Olympiacos' badge, I sometimes think of old Ultravox album covers. I think Peter Saville were involved in that one? I love that Downcast & Pouty Greek Dude look.

2 hours ago, Wainy316 said:

The most important question is, when did Olympiakos become Olympiacos?

I've wondered that, too. Also: One of the best badges ever?

If we get past Olympiacos, I hope we get Fiorentina next. I have a feeling Brugge could wind up being a tricky contest for us. I think we'd do better against an Italian opposition. Fiorentina is a bigger club, too. I want us to face the biggest clubs we can, always.

Anybody have a sense of whether there's any chance of successfully appealing either of the yellow cards from tonight? To me, it seems like there were some pretty obvious mitigating circumstances that ought to be taken into account. He was being physically threatened, for one.

I think I aged 20 years today. Someone hand me a cane. 

It don't stop. Not saying it can't happen, but seems unlikely this year as we simply can't afford to lose him, although @Delphinho123 would probably disagree?

Quote

 

Arsenal remain interested in Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz ahead of the summer transfer window, sources have told Football Insider.

The Gunners have had numerous bids for the Brazil international, 25, rejected in recent windows.

 

33 minutes ago, rjw63 said:

I simply don’t care.

But what, pray tell, could be a cooler boast? 

31 minutes ago, PaulC said:

Bad night for Spain. Just means we need to focus on finishing 4th. 

That's it. 

When your club is in trouble, the answer is never Joao Felix.

Why does the security woman keep running in front of Mbappé and protecting him?

Can't believe Barça blew this.

Barça fans look like they're having nervous breakdowns. 

I do feel like we could beat any of these teams. Dortmund to me seems the most difficult for us.

1 minute ago, Django_Zooms said:

Ironically, any co-efficient hopes against German teams now rely upon that team from North London outwitted by Villa last Sunday.

Mental, the vast tapestry of irony this week. 

1 minute ago, Django_Zooms said:

The brave ref is looking at an 'Anthony Taylor scenario' at the airport tomorrow. 3 red cards & a penalty against Barcelona players & coaches.

If only commentators could get red cards, too. 

Could these games be any more entertaining today? Wow.