Mic09

I did, but I feel like there are some loose ends that Oprah didn't follow. For example, which I understand is the case now, why are they bothered about royal security if they can organise their own security? Unless it's extremely difficult to do, I never organised VIP 24/7 security so God knows what that entails. I don't know, I just feel that if you want a clean slate, a life away from 'the firm', live a live that you are clearly living now, good on them. Move away from this shit show and leave it behind. I get the interview from the 'racist media' angle - that should be spoken about. I don't get the interview from any other angle, security, royal titles etc. Just leave them to rot in the Windsor and live your life which NOW you are capable of doing.

I can sympathise with the personal struggle and the pain that she went through, if you have £1 or £1million the mental health does not discriminate. But what you summarised is what I have a problem with. They talked about planning this for 2 years - did security not come up in any conversations over 2 years? They talk about stepping down as senior royals - why should we pay for them if they don't represent the Crown? They want their son to be free - why even bring up the royal title conversation? They talked about media destroying them - why not live in peace in California and how about, I don't know, don't have the most media driven interview in years? The royal household has some serious problems, and these issues should be dealt with. But I just don't get the behaviour of Harry and Meghan in conducting this clearly scripted interview caused to build shock rather than to give any context.

You are 100% - but I feel like we need further context to understand if it was a racist remark or, as I suggested, something of a less evil nature. Hence I am interested in how the palace will reply, and interested in watching the whole interview in order to make an informed opinion. As I mentioned, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. And as for the extended member of the family that is exactly the conversation environment that I meant - parents, uncles, cousins. No one questioned the skin colour - it was a discussion of ''I wonder what he is going to look like'' with regards to specific genetical predispositions, such as skin colour. And I guess each family of mixed heritage is having those conversations. The question lies in the intent.

On one hand you could hold the line that the senior royals are racists with Victorian ideals. On the other hand, it could have been one of those family conversations that everyone has - I'm very pale and my wife is tanned, we had an open discussion about how dark skinned our kid would be. We also talked about eye colour, height, and other "genetic" predictions. Unless spoken of in a derogatory way, nothing much wrong with that, unless Meghan took offence and held it inside - maybe she hated it so much at that point she saw everything in a negative light. But the truth is probably somewhere in the middle, between a history of royal disregard for any warmth and humanity, and boosting the Hollywood status of the most famous couple in the world.

Maybe, but to be fair it's not the last 6 home games - it's been a 1.5 season long pattern of a steady decline with no view of how things will turn around. They won last year, but as the season went on they were less and less convincing. They will go on a run of 3 wins. But then they will lose to West Ham, draw away at Crystal Palace, win with Brighton, but lose against Southampton. In the meantime, they will get knocked out after drawing PSG in CL Quarters. While it might be most entertaining for us, I can only assume that is not good enough for them.

Problem with "best ever" is that I bet if you were to put together the best players from 1995, they would struggle against a well drilled team from 2021 composed of lesser footballers. Pele was probably the best of his time - but now, football is so massive he might have seemed mediocre compared to Grealish, Mount or Sterling if 1964 Pele was put in a time machine to today. For that reason, I would say that Ronaldo and Messi have to be the best ever.

I'm sure I saw him between 17:30-18:15

No question. But I think if they had Van Dijk they would not be challenging for the title anyway.

Van Dijk injury is a symptom, not the cause. They conceded 7 with Van Dijk against Villa.

I feel empathetic for any emotional distress caused, regardless of if someone is rich, famous or whatever. Different people have different problems. But somehow I feel like Megan acts surprised that she would be restricted in her new life when marrying into royalty? I mean, what did she expect? And if she is in fact "surprised", what sort of a partner is Harry for not telling her how bad it's gonna be?

I invite you to the Wesley thread. The guy hasn't kicked a football in 16 months yet he is still shit. Or maybe the Dean Smith thread who apparently reached his ceiling who can't make subs. Or maybe the AEG thread, the guy who scored what, 7 goals this season? And he is branded as sub par. Take your pick

While it might give us more transparency, I can see the hatred Mike Dean will receive after he justifies a wrong decision. For the refs it will be much worse. But I guess it's not about the ref's feelings, it's about making sure we have a well refereed football league. So I'm all for it.

Isn't the Poland game a WC qualifier?

It is, however it is also about Macedonia, San Marino, Bulgaria et al playing international football. I know it's difficult for us to comprehend, but Leeds vs Burnley is not as important to majority of the football world as watching your national team in Belarus or Latvia face France or England. I come from a 'smaller' footballing nation and trust me, it's all about the national team - that is considered the top of the football pyramid and brings a lot of national pride that is absent in English football. So while it might be 'pointless' for England to play Slovakia, it's very important for Slovakia to play England.

How can you come to this conclusion if for the last 3 years with Smith we have done nothing but improved our league position? If next season we finish 15th I might agree with you, but how can you possibly talk about hitting a ceiling at this stage is beyond me.

I once met him while I was working at a bar, I think he had a meeting with someone from BBC WM. Nice guy, he was happy to talk Villa with me. But I always found his commentary a bit meh. Like he is very good at what he does, but he shouldn't be doing this particular thing.

while there are no easy games, this should be the easiest of the games we have left in the calendar.

There is a player at Napoli, Zielinski. I think he is 26 now? Anyway, when he plays, you can see he is a genius. Ancelotti & Gattuso have praised him like crazy, Klopp wanted him at Liverpool 3 years ago. Gattuso recently said he could be one of the best. Anyway, he almost always disappoints. Scores goals, gets assists, but he could do so much more. You could see that he is brilliant, technically second to none, but there must be a mental block or something. He has to play, because you can't drop a talent like that, but I am sure you could get a worse player to put in a better shift than him. Funnily, he plays the same role as Barkley and I fear Barkley is the same. You can see the spark, the touch, the pass, but my God does he disappoint. It's so annoying because everyone can see what he can do, he just doesn't turn it on very often. I'm afraid he is not capable of doing it.

Who's that Bacuna dude, maybe we should go for him

If you look at ''How I met your Mother Barney'' is branded as disgusting for getting it on with various women. Then again, sometimes he is supported in doing so. Media plays to stereotypes, that's how comedy works - creating a caricature of reality.

I haven't read the whole discussion on this so I apologise if I mis-diagnose something, however I have been made aware of the 'Taylor Swift' reference via other media. My question is, if a joke or a comment or any popular media reference is made with regards to a female, does that make that comment sexist from the get go? Or does that make Taylor Swift a stereotypical 'loose' celebrity so a good example to use when making a pop culture reference? If so, where is the sexism?

There are no rules that outline what the keeper should be doing. If he wants to, he can go and have a seat behind the goal and reply to some texts. The blame stands with the weak referee who either; -should have waited for everyone to be ready before he blew the whistle Or -allowed the goal after he blew the whistle He did neither so it's another mistake to add to the catalogue of the world's best league.

absolutely, and they are a likeable team so I hope they do well.

I hope they do well, but it would be funny if the missed CL yet again.

To be fair, KPMG do maths not feeling. Maguire is probably worth £40m. Pepe is probably worth £35-45m. Jack is probably worth £65-70m. BUT this doesn't mean that they should or would be worth that much. There are unquantifiable factors that KPMG can't put into numbers. Grealish is probably worth £65m. BUT in order for any club to even get near him, I think it would take £100m+.