A'Villan

This is the place where the cops rush in the building Paramilitary death squads murder your children Empty shell of a man rippin' shots in the air Soldiers dying out there, but nobody cares Prepare for the future but make note of the past Or be condemned to live it again and get blast Class warfare kept outta the news Replaced by a corporation's political views Cause this is where the guns are manufactured and sold The land that was stolen stripped of all of its gold Old timers on the death bed speakin' the wisdom Immigrants crucified by conservative Christians Now we all got freedom to die in the street But the difference is more of us die in a week Than they die in a year I made it clear Where I stand when the line is drawn But now the line is gone And nigga anything goes The land where the guns don't let anything grow And what the **** you niggas know about living in hell You not built like me you never lived in a cell You never gambled with your soul **** the ice on your hand, gun in your palm But you got a niggas life in your hand Young man, just remember that slicing a gram Is a bloody game, like throwin' mice in a fan My words flow like the rivers thats west of Iran The fertile crescent moon, with the star in the middle I reveal the depth of history's scars when I scribble I gave you the world, and I ain't even charged you a little The martyr is crippled The prophets are dead and buried, but the message is simple And its not written down in holy books as a riddle

The moment you refuse the human rights to just a few, what happens when that view includes you? For the soul of a nation, this is a struggle to save civilisation. Demonstrations, overthrowing the occupation, the annihilation of mental colonisation. For the soul of a nation, we fight for the future of our civilisation. Destroy the corrupt government organisations, trying to survive cultural assassination.

I am fresh from a bit of a contentious debate over how men abuse women and even the men who that doesn't apply to are responsible. I took the stance that women shouldn't be entering intimate relationships with a man who cannot maintain common decency when conflict occurs. I also took the stance that men and women should be supporting each other and talking with their partners rather than at them. It seems support has been replaced by competition in so many ways. So thanks for pulling me up, I have gone against my own word in my comments here. Serena making what I hear were pretty thin claims on sexism is a separate issue to a heart-wrenching suicide rate. I am perhaps also not the biggest advocate for athletes, no matter their talent, being paid more in a tournament than most see in a lifetime.

12 men commit suicide per day in the UK. 84 per week. Shouldn't be happening. Serena Williams making claims of sexism when over a dozen men have decided it's all too much and taken their life while she's paid millions. Shouldn't be happening. On a lighter note, whoever Serena's opponent was (don't even know her name as she's had zero exposure) isn't getting any limelight. Shouldn't be happening.

Not sure @villakram was out to discount anyone else, I read it simply to suggest that we've 'been here before'. The things you mention never happening before are because we are discussing a new set of events, just like those before and those yet to come they will be unique in some way. I think the point was merely this wouldn't be the first slap in the face from America. Just that Trump is perhaps less underhanded or subtle in speech than his predecessors.

I would encourage you to read up on the Red House Report, it makes for some interesting reading. Here's a snippet: https://www.cuttingthroughthematrix.com/articles/Intelligence_Report_EW-Pa_128.html

Well said. A summary of events and sentiments I can align with, for sure. Bruce has said on at least two separate occasions, and possibly a third (but that's testing my memory) that he has seriously considered giving up management. That was before he lost both his parents. He has always had a tendency to shift the blame to factors beyond his control whilst at Villa and that reflects a man without any burning desire to improve on what he is contributing. He employed a very similar transfer policy whilst at Sunderland, bringing in aging experienced heads, loan deals and one or two from abroad who ended up performing to expectations. He was well bankrolled, to the point where the Sunderland board expected European placing. One season in which they finished 10th was not enough to satisfy the board and Bruce was dismissed. His time at Hull saw both promotions feature the numbers 18 out of 24. In one season it was 18 clean sheets out of 24 victories and the other season it was 18 1-0 victories out of 24 wins (I am relying on memory but confident enough not to go double checking that). Ultimately a lack of transfer funds saw Bruce walk away from Hull. Birmingham I don't know much about beyond the amount he spent which was huge for the time. I'm presuming it would of been the most in the championship by some distance and possibly would have rivaled most PL clubs too. I don't remember the figures but I remember being impressed and not in the slightest that he achieved promotion after that kind of spend. He has four promotions. I guess the two at Hull might've been a commendable achievement but one of his seasons with Birmingham I'd expect nothing less. The reason I'm mentioning history is because I feel @Hornso is spot on that compact, difficult to score against sides are what Bruce is probably most renowned for. And has always had enough quality in attack at his disposal without having to coach technical systems to his players. I still hold hopes of a promotion this season under Bruce but he is not the man to take us any further afterward. I wouldn't be opposed to a switch at this point in time either. He said end of last season he felt Villa needed him, the reality is we need a committed manager and right now I question if Bruce is prepared to ask more of himself so that we succeed. Or if he is happy as he is. Telling players to look at themselves. Imagine that Sheffield United performance was against Manchester City in the top flight, might've been 6-0 by half time. Wolves went on to contest and draw with City this season. My point is that we didn't execute a game plan effectively, nor could we cope with Sheffield's. We were absolutely trounced in that game. As far as I'm concerned if Bruce thinks we were well drilled during the week to come out of that fixture with anything he needs to check himself.

I live in public housing and we've just been through winter. What I'm wondering is why the construction team didn't plan for or install insulation. We now have mould build up unless we clean with a little vigilance, beds and surfaces become damp due to dew build up and the place actually needs a rebuild. I've been a tenant since 2010 and we've already had to undergo one rebuild at the front. 8 years later and it's the back.

My post from the WE thread:

I blew up my Dad's one when I was 16 or 17. Wish I still had the pictures of the burnt out frame. Wasn't rear engine though. Friend and I took it out for a spin after Dad had gone to bed and little did we know he'd been charging the battery and connections weren't back in place as they should be. About 15km from home another cars passengers are manically trying to get our attention saying there's sparks and flame underneath the car. We pull over and within a minute there's a 2-3 metre high fire ablaze over the bonnet. We start to leg it and I realise I've left the key in the ignition. Being the dumbass teenager I was I decided it was more important that a key not be found in the ignition by police and consequently my Dad than it was for me to stay well clear of a car engulfed in flame. I can't remember if I was able to get the key or not but I do remember the 15km walk home and the dread I felt as I prepared myself to admit to my Dad what I'd done on a school night. He was legendary about it, his initial reaction was to laugh and treated it like a rite of passage. Then when the detectives got involved and had footage of me at a petrol station that we'd stopped at, he defended me staunchly and possibly even didn't make an insurance claim so that the detectives would not charge me. I've had a few cars of my own since. Nothing special. Subaru Liberty was ever reliable though.

Lucius Septimius Severus' rise and reign as the first African emperor of Rome makes for some interesting reading. He died trying to annex Britain, though not in battle. And supposedly was part of an African cabal that planned a takeover of the empire and succeeded, though its leaders ended up in a fatal battle among one another for who would take the mantle. Only one prevailed and started the Severus dynasty as his sons would go on to co-emperor Rome after him. Pontius Pilate is less interesting or consistent in the accounts that I have come across. The man who coined the phrase 'to wash ones hands of something' through his supposed reluctance to sentence Jesus to death. On the other hand he is said to be a vulgur, intolerant and corrupt man with disdain for the customs of other cultures. So found it odd he would sympathise or be reluctant to sentence Jesus, when he supposedly held no regard for others. The Red House Report. In 1944 American intelligence discovered plans for the Nazi regime to create The Fourth Reich. Elite German industrialists were ordered by the Nazi's to plan for a future rise to prominence through the EU.

If that was what was in you thoughts all along I stand corrected. I wasn't paying as much attention to detail in your post as I could've. Fair enough. I don't blame you at all. I guess I'm digging for any hope or optimism I can muster.

Check the table. Six points would have us in first. You think we are incapable of closing a six point gap with forty games to go? You'd probably be right if you answered yes, but I'm going to reserve judgement yet again because I can't see why we shouldn't be an improved outfit from last season.

He only turned down Spartak (who are in the Europa League and 3rd placed last season in Russia) yesterday or the day before? I would expect he was considering Russia above playing for Villa from a last hurrah perspective. If that is the case it's totally understandable if he is taking a day or two to decide on any offer we have made (if we even have made one).

The personnel we have currently not being up to standard is less an issue than the way we setup from one game to the next. You could expect more loan signings should we go up.

Perhaps Bruce is partly responsible for a breakdown in relations and anyone speculating that to be the case is just exploring the idea that amends might be made, rather than looking for another excuse to shoot Bruce down, they simply would be open to the inclusion of a player more than capable at this level. I think it just as possible that McCormack was thrown under the bus because the media inquired as to his exclusion from the side and supporters want to make sense of why he hasn't been a success story. Let's be real here, McCormack wouldn't be the first professional footballer to indulge. Ronaldinho is one of the greatest to grace the game and he had issues with missing training and partying. I'm not condoning it by any means, but I also don't necessarily believe it to be a problem as grave as can be perceived. If McCormack prioritises the drink and compromises his duty to the club more often than not, then things are understandably as they are and Bruce can't include Ross. As for no one in the country touching him, I imagine when he made his big move to Villa his wages would have taken a healthy raise from what he was on elsewhere. Based on the content of this thread I think it premature to conclude that he was not wanted by other clubs in this division. I personally don't see a petty conflict of personality being any less likely than a serious display of negligence on McCormack's behalf.

You could be right. Spartak Moscow are in the Europa League and finished 3rd in Russia last campaign. So perhaps Terry was eyeing off some more silverware as well as a last hurrah on the European stage and in a top tier competition. As for the delay in joining us, I don't know to be honest, I can only assume it's due to his deciding on Russia or not. I'm hardly mister current affairs though.

Interesting. I did a quick google and I should only be speaking for the clinic at which I work, where psychiatrists do the diagnosis and psychologists are employed for therapy. An accredited psychologist may diagnose and treat through counselling but cannot prescribe medication here in Australia. Whereas a psychiatrist may diagnose and treat with medication but will not counsel. Edit: So probably a good reminder I'm no professional on the subject!

It was psychiatrists that had made the claims that I speak of. Psychologists aren't actually qualified to make a diagnosis, even in a clinical setting. They are there to treat only. Diagnosis are made all the time based on the judgement of a qualified individual who observes and identifies behavioural traits that are symptomatic of the respective diagnosis. Nothing more. Brain scans are rarely if ever employed to ascertain if indeed an individual has an illness. So a clinical setting is usually just a space whereby observation can be made, there's nothing particularly different between assessing someone at a clinic or elsewhere. I work at a mental health facility among psychiatrists and psychologists so I can say that with some confidence. I can understand your friends POV and personally if I was to be seeing that kind of specialist I wouldn't want them airing their judgements publicly, regardless of accuracy. Trump absolutely displays multiple traits akin to a psychopath without fail time and again, whether he actually is one or not is unlikely, as from memory they make up just over 1% of the population. So on that note your friend is probably right in calling out those making claims (obviously including myself) as you can't probe someone for clarity and understanding without having a discussion with them. But I would point out that your friend is not qualified to make a diagnosis, and that Trump is on the idiot box near daily airing his character in some way. I would say his former teacher is no more qualified to judge him as stupid or idiotic than multiple qualified psychiatrists to judge him to have psychopathy from a distance.

Would still have no issue with one or the other extending an olive branch and having McCormack available to represent Villa. There are so many possibilities as to why it is no longer feasible for Ross to join the first team. Having been involved in elite sport for 17 years I could name many a situation where it doesn't work out amicably between the parties involved and someone misses out on a role in the team due to conflict.The team I am potentially about to join for pre-season this month has lost it's head coach of roughly a decade due to conflict between their Import player and him. Someone had to go. I was let go by this head coach about 3 years ago due to falling out of favour on personal terms, I was a top scorer and always maintained a philosophy of either positive or constructive input to discussions, yet I still managed to fall out of favour. Now the club is a division higher and I have been invited back. It would seem Bruce has made his stance regarding McCormack and it's final, and regardless of perceived blame McCormack needs new a new manager or a new club. I have nothing concrete to base any presumptions on when it comes to McCormack and Bruce, all I gather is that McCormack has some disciplinary issues which I can't attest to. The only thing that rings true for me is that Steve Bruce took it upon himself to drive to McCormack's house and confront him. Without knowing anything more than that it's hard to ascertain the nature of what transpired but in my view that's pretty inflammatory and I don't see how that would ever bode well if the intention was always to give McCormack a serving for his absence at his private property. McCormack can play at this level, without doubt, it would seem like Bruce really wanted him to do just that for Villa, if he is rocking up to his house. I've only ever been met at my home by invitation or if without notice, for the celebration of good news. Mind you I don't miss training but I have played with those who do and I have never come across it as a means to deliver the ultimatum or work things through. I can't see how it was a good idea from Bruce, if he wanted an improvement anyway. I have put up with 'asshole' coaches who are nothing short of abusive, and I can tolerate them as long as it's during the allocated hours at the agreed upon location. Regardless of any toxic behaviours that McCormack displays I don't know what Bruce was doing going to McCormack's house. Like that was going to solve the issue.

Think it's a bit harsh to suggest that Terry is playing clubs off against each other for monetary gain. I think his comments are indicative of someone who has ambition and wants to achieve always, I'm guessing the decision not to join a Russian side was based on family above cash. He might be well beyond his prime but being the competitor and footballer that he is I think it's fairly evident that his lifespan is longer than the average player. I would actually love to see the introduction of an academy prospect in Terry's place. I thought Tuanzebe was going to partner Chester and I would've thought that with relentless effort and an outfit that is well organised and aware of the opposition tendencies, we could transition on to pastures new sufficiently without too many a haphazard. That hasn't exactly come to fruition and I am left wondering was Terry's input even more significant than I originally gave credit for.

I would too. I'm confident he's psychopathic, as I have said before. I had the thought cross my mind before reading that a number of psychiatrists think so too. They can be uncanny in hiding their differences and have an acute sense of how others are feeling, while still lacking empathy, they are able to feign and mimic the sentiments of the people that surround them. Trump isn't able to do that and if he is a psychopath from my understanding and experience that simply means he's not one of the brighter ones who usually assimilate well. Not that any of that means much. I don't want to suggest he is any less a human because I think he might have some pathological traits. The way I see it is we are all fallible at some time in our life, at one thing or another. At the end of the day I don't hold Trump personally responsible for my disappointment regarding the state of affairs our 'leadership' positions are in. To me he is just another example and product of a system with its head so far up its own ass it's suffering unconsciousness from the asphyxiation. Benevolence and earning the position on the merits of quality of life afforded the people are not on the agenda. Not even in consideration for many. One-upmanship, class warfare, WOMD, racial propaganda, legitimisation of corruption are all apparently necessities of governance and 'survival of the fittest'. I really hope Nikola Tesla was right when he predicted this century to glorify the fight against ignorance over dying on the battlefield and that a countries income not be predominantly spent on military affairs, but rather education. The front pages dedicated to humanities and scientific progress and the crimes and corruption relegated to the back pages and yesteryear. Back to Trump's intellect. Let's entertain the notion that he is in fact unable to grasp knowledge and skills in the same way that others do and is in fact, 'stupid'. What does that say about the people who have appointed him? It is a 'democracy' at the end of the day. He is meant to be a representation of their ideologies. I can safely say there are times when I can appreciate why Aristotle took issue with democracy and it's ins and outs. The sooner things like voting for a politician to represent the population are considered a skill and taken seriously rather than something that can be done mindlessly, the sooner we appreciate the importance of leadership and its trickle down effect.

I don't think I suggest anywhere that Bruce will anything other than what you suggest, or that Bruce is in anyway inspired or inspiring in his approach. Or do I ignore the history of what's come before, if anything I suggest that the cause of an improved defensive solidarity will be due to Bruce reverting to type. I am aware that we commit more players to defense and give up territory to the opposition in the process, and that our wingers dropping deep means they have to start any runs or dribbles earlier than what is ideal. Build up play is compromised by the roles assigned in midfield as you mention. Let's not ignore the times we are able to mount a proper attack. They have come far more frequently than the suggestion that we revert to long balls to a target man. Every team employs this move at some point in every fixture anyway, frustratingly we do it more than what is effective but I'm not expecting any drastic improvements in approach from Bruce in that regard. We are a 37 year old short of last seasons defense, and we have what should be an improved midfield and attack. McGinn has already created a much needed link between defense and our forward players. I rate Kodjia above Grabban and on the topic of long passes, I don't see him as being unable or ineffective when it comes to receiving long passes, not like people make out. Just because it's not his preferred role or strongest quality doesn't mean he doesn't win duels and possession for us, he does. None of this is meant to appease anyones concerns over Bruce as a manager. I'm just suggesting that we are in with a shot at promotion.

I think @ender4 meant that 6 points would have us clear on top, if not, then a check of the table would show us 2 points from promotion placing, 5 points from automatic.

While I'm not entirely sure what has triggered your first point or what it's in relation to, it's an example of why I made comment on invaluable perspectives. Discussions on such challenging topics can be difficult and frustrating unless approached with a discerning mind. So if you have the time and interest I would encourage further input, that being the reason for my questioning you holding your tongue, I simply enjoyed reading your view and trying to understand it. On your second point I don't understand who the one dimensional stranger would be, but perhaps I don't need to either, I think the less antagonism the better. I didn't mean to suggest that you should need to be angered by any of this either. The only reason I can imagine anger being stirred is out of recognition for the tragedy that Palestinians are facing or a frustration with where other people stand on the matter, possibly a combination. But I feel as though I'm just announcing my ignorance as to the meaning of your post at this point. Appearing to be part of the demonised loonie left? Way to look at yourself through the eyes of people who hate you! I hope this isn't really a concern of yours unless it carries unfavourable consequences as a result, even then if you believe in the policy and the person, better to show support than succumb to apathy and potentially an outcome you don't align with. I will have to do some reading on this Corbyn. I can totally understand your stance regarding the notion to tip-toe around wording and critique because it's supposed to be a delicate issue. The way it seems to me, is that Israeli actions are hypocritical at best. Which pales in comparison as an issue when you consider what some people are going through as a consequence. I think blandy offers a well reasoned approach to the discussion as well though. It may not have been blandy's intent or the reality, but I took the rationale to be a little more considered than purely not wanting to offend Jewish people in this discussion, and that there was an element of wanting to find remedy rather than add fuel to the fire. I also think it's quite apt to point out that while one can draw many comparisons with the Nazi's, the situation between Israel and Palestine is going to require it's own resolution due to the fact they are two completely separate set of events, and therefore I took blandy's point to be that it doesn't aid the Palestinians, or anyone, much if all we're doing is voicing comparisons from one regime to the next. I can appreciate that. Though I personally think it just gets shameful, and part of voicing such disdain and drawing comparisons helps portray the disappointment and hopefully elicit a change in perspective and therefore course of action. As it is the Israeli PM is facing little opposition from those with the power to aid Palestine.