Mic09

The only question that needs asking is 'how would the BBC perform on the private market'. If you believe there is a need for the BBC, and it provides valuable service, why wouldn't you want to get it out in the open and see how it performs? If it survives the test of fire, great. If not, maybe it isn't as valuable as we believe it is. Arguing for seeing animals in Africa for £15 a month is not a strong one in my opinion. The principle of paying Micah Richards and Garry Lineker to talk shit about football simply to have access to ITV is also, at best, faulty. TV is dying either way. If you think FOX vs CNN will become true in the UK, just look at the numbers of independent news channels vs how many people watch prime time CNN shows. It's all happening on YouTube, and propping up BBC in it's current model is trying to bring back a dead man. TV has lost already, so if people want a BBC, give them a choice by putting it up against others. Another (and I believe a stronger) argument often put forward was raised by a previous poster. Let me put it this way - if this service is indeed valuable (I believe so) how about providing that service by advert revenue? And does this service even need to be offered by a TV broadcaster? Could it not be taken over by some other independent gov body? I can certainly envisage some sort of a descendant of BBC that prides itself by providing these services, while also taking £2m a year from Coca Cola to be standing on the table during MOTD. And maybe rather than paying Lineker a gazillion £££, how about getting a show with up and coming solid Football Journalists who look to get the exposure to have YouTube as their source of revenue? Heck, you could even make that into a show - 'The Big Football Talk' where 20 people go head to head to become the next leading face of MOTD. I know that their insight will be significantly greater than what we get now.

I'd play a compact midfield 4 just to make it tight in the middle. They won't hurt us from the sides as much as they will from popping it around and winning the midfield battle. Getting Moreno to do a pushed up left back role will gives us some width when needed. Cash - Konsa - Torres - Moreno Luiz - Kamara McGinn Ramsey Diaby Watkins

I think you will be proven incorrect. If anything, I believe Liverpool look like a better bet right now. But it will be Man City, with games to spare.

There is a novelty about Arsenal winning the league, one that I am not ready to handle. Arteta branded as a genius etc, Arsenal fans popping up everywhere. Let Man City win it*. Just keep it the same and boring and branded as fraudulent anyway I just can't have a conversation about how incredible Arsenal were. Same for Liverpool and Klopp. *unless we win it that is!

Don't worry. As much as my commentary tried to push the narrative of 'these are the nights when titles are won', we are still very early into the season. Am I right in saying they were like 10 points ahead in March last year?

He has become a bit of a media darling. There is definitely a good player there, but the unconditional media love is a bit over the top. He hasn't really done that much in professional football yet. But I wish him all the best, wish him 3 goals a game. But Arsenal lose that game 3-4.

Beat city tomorrow and we are in the conversation

I don't know, different player, different circumstances.

At what point is it a necessity to support a Villa player regardless of what they do?

I wonder (and this cannot be verified) how good he'd be in a lesser team. Standing out in City is not exactly easy. If you stand out at City you are due a ballon dor.

We've been over this so many times, but at what point (other than being caught drinking a couple of times) has he shown a lack of professionalism? If you found out De Bruyne also likes a drink from time to time but has not been caught by cameras, would you question his integrity? What if you found out Douglas Luiz likes to have parties on his days off? We can have a laugh at Grealish, it's a football forum, but accusing him of lack of professionalism - especially for things that happened years ago - is pushing a certain narrative. I am only going to judge players for their on pitch performance. Jack's form has dipped, he is no longer a star that he was. But he has always been athletic and from all accounts always did his best in training. Let's leave the OK! Magazine talk aside.

You know the guy, he likes right backs and his name is not Steve.

I know of one guy, he likes waistcoats.

Last time I went to a Villa - ManC fixture we won 3-2 with an El Ahmadi goal, Bacuna freekick and the wonderful Weimann finish in front of the holte end. A 3-2 in similar style and I'll be happy.

Conference league all day long. It's a European trophy. Also, we play FA cup every year. I am hoping this year is a rare occasion when we play in 3rd tier European competition. And UCL qualification is not exclusive of either.

Have you seen us win the europa conference?

He'll pick up a melon from the top shelf and get on the floor while looking around all smug.

Or see if the new stadium can be sold to Tesco/Aldi.

They will be anyway - They will lose against Alkmaar and that's that. Bunch of idiots.

Yet they travel to Europe pretty much every season and don't destroy stadiums... I get there is risk involved and I am the last person to excuse those pricks from Legia. I think it must have been a late call from Villa to not let them in at all.

That's a good point. I was at VP at 7pm and there were not only stewards but armoured police at the away end. If Villa knew no away fans are let in, why organise this? It must have been a late call.

They are probably worse, but there is less of them. Also, they like to use weapons in Krakow, which no other city in Poland does. But Wisla are in 2nd division now and we won't see them around in Europe anytime soon.

Absolutely. They always cause trouble. I guess if Villa was given 3k tickets to go to Milan and Madrid and all of a sudden that was cut by 2k, people would still travel. As soon as fixtures come out people arrange stuff so they get a place. If you are eligible for a ticket, you think you'd get one. Like I said, any trouble is 100% of idiots from Legia. But, the whole thing wasn't handled well. Why not let them in 2 hours before the game, make sure there is no alcohol, and keep them in one space so that it's easier to control? I don't get it, but I am sure there are smarter people than me in Police that made some calls on how to handle it.

Absolutely, they are idiots. No argument there. One thing that should be noted is that originally, the ticket allocation was dropped to 890. This happened after almost 2k fans bought plane tickets, organised hotels and travel. It's a shit show from many angles. Legia fans are always stupid. The worst of polish football. Look at Lech which has a much better PR in Europe. Legia always are the victims. BUT something wrong happened with organisation. Even the Legia owners and representatives protested and did not show up at the stadium because they thought what happened was unfair and is due to be a catalyst for trouble.

Well, why do you think there is little to no trouble during games in Poland? Because Police have sorted it. To be fair, AZ was a bit of a joke on the dutch police side too. The reason there was initial trouble there was because the mayor said it was a holiday in Alkmaar (some sort of battle/independence day) and said fans wouldn't be allowed in town very last minute. A bullshit excuse that is due to cause trouble. If they simply said 'DO NOT TRAVEL, YOU WILL NOT BE LET IN, THIS IS A UEFA MANDATE' maybe less issues would be caused. But a public holiday in Alkmaar so no foreigners can enter? That's BS. Have a look at videos of Dutch police hitting the owner of Legia. The guy runs a european football club form one of the main capitals in Europe and gets hit by police for no reason. It's BS. Now, I should point out, Legia fans are dicks and always seem to have a problem with something. I dislike them with a passion, have done for years. They always look for excuses to cause trouble. But, very often, the organisation behind the scenes it is a catalyst for trouble.