bovril

4 minutes ago, BenTheFox said:

British food doesn't deserve anywhere near the amount of hate that it gets. I've been to several countries with worse food thab the UK. 

Britain has good produce but much of the general public can't cook even basic meals nor has an appreciation of the good food available to them. In other European countries a greater % of the population can cook and understands what constitutes good food produce. 

2 hours ago, Finnegan said:

I really didn't think this would be an unpopular opinion but the amount I've heard about it I'm starting to think otherwise:

 

I don't give a shit about hydration breaks in football. It's hot out there, it's for player welfare, it pauses the game for like a couple of minutes. It's not a big problem. 

 

Use the time to go for a piss, get a drink, check your phone. It's not the end of the world and it really isn't killing the intensity of the game, that's a really stupid claim. 

 

You'll change your tune when we're 3-0 down to Cambridge in the freezing rain in january and you just want to get in at half time for a warm drink but they stop for a 'hydration break' so we can advertise shady crypto betting companies for 3 minutes 

11 minutes ago, Harry96 said:

People recommend Rome for August? 

No, way too hot. But autumn and late spring it's beautiful 

2 hours ago, DJW1 said:

I was in Leiden a few years ago. A small city, not far from Amsterdam. Canals, gabled buildings, plenty of places to eat. 

2 hours ago, kenny said:

We went to giethoorn last year, incredible place.

Thanks both, they both look great and a good starting point to plan around...

Unless they're playing England I want European teams to win their games in the world cup, especially as it's being played in the USA, and quite enjoy watching northerners like Germany and Sweden coldly demolishing plucky underdogs from the rest of the world.

1 hour ago, spacemunky said:

Not fans of the Ivory Coast in Ulster

So I know we have some Netherlands experts on here and I'm currently trying to persuade my balkan girlfriend who's sceptical of anywhere in continental Europe north west of Vienna that it'd make a good trip in September.

Would love a sleepy town with pretty architecture, canals, some nice cafes and possible day trips. Is that too much to ask for? Oh, and relatively accessible from London by train. Ain't gettin on no plane

You're all piling on but this is actually an intriguing question, and I have no idea what the answer would be. Would maybe lean towards the club sides but it depends which team gets to keep the players that play for both e.g. Kimmich or Dembele. 

4 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

The name Wales comes from an Old English word meaning, "foreigner."

Typical English. Invade a place then complain everyone's speaking a foreign language 

31 minutes ago, Alf Bentley said:

 

Fair comment, though I plead guilty to any charge of pretence. My post was just addressing the charts in the article, not seeking to look at Brexit pros (?) and cons generally.

 

I also probably think less about freedom of movement as, through my Irish Dad, I was able to get Irish passports for myself and my daughter, so as to keep freedom of movement. Though I've not used my Irish passport yet - still used the British one, so far.

 

Come to think of it, there's a massive irony there: British people whose families have immigrated from other EU nations still keep freedom of movement, while "purer" Brits descended from the Normans and Anglo-Saxons don't. Though, to be fair, us Celts were here before them, anyway - our ancestors were mainly pushed across the Irish Sea by the Romans, I think? 

 

Perhaps the only fair solution to all the national identity/immigration issues is for all of humanity to return to its roots - and go back to living up trees in the Congo, from where I believe we first descended and started walking, thereby arguably becoming the human race. 

Sure, the comment was responding to the article and Brexit discourse in general, not your post.

Irish great grandparents for me. Not enough for a passport though possibly could've got me a place in the USA 94 squad...

5 hours ago, Alf Bentley said:

Some interesting charts and analysis in this article about the economic and other impacts of Brexit for the UK (not a long or over-complex article):

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jun/14/how-uk-economy-changed-since-brexit-vote-charts

 

For those without the time or inclination to read it, main points.....

- Claims that Brexit would cause an immediate recession & unemployment were wrong

- Almost every other prediction of long-term economic damage has proven correct: value of Sterling; growth compared to similar nations; trade in goods; investment & employment all significantly damaged

- Trade in services is an exception: UK trade in services has slightly outperformed other G7 nations since Brexit - whereas UK trade in goods has performed much worse. The OBS reckons this is because Boris' Brexit deal created a lot of friction for goods but little for services, so the City of London & big finance has done well, whereas industry, SME manufacturers & farmers have been damaged

- Net migration shows more EU citizens leaving than arriving in the past 4 years, but there was a massive surge in non-EU immigration post-Brexit (almost 1m in 2022-23). This happened under Brexit general Boris (& the brief lettuce regime), started to fall in Sunak's last year and has fallen by about 80% since then

- Since 2021 (end of transition period), an ever greater percentage of people believe Brexit was a mistake: currently about 58%-31%

 

For those who might suspect The Guardian of bias, the sources for the report seem highly credible: ONS, OECD, G7 & OBS, as well as the authors own statistical modelling.

I know in England we all have to pretend this isn't the case but giving up freedom of movement is as bad as any of those things in my opinion 

'Top' is probably the least apt nickname in all history

2 minutes ago, Samilktray said:

These kick off times are absolutely wank, I’m cream crackered 

surprised to see such big crowds at this time of the night

6 hours ago, Stadt said:

Factually incorrect about being in L1 under the Thais before. He’s a mouthpiece like most of the title winners - a stronger allegiance to an idiot who happened to be there than with the club itself.

He may just have been told this and not know it's not true - why would he? Though I am probably just saying this because I refuse to accept Huth slander. Top 3 favourite player ever. 

1 minute ago, Finnegan said:

 

Oscar is far too posh for Spoons. 

 

Oscar is one of those names that is now a bit posh-coded when it's a baby but also connotes an old London Irish guy playing cards in a pub in Cricklewood.

Just now, MPH said:

Proper defenders shot!

Ok they haven't been great at the back but that's harsh 

5 minutes ago, Miquel The Work Geordie said:

 

You fear for a nation of their colouring

POC (grey)

Just waiting for someone to say the Scots being cheerful is "performative"

Scots - *have a good time*

Miserable English - "wow, what arrogance and delusion!"

Canada were tenacious 

On 09/06/2026 at 09:50, CosbehFox said:

Major 98 vibes - Brazil v Morocco first decent game at the WC on Saturday night 

Wasn't it Norway vs Morocco? The Eggen Chippo game.

2 hours ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

What's a fit of pique? 

Barcelona defender getting cross

2 hours ago, Parafox said:

Today, yes. 16deg this morning. I'm not showering in that temp.

 

Ridiculous for this time of year.

Too right. Dunno why Brits have this whole thing about not putting on heating during certain months. Bloody freezing today. 

Free Saturdays can be so useful 

5 hours ago, HighPeakFox said:

Wow, I missed that cracker.

It was a bit incoherent so maybe I misread but I think it was a long the lines of "it's the Jews making us all fight each other" or something.