Hobsons Choice

Yeah, it could be huge, but I can't find any reference to this in large news orgs. Is it fake?

Clearly there are ulterior motives with this statement, but if there is any truth in the statement that China are going to try to co-operate with the west, rather than destroy it, this is good news. Hopefully it is not a bait and switch as a prelude to an invasion of Taiwan.

I was thinking Basque and Spanish.

We certainly need the first exercise badly, as our one touch play has been rubbish.

Exactly. You don't sign a manager in 2 days, it's just shown up all of the media outlets who were touting names as speculative chancers.

I think my post came across wrong. I didn't mean to necessarily lambast Bielsa, I was trying more to say that it was a reflection of good character on the part of Unai to go out of his way to learn and use the language. I also think that managers like Klopp, whose use of English is better than many natives, don't perhaps get as much credit as they should in this regard.

My take on the accent thing is that he's working in probably his third language, and will know, obviously, that it's not his best, yet he chooses to address the media in their own language, rather than have an interpreter which he could very easily arrange for. Not only does that show bravery and confidence, but it also shows respect for the country he is working in. Fair play to the man. If he gets a few words wrong, I really don't care, it's the effort made to try that is worth everything. Contrast with Bielsa who does not appear to have made the slightest concession or attempt to learning English. If I went to work in France or Spain, I'd learn French or Spanish. No question. You have to respect the culture you live in.

Appropriately this is referred to as 'projection'.

Forgot the punctuation. Should be: 'Bugger someone. Beat me.'

Bugger someone beat me to it.

There is your first mistake. There are in my experience many with <0.5 brains in every walk of life.

This. 1000%

Anyone got any decent 4x PC games worth playing which aren't Stellaris? I'm kind of over the space thing now.

Guys, sliders have changed the game entirely for me. I was super frustrated with the defence, but with some tweaks it is 1000% better. I'd gone with online slider settings on a previous version, and it tweaked the game slightly for the better. Sliders in 23 just completely revolutionise the game.

20 and 21 were fundamentally broken due to the fact that crosses did not work 90% of the time. Mega frustrating, but I persisted with 22, and most of my issues with it have been rectified to a greater or lesser extent. I'm going to stick with 22, as I finally have one (since 17/18 which I played the monkeys out of) which I can live with.

Good luck.

Spaghetti and Meatball.

Thank Christ for that. I was beginning to think the last 24 hours was some sleep addled hallucination.

Oh s**t wrong thread. Haha

So presumably while Unai can't actively get involved with training yet due to work permit issues, he can watch it and make notes? Bit of a grey area?

Doubt he'd be allowed to due to work permit. It would have to be secret squirrel. HMRC are buggers.

If anyone kicks off, he only has to say 'how many trophies have you won', followed by 'if you do this you can add one'. Anyone dissenting after that can bugger off and be replaced by someone with the right attitude. Honestly I bet the players will be buzzing after the appointment. No professional footballer likes losing.

Yeah it was a psychological tactic. He was so convinced his system was right and would win the game he told his players on the bus he was going to pick players randomly. He won the game. Imagine the faith that would instil in the players that the manager is so astute tactically. Confidence would be massive.

I think the key might be that Villareal already have a replacement lined up (if the media are to be believed). If that's true, this was not hashed out from scratch this afternoon.

I really hope we give him the time he needs to build something special here. From the initial reaction on here, that might just be the case!