WigstonWanderer

A nuclear deterrent dependent on the US in this way is pretty much useless anyway in the new circumstances. Not sure what the answer is, but if Europe wants to have any say at all in future world affairs I think it’s going to have to develop its own capability and the UK should throw in with that. I appreciate that this is very difficult and probably unlikely, and I speak as someone who has been anti-proliferation until now. It seems like every dictator, his wife and his dog has nukes these days.

To which Trump would say “sorry, who are you again?”

If Trump does what he says he’ll do and adds initially 10% tariffs upping it to 25% later, there won’t be much choice, as goods from the UK, etc won’t be able to compete and exports to the US will dry up anyway. Appeasement won’t work with Trump. He’s a bully and will always come back for more. Give him your lunch money and he’ll be back tomorrow for your trainers and phone. Canada has the right idea. The rest of the democratic world needs to say whatever, flatter him, etc, but work as rapidly as possible to increase trade between themselves and isolate the US, at some stage imposing reciprocal tariffs. Increasingly, if we have to deal with autocracies, China is looking like a much more pragmatic, technocratic, stable and reliable trading partner.

Hopefully he’ll soon be safely in the arms of his maker - with Satan’s red hot poker sticking up his arse

Well I never expected that

We’re good value so far and should have scored 2 or 3. Best we’ve played for some time. What’s the betting it all goes tits up in the second half after Martin’s half time talk.

Is this a pale reflection of the 1936 Olympics?

Seems like the powers that be have concluded that this season is a bust in terms of promotion, but don’t expect to get relegated, so no real incentive for signings.

The Fourth Turning?

I think he’s shifted the Overton Window so far that it is highly unlikely that Humpty Dumpty can be put back together again. The post war period is an exception in history, where the norm is the exercise of raw power. It took the trauma of the Second World War, and collective realisation of both the horrors of modern warfare and the cruelty possible when apparently ordinary people turn a blind eye to the persecution of minorities. There seems to be a significant minority now that has forgotten all this and is once again turning to “strong men” for a solution to the unfairnesses that they perceive around them. I’m sure this goes much deeper than Trump who is a charismatic symptom of the age, along with Farage and the like. If repeated, such a calamity (world war) is unlikely to arrive at such a relatively benign solution. Rather it would wipe out civilisation as we know it. I know this all sounds dramatic but I feel something qualitative has really shifted, mostly in the last 10 years, probably longer (GFC? Reagan and Thatcher? Nixon?).

Abdul’s superb strike papered over a load of cracks. I’ll always be grateful to everyone involved that I’ve been privileged to witness Leicester City win the Premier League and FA cup. However it does seem that the glory days are well and truly behind us, unlikely to ever return at least to the same extent. This season is a bust. I hope we don’t get relegated and I think it’s unlikely, but it’s likely to be many seasons before we get back to the PL, let alone manage to stay there more than one season. The players we now have are either very young and unproven, rather average, or approaching the end of their careers. Can’t think of any that are worth much on the transfer market and we seem to be broke. Difficult to be optimistic.

That guy is seriously frightening

I have a horrible feeling that this raid in Venezuela will restore Trump’s popularity, at least in the short term. It was certainly an audacious and well executed operation, whether you approve of it or not, and I can imagine it going down well in a dog eat dog kind of society that seems characteristic of a good deal of the US. It would be incredibly naive to suppose that Trump cares anything for the people of Venezuela and that this was done in any way to help them. It seems likely that the post war “rules based order” is at an end and we are going back 100 years or more to big power politics. The post war era wasn’t perfect and big power politics never really went away, but at least those powers had to pay lip-service to the rules, and the result has been international trade in mainly peaceful times that has raised billions from abject poverty, albeit with detrimental environmental effects that have yet to be addressed. I think we should all mourn its passing. The future is less certain now than at any time during my life, with the possible exception of the nuclear threat during the sixties. Those of us not living in a power bloc may have to choose our autocracy at some point, or more likely have it thrust upon us.

Get ready to become Airstrip One

Thought Nelson had his best game for us yet. A faster, younger version of Vesty, and better in the air.

Looks very dejected

It’s a shame but looks like Aaron Ramsey is a bust

Thought Hamza was having a decent game

We got to sign this guy!

BAU restored

I like it! More please.

It’s 3.35 in the morning here. This better be worth it.

Another disappointing, yet fully deserved loss. We certainly don’t look like a team that is likely to gain promotion, or indeed be in any way ready for the challenges of the PL. Hopefully we don’t get relegated, but this might depend on the points deduction.

Haha, I turned on at half time having wrongly set my alarm!