MNVillan

4 hours ago, wishywashy said:

 

Essentially a toss up between us and Spurs for 4th - seems about right.

I’d give Spurs the slight edge based on their remaining fixture list. They have Forest, Burnley, and Sheffield United left, whereas our lowest placed remaining opposition is Brentford. Us and Spurs both will face the top 3 sides on the run in, but they get two of those at home (City & Arsenal), while we only get one (Liverpool).

That being said, based on the table’s prediction, only 10 points from our last 8 matches would represent a massive drop in form. We are a mere sliver under 2 ppg so far (59 from 30) and 10 points in 8 is only averaging 1.25 ppg. When framed that way, I don’t see how we only end up on 69 points. Should be aiming to crack 70 at a minimum.

I am about halfway through (what was written of) The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Quite like it so far.

I don’t keep close tabs on Grealish or the England squad, but just had a look and he isn’t in the current team. Is he regularly left out now?

12 hours ago, ThunderPower_14 said:

The USA really nailed it when they had the red and white hoops a decade or so ago. It's such an obvious and distinctive look for them and they should have stuck with it. Everything else they've done since is disappointing.

Those shirts were fantastic. I don’t mind the US having white shirts and blue shorts at home, and I think the new home shirt is nice. That being said, it seems like the away shirts have been poor for a while now

36 minutes ago, sne said:

The French away jersey is an abomination 

Does look slightly better as a whole kit, from a distance.

I kinda like it

*ducks*

13 hours ago, OutByEaster? said:

Just a note on the difference between an alcohol sponsor and a gambling sponsor and BK8.

Someone mentioned Heineken earlier as a comparison, and in gambling terms I think it's really important to realise that BK8 aren't the gambling equivalent to that - and that whilst comparing the harm caused by alcohol and the harm caused by gambling in our societies is one thing - comparing those to BK8 is another.

It is very heavily suggested by investigative journalists that BK8's primary market is the illegal Chinese gambling market - that gambling market is huge, and in operating in illegal markets, with a prohibited product, companies that are involved tend to mix in very muddy waters - BK8 is very heavily rumoured to have been owned and controlled by Alvin Chau, a triad linked underworld figure who is now serving eighteen years for running a criminal syndicate - there are reports that the syndicate was also involved in drug operations, prostitution and people smuggling.

In terms of comparing BK8 to a brewery, the most sensible comparison I can make is to compare it to an alcohol supplier in a market where there is prohibition, yet everybody drinks and there are people who take advantage of that to generate huge sums of money.

If I'm comparing BK8 to a drinks supplier, I'm not comparing them to Heineken, I'm comparing them to Al Capone.

Edit: removed after I saw Blandy’s post. My bad.

5 hours ago, OutByEaster? said:

I think it's probably both - the club's difficulties in passing the FA's regulation are delaying the process and the club have decided to change their plans off the back of that. 

I think the first time we'll see it will probably be on the 24/25 shirt - to be honest that might have a good impact.

 

Change plans as in scrap the badge and start over? I hope so, although I can’t imagine there’s time for that.

13 hours ago, Marka Ragnos said:

Enjoying Robert Pinsky's inspiring translation of Dante's Inferno. Been reading a lot of mid-career Seamus Heaney recently, too. Like a lot of fiction writers, I find poetry more nourishing than prose when I'm working on my own stuff, too.

Mrs MNVillan and I named our dog Dante because of our adoration for the Divine Comedy

3 hours ago, Marka Ragnos said:

Hopefully, one day at a time, never take a drink. I'm a recovering drunk. Had my share.

Came here to say this. I plan on staying sober for a 24 hour period every day for the rest of my life. God willing, I’ll never take a sip again.

10 hours ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

Was doing great for 2 weeks. Good diet, good workouts, felt good on a new programme online. Then decided to have one drink Friday. Ended up in 3 days of heavy drinking and missed work today. I’m freelance so no pay. 
 

Feel like shit. 

Sorry to hear. I have also been there many times.

8 hours ago, sidcow said:

Can someone explain to me why, as Biden won the election last time out, and then the madness of the insurrection unfolded, would MORE people now vote for Trump than voted for Biden last time? 

I don’t know how many MORE people will vote for Trump, but FEWER people will vote for Biden. Even if those votes don’t go towards Trump, low voter turnout could make the race closer.

10 hours ago, mjmooney said:

r/stopdrinking on Reddit has been a huge help for me when I quit drinking

2 hours ago, leighavfc said:

Completely goes without saying..... don’t ever touch drugs if you can avoid them. They/I have wrecked my life in every way possible.... it all started out as fun and good times but years later my addiction to them has destroyed everything I ever had.

if your reading this and thinking nah they are ok and I’m ok... so did I for many years! Cocaine over the last 12 months has took my relationship, family, home, money.... the lot.... I have even tried to take my life twice In the last 6 months because of it. I’ve done years of using many drugs... pretty much everything bar heroin and crack. Just don’t do it. Don’t be pressured or feel like your left out. It’s complete bulls**t... you may end up like me. You DONT want that I promise you!

i do everything I can possible to stay away from them but every time I have money I end up doing them it’s such a sad, low life exsistence ending up like me. I do meetings most nights in an attempt to stop but just cannot for the life of me do so... 

i was once that guy who was in “control” of my using and have now ended up using any time I have money in my pocket. Please seek help if you you read this and think you may have a problem of any kind. Don’t end up like me! I promise you Thinking/feeling suicidal most days because you can’t get drugs or live a normal life day to day without them is NOT the way to go!

all the best all of you who read this but please don’t end up like me, it really isn’t worth that line... or whatever your drug of choice is.

Hang in there. I remember feeling similarly when in the depths of my alcoholism. I found a way out and feel so much better now. Keep going to meetings and looking for a way out - you’ll find it

Does anyone have experience with Paper Mario? Thinking about finding a copy of Origami King.

Have played Odyssey and Luigi’s Mansion 3 recently, loved them both.

For me to consider it a big upgrade in terms of prestige, we would need to become one of these:

- Nike Elite team, joining Chelsea, Spurs, Barcelona, Liverpool, PSG, Inter Milan, Athletico Madrid, RB Leipzig, and Galatasaray (Taken from Footy Headlines)

- Adidas Elite team, joining Arsenal, Bayern, Juventus, Real Madrid, Manchester United, and now Newcastle (Taken from Footy Headlines)

- Puma top team, joining Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Olympique Marseille, and Palmeiras (Taken from Puma’s official site)

They’re the groups from those 3 mega brands that the companies really put their new tech and high-end resources into (whether or not that produces good kits or designs is up for debate). The marketable, elite clubs are where all the money is, and joining that group is how we take the next step in appealing to the exploding US and Asian markets. Do we have the brand to join those clubs? Who knows.

I’m excited we’re ditching Castore no matter what, but imo for the next Kit deal to be considered a large step forward we need to join one of these groups. Being the big club of a smaller company (like we were with Castore) doesn’t have the impact we’d like.

5 hours ago, rjw63 said:

Going on holiday next Monday and I'm anxious as ****.

Should be looking forward to it but probably looking forward to coming home more, that's the inherent depression resurfacing.

Must try not to be shitty or I'll ruin it for the wife.

I can absolutely relate to this. Prior to multiple vacations I have thought “why even bother, it’s easier to stay at home, can’t wait for it to be done with.”

For me, once I am on the actual trip, I typically enjoy myself. Hoping the same for you!

Thanks to all who chimed in here, my best wishes for you all. Be kind to yourselves.

1 minute ago, MotoMkali said:

Cause you can't tell who it is at a glance. It looks like an off colour Chelsea badge. That's bad for your brand. 

We’ll be the circle lion badge at the top of the table, they’ll be the one mid-to-lower table. Easy enough to tell apart.

Mrs MNVillan gifted me with Luigi’s Mansion 3, and I’m having a lot of fun with it so far. It’s fairly easy, but I don’t mind that one bit.

42 minutes ago, alreadyexists said:

Commentators on this Arsenal game skilfully talking about the top four without any mention of us they really won’t know what to do if we stay up there til May…

Not sure where you’re watching, but in America the commentators said something to the effect of “if the result doesn’t change for Arsenal, they’ll be one point adrift from Liverpool at the top.”

6 hours ago, maqroll said:

American TV viewership numbers for soccer are a total humiliation for MLS, and they deserve every ounce of it.

 

The product has to improve, plain and simple. I try to watch Minnesota United, but the quality is seriously lacking.

3 hours ago, Talldarkandransome said:

Was that from Baileys back pass

Snorted out a bit of coffee laughing at this one

I went to in-patient rehab in May for alcohol abuse and we were given a couple free hours in the afternoons. I brought my Switch Lite with me, and Super Mario Odyssey gave me a lot of smiles in an otherwise pretty bleak time. 
 

Hoping to get Wonder for Christmas from Mrs. MNVillan