HolteExile

Phil's drop off in form has been an odd one. You can point to three key incidents -injury, his loss of a place in the Brazil squad and Gerrard's departure - as potential factors. But to go from the start he had with us to zero goals and zero assists this season suggests a deeper malaise. A shame - because his name and profile alone has boosted our profile in places like Spain and France etc. Things like that can make a difference when it comes to attracting other quality players. Phillippe Coutinho at only 70 per cent of the player he was could still make a difference for us on the pitch too. Much less than that and you are talking about a glorified ambassador.

Interesting. The obvious benefit there is if it's Russian/ CIS tanks the Moroccans are sending, there is less of a learning curve for the troops on the ground. The Ukrainians need the hardware NOW. Not the promise of something (possibly) tomorrow. Or in six months. If other nations possess these in decent numbers and are in a position to send ASAP, perhaps there is scope for NATO (or specific members) to compensate them. Either financially, or providing them with updated kit at a later date etc.

I like Ings. But £120k a week for an occasional starter and an option from the bench is hard to justify as a reasonable use of resources for us. At Yanited or whoever it might be different. Your top wages should go to your best players and Ings was never really that for us. Wish him well and move on.

The issue with that is Zelensky had repeatedly called for negotiations. He was elected in 2019 on a mandate of ending the war - he was even seen as a relatively popular figure by ordinary Russians. Compared to some of the alternatives. But whereas as leadership in a progressive country might hear those overtures from a neighbour and see an opportunity for peace, Putin and his acolytes viewed it as weakness. And the weak get beaten. The US and Britain pulling out of Afghanistan encouraged him further. If they didn't have the heart for their pet project, would they really expend too much time and effort trying to help Ukraine - and take on all that associated risk? The top brass in Ukraine were also quite realistic pre and post invasion that their desire to join NATO wouldn't be reciprocated. They knew they'd need to look at alternative security arrangements - including the prospect of being a 'neutral' state in the event of a future theoretical conflict between Russia and NATO. The pathway to full EU membership is problematic for so many reasons - even if Ukraine didn't have a despot for a neighbour. Despite encouragement from then-Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin and leaders of other smaller nations, there is no genuine desire for further EU expansion from the bigger states. All these things were known by both the Ukraine and Russian leadership. So the oft given reasons for the invasion; the de Nazifying of Ukraine, the threat of Ukraine joining NATO and EU expansion can be seen for the horseshit they are. How do you then negotiate with someone acting in bad faith; who uses such phoney justification because they have already decided on a course of action? Annexing territory is so 1930s.

What's happened to Donyell Malen at Dortmund? His goalscoring record since joining in 2021 has fallen off a cliff there, five in 37 games. He had 40 in 81 at PSV. I take it he may be playing more out wide/disciplined for Dortmund (don't watch them enough to say for certain). Still only 24. With the amount of running and pressing Emery wants his front two to get through he might be worth a look. A more polished version of Bailey perhaps.

Benni Carbone for the debut. Saunders for the home debut. As good as Deano was that day (should have had a hat-trick, hit the bar) this one tips it for me because there was a genuine sense we were on the up after that game. Those positive vibes carried us to second and we probably would've nabbed first but for Dalian's injury and Howard Wilkinson inexplicably gifting the Red Mancs Cantona. Ian Taylor scored at the Holte End on his debut against Chelsea in 1994/95 as well.

Seems a good sort, slotted in well v Leeds away and at other times without being outstanding. Wonder what sort of wage he was on as back-up, could be that Moreno is on similar now we're only down on the transfer fee for that deal. Good business, if so.

The obvious reason for him saying that is he is happy at Marseille and has no intention of leaving. But it could be an expression of his preference for the advanced role he played last night?

Marv looked good for that spell pre injury last season and at various times during his stint with us. He also knows his own game and limitations. I don't think he tries whatever Dendocker was trying there in the final few minutes yesterday.

As always, if you're a fair > middling club (or lower) it's not so much about the players you want rid of. It's what happens when bids invariably come in for the players you don't want to lose, such as Kamara and Martinez.

There are pictures circulating online of him at a bar near the training ground (as mentioned above). But the Belfry is also nearby. Maybe (hopefully) he was just on a golfing day out with mates. He lived in Leicester before, so would be familiar with the area etc. If it is transfer related, hope it's Leicester taking him back rather than us getting involved.

Is The Donald breaking in a new set of dentures? Or is it just a really shit video.

Always disliked that stand from a young age (the 60s revamp, not the original). The rest of Villa Park looked genuine top draw - even the North Stand set the standard for new builds across the country, which is easy to forget now. But the Witton looked like something out of the third division compared to the rest of the ground. Anfield, Man Citeh etc all had single tier main stands that had more about them. Particularly dispiriting when you seen what it replaced. I know money was tight for the club early 60s but shirley there were better options than that dull nonentity.

I'm not convinced he'd come back (or that I'd want it, in truth). But maybe winning summat at Citeh and playing with De Bruyne etc was an itch he needed to scratch? Now that he''s done it, he could come back to VP with a different perspective and focus.

Probably all part of the dance for is agent to get him a better deal @ Palarse. Doesn't feel like the sort of player we'd go for.

Surprised we haven't looked at some of the higher profile Japanese or South Korean players before now. Or maybe we did, and a deal didn't make sense. There are a few playing in Germany, Italy etc who could make our squad at the very least.

I don't see Ukraine agreeing to a ceasefire/ peacetalks with the immediate prospect of losing land. But one way it *could* be sold (to Russia) is if Crimea immediately reverts to Ukraine now (or attains neutral status)- but there is a genuine referendum on sovereignty a number of years down the track. Crimea was viewed as different even pre 2014. I don't have the reliable stats to hand - I couldn't say it was the majority. But there was always a significant pro Russian population there. Since 2014 there region has obviously been Russified further. Many of a pro Ukrainian (or Tatar/other) persuasion have left. A genuine referendum that occurs in say 6-10 years offers the chance to those so inclined to return, Russian arrivals since to 2014 to scarper home and provide a more accurate result. No concessions on Donbass; other than the rights of minorities and Russian language rights to be protected by law with the UN/ EU or whoever as guarantors. I accept this will be moot if Ukraine push on now and continue to make the gains they have. More power to them if they achieve it.

No to Hazard for me. I don't watch enough CL football to know if Nacho still has enough in the tank. He's vice captain at Real, so still seems to be thought of highly. Probably a decent option if we're looking to play out from the back etc. And the fee isn't too mental - seeing as he's 31.

Unless we're offloading Coutinho I don't think we'll be taking a punt that Hazard's fitness is still up to it.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery wants to sign two players from Real Madrid - Belgium winger Eden Hazard, 31, and Spain defender Nacho Fernandez, 32. (El Nacional - in Spanish)

I don't see us signing any players from Villareal in our immediate future - unless they're close to the end of their contract or the release clause is ridiculous. If there's one club the hierarchy won't want to sell to it's us. More likely is that Emery will know some of the targets Villareal had lined up and we might gazump them on a few of those. There's generally better value in the Spanish market.

How do you negotiate with a despotic criminal regime who literally want to wipe you from the map. You can't if you're Ukraine in this moment. If Russia is seen to suffer and it bites hard enough to force regime change - and ipso facto - they gain a leader living in 2022 and not 1822, there is a chance of a normalisation of relations.

Strikes totally the wrong tone for me. Ukranian civiliians have suffered the most. It's for them to decide if there can be talks and a negotiated settlement at some point in the future.

Apologies if covered elsewhere: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/06/us-says-zelenskiy-risks-allies-ukraine-fatigue-if-he-rejects-russia-talks-report

Re the CL winning coach: At a guess, I'd say Hierro, Morientes or Juan Mata.